Business & Technology
L'Oreal says weight loss drugs are affecting beauty and skin care sales
L'Oreal chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus says the spread of GLP-1 weight loss drugs is influencing beauty spending, skin care in particular. The company's sales rose 7.7% in the three months to September.
BBC World · 23 Oct, 05:55
Indian developer turns 'Cockroach' protests into video game
A 27-year-old developer in India has created a satirical video game inspired by the protests led by the Cockroach Party.
Al Jazeera · 23 Oct, 05:53
Moderna and Merck: personalized mRNA vaccine cut melanoma recurrence or death risk by 42%
Drugmakers Moderna and Merck have reported Phase 3 trial results for an individualized mRNA cancer vaccine. Combined with the cancer drug Keytruda, it lowered the two-year risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42%.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 04:55
Next Xbox could cost $1,200–$1,800: how Microsoft might make it affordable
Fortune reports that Microsoft's next console, the Xbox Helix, could be priced at $1,200 to $1,800 when it arrives in 2028. The Verge examines five ways the company might make that price more palatable to buyers.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 04:55
Warhound Raises $200M to Engineer Genetically Enhanced War Dogs
Warhound, a U.S. startup backed by biotech firm Colossal Biosciences and defense tech company Anduril, has emerged from stealth with $200 million in funding. It is valued at $1.2 billion and plans to use gene editing to create working dogs for military and emergency use.
TechCrunch · 23 Oct, 04:54
Opel Corsa and Mokka get orange Halloween-themed Yes edition
German carmaker Opel is offering the Corsa and Mokka in a special Yes trim with orange paint and a black roof. The Corsa YES starts at €24,790 in Germany, the Mokka YES at €30,340.
iAuto.lv · 23 Oct, 04:53
Women's Events Group Teaches Midlife Women to Use Artificial Intelligence
Former journalists Shoshana Berger and Nina Willdorf founded the Aged Intelligence Society, which hosts invite-only dinners where women tackle everyday problems with AI tools. The events have a waiting list, and similar meetups are now held outside the Bay Area.
Wired · 23 Oct, 03:57
Lamy: Weak Growth Threatens Europe's Social Model
Pascal Lamy, former European Commissioner for Trade, says Europe's turmoil stems from a mismatch between its sophisticated social system and weak growth. He urges negotiation with China first, with stronger trade defenses if necessary.
France 24 · 23 Oct, 03:56
Book Excerpt Alleges Dutch Intelligence Watched Kushner's Phone and a UAE Bank Account Linked to Him
Vanity Fair has published an excerpt from Matthew Cole's book alleging that Dutch intelligence saw Jared Kushner access a United Arab Emirates bank account on his phone in 2018. Kushner's representatives deny the claims.
Hacker News (≥150 p.) · 23 Oct, 03:55
Researcher achieves partial software-only jailbreak of Nintendo Switch 2
Security researcher Sammy Hajhamid has demonstrated a partial, software-only jailbreak of the Nintendo Switch 2 game console. It allows homebrew software to run and games to be modded.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 03:55
Etsy Tightens Rules on AI-Generated Content in Product Listings
Online marketplace Etsy has announced stricter rules limiting how artificial intelligence can be used in listings. The aim is to cut the volume of low-quality AI content and protect buyers from misleading images.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 03:54
AI agents left alone on a virtual island started inventing their own games
MIT researchers left 13 AI agents on a simulated desert island for 30 hours with no assigned task. The agents began inventing their own challenges and later generally outperformed identical agents that had never been on the island.
TechCrunch AI · 23 Oct, 03:53
Nvidia chief: warnings that AI could destroy humanity are a cheap bid for attention
Jensen Huang, CEO of US chipmaker Nvidia, dismissed warnings that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity at a conference in Berlin. He called such claims made-up and cheap, and urged responsible optimism.
NRA · 23 Oct, 02:56
Trailer for cancelled Mass Effect sequel leaks online
A trailer for BioWare's unreleased game Mass Effect: Universe has appeared on Reddit. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says it is genuine, but publisher EA will not continue development after closing the studio.
Engadget · 23 Oct, 02:56
Italy's trucker protests halt buffalo mozzarella production, cost producers €3m
A protest over diesel prices in Italy has stopped buffalo mozzarella production. Producers estimate losses of €3 million in just 24 hours.
France 24 · 23 Oct, 02:55
Palmer Luckey and Ben Lamm Launch Startup for Genetically Enhanced Military Dogs
Warhound, a Texas startup founded by Anduril's Palmer Luckey and Colossal Biosciences cofounder Ben Lamm, has raised $200 million. It plans to use gene editing and cloning to produce working dogs for the military, police and first responders.
Wired · 23 Oct, 02:55
Spotify confirms tighter Family Plan checks using QR code verification
Alex Norström, co-CEO of music streaming service Spotify, confirmed the company is using a new QR code check to catch Family Plan users who do not live together. He described the move as a routine improvement rather than a crackdown.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 02:55
Meta creates non-voting stock that would let Zuckerberg pay California's proposed billionaire tax
Tech company Meta has approved a new class of non-voting shares that would let founder Mark Zuckerberg sell stock without losing control. The New York Times reports it is also tied to a billionaire tax proposed in California.
