FBI arrests OpenAI employee accused of planting hidden recording device in conference room

Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

View this email online in your browser  October 13, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 FBI arrests OpenAI employee accused of planting hidden recording device in conference room: It's not clear exactly for what purpose the recording device was used, but FBI director Kash Patel said the scheme was to "capture sensitive communications about the company’s super intelligence technology."  Read More Facebook is giving users more control over their algorithm: Meta announced the launch of its new AI-powered feature, “Your Algorithm,” a feature it first launched on Instagram. Read More Pluto Security raises $42M as AI gives enterprise security teams a new headache: The problem with giving everyone in a company access to AI tools is that people will use them in unexpected ways. And that fact is steadily seeding fears that companies now have new, gaping security holes in their systems or, at least, will soon. Read More A message from 188 West Saint James Move-in ready condos starting at $375k in downtown San Jose Discover the best of modern living, where Silicon Valley meets downtown San Jose. Enjoy refined amenities such as our business lounge, 75-foot lap pool, and expansive amenity deck, panoramic views, and light-filled residences designed for ease and sophistication, with dining, entertainment, and the energy of San Pedro Square just steps away. Schedule a Tour Our biggest event of the year is coming next week, and now's the time to lock in your ticket to learning how to build successfully in the AI era. You'll get expert insights from leaders from Anthropic, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Cloud, and hundreds of other sessions across three days.  Save 50% on a second ticket, or if you've been laid off recently, get an Expo+ Pass for just $75. Register Now Afternoon Must-Reads Apple launches a new Apple TV 4K with Siri AI and remote-free voice commands: The new Apple TV 4K costs $299, comes with Siri AI, and will be available on November 13. Read More Bumble agrees to a $1.3B acquisition deal as online dating faces a reset: After years of declining subscriber numbers and falling revenue, Bumble just agreed to a $1.3 billion acquisition. Read More Apple makes another push into the smart home market with HomeView: Apple is taking a big swing at the smart home market with its latest product that competes with Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. Read More Apple's new smart home lineup includes a smart lock, thermostat, and video doorbells: The new devices work with HomeView, the company's new smart home hub which can be used to control accessories and interact with apps. Read More Just 5 years in, interactive chatbot platform Character.AI files for bankruptcy: The startup will sell some of its assets to Disney for $20 million. Read More A message from Macao International Trade & Investment Fair Macao's 31st MIF to Kick Off in October The 31st Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (31st MIF), organised by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region, will be held from 21 to 24 October 2026 at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. For the latest updates on MIF, please visit the official website at www.mif.com.mo. Visit the website Last but Not Least Rivian spinoff Mind Robotics hires former Ford EV chief Doug Field: Field also worked on Apple's secretive car project and oversaw development of the Tesla Model 3. 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

Apple makes another push into the smart home market with HomeView

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

View this email online in your browser  October 13, 2026 TechCrunch Top 3 Apple makes another push into the smart home market with HomeView: Apple is taking a big swing at the smart home market with its latest product that competes with Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub. Read More Apple's new smart home lineup includes a smart lock, thermostat, and video doorbells: The new devices work with HomeView, the company's new smart home hub which can be used to control accessories and interact with apps. Read More Apple launches a new Apple TV 4K with Siri AI and remote-free voice commands: The new Apple TV 4K costs $299, comes with Siri AI, and will be available on November 13. Read More Our biggest event of the year is coming next week, and now's the time to lock in your ticket to learning how to build successfully in the AI era. You'll get expert insights from leaders from Anthropic, Nvidia, OpenAI, Google Cloud, and hundreds of other sessions across three days.  Save 50% on a second ticket, or if you've been laid off recently, get an Expo+ Pass for just $75. Register Now Morning Must-Reads Just 5 years in, interactive chatbot platform Character.AI files for bankruptcy: The startup will sell some of its assets to Disney for $20 million. Read More Bumble agrees to a $1.3B acquisition deal as online dating faces a reset: After years of declining subscriber numbers and falling revenue, Bumble just agreed to a $1.3 billion acquisition. Read More Spotify users on iOS 27 can now ask Siri to play music without having to say 'on Spotify': Siri can now learn users' preferred music app, allowing Spotify listeners to request songs, podcasts, and playlists without specifying which app to use. Read More Meta releases its first frontier model, Muse Wonder: Where Muse Spark aimed to be a lightweight model that could perform at low latency, the Wonder models are larger and said to be more capable, with higher benchmark scores and better results on complex tasks like coding. Read More Giraffe Bio aims its bespoke biomolecules at the looming copper shortage: As AI data centers and EVs drive up demand for copper, Giraffe Bio has unearthed a $6.4 million seed round to help miners extract more of the mineral. Read More A message from Macao International Trade & Investment Fair Macao's 31st MIF to Kick Off in October The 31st Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (31st MIF), organised by the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) of the Macao Special Administrative Region, will be held from 21 to 24 October 2026 at the Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao. For the latest updates on MIF, please visit the official website at www.mif.com.mo. Visit the website Last but Not Least SpaceXSI bundles X Premium, Grok, and Cursor into one subscription: The new X Subscription combines X's paid features with AI tools like Grok and Cursor, offering plans ranging from $8 to $200 per month. 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