Timef 10/02/2025

AI search startup Perplexity is making its new Comet browser available to everyone in the world for free as it works to position the product against big browsers and search engines. For certain paid subscribers, the startup has also launched a new ‘background assistant’ to handle multiple tasks via Comet.  

Amazon's new "Add to Delivery" button makes it easier for Prime members to buy more and tack on items to existing orders.

The company will likely sell fewer EVs this year than in both 2024 and 2023, making next year's launch of the R2 SUV even more important.

Phia co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni are redefining how Gen Z shops with AI. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, they’ll share how they’re scaling one of the year’s hottest startups into a lasting consumer brand. Register to join.

a16z releases its first AI spending report that shows which AI-native application layer companies startups are actually spending money on .

The Chinese government unveiled a program to woo foreign talent just as the US cracked down on H-1Bs with a $100,000 fee. The move immediately provoked xenophobic backlash.

Google says hackers associated with the Clop ransomware gang are emailing executives at multiple organizations claiming to have stolen their personal information from a suite of Oracle E-Business apps.

OpenAI employees sold $6.6B in shares, leading company's valuation to jump to $500B.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything spectacularly broke down an iPhone Air via a blowtorch.

Google has a new ransomware detection tool for Google Drive for desktop.

Bloomberg reports that the tech giant is developing at least two types of smart glasses.

Founder and Investor Bundle savings for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 end tomorrow, October 3. Groups of 4–9 founders save 15% and investors save 20%. Access top VCs, pitch-ready startups, and hands-on sessions.

See the moon phase expected for October 2, 2025 as well as when the next full moon is expected.

The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are available as of Oct. 2 — our headphones reviewer shares her initial thoughts.

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on 7 October, but there are already some impressive Nintendo Switch offers live right now — here’s what to check out early.

Spacecoin envisions a decentralized rival to SpaceX's Starlink.

Perplexity has acquired Visual Electric, an AI Design tool. Its team is going to lead a new agents experience group at Perplexity

Of the 25 offshore crypto exchanges targeted by India, 14 hold more than $9 billion in assets.

The tax credit's expiration on September 30 motivated buyers to take advantage of the $7,500 incentive, giving Tesla a shot to return to sales growth in 2025.

Although the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale doesn't start until Oct. 7, we've already found some amazing early game deals worth buying.

Chrome faces its sixth zero-day attack in 2025 as Google patches critical V8 engine flaw CVE-2025-10585 discovered by Threat Analysis Group.

Lenovo's new handheld powerhouse is good for what it is, but I'm not sure I want what elite handhelds are selling anymore.

Scientists have a lot of questions about our planet’s most important carbon sink—and a new project could help answer them.

The Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton features 12 terrain modes and carbon fiber construction to enhance hiking, cycling and outdoor adventures.

The unstoppable might of "Kpop Demon Hunters" is landing in "Fortnite" and there's a trailer out today.

Hily launches Consent Guard, a notification pop-up asking whether a user wants to see a match's explicit message.

Founder Bryan Onel says too many companies are doing the bare minimum to meet their security compliance obligations, and raised $33 million to help his customers get both compliant and secure.

Workers have been told to bring themselves to work, only to be disappointed time and time again, argues author Jodi-Ann Burey in her new book.

Emily Blunt appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and shared a vacation photo of the host when he was seasick during a fishing trip.

As of Oct. 2, the Fire TV Cube is discounted at Amazon to $99.99 before Prime Big Deal Days, 29% off its list price of $139.99.

As the Trump administration threatens them, liberal nonprofits have been quietly preparing to do everything from surrendering 501(c)(3) status to relocating outside the US.

As of Oct. 2, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is marked down at Amazon to $249.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, 17% off its list price of $299.99.

Save 64% on the Ecovacs Deebot T30S at Amazon.

Save 33% on the Garmin Instinct at Amazon.

Save 32% on the Fire TV 2 Series at Amazon.

A new feature for iPhones screens calls, similar to a technology available for Android users. Here’s how to activate it.

Apple’s new iPhone 17 Pro Max is an incredibly powerful phone, though it’s now more a tool for professionals than a status symbol.

Richard Linklater's love letter to Jean-Luc Godard's "Breathless" and the French New Wave is a chill tribute. Review.

Upgrade your drive with a wireless CarPlay & Android Auto adapter featuring built-in apps, dual Bluetooth, and streaming support — just $79.97.

Enjoy lifetime ad blocking, privacy protection, and parental controls on up to 9 devices with AdGuard Family Plan for $15.97 with code FAMPLAN.

Say goodbye to monthly VPN fees. Get the Deeper Connect Mini with firewall, ad blocking, and decentralized privacy for $159.97 (reg. $219) during Deal Days.

What's new to streaming for the week of Oct. 3 on Netflix, Apple TV+, and Hulu.

The Amazon founder’s space company will transport NASA's VIPER rover to the lunar south pole—if it proves capable of delivering a payload to the moon in an upcoming mission.

Answers to each clue for the October 2, 2025 edition of NYT's The Mini crossword puzzle.

These finger vibrators come with an earbud-like rechargeable case, but a few too many flaws ruin the fun idea.

Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, prominent primatologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, has died in her sleep at 91.

The New York Times' latest game, Pips, brings domino fun to your desktop. How to play Pips as well as hints in case you get stuck.

Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the day's puzzle.

