A survey found that about one-third of Americans have had a romantic relationship with artificial intelligence (AI). The study highlights how some people view AI as a comfortable and intriguing partner. People are exploring AI relationships as technology continues to advance.
Key Facts
Around 28% of U.S. adults reported having a romantic relationship with AI.
53% of Americans have interacted with AI in some form, like friendship or work collaboration.
ChatGPT is the most popular AI platform for forming connections, followed by Character.ai, Alexa, Siri, and Gemini.
Most adults over 60 do not view AI relationships as cheating, unlike younger adults aged 18 to 29.
AI relationships raise questions about fidelity and connection in society.
Some individuals may seek AI relationships due to feelings of loneliness or low self-esteem.
Engaging with AI can lead to unrealistic expectations for human relationships.
Disney+ is adding new shows and movies in October 2025. Upcoming releases include a Korean drama, an anime adaptation, and new "Star Wars" stories. Some of these new programs are live-action, while others are animated.
Key Facts
"Tempest," a spy romance Korean drama, premiers on Disney+ on October 1.
"Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation," an anime series, releases on October 29.
"Star Wars: Visions Volume 3," featuring different styled anthology stories, also releases on October 29.
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Season 2," a live-action series, starts streaming on October 8.
"Vampirina: Teenage Vampire," a new live-action drama, releases on October 15.
"Marvel’s Spidey and Iron Man: Avengers Team-Up!" debuts on October 17.
The list includes a mix of animated shows and live-action content for various age groups.
Microsoft has limited the Israeli military's access to its technology because it found that Israel's Defense Ministry was using it for large-scale monitoring of Palestinians.
Key Facts
Microsoft made an announcement about changes to technology access.
The company limited technology use by Israel's military.
This restriction happened after finding out about mass surveillance use.
Israel's Defense Ministry was involved in the surveillance activities.
The decision relates to Microsoft's position on the ethical use of technology.
Netflix is adding over 50 movies and several TV show seasons to its streaming platform in October 2025. New titles include classic movies like "Casper" and "Dracula" and TV shows such as "The Diplomat" and "Love is Blind." These additions will be available throughout the month.
Key Facts
Over 50 new movies are arriving on Netflix on October 1, 2025.
Popular movies coming include "Casper" and various "Austin Powers" films.
New seasons of shows like "The Diplomat" and "Love is Blind" will become available.
Other classic films being added include "Beverly Hills Cop" and "Coming to America."
New content will continue to release throughout October, not just on the first day.
The list includes a mix of horror, comedy, drama, and classic films.
NPR has launched its 2025 College Podcast Challenge. The contest invites college students to submit podcasts on any topic for a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. Participants must be under 12 minutes, without copyrighted music, and submissions are due by January 16, 2026.
Key Facts
The 2025 College Podcast Challenge started on October 1, 2025, and ends on January 16, 2026.
The grand prize for the winning podcast is a $5,000 scholarship.
The contest is open to college students or recent graduates of 2025.
Podcasts must be under 12 minutes and free of copyrighted audio or music.
NPR will air the winning and several finalist podcasts on its programs.
Students can submit podcasts on any topic and in any format, like interviews or stories.
NPR offers a Sound Advice page to help students with podcast-making resources.
Participants can send as many podcast entries as they want.
AOL has officially ended its dial-up internet service as of September 30, 2023. Dial-up internet was once widely used but has seen a sharp decline due to the rise of faster technologies like broadband and wireless internet. Despite its decline, a few households in the U.S. were still using dial-up until AOL's recent decision.
Key Facts
AOL ended its dial-up internet service on September 30, 2023.
The decision was announced on AOL's support site in advance.
AOL's dial-up service was famous in the 1990s and early 2000s.
An estimated 163,401 U.S. households used dial-up in 2023.
AOL was the largest provider of dial-up internet service for many years.
AOL's parent company, Yahoo, has issued no new statements about the shutdown.
AOL continues to offer email services and subscriptions for tech support and identity protection.
The UK government has issued a new order allowing it to access the personal data of Apple users in the UK if there is a national security threat. This is part of an ongoing issue between Apple and the UK government over data privacy. Apple insists it prioritizes user privacy and will not weaken its data protection measures.
Key Facts
The UK government can now demand access to the personal data of Apple users in the UK for national security reasons.
This new order replaces an earlier demand for access to Apple user data worldwide, which was criticized by the US.
Apple removed a strong data protection feature, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), from the UK in response to the dispute.
A tribunal hearing about this issue is scheduled for January 2026.
Apple states it is committed to user privacy and security, and does not build any backdoors into its products.
The dispute has involved legal challenges and public statements from both Apple and the UK government.
A judge ruled that the legal conflict between the UK government and Apple should not be kept secret.
Privacy International and other groups have criticized the UK government's actions, warning that similar demands might be made of other tech companies.
