Techin' Geek

Soon after reintroducing the Pebble smart watch and debuting an affordable AI smart ring, Pebble is preparing yet another new gadget: the Pebble Round 2. As implied by its title, this new device is yet another rendition of the Pebble smartwatch, but featuring a rounded display that grants it a more refined appearance. Nevertheless, similar to other Pebble products, this latest watch remains budget-friendly at $199.

Pebble manages to keep its smartwatch prices low by restricting their functionalities. Regarding the new Pebble Round 2, it provides basic health and fitness tracking, such as step counting and sleep analysis, but lacks a heart rate sensor or additional features that would position it as a fitness or sports watch alternative.

The compromise results in extended battery duration — the Pebble Round 2 is expected to last between 10 to 14 days before requiring a charge.

Like the recently released Pebble Time 2, the Pebble Round 2 represents the company’s revival of an earlier smartwatch. Back in 2015, Pebble introduced its inaugural rounded watch, the Pebble Time Round, which at the time was regarded as the slimmest smartwatch in the industry.

The updated version retains that sleek profile, measuring just 8.1mm in thickness, compared to the original’s 7.5mm.

“[The Pebble Time Round] was undoubtedly one of my preferred Pebble models, but it had its flaws,” stated Pebble’s founder Eric Migicovsky during a conversation with TechCrunch. “There were several aspects we could enhance, primarily the oversized bezel surrounding the device.”

To create the original rounded watch face, the team employed an octagonal piece of glass with smoothed edges, which were obscured by a sizable bezel. However, the outcome was a gadget lacking a sufficiently large display. Technology has advanced since then, naturally; the new device’s larger screen permits a better view of text. The revised design also appears more aesthetically pleasing.

The touchscreen has now evolved into a 1.3″ color e-paper display (260 x 260 pixels at 283 DPI — or double the pixel density of the original Pebble Time Round). Additionally, the screen is equipped with a backlight, making it visible in low-light conditions. Internally, the Round 2 operates on the open-source Pebble OS.

The watch features dual microphones, enabling voice input and message replies. (Currently, this functionality is limited to Android due to Apple’s limitations. However, iOS support will be implemented in the EU soon.)

The side buttons facilitate actions like silencing calls, controlling music, navigating, returning, and scrolling.

Migicovsky highlights one of the benefits of buttons: they permit use of the watch without needing to look down. “For instance, if someone calls while you’re in a meeting, and you prefer not to answer, you won’t even want to check your watch. You can always remember that the bottom button rejects the call. Or if you’re listening to music with AirPods and don’t want to fuss with them or peer at your phone, you know the center button pauses the music.”

The watch is equipped with a stainless steel chassis, an accelerometer, and a magnetometer, along with a silicone watch strap and a Pebble charging dongle. Leather bands will also be available for purchase separately.

Three color variations of the watch are available, each supporting different band sizes. The matte black model comes with a 20mm quick-release band; the silver variant supports either a 14mm or 20mm band; and the polished rose gold model is limited to a 14mm band.

The Pebble Round 2 can access thousands of applications and watch faces from the Pebble Appstore, though developers must update their applications to accommodate the rounded display using the provided SDK. Among the available applications are AI assistants that support Claude and other well-known assistants.

Pebble is also developing AI functionalities for its devices. The company has recently introduced an AI smart ring capable of recording audio and transcribing discussions. When questioned, Migicovsky indicated that similar capabilities will be available on Pebble watches in the future.

The new Pebble Round 2 will launch for pre-order on January 2 via Pebble’s website, with shipping anticipated in May. Customers who have pre-ordered the Pebble Time 2 will have the option to transition to the Pebble Round 2 if they wish.

Annually, TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield pitch contest attracts thousands of hopefuls. We narrow down those submissions to the top 200 finalists, from which the top 20 present on the main stage for a chance to win the Startup Battlefield Cup and a monetary reward of $100,000. However, the 180 other startups also impressed us immensely in their categories and engage in their own pitch event.

Here’s the complete roster of the logistics, manufacturing, and materials Startup Battlefield 200 selections, along with insights on their inclusion in the competition. 

Logistics

GigU 

What it does: This application aids ride-share and delivery drivers in assessing which trips will yield the highest earnings.  

Why it’s noteworthy: It tackles a significant concern many drivers face, namely that trips often fail to justify their earnings given the effort involved. The firm aims for this application to assist drivers in boosting their income and personalizing their ride-share experience.  

