×
This limited edition Death Stranding-inspired tablet is the coolest computer I’ve ever touched

This limited edition Death Stranding-inspired tablet is the coolest computer I’ve ever touched

Tech-news , , , , , , , ,

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 was already a unique beast. It’s a chunky gaming tablet with impressive AMD Strix Halo integrated graphics. I was really into it when I reviewed it around this time last year. But just look at it now, clad in the stylings of Hideo Kojima’s game studio and his longtime collaborator, artist Yoji Shinkawa.

I felt compelled to hike this whole kit up a mountain during the early hours of a snowstorm because it just seemed so fitting.

This is the Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP, a collaboration between Asus and Kojima Productions announced at CES. It’s officially inspired by Kojima Productions’ mascot Ludens, though it feels very Death Stranding, which makes sense, since Yoji Shinkawa designed both. Shinkawa is famed for designing legendary characters and gadgetry with Kojima, going back to the Metal Gear Solid series, and more recently the Death Stranding games.

The ROG Flow Z13-KJP is based on the most powerful configuration of the standard model Z13, with an AMD Ryzen AI Max 395 Plus APU and 128GB of memory. It costs $3,699.99, $400 more than the MSRP of that model (though $900 more than the current sale price), and it will include a Steam code for Death Stranding 2: On the Beachon PC, delivered via Asus’ Armoury Crate app. It’s up for preorder now, direct from Asus and at retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo. The limited edition isn’t individually numbered, and Asus isn’t disclosing how many it’s making, but like the previous limited editions it’s likely to sell out. Accompanying the tablet are a matching ROG Delta II-KJP headset ($269.99), ROG Keris II Origin-KJP mouse ($169.99), and a ROG Scabbard II XXL-KJP desk mat ($69.99). All in, the limited edition collection costs $4,209.96 — sold a la carte in the US. It may be available as a bundle in some regions. As bonkers as that price is, I urge you once again: Look. At. This. Thing.

1/22

The gold and black styling looks striking, even when you’re not in an environment like this.

Shinkawa’s influence is clear across the design of the entire collection. The tablet’s anodized “decennium gold” chassis has a smoother and nicer feel than the regular ROG Flow, and there’s a carbon fiber panel on the top left of the tablet’s rear, just because. And next to that is a decorative design combining gold lines and the negative space of a fan vent to look a bit like a mountain peak — the kind of hostile terrain common in Death Stranding. Even the otherwise boring power supply is adorned with a Ludens mascot design. Meanwhile, the mouse and headset feature a mix of black and white with gold accents, plus Kojima Productions iconography like the company’s Ludens logo illuminated in RGB light.

Everything is covered in sci-fi military jargon and iconography. Some are functional labels, like the M.2 SSD storage, but most of it is just for looks and laughs. The “For Ludens Who Dare” phrase is everywhere (a remix of ROG’s “For Those Who Dare” motto), as is the phrase “Extra-vehicular Creative Activity Device.” The name comes from Ludens’ spacesuit, the “Extra-vehicular Creative Activity Suit.” (Ludens isn’t in any games, but does appear as a 1:1 statue in the company office and has its own line of merch.) Another of my many favorites is a black-on-black “Caution: Actuator cycles: 100M exceed prohibited” on the left mouse button, referring to its rated lifespan of clicks. It’s such a fun little touch. Maybe more specs should be proudly worn as design elements on everyday things?

1/50

The concept sketch cards included with the tablet, headset, and mouse.

The extra touches extend to all the Z13-KJP’s accessories, like the attaché case it comes in, which is inspired by the much larger version mounted on Ludens’ back. The tablet even comes with a remove before flight-style keychain, but sadly there’s nowhere to attach it to the case. Each item comes with a bunch of stickers and a printed thank-you note from the Asus ROG and KJP teams. The best part of that thank-you card is the reverse side, which shows some of Shinkawa’s original concept art for the collaboration hardware. I still haven’t played either Death Stranding game yet, but I’m a longtime Metal Gear Solid fan, and seeing a glimpse of Yoji Shinkawa artwork always sends the good chemicals flowing to my brain.

Asus also went the extra mile with software. Boot up the Z13-KJP and you’re greeted by a Kojima Productions logo animation with a suspenseful audio stinger, harkening back to the studio’s founding and its original logo trailer. I was not expecting to hear a sound like that when I booted up the tablet, so it gave me a solid jump scare. Once in Windows, the Armoury Crate and MyAsus apps show a render of the KJP tablet in their device settings, and Armoury Crate has a matching KJP theme. None of these little touches are necessary, but the thoroughness is appreciated.

