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Tech News for Thursday, October 8, 2026

134 stories from 41 outlets. Times show when each story first broke, in UTC.

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Business 27

Debby Wu · Bloomberg Technology2 sources

TSMC quarterly revenue jumps 51% as AI demand holds up

TSMC reported a 51% jump in quarterly revenue, with September net revenue reaching NT$511.86 billion, up more than 50% year over year. The results signal sustained demand from the global AI infrastructure buildout.

Also covered by CNBC Technology

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Jennifer Creery and Maddie Parker · Bloomberg Technology

Tesco narrows profit outlook as online sales offset cost pressure

Tesco Plc narrowed its profit outlook range for the year, as stronger online sales helped the UK's largest grocer manage rising cost pressures in the first half. The update signals cautious optimism amid a challenging retail environment.

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Tiago Ramos Alfaro and Daniele Lepido · Bloomberg Technology

Italy's data center buildout could attract €36.9 billion in investment through 2036

A study commissioned by an industry group finds Italy's data center buildout could attract roughly €36.9 billion ($41.5 billion) of investment through 2036, fueled by AI and cloud computing expansion. The figures highlight the scale of infrastructure demand in Southern Europe.

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Anuchit Nguyen and Cindy Wang · Bloomberg Technology

B.Grimm raises data center target with new overseas partner

Thai power producer B.Grimm Power plans to invest in a 250-megawatt data center project with a new overseas partner, accelerating its expansion into the sector to capitalize on surging AI demand.

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AI 17

Rebecca Bellan · TechCrunch2 sources

Fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute misconduct claims, warn of chilling effect

Three fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute allegations of mishandling sensitive information, warning in an open letter that their dismissals are creating a chilling effect on the company's AI safety culture, per TechCrunch. The researchers also penned a plea to preserve chain-of-thought monitoring.

Also covered by Gizmodo

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Rthvika Suvarna · Bloomberg Technology

Goldman Sachs exec says young bankers will manage AI agents from day one

Goldman Sachs executive Kevin Sneader says the newest hires in finance will oversee AI agents from the time they join, questioning the future of middle managers. The change reflects the growing integration of AI into financial services workflows.

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Big Tech 11

Mia Sato · The Verge

Digital platforms keep copying TikTok's vertical-feed format

TikTok's full-screen, algorithm-driven feed has become the default format across YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, LinkedIn's vertical video, and other services. The convergence raises questions about engagement design and platform homogenization.

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Gadgets 9

Julian Chokkattu, Simon Hill · Wired

7 best cheap phones (2026) tested and reviewed by WIRED

WIRED tests iPhones and Android devices ranging from $100 to $800, finding little reason to pay top dollar for a smartphone. The list includes budget-friendly picks that stood up to testing.

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Startups 9

Rebecca Torrence and Natasha Mascarenhas · Bloomberg Technology

Union Square Ventures doubles fund size, shrinks team for AI era

Bloomberg reports that the New York-based venture firm is reinventing itself to better compete in the AI race by nearly doubling its core fund and whittling down its general partnership.

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Science 4

Security 3

Everything else 49

Ryan Whitwam · Ars Technica4 sources

Amazon unveils Alexa Tablets running Android with Google Play, including a Pro model aimed at work

<img alt="" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" height="709" src="https://cdn.geekwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Tablets_SH08_1920x1080-1260x709.jpg" width="1260" /><br />After more than a decade of focusing on low-cost devices, Amazon is taking its tablets upmarket and moving them to… <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazon-unveils-alexa-tablets-running-android-with-google-play-including-a-pro-model-aimed-at-work/">Read More</a>

Also covered by Engadget, GeekWire, TechRadar

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Jay Peters · The Verge

California moves to shut down robot vs. human cage matches

The California State Athletic Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to a startup that hosted a match between a human and a robot last month, per The Verge. The fight pitted a human against a humanoid robot.

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Leah Nylen · Bloomberg Technology2 sources

FTC Probes Block After Consumer Complaints Over Frozen Accounts

The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Block Inc., the parent of Square and Cash App, violated US consumer protection laws by failing to provide adequate customer service to help with frozen or deactivated accounts amid significant cuts in staffing.

Also covered by Quartz

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Tom Warren · The Verge4 sources

Xbox is launching a new film and TV division

Xbox is launching a new division, called "XP," that's dedicated to Xbox experiences that aren't video games, including films and TV adaptations, consumer products, live events, and partnerships with creators and brands. Different teams at Xbox already do this work, but it will all now fall under the centralized XP division. XP formalizes four "investment […]

Also covered by Bloomberg Technology, GamesIndustry.biz, Polygon

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John Gittelsohn · Bloomberg Technology2 sources

Fortastra Raises $30 Million to Launch ‘Bodyguards in Space’

Fortastra, a Southern California-based startup led by a former SpaceX engineer, has closed a $30 million fundraising round to provide “bodyguards in space” that can help protect civilian and defense satellites.