Glīd 

What it does: Glīd is developing autonomous vehicles designed to transport freight seamlessly within railyards. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Glīd clinched the 2025 TechCrunch Startup Battlefield title for its innovative system that proficiently addresses an issue often neglected by the autonomous vehicle sector. 

Kinisi  

What it does: This robotics firm specializes in sensory technology with rapid processing capabilities. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Its straightforward robot design, utilizing cutting-edge LLM technology, enables it to address warehouse challenges intelligently and safely.  

Manufacturing, materials, and industrial 

CloEE 

What it does: CloEE provides a manufacturing platform that leverages AI to assess millions of data points pertaining to machine performance. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The deployment of AI by CloEE refines manufacturing methods for enhanced efficiency, benefiting both production and equipment maintenance. 

CosmicBrain AI

What it does: CosmicBrain delivers a no-code/low-code platform aimed at training robotic systems. 

Why it’s noteworthy: For robots to become common fixtures in daily life, we require accessible training methods for tasks that do not necessitate extensive specialized expertise. 

Delft Circuits 

What it does: Delft Circuits has innovated a new type of network cable tailored for quantum computing applications. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Delft Circuits acknowledges that quantum computing demands a unique approach that necessitates specially designed materials for its cabling systems, including tailored microwave and thermal performance. 

Evolinq 

What it does: Evolinq provides AI-driven agents that manage procurement processes for enterprises.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Evolinq aims to replicate buyer workflows and streamline areas such as supplier interactions without necessitating intricate integration for activation. 

ExoMatter 

What it does: ExoMatter serves as an AI platform that assists R&D teams focused on material science in evaluating various materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Instead of undergoing expensive trial and error processes when investigating new materials, ExoMatter functions as a platform that employs AI to aid scientists in screening inorganic crystalline materials using criteria like performance, sustainability, and costs.

Kamet AI 

What it does: Kamet presents an AI analytical system tailored for manufacturing and warehouse environments. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The tool from the company employs predictive AI to identify inefficiencies in processes and equipment, targeting intricate industrial scenarios that either lower expenses or enhance output. 

Koidra 

What it does: Koidra introduces an AI-based automation management platform specifically for indoor agriculture. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Koidra claims that its platform incorporates physics-aware AI technology that is particularly suited for heavily automated industrial environments, including indoor farming operations. 

Mbodi 

What it does: Mbodi provides a platform capable of readily teaching any industrial robot new competencies.  

Why it’s noteworthy: Mbodi has developed a cloud-to-edge system that seamlessly integrates with existing robotic technology infrastructures, enabling quicker task acquisition for robots. 

MycoFutures 

What it does: MycoFutures produces a material akin to leather, cultivated from mushroom roots. 

Why it’s noteworthy: In contrast to synthetic pleather, this mycelium-based leather is compostable, free from harmful chemicals, and is designed to mimic the aesthetics and versatility of traditional leather. 

OKOsix 

What it does: OKOsix has developed a biodegradable material aimed at substituting plastics. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Differentiating from other biodegradable plastic substitutes, this material from the company emphasizes durability. 

Ravel 

What it does: Ravel has pioneered a method to deconstruct blended textile materials back into their original mono-materials. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Ravel addresses a major pollution issue by making blended textiles recyclable, enabling their plastics to be transformed back into yarn or other clothing items. 

Strong by Form 

What it does: Strong by Form has created engineered wood that possesses the strength necessary to substitute concrete and steel in structural flooring applications. 

Why it’s noteworthy: The organization has formulated a material that enables architects and engineers to replace concrete—known for its significant carbon footprint—with a lighter, more sustainable alternative. 

Xronos

What it does: Xronos provides a platform designed to accelerate the creation and deployment of robotics or automation solutions. 

Why it’s noteworthy: Xronos is built on open-source principles and utilizes deterministic development, ensuring that the executed and anticipated robotic actions will behave consistently and reliably each time.

If 2025 marked a vibe check for AI, then 2026 is poised to be the year when the technology becomes truly functional. The attention is already turning from constructing larger language models to the more challenging task of making AI practical. This means implementing smaller models in suitable areas, integrating intelligence into physical devices, and creating systems that blend seamlessly into human processes. 

