September 05, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

MapQuest is now the No. 1 US app after bucking Trump's 'Lake America' renaming: The once-dominant mapping app has surged to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store after refusing to adopt Trump’s “Lake America” name, drawing more than half of its 2026 U.S. downloads in just six days. Read More

Norway considers ban on camera-enabled wearable 'pervert glasses': The Nordic country says wearable camera headsets need to be regulated given their privacy risks. Read More

Uber is laying off 10% of staff, or 3,300 people: Uber is laying off about 3,300 people, or about 10% of its global headcount, in a bid to reduce management layers and invest more in its ridesharing, delivery, and robotaxi divisions. Read More

A message from Alumni Ventures

Invest in High-Potential Startups Like These

A graphic for Alumni Ventures' Sponsorship Opportunities

Alumni Ventures is giving readers early access to high-potential startup opportunities across today’s most active sectors, co-invested alongside name-brand VC firms like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Bessemer, & Y Combinator. You Get: Curated deal flow of high-potential startups, Investing alongside name-brand vc firms, No cost to see deals, No obligation to invest.

See Current Deals

This Week's Must-Reads

Feds launch investigation into Tesla's Cybercab deployment: The investigation was launched just a few hours after Tesla put the first production Cybercabs on the road in Austin. Read More

MapQuest's app surges to No. 1 in Navigation after refusing to rename Lake Ontario: MapQuest is getting an unexpected boost from its decision to defy President Trump’s renaming of Lake Ontario. Read More

Tesla is asking people if they want to buy and run Cybercab fleets: The company published a form on its website Thursday soliciting info from people who are interested in "Cybercab fleet vehicle purchasing." Read More

OpenAI launches Astra, its powerful (and controversial) new model: OpenAI claims that Astra represents "a new frontier on computer and browser use," and that it handles tasks with unmatched "speed, accuracy, and safety." Read More

AfterQuery reportedly becomes Y Combinator's fastest-ever unicorn, now valued at $3.2B: AI model-training startup AfterQuery has reportedly raised a round that valued it at $3.2 billion, just five months after announcing its $30 million Series A at a $300 million valuation in April. Read More

Get Your Startup in Front of the Disrupt Crowds

TechCrunch's Expo Hall in motion in 2025

Not everyone needs a keynote slot to make noise at Disrupt 2026. Sometimes the best way to meet investors, customers, and partners is by exhibiting directly in the Expo Hall.

And by exhibiting, you get 10 passes to Disrupt to share with your team!

Learn More

Last but Not Least

No little kids allowed, and other new info about Tesla's Cybercab: The company says no children under 13 can ride -- even with a parent. That's more restrictive than the Model Y SUVs it's using as robotaxis. Read More

Check out some of our other newsletters:

StrictlyVC

TechCrunch Events

TechCrunch Mobility

Got a tip?
Get in touch securely.

Want to advertise on TechCrunch?

Has this been forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.

Unsubscribe

Member Center

501 2nd Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94107