Jeff Dean and other top AI researchers are leaving Google to launch their own startup

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  August 05, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Jeff Dean and other top AI researchers are leaving Google to launch their own startup: The legendary Google executive is joined by other outgoing Google execs in a joint mission to use AI to push forward the process of scientific discovery. Read More Trump's DOJ gains oversight of OpenAI’s green-card employee sponsorships: The DOJ has alleged that OpenAI used various tactics to prevent U.S. citizens from applying for jobs held by immigrant employees when it was sponsoring those workers for permanent U.S. residence. Read More How Lightspeed found its newest hire … via Instagram DM: Lightspeed partners Josh Machiz and Claire Zau stopped by the Equity studio to talk about the strategies behind their growing social media presence and their podcast, Lightwork. Read More A message from AWS Come curious: stay for the vibes. We don’t gatekeep. AWS Builder Center has the resources you need to make your portfolio stand out. Sign Up Afternoon Must-Reads Klaviyo acquires Elias Torres’ Agency in full-circle reunion for tech founders: The serial entrepreneur joins the e-commerce company as CPO to lead its AI agents. Read More Lucid Motors just delayed its affordable EV. Now what?: The Cosmos EV is now slated for release in the second half of 2027. CEO Silvio Napoli said he's focused on getting the EV right, as well as its nearer-term robotaxi project with Uber and Nuro. Read More Disney+ looks to TikTok creators to bring fan content to its short-form video feed: As streamers compete with social media giants for viewer attention, Disney+ is partnering with TikTok to bring creator content to its app. Read More Hark previews its browser use agent for completing tasks: Hark claims that its browser use agent is faster and cheaper than competition. Read More Reddit aims to make 'karma' less important for first-time posters with shift to AI moderation tools: Reddit is expanding its moderation tools and building stronger abuse prevention systems that it says could eventually reduce communities’ reliance on karma and account-age requirements, making it easier for legitimate newcomers to participate. Read More Last but Not Least Anthropic is hiring an AI chip design team: Anthropic is building a team for designing its own custom AI chips. The Claude maker said it would co-design hardware and models to help its technology run faster and more efficiently. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107

Disney+ looks to TikTok creators to bring fan content to its short-form video feed

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories to start your morning

View this email online in your browser  August 05, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Disney+ looks to TikTok creators to bring fan content to its short-form video feed: As streamers compete with social media giants for viewer attention, Disney+ is partnering with TikTok to bring creator content to its app. Read More Elon Musk repeatedly one-upped his execs on SpaceX's first earnings call: Musk kept inflating the already-big promises being made by SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen and Gwynne Shotwell on the company's first call. Read More Anthropic is hiring an AI chip design team: Anthropic is building a team for designing its own custom AI chips. The Claude-maker said it would co-design hardware and models to help its technology run faster and more efficiently. Read More A message from AWS Find your people, fuel your ideas. We don’t gatekeep. AWS Builder Center has the resources you need to make your portfolio stand out. Sign Up Morning Must-Reads SpaceX has bought $329M worth of Tesla Megapacks so far this year: The purchase illustrates just how interconnected Elon Musk's universe of companies are. Read More Lucid's turnaround plan hinges on $1.4B in cash savings, robotaxis: Lucid's new CEO Silvio Napoli listed four must-win priorities, including the successful launch of its midsize EV, finishing a factory in Saudi Arabia, cutting expenses, and robotaxis. Read More As Gen Z reconsiders dating apps, Tinder's IRL events expand to dozens more cities: Tinder is expanding its in-person events feature from an initial Los Angeles test to 26 cities worldwide by the end of September. Read More SpaceX doubles revenue on Anthropic and Google compute deals, Starlink growth: SpaceX doubled its revenue compared to last year, according to its first quarterly earnings since going public in June. Read More Trump EPA wrongly canceled $20B in climate funds, appeals court rules: Climate nonprofits can again access their federal funding more than a year after the Trump EPA ordered Citibank to freeze their accounts. Read More Last but Not Least Robinhood to list a fund that lets anyone back Y Combinator startups: Robinhood's latest financial instrument intends to let any retail investor feel like they, too, can make money by backing Y Combinator startups. Read More Check out some of our other newsletters: StrictlyVC TechCrunch Events TechCrunch Mobility Want to adjust your daily newsletter schedule? You can do it right here Got a tip? Get in touch securely. Want to advertise on TechCrunch? advertise@techcrunch.com Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter. Unsubscribe Member Center Privacy Policy Copyright © 2026 TechCrunch Media LLC 501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107