Connections is a New York Times word game that's all about finding the "common threads between words." How to solve the puzzle.

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

Here's the answer for "Wordle" #1565 on October 2 as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Hints and answers to today's Hurdle all in one place.

Leverage Edu places over 10,000 students annually into universities across 11 countries.

Multiple social media feeds, from the leaders in AI video, have launched in recent months. They likely won't all last.

Mashable's senior shopping reporter rounds up all of the Taylor Swift merchandise, deals, and events tied to the new album "The Life of a Showgirl."

Instagram leader Adam Mosseri says the company is not secretly listening to your conversations. At least, not through the microphone.

We called out Chunk in our early coverage of Fat Bear Week 2025, and now this chonky boy has been crowned king of the bears.

Einride raised the funds five months after founder Robert Falck left the CEO role and took over as executive chairman of the board.

Current and former OpenAI researchers seem torn over how the company's Sora app fits in with its broader mission.

The six-year-old firm's third fund is nearly the size of it previous fund raised during the fintech boom in early 2022.

Hundreds of Eufy customers have donated hundreds of thousands of videos to train the company’s AI systems.

“Are bills like SB 53 the thing that will stop us from beating China? No,” said Adam Billen, vice president of public policy at youth-led advocacy group Encode AI. “I think it is just genuinely intellectually dishonest to say that that is the thing that will stop us in the race.”

Tilly Norwood is not real, but the company that created her hopes that she's the first of many AI-generated stars.

The SPAC King's newest, dubbed "American Exceptionalism," went public with $345 million. But Chamath doesn't want people to buy shares.

"Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney’s famous marks and brands, and blatantly infringing Disney’s copyrights," a Disney lawyer wrote.

Reports are spreading online that Amazon France accidentally delivered the new Xbox ROG Ally X weeks before its official launch.

Whizz has seen e-bike rentals drop by about 8% since National Guard troops arrived in the city.

Comedy, compassion, and Knishes: My ride through ‘Long Story Short’ Netflix Show. Commentary: From the ‘BoJack Horseman’ creator, this animated series packed an emotional punch.

Ninja Cafe Luxe Premier and Breville Barista Express are the two best-selling espresso machines on Amazon. Each is $100 off.

The Sora 2 AI app is responsible for some truly strange videos.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription costs are rising, but you can still lock in the old price. Here's what you need to know.

California just made history as the first state to require AI safety transparency from the biggest labs in the industry. Governor Newsom signed SB 53 into law this week, mandating that AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic disclose, and stick to, their safety protocols. The decision is already sparking debate about whether other states will […]

Are an improved battery and better video recording enough to sway you?

Apple and OpenAI are asking a judge to dismiss Elon Musk and X Corp.'s lawsuits against the companies.

OpenAI’s latest app encourages users to generate a personal digital avatar and scroll AI-generated videos of themselves and their friends.

OpenAI's Sora app makes it too easy for people to create misleading AI content.

A Harvard Business School study shows that several AI companions use various tricks to keep a conversation from ending.

Thinking Machines Lab, led by a group of prominent former OpenAI researchers, is betting that fine tuning cutting-edge models will be the next frontier in AI.

The Gardyn Studio 2 is the brand's latest hydroponic system. The new Studio 2 is fit for apartment dwellers and comes with sunrise and sunset lighting plus low-maintenance columns.

Tired of steaming your own milk? Let the De'Longhi Rivelia do it for you!

Prime Big Deal Days kicks off Oct. 7 at Amazon, so we gathered the best Apple AirPods deals available ahead of the sale.

Hear from Jai Das, Sapphire Ventures, and Roseanne Wincek, Renegade Partners, on how founders can prep for an exit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. Register here.

Shop the best speaker deals ahead of Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: Sony ULT Field 3, JBL Go 4, and several Anker Soundcore speakers.

Waymo's permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City has been extended to the end of the year, giving the company a few more months to make it big in the Big Apple.

Google Maps on Android may be adding an Aerial button to quickly switch between Street View and Satellite View.

Google Nest lineup adds cameras, a new doorbell, and $99 home speaker coming in 2026.

Before October Prime Day begins, shop early deals on outdoor gear from brands like Yeti, Osprey, Coleman, and more.

Apple added some of its older products to its vintage list.

Cheap self-emptying robot vacuums and robot mop combos with self-washing mopping pads are on sale ahead of October Prime Day.

We're rounding up the best early Prime Day kitchen deals. Save on top brands like Ninja, Le Creuset, and Keurig before the main event.

As of Oct. 1, these are the best Bluetooth tracker deals ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

Workers at one agency were given unhinged, partisan language to use when setting out-of-office replies.

Eazewell helps families navigate end-of-life planning, from coordinating a funeral to cancelling someone's mail, with the help of AI.

While the HR Tech Guideline was last valued at $1.15 billion, the sale will likely yield a profit for most investors.

Prickly Pear Health provides medical support for women’s brain health, a voice-first, AI-powered companion that helps women in their 30s to 50s navigate the hormonal changes that affect brain health.

A Russian YouTuber says they managed to get their hands on a new, unannounced iPad Pro, and you can see it now.

Target Circle Week is the brand's anti-Prime Day sale. It kicks off October 5, but Target is already teasing the deals to come. Get ready to shop all the best fall and Halloween deals.

Google redesigns its Home app for better usability and adds Gemini-powered features.