Armoury Crate has a KJP theme, with proper images of the tablet and connected accessories.

Armoury Crate has a KJP theme, with proper images of the tablet and connected accessories.

The KJP edition you can buy will come with a keyboard that uses a new faux-leather palm rest and plastic keycaps in white, black, and gold with futuristic-looking legends. But Asus also made a small batch of keyboards with metal keycaps: 50 of them for Kojima and his team, and around 30 for Asus staff members and promotional purposes.

Asus sent me both the standard and metallic keyboards to try out, in part because I’m a wee bit of a keyboard sicko. The metal keycaps have a similar style to the regular plastic set, but with metallic silver keys in place of the white ones. There’s a subtle luster to them, and they catch the light in a unique way. They sound a little nicer, with an ever-so-slightly deeper bottom-out sound than the plastic caps. Both the plastic and metal sets look stylish as hell, though, so don’t get too much FOMO for not being able to own the same one as Kojima.

1/8

The standard keyboard with plastic keycaps (left), and the exclusive keyboard with metallic keycaps (right).

I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this enamored of a computer. There are of course lots of wild custom PCs out there. The annual Dream Machines that Maximum PC used to make were the stuff of legends. And Asus has done its fair share of zany limited editions before, like the last-gen ROG Flow Z13 ACRNYM. But this one definitely speaks to me — hence my personal motivation to hike it up a snowy mountain Sam Porter Bridges style. (And nothing broke or shorted out from water ingress. Thankfully this tablet isn’t Fragile.)

The latest incarnation of the ROG Flow Z13 was already a pretty forward-looking device, with its cutting-edge integrated graphics and versatile form factor, and this KJP edition also makes it a thing of sci-fi beauty. It’s expensive as all hell, but the care and attention put into it makes it feel like a gem of a modern computer — one from the future, even.

Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.


Source link
#limited #edition #Death #Strandinginspired #tablet #coolest #computer #Ive #touched

Tag

Related Posts

The bill (AB 105) would’ve required sites with more than one-third of their total content deemed harmful to minors to impose a “reasonable” form of age verification, such as asking users to show their government-issued ID. More than two dozen states have already passed similar age check requirements for access to adult content, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. As a result, Pornhub has blocked its site in these locations.

Last month, the Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union testified that AB 105 “raises significant concerns around privacy, surveillance, and the First Amendment,” and it seems like Evers agreed. “I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill’s intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents,” Evers writes, adding that he’s “concerned about data security and the potential for misuse of personally identifiable information” obtained as a result of the age verification process.

An early version of Wisconsin’s age verification bill also included a ban on virtual private networks (VPN), which people have been using to circumvent online age checks. Lawmakers dropped this provision in February, though VPNs are becoming a target for regulators around the globe.

Despite vetoing this bill, Evers is leaving the door open for other kinds of age verification solutions, such as “device-based” methods that would verify the age of users on their phone or computer.

#Wisconsin #governor #age #checks #pornNews,Policy,Politics,Speech">Wisconsin governor says ‘no’ to age checks for pornWisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would’ve required residents to verify their age before accessing porn sites, as reported earlier by 404 Media. In a letter to the members of the assembly last week, Evers writes that the bill “imposes an intrusive burden on adults who are trying to access constitutionally protected materials.”The bill (AB 105) would’ve required sites with more than one-third of their total content deemed harmful to minors to impose a “reasonable” form of age verification, such as asking users to show their government-issued ID. More than two dozen states have already passed similar age check requirements for access to adult content, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. As a result, Pornhub has blocked its site in these locations.Last month, the Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union testified that AB 105 “raises significant concerns around privacy, surveillance, and the First Amendment,” and it seems like Evers agreed. “I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill’s intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents,” Evers writes, adding that he’s “concerned about data security and the potential for misuse of personally identifiable information” obtained as a result of the age verification process.An early version of Wisconsin’s age verification bill also included a ban on virtual private networks (VPN), which people have been using to circumvent online age checks. Lawmakers dropped this provision in February, though VPNs are becoming a target for regulators around the globe.Despite vetoing this bill, Evers is leaving the door open for other kinds of age verification solutions, such as “device-based” methods that would verify the age of users on their phone or computer.#Wisconsin #governor #age #checks #pornNews,Policy,Politics,Speech

reported earlier by 404 Media. In a letter to the members of the assembly last week, Evers writes that the bill “imposes an intrusive burden on adults who are trying to access constitutionally protected materials.”

