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A survey of over 500 CISOs by IANS and Artico found that 69% now rank AI as their top target for new cybersecurity budget dollars, even though overall security budgets grew just 5% in 2026. Nearly a quarter of organizations have created dedicated AI security budget lines, while others fund it through general security, IT, or innovation budgets.
Alongside Proton, Valve is deploying additional compatibility layers to make Windows games playable on the Arm-based Steam Frame headset running SteamOS. Chief among these is FEX, an open-source x86-to-Arm binary recompiler that Valve has funded since 2018, well before the Steam Frame's existence, working with lead developer Ryan Houdek to make it robust enough for production use.
VR headset shipments have been declining industry-wide, but Valve's upcoming Steam Frame offers a distinct advantage over competitors: deep integration with Steam's massive PC gaming library. Analysts suggest this access to existing games and Valve's established platform could set the device apart in a market struggling to attract new hardware buyers.
Thatch, a startup that lets employers give workers a fixed healthcare budget to shop individual insurance plans, raised $108 million at a $1 billion valuation. That figure is more than double its $410 million valuation from 17 months ago, driven by roughly sevenfold growth in annual recurring revenue. The company uses an employer-funded model, recently rebranded CHOICE, that lets employees pick from various health, dental and vision plans and keep unused funds for other medical costs.
TechCrunch has set a September 18, 11:59 p.m. PT deadline for startups to reserve exhibit tables at Disrupt 2026, taking place October 13-15 at Moscone West in San Francisco. Exhibitors get a table in the Expo Hall, 10 team passes, app and website branding, press-list access, and Silver Tier sponsor status.
Investors have approached OpenAI proposing a fresh funding round that could value the company at $1.2 trillion, though no formal talks have begun, according to people familiar with the matter. Some backers see the round partly as a mechanism for employees to sell shares, similar to the roughly $7 billion secondary sale OpenAI completed in August following its $122 billion raise at an $852 billion valuation in March.
In a 141-hour Minecraft benchmark run by Vals AI, OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra model progressed further than any AI system tested before, building a blaze farm and gathering enderman pearls. But after a Creeper destroyed its stored gear and bed, wiping its spawn point, the model spent hours doing little more than farming potatoes, appearing demotivated to viewers watching the live test.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has proposed that the US and China cooperate to slow AI development given its safety risks, while also urging Washington to widen its technological lead through export controls and anti-distillation measures. Chinese officials and AI researchers have pushed back, arguing the proposal amounts to asking China to accept restrictions first while the US locks in an advantage, rather than a genuine offer of cooperation between equals.
OpenAI has held early talks with investors about raising fresh capital at a valuation exceeding $1.2 trillion, according to reports. The round would come as the company prepares for a widely expected public listing next year.
Revolut, valued as Europe's most valuable startup, disclosed customer information to an individual who fraudulently claimed to represent a government agency. Hundreds of accounts were affected by the breach, which stemmed from the bank's own verification failure rather than a hack of its systems.
Apple's new AirPods 5 launch at $129 for the standard model, adding active noise cancellation that was previously missing from the lineup. A $149 version bundles a Wireless Charging Case and extended battery life, making it the more compelling purchase for most buyers.
Health benefits startup Thatch has raised $108 million in new funding at a $1 billion valuation, backed by existing investors including Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Index Ventures, and The General Partnership. The round comes just 17 months after Thatch was valued at $410 million, with CEO Chris Ellis saying annual recurring revenue grew roughly sevenfold in that span.