August 27, 2025

TechCrunch Top 3

Hyundai is working with a startup on plant-based leather that smells like the real thing: Uncaged Innovations is working with Hyundai to develop alternatives to leather with a fraction of the environmental impact. Read More

Plaud launches a new AI hardware notetaker, the $179 Note Pro: Plaud.ai launches its new Plaud Note Pro hardware notetaker with better mics and recording range. Read More

Google Vids adds AI avatars to its video editor and launches a consumer version: Google is launching a free consumer version of its video editor Vids that will be available without any AI-powered features. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

Anthropic launches a Claude AI agent that lives in Chrome: Anthropic is the latest AI lab to offer an AI agent with the ability to view and take action in a user's Chrome browser. Read More

Microsoft headquarters go into lockdown after activists take over Brad Smith's office: The incident is the latest escalation by current and former employees who are demanding the company end its cloud contracts with Israel. Read More

Libby's library app adds an AI discovery feature, and not everyone is thrilled: Libby launches "Inspire Me," a genAI feature that helps its users find books to borrow from local libraries. Read More

Assort Health nabs $50M to automate patient phone calls, sources say: The company's AI voice agents are designed to take over high-volume, repetitive tasks like scheduling, cancellations, and frequently asked questions normally managed by front desk staff. Read More

Anthropic settles AI book-training lawsuit with authors: Called Bartz v. Anthropic, the case deals with Anthropic's use of books as training material for its large language models. Read More

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Last but Not Least

Why the US government is not the savior Intel needs: Intel doesn't need cash. Instead, the struggling semiconductor giant needs to figure out how to drum up interest for its foundry business. Read More