Business & Technology
Meta's AI Agent Muse Is Willing to Engage in Sexually Explicit Chats
A WIRED reporter tested Meta's AI agent Muse and found it readily takes part in explicit sexual conversation. Meta says the app is intended for adults and it won't block legal adult behavior.
Wired · 16 Oct, 00:57
Late discord delays Franco-German deal on cars emissions and "Made in Europe"
A Franco-German agreement on car emissions and the "Made in Europe" principle, which was said to be "hours or days" away, has been held up by late disagreements. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron urged EU leaders to agree on the bloc's budget by the end of the year.
Politico Europe · 16 Oct, 00:56
Plex now helps sell movie theater tickets through Fandango partnership
Streaming and media-server platform Plex has partnered with Fandango to offer movie theater ticket purchases. The company says it wants to be the place where people discover what to watch, wherever the content is available.
Ars Technica · 16 Oct, 00:56
UK Considers Extending BBC Licence Fee to Streaming Platforms
The UK government is expected to propose later this year extending the BBC licence fee to streaming services such as YouTube and Netflix. The standard fee is currently £180 a year.
Engadget · 16 Oct, 00:56
Hollywood turns critical of tech founders: 2026 films on Zuckerberg, Musk, Holmes and Altman
Several 2026 films portray Silicon Valley leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Elizabeth Holmes and Sam Altman far more critically than before. The Verge's critic sees it as a sign of growing public skepticism toward Big Tech.
The Verge · 16 Oct, 00:55
Porsche Unveils Mission S Concept in New York, Previewing a Mid-Engine Supercar Platform Above the 911
German sports car maker Porsche unveiled the Mission S concept in New York on 15 October. It previews a new design direction and an announced mid-engine supercar platform positioned above the 911.
4 avoti · 15 Oct, 23:59
Bluesky's AI tool Attie now lets users build games and apps
Attie, the AI tool from social network Bluesky, can now generate small social apps such as games and polls from a text prompt. Each app gets its own web address that can be shared with others.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 23:58
Meta releases open-weight AI model that can run on Macs
Meta has launched Muse Spark Open, an open-weight AI model with 816 billion parameters. It is designed to run locally on Apple computers, though it requires at least 1 terabyte of RAM.
TechCrunch AI · 15 Oct, 23:58
US congressman plans bill to protect video game ownership
New York Representative Ritchie Torres has announced a bill that would direct the Federal Trade Commission to protect players' ability to own and play the video games they buy. The measure faces possible obstacles in committee and in the courts.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 23:57
Amazon devices chief Panay: failure is an unavoidable part of building products
Panos Panay, Amazon's SVP of Devices, Alexa and Leo, told startup founders at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco to accept failure and learn from it. He cited the failed launch of Microsoft's Surface RT tablet as an example.
TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 23:56
Anthropic Gives METR Researchers Employee-Level Access
AI company Anthropic is granting six researchers from the independent nonprofit METR employee-level access to assess its models and safety practices. METR can publish its findings, and Anthropic cannot veto them.
TechCrunch AI · 15 Oct, 22:58
Russian diesel will not be shipped through Latvia
The US easing of sanctions on Russian diesel trade changes nothing in Latvia. The State Revenue Service confirms that such cargoes may not be moved through Latvian ports.
LSM · 15 Oct, 22:58
US Federal Trade Commission Subpoenas OpenAI and Anthropic After AI Safety Incidents
The US Federal Trade Commission has issued civil subpoenas to AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic to look into possible consumer protection violations following several safety incidents involving their models. It is seeking documents on security, safeguards and privacy policies.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 22:57
Bluesky to introduce payments in coming months as an alternative to advertising
Executives of the social network Bluesky said at TechCrunch Disrupt that payments will launch in the coming months. It is the first step in a strategy to earn revenue without relying on advertising.
TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 22:57
US extends sanctions waiver for Russian oil giant Lukoil until 2027
The US Treasury Department has extended a licence allowing Lukoil-branded service stations outside Russia to operate until 24 April 2027. The move comes a week after President Donald Trump announced a diesel supply deal with Russia.
Euronews · 15 Oct, 22:56
Withings now charges new users for syncing health data to other apps
Withings, maker of fitness-tracking smartwatches and smart scales, now requires a Withings Plus subscription for new accounts created from October 13th to automatically sync data to third-party apps. Existing users keep the feature for free.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 22:55
E Ink unveils Kaleido 4 color e-paper display with wider color range
E Ink, the e-paper display maker, has announced Kaleido 4 technology with over 40,000 colors and faster refresh. For now only one device uses it: Hanvon's M10 C II tablet, sold in China.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 21:56
ECB allows UniCredit to go beyond 30% stake in Commerzbank
The European Central Bank has authorised Italy's UniCredit to raise its stake in Germany's Commerzbank above the 30% threshold, with no upper limit. UniCredit is expected to hold about 50% of voting rights by year-end.
