TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: Brian Heater/TechCrunch

A smart home device we can get behind: TC's hardware editor Brian Heater says Google's Nest Learning Thermostat, even a refurbed third-gen model, is a purchase worth making. It's got everything to heat or cool your house without wasting energy, it's easy to install, and the newest fourth-gen model even offers a couple extras that make it worth the hefty price tag. Read more

To infinity and beyond! SpaceX is the undisputed leader when it comes to launching things into space, but its supremacy has not stopped a bunch of competitors that say they can bring much-needed supply and competitive pressure to the market. Read more

Is your startup AI washing? There have been a lot of promises about AI to fuel the hype, but Rippling's founder Parker Conrad says that too many software companies are adding novelty AI features to their products that no one wants. Read more

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Morning must-reads

Image Credits: Setapp

📚 No guts, no story: Startup Story has raised $83 million at a $2.25 billion valuation to build an "IP blockchain," a platform that creators can use to assert their ownership on a piece of content and then let others license and use it. The idea is to combat the unethical pillaging of content from AI companies to train their models. Read more

📱 Stand aside, Apple: Europeans now have access to alternative app stores for iOS, after new regulation forced Apple to make room for competition. The new rules are complicated, but already a handful of alternative app stores have sprung up to take advantage. Read more

🚛 E-commerce disruption: As India's e-commerce industry rises, some are worried that small retailers won't survive. India's commerce minister, Piyush Goyal, pushed back against celebrations of Amazon's investments into the country, reminding people that those millions aren't there to actually support the Indian economy. Read more

💸 Cash, card or AI? AI can already plan a vacation for you or make a shopping list, but usually humans still pull the trigger on payment. Skyfire Systems wants to change that. The startup created a payment network that lets AI agents pay for stuff on your behalf. What could possibly go wrong? Read more

🗣️ Conversational AI hits Asia: Sellers are increasingly hawking their wares on social media platforms, and they want to scale customer service without relying on humans. SleekFlow is a new startup that's here to help Asian sellers do just that by using its conversational AI. Read more

A Message from The Aerospace Corporation

Put your startup on the space stage with Aerospace!

The Aerospace Corporation is looking for the best early-stage startups from the space sector – and beyond – that can bring transformative innovations to market. Apply for a chance to pitch your startup directly on the space stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Applications due August 30.

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Around the web

👓 Science fiction comes to life: Samsung's new Odyssey gaming monitor lineup has some neat features, according to The Verge. It uses eye-tracking tech to convert 2D visuals into 3D, basically giving users a more immersive experience without the need for 3D glasses. Read more

📉 Is the AI hype cycle over? The Economist thinks so. The outlet reports that a growing number of investors are concerned that AI won't deliver the profits they need to recover their gargantuan investments. Valuations of AI companies are down, and now that our rose-tinted glasses have worn off, we're seeing that the AI revolution has yet to truly arrive. Read more

Before you go

🏠 Robots got you covered: Renovate Robotics unveiled its latest rooftop robot, the Rufus V1, to automate one of construction's most common and dangerous tasks. Watch it quickly install roof shingles. Read more