Several names have emerged as top contenders, with Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O'Connor reportedly among those being considered. However, only one of these hopefuls will be chosen for the coveted role, leaving the rest to face disappointment.

The screen tests are said to be taking place this weekend, with a select group of actors going through the rigorous audition process. The competition is fierce, but history has shown that even those who don't make it as Bond can still achieve great things in the entertainment industry.

Many notable actors have been rejected for the role over the years, only to go on to become household names in their own right. For example, Henry Cavill and James Brolin are just two of the many stars who were once considered for the part but ultimately lost out.

Footage from past screen tests has even surfaced online, giving a glimpse into what it takes to become the next Bond. These leaked videos offer a fascinating insight into the audition process and the high stakes involved in becoming one of Hollywood's most iconic leading men.

Bond's producers were considering a radical departure from their usual casting approach when Roger Moore expressed interest in retiring after For Your Eyes Only. They began looking at American actors for the iconic role of James Bond.

One such contender was James Brolin, who had already made a name for himself with The Amityville Horror. He underwent an extensive audition process over several days, which included adopting a somewhat English accent in his efforts to fit the part.

During his Octopussy screen test, Brolin performed two key scenes that had become staples of Bond's auditions: a seduction scene from From Russia With Love and a specially staged fight. His physical abilities were put to the test as he battled it out with his on-screen opponents.

However, in a surprising twist, Moore decided to return for one more outing after all, ultimately making Brolin's chances of landing the role extremely slim.

Henry Cavill's Bond audition seven years before his Superman days was not his only notable attempt at playing James Bond.

At 29, Sam Neill joined the Casino Royale casting hunt, bringing a unique Kiwi accent to the iconic GoldenEye scene where Pierce Brosnan meets Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye. Neill eventually went on to achieve international recognition for his role as Homelander on The Boys.

Ben Whishaw's Bond audition took place when he was just 23 years old and had only one film credit, The Libertine, under his belt. His test scene also featured the same GoldenEye bit used by Cavill and Starr. Despite not landing the Bond role, Whishaw went on to secure parts in Pride & Prejudice and Homeland.

Neill's chances of becoming Bond were likely slim after Henry Cavill returned for one more audition, ultimately making it even harder for other hopefuls to land the coveted role.

Australian actor Sam Worthington had a surprising close call at becoming James Bond when he was 29 years old. He was flown to London and underwent a screen test with the traditional GoldenEye material, donning a tuxedo as part of the audition process.

Worthington later revealed that while he felt confident in his physical abilities to play the role, he struggled to master the suave and sophisticated aspects of Bond, particularly the required accent.

The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/james-bond-auditions-watch-screen-tests-1236738531/

The vulnerabilities were discovered in PHP, a back-end language that has been used in web development for decades. This has led to widespread concerns about potential hacks on millions of websites that rely on it. The discovery was made by the developers of PHP themselves, who described the flaws as "critical.

UK government services have not been immune from the issue, with some sites taken offline as a precautionary measure. According to tech minister Baroness Lloyd of Effra, 32 government services are currently unavailable while four others are partially unavailable.

The government has attributed this disruption to precautionary measures taken to protect systems while security updates and mitigations are applied. The exact nature of the affected services has not been specified by the government, but it did confirm that no large public-facing critical services have been impacted.

While there have been no reported successful attacks so far, experts warn that any impact may take time - potentially even months - to become fully apparent. Work is ongoing across government and with international partners to identify and fix potential exposures to systems.

Work is ongoing to verify that affected organizations are taking action to address the vulnerability.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is closely monitoring the situation and has received positive confirmation that advice sent to those impacted has been received and acted upon.

Olly Whitehouse, chief technology officer of the NCSC, described the event as unprecedented" and said it will have a universal impact. He added that there are currently no indications of successful breaches by hackers.

Cyber-security experts are warning that organizations need to prioritize updating their computer systems to prevent further disruptions. One expert noted that hacking has been around for many years, but the government's own infrastructure is not immune to vulnerabilities.

The NCSC and other authorities are working closely with affected organizations to ensure they have the necessary resources to update their systems and mitigate any potential risks.

The extent of the problem is becoming increasingly clear as technicians struggle to update systems affected by the critical PHP vulnerabilities.

MOT testing centers are among those finding it difficult to cope, with some forced to conduct tests and issue certificates in paper form due to the inability to print digital documents.

This has led to delays for customers, who are being asked to wait while the necessary updates are made.

The widespread use of PHP is a major factor in the severity of the problem, as it powers 70% of the world's websites according to estimates from cyber-security firm Wiz.

PHP was first developed in the early 1990s and has since become a staple of web development.

The widespread nature of the PHP flaw is becoming increasingly evident, with numerous large organizations reporting a surge in attempts to breach their systems.

Cloudflare's Matthew Prince revealed that his company saw thousands of attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities across its network before the issue was publicly announced. This number skyrocketed in the hours following the announcement, with tens of thousands of attempts detected within 45 minutes and hundreds of thousands within two hours.

The rate at which hackers are attempting to exploit the flaw is staggering, according to Prince's estimates, who stated that millions of attempts have been made so far.

Amazon has also confirmed that it saw hackers trying to take advantage of the PHP vulnerabilities on its systems but noted that its websites were operating normally despite these attempts.

Despite the temporary disruptions experienced by some organizations, many sites have since returned to normal operations, including those of a Dutch cyber-security agency and Finland's government.

The window for responding to the cyber-security flaw has narrowed significantly, according to Matt Hull, a top executive at NCC Group. A few years ago, attackers may have taken weeks or even months to exploit a vulnerability, but now they can do so in just days or hours.

As a result of this accelerated timeline, developers and engineers are facing an enormous challenge in updating computer systems to prevent the flaw from being exploited. Hull emphasized the importance of self-care for security professionals working on the issue, noting that several days into the incident, many may already be experiencing burnout due to the intense workload.

BBC News Technology: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9j34zgmkxx1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Cybersecurity companies have reported that millions of websites are being targeted by hackers seeking to take advantage of the vulnerability in PHP, a programming language used by about 70% of the world's websites. The issue is so severe that governments and companies are taking drastic measures to prevent attacks. Many websites have been taken offline as their owners rush to patch the flaw.

In the UK, the situation has reached crisis point with 32 government services being temporarily pulled from the internet. According to the cybersecurity minister, Liz Lloyd, this decision was made as a precautionary measure while updates were applied to address the vulnerability. Downing Street has reassured that no critical public-facing services have been affected by the issue.

The shutdown of popular websites such as the BBC's Traitors highlights concerns about the ongoing vulnerability of systems used by schools, local governments and charities that may not have dedicated cybersecurity support to execute the fix. This has sparked fears that many organizations may struggle to protect themselves from potential attacks while they wait for patches to be applied.

