Voice-first productivity is gaining momentum AI-powered dictation apps are quickly evolving from simple speech-to-text utilities into broader productivity tools used for email replies, note-taking, and even voice-driven coding. The shift reflects a wider trend in workplace software: using generative AI…
Meta outlines dual-track plan for Manus and messaging apps Meta plans to keep Manus operating as an independent product while also bringing its “agents” into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, according to a statement describing the company’s approach to expanding AI…
Octopus Energy Group raises €850 million for Kraken Octopus Energy Group has raised €850 million (about $1 billion) for its technology subsidiary, Kraken, in what the company described as the platform’s first standalone investment round. The fundraising highlights growing investor…
Clean energy’s metals demand is surging—and mining is struggling to keep up The global push to electrify transport, expand power grids and scale renewable energy is colliding with a hard constraint: metals. Industry and policy forecasts increasingly warn that clean-energy…
Apple Watch productivity apps aim for “glanceable” work A growing ecosystem of Apple Watch apps is helping users stay productive without the pull of constant phone checking. Designed around short interactions—quick taps, brief dictation, and timely alerts—many of today’s watch…
Equity podcast dissects tech’s 2025—and what comes next The hosts of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast closed out the year with a wide-ranging review of what “actually happened” in technology in 2025, framing the discussion as a reality check for builders, investors,…
Friendship apps expand beyond dating-style swipes A new generation of friendship apps is trying to solve a familiar modern problem: meeting people outside of work, school, or long-established social circles. From friend-discovery platforms like BFF to event-focused services like Timeleft,…
UK faces 2026 crunch to scale AI infrastructure The United Kingdom is heading into a defining year for artificial intelligence: whether it can build the infrastructure needed to compete with global leaders. The question is no longer whether the country…
A growing market for digital focus Whether the goal is to limit social media scrolling or block off time for concentrated work, a broad range of productivity tools is increasingly positioning itself as a practical solution to modern distraction. The…
UK fintech’s next AI wave: from cost-cutting to financial wellbeing After several years in which artificial intelligence was deployed largely to trim operating costs, UK fintech firms are expected to redirect their AI roadmaps in 2026 toward consumer financial health,…
