Latest AI News
China’s Moonshot AI raises $2B at $20B valuation as demand for open source AI skyrockets
Chinese AI companies may not be swimming in as much cash as their Western rivals, but their open source models are still facing no shortage of interest from those who don’t mind a performance hit in exchange for cheap inference. And investors are taking notice. Moonshot AI, the Beijing-based AI lab developing the popular Kimi series of open-weight large language models, has raised about $2 billion at a valuation of $20 billion, according to apostby Huafeng Capital, which advised some investors who participated in the round. The round was led by Chinese food delivery company Meituan’s VC arm, Long-Z Investment, a spokesperson told TechCrunch. Also participating were Tsinghua Capital, China Mobile, and CPE Yuanfeng, according to the post. The company raised $3.9 billion over the past six months, according to Huafeng Capital. Moonshot was valued at $4.3 billion at the end of 2025,per reports, and by early 2026, that figure had more than doubled to$10 billionfollowing a $700 million raise. Moonshot AI was founded in 2023 by Yang Zhilin, a former Meta AI and Google Brain researcher, and quickly became one of China’s most popular AI labs after itsopen-weight Kimi K2.5large language model took the coding world by storm earlier this year, nearly topping benchmarks and posting performance figures close to that of Open AI and Anthropic’s models at the time. The company’s latest model, Kimi K2.6, is currently the second-most used LLM on distribution platformOpenRouter. The fundraising comes as investor appetite for open-weight AI models made by Chinese labs surges. Moonshot’s annual recurring revenue topped $200 million in April, driven by rapid growth in paid subscriptions and API usage, per the financial advisor’s post. DeepSeek, perhaps the most popular Chinese AI lab, isreportedlyin talks to raise outside capital for the first time, at a valuation of about $45 billion. Some of Moonshot’s rivals have even gone public on the back of demand for their AI models. Zhipu AI,which trades in Hong Kong as Knowledge Atlas Technology, ended Thursday with a market cap of HK$434.7 billion (roughly $55.9 billion), whileMiniMaxended the day at HK$257.3 billion ($33 billion), after both stocks rallied on new model releases. Moonshot’s Kimi models compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude, as well as ByteDance’s Doubao, Alibaba’s Qwen, Zhipu’s Z.ai, and DeepSeek. Moonshot’s backers include Alibaba, Tencent, HongShan (formerly known as Sequoia China), ZhenFund, IDG Capital, and 5Y Capital.
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2 days left: Get 50% off a second pass to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
Two days. That’s all that’s left to lock in your place — with your partner, co-founder, or colleague — atTechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Right now, you canbuy one pass and get 50% off a second of the same ticket type, but that offer ends May 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT. After that, prices go up, and the opportunity to show up with more perspective, more context, and more clarity disappears with it. At this stage, the advantage comes down to how quickly you leave with a clear sense of what to do next, which is whysecuring your pass nowand deciding who to bring with you matters more than waiting. Success in the startup ecosystem depends on knowing what to do next — and moving on it with confidence. Across founders, investors, and operators, the challenge isn’t a lack of ideas. It’s clarity. There are too many signals, too many opinions, and too many possible directions. Product decisions stall. Investment timing stretches. Execution slows, not because the path isn’t there, but because it isn’t obvious. Disruptcompresses that uncertainty into three days of high-impact programming, unparalleled networking, and real-time insight from the people actively shaping the market, giving you access to clarity that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere, and even harder to access if you wait past the May 8 deadline tosecure your second pass for 50% off. You’ll hear directly from leaders like: See who else is speaking in the growing lineup. One of the biggest advantages of being atDisruptis witnessing how decisions actually happen. Startup Battlefield 200makes that clear. As founders pitch live in front of seasoned VC judges and a global audience, you’re not just watching — you’re seeing what gets challenged, what resonates, and what ultimately stands out. That level of transparency is hard to replicate elsewhere, which is exactly why being in the room — and locking in your pass while you can stillbring someone with you for 50% off— matters more than trying to piece these signals together after the fact. What makesDisruptdifferent isn’t any one session — it’s how patterns emerge across them. You hear one perspective, test it in a roundtable, and see it reinforced — or challenged — in conversation later that day. Over time, the signal becomes clear. For founders, that might mean refining product direction. For investors, spotting what stands out. For operators, pressure-testing how to build and scale. Bringing a co-founder, operator, or partner accelerates that clarity. You compare interpretations in real time, challenge assumptions, and make better decisions while the context is still fresh — an advantage you can only lock in by securing your placebefore the 50% off a second pass offer ends. All passes are eligible for thebuy one, get one 50% off discount— so you can bring someone in your role or a complementary one and get more out of every conversation. But