The scale of attempted exploitation is staggering, with tens of thousands of attempts detected in just 45 minutes after the problem was announced. This number skyrocketed to hundreds of thousands within two hours and has now reached millions, according to Matthew Prince, chief executive of Cloudflare.

Researchers at Calif, who were instrumental in discovering the flaw, have expressed concern that exploitation may not be as widespread as feared, but the sheer volume of attempts suggests a significant threat remains. This is particularly worrying given that many organizations are still waiting for patches to be applied.

The vulnerability, known as PHP2Shell, has been identified by Amazon Threat Intelligence as being broadly exploited in the wild. The company has detected multiple actors attempting to test ways to capitalize on the weakness before the fix was released by the PHP developers on Wednesday.

As a result of this rapid exploitation, governments have taken swift action to protect their websites and data. Many government sites were quickly taken offline so that patches could be installed, with some coming back online soon after.

Cloudflare's Matthew Prince has highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that organizations must act swiftly to protect themselves from potential attacks while they wait for patches to be applied.

The PHP vulnerability has sparked concerns over the handling of security alerts, with some questioning whether the issue was revealed too early.

Cloudflare's data suggests thousands of attempts to exploit the weakness in just 10 hours before it was publicly announced. This rapid response highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action by organizations to protect themselves from potential attacks while waiting for patches to be applied.

The vulnerability could allow hostile actors to seize control of exposed sites, granting them access to valuable resources such as computing power, servers, and IP addresses that locate a website on the internet. These assets are often managed and mediated through PHP, making it an attractive target for malicious activities.

Criminal groups, state-sponsored hackers, or crypto miners could "nest" themselves into exposed sites using this vulnerability and exploit those resources for their own purposes. This could include launching attacks from a compromised IP address that cannot be traced back to the perpetrator, or utilizing a server's computing power to run energy-intensive calculations without incurring costs.

It remains unclear at what scale this has been done, with some sites potentially unaware of the exposure. The lack of awareness highlights the need for organizations to take proactive measures to protect themselves from potential attacks while patches are being applied.

The severity of the vulnerability is underscored by Wiz's assessment that it was among the most severe software flaws ever discovered. Demonstrating its exploitability required a complex chain of steps, but frontier AI models reduced this barrier significantly, turning a longstanding weakness into an actionable threat.

Websites worldwide are facing a significant threat as cyber-actors seek to exploit a flaw in PHP code, prompting swift action from governments and industries. The US National Security Agency (NSA) has warned that this vulnerability could be turned into an actionable threat by exploiting AI models.

The South Korean government has activated emergency response measures, increasing its cybersecurity alert level and providing guidance to tens of thousands of companies on how to fix the issue. In China, the industry ministry is urging organisations to inspect their systems and upgrade to the latest secure version of PHP, while also strengthening cybersecurity monitoring and changing passwords and keys.

The Guardian Business: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/22/websites-across-world-hit-by-millions-of-attempts-to-exploit-php-code-flaw

The issue lies in PHP, a code that powers many online services including blogs, e-commerce sites, and government portals. Most users are not directly affected, but it's a fundamental component of websites, building pages behind the scenes before they reach visitors' browsers.

Developers of the language have issued an urgent update, urging all users to install the new fixes immediately. This comes after details about the vulnerabilities were leaked online on Tuesday, forcing PHP developers to rush out patches.

Experts are bracing for a surge in hacking attempts as malicious actors try to exploit the weaknesses before users can install the necessary updates.

A critical coding flaw has been discovered in the widely used PHP programming language, allowing hackers to run malicious code on websites and potentially exposing sensitive information.

The vulnerability arises from how PHP handles fatal errors, such as running out of memory, which can be exploited by attackers to read passwords and other credentials stored on a server's memory. This means even simple websites using affected versions of PHP could be vulnerable to hacking attempts. According to cloud security company Wiz, the problem is inherent in PHP itself.

The two flaws, dubbed PHP2Shell, were independently discovered by cybersecurity companies Calif and Wiz using artificial intelligence. Calif reported the first flaw on August 11, while Wiz reported the second on August 24. Both vulnerabilities have been rated critical, with a severity score of 9.2 out of 10.

The coding flaws remained undetected in PHP's codebase for over a decade and would be extremely difficult for human hackers to exploit without sophisticated tools and expertise. Calif and Wiz worked closely with the PHP team and OpenAI before disclosing the vulnerabilities publicly, allowing for swift action to mitigate their impact.

The discovery of the critical vulnerability has raised concerns about its potential impact on the global digital infrastructure.

Security experts are still trying to determine how a hacker managed to learn about the flaws before they were publicly disclosed. According to Amazon security chief CJ Moses, his team detected an attempt to exploit the vulnerabilities four days before the public disclosure, which suggests that there may have been some prior knowledge of the issue.

The PHP language has been in use since the early 1990s and is widely used for web development. It underpins many popular content management systems such as WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Magento, making it a critical component of the public-facing web.

As a result, any vulnerability in PHP can have significant knock-on effects, particularly given that more than 70 percent of websites globally rely on the language.

The severity of the situation is underscored by Cullen's warning about the potential for widespread disruption to shared digital infrastructure.

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating a paradox in cybersecurity. While AI has improved at detecting and fixing bugs, it also has become more adept at exploiting them, making the internet both safer and riskier.

In the Netherlands, several high-profile websites went dark as a precautionary measure due to the vulnerabilities. These included government portals, hospital websites, and even the website of the Port of Rotterdam. The country's national football association, KNVB, also took its website offline.

The Dutch Prime Minister has been keeping a close eye on the situation. This move is part of a broader trend in which organizations are taking proactive steps to mitigate potential risks.

In Finland, state IT services provider Valtori temporarily shut down government public network services as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, France's Ministry of the Interior put all its websites into preventive maintenance mode.

Belgium's Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation initially took its websites offline after reports of cyberattacks exploiting the PHP vulnerabilities.

South Korea's government has escalated its cybersecurity alert level in response to the PHP vulnerability, triggering emergency response measures to mitigate potential damage. The move aims to protect a significant portion of the country's private sector, including 28,000 companies that have registered chief information security officers.

The operator of Wikipedia temporarily took down several systems for patching, while the Internet Archive also went offline briefly to address the issue. In addition, critical infrastructure operators, web-hosting firms, and data centres were informed about the potential risks and advised on necessary precautions.

Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/22/whats-the-php-coding-flaw-that-could-pull-down-70-percent-of-the-internet?traffic_source=rss

These vulnerabilities were discovered by AI and have prompted governments and major companies like Amazon to take swift action to protect their systems from potential hacking. Multiple attempts were made to target Amazon's systems before the warning was officially lifted, with the company stating it is unclear how these actors obtained knowledge of the flaws.

