Core Viewpoint - Meta has paused its program to share Meta Horizon OS with third-party device makers to focus on developing first-party hardware and software for the VR market [1][2]. Group 1: Program Details - The program aimed to create a new generation of hardware for VR users to engage with Meta's digital worlds [1]. - Initially announced in April, the program included partnerships with companies like Asus, Microsoft's Xbox, and Lenovo to develop hardware compatible with Meta Horizon OS [3]. - There have been few updates on the program since its announcement, with a spokesperson indicating ongoing collaboration with business partners to expand Horizon OS into more devices [4]. Group 2: Shift in Focus - Horizon OS was designed to provide mixed reality experiences and enhance social presence through advanced tracking technologies [5]. - Recently, Meta's interest in the metaverse has waned as the company shifts focus towards AI, with reports indicating potential budget cuts of up to 30% for the metaverse group within Reality Labs [6]. - Meta confirmed plans to redirect investments from the metaverse towards AI glasses and wearables, reflecting a strategic pivot in its technology development priorities [6].

Core Viewpoint - Cisco has announced that hackers are exploiting a critical vulnerability in its popular products, allowing full device takeover, with no patches currently available [1] Group 1: Vulnerability Details - Cisco discovered a hacking campaign targeting Cisco AsyncOS software, specifically affecting Cisco Secure Email Gateway, Cisco Secure Email, and Web Manager [2] - The affected devices have the "Spam Quarantine" feature enabled and are accessible from the internet, although this feature is not enabled by default [3] Group 2: Security Implications - The requirement for an internet-facing management interface and specific features being enabled may limit the attack surface for this vulnerability, according to cybersecurity experts [3] - The hacking campaign is particularly concerning as many large organizations use the affected products, and the lack of available patches raises significant risks [3] Group 3: Customer Impact and Response - Cisco has not disclosed how many customers are affected and is currently investigating the issue while developing a permanent solution [4] - The recommended immediate action for customers is to wipe and rebuild the affected products' software, as this is the only viable option to eliminate the threat [5] Group 4: Attribution and Timeline - The hackers are linked to China and known Chinese government hacking groups, with the campaign reportedly ongoing since at least late November 2025 [6]

In Brief Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced in a message to staff on Wednesday that longtime AWS executive Peter DeSantis will lead a new AI-focused organization within the company. This organization will be responsible for Amazon’s AI models like Nova, as well as silicon development and quantum computing, which help make AI tools faster and more efficient. DeSantis has spent 27 years at Amazon, including eight years as an SVP for AWS, the cloud provider that powers about one-third of the internet. At AWS’s r ...

Core Insights - Google has launched the Gemini 3 Flash model, aiming to compete with OpenAI's offerings, and it will be the default model in the Gemini app and AI mode in search [1][4] Model Performance - The Gemini 3 Flash model shows significant improvements over its predecessor, Gemini 2.5 Flash, and matches the performance of other leading models like Gemini 3 Pro and GPT 5.2 in certain benchmarks [2] - It scored 33.7% on Humanity's Last Exam benchmark, compared to 37.5% for Gemini 3 Pro, 11% for Gemini 2.5 Flash, and 34.5% for GPT-5.2 [3] - On the MMMU-Pro benchmark, the new model achieved an 81.2% score, outperforming all competitors [3] Consumer Rollout - The Gemini 3 Flash model is now the default in the Gemini app globally, replacing the previous version, while users can still opt for the Pro model for specific tasks [4] Features and Capabilities - The new model excels in identifying multimodal content and can provide answers based on various inputs, such as videos, sketches, and audio recordings [5] - It has improved understanding of user intent and can generate more visual responses, including images and tables [5] Enterprise and Developer Availability - Companies like JetBrains, Figma, Cursor, Harvey, and Latitude are already utilizing the Gemini 3 Flash model, which is accessible through Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise [10] - The model is available for developers in a preview mode via API and in Antigravity, a new coding tool [10] Pricing and Efficiency - The pricing for the new model is set at $0.50 per 1 million input tokens and $3.00 per 1 million output tokens, which is higher than the previous model but offers better performance and speed [13] - The Gemini 3 Flash model is three times faster than Gemini 2.5 Pro and uses 30% fewer tokens on average for thinking tasks, potentially leading to cost savings [13][15] Competitive Landscape - The release of the Gemini 3 Flash model comes amid increased competition with OpenAI, which has also launched new models in response to Google's market share growth [16] - Google emphasizes that the ongoing development of models across the industry is pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities [17][18]

​Coursera and Udemy announced on Wednesday a landmark merger agreement valued at approximately $2.5 billion, bringing together two of the biggest names in online learning.Coursera will acquire Udemy in an all-stock transaction, marking a pivotal moment in online education. The companies said the merger will be finalized in the second half of next year, pending regulatory review and shareholder approval. ​This agreement comes at a challenging time for both Udemy and Coursera, as each faces market headwinds. ...