The bill (AB 105) would’ve required sites with more than one-third of their total content deemed harmful to minors to impose a “reasonable” form of age verification, such as asking users to show their government-issued ID. More than two dozen states have already passed similar age check requirements for access to adult content, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. As a result, Pornhub has blocked its site in these locations.

Last month, the Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union testified that AB 105 “raises significant concerns around privacy, surveillance, and the First Amendment,” and it seems like Evers agreed. “I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill’s intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents,” Evers writes, adding that he’s “concerned about data security and the potential for misuse of personally identifiable information” obtained as a result of the age verification process.

An early version of Wisconsin’s age verification bill also included a ban on virtual private networks (VPN), which people have been using to circumvent online age checks. Lawmakers dropped this provision in February, though VPNs are becoming a target for regulators around the globe.

Despite vetoing this bill, Evers is leaving the door open for other kinds of age verification solutions, such as “device-based” methods that would verify the age of users on their phone or computer.

#Wisconsin #governor #age #checks #pornNews,Policy,Politics,Speech">Wisconsin governor says ‘no’ to age checks for porn

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would’ve required residents to verify their age before accessing porn sites, as reported earlier by 404 Media. In a letter to the members of the assembly last week, Evers writes that the bill “imposes an intrusive burden on adults who are trying to access constitutionally protected materials.”

The bill (AB 105) would’ve required sites with more than one-third of their total content deemed harmful to minors to impose a “reasonable” form of age verification, such as asking users to show their government-issued ID. More than two dozen states have already passed similar age check requirements for access to adult content, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. As a result, Pornhub has blocked its site in these locations.

Last month, the Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union testified that AB 105 “raises significant concerns around privacy, surveillance, and the First Amendment,” and it seems like Evers agreed. “I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill’s intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents,” Evers writes, adding that he’s “concerned about data security and the potential for misuse of personally identifiable information” obtained as a result of the age verification process.

An early version of Wisconsin’s age verification bill also included a ban on virtual private networks (VPN), which people have been using to circumvent online age checks. Lawmakers dropped this provision in February, though VPNs are becoming a target for regulators around the globe.

Despite vetoing this bill, Evers is leaving the door open for other kinds of age verification solutions, such as “device-based” methods that would verify the age of users on their phone or computer.

#Wisconsin #governor #age #checks #pornNews,Policy,Politics,Speech
Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies.

The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations.

As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.”

TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution.

However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues.

AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies. The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations. As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.” TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution. However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues. Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said. Rocket’s subscription plans range from per month for building applications to 0 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to 0 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence. Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 The 0 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work. Rocket raised a million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses. Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto. #startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding
Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket

The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said.

Rocket’s subscription plans range from $25 per month for building applications to $250 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to $350 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

The $250 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work.

Rocket raised a $15 million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~$4,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses.

Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto.

#startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding">AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies. The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations. As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.” TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution. However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues. Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said. Rocket’s subscription plans range from per month for building applications to 0 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to 0 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence. Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 The 0 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work. Rocket raised a million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses. Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto. #startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding

Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies.

The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations.

As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.”

TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution.

However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues.

AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies. The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations. As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.” TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution. However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues. Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said. Rocket’s subscription plans range from per month for building applications to 0 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to 0 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence. Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 The 0 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work. Rocket raised a million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses. Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto. #startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding
Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket

The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said.

Rocket’s subscription plans range from $25 per month for building applications to $250 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to $350 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

The $250 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work.

Rocket raised a $15 million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~$4,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses.

Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto.

#startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding">AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch

Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies.

The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations.

As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.”

TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution.

However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues.

