August 13, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

Some Claude users are mad that Anthropic's new watermarks will catch them using it at their jobs, classes: Is Anthropic's new watermarking system a travesty? Some have taken to social media to complain that it is. Read More

In a first, US will allow some private firms to carry out cyberattacks: The new order sweeps away decades of existing U.S. cybersecurity policy prohibiting private companies from conducting 'hack back' attacks or offensive cyber operations. Read More

Apple in talks to pay publishers to provide Siri with current news: report: The tech giant has considered a nine-figure budget for the payments, according to the WSJ. Read More

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Morning Must-Reads

AI coding startup Cognition reportedly already in talks to raise at $40B valuation: Cognition may be looking to raise another mega round just a few months after raising $1 billion at a $26 billion valuation. Read More

OpenAI-backed Thrive Holdings raises $2B to bring AI to the enterprise: Thrive Holdings has raised $2 billion in new funding at a $12 billion valuation from investors like SoftBank, D1 Capital Partners, and Altimeter Capital. Read More

Amazon will train on Twitch streamers' content by default, unless they opt out: "If this was opt-in, nobody would opt in," Twitch CPO Mike Minton said on a livestream responding to user feedback. "That's honestly the answer." Read More

Can social media start over? Bluesky's CEO and COO deliver their case at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 : Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider is joined by COO Rose Wang for a Disrupt Stage session on whether social media can start over and where Bluesky fits into that potential reboot. Read More

Mesh, Automattic's CRM for everyone, comes to Android: Mesh, an AI-powered contacts app and relationship manager from Automattic, is now an Android app. Read More

Last but Not Least

Northrop's robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer: The Mission Robotic Vehicle is making the first attempt to attach a new thruster to an aging satellite. Read More

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