Tech news from around the world, rewritten in plain English.
AI penetration-testing startup Terra Security found that the share of GitHub security fixes requiring a follow-up advisory for a failed patch within 90 days rose from about 0.2 percent (2019–2025) to 2.3 percent in 2026. The researchers link the rise to the parallel boom in AI-driven vulnerability discovery and patching, and say prototype-pollution and server-side request forgery fixes break most often.
Developers and users are using AI coding tools such as Claude Code to remove ads, bloatware, and tracking features from smart TVs, with projects like dumbtv and cleanyourtv making these hacks more accessible. Some users reported problems, including one who bricked an Android TV and another who got stuck partway through a Fire TV hack. If such hacks become more popular, they could disrupt the smart TV ad industry, which profits from viewing data.
Nvidia launched new open-weight models for always-on agents and edge computing, including the 120-billion-parameter Nemotron 3.5 Super VL for enterprise use and two lightweight Bolt models for local use on AI PCs and DGX Spark workstations. Nvidia claims Super VL completes agentic tasks faster than competing models from Anthropic and OpenAI when post-trained on specific tasks, and it lists companies including EY, Ramp, and Salesforce as users. Super VL and Bolt 74B-A9B are available now, and Bolt E4B will arrive later this month.
Amazon is funding a proposed 960-megawatt nuclear plant in Indiana and will be the first customer to buy its power. American Electric Power would operate the plant, which would use 12 X-energy Xe-100 small modular reactors on the site of a demolished coal plant near Terre Haute. The companies' timeline still depends on X-energy delivering its first plant at Seadrift, Texas.
Amazon has signed an agreement with X-energy and American Electric Power to fund a new nuclear energy facility in Indiana, replacing the defunct Breed Generating Station in Fairbanks, Sullivan County. The plant aims to provide up to 960 megawatts of carbon-free energy for the regional grid and Amazon's data centers. No construction or operation timeline has been announced, and the planned Xe-100 reactors are an advanced design that is still in development and licensing.
Da Nang has expanded its crypto asset exchange pilot from three to 10 areas, letting users convert crypto to Vietnamese dong via VietQR. The Basal Pay app is licensed to operate in locations including Da Nang International Airport, Hoi An Ancient Town, and Ba Na Hills, with the trial running until August 26, 2028. Officials say 100% of transactions on the platform have complied with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules.
According to a government draft, China intends to restrict exports of key technologies, mainly AI, solar technology and biotechnology. The draft, reported by Reuters, names 40 technologies: 26 would require export permits and 14 would be banned outright, while public comments on the draft can be submitted until November 15. A registration requirement for transferring these technologies has already been in effect since Friday, and the government cites security concerns.
Elon Musk said on X on October 19 that he will give every American child one SpaceX share next year, calling it the first of many rounds. Based on about 72 million Americans under 18, the gift would total roughly $11 billion, but CNBC notes the proposal lacks details on how shares would be distributed and who would qualify. The offer came after Anthropic announced on October 18 that it would dedicate at least 5% of its equity to a Community Benefit Fund.
Apple has sent invites for a second product launch this month, scheduled for October 28 at 1PM ET in Los Angeles. According to Bloomberg, Apple is expected to announce new Macs, including a MacBook Pro with an OLED touchscreen that is lighter and has a Dynamic Island, along with a refreshed iPad Mini. The event follows Apple's October 13 smart home-focused event.
ISO and IEC have published ISO/IEC 27090, a 56-page first edition on security threats and compromises to AI systems, developed by subcommittee JTC 1/SC 27. The guidance describes AI-specific attacks such as data poisoning, evasion, model extraction, and prompt injection, along with detection and defense measures. It is not certifiable and complements ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002, but it does not create a presumption of conformity under the EU AI Act or Cyber Resilience Act.
The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) tested children's smartwatches and their companion apps and found that none of the devices had a secure default configuration. Several models also showed significant weaknesses in data protection and encryption, with the Imoo Z3 sending plaintext messages and data that could help attackers determine a child's location. The BSI also noted that only one manufacturer gave clear, long-term update commitments, and personal data sometimes remained on devices after accounts were deleted or watches were passed on.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) is notifying people affected by a breach in which a malicious actor used compromised credentials to access driver license and motor vehicle records on September 4, 2026. The potentially exposed data includes document images and other personal information, though the department said there is no evidence it has been misused yet. Affected people will be offered one year of credit monitoring, and the state said it may not have current contact information for some former residents.