only if you act by May 8. Founder Pass— Made for startup builders. Access investor meetings, the Deal Flow Café, curated networking, and programming on scaling, fundraising, and growth. Investor Pass— Designed for VCs and angels. Connect directly with founders, access curated deal flow, and participate in investor-focused sessions and networking. Attendee Pass— Ideal for operators and builders. Full access to stages, breakouts, roundtables, and networking to understand what’s working across the ecosystem. Non-profit Pass— Tailored for mission-driven organizations. Explore how emerging tech applies to your work and connect with builders and partners. Expo+ Pass— Focused access to the Expo Hall, breakouts, and networking. Ideal for scouting talent, products, and emerging companies. Thesecond pass at 50% off dealends May 8 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If Disrupt is already on your radar, the decision now isn’t whether to attend — it’s whether you’re willing to move faster than the people who wait — especially when, for the next two days, you still have the opportunity to bring someone with you at 50% off.Register before this week ends to get these savings. Because once the offer ends, you’re not just paying more — you’re making your next set of decisions without the clarity everyone else is working from.
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Aurora’s Chris Urmson on why self-driving trucks are finally ready to scale
Self-driving has been “almost here” for over a decade. But somewhere between DARPA challenges and a handful of driverless trucks hauling freight between Dallas and Houston, Aurora co-founder and CEOChris Urmson’s story changed. The self-driving truck company started commercial driverless operations last April and is now scaling from a handful of trucks to hundreds this year. On this episode of TechCrunch’sEquitypodcast, we’re bringing you a conversation Rebecca Bellan had with Urmson at theHumanXconference in San Francisco. The pair dug into the long road from lab to highway and how physical AI differs from the LLM boom everyone else is chasing. Listen to the full episode to hear about: Subscribe to Equity onYouTube,Apple Podcasts,Overcast,Spotifyand all the casts. You also can follow Equity onXandThreads, at @EquityPod.
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Exhibit at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: Get in front of 10,000 decision-makers before space runs out
You can spend months trying to get in front of the right people. Or you can show up where they’re already looking. AtTechCrunch Disrupt 2026, more than 10,000 founders, investors, and operators will gather at Moscone West from October 13–15. And at the center of it all — where deals start, conversations accelerate, and new companies get discovered — is the Expo Hall. If startup visibility, traction, and real conversations matter, you should be on the Disrupt exhibit floor, not on the sidelines.Get your exhibit table at Disrupt before your competitor does. Disruptisn’t a passive audience; it’s an active ecosystem. Investors, operators, and decision-makers don’t just walk the floor. They show up with intent. They’re there to: That intent is what makes the Exhibitor Program work. Instead of waiting to be discovered, you’re positioned directly in the path of: This isn’t just visibility. It’s proximity to opportunity. Exhibit tables are limited.Find out how to reserve an exhibit table. An exhibit table atDisruptis the entry point, but the value comes from everything around it. For $12,500, your team is set up for three full days in the Expo Hall, the highest-traffic area of Disrupt, with a fully branded 6’ table, signage, and seating included. More importantly, you’re equipped to operate beyond the booth. Your Disrupt exhibit package includes: That means your team isn’t limited to one spot; you’re moving through the event, joining conversations, and meeting people where decisions are actually made. You also get: Along with: Everything is set up to make sure you’re visible, credible, and easy to find.Reserve your exhibit table at Disrupt. Startups return to exhibit atDisruptyear after year because the results are tangible: qualified foot traffic, high-value conversations, and real opportunities. Startups come to: And they’re doing it inside a highly concentrated environment: That level of density changes the timeline. Conversations that might take months to initiate can start — and move — within days. Don’t be the last to reserve an exhibit table.See what you get as an exhibitor. The Expo Hall at Disrupt brings opportunity into clear view. This is where: Ideas move quickly here, from introduction to conversation to opportunity. If your company is building something real, this is where it gets seen.Reserve an exhibit table while you still can. The Exhibitor Program at Disrupt is open to startups at any stage and across any industry. It’s most valuable for teams that are ready to: If timing matters — and it usually does — this is a direct way to compress it.See exhibit details and deadlines. There is a limited number of 6’ exhibit tables available, and no extensions. They are: Once they’re gone, there’s no additional inventory. If you’re serious about growth, don’t wait. Disrupt is where startups get discovered, where conversations turn into capital, and where products find their market. The Expo Hall is where those conversations start. If you’re not on the floor, you’re not part of them.Join us as an exhibitor. You can spend months trying to get in front of the right people. Or you can spend three days at Disrupt and meet them all in one place. Secure your exhibit tablebefore space runs out.