The UK government has advised all organisations, public and private, large and small, to follow guidance on protecting their systems from the PHP vulnerabilities. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the UK has joined forces with its counterparts in the EU and Australia to urge users of PHP to apply necessary fixes.

As a significant number of websites rely on PHP for operations, including online shops, Wikipedia, and WordPress-based blogs, many are taking immediate action to address these vulnerabilities. The NCSC has suggested that organisations consider temporarily taking their systems offline if they cannot remediate the issue immediately until it can be fully mitigated.

The widespread use of PHP code on websites means that millions of people could be vulnerable to attacks if their sites are compromised by the recently discovered flaw.

According to Surrey Centre for Cyber Security Prof Alan Woodward, around 30 million websites rely on PHP, making it one of the most commonly used programming languages on the web.

The nature of the vulnerability allows an attacker to inject their own code onto a website's server and execute it with full privileges, essentially giving them unfettered access to sensitive data and potentially allowing them to move laterally within a network.

This could enable attackers to steal sensitive information or even plant backdoors for future exploitation, making the vulnerability extremely serious in its potential consequences.

The attacks on Amazon's systems are believed to have been carried out by multiple threat actors who exploited weaknesses in its decoy or honeypot systems.

According to CJ Moses, Amazon's security chief, an anonymous internet address attempted to target these vulnerabilities on 17 October, marking the beginning of a series of attacks.

The use of an anonymous IP address suggests that the attackers were likely using sophisticated techniques to conceal their identities and locations.

In subsequent attacks that occurred on 21 October, the payloads and choices in anonymisation infrastructure varied, indicating that multiple actors were involved.

This rapid escalation highlights the challenges posed by AI-powered attacks, which can spread quickly once technical details of a vulnerability are disclosed.

As AI technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, cyber-security experts warn that threats will become increasingly commonplace.

The PHP flaws that have sparked global concern are believed to have gone undetected for at least a decade, leaving many websites vulnerable to attack.

Estimates suggest that nearly 70% of the internet may be affected by these vulnerabilities, although this figure has not been independently verified.

Several high-profile websites, including those for BBC programmes such as Doctor Who and The Traitors, remain inaccessible due to the PHP issue.

A number of councils and government agencies have also taken their websites offline as a precaution, with Edinburgh and Oxford council websites being temporarily unavailable.

The newly discovered vulnerabilities in PHP programming language have raised concerns about potential attacks on sensitive data and network disruptions worldwide. According to the NSA, these flaws are inherent in PHP itself, rather than being related to specific applications or configurations.

Websites across various platforms have been temporarily taken offline as a precautionary measure, with several councils and government agencies joining the list of affected entities. The severity of this security issue has been described by OpenAI as one of the most impactful in recent memory, underscoring the need for urgent action to mitigate its effects.

BBC News Technology: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmx23d0k57d3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Sakurai's interest in filmmaking began to shift from acting to behind-the-scenes work after being exposed to a diverse range of films through the Cleveland Cinematheque. The programming diet, which included action-packed movies by Jackie Chan and Jet Li as well as more nuanced works by Robert Altman, sparked his desire to explore independent filmmaking.

By the age of 19, Sakurai had dropped out of college and moved to New York to pursue a career in independent film. He started out working on music videos before crossing paths with Eric André on a shoot in the mid-2000s. This chance encounter would prove pivotal in his future endeavors.

Sakurai's collaboration with André led to an opportunity to develop a proof of concept for The Eric Andre Show, a chaotic "anti-talk show" that impressed André with its unique aesthetic and attention to detail. However, selling the project proved challenging, with networks rejecting it multiple times before Sakurai and André decided to release it themselves on YouTube.

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim unexpectedly took notice of the series in 2010, offering to air it as part of their programming lineup. This breakthrough led to a successful run for The Eric Andre Show, spawning over 60 episodes, several specials, and an Emmy win.

Sakurai also made his feature directorial debut with Aardvark in 2010, a film that blended elements of documentary narrative and revenge thriller. While Aardvark hinted at Sakurai's willingness to experiment with unconventional storytelling, The Eric Andre Show further cemented this approach.

The success of The Eric Andre Show highlighted the importance of embracing absurdity in filmmaking. Sakurai's ability to balance the ridiculous with a clear vision has been a key factor in his work's impact. This approach continues to inform his creative decisions and shape his unique filmmaking style.

As Sakurai's career progresses, it is evident that his unconventional sensibilities have become an integral part of his filmography. From his early days as a teenage actor to his current status as a feature director, Sakurai has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in mainstream cinema.

Sakurai's approach to storytelling emphasizes embracing the unconventional and letting go of traditional narrative expectations. This philosophy has guided him throughout his career, from his early days as a teenager to his current status as a feature director.

His second feature film, Bad Trip, is a prime example of this approach. The hidden-camera buddy comedy follows two friends on a road trip to New York City, where they stage in-character pranks on unsuspecting members of the public. The reactions of these individuals are woven into the narrative, punctuated by shocking non-sequiturs that add to the film's energy.

Sakurai and André began brainstorming ideas for Bad Trip as early as the second season of The Eric Andre Show. The project evolved over time, reflecting their collaborative spirit and willingness to take risks. By incorporating unconventional elements, they created a unique viewing experience that pushed the boundaries of mainstream cinema.

The film was initially scheduled for release through MGM's Orion Pictures in 2019, but its theatrical debut was eventually postponed to 2020. However, just as the South by Southwest premiere was about to take place, the pandemic intervened, derailing the film's planned release. To make matters worse, Amazon Prime Video accidentally made Bad Trip available on its platform.

Despite these setbacks, Sakurai acknowledges that the film found an audience during a time when people needed a lighthearted escape from the pandemic. Although he may have been disappointed by the lack of a theatrical release, he recognizes the film's impact on viewers who were seeking comfort and entertainment.

The success of Bad Trip and his work directing episodes of the FX series Dave opened doors for Sakurai to take on new projects. He was given the opportunity to pitch on Legendary and Paramount's Street Fighter, which he had been eager to tackle. This chance allowed him to revisit a childhood favorite and bring it to life in a fresh way.

Growing up, playing Street Fighter at his friends' houses was an essential part of Sakurai's experience. The video games provided a rare opportunity for him to see himself represented in popular media, connecting with his Japanese heritage. By helming the film adaptation, he aimed to recapture that sense of excitement and camaraderie.

As a seasoned director, Sakurai has honed his ability to balance creative vision with commercial viability. His willingness to take risks and push boundaries has led to innovative storytelling that resonates with audiences. The making of Street Fighter represents another milestone in his career, one that he is eager to share with fans worldwide.

