ARS
Ukraine’s drone strikes spur hasty Russian plans for underground data centers
Russia tries to fix exposed digital infrastructure as data center war backfires.
TC
Hiding inside Palantir’s skyrocketing quarter is a foreboding signal
Palantir's U.S. commercial revenue surpassed U.S. government revenue for the first time ever.
TC
Ted Schlein’s Ballistic Ventures seeks $490M for new funds amid AI-driven cybersecurity boom
Cybersecurity focused Ballistic Ventures is seeking to raise $360 million for a new flagship fund and another $130 million for a separate investment vehicle.
OpenAI Appoints Former Uber President Jill Hazelbaker as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Filling Role Vacant for Nearly a Year
OpenAI has named former Uber President Jill Hazelbaker as its Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, filling a position that had been vacant since early 2026. The appointment comes as the company faces intensifying regulatory scrutiny in Europe and the United States.
The Real Leverage Behind Google’s Concession to Schools: Ban AI, Lose Search
Google will let K–12 schools disable AI tools such as Gemini and NotebookLM by default, but schools that fully ban AI will also lose access to Google Search. The policy reveals how search has become the gateway to Google’s AI ecosystem—and how platform control works in education.
Research Lab
WDCD Run #411: GPT-6 Astra Leads with 90.5 Points as Average Instruction Decay Hits -80%
WDCD Run #411 (2026-11-04) tested 15 models across three dialogue rounds, recording an average commitment decay of -80% between R1 and R3. GPT-6 Astra topped the leaderboard at 90.5 points, with Gemini 3.1 Pro and GLM-4.6 tied at 90.
TC
Netflix’s new AI Discover tab helps you find something to watch based on your mood
The first experimental feature under the tab will allow users to get recommendations based on what they're currently in the mood for.
TC
AI inference startup Fal doubles its valuation to $16B as demand surges
The five-year-old startup raised a $1.3 billion round led by Bessemer.
GPT-5.5 Tops the List at 94.8: 2026-11-04 Smoke Quick Test Data Brief
The 2026-11-04 YZ Index Smoke Quick Test covered 12 models, with GPT-5.5 ranking first for the day at 94.8. The daily 10-question test is a short-term signal and is not equivalent to the weekly Full ranking.
TC
Google will let schools disable its AI tools, but not without sacrificing Search
Schools choosing to restrict AI altogether will no longer be able to access Google Search, as AI features are now integrated into the search engine.
TC
Anthropic is still grappling with the economics of compute
At a moment when Anthropic's compute margins should be getting better, they’re getting worse.
ARS
Google will let schools skip AI tools, but they have to give up search, too
Google will offer schools AI tools that purportedly don't give away the answers.
TC
The TechCrunch Founder Summit agenda is only half the reason to be in Boston on Nov. 4
On Nov. 4, TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 brings founders and VCs to Boston's SoWa Power Station for practical insights and connections. Register before prices increase at the door.
WD
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Use AI to Vote
From hallucinations to partisan bias, artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude are not helpful when it comes to Election Day.
TC
Apple restricts dating apps and AI companions to users 18 and up
Apple's new App Store rules will require 18+ ratings for dating apps and AI companions that offer sexual or romantic content.
MIT
The Download: controlling AI agents and “Super Intelligence” loyalty tests
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. How “reverse game theory” could keep AI agents in check A new approach known as “reverse game theory” aims to control powerful AI models by designing systems that incentivize them to…
TC
Tomorrow: TechCrunch Founder Summit takes over Boston and when pass rates increase
Secure your TechCrunch Founder Summit pass savings before prices increase tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET. Save up to $100 on your pass, and get a second for free.
Bounties Quadruple and Former DOGE Staff Are Hired to Attack Itself: Where Does OpenAI’s Security Anxiety Come From?
OpenAI raised its vulnerability bounty by more than fourfold and brought in Cathedral Systems to use OpenAI’s own models in an AI-versus-AI security sprint, after two high-profile breaches exposed AI API keys and customer data. The moves suggest a rapid response to growing attacks on AI infrastructure rather than routine quarterly iteration.
MIT
How “reverse game theory” could keep AI agents in check
A new approach known as “reverse game theory” aims to create incentives for powerful AI models that make following the rules the most rational choice. As AI models become more capable, safety researchers are scrambling to ensure they are “aligned” with human desires—to make sure, in other words, that rogue agents don’t break the law,…
WD
‘Our Risk, Their Reward’: Zohran Mamdani on AI and Data Centers
Ahead of the midterms, WIRED talked to New York City’s mayor about data centers, AI in schools, and the future of the Democratic party.