Plus more of TechCrunch's top stories this afternoon

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May 25, 2026

 

TechCrunch Top 3

What ClickUp's mass layoff tells us about the future of work

What ClickUp's mass layoff tells us about the future of work: The nine-year-old startup is replacing hundreds of employees with thousands of AI agents. Read More

The pope’s AI encyclical isn’t really about AI: Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical uses AI as a lens to diagnose older problems: concentrated power, eroding democracy, and a tech elite that shapes the world to its own advantage. Read More

The pitch trick that helped an eSports startup raise $20M when VCs only wanted AI: Earlier this year, Lucra Sports founder and CEO Dylan Robbins did something that no one else has ever done. And he shared several secrets on how he did it. Read More

A message from NVIDIA and Microsoft

New during Microsoft Build: The NVIDIA Builder’s Arcade

Enter the NVIDIA Builder’s Arcade now to preview interactive challenges, prizes, and NVIDIA happenings during M icrosoft Build. Challenges go live June 1 and run through June 5 with daily activities focused on agentic AI and the chance to score exclusive NVIDIA discounts.

Learn more

Afternoon Must-Reads

5 days left: Save up to $410 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 passes before prices increase

5 days left: Save up to $410 on TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 passes before prices increase: Early Bird savings for TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco end May 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register now to save up to $410 before prices increase. Read More

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A message from Fidelity

Your Pitch Isn’t the Only Thing Investors Are Evaluating.  

Investors don’t just listen to what you say - they look at how your company operates. Is ownership clear? Do your numbers match your story? Can you answer follow-up questions without digging through spreadsheets? The Fundraise-Ready Startup Kit equips founders with the materials investors expect to see, before pressure is on. Because confidence in the room doesn’t come from slides. It comes from preparation. 

Learn More

Last but Not Least

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