Sakurai's approach to Street Fighter was a deliberate departure from what Legendary might have expected. The production company had been looking for a unique take on the franchise, something that would set it apart from other action movies.

In fact, they were open to anything but a dark and grounded adaptation of Street Fighter. This gave Sakurai the freedom to explore unconventional ideas, ones that would inject some much-needed humor into the film.

The director's vision was shaped by his collaboration with Cale Boyter, Legendary's producer on the project. Boyter shared Sakurai's enthusiasm for a more offbeat approach to the franchise, one that would capture its gonzo energy.

As it turned out, Sakurai's willingness to take risks paid off in a big way. The film's blend of humor and action helped make it stand out from other movies in the genre.

One notable example of this unconventional approach is the cameo appearance by the Philippou brothers. Instead of simply featuring them in a small role, Sakurai decided to give them a memorable part that showcased their signature style.

The brothers' cameo was more than just a fun Easter egg for fans of their YouTube videos. It also served as a way to put any lingering tensions between them and the filmmakers at ease.

In fact, the decision to include the Philippou brothers in the film was motivated by a desire to send a message about the importance of camaraderie and collaboration in the filmmaking process.

Sakurai's background in animation is another example of his willingness to push boundaries. He recently used 90s-style animation for Street Fighter's flashbacks, a bold choice that helped bring the film's visuals to life in a unique way.

As a young actor, I had already gained experience in film work before landing a role in Dogma, shot mostly in Pittsburgh.

I was introduced to Kevin Smith through my local acting agent, who had arranged for me to audition for the part of one of the Stygian Triplets.

The role allowed me to tap into my fandom of Robert Altman's Brewster McCloud and Hal Ashby's Harold and Maude, which I had admired greatly.

My experience in film work continued even after Dogma was released, as moviemaking and acting are closely intertwined passions for me.

Dogma marked a turning point in my career, marking the end of a decade-long hiatus from acting, although it wasn't that I lost interest entirely.

Instead, I became more focused on other aspects of filmmaking, such as cinematography and directing, which had long fascinated me.

Growing up in Cleveland, I spent countless hours at the Cleveland Cinematheque, a repertory theater showcasing an incredible range of films.

These experiences instilled in me a deep appreciation for the art of filmmaking, particularly in action movies like those starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

This fascination eventually led me to build my own darkroom in my basement, where I delved deeper into photography and image-making.

My interests shifted further toward film after dropping out of college at 19 to pursue a career as an independent filmmaker, primarily working as a cinematographer.

As an independent filmmaker, I worked on various projects, but my collaboration with a partner began without any connections to the film industry. We started making content for YouTube, unaware of what the future held. However, Adult Swim took notice of our work and picked it up, leading to a decade-long partnership.

The success of this project paved the way for my second feature film, Bad Trip. This hidden-camera buddy comedy starred Eric and Lil Rel Howery, but its release was marred by delays and mishaps. Initially scheduled for 2019, the film's premiere was pushed to 2020 due to various reasons.

The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters, as it canceled the South by Southwest premiere and MGM/Orion's theatrical release. To add insult to injury, Amazon accidentally leaked the film digitally before Netflix acquired it for a 2021 release. This sequence of events must have been disheartening at the time.

However, there was a silver lining amidst all this chaos. The movie's themes of human connection resonated with audiences during a time when people were stuck at home and craving authentic experiences. The comedy in Bad Trip stems from real-life interactions, making it a cathartic outlet for viewers.

Despite being disappointed that Bad Trip didn't receive a theatrical release as intended, the film still managed to connect with people on a deeper level. Its themes of human connection and authenticity transcended the challenges it faced during its release.

The experience was not unique to me, as another incident highlighted the industry's occasional mishaps. Amazon Prime Video accidentally released Jason Statham's Mutiny right before its theatrical premiere, demonstrating that mistakes can still happen in this era of digital releases.

When I had the opportunity to pitch for Street Fighter, my team and I drew inspiration from the existing assets and ideas developed by Danny and Michael Philippou before they left the project. Their concept was loosely based on a Ken and Ryu story, which provided a solid foundation for our pitch.

Our goal was to build upon their work while also bringing our unique perspective to the project. By doing so, we aimed to create a compelling narrative that would captivate audiences worldwide. The collaboration between my team and the project's developers ultimately led to a successful pitch and the greenlighting of Street Fighter.

The Philippou brothers' decision to focus on the fraternal relationship between Ken and Ryu was a deliberate choice that resonated with Kitao Sakurai.

Sakurai found the concept of brotherhood appealing, drawing from his own storytelling style as seen in Bad Trip. He applied his unique spin to the core narrative, revamping the rest of the story around this central theme.

Notably, the Philippou brothers made appearances in the movie themselves, albeit brief ones. They can be spotted fighting on a pickup truck in the foreground of M. Bison's hotel scene. Their cameo was a humorous touch that added to the film's lighthearted tone.

Sakurai also pointed out the unusual instance where former directors make cameos in new director's movies, citing Richard Stanley as another example.

The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/street-fighter-director-kitao-sakurai-ending-sequel-1236737763/

As part of this shake-up, Julie Rapaport and Alana Mayo have been appointed co-heads of film, production and development at Amazon MGM Studios. They will report directly to Courtenay Valenti, who oversees the studio's film division as head of film, streaming and theatrical.

Rapaport and Mayo will each be responsible for overseeing approximately half of the Amazon film slate, with a total of around 15 titles under their respective purviews. Their roles will encompass both theatrical releases and streaming content across various genres, including drama, comedy, and action.

The appointments reflect the growing success of Amazon MGM Studios in building relationships with creative talent and delivering high-quality productions that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Amazon MGM Studios continues to expand its creative leadership with key appointments designed to drive further growth and success in the film industry.

Julie Rapaport and Alana Mayo have been appointed as Co-Heads of Film, Production & Development at Amazon MGM Studios, a move aimed at fostering greater collaboration and innovation across the company's film slate.

In their new roles, Julie and Alana will oversee approximately half of Amazon MGM's film production, managing around 15 films each per year across all genres, including theatrical and streaming releases.

The appointments also reflect the studio's commitment to seamless integration between creative teams, with senior production & development members working closely with both Julie and Alana on projects regardless of reporting lines.

As part of their responsibilities, Julie and Alana will partner with various departments, including marketing, finance, and public relations, to align creative, business, and financial decisions across the film team.

The appointment of Julie Rapaport and Alana Mayo as co-heads of film, production, and development at Amazon MGM has been met with high praise from industry insiders.

Their exceptional creative instincts have earned them a reputation for innovative storytelling, and their ability to build strong relationships with talent is seen as a key asset in driving the studio's success. With Mayo continuing to lead Orion Pictures, which she took over in 2020, the team will be able to leverage her expertise in identifying and elevating bold voices.

