August 19, 2026

TechCrunch Top 3

T-Mobile 'chopped a cable' to expel Chinese hackers from its network: The U.S. phone provider escaped a large-scale breach of its network after identifying Chinese-backed hackers early on. Read More

AI was supposed to win people over by now -- it hasn't: As AI becomes harder to avoid, consumers are growing more wary of the technology — and Silicon Valley is discovering that widespread adoption doesn’t necessarily lead to acceptance. Read More

Google packs Search and Gemini with new AI study tools: The launch of the new study features marks Google's latest effort to make Gemini the AI assistant that students turn to when learning and studying, as it continues to compete with companies like OpenAI. Read More

Afternoon Must-Reads

Home batteries are suddenly cheap and everywhere. Here’s why.: Companies including Tesla and Base Power are vying for a piece of the rapidly growing market for home batteries. One technology has made it all possible. Read More

Gwyneth Paltrow allegedly set to throw dinner in honor of Sam Altman: The actress' firm Kinship Ventures is an investor in the company. Read More

Rillet raises $100M Series C at $1B valuation — 2 years after emerging from stealth: AI-native account startup Rillet became a unicorn, led by Iconiq, after it doubled its ARR in the past three months, it said. Read More

Rivian spinout Also raises another $150M: The round, led by Prysm Capital, will fund the company's expansion beyond pedal-assist electric bikes and commercial cargo quads to autonomous delivery vehicles. Read More

Amazon’s Prime Air is taking off in nearly 500 US cities: Amazon is significantly expanding its Prime Air drone delivery service, with plans to reach nearly 500 U.S. cities by the end of 2026. Read More

Last but Not Least

TerraPower’s nuclear reactor has a secret weapon for powering AI data centers: TerraPower's nuclear power plant possesses a strategic advantage over competitors, especially when chasing after data center deals. Read More

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