Tech news roundup for Sunday, November 1, 2026 leads with OpenAI reportedly scaling back its newest funding round, alongside Apple’s new CEO John Ternus explaining why the company isn’t rushing to add AI everywhere.
Table of Contents
Elsewhere in today’s tech news roundup: Nintendo kicks off the first annual Pikmin Day, and a free Mac menu-bar app brings a jack-o-lantern-powered light/dark mode switch to your Mac.
The TLDR
- Tech & Apps: Nintendo Declares November 1 the First Annual Pikmin Day
- AI Tools: OpenAI Reportedly Scales Back Its Newest Funding Round
Tech & Apps
Nintendo Declares November 1 the First Annual Pikmin Day
Nintendo announced on October 31 that November 1 would be the first annual Pikmin Day, revealed through a short Pikmin Day Direct presentation. During the Direct, Shigeru Miyamoto shared new details about Pikmin 4 for Switch 2, an update for the mobile game Pikmin Bloom, and a new animated short series called Hello! Pikmin, according to The Verge.
Free Mac App Turns Your Menu Bar Into a Jack-o-Lantern Switch
This week’s Indie App Spotlight from 9to5Mac features Pumpkin Lights, a free Mac menu-bar app that swaps between light and dark mode when you click or drag a ray-traced, swinging jack-o-lantern. The free app can also mute your Mac’s sound, keep it awake, or run shortcuts and custom commands, according to 9to5Mac.
AI Tools
OpenAI Reportedly Scales Back Its Newest Funding Round
OpenAI has reportedly lowered the target for its latest funding round from roughly $30 billion to about $20 billion, according to unconfirmed reports from the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal cited by TechCrunch. The reports say the company has secured around $11 billion so far, with some major investors reportedly giving the round a lukewarm response. OpenAI has not confirmed the figures.
Apple’s New CEO Says It Won’t Chase AI Just to Chase AI
In an interview published October 31 with Wired’s Steven Levy, Apple CEO John Ternus said the company doesn’t want to “ship AI for AI’s sake,” arguing that well-designed AI features shouldn’t make users consciously think about the AI behind them, according to TechCrunch. Ternus, who became Apple’s CEO in September 2026, said the company’s priority is building products people genuinely want to use. The comments echo a broader pushback against AI-by-default — plenty of Android users have gone as far as to turn off Gemini as their default assistant rather than have it baked into everything.
Explore more: turn off Gemini as their default assistant, roundup of AI apps for book recommendations.
Tech News Roundup FAQs
When is Pikmin Day?
Nintendo declared November 1, 2026 the first annual Pikmin Day, announced a day earlier via a short Pikmin Day Direct presentation covering Pikmin 4, Pikmin Bloom, and a new animated short series.
How much is OpenAI trying to raise in its new funding round?
Reports from the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal say OpenAI lowered its target from around $30 billion to about $20 billion, though OpenAI hasn’t confirmed the figures.
Who is Apple’s CEO now?
John Ternus became Apple’s CEO in September 2026. In an October 31 interview, he said Apple avoids shipping AI features just for the sake of having AI.
Make Your Digital Life Better
More practical tech how-tos, tool picks, and guides to upgrade your everyday digital life. More on GTWebs.
Want web tips in your inbox? Subscribe to the free newsletter.
Photo: HaeB / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.