The studio's track record under Mayo's leadership at Orion has been impressive, with films like Women Talking and American Fiction earning Oscar recognition, while breakout hits like Bottoms have also made a lasting impact.

The Hollywood Reporter: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/amazon-mgm-studios-julie-rapaport-alana-mayo-1236736458/

PyTorch is a widely-used toolkit among AI developers, responsible for building, training, and running AI models. It has become the go-to choice for many startups and organizations, with some estimates suggesting that 85% of AI apps rely on PyTorch.

The origins of PyTorch date back to 2016 when it was first developed by Meta, then known as Facebook. At the time, Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) were already the industry standard for AI research, and many features in PyTorch were designed with this hardware in mind.

Google's TorchTPU allows AI apps to run on Google's Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), making it easier to move existing PyTorch applications to TPUs and onto Google Cloud. Developers can achieve this by simply modifying the configuration of their apps, without needing to rewrite them from scratch.

The tech giants' push against Nvidia's stronghold in AI app development continues to gain momentum. Amazon has taken a crucial step by releasing its own version of PyTorch, called TorchNeuron, which enables AI apps to be easily ported to Amazon's Trainium chip and AWS without requiring significant code changes.

This move is part of a broader effort to loosen Nvidia's grip on the PyTorch ecosystem. By submitting code to the main PyTorch project, Amazon aims to make it more hardware-agnostic, allowing developers to use it with various devices by default. This shift has the potential to open up new possibilities for AI app development.

Google is also making strides in this area, having worked closely with several prominent players in the AI space, including Meta and Hugging Face. The search giant's goal is to ensure seamless integration between its TorchTPU offering and these popular AI development tools, much like the original PyTorch does.

To facilitate a smoother transition for developers, Google has introduced the TPU agent suite, a dedicated tool designed to help them move their apps to Google's chips and cloud with minimal hassle. The suite also includes error-fixing capabilities, making it easier for developers to adapt their AI apps to the new environment.

The updated LiteRT tool is another key development in this space, as it now works better with PyTorch AI apps. This enhancement will enable a wider range of devices to run these applications, further expanding the possibilities for AI app development.

The expansion of Google's AI app development capabilities is set to gain momentum as it joins forces with Amazon in challenging Nvidia's stronghold on the market.

Google's move comes at a time when Nvidia has been facing increasing competition from other players in the AI app development space. Anthropic, another key player in this sector, has also seen its workforce shift towards more senior roles and increased meeting times. This change could potentially impact the company's ability to innovate and adapt to changing market demands.

As a result of these developments, Replit has opted to make OpenAI its default platform over Anthropic, highlighting the growing competition in the AI app development space.

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/20/google-has-joined-amazon-in-attacking-nvidias-stronghold-with-ai-app-developers/

The Bengaluru-based company has been testing its food delivery service internally, initially with a small group of employees but now expanding it to around 8,000 staff members. Flipkart has also set up a dedicated fleet of riders through its logistics arm, Ekart, which will handle the new service separately from those who work on quick-commerce deliveries.

A separate tab has been added to Flipkart's main shopping app for the employee-only food delivery service, alongside existing features like Minutes and travel bookings. Restaurants listed through ONDC, a government-backed network connecting online buyers and sellers across different platforms, as well as directly signed-up establishments are providing the menu options.

Riders sporting "Eat-in by Minutes" jerseys have been spotted fulfilling orders in Bengaluru streets. This expansion comes as Flipkart prepares for a public launch of its food delivery service.

The Indian food delivery market is growing rapidly, with Bernstein estimating an 18-20% annual growth rate. However, online delivery still only accounts for about 15% of the broader food services industry in the country.

Zomato and Swiggy's combined customer base stands at around 85-95 million paying users per year, according to Bernstein estimates. This dominance highlights the scope for newcomers like Flipkart to tap into India's vast online food ordering market, which has over a billion internet subscriptions.

The Indian online food ordering market has been dominated by Zomato and Swiggy for some time now, but it seems that this duopoly is under pressure from new entrants. Ride-hailing company Rapido has expanded its own food delivery service, Ownly, which charges restaurants zero commission, in an attempt to disrupt the existing pricing model.

This move reflects growing concerns among restaurants about the high commissions they pay to these dominant platforms. According to Sagar Daryani, president of the National Restaurant Association of India, this duopoly has led to a lack of competition and innovation in the market. He argues that having multiple players would be beneficial for the industry as a whole.

In fact, Flipkart's entry into the food delivery market is not the first attempt by a deep-pocketed company to challenge Zomato and Swiggy's dominance. Amazon launched its own food-ordering service in Bengaluru back in 2020 but eventually shut it down two years later. Google's Areo app also failed to gain traction, and Uber left the market in 2020 after selling its Uber Eats business in India to Zomato.

Daryani believes that Flipkart has a unique advantage over these previous attempts. Unlike Zomato and Swiggy, which built their businesses around food delivery before expanding into quick commerce, Flipkart is leveraging its established e-commerce business and growing quick-commerce operations as a springboard into the food delivery market.

Rapido's expansion of Ownly and Swiggy's launch of Toing, an app aimed at customers looking for cheaper meals, highlight the growing pressure on the industry's existing pricing model. This has created opportunities for new entrants like Flipkart to tap into India's vast online food ordering market, which boasts over a billion internet subscriptions.

Flipkart's proposed commission rate for restaurants is significantly lower than what established players Zomato and Swiggy charge. According to Wow! Momo Foods co-founder and CEO Daryani, Flipkart has offered a base commission of around 10%, which is a substantial reduction from the typical 20% to 25% that restaurants pay on these platforms.

However, commission rates are just one aspect of the costs involved in selling meals online. Restaurants also need to factor in advertising, discounts, and promotional expenses, which can add up to a significant portion of an order's value. Daryani estimates that established players like Zomato and Swiggy can end up taking 40% to 50% of an order's value, while Flipkart's total cost is expected to be closer to 15% to 16%.

This reduced overhead could potentially mean more profit for restaurants partnering with Flipkart. Nevertheless, winning over customers is a different challenge altogether. Analysts estimate that new entrants like Flipkart may only be able to offer customers a saving of ₹20 to ₹30 (approximately 20-30 cents) per order by operating more efficiently.

The question remains whether this savings will be enough to lure customers away from established players Zomato and Swiggy. These companies could potentially respond by offering deeper discounts, which would make it even harder for Flipkart to gain traction in the market.

Flipkart is reportedly planning an aggressive expansion of its food-delivery service, with plans to launch publicly by the end of October and expand to five or six cities by the year's end.

Flipkart's expansion into new business areas continues unabated, despite uncertainty surrounding a long-awaited stock-market listing.