In Brief Warner Bros. Discovery’s (WBD) board of directors has rejected the $108 billion hostile takeover bid from David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance, calling the offer “illusory,” and saying that Paramount had misled shareholders about its financing.Saying it wants to honor its initial agreement to sell to Netflix, WBD’s board wrote in a letter to shareholders that Paramount “has consistently misled WBD shareholders that its proposed transaction has a ‘full backstop’ from the Ellison family.” “It does no ...

Core Insights - Amazon is in early discussions to invest up to $10 billion in OpenAI, potentially valuing the AI lab at over $500 billion [1][3] - This investment aligns with Amazon's strategy to diversify its AI initiatives, having previously invested $8 billion in Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI [2] - OpenAI's transition to a for-profit model allows it greater flexibility to engage with investors beyond Microsoft, which holds a 27% stake [3] Investment Dynamics - The potential deal between Amazon and OpenAI reflects a trend where major hardware manufacturers and cloud providers collaborate with emerging AI companies, facilitating mutual benefits [4] - OpenAI has previously made strategic investments, including a $350 million equity investment in CoreWeave, which in turn purchased chips from Nvidia, enhancing both companies' revenue streams [5] - In October, OpenAI acquired a 10% stake in AMD and entered into a chip usage agreement with Broadcom, further solidifying its partnerships in the tech ecosystem [5]

Core Points - An administrative law judge ruled that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing regarding its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving software, misleading customers about the capabilities of these systems [1][4] - The California DMV requested a 30-day suspension of Tesla's sales as a penalty, which has been stayed for 90 days to allow Tesla to modify or remove deceptive language [2][3] - Tesla's marketing practices have been under scrutiny from multiple state and federal agencies, leading to investigations and civil lawsuits related to crashes involving its Autopilot technology [3][4] Group 1 - The judge's ruling is a significant development in a long-standing case initiated by California's DMV, which accused Tesla of creating a false impression of its advanced driver assistance systems [1][4] - The DMV's request for a sales suspension could severely impact Tesla's business, particularly as California is its largest market in the U.S. [5] - Tesla's manufacturing operations could also be affected, as the company relies on its Fremont factory for a substantial portion of its vehicle production [5] Group 2 - The judge recommended a 30-day suspension of Tesla's manufacturing license, which has also been stayed by the DMV [2] - Tesla is currently testing its Robotaxi service in Austin, having removed safety monitors from its fleet, which runs a different version of its driving software [6] - The ongoing legal challenges and investigations could pose long-term risks to Tesla's reputation and operational capabilities [3][4]

DoorDash is launching a new AI-powered social app that’s designed to help users quickly find local restaurants. The app, called Zesty, is initially available in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York.With the app, DoorDash is branching out beyond food delivery and stepping into the social and discovery space. The idea behind the app is to get rid of the need to read a bunch of different reviews, look up different menus, or browse TikTok when looking for a new place to eat. Once people open up the app and ...

Core Insights - Luminar, once a promising lidar technology company, has filed for bankruptcy after a series of setbacks, primarily stemming from its relationship with Volvo, which was its key customer [3][15]. Group 1: Company Overview - Luminar went public during the pandemic and secured significant contracts with major automotive brands, including Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, and Polestar, positioning itself as a leader in lidar technology for autonomous vehicles [1][2]. - The company made substantial investments, nearly $200 million, to build a manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico, to meet the demand from Volvo for its Iris lidar sensors [4]. Group 2: Relationship with Volvo - Volvo initially committed to purchasing 1.1 million lidar sensors from Luminar but later reduced its expected volume by 75% due to delays in the EX90 SUV's software testing and development [5][12]. - The partnership deteriorated further when Volvo decided to offer lidar as an optional feature rather than a standard one, which reduced the estimated lifetime volumes by approximately 90% [12][13]. Group 3: Business Challenges - As the relationship with Volvo soured, Luminar faced challenges in diversifying its customer base, with Polestar and Mercedes-Benz also terminating their agreements due to software compatibility issues and unmet requirements [5][8]. - The company laid off 20% of its workforce in May 2024 and continued to restructure its operations in response to declining demand and financial pressures [11]. Group 4: Bankruptcy Proceedings - Luminar is seeking to sell its semiconductor subsidiary for $110 million and is looking for bidders for its lidar business as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process [15][16]. - The company has received significant interest in its lidar business, including unsolicited acquisition proposals, indicating potential opportunities for recovery despite its current financial difficulties [16].