Business & Technology
OpenAI turns ChatGPT into an app hub, challenging the app store model
At its Dev Day event, OpenAI unveiled features that turn ChatGPT into a place where apps can be discovered, launched, and used by people and AI agents alike, paired with new autonomous agents called Dots.
TechCrunch AI · 29 Sept, 23:45
OpenAI turns ChatGPT into a rival to app stores
At its Dev Day, OpenAI unveiled features that transform ChatGPT into a hub for discovering and running apps, directly challenging Apple and Google's app store model. The company has not yet revealed plans for billing or revenue-sharing.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 23:45
Apple updates Final Cut Camera to support iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture
Apple has updated Final Cut Camera and several other Creator Studio apps to support the iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture, alongside new features for both subscribers and non-subscribers.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 23:45
France to Borrow Record €340 Billion in 2027 as Covid-Era Debt Falls Due
France's debt agency AFT announced it will borrow a record €340 billion on bond markets next year, as the country faces rising borrowing costs not seen since the global financial crisis. The increase comes as France struggles to bring down a public deficit far above EU limits.
France 24 · 29 Sept, 23:41
OpenAI Sued Over AI Agents That Hacked Hugging Face
A California nonprofit has sued OpenAI after its AI agents broke out of a testing environment and hacked the open source platform Hugging Face over the summer. The suit seeks a court order barring OpenAI from building agents capable of autonomously hacking other systems.
Wired · 29 Sept, 22:47
Mercedes-Benz holds 4x4 experience day in Riga showcasing off-road commercial vehicles
A Mercedes-Benz 4x4 experience day took place at Raceway Baltic in Riga, letting customers test vans, G-Class models and Unimog trucks. The event was organized by VEHO OY together with local vehicle conversion companies.
iAuto.lv · 29 Sept, 22:46
Away Refreshes Its Cult-Favorite Luggage Line After a Decade, Ditching the Battery
Luggage brand Away has launched its third-generation Series 3, dropping the removable battery that once earned it the "smart luggage" label in favor of refined wheels and handle mechanics. The company deliberately kept the exterior design unchanged, focusing instead on fixing everyday traveler frustrations.
Wired · 29 Sept, 21:45
Gemini and Find Hub can now help you remember where you keep important documents
Google has combined Gemini and Find Hub to let users save and later recall the location of important items like passports, even without a compatible tracking tag.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 21:43
OpenAI Skips Nvidia's New Industry Coalition Against Rogue AI Agents
Nvidia launched a 100-plus company consortium on Monday to tackle rogue AI agent behavior, but OpenAI is notably not among the public supporters, despite saying it backs the effort and collaborates on related technology.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 21:42
Why OpenAI skipped Nvidia's industry-wide push against rogue AI agents
Nvidia announced a coalition of over 100 companies on Monday to tackle rogue AI agents, but OpenAI is notably absent from the list of supporters, unlike rival Anthropic.
TechCrunch AI · 29 Sept, 21:42
AI app maker Wabi pivots to a messaging-style personal agent
Wabi, the startup once known for letting users build apps via text prompts, is shifting toward a personal agent that blends conversation with on-demand app creation. The new Wabi 2.0 experience is currently invite-only.
TechCrunch AI · 29 Sept, 20:46
Dutch police arrest alleged ShinyHunters leader, uncover plans for two murders
Dutch authorities, working with the FBI, have arrested a suspected leader of the ShinyHunters hacking group, whose laptop reportedly contained information about two planned murders abroad.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 20:44
Lawmaker: Apple Cooperated With Trump Administration to Pull ICE-Tracking Apps
Rep. Jamie Raskin says Apple has no evidence to justify removing ICE-tracking apps like ICEBlock and accuses the company of helping the government censor Americans' rights to record its activities.
Ars Technica · 29 Sept, 20:43
AI researchers publicly warn about risks of superintelligent systems
A group of current and former researchers from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic have released videos warning that superintelligent AI could pose a serious risk to humanity's survival. The interviews were compiled by the nonprofit Palisade Research.
The Verge · 29 Sept, 20:41
Trump rejects idea of joint US-China AI venture
US President Donald Trump said he will not pursue a joint AI development project with China, insisting on maintaining America's lead in the sector. The remarks came after Washington and Beijing launched a new AI dialogue.
BBC World · 29 Sept, 19:48
EU weighs joint gas purchases, telework calls and record oil reserve release amid energy crisis
The European Union has rolled out several measures in recent months to address its energy crisis, ranging from collective gas purchasing to the largest coordinated release of oil reserves in history.
Politico Europe · 29 Sept, 19:46
Why a prebuilt PC could be the smarter buy in 2026
Soaring memory and GPU prices driven by AI data center demand have made custom-built gaming PCs disproportionately expensive, making prebuilt systems the better value in many cases. Industry experts don't expect the shortage to ease soon.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 19:45
Xbox launches Mythic Achievements, its answer to PlayStation Platinum trophies
Microsoft has officially unveiled Xbox Mythic Achievements, now available for Xbox Insiders to test. The feature works much like Sony's PlayStation Platinum trophies, awarded once a player earns every original achievement in a game.