The company's move into food delivery is particularly noteworthy, as it seeks to increase customer engagement and loyalty. This push comes as competition in India's e-commerce market heats up, with quick-commerce platforms expanding their offerings beyond groceries to include discretionary purchases like electronics.

These new entrants are increasingly competing directly with Flipkart and Amazon, forcing the company to adapt and innovate in order to stay ahead. With a growing number of options available to consumers, Flipkart must find ways to differentiate itself and retain market share.

Flipkart's efforts to expand its offerings and reach more customers are being closely watched by industry observers, who are eager to see how the company will navigate this increasingly competitive landscape. The success of these new initiatives will be crucial in determining Flipkart's long-term prospects.

The company's plans for expansion into food delivery are ambitious, with a public launch expected by the end of October and a target of five or six cities by year's end.

Walmart's Flipkart is making significant strides in building its food delivery business in India. The company has been quietly expanding its operations, aiming to launch publicly by the end of October and target five or six cities by year's end.

Flipkart will face stiff competition from established players such as Zomato and Swiggy, but its aggressive expansion plans may help it gain a foothold in the market. With a strong e-commerce presence already established in India, Flipkart is well-positioned to leverage its existing customer base for food delivery services. This strategic move is likely to intensify competition in the Indian food delivery space.

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/19/walmarts-flipkart-is-quietly-building-a-food-delivery-challenger-in-india/

TorchNeuron is specifically designed for developers who use PyTorch, a free and open-source toolkit that allows them to build, train, and run AI models. With TorchNeuron, these developers can make their applications compatible with Trainium by simply changing one line of configuration. This streamlined process makes it easier for companies to switch from Nvidia's hardware to Amazon's without significant development costs.

Amazon claims that approximately 85% of AI applications are written using PyTorch, which was originally developed by Facebook but has been maintained by the Linux Foundation since 2022. Nvidia has long ensured seamless support for PyTorch in its CUDA software, making it a default choice among developers who use this toolkit.

Nvidia's strong ties to the PyTorch ecosystem have made it a leader in AI hardware, with many developers relying on its GPUs and other hardware due to their ease of integration with the popular toolkit. However, Amazon is now offering an alternative that could potentially shift the balance in favor of its own Trainium chip.

The launch of TorchNeuron follows similar attempts by other companies to simplify the process of migrating applications to their chips. For instance, developers can already port their PyTorch-based applications to AMD GPUs or Apple's chips with a simple configuration change.

Amazon's custom Trainium chip is designed to handle both training and inference tasks, which the company claims gives it an edge over other cloud providers when it comes to artificial intelligence workloads.

This integrated approach allows startups to move their AI applications from prototype to production without having to build additional infrastructure, according to Colin Brace, VP of Technology Software at AWS Annapurna Labs.

The same chip that handles training tasks is also used for inference, eliminating the need for separate hardware and reducing costs, AWS argues. By tightly integrating Trainium with its cloud infrastructure, startups can scale their operations quickly without having to worry about additional expenses.

AWS cites Deepgram as an example of a company that has successfully made the switch to Trainium using native PyTorch support. As a result, Deepgram is now able to process 70% more audio per dollar at production-grade accuracy, according to AWS.

According to Brace, Trainium's value lies not only in its price-performance but also in its ability to provide a single platform for both training and inference tasks, which improves the overall economics of AI workloads.

Amazon's push to make PyTorch more hardware-agnostic has significant implications for Nvidia's dominance in the AI market.

To achieve this goal, Amazon is contributing code changes to the main PyTorch project that will remove dependencies on specific chips. This move aims to give developers greater flexibility and freedom from being tied to a particular piece of hardware.

The company's approach extends beyond its own Trainium platform, with the ultimate objective of making PyTorch a more versatile framework for the entire developer community. By doing so, Amazon seeks to break down barriers that have historically limited developers' choices in terms of hardware compatibility.

If successful, this strategy could lead to significant changes for Nvidia, which has long been synonymous with AI computing. The GPU giant's market share and influence may be affected as more developers opt for alternative solutions that are less reliant on Nvidia hardware.

Amazon's move is not without its risks, however, as it may introduce new complexities for developers who have grown accustomed to the simplicity of using PyTorch on Nvidia chips.

Amazon is introducing TorchNeuron, a new development tool designed to accelerate artificial intelligence and machine learning on its cloud infrastructure.

TorchNeuron is built on top of Amazon's existing SageMaker platform and will allow developers to run their models directly on AWS hardware without the need for Nvidia chips. This move could potentially reduce costs and improve performance for AI workloads, but it may also require significant changes to how developers currently use PyTorch.

The introduction of TorchNeuron is a major shift in Amazon's strategy to become a leading player in the AI ecosystem, and it remains to be seen whether this effort will pay off.

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/19/amazon-is-taking-its-biggest-shot-at-nvidia-yet-with-new-torchneuron-dev-tool/

The assault, which occurred during the early hours of the morning, saw fires break out at the St Petersburg Oil Terminal and the Ruchyi oil depot, prompting swift firefighting efforts to bring the blaze under control.

Beyond the oil facilities, other targets included a logistics centre owned by Ozon, Russia's equivalent of Amazon, as well as a data centre belonging to VKontakte, the country's version of Facebook. These establishments were also hit in the coordinated attack.

The strikes have reignited concerns over Ukraine's renewed military action against Russian energy infrastructure, which was paused for three days following an "energy ceasefire" announced by Donald Trump last week.

The overnight attack on St Petersburg has left a trail of destruction in its wake, with multiple targets hit by Ukrainian drones. The city's governor reported damage to 12 apartment buildings and two homes, while Pulkovo Airport was temporarily closed due to the attacks.

Mobile internet services were also disrupted, although the exact extent of the outage is not yet clear. Social media platform VK confirmed that one of its regional data centres had been targeted by a drone, but noted that users continued to have access to its services despite reported outages in the early hours of the morning.

Another company, Ozon, has also fallen victim to the attacks, with its local logistics centre hit by a drone and sparking a fire. Fortunately, staff were evacuated from the area without injury, although operations at the facility are currently suspended.

The strikes on St Petersburg are just one part of Ukraine's broader campaign against Russian economic targets. Earlier this month, Ukraine launched a series of attacks aimed at disrupting Yandex, Russia's largest search engine, which led to service disruptions for users.

The increased military action has sparked concerns about the potential impact on relations between Washington and Kyiv. The US had recently struck a deal to import Russian diesel in an effort to lower energy prices ahead of the midterm elections, but this move has been met with criticism from some quarters.

The US decision to temporarily lift sanctions against Russia has sparked fresh criticism from some quarters, including within its own Republican ranks.

This move comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine as they continue to exchange blows in their energy infrastructure ahead of the winter months.