TechCrunch · 23 Oct, 02:53
Two critical PHP vulnerabilities threaten websites worldwide
On October 21 the developers of the PHP programming language announced two critical vulnerabilities allowing remote code execution on servers. They put roughly 70% of websites at risk, and updates are already available.
Meduza · 23 Oct, 02:53
Leaked Mass Effect: Universe trailer surfaces after BioWare closure
A leaked trailer for the new Mass Effect game has appeared online after publisher Electronic Arts announced it was closing the BioWare studio. Writers and developers say they had worked on the project for years.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 01:56
Rhode Island sues Meta over handling of scam ads
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha has filed a lawsuit against social media company Meta, alleging it does too little to stop fraudulent ads. It is the first US state to sue the company on these grounds.
Engadget · 23 Oct, 01:55
Global PC Shipments Fell 21 Percent in Q3 as RAM and Component Prices Rose
Market analyst Counterpoint Research reports that global PC shipments dropped 21 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2026. The decline is tied to rising component costs, and no quick recovery is expected.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 01:55
OpenAI Reportedly Seeks $30 Billion at $1.25 Trillion Valuation Ahead of IPO
US artificial intelligence company OpenAI is reportedly working on a new private funding round of up to $30 billion. The pre-money valuation could reach $1.25 trillion.
TechCrunch AI · 23 Oct, 01:54
Andreessen Horowitz renames its crypto unit a16z Frontier
US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz has renamed its digital asset unit from a16z Crypto to a16z Frontier, broadening its focus to emerging technologies. The team is not abandoning crypto, but will also target AI and robotics.
TechCrunch · 23 Oct, 01:53
India's eMudhra exits TLS certificate business after weak-key scandal
India-based eMudhra will stop issuing TLS certificates after it emerged that eight intermediate certificates it issued used absurdly weak private keys. The company cited compliance costs and complexity and the small share of revenue the business brings in.
Ars Technica · 23 Oct, 00:56
Publisher Pantaloon launches The Playbill, a subscription service for indie games
Game publisher Pantaloon has launched The Playbill, a subscription service offering unconventional indie video games. The service will not include any games that use generative AI in any form.
Engadget · 23 Oct, 00:56
Rivian acquires UK startup Third Dimension to speed up self-driving development
U.S. electric vehicle maker Rivian has acquired Third Dimension, a U.K. startup that uses AI to turn images and video into lifelike 3D worlds. Rivian will use the technology to speed up its driver-assistance and self-driving systems.
TechCrunch · 23 Oct, 00:55
Canva launches Canva Craft, its first in-house AI image model
Design platform Canva on Thursday unveiled Canva Craft, an AI image model that plans a design before generating it. It is available to all users worldwide.
The Verge · 23 Oct, 00:53
The Browser Company to shut down Arc on December 22, steering users to Dia
The Browser Company will fully shut down its Arc browser on December 22, 2026, and direct users to its AI-focused browser Dia. It cites the growing cost of keeping a browser secure in the age of AI.
TechCrunch · 22 Oct, 23:56
Google Home Speaker bug caused repeated update downloads and hundreds of gigabytes of data use
A server misconfiguration made some Google Home Speaker smart speakers download a software update over and over, with one user reporting about three terabytes of traffic on his home network. Google says the problem has been resolved.
Wired · 22 Oct, 23:55
Spotify introduces QR code checks for Family plan members
Music streaming service Spotify has begun asking some Premium Family members to prove, by scanning a QR code, that they live with the plan manager. The company calls it a routine improvement to its verification, not a crackdown.
Engadget · 22 Oct, 23:55
Meta revises business terms, but legal experts still see risk of AI training on news sites
Meta has altered its business account terms, but legal experts say the wording could still let it use news site content to develop AI. Meta insists the update is not about scraping news sites.
The Verge · 22 Oct, 23:53
2027 BMW iX5 first drive: long range and self-opening doors
German carmaker BMW's upcoming electric SUV, the iX5, is expected to cover more than 450 miles per charge, according to the company. The reviewer praises its doors and driver assistance but calls the styling polarizing.
Engadget · 22 Oct, 22:57
1Password launches a way for AI agents to log in without seeing your password
Password manager 1Password on Thursday launched 1Password for Agents, a tool that lets AI agents sign in to users' accounts without ever accessing their credentials. It arrives as U.S. banks begin detecting agent activity inside customer accounts.
TechCrunch · 22 Oct, 22:56
Printer-ink image wins Nikon Small World 2026 photomicrography contest
Ole Bielfeldt has won Nikon's 2026 Small World photomicrography contest with a microscopic image of an inkjet printer depositing ink on paper. The competition marks its 52nd anniversary this year.
Ars Technica · 22 Oct, 22:54
Bluesky adds iPad support and external links to profiles
The social network Bluesky has released an update that includes beta support for iPad tablets and the option to add links to other platforms on user profiles.
Engadget · 22 Oct, 21:56