TechCrunch Top 3

Image Credits: SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images

🛞 Tesla time: Tesla applied for the necessary permit required to operate a transportation company in the state of California. This is the first step for the company to eventually operate a robotaxi service in the state. Read more

🚜 Crawling construction: Intel's planned chip fabrication plant in Ohio is delayed again. Now construction is scheduled to begin in 2030 with the plant likely opening in 2031. It was originally supposed to begin operating this year. Read more

🦊 Terms of use tussle: Mozilla updated its terms of service to make them "easy to read and understand — there shouldn't be any surprises in how we operate or how our product works." But users were confused by some of the language around how the browser uses data, and Mozilla had to clarify even further. Read more

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Afternoon must-reads

Image Credits: Flashes

📸 Flashes at last: Bluesky's Instagram alternative Flashes publicly launched its photo-sharing app on the App Store this week, racking up 30,000 downloads within the first 24 hours. I'll be the next download. Read more

🎙️ So much drama: In today's episode of Equity, the hosts talk about the hottest gossip from the startup world this week — the YC startup demo video that sparked strong backlash. They also talk about Alexa's event this week, Lucid's CEO stepping down, and more. Listen here

🤷 Fresh out: After OpenAI released its GPT-4.5 model this week, CEO Sam Altman posted on X that the company was forced to stagger the rollout because it ran out of GPUs. Never fear, though: OpenAI expects to add tens of thousands of GPUs next week. Read more

🏷️ Alkami scoops up Mantl: Digital banking services company Alkami Technology is acquiring digital count origination startup Mantl for $400 million. The deal is expected to close in March, and Mantl will operate as a distinct business unit. Read more

🧑‍💻 Big breaches: Cybersecurity breaches can range in size, scale, and damage. In 2024, more than 1 billion records were stolen in breaches. This year has already seen multiple notable data breaches. We're keeping a list. Read more

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Around the web

🤦 Good grief: When news broke last weekend that Pope Francis had been hospitalized in critical condition, the news sent some to St. Peter's Square to pray and others to betting startup Polymarket to place wagers on when he would die. I need the latter of y'all to get a grip and a hobby. Read more

🏒 NHL mentioned: Apple has partnered up with the National Hockey League to bring its referees special Apple Watches that will give the zebras important in-game information like what the time is on the game clock and when a player leaves the sin bin. Read more