Russia's military campaign has left hundreds of thousands without power, raising concerns about civilians facing another harsh winter. The situation is further complicated by the fact that both sides have been targeting each other's energy facilities with increasing intensity.

The humanitarian implications of this ongoing conflict are dire, with tens of thousands still without power according to Ukrainian President Zelensky.

BBC News World: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3eweygrjzd7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

This seismic shift from sports to big business was exemplified by the transfer of Stan Collymore from Nottingham Forest to Liverpool for a British record fee of £8.5m in 1995. The deal symbolized the increasing influence of finance on the sport and paved the way for future mega-deals.

The Premier League's TV deal model has been replicated in other leading sports championships, such as motorsport, rugby, golf, and cricket. However, its success is now being threatened by rampant piracy. According to consultancy Ampere Analysis, around half of British sports fans admit to using unauthorized means to watch paywalled material.

The problem of piracy has become so entrenched that TV companies are having to take drastic measures to protect their investments. In August, a man in Lancashire was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for running an illegal streaming service that generated almost £1m in illicit profits.

A postman from Pembrokeshire received a three-year sentence in June for selling pirate subscriptions and supplying software to nearly 2,000 people. Another individual from Merseyside was given a suspended 32-month sentence in August for similar offenses. Several pubs have also been fined thousands of pounds for screening matches without permission.

The rise of piracy has coincided with a decline in advertising revenues and a shift towards streaming services, which are changing the way audiences consume sports content. As a result, TV companies that have paid huge sums for exclusive rights to high-profile sports are getting increasingly anxious about protecting their investments.

Copyright theft is no longer seen as an acceptable cost of doing business but rather an existential threat to the industry's financial stability. Broadcasters are now forced to devote significant resources to combating piracy and safeguarding their intellectual property.

The crackdown on piracy has already led to notable convictions, with several individuals receiving lengthy prison sentences for running or participating in unauthorized streaming services. However, the problem remains widespread, and TV companies continue to grapple with the financial implications of rampant copyright theft.

The financial stakes for sports leagues and TV companies are extremely high. The Premier League alone secured £6.7bn in viewing rights over four years from domestic audiences, with nearly as much coming from foreign rights. This influx of cash has enabled top clubs to attract world-class players, boosting the league's international profile.

While football dominates paid-for TV in the UK, other competitions like Formula One and Wimbledon have also commanded significant fees for exclusive rights. Live sport on free-to-air television is now a rarity.

The value of these lucrative deals could be undermined by widespread piracy and illegal viewing. This illicit practice is particularly prevalent among younger audiences who are increasingly making up a larger share of sports fans.

Research suggests that 70% or more of 18-34-year-olds admit to regularly watching pirated streams, while over half of those aged 35-44 also engage in this behavior. Even older viewers seem comfortable with it, although the exact numbers are lower for this age group.

The recent Champions League final was a case in point. For the first time in over three decades, UK viewers were required to pay at least £4.99 to watch the match, prompting widespread criticism and a significant backlash.

Some high-profile figures, including the then-prime minister of the UK, expressed their disapproval on social media. They argued that ordinary people should not have to pay for subscriptions to watch major sporting events.

Despite these efforts to restrict access, many viewers still opted for pirate streams instead. According to research by Gaming Compliance International consultancy, 3.7 million IP addresses accessed unauthorized streams of the Champions League final in the UK alone.

This number dwarfs the estimated seven million people who watched the match legally in the UK. The sheer scale of piracy raises questions about the effectiveness of current measures and whether they are doing enough to combat this problem.

One individual, a tech sector worker who prefers not to be named, uses pirate streams regularly despite having a paid subscription to TNT Sports. He watches Premier League and Champions League games as well as top matches from Spain's La Liga on unauthorized streaming websites.

The ease of access to pirated sports streams is a major draw for those who opt out of legitimate subscriptions.

Many fans can get every game they want without paying hundreds of pounds annually, as long as they're willing to navigate unauthorized streaming websites.

Links to these sites are readily available on social media platforms, making it easy for viewers to find and access pirated content.

However, some fans claim that the blackout policy in the UK is a major contributor to their decision to seek out pirated streams. This decades-old policy prevents live broadcasts of games taking place between 14:45 and 17:15 on Saturdays, leaving fans with no legitimate way to watch these matches unless they're willing to pay for expensive subscriptions.

This has led some viewers to turn to unauthorized streaming websites as a workaround, despite the risks associated with accessing pirated content. These platforms often come with their own set of problems, including poor video quality and frequent buffering issues.

Fans can also access pirated streams using devices like Amazon Fire Sticks, which are legitimate products but can be "sideloaded to run unauthorized software. This allows pirates to mimic the output of legitimate outlets by offering packages of selected channels.

Another option for illicit viewing is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, which enables viewers to pretend their computer is located in a different country where sports programming may be cheaper or even free.

The high cost of accessing live sports has been identified as a major driver behind the growing problem of piracy. Viewers are often forced to subscribe to multiple platforms in order to catch all their favorite teams and events. For example, someone wanting to watch every Premier League game would need Sky Sports and TNT Sports subscriptions, not to mention additional channels for other sports like rugby or boxing.

The resulting costs can be staggering, with keen fans potentially paying £80-£100 a month. This financial burden has led many to seek out cheaper alternatives on the black market. The broadcasters themselves have traditionally viewed piracy as a minor issue, focusing instead on audience growth and revenue from legitimate subscribers.

However, this attitude is changing as the industry faces growing pressure from declining advertising revenues and the rise of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Both Sky Sports and TNT Sports have reported losses in recent times, highlighting the need for more effective strategies to combat piracy.

The economic impact of piracy on the broadcasting industry is significant, with estimates suggesting that it costs around £700m each year. This loss is not just financial; it also has real-world consequences on the pitch. The head of global rights at DAZN recently described piracy as a huge problem" for his company and "almost a crisis for the sports rights industry.

The issue was brought into sharp focus last year when DAZN agreed to end its deal with the French football league. The decision followed a bitter dispute that centered on the streamer's claims that the league had not done enough to combat piracy. While subscriber numbers were also an issue, it is clear that the problem of piracy is having far-reaching consequences.

The increasing popularity of streaming services has created new opportunities for pirates to operate undetected. The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) allows viewers to pretend their computer is located in a different country where sports programming may be cheaper or even free. This creates a cat-and-mouse game between broadcasters and pirates, with the latter always looking for ways to stay ahead.

The growing problem of piracy has significant implications for the future of sports broadcasting. As more fans turn to streaming services, traditional broadcasters are struggling to adapt. The need for effective anti-piracy measures is becoming increasingly urgent as the industry grapples with declining revenues and rising costs.