Microsoft announced changes to its Xbox Game Pass services, including a price increase for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The Game Pass tiers are rebranded, and each will offer expanded game libraries, including some new features. This price increase has upset some fans, leading to discussions on social media.
Key Facts
Microsoft will raise the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99.
Xbox Game Pass tiers are now called Essential, Premium, and Ultimate.
There is no price change for the new Essential and Premium tiers.
The Ultimate tier will offer more games available on the first day of release.
Game Pass subscribers will transition automatically into the new tier names.
Some gamers expressed dissatisfaction on social media about the price hike.
Microsoft announced these changes via Xbox Wire and social media videos.
Scientists have discovered how the mysterious will-o’-the-wisps, ghostly blue flames seen in marshes and wetlands, can occur. The team found that tiny electrical discharges, called microlightning, happen between bubbles of methane in water. This natural ignition process can cause the blue flames to appear.
Key Facts
Will-o’-the-wisps are ghostly blue flames sometimes seen in marshes and cemeteries.
They are also known as ignis fatuus and are linked to methane gas from decaying matter.
Methane needs a high temperature to ignite, which is usually not present in nature.
Scientists found that microlightning occurs between methane bubbles in water, igniting the gas.
In experiments, scientists observed brief flashes between bubbles using high-speed cameras.
The study showed that these electrical discharges cause the methane to oxidize and emit light.
The research provides a new explanation for how will-o’-the-wisps form naturally.
HoYoverse, the creator of "Genshin Impact," has introduced a new game called "Petit Planet" and is opening a closed beta for testing. The game is a life simulation where players can explore and interact with various planets, and it is available for PC and mobile.
Key Facts
HoYoverse is the developer of "Genshin Impact" and is exploring a new genre with "Petit Planet."
"Petit Planet" is a life simulation game, similar to "Animal Crossing" and "Stardew Valley."
Players can engage in activities like planting, fishing, and crafting within the game.
The game encourages players to interact with a community and design their avatars and environments.
The closed beta sign-up is available at planet.hoyoverse.com, with limited slots for testers.
"Petit Planet" will be available on PC and mobile devices.
There is no official release date yet, but the game is expected to launch in 2025.
The article discusses the current limitations of AI in creating compelling stories in film and TV. It emphasizes the importance of human input to develop meaningful narratives and suggests that AI should work within structured guidelines set by humans.
Key Facts
AI can generate high-quality images but struggles to create stories with depth.
Human input is necessary to guide narrative elements like plot and character development.
Current AI tools are not yet equipped to manage complex storytelling.
Industry professionals are advocating for standards to ensure AI follows story design rules.
A structured approach, like a machine-readable "story bible," could help align AI with human storytelling.
The article underscores that successful storytelling needs creativity and understanding, which AI alone cannot provide.
Snapchat will charge users for storing old photos and videos if they have more than 5 gigabytes of content in the app's Memories feature. The change is part of a global rollout, and those affected will need to pay for extra storage plans. The cost of the initial storage plan starts at $1.99 per month.
Key Facts
Snapchat's Memories feature lets users save photos and videos for longer than the usual 24-hour limit.
Users with over 5GB of Memories will have to pay to keep this content accessible.
Snapchat has not disclosed the UK pricing but mentions a global rollout.
The initial storage plan of 100GB will cost $1.99 per month.
A 250GB storage option is available with a $3.99 Snapchat+ subscription.
Snap says this change won't impact most users, who have less than 5GB of Memories.
Users showing disapproval on social media believe charging for storage is unfair.
Snapchat reports over 900 million monthly active users, while Instagram and TikTok each have billions.
A group of top cancer centers has launched a new platform called the Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA) that uses AI to analyze patient data without sharing the actual data. This solves a big problem in AI health research, which involves legal issues and privacy concerns about sharing patient information.
Key Facts
The Cancer AI Alliance (CAIA) helps use AI for cancer research without exchanging raw patient data.
The platform uses a method called federated learning, allowing AI models to learn from data without moving it.
Major cancer centers like Dana-Farber and Johns Hopkins are part of this alliance.
Technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft support this initiative.
Federated learning keeps patient information private and secure within each institution.
The platform aims to speed up cancer research breakthroughs from years to months.
Eight research projects are currently using this platform to improve cancer treatment and care.
Hulu has announced a list of new movies and TV shows available in October 2025. The lineup includes popular film series like "Saw," "Scream," and "Twilight," alongside TV premieres of shows such as "Abbott Elementary" and "Grey's Anatomy."
Key Facts
Hulu announced new movies and TV shows for October 2025.
The horror film series "Saw" and "Scream" will be available.
The "Twilight" saga and "Hotel Transylvania" movies are also included.
New TV show seasons include "Abbott Elementary" and "Grey's Anatomy."
Movies such as "Die Hard," "Blade," and "Edward Scissorhands" are part of the lineup.
