Good news from around Europe
The U.S. is building barriers around drones and robots, but China has scale to get around them The U.S. is shutting out more foreign-made drones and robots. China’s scale means the global competition may simply move elsewhere. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/30/the-u-s-is-building-barriers-around-drones-and-robots-china-still-has-scale/
Grindr wants to be the everything app for gay men; investors are still deciding whether it can pull it off George Arison is done letting Wall Street’s “Grindr discount” go unchallenged — in a wide-ranging Q&A, the CEO walks us through how AI, a controversial $350-plus EDGE tier, and a
Liux’s Big microcar bets on sustainability to take on Chinese rivals The Liux Big microcar is made in Spain. The startup thinks it can compete in a crowded market with its tiny electric car built around sustainability. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/30/liuxs-big-microcar-bets-on-sustainability-to-take-on-chinese-rivals/
Musk’s faster path to more gas turbines comes with pollution problem Elon Musk says a secretive new SpaceX foundry will let him cast his own turbine blades and get gas power online 18 months faster than anyone else — but it’s a bet on a fuel source that’s already triggering
TechCrunch Mobility: The hidden human cost of robotaxis Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/30/techcrunch-mobility-the-hidden-human-cost-of-robotaxis/
Sony Music, Warner sue Anthropic, alleging a “brazen campaign” of intellectual property theft This latest lawsuit is particularly broad and homes in on accusations of illegal piracy. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/29/sony-music-warner-sue-anthropic-alleging-a-brazen-campaign-of-intellectual-property-theft/
At TechBBQ, Europe’s AI conversations kept coming back to: Who’s actually in control? Investors, founders, and operators from across Europe arrived for the annual Nordic TechBBQ conference to talk about how humans can have agency over AI. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/29/at-techbbq-europes-ai-conversations-kept-coming-back-to-whos-actually-in-control/
“We’re not doing 30 bets a year”: Vijay Pande on betting small after running $4 billion at a16z Vijay Pande — who left a16z’s roughly $4 billion biotech practice last year to start the much smaller, AI-native VZVC — talks about why biology is finally shifting from a “discovery” science
Hollywood celebs are getting into microdrama apps Several Hollywood celebs are ditching the massive eight-figure checks and exotic movie sets for a rising format: microdramas. Powered by WPeMatico https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/29/hollywood-celebs-are-getting-into-microdrama-apps/
The Theragun Sense makes everyday recovery surprisingly easy As my 20s are set to come to an end later this year, I’ve officially reached the age where sleeping in the wrong position or stretching just a little too far can cause aches and pains. I’ve always been somewhat skeptical of