Startups (opens original source in a new tab)TechCrunchLinkdaze’s smart calendar is built to run a household, not just track a scheduleLinkdaze's smart digital calendar stands out for not putting its features behind a paywall, including an AI meal planner tool. (opens original source in a new tab)Lauren Forristal·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosTexas welcomed the AI boom. Now Abbott says data centers "dug their own grave"Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered one of the starkest warnings yet from a Republican to the AI industry, saying data center companies "dug their own grave" and deserve the backlash they're facing after failing to win community support.Why it matters: Abbott is the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/josh-shapiro-ai-data-centers-pivot" (opens original source in a new tab)Andrew Pantazi·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)AxiosScoop: Syria and Israel move to defuse tensions after airbase bombingHigh-level Israeli and Syrian officials met Sunday in an effort to lower the temperature between the countries after a recent airbase bombing, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter.Why it matters: The meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and the director of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Roman Gofman, took place days after an Is (opens original source in a new tab)Barak Ravid·23 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)TechCrunchTechCrunch Mobility: The custom chip driving Waymo’s robotaxi ambitionsWelcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. (opens original source in a new tab)Kirsten Korosec·23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)CoinDeskXRP on track for biggest weekly gain in 21 months as Treasury buyback spurs 'curve control' hopesXRP’s price has surged by 50% this week, the best performance since November 2024. Here's what's driving the rally. (opens original source in a new tab)Omkar Godbole·23 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)TechCrunchFlock CEO calls for ‘compromise’ as surveillance company faces growing backlashFlock Safety faces a growing public outcry over concerns that its surveillance technology could be misused. (opens original source in a new tab)Anthony Ha·23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyA major Alzheimer’s risk gene may shrink brain cells years before symptomsResearchers have uncovered a possible reason why the Alzheimer’s risk gene APOE4 can disrupt the brain long before memory problems begin. In mice, APOE4 increased a protein called Nell2, shrinking neurons and making memory circuits unusually active. That early hyperactivity predicted worse memory later in life. Reducing Nell2 in adult mice reversed the abnormal changes, raising hopes for a new way to intervene before Alzheimer’s progresses. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyScientists left this farm field alone. Thousands of orchids appearedAn abandoned farm field became a flourishing wildflower meadow within little more than a decade, with plant diversity doubling and thousands of orchids appearing naturally. The discovery suggests that simply giving nature time to recover could be a powerful and inexpensive tool for restoring biodiversity. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
(opens original source in a new tab)CoinDeskCrypto card spending tops $1 billion as stablecoins move into everyday purchasesTracked card volume more than tripled in a year, with USDC and USDT funding over 70% of spending as users increasingly paid for groceries, rides and subscriptions. (opens original source in a new tab)Francisco Rodrigues·23 August 2026
Startups (opens original source in a new tab)TechCrunchIs it legal to train AI models on copyrighted books? It’s complicatedMost published authors have, without their knowledge or consent, contributed to the development of the same AI tools that threaten to undermine their livelihoods. That seems illegal, right? (opens original source in a new tab)Amanda Silberling·23 August 2026
Industry News (opens original source in a new tab)ScienceDailyThe dental crown of the future could be 3D-printed while you waitResearchers have found a way to slash the processing time for 3D-printed zirconia crowns from as much as 100 hours to under 30 minutes. The advance could eventually let dentists print strong, customized permanent crowns for patients within a single appointment. (opens original source in a new tab)23 August 2026
