Octopus Energy is carving out its software division Kraken in a major deal that values the tech platform at $8.65 billion. The move raises $1 billion from investors and sets the stage for a full demerger by mid-2026, with a potential public listing to follow.
Meta is acquiring AI startup Manus to boost its AI agent ambitions. The deal includes a full severance of Manus’s Chinese ties, winding down its business in China. This follows US political criticism over the startup’s origins.
Meta is acquiring the Chinese AI startup Manus, which launched just in March 2025. The company claims it already has $100 million in annual recurring revenue and serves millions of users with its “general agent” technology.
Scientists are peeling back the layers of Earth’s deepest secrets. A new study uses lab experiments to explain strange seismic wave behavior, pointing to a chemically stratified inner core.
Apple is formally appealing a UK tribunal’s decision that it abused its dominant position and overcharged millions. The case could cost the tech giant £1.5 billion and is part of a broader consumer pushback against big tech fees.
A panel of seasoned investors at TechCrunch Disrupt cut through the hype to explain what makes a pitch deck work. Their top complaint? Founders who overuse buzzwords like AI. Real differentiation, they argue, comes from domain expertise and enabling new behaviors.
A new wave of investment and interest is hitting the humanoid robotics space, driven by advances in AI. Yet, the path to creating useful, affordable machines that work in the real world remains steep.
Google is finally allowing users to change their primary Gmail address without starting a new account. The feature lets you keep all your data and use the old address as an alias, but it comes with strict lifetime limits and new phishing risks to watch for.
Gregor Konzett left a stable job at Google and his U.S. visa to cofound a startup in London. He says the risk was necessary to live an exciting life, not an easy one, even in a tough market.
The biggest challenge for employers this winter isn’t just finding workers, it’s getting them cleared and compliant for day one. New AI tools are tackling this “last mile” of hiring by automating paperwork, which could cut onboarding time by more than half.