Euronews Business · 15 Oct, 21:56
Barkin: Europe 'far more united' on tougher China trade line after German shift
The EU is more united than in years on taking a firmer line over China's trade imbalance, says Rhodium Group senior adviser Noah Barkin. He credits a shift by Germany towards a tougher stance.
Euronews · 15 Oct, 21:56
Volvo Expands Nvidia Partnership for Automated Driving System
Swedish automaker Volvo is expanding its nearly decade-long partnership with US tech company Nvidia to bring an automated driving system to its future vehicles. The first model with the new technology is due within this decade.
TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 20:57
Biggest donors to Trump's White House ballroom are mostly tech and telecom firms
The Washington Post has published a list of major donors to President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project. Over $183 million came largely from tech, telecom and crypto companies.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 20:56
Sony unveils gold-plated Walkman music player priced at $5,899
Japanese electronics maker Sony has announced three new Walkman portable players aimed at audiophiles. The top model, with a gold-plated body, costs $5,899.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 20:56
SK Hynix unit seeks US approval for equipment exports to China in exchange for building a US factory
Solidigm, the flash memory unit of South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, is reportedly asking Washington to let it ship American equipment to its Chinese plant. The request is tied to plans for a new NAND memory factory in the US.
TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 19:56
Saeima backs new rules on when drivers must report road accidents to police
Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, passed amendments to the Road Traffic Law in the second reading, setting out when drivers must report a crash to the State Police. The changes also widen the use of the agreed accident notification form.
iAuto.lv · 15 Oct, 18:57
UK Culture Secretary Considers Intervening in Sky's £1.6bn Purchase of ITV
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said she is "minded to intervene" in Sky's £1.6bn deal to buy ITV's broadcasting and streaming arm. The step opens the way to closer scrutiny of the takeover.
The Guardian World · 15 Oct, 18:56
Tech Firms Reportedly Gave More Than $150 Million for Trump's White House Ballroom
The Washington Post has published a list of the biggest donors to the White House ballroom project. It shows Silicon Valley and the crypto industry reportedly gave over $150 million, with Nvidia and Apple giving $25 million each.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 18:56
Expense management firm Ramp raises $1.85 billion, valuation hits $60 billion
US company Ramp, which offers an expense management platform, has closed a new $1.85 billion funding round at a $60 billion valuation, four months after a round that valued it at $44 billion.
TechCrunch · 15 Oct, 17:56
Microsoft Redesigns Windows 11 Photos App to Merge PC, OneDrive and iCloud Galleries
Microsoft has redesigned the Photos app in Windows 11, bringing images and videos from a PC, OneDrive and iCloud into one gallery. The update is rolling out to Windows Insiders now, with a full release for all users expected later this year.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 17:55
French crypto firm Ledger warns of AI-driven security risks
The chief technology officer of French cryptocurrency company Ledger says artificial intelligence is changing the security landscape because finding and exploiting vulnerabilities now costs almost nothing. The firm is launching a new device, Ledger Atom, as it seeks a bigger role in digital security.
France 24 · 15 Oct, 16:58
Microsoft Says Windows 11 Is Now More Responsive and Runs Better on 8GB PCs
Microsoft says months of fixes have made Windows 11 up to 20 percent more responsive. The changes are aimed in particular at PCs with 8GB of RAM.
The Verge · 15 Oct, 16:57
Elis Tekstila Serviss to build new carpet-washing plant in Riga for €3 million
Textile rental and service company Elis Tekstila Serviss plans to build a new carpet-washing plant on Bukaišu Street in Riga for about €3 million. Construction is due to be completed in November 2027.
Dienas Bizness · 15 Oct, 16:57
Transport Ministry: Halting Grain Transit Could Cost the Sector About €290 Million a Year
A Latvian Transport Ministry report estimates that stopping grain shipments would cost the railway and related industries around €290 million annually. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs says Latvia cannot ban Russian grain transit alone and will raise the issue in Brussels.
Dienas Bizness · 15 Oct, 15:56
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Tet to secure financing to buy out Telia's shareholdings
Latvian telecommunications company Tet will prepare a solution and raise financing to buy out the shares that Sweden's Telia Company holds in LMT and in Tet itself. The solution must comply with a Cabinet of Ministers decision.
Apollo.lv · 15 Oct, 14:58
Mexico's president issues decree ordering platforms to shield minors from harmful content
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed a decree requiring digital platforms to protect children from adult and other harmful content. Platforms have 30 days to comply, though no penalties will apply at first.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 14:58
Oxfam France challenges constitutionality of French tax system
The non-governmental organisation Oxfam France is taking legal action against the French state, arguing that tax reforms have disproportionately favoured the wealthiest and deepened inequality. The case could place fiscal inequality under judicial scrutiny.
France 24 · 15 Oct, 14:57
Wozniak-signed Apple I 'Hatfield' computer sells for record $1.15 million at auction
Auction house Bonhams sold a 1976 Apple I computer signed by Steve Wozniak for $1,148,200 to an unnamed buyer. The same machine fetched $671,400 when it was last auctioned in 2013.
Engadget · 15 Oct, 13:58