The specialists consulted by TechCrunch view 2026 as a period of evolution, transitioning from brute-force scaling to exploring new architectures, from impressive demonstrations to focused applications, and from agents that claim autonomy to those that genuinely enhance human work. 

The celebration isn’t finished, but the sector is beginning to come down to earth.

Scaling laws won’t suffice

In 2012, the AlexNet paper by Alex Krizhevsky, Ilya Sutskever, and Geoffrey Hinton illustrated how AI systems can “learn” to identify objects in images by analyzing millions of examples. The method was computationally intensive but feasible thanks to GPUs. The outcome? A decade of intense AI research as scholars endeavored to create new architectures for varied tasks.

This peak occurred around 2020 with OpenAI’s launch of GPT-3, demonstrating that merely enlarging the model by 100 times unlocked capabilities like coding and reasoning without needing explicit training. This signified the shift into what Kian Katanforoosh, CEO and founder of AI agent platform Workera, describes as the “era of scaling”: a time characterized by the belief that increased compute, more data, and larger transformer models would essentially lead to the next significant advances in AI.

Currently, many researchers believe the AI industry is reaching the limits of scaling laws and will revert to a phase of renewed research.

Yann LeCun, former chief AI scientist at Meta, has consistently argued against a heavy dependence on scaling, emphasizing the necessity of developing improved architectures. Meanwhile, Sutskever mentioned in a recent interview that contemporary models are plateauing and that pre-training outcomes have stagnated, suggesting a demand for new concepts.  

“It is likely that in the next five years, we will discover a superior architecture that significantly outperforms transformers,” Katanforoosh stated. “If we don’t, we can’t anticipate substantial enhancements in the models.”

Occasionally, less is more

Large language models excel in generalizing knowledge; however, many experts believe the upcoming wave of enterprise AI adoption will hinge on smaller, more nimble language models that can be customized for specific solutions. 

“Fine-tuned SLMs will become the prominent trend, becoming standard among established AI companies in 2026, as the cost and performance benefits will favor their use over generic LLMs,” stated Andy Markus, AT&T’s chief data officer, to TechCrunch. “Businesses are increasingly depending on SLMs since, when properly fine-tuned, they can match the accuracy of the larger, generalized models for enterprise applications while also being significantly more cost-effective and faster.”

This perspective has been previously advocated by French open-weight AI firm Mistral, which claims its smaller models outperform larger counterparts on various benchmarks post fine-tuning. 

“The efficiency, affordability, and flexibility of SLMs make them ideal for specific applications requiring high precision,” remarked Jon Knisley, an AI strategist at ABBYY, based in Austin. 

While Markus believes SLMs will play a crucial role in the agentic age, Knisley suggests that the characteristics of small models make them more suitable for deployment on local devices, “a trend hastened by improvements in edge computing.”

Learning from experience

Humans acquire knowledge not just through language but also by experiencing how the world operates. However, LLMs don’t truly comprehend the world; they simply predict the subsequent word or concept. This is why numerous researchers assert that the next substantial advancement will originate from world models: AI systems that learn how objects move and interact in three-dimensional spaces, allowing them to make forecasts and take actions. 

Signs are pointing to 2026 being significant for world models. LeCun departed Meta to establish his own lab focused on world models and is reportedly aiming for a $5 billion valuation. Google’s DeepMind has been diligently working on Genie, and in August rolled out its most recent model that creates real-time interactive general-purpose world models. In addition to startups like Decart and Odyssey showcasing their developments, Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs has unveiled its first commercial world model, Marble. New entities like General Intuition secured a $134 million seed round in October to educate agents in spatial reasoning, and video generation pioneer Runway released its inaugural world model, GWM-1, in December. 

While researchers see significant promise in robotics and autonomy over the long run, the immediate impact is likely to manifest first in the gaming industry. PitchBook forecasts that the market for world models in gaming could surge from $1.2 billion between 2022 and 2025 to $276 billion by 2030, propelled by the technology’s capability to create interactive environments and more realistic non-player characters. 

Pim de Witte, founder of General Intuition, mentioned to TechCrunch that virtual settings may not only revolutionize gaming but also serve as essential testing environments for the next generation of foundational models.

Agentic nation

Agents fell short of the expectations in 2025, largely because linking them to the systems where actual work occurs is challenging. Without a means to access tools and context, most agents remained confined to pilot workflows. 

Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP), referred to as a “USB-C for AI,” enables AI agents to interface with external tools such as databases, search engines, and APIs, filling the gap and is rapidly becoming the standard. OpenAI and Microsoft have publicly adopted MCP, and Anthropic recently contributed it to the Linux Foundation’s newly formed Agentic AI Foundation, which aims to standardize open-source agentic tools. Google has also initiated its own managed MCP servers to connect AI agents with its products and services. 

With MCP alleviating the challenges of linking agents to real systems, 2026 is expected to be the year when agentic workflows transition from demonstrations to everyday implementation. 

Rajeev Dham, a partner at Sapphire Ventures, states that these innovations will enable agent-first solutions to assume “system-of-record roles” across various sectors. 

“As voice agents take on more comprehensive tasks like intake and customer communication, they will also begin to establish the underlying core systems,” Dham observed. “We will see this across diverse fields such as home services, proptech, and healthcare, in addition to horizontal functions like sales, IT, and support.” 

Augmentation, not automation

While increased agentic workflows may raise concerns about potential layoffs, Katanforoosh from Workera isn’t convinced that narrative holds true. 

“2026 will be the year for humans,” he asserted. 

In 2024, every AI company predicted they would eliminate jobs due to a reduced need for humans. However, the technology isn’t ready for that yet, and such rhetoric isn’t popular in an uncertain economy. Katanforoosh believes that next year, we will realize that “AI has not functioned as independently as we believed,” and the discourse will shift towards how AI enhances human workflows instead of replacing them. 

“And I anticipate that many companies will begin hiring,” he continued, pointing out that he expects new roles to emerge in AI governance, transparency, safety, and data management. “I am optimistic about unemployment averaging below 4% next year.”

“People prefer to operate above the API, not beneath it, and I believe 2026 will be significant for this,” de Witte remarked.

Becoming physical

Experts suggest that technological advancements such as small models, world models, and edge computing will facilitate more physical applications of machine learning. 

“Physical AI will go mainstream in 2026 as new categories of AI-enhanced devices, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, drones, and wearables begin entering the market,” stated Vikram Taneja, head of AT&T Ventures, to TechCrunch. 

Although autonomous vehicles and robotics are evident use cases for physical AI that will undoubtedly thrive in 2026, the necessary training and implementation remain costly. On the other hand, wearables offer a more affordable gateway with consumer acceptance. Smart glasses like Meta’s Ray Bans are beginning to ship with assistants that can respond to inquiries about what the user is observing, and emerging formats such as AI-infused health rings and smartwatches are normalizing continuous, on-body inference.

“Connectivity providers will strive to enhance their network infrastructure to support this new wave of devices, and those adaptable in their connectivity offerings will be best aligned for success,” Taneja noted.

This year, Apple unveiled three fresh Apple Watch variations: the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. Whether you’re considering one for personal use, selecting a last-minute holiday present, or investigating the various models, we can guide you effectively.

With a price of $799, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is clearly targeted at a specialized, premium market and athletes. For the average consumer, the buying choice will likely be between the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11, priced at $249 and $399, respectively.

Even though it has a lower price point, the Apple Watch SE 3 includes much of the same software as the Series 11. If you want a basic smartwatch with key functionalities like step tracking and sleep monitoring, the SE 3 is a fantastic and economical selection. 

While the Series 11 and Ultra 3 present slight enhancements over their prior models, the SE 3 has gotten a substantial upgrade from the SE 2. It moves from the S8 chip to the S10 and now offers an always-on display, supports rapid charging, has improved crack resistance, introduces new health functionalities, incorporates a wrist-temperature sensor for advanced sleep monitoring and retrospective ovulation insights, and more. 

Although it may not be as extravagant as the Series 11 and Ultra 3, it certainly stands out and offers great value, especially for new buyers and younger users. The divide between standard and budget smartwatches has never been narrower. 

Naturally, if you seek more sophisticated health features, greater battery life, and a larger display, the Series 11 would be the more suitable choice for your requirements. However, it’s worthwhile to compare both options because the SE 3 could be all that you need.

We’ll guide you through the similarities and distinctions between the two smartwatches to assist in your choice.