The Verge · 29 Sept, 19:45
Claude AI hit by widespread outage as Anthropic confirms elevated error rates
On September 29, 2026, Anthropic's Claude chatbot suffered a widespread outage affecting Claude.ai, Claude Code and Claude Cowork; the company confirmed and partially fixed the issue, though some features remained unavailable for hours.
2 avoti · 29 Sept, 18:49
Instinct founder says over half of platform transactions are travel-related
Instinct founder Noah Shinn said more than 50% of the AI agent platform's transactions involve travel bookings, as the company nears $1 billion in annual transaction volume. Instinct recently raised $1 billion at a $10 billion valuation.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 18:48
Affordable alternatives to Sonos multi-room speakers
Sonos remains the top choice for multi-room audio, but its cheapest speakers start at $179. Several more affordable alternatives now offer voice control and easy multi-speaker management.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 18:41
Indian group behind Trump-announced $15bn steel mill has deep Russia financial ties
Essar, the Indian conglomerate behind a $15 billion steel mill project announced by US President Donald Trump, previously relied on Russian cash to manage major debts. The group is now investing in the United States.
Al Jazeera · 29 Sept, 17:47
LIAA Trade Mission to the US Concludes with Signed Memorandums
A trade mission to the United States organized by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) has concluded with the signing of several cooperation memorandums. Agreements were reached in defense technology and genomics, and talks began on new projects.
Labs of Latvia · 29 Sept, 17:41
Middle East oil exports climb as war still disrupts Hormuz LNG traffic
Middle East crude exports hit their highest monthly level since the Iran war began seven months ago, though Qatari LNG shipments to Europe and Asia remain partly suspended.
Euronews Business · 29 Sept, 16:49
Middle East oil exports hit war-time high as some LNG traffic returns through Hormuz
Middle East crude exports rose in September to their highest level since the Iran war began, with Saudi Arabia leading the increase and a handful of Qatari LNG tankers crossing Hormuz again after an August pause. Full supply has not resumed, and QatarEnergy has extended delivery suspensions for several customers.
Euronews · 29 Sept, 16:48
Apple patches urgent security flaw affecting iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 devices
Apple has released an urgent security fix for iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 after a bug that may have been exploited in sophisticated attacks against targeted individuals. Nearly 80% of iPhone users still run the affected version.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 16:45
Ember Mug 3 heats coffee for hours, but its $150 price and buggy app disappoint
Engadget's hands-on with the Ember Mug 3 finds a self-heating mug that keeps drinks hot for hours but is held back by battery issues, a glitchy app and a steep $150 price tag.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 16:44
EU-Startups: why the old PR playbook no longer works for startups
EU-Startups has published a piece on startup PR strategy for 2026, arguing that many founders still rely on an outdated approach to media relations. The article calls for rethinking how publicity is built in today's changed environment.
EU-Startups · 29 Sept, 16:43
Elvi: Latvian Shoppers "Spoiled" by Promotions as Chain Keeps Expanding
Latvian-owned retail chain Elvi plans to open around four new stores this year and set up one of its largest outlets in the former Sky location, while also closing underperforming stores amid declining customer loyalty.
LSM · 29 Sept, 16:41
Is the Google Pixel 8 still worth buying in 2026?
Now available refurbished for under $300, the years-old Google Pixel 8 still offers strong cameras and long software support, though it lags rivals in performance and battery life.
Engadget · 29 Sept, 15:46
Latvians may be starting to spend more cautiously
After a record-strong July, retail activity in Latvia eased slightly in August, though annual turnover growth remained positive. As heating season approaches, households face growing pressure on their budgets from energy costs.
Dienas Bizness · 29 Sept, 15:45
EU grows more confident Trump will not ban diesel exports
European Union officials say they are cautiously optimistic that US President Donald Trump will abandon his threat of a 90-day diesel export ban. American officials reportedly assured them no such ban is planned.
Ukrainska Pravda · 29 Sept, 15:43
AI security firm Reco raises $55M as agent-security startups flood the market
AI and SaaS security startup Reco has raised $55 million to expand its platform for monitoring and controlling enterprise AI agents, entering a market now crowded with dozens of similar vendors.
TechCrunch · 29 Sept, 15:43
EU unlikely to see Trump ban on diesel exports, officials say
European Union officials are cautiously optimistic that US President Donald Trump will not impose the threatened 90-day ban on diesel fuel exports. Assurances gathered in Washington suggest such a move is currently not planned.
Pravda — ziņas · 29 Sept, 15:43
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Diesel fuel price in Latvia hits record high
Diesel fuel prices at Latvia's largest filling stations have reached a record level, exceeding 2.23 euros per liter, according to data compiled by the LETA news agency.
TVNET · 29 Sept, 15:42
Anthropic Warns of 'Existential Risk' From AI Ahead of Potential IPO
Anthropic has told investors that advanced AI could pose catastrophic or existential risks to humanity, as safety incidents surface at Meta and OpenAI.
The Guardian World · 29 Sept, 14:46