Manus, a Chinese AI startup, announced it has raised more than $500 million in its initial funding round since ending its $2 billion acquisition agreement with Meta. The funding was led by Boyu Capital and IDG Capital, with participation from existing investors including Tencent and HSG. The company plans to expand its hiring efforts globally and has not disclosed its current valuation, though reports suggest it was in talks for a $4 billion valuation last month.
More than 150 demonstrations are scheduled across the United States today, as women rally in response to the Cornell University lawsuit and share personal stories of sexual abuse. The protests are part of a broader movement gaining momentum through social media support.
Apiiro researchers report that the FakeGit campaign resumed activity on October 4, pushing over 13,000 malicious repositories in 34 hours and reaching a total of 17,610 fake GitHub repos. The repos use README files with download buttons linking to ZIP archives containing SmartLoader malware, which is then used to deliver other payloads like StealC. At least 700 of the accounts involved reportedly belong to legitimate developers, though most are throwaway accounts.
Fable studio has produced "Gods Don't Give Gifts," a fully AI-generated anthology feature that received an R rating from the MPA, marking the first such rating for an AI film. The movie's theatrical release has been pushed from October 30 to December 4, and Fable plans to submit it for the Academy Award for best animated feature.
Developers have created an open-source installer that allows users of Apple Silicon Macs to run Google's experimental desktop operating system within a virtual environment. This tool provides a way to test Googlebook OS without official support from Google or Apple.
Amazon has transitioned its Fire tablet lineup into Alexa-centric devices that now feature more premium designs and higher prices. These new tablets are notable for their ability to run all apps available on the Google Play store, marking a significant shift from previous models. The rebranding emphasizes Alexa integration as a key selling point.
Anthropic has revised its usage policy for the first time in over a year, adding rules covering election interference, weapons development, surveillance, and financial and health uses. A new provision also bars "sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior" toward Claude, building on last August's feature letting the chatbot end conversations with persistently abusive users. The company says conversation termination remains its main enforcement tool and the rule targets only extreme, purposeless cruelty, not frustration or creative testing.
Inside Higher Ed has tracked more than 9,000 job cuts and buyouts across US higher education in 2025, driven by falling international enrollment, state funding reductions, federal funding uncertainty and rising costs. The University of North Texas disclosed a projected $45 million deficit and plans to eliminate or consolidate over 70 academic programs, while East Carolina University is cutting $8.5 million more as part of a three-year, $25 million reduction plan after already discontinuing 44 programs.
American Express announced the addition of new Centurion Lounges at Newark and London Heathrow airports. Existing lounges in Philadelphia and Houston are also set for significant enlargements, with the Newark lounge becoming the largest in the company's portfolio. The expansion aims to enhance premium travel amenities for cardholders.
Amazon announced new Kids editions of its Alexa Tablets, available in 8.7-inch and 11-inch sizes, featuring colorful protective cases and kid-friendly software. The tablets include a one-year Amazon Kids+ subscription, with content tailored to children’s ages, and are designed with all-aluminum bodies and long battery life. They will be released on October 14 at prices of $230 and $330, respectively.
Amazon announced a new lineup of Alexa tablets, including a 12-inch model featuring a specialized anti-glare Nanomatte display developed with Corning. The flagship Alexa Tablet 12 Pro boasts a 4nm 8-core processor, up to 16GB RAM, and a 280 PPI, 120Hz display, with options for standard or Nanomatte screens. Accessories like a stylus and keyboard are also introduced for enhanced productivity.
Amazon announced that its latest Alexa Tablets will now include full access to the Google Play store, expanding beyond the company's own app ecosystem. The new models, including the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, 11, and 8, will be available in multiple countries starting mid-October. Previously, Amazon tablets only supported the Amazon Appstore, limiting app choices.
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