Commonalities between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• S10 chip: Both devices are equipped with the same processor, ensuring uniform performance levels.
• Always-on Retina display: The watches allow displaying the watch face and time, even with the wrist lowered.
• Heart health features: Both models provide high and low heart rate alerts, irregular rhythm notifications, and low cardio fitness alerts.
• Wrist flick and double tap gestures: Both watches support the “wrist flick” gesture for dismissing notifications and timers, as well as a “double tap” for actions like answering calls or playing music.
• Emergency SOS: The watches can rapidly contact local emergency services, share location details, and notify emergency contacts by holding down the side button.
• Fall detection and crash detection: Both models can automatically alert emergency services and identified emergency contacts when a severe fall or crash is detected.
• Water resistant up to 50 meters: Both watches are suitable for swimming activities.
• Sleep tracking: Both variants include sleep tracking capabilities, sleep tracking alerts, and Apple’s new Sleep score ranging from 1 to 100 regarding sleep quality. Additionally, both feature temperature sensing to provide insights into well-being through nightly wrist temperature changes.
• Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates: These watches can identify the likely ovulation period in your last cycle.
• Fast charging capabilities: Both models support fast charging (up to 80% in approximately 30 minutes for the Series 11 and up to 80% in about 45 minutes for the SE 3; 15 minutes for eight hours of typical use for either device). 
• Find iPhone: Both watches allow pressing a button to make a sound on the iPhone to aid in finding it, though the Series 11 features “precision finding” for exact phone location tracking.

Discrepancies between the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3

• Battery life: The Series 11 lasts up to 24 hours (28 hours in low-power mode), while the SE can last up to 18 hours (32 hours in low-power mode).
• Health features: The Series 11 offers more sophisticated health monitoring options, such as hypertension notifications (detects high blood pressure), an electrical heat sensor, an ECG app, and a Blood Oxygen app.
• Screen and display: The Series 11 can achieve up to 2000 nits, whereas the SE 3 maxes out at 1000 nits. Additionally, the Series 11 features a wide-angle OLED display, while the SE 3 has a standard OLED screen.
• Size: The Series 11 is offered in 46mm and 44mm sizes with aluminum or titanium casings, while the SE 3 is available in 44mm and 40mm sizes with an aluminum casing. Furthermore, the Series 11 is nearly 10% thinner than the SE 3. 
• Color: The Series 11 is available in aluminum shades: Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, alongside titanium colors: Natural, Gold, and Slate. The SE 3 features Midnight Aluminum and Starlight Aluminum.
• Other minor distinctions: The Series 11 includes a depth gauge of six meters, a water temperature sensor, a minimum brightness of 1 nit (compared to 2 nit on the SE 3), and certified IP6X dust resistance.

If you’re not particularly familiar with emerging platforms, you likely didn’t hear of Mastodon before Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X. In the wake of this purchase, as Twitter users expressed concerns about its future, millions migrated to Mastodon, another microblogging platform. As time progressed, some users also explored Bluesky and Instagram’s Threads app — but given that Mastodon was established in 2016, it has had ample time to cultivate its unique identity beyond merely being an alternative to Twitter.

What is Mastodon?

Founded in 2016 by German developer Eugen Rochko, Mastodon differs from popular social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit as it operates as a nonprofit, striving to serve the public good rather than shareholder interests.

At first sight, Mastodon may resemble a Twitter imitation, but the technology powering the microblogging platform is significantly more intricate. It operates as a decentralized service (not related to blockchain), depicting itself as a “federated network resembling email.”

Upon creating your account, you select a server — akin to choosing an email service provider such as Gmail or Yahoo — which establishes your profile address. For instance, if you join Mastodon via the climate justice server, your address will be @[your username]@climatejustice.social. Regardless of which server you choose, you can still interact with users from any other server, much like how Gmail users can email Hotmail users. However, some servers may restrict access to others (perhaps due to undesirable groups), meaning that communication with users from a blocked server is not possible.

The Mastodon lingo

Mastodon users commonly refer to distinct communities as “instances” or servers. These servers can be managed by individuals, groups, or organizations, each with its own regulations regarding user registration and moderation policies. Some servers allow open registration, while others may be invite-only or require admin approval. For example, a server designed for professional scientists requires applicants to provide a link to their research to prove their professional status.

Selecting a server to register with might seem overwhelming, but transferring your account later is feasible, so don’t stress. Additionally, you can follow users regardless of their server affiliation.

You might also hear Mastodon referred to as part of the “Fediverse,” an interconnected network of various social media platforms. Similar to how having a Twitter account does not grant you access to Instagram, your single Mastodon account also provides access to other decentralized social networks, if that interests you.

