Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

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April 02, 2026

 

TechCrunch Top 3

Microsoft takes on AI rivals with three new foundational models

Microsoft takes on AI rivals with three new foundational models: MAI released models that can transcribe voice into text as well as generate audio and images after the group's formation six months ago. Read More

NASA astronauts prove that sending an email really is rocket science: NASA Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman faced the most earthly possible conflict while in outer space: his Outlook wasn't working. Read More

OpenAI acquires TBPN, the buzzy founder-led business talk show: TBPN, Silicon Valley's cult-favorite tech podcast, will operate independently, even as it's overseen by chief political operative Chris Lehane. Read More

Disrupt 2026: Where deals and ideas ignite

Oct 13–15 at San Francisco's Moscone West, 10,000 founders, investors, and operators gather for high-signal insights, curated connections, and real momentum.

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A message from Stripe

Complimentary pass to Sessions with code s26techcrunch100

Join Stripe at Sessions 2026—the internet economy conference—happening April 29–30 in San Francisco. Join fellow business leaders, founders, and developers to explore the latest in financial technology, global commerce, and strategies for growth. Register with code s26techcrunch100 for a complimentary pass.

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Afternoon Must-Reads

Tesla’s cheaper vehicles aren’t helping its declining sales

Tesla’s cheaper vehicles aren’t helping its declining sales: The company's deliveries in the first quarter were just 6% higher than last year, and Tesla now faces a third straight year of falling sales. Read More

Cash App launches 'pay later' feature for P2P transfers: Block says that the new feature has strong built-in protections to keep users from so-called debt spirals. Read More

Telehealth giant Hims & Hers says its customer support system was hacked: The U.S. telehealth giant says hackers stole customer support ticket data over the course of several days in February. Read More

Artemis II is NASA’s last moon mission without Silicon Valley : Next time around, the pressure will be on SpaceX and Blue Origin. Read More

ElevenLabs releases a new AI-powered music-generation app: ElevenMusic lets users create and remix songs using text prompts. The new app suggests ElevenLabs wants to be more than just a voice model company. Read More

A message from Stripe

Complimentary pass to Sessions with code s26techcrunch100

Join Stripe at Sessions 2026—the internet economy conference—happening April 29–30 in San Francisco. Join fellow business leaders, founders, and developers to explore the latest in financial technology, global commerce, and strategies for growth. Register with code s26techcrunch100 for a complimentary pass.

Register Now

You missed these chats from Disrupt:

Kindred talks home-swapping platform for travelers, Chef Robotics introduces AI into commercial kitchens, and Character.AI addresses chatbot safety with teens.

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Last but Not Least

United's mobile app now shows TSA wait times at select airports

United's mobile app now shows TSA wait times at select airports: The TSA wait times feature is one of many new additions to the United app, including automatic rebooking assistance and real-time time weather radar maps. Read More

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