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Startup Battlefield 200 applications close May 27: A shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, and $100K
Startup Battlefield 200applications are open, but only for three more weeks. Apply by May 27 for your shot at VC access, global visibility, TechCrunch coverage, $100,000 equity-free, and more opportunities for major scaling impact. Pre-Series A founders — and anyone who knows a startup worth backing — this is your reminder: The deadline is approaching fast, and the strongest contenders are already entering the arena. If your startup has been nominated, don’t wait.Complete your application now before the window closes. Know a startup that deserves to step into the spotlight?Nominate themnow to give them time to complete the application by the deadline. This is not just another pitch competition. Startup Battlefield 200 puts you on the main stage atTechCrunch Disrupt 2026in front of 10,000+ attendees, top-tier investors, media, and the global TechCrunch audience. You are competing live, getting direct VC feedback, and proving your company belongs among the next breakout startups. Waiting until the last minute is the fastest way to lose your edge. Early applicants have more time to prepare, more opportunities to stand out to the TechCrunch editorial team, and a stronger chance to make an impact before the competition intensifies.Nominate your startup, then finish the job and apply. We’re looking for ambitious early-stage startups building innovative, potentially category-defining products. Applications are open globally across every industry. Most selected companies are pre-Series A, though select Series A startups may qualify case by case. A functional MVP and clear product demo are required. Most importantly, we’re looking for founders building with vision, execution, and real market impact. This is the same launchpad wherecompanies like Dropbox, Discord, Fitbit, Trello, and Mint gained early momentum. Thousands apply every year. Only 200 are selected. Just 20 finalists pitch live on the Disrupt Stage. One startup takes the crown. Selected startups receive one of the highest ROI opportunities available to early-stage founders. It’s free to apply, and the potential return — from investor exposure to media coverage and customer growth — can create real scaling impact. Applications close May 27. The founders who break through are not waiting until the final hour — they are already making their move. If you are building something category-defining, or know a founder who is, now is the time to step forward.Nominateyour startup — or one that deserves the spotlight — andcomplete your applicationbefore the deadline runs out.