AI startup Rocket offers vibe McKinsey-style reports at a fraction of the cost | TechCrunch Indian startup Rocket is betting that the next big opportunity is the part before vibe coding: having AI help people decide what to build. It has launched a platform that produces consulting-style product strategies. The startup, based in Surat, India, on Tuesday launched its platform, Rocket 1.0, which connects research, product building, and competitive intelligence in a single workflow. The platform generates detailed product strategy documents — including pricing, unit economics, and go-to-market recommendations. As AI-powered coding tools proliferate — from platforms like Cursor, Replit, and Lovable to features such as Claude Code and Codex — writing code has become significantly easier and faster. “Everyone can generate the code now… it has become a commodity. But what to build is something which everyone is missing,” said Rocket co-founder and CEO Vishal Virani (pictured above), adding that “running a business and just building a codebase are two different things.” TechCrunch briefly tested Rocket’s platform ahead of its launch and found that it generated product requirement documents in PDF format from simple prompts. These documents resemble consulting-style reports rather than vibe coding tools or chatbots, which largely focus on features and execution. However, some of the analysis appeared to be synthesized from existing data — combining known pricing models, user behavior patterns, and competitive insights — rather than based on independently verifiable information. This suggests users may still need to validate outputs before making business decisions. Virani said the platform can offer human support when users encounter issues. Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said. Rocket’s subscription plans range from per month for building applications to 0 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to 0 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence. Techcrunch event San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 The 0 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work. Rocket raised a million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses. Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto. #startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding
Rocket’s platform generates consulting-style reports Based on text prompts given by usersImage Credits:Rocket

The product can also track competitors, including changes to their websites and traffic trends. Rocket draws on more than 1,000 data sources for its analysis, including Meta’s ad libraries, Similarweb’s API, and its own crawlers, Virani said.

Rocket’s subscription plans range from $25 per month for building applications to $250 for strategy and research capabilities, and up to $350 for the full platform, including competitive intelligence.

Techcrunch event

San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026

The $250 plan can generate two to three “McKinsey-grade” research reports alongside product builds, Virani told TechCrunch, positioning its higher-tier offerings as a lower-cost alternative to traditional consulting, which often costs thousands of dollars for similar strategy work.

Rocket raised a $15 million seed round in September from Accel, Salesforce Ventures, and Together Fund. Since then, the startup says it has grown from 400,000 to over 1.5 million users across 180 countries. It also reported an annualized average revenue per user in the ~$4,000 range, though it did not disclose detailed paying customer numbers. The startup said it operates at gross margins of over 50%, with 20–30% of its customers being small- and medium-sized businesses.

Rocket has a team of 57 employees and is headquartered in Surat, with operations in Palo Alto.

#startup #Rocket #offers #vibe #McKinseystyle #reports #fraction #cost #TechCrunchrocket,vibe coding
published last month in JAMA Network Open.

Shooting impulses

Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds.

While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics.

All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone.

Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss.

What makes someone trigger-happy?

The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence.

Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk.

“The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted.

And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis.

“This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote.

Here’s How Many Americans Have Ever Thought About Shooting Someone Else If you’re ever been morbidly curious about how many of us would ever give into our darkest impulses, you’re in luck. A recent sobering study shows that a sizable amount of people in the U.S. have seriously considered shooting someone else at least once in their lives. Researchers in Michigan examined nationally representative survey data. They found that an estimated 7% of Americans—more than 19 million—had thought about shooting another person in their lifetime. Interestingly enough, factors like already owning a gun weren’t associated with an added risk of having these desires, though others like living in a city or being younger were. “Prevention efforts are needed to address gun violence risk among those with and without access to firearms,” the authors wrote in their paper, published last month in JAMA Network Open. Shooting impulses Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds. While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics. All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone. Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss. What makes someone trigger-happy? The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence. Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk. “The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted. And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis. “This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote. Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama. #Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence

Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama.

#Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence">Here’s How Many Americans Have Ever Thought About Shooting Someone Else If you’re ever been morbidly curious about how many of us would ever give into our darkest impulses, you’re in luck. A recent sobering study shows that a sizable amount of people in the U.S. have seriously considered shooting someone else at least once in their lives. Researchers in Michigan examined nationally representative survey data. They found that an estimated 7% of Americans—more than 19 million—had thought about shooting another person in their lifetime. Interestingly enough, factors like already owning a gun weren’t associated with an added risk of having these desires, though others like living in a city or being younger were. “Prevention efforts are needed to address gun violence risk among those with and without access to firearms,” the authors wrote in their paper, published last month in JAMA Network Open. Shooting impulses Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds. While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics. All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone. Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss. What makes someone trigger-happy? The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence. Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk. “The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted. And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis. “This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote. Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama. #Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence

last month in JAMA Network Open.

Shooting impulses

Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds.

While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics.

All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone.

Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss.

What makes someone trigger-happy?

The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence.

Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk.

“The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted.

And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis.

“This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote.

