How Startups Win Customers Without Going Viral: Lessons from Disrupt 2026

Founders at TechCrunch Disrupt revealed that a mix of targeted influencer programs, old‑school outbound sales, and data‑driven evangelism can secure early customers without relying on viral hype.

Made by Google '26: Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, and Gemini Features Take Center Stage

Google's latest event unveiled the Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and new Gemini-powered features, marking a significant upgrade in the company's AI capabilities and device offerings.

Google Ditches Visible Watermarks on AI-Generated Media

Google will now allow users to remove visible watermarks from AI-generated content, striking a balance between creative control and safety.

Hyperscalers' Natural Gas Gamble May Backfire as Prices Are Expected to Triple

Hyperscalers like Amazon, Google, and Meta are betting on natural gas to power their AI ambitions, but a new report suggests this gamble may backfire as prices are expected to triple in the coming years.

Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin Spends $100 Million to Avoid California's Billionaire Tax

Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder, has donated an additional $20 million to an organization opposing California's proposed billionaire tax, bringing his total contribution to over $100 million. The tax, known as Prop 40, would impose a 5% tax on the net worth of around 200 billionaires residing in the state.

Google Simplifies Fast Device Sharing with Improved Quick Share Feature

Google enhances device-to-device sharing capabilities, bringing the Pixel lineup closer to iPhone features.

Made by Google '26: Pixel 11, Pixel Watch 5, and Gemini-Powered Features

Google unveiled the Pixel 11 series, Pixel Watch 5, and new Gemini features at its Made by Google event. The Pixel 11 boasts a thinner camera bar, improved storage, and a higher starting price.

Google's New Pixel 11 Pro Fold Offers Improved Build, Brighter Screens, and Enhanced Cameras

The new Pixel 11 Pro Fold boasts a stronger build, a brighter display, and improved cameras, but comes with a higher price tag. Google has also tweaked the design, making it 1mm thinner and roughly 20 grams lighter.

Google Takes Aim at Apple AirTag with Affordable Pixel Tag

Google has unveiled the Pixel Tag, a budget-friendly alternative to Apple's AirTag, offering Android users a way to track valuable items using the Find Hub network.

Google's Pixel 11 Lineup Brings More Intelligent AI Features, Few Hardware Changes

Google's latest Pixel 11 series brings more Gemini features, including live translation, transcription, and a new camera feature, but few hardware changes from its predecessor.

Google's Gemini App Reaches 1 Billion Monthly Active Users

Google's Gemini app has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, marking a significant milestone for the company. This growth is keeping pace with OpenAI's ChatGPT and highlights Google's efforts to integrate Gemini across its products.

Sergey Brin Spends $100 Million to Avoid California's Proposed Billionaire Tax

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has donated another $20 million to an organization advocating against California's proposed billionaire tax, bringing his total spending to over $100 million.

Google Adds Venmo as Payment Option on Google Play

Google has introduced Venmo as a payment option on Google Play, allowing users to pay for digital content and subscriptions with their Venmo wallets or linked payment methods.

Google's AI Pioneer Jeff Dean Leaps to New Startup, Aims to Turbocharge Scientific Research

Jeff Dean and other top AI researchers leave Google to launch Discovery Loop, a public benefit corporation seeking to revolutionize the scientific research process using AI.

Google's Hacker Hunter Explains Why Hacking Groups Get Codenames

Google's top hacker hunter, Shane Huntley, explains the importance of naming hacking groups and the challenges of tracking them.

Google Uncovers Sophisticated Hacking Groups Targeting Financial Firms

Google's security researchers have identified four hacking groups using voice phishing techniques to extort financial firms, with one group receiving $10 million in Bitcoin earlier this year.

Exclusive: Mirendil Inks $100M+ Google Cloud Deal to Scale Self-Improving AI

In a significant deal, AI lab Mirendil has partnered with Google Cloud to source compute capacity for its self-improving AI research, marking a major trend in the AI industry. The $100M+ deal gives Mirendil access to Google's TPUs and Nvidia GPUs, as well as managed training clusters.

Google AI Researcher Jeff Dean Leaves to Launch New Startup Discovery Loop

Jeff Dean, a top AI researcher at Google, is stepping down to launch a new startup called Discovery Loop, which aims to use AI to accelerate scientific research.

Google Scraps AI Image Generation Feature in Google Earth Amid Misinformation Concerns

Google's AI image generator, Nano Banana 2, was rolled out in Google Earth, but concerns over misinformation led to its swift removal.

Reddit's Strong Quarter Marred by Signs of AI's Impact on Traffic

Reddit reported a 61% revenue jump, but investors were spooked by the company's mention of 'choppy' search traffic. This may be a sign that AI is changing the search landscape.