Hulu will premiere new films like "Stay" and "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle."
Prime Video is adding new movies and shows to its streaming platform in October 2025. These include new films like "Play Dirty" and "Maintenance Required," as well as documentaries such as "John Candy: I Like Me." Several other titles are slated for release throughout the month.
Key Facts
Prime Video will release "Play Dirty," a movie starring Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield, on October 1.
"Maintenance Required," a romantic comedy starring Madelaine Petsch and Jacob Scipio, comes out on October 8.
The documentary "John Candy: I Like Me" will be available starting October 10.
Other titles releasing include "Out Fault" on October 16 and "Host" on October 23.
New seasons for existing series, such as "House of David" and "Hazbin Hotel," will also be released.
These new additions are part of Prime Video's October 2025 lineup.
The head of Pinterest mentioned that the death of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old who died in 2017 after viewing self-harm content online, serves as a constant reminder of the need for safer social media for young users. Pinterest has made changes to increase safety for young users, including making accounts for under-16s private by default. The discussion continues about the responsibility tech companies have in protecting children and the need for stricter regulations.
Key Facts
Molly Russell was 14 years old when she died in 2017 after viewing harmful content online.
A coroner found that the online content contributed to her death.
Pinterest's current boss, Bill Ready, said he thinks about her case every day.
Pinterest has made under-16 accounts private by default as a safety measure.
There is ongoing debate about tech companies' duty of care to children.
The UK government introduced the Online Safety Act to improve online safety for children.
Bill Ready said tech companies should work towards making social media safer.
Pinterest has contributed to the Molly Rose Foundation, which aims to reduce youth suicide rates.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging companies are working to improve the charging experience as more people buy electric cars. At a recent conference, leaders from major charging companies discussed how they are expanding charging networks and improving technology to meet demand. They also addressed challenges such as charging speed, infrastructure reliability, and power grid capacity.
Key Facts
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is increasing, leading to higher expectations for public charging options.
There are currently many more EV models available compared to 2012, with about 150 models on the U.S. market last year.
A main challenge for EV adoption is the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure.
Electrify America collaborates with over 250 utilities and runs more than 5,000 fast chargers, mainly in the U.S. and Canada.
They are upgrading chargers for faster and more reliable service.
Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging plans to use 1,000-kilowatt charging speeds in the future.
Electric Era aims to address grid capacity and charging demand issues with a new energy management system.
In 2022, Elon Musk bought Twitter, now called X, for $44 billion. He changed its content moderation rules and restored some previously banned accounts. This move is discussed in Jacob Silverman's book, which explores Musk's impact on the social media site and his political interests.
Key Facts
Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022.
After buying it, Musk renamed Twitter to X.
Musk changed content moderation policies, allowing some banned accounts back, including Donald Trump’s.
He reduced the number of Twitter employees by more than half.
Verified accounts, previously marked by blue checks, now require a subscription fee.
Musk's changes enabled accounts to earn money based on the number of views their posts received.
The purchase and changes are discussed in Jacob Silverman’s book, which examines Musk's influence in Silicon Valley and his political motivations.
The article discusses the involvement of tech billionaires in politics, focusing on Elon Musk's influence and political alignment. It highlights a new book, "Gilded Rage," which examines the shift of Silicon Valley leaders towards right-wing politics and their interactions with former President Donald Trump. The book also explores the potential reasons behind this political shift and Musk's ongoing involvement in politics.
Key Facts
Silicon Valley is a major center for technology innovation and wealth.
Some tech billionaires, like Elon Musk, have become involved in politics.
Elon Musk was involved with the Department of Government Efficiency during Trump’s second term.
A new book, "Gilded Rage," looks into why tech billionaires might be aligning with right-wing politics.
The book is written by Jacob Silverman and publishes on October 7.
Some tech leaders believe the political environment around them has changed.
Musk’s political stance is mentioned as being more moderate at first.
Despite political involvement, Musk continues to focus on his role in Tesla, highlighted by a proposed large pay package.
Scientists have used DNA from human skin cells to create "functional" eggs that can produce early human embryos, but more research is needed before these eggs can be used practically. The study represents early-stage research and highlights the potential for helping with infertility issues. The researchers note several limitations, including that the eggs currently develop abnormally and are not yet viable for creating pregnancies.
Key Facts
Scientists turned DNA from skin cells into eggs that can make early human embryos.
The study suggests this could help with infertility and enable same-sex couples to have genetically related children.
The eggs had chromosomal issues, and only a small percentage developed properly.
Researchers used a technique similar to what was used in cloning Dolly the sheep.
The process involves combining cloning and fertilization by placing skin cell DNA into an egg.
Experts say this work could change how we understand and treat infertility and miscarriages.
More research is needed, with expectations of at least ten more years before potential clinical trials.
The study was published in Nature Communications and emphasizes safety and efficacy concerns before practical use.