Here’s How Many Americans Have Ever Thought About Shooting Someone Else If you’re ever been morbidly curious about how many of us would ever give into our darkest impulses, you’re in luck. A recent sobering study shows that a sizable amount of people in the U.S. have seriously considered shooting someone else at least once in their lives. Researchers in Michigan examined nationally representative survey data. They found that an estimated 7% of Americans—more than 19 million—had thought about shooting another person in their lifetime. Interestingly enough, factors like already owning a gun weren’t associated with an added risk of having these desires, though others like living in a city or being younger were. “Prevention efforts are needed to address gun violence risk among those with and without access to firearms,” the authors wrote in their paper, published last month in JAMA Network Open. Shooting impulses Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds. While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics. All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone. Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss. What makes someone trigger-happy? The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence. Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk. “The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted. And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis. “This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote. Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama. #Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence

Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama.

#Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence">Here’s How Many Americans Have Ever Thought About Shooting Someone Else

If you’re ever been morbidly curious about how many of us would ever give into our darkest impulses, you’re in luck. A recent sobering study shows that a sizable amount of people in the U.S. have seriously considered shooting someone else at least once in their lives.

Researchers in Michigan examined nationally representative survey data. They found that an estimated 7% of Americans—more than 19 million—had thought about shooting another person in their lifetime. Interestingly enough, factors like already owning a gun weren’t associated with an added risk of having these desires, though others like living in a city or being younger were.

“Prevention efforts are needed to address gun violence risk among those with and without access to firearms,” the authors wrote in their paper, published last month in JAMA Network Open.

Shooting impulses

Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds.

While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics.

All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone.

Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss.

What makes someone trigger-happy?

The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence.

Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk.

“The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted.

And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis.

“This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote.

Here’s How Many Americans Have Ever Thought About Shooting Someone Else If you’re ever been morbidly curious about how many of us would ever give into our darkest impulses, you’re in luck. A recent sobering study shows that a sizable amount of people in the U.S. have seriously considered shooting someone else at least once in their lives. Researchers in Michigan examined nationally representative survey data. They found that an estimated 7% of Americans—more than 19 million—had thought about shooting another person in their lifetime. Interestingly enough, factors like already owning a gun weren’t associated with an added risk of having these desires, though others like living in a city or being younger were. “Prevention efforts are needed to address gun violence risk among those with and without access to firearms,” the authors wrote in their paper, published last month in JAMA Network Open. Shooting impulses Though the death rate has declined slightly in recent years, gun violence remains an urgent public health threat in the U.S. About 44,000 Americans died from firearms in 2024, while more than 200 people on average every day visit an emergency room with firearm wounds. While plenty of research has focused on the things that could predispose someone to gun violence, the researchers say there’s been little focus on quantifying how many people might consider using a gun in the first place. So they decided to analyze data from the National Firearms, Alcohol, Cannabis, and Suicide survey, which is run out of the University of Michigan. Between May and September 2025, the project polled roughly 7,000 adults from across the country about various gun and drug-related topics. All in all, 3.3% of respondents said they had seriously thought about shooting someone else in the past year, while 7.3% admitted to having thought about it at some point in their lives. About 1.6% of people also thought about acquiring a gun for the purpose of shooting someone, while 0.6% reported having brought a gun to a specific location with the intent of shooting someone. Of those who reported thinking about shooting someone else, the most likely potential target would have been “an enemy” (51%), followed by a complete stranger (24.6%). About 14% had wanted to shoot a government official; roughly 10% had thought about shooting a current or former romantic partner; and just under 7% a co-worker or boss. What makes someone trigger-happy? The survey data might also provide some insight into what makes people more likely to contemplate gun violence. Risk factors associated with thinking about shooting someone else, for instance, included: being younger, being male, being Black, living in a city, living in the Midwest, and having less formal education. On the other hand, factors like income, gun ownership, and political party affiliation weren’t associated with any higher risk. “The demographic correlates of these thoughts were consistent with those for firearm interpersonal violence, suggesting the existence a high-risk group even in the absence of gun ownership,” the authors noted. And though it’s not clear how best to predict whether someone will go from thinking about gun violence to actually perpetuating it, there might yet be opportunities to intervene before it’s too late, the researchers say. Based on the survey data, about 1.5% of Americans have previously told others about their thoughts of shooting someone else, while 0.5% have gone as far as to have others store their guns for safekeeping during a crisis. “This provides a point of intervention, especially in states with extreme risk protection order or red flag laws that allow for the temporary removal of firearms,” they wrote. Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama. #Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence

Also, for those of you wondering, yes, I was inspired to write about this study after recently seeing The Drama.

#Heres #Americans #Thought #Shootingfirearms,gun violence

Post Comment