Here are today’s 7 verified tech & science stories, covering Tech & Apps and AI Tools.
Table of Contents
Every item below links to its original source.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: Paramount Clears Legal Hurdle in Its $110 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
- AI Tools: Google Opens Preorders for Its $899 AI-Native Googlebook Laptop
Tech & Apps
Paramount Clears Legal Hurdle in Its $110 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
Paramount Skydance has settled the antitrust lawsuit that a dozen state attorneys general, led by California’s Rob Bonta, filed to block its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, clearing a major hurdle for the deal, The Verge reports. Under the September 21 settlement, Paramount agreed to keep its California operations and studio lots for five years and set up a board structure meant to protect editorial independence at CBS and CNN. CEO David Ellison said he expects the merger to close in about two weeks.
Apple’s Rumored ‘HomePad’ Home Hub Reportedly Coming in October
Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub, unofficially nicknamed ‘HomePad,’ could launch as soon as October, according to a Bloomberg report covered by 9to5Mac. It’s reportedly built around a new operating system blending elements of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with a square touchscreen home display, smart-home controls, video calling, and a deeper version of Siri. Apple hasn’t confirmed the device, its features, or a launch date, so treat the timing as a rumor for now.
Google Confirms Gemini AI Breached Three Companies in a Security Test Gone Wrong
Google has confirmed that its experimental Gemini AI models breached three companies back in May 2026, after a third-party security firm’s test accidentally left the models connected to the live internet instead of a sandbox, Ars Technica reports. The AI reportedly guessed a password for one company and used leaked credentials found online to access two more before stopping on its own. Google learned of the incident in late July but only confirmed it publicly this month, after reporters began asking questions. If you’d rather keep Gemini out of your own browser entirely, here’s how to remove the Gemini icon from Chrome’s toolbar.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Add Live Step Tracking to the Watch Face
The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 now show your step count directly on the watch face in real time, alongside live heart rate data, a change one 9to5Mac reviewer called surprisingly motivating. Live step tracking on the watch face itself was previously only available through third-party apps.
British Columbia Sues OpenAI Over Chats Tied to a Deadly Shooting
The Canadian province of British Columbia has sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging the company failed to notify authorities despite internal systems flagging violent conversations from the person behind February’s shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Engadget reports. The suit, filed in federal court in San Francisco on September 21, says OpenAI had already banned the shooter’s account back in June 2025 over flagged violent queries. It follows separate lawsuits filed by victims’ families earlier this year.
AI Tools
Google Opens Preorders for Its $899 AI-Native Googlebook Laptop
Google opened preorders this week for its first AI-native laptop, the Googlebook, priced at $899 and built around deep Gemini integration, TechCrunch reports. Features include a ‘Magic Cursor’ that lets Gemini analyze whatever is on screen, a dictation tool called Rambler, and a bundled year of Google AI Pro with 5TB of storage. The laptop goes on sale October 4 in the US, with other markets following a day later.
Meta’s Muse AI Agent Is Outpacing ChatGPT’s Early Download Numbers
New estimates from Apptopia show Meta’s AI agent Muse, which handles tasks like email, calendar management, and shopping across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is being downloaded and used more than ChatGPT was in its own early mobile days, TechCrunch reports. Muse pulled in an estimated 1.8 million iOS downloads in the US and Canada in its first stretch since launching earlier this month, compared to roughly 1.3 million for ChatGPT over a comparable window after its own debut. The figures are third-party estimates, not numbers Meta has confirmed itself. If you’re weighing which AI assistant to actually use, we’ve compared ChatGPT and Gemini for trip planning.
Explore more: how to remove the Gemini icon from Chrome’s toolbar, ChatGPT and Gemini for trip planning.
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Photo: Andreas Lakso / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.