Grok's enthusiastic endorsement of Elon Musk, Google's new AI scam protection in India, and the global launch of ChatGPT group chats highlight the rapid expansion of AI capabilities and applications, while Trump's proposed plan to penalize states with AI laws signals rising regulatory debates.

• Grok says Elon Musk is better than basically everyone, except Shohei Ohtani — TechCrunch -
• Google steps up AI scam protection in India, but gaps remain — TechCrunch -
• ChatGPT launches group chats globally — TechCrunch -

• Trump revives unpopular Ted Cruz plan to punish states that impose AI laws — Ars Technica -
• Mixup is a new, Mad Libs-style app for creating AI images from photos, text, and doodles — TechCrunch -
• Perplexity brings its AI browser Comet to Android — TechCrunch -
• Gemini 3 refused to believe it was 2025, and hilarity ensued — TechCrunch -
• Gemini starts rolling out to Android Auto globally — TechCrunch -
• “Hey Google, did you upgrade your AI in my Android Auto?” — Ars Technica -
• Google’s new Nano Banana Pro uses Gemini 3 power to generate more realistic AI images — Ars Technica -
• The best guide to spotting AI writing comes from Wikipedia — TechCrunch -
• India’s TCS gets TPG to fund half of $2B AI data center project — TechCrunch -
• Google releases Nano Banana Pro, its latest image-generation model — TechCrunch -
• As its voice dictation app takes off, Wispr secures $25M from Notable Capital — TechCrunch -
• Sortera is turning America’s scrap aluminum problem into cash — TechCrunch -
• Finland’s NestAI lands €100M, partners with Nokia to build AI for defense applications — TechCrunch -

HP and Dell's decision to disable HEVC support due to licensing costs, the introduction of an Instagram Notes-like feature to WhatsApp, and Android's newfound compatibility with iPhone's AirDrop thanks to EU regulation mark significant shifts in software features and device interoperability.

• HP and Dell disable HEVC support built into their laptops’ CPUs — Ars Technica -
• WhatsApp gets its own Instagram Notes-like feature — TechCrunch -
• The EU made Apple adopt new Wi-Fi standards, and now Android can support AirDrop — Ars Technica -

• Android’s Quick Share now works with iPhone’s AirDrop, starting with the Pixel 10 lineup — TechCrunch -
• YouTube tests an in-app private messaging feature again — TechCrunch -
• Letterboxd to launch new movie rental feature in December — TechCrunch -
• Spotify’s latest feature lets you transfer playlists from other services — TechCrunch -
• In 1982, a physics joke gone wrong sparked the invention of the emoticon — Ars Technica -

Joby Aviation's corporate espionage lawsuit against rival Archer, **Kalshi's soaring $11 billion valuation after a major funding round, and the data breach affecting Salesforce customers** following a Gainsight compromise reflect the dynamic and sometimes turbulent corporate landscape.

• Joby Aviation makes ‘corporate espionage’ claims in lawsuit against rival Archer — TechCrunch -
• Source: Kalshi’s valuation jumps to $11B after raising massive $1B round — TechCrunch -
• Salesforce says some of its customers’ data was accessed after Gainsight breach — TechCrunch -

• Why these founders ditched social ads for Taylor Swift concerts and prison tablets — TechCrunch -
• The marketing guru who helped turn Khosla Ventures into an AI powerhouse is moving on — TechCrunch -
• After SEC investigation, Curastory founder resigns, hires replacement — TechCrunch -
• Samsung Display, China’s BOE settle OLED patent and trade secret lawsuits — TechCrunch -
• Monarch Tractor preps for layoffs and warns employees it may ‘shut down’ — TechCrunch -

Blue Origin's unveiling of ambitious plans for its New Glenn rocket, including a super-heavy variant taller than a Saturn V, indicates a new phase in private spaceflight, while the Space Force's new naming scheme for weapon systems suggests evolving military strategies in space.

• Blue Origin revealed some massively cool plans for its New Glenn rocket — Ars Technica -
• Blue Origin reveals a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket that is taller than a Saturn V — TechCrunch -
• Attack, defend, pursue—the Space Force’s new naming scheme foretells new era — Ars Technica -

Scientists unlocking the mystery behind accurate Maya eclipse tables, the transformative role of drones in marine mammal research, and a study comparing children's drip paintings to Pollock's style underscore diverse advancements in scientific understanding and methodology.

• Scientists found the key to accurate Maya eclipse tables — Ars Technica -
• Flying with whales: Drones are remaking marine mammal research — Ars Technica -
• Study: Kids’ drip paintings more like Pollock’s than those of adults — Ars Technica -

Point One Navigation's advanced tracking capabilities for drones, trucks, and robotaxis, Waymo's expansion into three new cities including challenging weather environments, and Uber Eats' partnership with Starship for sidewalk robot deliveries in the UK demonstrate the growing integration of autonomous technologies into daily life.

• This Khosla-backed startup can track drones, trucks, and robotaxis, inch by inch — TechCrunch -
• Waymo enters 3 more cities: Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Tampa — TechCrunch -
• Uber Eats will use Starship sidewalk robots to deliver food in the UK — TechCrunch -

A formula maker's confirmation of bacteria amid a botulism outbreak raises serious consumer safety concerns, and RFK Jr.'s controversial edits to the CDC website falsely linking vaccines and autism highlight persistent challenges in public health information.

• From defiant to contrite: Formula maker confirms bacteria amid botulism outbreak — Ars Technica -
• RFK Jr.’s loathesome edits: CDC website now falsely links vaccines and autism — Ars Technica -

Microsoft's decision to open source Zork I, II, and III offers a nostalgic nod to gaming history, while Google's offer of a free year of GeForce Now for Chromebooks aims to boost cloud gaming accessibility.

• Microsoft makes Zork I, II, and III open source under MIT License — Ars Technica -
• Google’s latest swing at Chromebook gaming is a free year of GeForce Now — Ars Technica -

Another significant fire at an aluminum plant supplying Ford points to ongoing vulnerabilities in industrial supply chains and operational safety.

• Another fire breaks out at aluminum plant that supplies Ford — TechCrunch -