BusinessStartupsTechnology

TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 Approaches With Final Discount Window Closing Soon

The premier startup conference TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is set to launch in San Francisco with only days remaining for discounted registration. The event promises networking with thousands of tech professionals and showcases emerging technologies across multiple industries.

Final Registration Window for Major Tech Conference

With only four days remaining before launch, TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is preparing to take over San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center, according to event organizers. Sources indicate this marks the final opportunity for attendees to secure passes before anticipated price increases take effect.

EnergyManufacturingPolicy

Federal Government Withdraws $700 Million in Battery Manufacturing Grants Amid Project Reviews

The U.S. Department of Energy has terminated over $700 million in grants for battery and manufacturing initiatives, stating the projects failed to meet key milestones. Companies affected include ICL Group and American Battery Technology, with broader cuts anticipated across the clean energy sector.

Grant Terminations Announced Following Project Evaluations

The Department of Energy (DOE) has reportedly canceled more than $700 million in grants previously allocated to battery and manufacturing projects, according to recent statements. A spokesperson indicated that the initiatives had missed critical milestones and were deemed insufficient in advancing national energy objectives. Sources within the agency emphasized that the projects were not economically viable and would not yield a positive return on taxpayer investment.

BusinessInnovation

AI Blurs Job Roles: Figma CEO Reports Rise of ‘Product Builder’ Workforce

According to Figma CEO Dylan Field, traditional job titles are rapidly merging as AI tools enable professionals to work across disciplines. Field’s research shows 72% of respondents attribute role expansion to AI tools, with non-designers increasingly engaging in design tasks. The shift suggests companies are moving toward a “product builder” model where specialization coexists with broader capabilities.

AI-Driven Role Convergence Accelerating

Traditional job boundaries between designers, engineers, and researchers are rapidly dissolving as artificial intelligence tools make specialized knowledge more accessible, according to reports from Figma CEO Dylan Field. In a recent podcast appearance, Field stated that he has observed a “shifting and merging of roles” over the past five years and expects this trend to accelerate significantly in the coming half-decade.

BusinessMedia

NBC News Layoffs Begin Amid Versant Spinoff Transition, Affecting 150 Staff

NBC News has initiated layoffs affecting approximately 150 employees as the company prepares for its cable network spinoff. The cuts represent about 2% of the NBCU News Group workforce and come as shared resources between NBC News and MSNBC are being separated ahead of the Versant Media Group launch later this year.

NBC News Implements Staff Reductions

Layoffs that NBC News staff had been anticipating commenced this week at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with the company confirming approximately 150 employees are being impacted by the workforce reductions, according to reports. The cuts represent roughly 2% of the NBCU News Group workforce and are scattered throughout the news division, sources indicate.