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Story of the day
Mistral AI launches Voxtral 3, a full voice agent stack that listens, thinks, and talks in real time
Mistral AI has unveiled Voxtral 3, a new suite of language models designed for real-time voice agents.
This innovative system integrates speech-to-text and text-to-speech functionalities along with a voice agent SDK, enabling developers to create advanced voice applications.
Supporting over 50 languages, Voxtral 3 can be deployed on private infrastructure or through EU-hosted APIs, ensuring data control for users.
The ability to access external tools during live conversations enhances the functionality of voice agents, making them more versatile in various applications.
Top in AI
Google's Gemini AI Enhances Driving Experience
Google has launched its Gemini AI Personal Intelligence feature for Android Auto, allowing users to access personalized driving assistance through various Google apps.
This upgrade enables users to make complex requests in natural language, such as checking flight details from Gmail or navigating based on calendar events.
The feature will also be available in vehicles with Google built-in in the coming months.
Spotify Cleans Up AI-Generated Music Recommendations
Spotify has taken significant action by removing over 50 million AI-generated tracks categorized as 'slop and spam' from its user recommendations.
This move comes in response to listener complaints and aims to enhance the quality of music available on the platform.
Following the changes, Spotify has verified more than 300,000 human artists, which now represent over 99% of listener searches.
Chinese Tech Giants Invest $35 Billion in Nvidia GPUs
Chinese firms ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent have placed orders for over 3 million Nvidia RTX Pro 5500 GPUs, totaling more than $35 billion.
This investment comes as demand for Nvidia's GPUs in China has surged since 2022, despite ongoing U.S. export restrictions on more advanced chips.
Top in Robotics
Waymo plans to grow its robotaxi fleet fivefold to 20,000 by 2027
Waymo intends to expand its robotaxi fleet from approximately 4,000 vehicles today to 20,000 by the end of 2027, as reported by Semafor.
The company aims to reach 8,000 vehicles by the end of 2026, following a recent $5 billion loan, its first debt deal, with notable lenders including PIMCO and Blackstone.
The new fleet will primarily consist of Ojai vans, built on electric vehicles from China's Zeekr, with Waymo's self-driving technology integrated in Mesa, Arizona.
Additionally, Waymo plans to start testing in Madrid, targeting to carry its first riders there in 2027, competing with WeRide and Uber, which have already secured permits for driverless cars in Spain.
Eka is worth $1.45B thanks to a physical AI model that has experts raving
Eka Robotics has secured $150 million in a Series A funding round, bringing its valuation to $1.45 billion.
The startup, founded by MIT professor Pulkit Agrawal and former Google DeepMind researcher Tuomas Haarnoja, has developed a manipulation architecture that includes a force-sensitive gripper and a novel deep-learning model.
This technology enables their robot to pick up approximately 1,500 objects weighing up to 1 kg in an hour, achieving a reliability rate of over 95%.
Experts in robotics have praised Eka's capabilities, noting its ability to adapt to various objects without retraining, marking a significant advancement in robotic dexterity.
Top in Markets
Ken Griffin calls Trump's tariffs on US allies 'a disaster' and predicts it will hurt Republicans in the midterms
Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, criticized Donald Trump's tariffs on US allies as 'a disaster' during the Future of Global Markets Conference in New York.
He argued that these tariffs have exacerbated inflation and disrupted supply chains, complicating the Republican Party's prospects in the midterm elections.
Griffin noted that unresolved trade disputes with Canada and the EU, including a 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports, have contributed to rising consumer prices, which increased by 3.7% in September 2026.
He anticipates that Republicans could lose control of at least one congressional chamber as a result of these economic challenges.
Top in Tech
WhatsApp to Launch In-App Browser for Links
WhatsApp is developing an in-app browser for its iPhone app, allowing users to open links shared in chats directly within the app.
This feature aims to enhance user experience by minimizing the need to switch to external browsers, and it can be enabled or disabled in the app's settings under Chats.
Top in Startups
Otter.ai Secures $320 Million for Expansion
Otter. ai has raised $320 million from General Catalyst to fuel its enterprise growth and product innovation.
The funding will support the development of new AI-driven features aimed at enhancing productivity in meeting-heavy roles and will also facilitate international expansion. This investment positions Otter.
ai to compete more effectively against rivals like Fireflies. ai and Granola.
Top in Design
Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Slide and Plans Six Foldable Phones
Samsung has announced the upcoming Galaxy Z Slide, a rollable phone that expands from 5.1 inches to 6.7 inches, as part of its 2027 foldable lineup.
In a strategic response to the high demand for the iPhone Duo, which is currently experiencing backorders, Samsung plans to launch six different foldable phones next year to regain market share in the competitive foldable segment.