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How Anthropic’s Mythos has rewritten Firefox’s approach to cybersecurity
When Anthropic unveiled its new Mythos model in April, it also delivered a stern warning to anyone developing software. The model was so powerful at sniffing out software vulnerabilities,the lab claimed, that it had discovered thousands of high-severity bugs that would need to be fixed before it could be made public. Now, security researchers for Mozilla’s Firefox browser are providing a closer look at what that process has looked like in practice, and what Mythos’ powers mean for software security at large. In a post published on Thursday, Mozilla said Mythos has unearthed a wealth of high-severity bugs, including some that had lain dormant in the code for more than a decade. That’s a significant improvement from what AI security tools were capable of even six months ago. Until now, AI bug-finding tools have come with severe drawbacks, often inundating security teams withlow quality reports and false positives. But Mozilla’s researchers say the latest generation of tools have turned a corner, particularly now that agentic systems can assess their own work and filter out bad results. “It is difficult to overstate how much this dynamic changed for us over a few short months,” the researchers wrote. “First, the models got a lot more capable. Second, we dramatically improved our techniques forharnessingthese models.” The results are striking: In April 2026, Firefox shipped 423 bug fixes, compared to just 31 exactly a year earlier. The researchers have also published details on 12 of the bugs, which range from a pair of unusual sandbox vulnerabilities, to a 15-year-old error in how the browser parses an HTML element. “These things are actually just suddenly very good,” Brian Grinstead, a distinguished engineer at Mozilla, told TechCrunch. “We see that on our own internal scanning, we see that on external bug reports, and we see that in all sorts of signals across the industry.” The fact that the system helped reveal vulnerabilities in Firefox’s “sandbox” system is particularly impressive, given how intricate an attack that exploits it needs to be. To find sandbox vulnerabilities, the model must write a compromised patch for the browser, then attack the most secure part of the software with the new code implemented. Finding and demonstrating the bug is a delicate, multi-step process, requiring both creativity and close attention. To put this into context,Mozilla’s bug bounty programpays researchers who can find a bug in Firefox’s sandbox up to $20,000 — the highest reward available. Despite the top-dollar bounty, however, Grinstead says Mythos is finding more sandbox issues than human researchers ever did. “We do get them,” he told TechCrunch, “but not at the volume that we are able to find with this technique.” Notably, the Firefox team still isn’t using AI to fix the bugs, despite well-documented progress in AI coding tools. The team does ask AI to code up patches for each bug, but the resulting code usually can’t be deployed directly, and instead serves as a model for a human engineer. “For the bugs we’re talking about in this post, every single one is one engineer writing a patch and one engineer reviewing it,” Grinstead says. “We have not found it to be automatable.” It’s still not clear how AI’s emerging capabilities will change the broader balance of power in cybersecurity. One month since Mythos was previewed, most of the bugs discovered likely haven’t been patched, which makes it hard to capture the full scope of their impact. Anthropic has been scrupulous about following responsible disclosure norms, but it’s likely bad actors are using similar techniques behind the scenes, even if the models they’re using aren’t quite as good. Speaking ata recent event, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei was optimistic that the new tools would ultimately favor defenders. “If we handle this right, we could be in a better position than we started, because we fixed all these bugs. There are only so many bugs to find,” Amodei said. “So I think there’s a better world on the other side of this.” Having dealt with the gritty details, Grinstead has a more measured view: “It’s useful for both attackers and defenders, but having the tool available shifts the advantage a little bit to defense. Realistically, nobody knows the answer to this yet.”
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Spotify’s AI DJ now supports French, German, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese
Spotify said on Thursday that its interactive AI DJ feature now supports four additional languages: French, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese. Until now, the feature, which you can interact with to request songs and get AI-powered spoken commentary, was only available in English and Spanish. The company said the AI DJs have different names and personalities to suit their respective languages: Maia, Ben, Alex, and Dani. Besides expanding support for new languages, the company is bringing the feature to Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, South Korea and Switzerland. The AI DJ is now available in more than 75 countries. Spotify’s initial version of the AI DJ used to just provide commentary on songs while playing tracks that users would like. But over the last few years, the company has made attempts to make the feature more interactive. In May 2025, the streaming service updated the feature tolet users chat with the AI DJ and make requeststo change the mood or genre. The company also added the ability toprompt the AI DJto play tracks, similar to how ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini operate. The company has been adding more AI features to the app, such as the ability to createcustom playlists of songs or podcastsby simply describing what they want to listen to.
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Big Tech is Panic Building Its Own OpenClaw
OpenClaw may still be early and imperfect, but it has clearly pushed Silicon Valley to rethink what AI assistants could eventually become.
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Ecofy Pulls In $15 Mn From Mirova to Deepen India's Green Lending Stack
Green-only NBFC Ecofy is doubling down on distributed clean energy finance.
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Vi Partners With PhysicsWallah to Bundle Mobile Data With Competitive Exam Prep
The educational material spans kindergarten to Class 12, along with preparation for examinations such as JEE, NEET, UPSC, CUET, GATE, Olympiads and defence entrance tests.
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Yellow.ai Launches Multilingual Voice AI Platform With Cloning Support
Yellow.ai’s enterprise voice AI system is built as a fully integrated architecture for speech recognition, conversational AI, and voice synthesis.
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InMobi Acquires AI-Powered iOS Growth Platform MobileAction for Ad Intelligence
InMobi expects the acquisition to strengthen its advertising capabilities.
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