Today on TechCrunch as of 3PM PST

BySteve LachMar 10, 2025

Generated at 3:00 PM PST. Here’s everything you need to know from the latest headlines. Let’s dive in! 👇

🚀 Technology & Innovation

Daqus Energy’s Breakthrough EV Battery:
- A new battery material, TAQ, could make EVs cheaper, lighter, and charge in 6 minutes.
- Uses carbon-based compounds instead of expensive minerals like nickel or cobalt.
- Still early, but automakers are watching closely.
Surf Browser Integrates Bluesky:
- Now supports Bluesky logins, custom feeds, and content filtering.
- Users can block politics, Elon Musk, or even entire topics.
- Plans to expand beyond iOS and Apple’s TestFlight limits.
Microsoft’s 3D Gaming for Copilot:
- A job listing hints at AI-powered browser-based gaming using Babylon.js and Unity.
- Microsoft’s AI model, Muse, could create interactive experiences in real time.

PowerSchool’s Data Breach Started Months Before Detection:
- Hackers accessed PowerSchool’s network as early as August 2024.
- Used compromised support credentials—left unaddressed for months.
- Breach affected 60 million students.
X (formerly Twitter) Hit by Major Outages:
- Elon Musk blames a “massive cyberattack,” but offers no evidence.
- Outages lasted hours, primarily affecting U.S. users.
Voice Cloning Tools Have Weak Security:
- Most AI voice cloning platforms lack strong verification checks.
- Consumer Reports warns they could “supercharge” impersonation scams.

Insight VC: Why Founders Struggle to Raise Big Rounds:
- Startups outside AI can still raise money—just need strong financial clarity.
- Investors now prioritize cash flow, customer retention, and profitability over hype.
AI-Driven Trucking Insurance Startup Nirvana Raises $80M:
- Valued at $830M; uses AI & telematics to provide flexible insurance.
- Comes as U.S. trucking faces uncertainty over new trade tariffs.
ServiceNow Buys Moveworks for $2.85B:
- Strengthens ServiceNow’s AI-powered automation portfolio.
- Moveworks provides enterprise search and workflow automation.
AI-Powered Virtual Influencer Startup AvatarOS Raises $7M:
- Founded by creator of Lil Miquela; aims for hyper-realistic digital avatars.
- Plans to commercialize 3D avatars for brands and content creators.

Rocket Companies Acquires Redfin for $1.75B:
- Home search & mortgage financing merge into one platform.
- Redfin valued at $12.50 per share, a 63% premium over recent prices.

Neom’s Financial Disaster (Except for McKinsey):
- Saudi’s $8.8T megacity faces delays, labor issues, and cost overruns.
- Could take 55 years to complete (originally planned for 2030).
- Meanwhile, McKinsey & Co. makes $130M+ annually from it.
Trump Administration Negotiating TikTok Sale:
- Interested buyers include Microsoft, Oracle, and former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
- Trump extended TikTok’s ban deadline by 75 days.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Applications Open:
- Compete for a $100K equity-free prize at Startup Battlefield.
- Open to pre-Series A startups (bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed-funded).
TechCrunch Sessions: AI—Host a Side Event:
- Open from June 1–7 in Berkeley for AI startups to gain exposure.

That’s all for this week! Stay sharp, stay informed, and see you in the next edition. 🚀