Science & Technology

Spy games in HR tech: Inside Rippling’s wild lawsuit against Deel

Rippling’s latest lawsuit () reads less like a legal filing and more like the plot of a corporate espionage thriller, complete with secret crypto payments, an alleged mole, and a fake Slack channel trap. This week, the HR tech startup publicly named the employee at the center of its case () against its rival Deel,…

Published

1 year ago

April 4, 2025

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This week, the HR tech startup publicly named the employee at the center of its case () against its rival Deel, claiming the company paid him thousands to spy from the inside. Deel, however, is not staying quiet. The company is denying the claims, calling it a dramatic distraction from Rippling’s own legal troubles.

Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity () podcast, hosts Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are catching us up on the week’s headlines, including a breakdown of how this saga between two HR tech giants escalated from business rivalry to accusations of racketeering, and why, according to Max, smashing the phone you use for corporate espionage with an ax at your mother-in-law’s house is “the oldest trick in the book.”

Listen to the full episode to hear about:

• The startup that’s gamifying the tax filing process () , and the copyright questions that continue to rise

•
Circle’s IPO () and what the move could signal for others in the crypto space.

• The latest in the AI race — from OpenAI’s record-breaking raise () and GPU meltdowns () to Anthropic’s AI chatbot plan for colleges () and Google’s Gemini leadership shakeup () .

Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned!

Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.

Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts () , Overcast () , Spotify () and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X () and Threads () , at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here () .

Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we’ll talk to you next time.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices ()

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A Robot That Can Fly and Swim Like a Bird | #WhatTheFuture

This robotic creation from MIT is based on aquatic birds that can both dive into the ocean waters as well as soar into the sky. Video Credits: Producer: Jesse Orrall Video Editor: Jon Gomez Add CNET as a trusted news source Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉 Check out CNET’s Amazon…

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2 days ago

August 10, 2026

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This robotic creation from MIT is based on aquatic birds that can both dive into the ocean waters as well as soar into the sky.

Video Credits:
Producer: Jesse Orrall
Video Editor: Jon Gomez

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#whatthefuture #robotics #mit #robot #machines

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Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: Why This Is My Favorite New Foldable | All Things Mobile

Samsung’s passport-sized phone is built for all your scrolling, binge-watching and reading. The $1,900 price is steep, but it has some strong selling points that won me over. You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Unlocked Cell Phone Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra Phone *Cnet may…

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

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Samsung’s passport-sized phone is built for all your scrolling, binge-watching and reading. The $1,900 price is steep, but it has some strong selling points that won me over.

You can find the products mentioned in this video linked below
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Unlocked Cell Phone
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra Phone
*Cnet may get commission on this offer.

Read more about it on CNET.com
Galaxy Z Fold 8 Review: A Passport-Size Shape-Shifter for Every Moment
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra vs. Z Fold 7: Improved Battery, Screen and a Higher Price

0:00 Intro & Design Concept
0:59 Lightweight & Ultra-Thin Build
1:19 Cover Display & Usability
1:37 Inner Screen & Multitasking
2:32 Screen Crease & Durability Tests
3:17 Anti-Reflective Coating & Brightness
3:32 IP48 Water & Dust Resistance
3:55 Wireless Charging & Qi2 Compromise
4:17 Battery Life Improvements
4:56 Camera Specs & Photo Quality
5:44 Processor & AI Features
7:18 Verdict: Is It Worth It?

Video Credits:
Host: Abrar Al-Heeti
Camera Operator: Celso Bulgatti
Video Editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail Designer: Zooey Liao

#zfold8 #zfold8ultra #samsung #samsunggalaxy #foldphone #foldable

CNET

Meet the Flying, Swimming Robot Inspired by Aquatic Birds | What The Future

Researchers at MIT have created a new robot inspired by aquatic birds that uses waterproof wings to transition from flying to swimming. Watch more What The Future videos on CNET.com Video Credits: Host: Jesse Orrall Video Editor: Jon Gomez Thumbnail Designer: Cole Kan Footage: MIT Add CNET as a trusted news source Never miss a…

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August 9, 2026

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