September 29, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

OpenAI takes on Microsoft with the launch of what feels a whole lot like ChatGPT's own office suite: OpenAI's newly announced suite of office features puts it into more direct competition with more traditional software companies. Read More

Apple Pay set to launch in India with Axis Bank today, sources say: Some of India's largest banks are holding off on supporting Apple Pay initially. Read More

Tesla secures $30B in new credit lines as it looks to scale Cybercab, Optimus: The company says it won't draw on the new debt facilities this year, as it has already planned at least $25 billion in capital expenditures. Read More

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Afternoon Must-Reads

OpenAI launches Dots, its bubbly agentic avatar: Dots are meant to operate independent of any specific hardware or interface, pursuing user-defined goals continuously in the background with minimal oversight. Read More

OpenAI launches GPT-6.1 Sol, says it nearly matches GPT-6 Astra and costs less: OpenAI says GPT-6.1 Sol delivers significant improvements over GPT-6 Sol across complex professional tasks, including code writing and debugging, document understanding, and executing multi-step business workflows. Read More

OpenAI's latest features take direct aim at the app store model: OpenAI is building out the pieces of an alternative to the traditional app store model, turning ChatGPT into a place where software can be discovered and used by people and AI agents alike. Read More

Still running iOS 26? Update your iPhones, iPads, and Macs for this urgent security fix: Apple says the bug was used to attack "specific targeted individuals" running iOS 26, which the majority of Apple customers are still using. Read More

OpenAI repotedly in talks to raise $30B round at $1.4T valuation: The new round is anticipated to be the company's last before its delayed 2027 public debut. Read More

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Last but Not Least

OpenAI expands ChatGPT's plugins with app-like interfaces and automations: OpenAI is expanding ChatGPT plugins with dedicated sidebar homes, interactive panels, file viewers, improved discovery, and support for automations. Read More

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