Also covered by Quartz

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Andrew Liszewski · The Verge

Amazon’s new Kids Tablets let parents manage access to the Google Play store

Alongside its new collection of Alexa Tablets that run Android with full access to the Google Play store, Amazon is introducing kid versions with similar functionality but the ability for parents to limit what software and content they have access to. The Amazon Kids Tablets also come with two different styles of colorful cases featuring […]

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Stevie Bonifield · The Verge

GTA VI leaks continue with a lengthy (and very nude) gameplay video

The GTA VI leaks keep coming - and the latest is almost as long as the game's official "extended look" on Netflix. Only instead of showing off all the various gameplay details, this one is more of an "extended look" at Jason running around Vice City naked. As Kotaku reports, GTA leaker Cyberleek, who cashed […]

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Rebecca Torrence and Natasha Mascarenhas · Bloomberg Technology

Union Square Ventures Doubles Fund Size, Shrinks Team for AI Era

New York City-based venture firm Union Square Ventures is reinventing itself to better compete in the artificial intelligence race by nearly doubling the size of its core fund and whittling down its general partnership to just four investors.

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Terrence O’Brien · The Verge

Hands-on with Amazon’s Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and its wild new matte display

Amazon's Fire tablets are notable for being dirt cheap. While they're great for kids, they don't offer a premium Android tablet experience. The company's new $499 Alexa Tablet 12 Pro is an attempt to build a device someone might actually want to use. It's one of a few new Android tablets Amazon announced today, and […]

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David Pierce · The Verge

Amazon’s Alexa Tablets are coming for the iPad

Amazon is launching a new lineup of tablets that bear almost no resemblance to any tablet Amazon has ever launched before. They're not even called Fire, the name Amazon has used for its tablets for the last 15 years. They're called Alexa Tablets, and they're designed to do two things: bring Alexa Plus to the […]

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Emma Roth · The Verge

Joe Rogan and Spotify renew massive podcast deal

Spotify has renewed its licensing agreement with Joe Rogan, whose podcast remains the number one show on the platform - and in the world. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the multi-year agreement is valued at around $250 million, allowing new episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience to appear on Spotify and across other […]

Also covered by Bloomberg Technology

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Daniele Lepido and Marilen Martin · Bloomberg Technology

German Startup Trains Its Robots Using Humans Filming Themselves

Germany’s Agile Robots is training its machines by filming humans performing tasks, in a bid to compensate for a shortfall of data that is holding back industrial automation, according to its chief executive officer.

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Thomas Macaulay · MIT Technology Review

The Download: AI roadblocks for humanoids and portable rubber dams

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. AI breakthroughs in robotics won’t change your life any time soon The hype around humanoid robots is reaching fever pitch. Much of it comes from the idea that the same AI…

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Bloomberg Technology

JPMorgan's Gehl on Tech & AI Fundraising, Capex, IPO

Matthew Gehl, Co-head of International Technology Investment Banking at JPMorgan spoke to Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie at the 2026 JPMorgan Tech Stars event in London on Oct. 6. (Source: Bloomberg)

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Casey Crownhart · MIT Technology Review

Why we’re watching these climate tech companies

This week, we released our 2026 version of our Climate Tech Companies to Watch list. It’s an annual project that the MIT Technology Review team puts together. Our goal is to highlight some of the promising, interesting advances and firms we think are worth paying attention to in the world of climate and energy technology. …

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Kirsi Heikel · Bloomberg Technology

Finland’s Data Center Tally Tops €67 Billion on AI Boom

Finland’s data center boom is gathering pace, with several new projects unveiled since after Alphabet Inc.’s Google announced its biggest-ever European investment in the country last month.

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Julia Fioretti, Richard Henderson and Sangmi Cha · Bloomberg Technology

Nvidia-backed Firmus Grid postpones IPO, weighs private funding round

Australian data center company Firmus Grid Ltd. is set to postpone its initial public offering and is considering a private funding round instead, according to sources. The move follows unusual skepticism from Australian investors.

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Ivan Mehta · TechCrunch

Google releases a new local-first Granola competitor

Google’s new AI Edge Foresight app takes on Granola with an offline meeting note-taker that can transcribe conversations, generate notes, and answer questions using on-device AI.

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Stevie Bonifield · The Verge

GTA VI leaks continue with a lengthy (and very nude) gameplay video

The GTA VI leaks keep coming - and the latest is almost as long as the game's official "extended look" on Netflix. Only instead of showing off all the various gameplay details, this one is more of an "extended look" at Jason running around Vice City naked. As Kotaku reports, GTA leaker Cyberleek, who cashed […]

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TechCrunch Events · TechCrunch

Last call to volunteer at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026

TechCrunch Founder Summit is gearing up to return to Boston on November 4! We’re doing a last call for exceptional volunteers to join us in bringing this event to life. If you’ve ever wondered about the inner workings of tech events, now’s your chance to get involved. Volunteer spots are limited, so don’t miss out! […]

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