At times, you may encounter Mastodon’s alternative to tweets referred to as “toots,” though this term is losing popularity (as it sounds somewhat ridiculous!). Nowadays, many simply call them “posts,” but “toot” can still be found in references within older third-party clients.

Mastodon accommodates several Twitter-like features, including replies, reblogs, favorites, bookmarks, and hashtags. Initially, Mastodon intentionally opted not to include a quote tweet feature to prevent incentivizing criticism piling, but in 2025, the platform introduced that feature.

Furthermore, lists on Mastodon operate slightly differently than Twitter, as you can only add users to a list if you already follow them. Moreover, direct messages on Mastodon are simply @username posts rather than private messages arriving in a DM inbox — remember to adjust the visibility settings if you wish to keep that message private between the two of you.

What does it mean that Mastodon is open source?

Anyone can download, modify, and install Mastodon on their server — additionally, the platform’s developers do not hold the copyright.

However, this does not imply that you can utilize Mastodon’s code without crediting the source. For instance, Donald Trump’s social media service, Truth Social, initially launched with Mastodon code and presented it as original software, which Mastodon found unacceptable.

How do you create a Mastodon account?

When visiting the Mastodon website, you can click on a button labeled “create account,” leading you to a page with a list of servers to select from. These can be filtered according to several factors, including region, language, topic, sign-up speed, and more. Locate a server that interests you and join — if it’s an approval-required server, there might be a short wait. From there, you can begin following others regardless of their server.

To alleviate confusion for newcomers choosing a server, Mastodon implemented changes during the “Twitter exodus” to streamline the account creation process. Now, when registering, you’re provided with an easy option to create an account on mastodon.social instead of selecting a specific server.

How do you decide which Mastodon server to join?

Mastodon’s website contains useful resources — but it can still feel a bit daunting when trying to identify a base that resonates with your interests. Ask friends already on Mastodon for recommendations! Alternatively, you can join a random server since you can always switch your server later as you acclimate.

Can you talk to people on other Mastodon servers besides your own?

Yes, you can follow and reply to individuals from other servers. However, to follow someone on a different server, you need to input their username in your server’s search box to find them first before following. You cannot simply visit their profile and click the follow button like you would on Twitter.

What’s the difference between the Home, Local and Federated timelines?

The Home timeline displays posts from users you follow, similar to Twitter. The Local timeline shows posts from all users within your server, while the Federated timeline presents all public posts from users whom people in your server follow. (Tip: You can activate “Slow Mode” in Preferences –> Appearance to conceal timeline updates behind a click if the information flow is too rapid!)

What is Mastodon’s moderation policy?

Each server’s admin establishes its own moderation policy, so it’s essential to review the policy on your chosen server to ensure it aligns with your values.

What are the drawbacks of Mastodon when compared with Twitter/X?

Mastodon’s user base is only a small fraction of Twitter’s. Moreover, navigating it is far less user-friendly, as it is not designed for a vast global audience like Twitter. This could evolve over time as more developers contribute to the project following the Twitter acquisition.

What are the benefits of Mastodon compared with Twitter/X?

For starters, Mastodon is not under Elon Musk’s ownership… However, it may pose a challenge for Mastodon to cultivate the same “watercooler of the world” atmosphere that characterized Twitter. Some users may prefer Mastodon over X, as it offers more customization. Unlike X, different communities have varying content guidelines, leading to diverse user experiences. Although Mastodon’s user base is smaller, this can facilitate more intimate and direct interactions, unlike tweeting into the void, so to speak.

Is Mastodon safer than Twitter?

Mastodon’s safety is determined by individual usage. Given its decentralized nature, if you seek a more regulated online experience, you can join a server that has stricter measures against harassment. Several features within Mastodon are designed to reduce harassment. For instance, you can search solely by hashtags, not by keywords within a toot. Therefore, if you want your post to be found, you’d need to tag it; if you prefer a more limited audience, no one can locate your post about the Red Sox simply by searching “red sox” unless it’s tagged.

Nevertheless, text-based searches can reveal posts you’ve authored, liked, boosted, or been mentioned in, which can be advantageous.

Can I post images and video?

As previously stated, Mastodon accommodates many Twitter conventions, but its media support is more restricted. Unlike Twitter, which supports various media types and other data appended to tweets, including its audio-centric social “Spaces,” Mastodon solely supports images, videos, audio, and polls.

