October 19, 2025

Spyware maker NSO Group blocked from WhatsApp: A federal judge has granted Meta-owned WhatsApp’s request for a permanent injunction blocking Israeli cyberintelligence company NSO Group from targeting the messaging app’s users. At the same time, the judge dramatically reduced the fine that NSO Group must pay to Meta. Read More

Too burned out to travel? This new app fakes your summer vacation photos for you: A new iPhone app, Endless Summer, uses AI to create photorealistic vacation photos starring you — no travel required Read More

If you’re not an AI startup, good luck raising money from VCs: New PitchBook data illustrates how dramatically AI is dominating startup investment, with 2025 on-track to become the first year when AI accounts for more than half of all VC money invested. Read More

Get access to 250+ top tech voices, 200+ sessions, 300+ showcasing innovations, and 10,000+ attendees for 3 days straight — October 27–29 in San Francisco. Gain key takeaways across 5 industry stages, breakouts, roundtables, and networking. Hear from leaders at Microsoft, Waymo, Reddit, Vinod Khosla, Hugging Face, and more. Register now to save up to $444 or 15% to 30% on group passes. Rates increase when Disrupt doors open.

The White House is already one of the most blocked accounts on Bluesky: The Trump administration is taking its social media attacks on Democratic opponents to an unlikely platform, with the White House and numerous other government agencies joining Bluesky on Friday. Read More

Wikipedia says traffic is falling due to AI search summaries and social video: Looks like Wikipedia isn't immune to broader online trends. Read More

This top VC has bet close to 20% of his fund on teenagers — here's why: Eventbrite co-founder Kevin Hartz is onto his next thing — teenage founders, not as a social experiment but as an unplanned investment thesis. Read More

YouTubers aren’t relying on ad revenue anymore — here's how some are diversifying: YouTubers are no longer just creators, and in some cases, their side businesses are growing faster than their channels. Read More

YouTubers aren’t relying on ad revenue anymore — here's how some are diversifying: YouTubers are no longer just creators, and in some cases, their side businesses are growing faster than their channels. Read More

Join Qualcomm’s expert panel to see how Snapdragon’s on-device AI helps enterprises cut costs, speed up workflows, and deliver smarter results in real time. Learn how on-device vs. cloud AI impacts your bottom line. Hear real enterprise success stories and ROI case studies. Explore Snapdragon’s partner ecosystem driving next-gen innovation. Don’t miss practical insights on how to put AI to work — right on your device. Sign up now to get event updates and access the livestream.

Together, we make TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 unforgettable — thank you to our sponsors: TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 wouldn’t be what it is without the incredible companies that power the innovation behind the scenes. Read More

Crypto’s next chapter with Solana’s Anatoly Yakovenko at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Solana's Anatoly Yakovenko joins the Disrupt Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 to discuss the future of crypto — from memecoins to real-world finance. Don’t miss this must-see session. Register now to save up to $624 before today's flash sale ends. Read More

Less than 24 hours to spotlight your startup at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in front of 10,000 tech leaders and VCs : You have less than 24 hours — and only a couple of tables left — to lock in the most valuable growth opportunity of the year at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025.  Read More

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Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff apologizes for saying National Guard needed in San Francisco: Marc Benioff, co-founder and CEO of Salesforce, appears to be walking back his controversial comments calling for the National Guard to patrol San Francisco. Read More

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