TechCrunch’s stocks team closes out 2025 with our annual predictions episode and moves forward into next year. Hosts Kirsten Kolosek, Anthony Ha, and Rebecca Beran join Build Mode host Isabelle Johannesen to break down the year’s biggest technology developments, from the surprise mega-AI funding round to the rise of “physical AI,” and give a rallying cry for 2026.
The group tackled everything from why AI agents didn’t live up to the hype in 2025 (but probably will in 2026) to how Hollywood will push back against AI-generated content to why VCs are facing a severe liquidity crisis.
Listen to the full episode and hear what’s next.
Why world models are the next big thing in AI and how they differ from large-scale language models The end of “stealth mode” and the rise of alternative funding sources for AI startups Predictions for regulatory chaos over AI policy and what President Trump’s recent executive orders mean for startups Hot takes on IPOs: OpenAI and Anthropic are actually in 2026 Will we go public in 2020? Rapid-fire predictions, including Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s inevitable public breakup, the return of DumbPhone, why everyone calls themselves “AI natives” and more What’s in Build Mode Season 2: Details on team building, hiring, and finding a co-founder
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