You can attach a maximum of four images to a post, each up to eight megabytes. Video and audio can be of any duration, but must remain beneath a 40-megabyte file size.

Can I post privately to friends?

Mastodon allows you to set the privacy level of your posts while composing them. Posts can be made public for visibility to everyone; unlisted to remain public but exclude them from discovery features; visible only to your followers; or exclusively visible to referred users.

Can I get verified on Mastodon?

No. There is no overarching verification system like Twitter’s. Some servers may vet user sign-ups, and you can confirm your identity by including links in your Mastodon profile with a specific attribute (rel=”me”) to establish you are who you claim to be.

Some servers playfully approach the notion of verification in a less formal manner. For instance, the mstdn.social server permits users to add blue-and-white checkmarks and other emojis to their display names if they wish, giving an impression of verification, although these have no official meaning. (Much like Twitter’s revised verification system! But at no cost!)

Is Mastodon here to stay?

As of summer 2025, Mastodon has fewer than one million monthly active users, with about 10 million registered accounts — which highlights that Mastodon is significantly smaller than X, which had an estimated 132 million daily active users. Nevertheless, social networks vary considerably, and you may discover that you prefer discussing TTRPGs in a dedicated server over tweeting into the chaos. Alternatively, you might find this decentralized setup to be perplexing and choose to continue using X during the Muskening or switch to Bluesky, Threads, or something altogether different. It’s your journey!

I’m not sure I want to leave X. Can I cross-post from X to Mastodon?

Yes, it is possible through third-party tools. These require you to link your accounts on Twitter and Mastodon and configure the parameters accordingly. We have had success using Moa Party, which allows specific tweets or retweets to be cross-posted. Other options are available, including Mastodon Twitter Crossposter, also accessible on GitHub.

Can I find my Twitter friends on Mastodon?

Yes, you can do this with third-party tools. Many Mastodon users have explored tools like Fedifinder, Twitodon, and Debirdify, for instance.

Does Mastodon work with Bluesky and Threads?

Bluesky isn’t compatible — at least not unless it decides to adopt the ActivityPub protocol used by Mastodon. However, Bluesky plans to create its own networking protocol independently. There is skepticism within the development and open-source communities regarding whether Bluesky’s choice to forge its own path is genuinely based on its protocol’s benefits or if it aims to establish a standard it can control.

There are many existing protocols for decentralizing discourse, including ActivityPub, SSB, Matrix, & RSS. Each of these are successful in their own right, but none of them fully met the goals we had for a network that enables global long-term public conversations at scale.

— Bluesky (@bluesky) April 6, 2022

On the other hand, Threads does support ActivityPub, allowing users on Threads to share their posts with other ActivityPub servers, including Mastodon.

The banking industry in Europe is about to face a harsh reality regarding efficiency. A recent analysis from Morgan Stanley, as reported by the Financial Times, indicates that over 200,000 jobs in European banking could disappear by 2030 as financial institutions embrace AI and close physical locations. This accounts for approximately 10% of the workforce across 35 significant banks.

The most severe impact will be felt in back-office functions, risk management, and compliance—areas of banking where algorithms are expected to outperform humans in processing data swiftly and accurately. According to the Morgan Stanley report, banks are eager for forecasted efficiency improvements of 30%.

This workforce reduction is not limited to Europe. In October, Goldman Sachs alerted its U.S. staff about potential layoffs and a hiring freeze until the end of 2025 as part of an AI initiative called “OneGS 3.0,” which targets various processes including client onboarding and compliance reporting.

Certain financial institutions have already begun making cuts. Dutch bank ABN Amro intends to reduce its workforce by 20% by 2028, while the CEO of Société Générale has stated that “nothing is sacred.” Nevertheless, some leaders in European banking are advocating for caution, with a JPMorgan Chase executive warning the FT that failing to teach junior bankers the basics could have negative repercussions for the sector.

OpenAI is making a significant investment in audio AI, aiming beyond merely enhancing ChatGPT’s auditory experience. As reported by The Information, the organization has consolidated various engineering, product, and research teams in the last two months to revamp its audio systems, all in anticipation of an audio-centric personal device due to be introduced in roughly a year.

