US News

Perplexity has introduced a new product called Computer, an AI agent designed to carry out tasks by coordinating multiple AI models under one subscription. The new offering positions Perplexity beyond its core AI search product and into software that can execute work on a user’s behalf. In reports about the launch, Computer is described as…

Employees at Google and OpenAI have signed an open letter backing Anthropic’s position in a dispute with the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safeguards, aligning themselves with the AI company’s call for clear limits in military-related AI contracts. The letter, circulated among workers at the two tech firms, expresses support for Anthropic as it faces pressure…

TechCrunch is urging readers to act quickly as the final 24-hour window opens to buy TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 tickets at what it calls the lowest rates of the year. The notice applies to TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, the company’s flagship startup and venture conference. TechCrunch said the discounted pricing is available for a limited time, and…

OpenAI has raised $110 billion in a private funding round, one of the largest such financings on record, according to recent reports. The deal adds major new capital to one of the most closely watched companies in artificial intelligence. The funding round was reported by TechCrunch and CNBC, with CNBC saying the investment included backing…

Microsoft has introduced Copilot Tasks, a new capability that lets its Copilot AI carry out work by using its own computer to complete actions on a user’s behalf. The company described Copilot Tasks as a shift from getting answers to getting actions completed. Instead of only responding in a chat, the AI can work in…

State Farm says it will return $5 billion to its auto insurance customers through what it described as the largest dividend in the company’s history, with an average refund of about $100 per customer. The company’s announcement outlines a broad, nationwide payout tied to State Farm’s auto line. The dividend is expected to reach customers…

Former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach is being framed anew as the United States heads deeper into a debate over its role in the world, with a prominent new assessment arguing his agenda amounts to a bid to revive a more imperial model of American power. The argument, published by The New York Times…

Apple said iPhone and iPad devices have been approved to handle some classified information, marking a new step in allowing widely used consumer hardware to be used for sensitive official work. The approval applies to NATO information classified at the “restricted” level, according to Apple and multiple published reports about the announcement. Apple said the…

The Trump administration has enacted a six-month moratorium on Medicaid payments to Minnesota, halting federal funds to the state program as federal officials cite fraud concerns. The move puts Minnesota’s Medicaid funding under a temporary freeze, affecting payments that typically flow from the federal government to support health coverage for eligible residents. The moratorium applies…

Multiple outlets published reviews and recaps of “The Pitt” Season 2, Episode 8, titled “2:00 PM,” with critics focusing on an episode that steers the season in a more analog, old-school direction while centering heavy character material. The episode, labeled “2:00 PM,” drew coverage from IGN, The New York Times, AV Club, Vulture, FilmSpeak, Tell-Tale…

A man was arrested on a reported DUI outside the home of Nancy Guthrie, according to TMZ, in the latest law enforcement activity tied to a property that has drawn sustained public attention. TMZ reported the arrest occurred outside Guthrie’s home and involved an alleged drunken driving incident. The report did not identify the man…

Plaid has been valued at $8 billion in an employee share sale, according to recent reports on the transaction. The deal was structured as a tender offer, a type of secondary transaction that allows employees to sell some of their existing shares to buyers. Plaid is a financial technology company known for building infrastructure that…