IT news — 2026-10-31
Original English summaries of the day's IT stories, with links back to the sources. ← All days
General Tech
AlpineBSD Launches with AI-Free FOSS Approach
AlpineBSD has been unveiled, merging the NetBSD kernel with the Alpine Linux userland to create a new open-source operating system. The project emphasizes a future without artificial intelligence integration.
Anthropic Denies Involvement in Claude Code Extension Supply-Chain Attack
Claudeshop has identified a 'malicious actor' behind a targeted supply-chain attack on Cursor, a code extension used by Anthropic. The company has clarified that the compromise did not originate from them.
GM Agrees to $220 Million Settlement Over Driver Tracking Controversy
General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle a multistate investigation into its vehicle tracking practices. The settlement addresses concerns over the privacy of drivers' location data.
Reddit Moves to Logged-In Experience Amid Search Traffic Decline
Reddit is transitioning to a logged-in model as search traffic decreases, adapting to changes in online information discovery driven by AI. This shift aims to safeguard its user base and business model.
Fan Fiction Site AO3 Faces Downtime Due to Security Breach
The popular fan fiction platform Archive of Our Own (AO3) is expected to be offline for up to four weeks following a recent security incident. The announcement has sparked concern among its dedicated user community.
GM Agrees to $220M Settlement for Unauthorized Sale of Driver Data
General Motors has settled a lawsuit for $220 million after collecting and sharing drivers' location and driving data without explicit consent. The settlement requires GM to obtain drivers' express permission before collecting or sharing such data in the future.
Putin Praises Musk's Expertise on Russian Satellite Internet Project
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Elon Musk's expertise, noting their close communication about Rassvet, Russia's satellite internet project similar to SpaceX's Starlink. The leaders reportedly discuss the technological and strategic aspects of the initiative.
Binance Halts Withdrawals Amid Alleged Massive Crypto Theft
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has suspended withdrawals following a suspected cyberattack that may have resulted in the theft of billions in cryptocurrency.
Amazon CEO Predicts Prime Video Will Generate Billions
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy forecasts that Prime Video will generate tens of billions of dollars, attributing part of its success to popular original content.
TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 Registration Discount Ends Soon
Attendees have until November 4 to register for the TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 in Boston with a discount of up to $100 and a free second pass. Register now to secure your spot.
TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 Offers Enhanced Networking with Braindate
TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026, taking place on November 4 in Boston, will feature Braindate, a tool designed to facilitate meaningful networking connections. Attendees can register early to save up to $100 and get a second pass for free.
North Korean Hackers Suspected in Binance's $6.3B Crypto Theft
Hackers linked to North Korea are believed to have stolen a record $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance by compromising an employee's laptop.
Artificial Intelligence
Uni Productivity Institute: Persistence Key in AI Project Success
The Uni Productivity Institute suggests that the benefits of AI projects may take longer to materialize, and simply accelerating individual tasks may not translate to overall company improvement. Continued investment and patience are recommended for realizing the full potential of AI initiatives.
Religious Exemptions Allow Workers to Avoid AI Use at Work
David Durman, a University of Kentucky administrator, has secured a religious exemption to avoid using AI in his workplace, highlighting the intersection of technology and personal beliefs.
Waymo to Deploy Toyota bZ4X Electric Vehicles for Robotaxi Testing in Japan and UK
Waymo has partnered with Toyota to test self-driving bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan starting next year, expanding its robotaxi operations into new international markets.
Startup Aims to Mass-Produce AI Data Centers in Assembly Line Fashion
Runware is constructing a factory to produce prefabricated AI data centers using an assembly line method. The company's success will depend on its ability to maintain quality at scale.
DoorDash Reports Minimal Impact from AI-Generated Orders
DoorDash has reported receiving only a few hundred orders from AI agents, though it remains open to collaborating with third-party AI developers. The company's statement comes amid growing concerns over the use of AI in online ordering systems.
Theranos Whistleblower Warns of Deception in AI Boom
Tyler Shultz, a former Theranos whistleblower, has expressed concerns that the current AI boom could lead to deceptive practices, similar to those seen in the Theranos scandal. He warns that unprofitable AI companies are raising massive capital, potentially setting the stage for fraud.
Google's Space-Based TPU Begins Generating Poetry
Google has activated its first Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) in orbit, which is now running a DeepMind Gemma 4 model to create poetry. The satellite marks a new phase in space-based AI computing.
Zest Launches AI Concierge for Restaurant Reservations
Zest has introduced an AI-powered service that helps groups decide on restaurants and book reservations via text. The AI agent considers individual preferences, conducts a vote, and finalizes the booking.
AI Law Firm Crosby Enters Bidding for Struggling Weil Gotshal
Crosby, an AI-driven law firm, has joined the bidding for Weil Gotshal & Manges, a prestigious Wall Street law firm facing significant internal challenges. This move highlights the growing influence of AI in traditional legal services.
Enterprise & Networking
Major UEFI Firmware Vulnerability Exposes Global Servers to Early Boot Attacks
A critical security flaw in the EDK2 UEFI firmware has been discovered, enabling attackers to execute code during the early stages of the boot process. This vulnerability affects a significant number of servers worldwide, posing a substantial risk to enterprise infrastructure.
Amazon Sees Strong Cloud Revenue Despite Overall Missed Expectations
Amazon's latest financial report highlighted robust growth in cloud computing revenue, but the company fell short of expectations in other areas, including reporting a negative free cash flow of $2.4 billion.
AWS Aims for $1 Trillion in Revenue, Jassy Outlines Strategic Investments
Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO Andy Jassy envisions AWS becoming the first trillion-dollar business, driven by its focus on AI cloud computing. To achieve this goal, AWS plans to significantly increase its capital expenditures.
Satlyt Advances Satellite-Based Data Center Technology
Satlyt has successfully completed a test that moves the company closer to transforming satellites into space-based data centers. This development could revolutionize how data is processed and stored in orbit.