This initiative mirrors the trajectory of the entire technology sector — moving towards a time when displays fade into the background and audio emerges as the focal point. Smart speakers have already established voice assistants as common in over a third of households in the U.S. Meta has recently launched a feature for its Ray-Ban smart glasses that employs a five-microphone setup to assist in hearing conversations in noisy environments, effectively transforming your face into a directional audio receiver. In June, Google started trials of “Audio Overviews,” which convert search results into conversational summaries, while Tesla is incorporating xAI’s chatbot Grok into its cars to develop a conversational voice assistant capable of managing everything from navigation to climate settings through natural dialogue.

This trend is not exclusive to the major tech players. A diverse array of startups has surfaced with similar ambitions, though with varying levels of success. The creators of the Humane AI Pin spent hundreds of millions before their screen-free wearable became a cautionary lesson. The Friend AI pendant, which claims to document your life and provide companionship, has raised privacy alarm and sparked existential concerns alike. Currently, at least two companies, including Sandbar and one led by Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky, are developing AI rings expected to launch in 2026, enabling wearers to literally converse with their hand.

Though the designs may vary, the underlying concept remains consistent: audio represents the interface of tomorrow. Every environment — your dwelling, your vehicle, even your face — is evolving into a control interface.

OpenAI’s forthcoming audio model, anticipated for early 2026, is expected to deliver a more natural sound, manage interruptions akin to a genuine conversation partner, and even speak concurrently with you, a feat current models are unable to achieve. The company is also believed to be considering a range of devices, potentially encompassing glasses or screenless smart speakers, that function less as tools and more as companions.

None of this is particularly shocking. As highlighted by The Information, former Apple design head Jony Ive, who became part of OpenAI’s hardware initiatives through the firm’s $6.5 billion acquisition in May of his company io, has prioritized minimizing device addiction, viewing audio-first design as an opportunity to “right the wrongs” of previous consumer electronics.

Each year, the Startup Battlefield pitch contest hosted by TechCrunch attracts thousands of applicants. We narrow down those submissions to the top 200 candidates, and from that group, the top 20 battle it out on the grand stage to secure the title, claiming the Startup Battlefield Cup and a monetary reward of $100,000. Nonetheless, the other 180 startups also impressed us significantly in their respective categories and partake in their own pitching contest.

Below is the complete list of the media/entertainment Startup Battlefield 200 selectees, with insights on their selection for the competition. 

Alltroo 

Function: Assists celebrities in orchestrating their charity giveaways and fan engagement awards. 

Significance: Alltroo oversees the sweepstakes activities that involve a celebrity, whether it’s an event featuring the celeb or a charitable giveaway, facilitating promotion, managing entries, and selecting winners. 

METAPYXL 

Function: Metapyxl defends digital media utilizing content management technology. 

Significance: This platform supplies artists and content generators with resources for watermarking, usage tracking, licensing conditions, and analytics. 

Nebula 

Function: A music platform where fans support their beloved artists and accrue royalties by assisting in their success. 

Significance: Fans purchase tokens for music tracks at a price determined by the artists and can receive royalties as the track is played. 

Oriane 

Function: Oriane provides a search tool that identifies brands and trends in videos through natural language queries. 

Significance: Tracking a brand’s mentions and discovering content creators has historically been challenging. This platform facilitates AI-powered searches for text, images, and video snippets. 

Othelia Technologies 

Function: An AI-driven storytelling platform that empowers creators. 

Significance: Othelia is crafted to outline a story’s framework, identify connections, and provide summaries enabling storytellers to develop, revise, and interact with intricate narratives. 

Transitional Forms 

Function: Transitional Forms conducts live simulations based on prompts. 

Significance: This patent-pending system allows anyone to create, remix, and produce instantaneous video simulations directly from their mobile device. The startup claims to be developing SocialTV, a vision of the future in entertainment. 

Fizz is placing its bets on the notion that Gen Z is fatigued from showcasing their lives on Instagram and TikTok.  

What began as a frustration with group chats during the pandemic has transformed into the prevailing social platform on college campuses across the United States, concentrating on the 99% of life that fails to enter highlight reels. Engaging a demographic typically stuck to Instagram and TikTok, the app’s combined anonymous approach and local focus has rendered it what Solomon dubs “the foremost college social app since Facebook.”  

Today we’re showcasing a dialogue that Dominic Madori Davis had with Fizz’s co-founder and CEO Teddy Solomon at this year’s Disrupt, probing why he believes social media has ceased to be social.  

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