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.
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.
Rezolve’s subsidiary SQD Network is launching a new “Revenue Pool” model to fund its blockchain data infrastructure. Large enterprise customers like Deutsche Telekom pay for data, and token holders can lock their SQD to support the network, earning a share of the payments in stablecoins.
Samsung has announced a partnership to integrate Google Photos directly into its TVs. The rollout starts in March 2026 with a curated “Memories” feature exclusive to Samsung for six months. Later in 2026, AI-powered search and creation tools will arrive.
LG is launching a new line of high-end UltraGear evo gaming monitors. The three models feature 5K resolution, AI upscaling, and will be shown at CES in January.
TSMC is facing a severe supply crunch for its upcoming 2nm chips, with capacity fully booked until the end of 2026. The company has notified customers of price increases for its advanced nodes for four consecutive years, starting January 1st.
To avoid waiting up to seven years for a grid connection, data center developers are installing power sources like aeroderivative turbines—adapted from jet engines—on-site. This stopgap measure is fueling the AI boom but comes with higher costs and significant environmental concerns.
NordVPN has already rolled out post-quantum encryption for its VPN connections. Now, its CTO says the next target is securing the authentication phase against future quantum attacks, with a goal for the first half of 2026.
Microsoft is testing a crucial optimization for Windows 11’s File Explorer to stop it from hogging RAM and CPU during file searches. The fix, in Insider Build 26220.7523 and above, aims for a public rollout by late January or February.
