Top tech news

Top stories

Wall Street Journal Erin Mulvaney · Updated

Meta Ordered to Pay $25 Billion to New Mexico in Data-Privacy Case

The case centered on claims that Meta misled Facebook users about data privacy in connection with the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Jurors found more than 43 million consumer protection violations. Cambridge Analytica harvested Facebook data to target political advertising for the 2016 election, according to The Economic Times.

  • Quartz reports the penalty was reduced from $219.5 billion.
Decrypt Jose Antonio Lanz · Updated

PHP Panic: Two Critical Bugs Put 70% of the Internet at Risk, and Everyone Is Freaking Out

The security release is scheduled for October 21 at 14:00 UTC, and administrators are being urged to prepare to upgrade. The vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution. Organisations unable to patch quickly should consider taking affected websites offline, according to an EU cybersecurity response team warning reported by The Next Web.

  • BleepingComputer reports that information about the flaws leaked ahead of scheduled disclosure.
Engadget · Updated

EA is shutting down BioWare and cutting around 400 jobs

The shutdown ends development of the next Mass Effect game at the studio behind that series and Dragon Age. Roughly 50 of the affected jobs are at the Edmonton-based developer.

The Information · Updated

Meta Creates New Share Class to Pave Way for AI-Related Fundraising

The new stock would allow Meta to raise capital while preserving Mark Zuckerberg’s voting control. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $64.6 billion, up 26% from a year earlier, and its cash flow turned negative amid increased AI spending, according to The New York Times.

The Verge · Updated

GM promises smarter cars, faster updates, and autonomous dry-cleaning runs

GM is turning to artificial intelligence and autonomous driving as it seeks to compete with Chinese automakers. Its fourth-generation EV platform will introduce a central computer and electrical architecture in the Cadillac Escalade IQ in 2028, according to TechCrunch.

The Next Web · Updated

Swedish legal AI firm Legora raises $550M led by Atreides at $8.8B valuation

Atreides Management led the Swedish legal AI startup’s Series E round, with new investors including Baron Capital, Capital Group, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Glade Brook Capital Partners. The funding will support expansion into new markets, according to Bloomberg.

More stories

Xbox Cloud Gaming’s pay-as-you-go option starts at $3.99 for 10 hours 6 sources covering Xbox Cloud Gaming’s pay-as-you-go option starts at $3.99 for 10 hours

The pay-as-you-go option lets players stream games without an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

The Verge ·
AI research startup Flapping Airplanes raised $1 billion at a $6 billion valuation 4 sources covering AI research startup Flapping Airplanes raised $1 billion at a $6 billion valuation

Index Ventures and Lux Capital led the financing, which puts the AI research startup at four times its January valuation.

Quartz ·
Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer 23 sources covering Apple Limiting U.S. iPhone Duo Orders to Two Per Customer

The restriction applies in the US, UK and other markets, with Apple's checkout blocking orders above the limit.

MacRumors ·
Tesla beats on earnings and sales even as auto revenue declines 2 sources covering Tesla beats on earnings and sales even as auto revenue declines

Tesla's earnings exceeded expectations even as automotive revenue fell, according to CNBC.

CNBC ·
SAP Cloud Growth Beats Forecast in Sign of Software’s Resilience

SAP SE reported higher growth for its cloud products than anticipated in a sign that the boom in artificial intelligence hasn’t undermined demand for the German software maker’s offerings.

Bloomberg ·
Texas Instruments Gives Sales Forecast That Tops Estimates

Texas Instruments Inc., the biggest maker of analog and embedded processing chips, gave a strong revenue forecast for the current period, lifted by demand from automotive and industrial customers.

Bloomberg ·
Tesla has begun production of its Optimus humanoid in California 2 sources covering Tesla has begun production of its Optimus humanoid in California

Tesla says initial Optimus production has demonstrated a process suitable for a commercial product, according to Business Insider.

Business Insider ·
ChatGPT Ads expands to 26 new countries as over 100,000 advertisers have used the platform 6 sources covering ChatGPT Ads expands to 26 new countries as over 100,000 advertisers have used the platform

The rollout adds 26 countries, with more than 100,000 advertisers having run campaigns since ChatGPT ads launched just over eight months ago.

OpenAI ·
Walmart rolls out AI agent shopping features while Amazon tries to curb the tech 2 sources covering Walmart rolls out AI agent shopping features while Amazon tries to curb the tech

Walmart’s technology lets third-party AI agents buy products on customers’ behalf, taking a different approach from Amazon’s efforts to block such shopping.

Business Insider ·
Meta plans nonvoting shares, eyeing more stock sales to fund its AI dreams

The company plans to offer new stock that wouldn’t dilute Mark Zuckerberg’s control stake.

Semafor ·
Nvidia GeForce drivers add support for Microsoft's Advanced Shader Delivery 6 sources covering Nvidia GeForce drivers add support for Microsoft's Advanced Shader Delivery

Advanced Shader Delivery aims to reduce shader compilation stutter by supplying precompiled shaders for supported games, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Gears of War: E-Day.

TechSpot ·
Google Maps on CarPlay rolling out Gemini when navigating 6 sources covering Google Maps on CarPlay rolling out Gemini when navigating

Drivers can use the assistant while following directions through Apple's in-car system.

9to5Mac ·