Elon Musk said he plans to give at least one SpaceX share to every child in the United States next year, according to CNBC. Based on about 72 million U.S. children aged 18 and under as of July 1, 2025, and SpaceX's $146.03 closing price on the 16th, the gift would total about $10.5 billion. Musk called it the first of many future donations but did not say how the shares would be distributed.
The thin smart ring My Nextring Sky, from Austria, costs 280 euros with no subscription required. It measures pulse, SpO2, and sleep. The test shows how well it performs.
Elon Musk said on X on October 19 that he will give every child in the US one SpaceX share next year, calling it the first of many batches, and the post drew over 8.2 million views within four hours. Based on about 72 million US residents under 18, the offer would total roughly $11 billion, though CNBC notes the proposal lacks details on how the shares would be distributed or who would qualify. Musk's offer came in response to Anthropic's pledge to set aside at least 5% of its equity for a community benefit fund.
Following riots in France, debate is growing across Europe over how to handle refugees. Germany and France have resumed border checks with neighboring countries to curb illegal migration, while about 135 million people in the Sahel face food crisis and conflict risks. The article proposes screening each person within six months and funding local housing and policing, and cites the EU's 2016 aid of 3 billion euros to Turkey as a precedent.
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to consider a joint bid for spectrum that would support European direct-to-device satellite competition with SpaceX’s Starlink. The four companies would handle the ground infrastructure, while a separate satellite partner, not yet selected, would provide the satellite constellation. Separately, the EU is considering reserving part of the 2 GHz band for local companies offering satellite services, an idea SpaceX has criticized.
Character.AI filed for bankruptcy, but court filings suggest the move was part of a deal that lets Disney hire most of its staff, including former CEO Karandeep Anand, and potentially acquire most of its technology. The deal appears structured so that the remaining Character.AI keeps responsibility for the startup's ongoing lawsuits over chatbot safety and regulatory investigations. The arrangement resembles a “reverse acquihire,” which companies often argue is not a merger and therefore does not require notifying federal antitrust regulators.
Open-weight models accounted for 71.5 percent of tokens processed through Vercel's AI Gateway in September 2026 and 23 percent of estimated spending, up from about 5 percent in June. In September, 48 percent of teams switched their most-used model and 28.6 percent switched their main provider. China has proposed export controls covering 23 AI technologies, with public consultation running until November 15, 2026.
Best Buy is selling the base M4 Mac Mini, with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, for $649, down from $799. The article notes that the newer M6 model is available from Amazon for $779.99, and that the M4 originally launched at $599 in 2024.
Langdao Silex, a two-year-old company, showed a prototype EUV light source called FlintNano LPP-OXXO at the 26th China International Industry Fair. The company cites a 1,000-watt laser and an EUV power above 15 watts, but has not stated the wavelength, and staff said series production is three to five years away. The laser is said to be 90 percent Chinese-made.
Microsoft has acknowledged that the October 2026 Windows Server updates may destabilize Exchange Server, causing OWA connection glitches and lengthy email queues on busy servers. The issue affects Exchange Server 2016, 2019, and Subscription Edition on Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025. The only current workaround is a registry edit that raises the default limit of 512 simultaneous Endpoint Lookup calls, and Microsoft has not yet committed to an out-of-band fix.
The reviewer praises HBO's Lanterns, a DC Universe series that trades superhero antics for gritty realism in the vein of True Detectives. The show follows Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they investigate a 2016 mass shooting in Rushville, Nebraska, which is linked to an alien Manhunter hiding in the town. A second storyline set in 2026 concerns the murder of Hal Jordan.
In a Decoder interview, host Nilay Patel talks with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker about AI, tech, privacy, and a possible political realignment ahead of the midterms. Pritzker argues that some problems are collective action problems that require significant government work. The conversation also covers the Chicago Bears, with Pritzker saying the state is in talks with the team and the NFL to keep them in Illinois.