The economic impact of piracy on the broadcasting industry is a pressing concern that requires immediate attention. Estimates suggest that it costs around £700m each year, a staggering sum that could be better spent on improving services for legitimate subscribers. The consequences of inaction will only continue to grow unless effective strategies are put in place to combat piracy.

The shift in attitude towards piracy within the industry is clear, with many now viewing it as a major threat to their business models. The need for cooperation and innovation in addressing this issue has never been more pressing, as broadcasters seek to adapt to changing viewer habits and protect their rights.

The financial implications of sports piracy continue to be felt by European football leagues, particularly those with smaller teams.

French league finances took a hit after DAZN's departure, resulting in a significant drop in broadcast income from around €700m per year to €412m this season.

Smaller clubs like Angers SCO are among the hardest hit, with the team estimating that piracy has cost them €30m over two seasons and forcing them to sell one of their players, Estéban Lepaul.

Experts warn that piracy could limit how much broadcasters are willing to pay for sports rights in the future, potentially impacting even top-tier leagues like the Premier League.

Kieran Maguire, an associate professor of football finance at the University of Liverpool, notes that some broadcasters are already losing money due to piracy, which is taking up a larger share of anticipated subscription revenues.

Ampere's Daniel Monaghan agrees that piracy poses significant constraints on lucrative sports rights models, making it harder for rights holders to generate returns on their investments.

If left unchecked, this could lead to reduced future growth or even falling revenues over time, affecting the sports that have benefited most from TV money and potentially impacting grassroots development.

The fight against sports piracy continues, with industry-funded groups working tirelessly to shut down illegal online streams.

Changing consumer attitudes towards piracy is seen as a crucial step in curbing this issue, according to Nick Sumner, investigations manager at the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact). He emphasizes that piracy is not a victimless crime, but rather an activity driven by organized crime seeking financial gain.

These groups not only profit from streaming pirated content but also put viewers' personal data at risk. Fact warns that users who engage in piracy can have their sensitive information captured and sold to third parties for illicit purposes.

Tackling sports piracy is a daunting task, with hundreds of thousands of illegal streams taken down each year, only to be replaced by new ones. This whack-a-mole" situation makes it challenging for broadcasters and sporting bodies to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of online piracy.

Ultimately, educating consumers about the risks associated with piracy may hold the key to reducing its prevalence and minimizing its impact on sports development.

BBC News Business: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmx2375zqwwwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Users of various AI services have reported being blocked from performing tasks across top websites, including booking tickets and accessing accounts. Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots, among others, are affected by these blocks. The restrictions highlight the tension between AI developers and website administrators, who are wary of potential security risks and data misuse.

Several major companies have confirmed that they are blocking AI agents from accessing their platforms. Yelp only allows AI agents to access its services if they pay for a data licensing program, while Delta Air Lines has prevented them from booking tickets on behalf of users. JPMorgan Chase and Charles Schwab have also blocked AI agents due to security concerns.

Other companies may be quietly following suit, with reports suggesting that Amtrak and Amazon are blocking AI agents as well. Amazon's ban on Perplexity's agentic shopping feature last year raises questions about the future of AI agents on the web, and whether they will be allowed to continue accessing online services without restrictions.

The ongoing legal battle between Perplexity's AI agents and Amazon has not deterred other tech giants from developing their own AI assistants. OpenAI, Meta, and Google have all introduced their own versions of AI agents, but they too are facing similar restrictions on their use of online services.

Amazon's ban on certain AI agents accessing its platform is reportedly causing problems for Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots, among others. These companies' AI assistants are being denied access to Amazon's website due to concerns over ad revenue, which has raised questions about the future of AI agents on the web.

The restrictions are further limiting the capabilities of these AI agents, making it harder for them to demonstrate their usefulness and potential applications. As a result, the effectiveness and value of AI assistants like Muse, Dots, and others remain uncertain.

Websites across the internet are increasingly blocking access to artificial intelligence (AI) agents, raising questions about their effectiveness and value. This development has significant implications for companies like Meta, which claims that AI assistants can help customers shop online.

Meta's response to the issue highlights the complexities of this situation. The company emphasizes that blocking an AI agent is equivalent to turning away its human customer, suggesting that these digital entities are not simply bots but rather tools that enable people to interact with websites in new ways. This perspective underscores the growing importance of AI agents in online commerce.

In a bid to navigate these challenges, Meta has opted for collaboration over confrontation. Instead of trying to circumvent website restrictions on its AI assistants, the company is partnering with retailers like Walmart and Sephora to allow Muse to shop on their sites. Similarly, Shopify has opened up its network of storefronts to AI agents, providing them with a platform to operate within.

The rise of AI agents has led to a cat-and-mouse game between websites and these digital visitors. While some platforms have opened up their networks to AI agents, others are finding ways to block them out. This includes anti-bot systems that have become increasingly common across the web.

Reports from users on Reddit suggest that Google is flagging accounts that use Muse for "suspicious activity", while others have encountered issues with checking out on Walmart's website despite its partnership with Meta. These problems highlight the tension between websites trying to manage their online presence and AI agents attempting to access them.

Web architecture providers like Cloudflare are playing a key role in helping sites clamp down on unwanted AI visitors. The company introduced a one-click block for AI crawlers in 2025, which has since been expanded to include crawlers that simultaneously scrape websites for both search indexing and AI training.

Cloudflare's efforts are aimed at mitigating the strain AI bots are putting on internet infrastructure and email inboxes. As more users turn to online platforms, the risk of being overwhelmed by automated activity increases, making it even harder for individuals to compete against bots when purchasing concert tickets or booking reservations.

Websites are taking steps to block AI agents and bots by implementing new security measures, but experts warn that these efforts may have unintended consequences. Some websites are introducing interfaces that require users to confirm they're not robots before accessing certain features or services.

This move is expected to make the web more cumbersome for legitimate users as more sites adopt this approach, potentially leading to a frustrating experience for those trying to access information online.

The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1013195/ai-agents-blocked-web

The Bee Frontier is the next generation of Bee's wearable device, designed to be worn on the wrist or pinned to clothes, while the Bee Eclipse is a credit-card-sized device that magnetically attaches to the back of your smartphone.

Compared to existing AI devices on the market, the Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse offer competitive pricing. The Bee Frontier starts at $74.99, significantly lower than some rival products like the Plaud Note ($159) or Pocket AI device ($129).

The new devices will be available in various colors: the Bee Frontier comes in Onyx, Lavender, and Sage, while the Bee Eclipse is offered in Silver, Midnight, Honey, and Blush.

Both devices are designed to leverage AI for tasks such as taking notes from everyday conversations, allowing users to remember important details and turn them into actionable items. This functionality can be applied to various situations, including making plans with friends or jotting down care plans discussed with a doctor.

Bee devices now offer a range of premium features for those willing to pay an additional fee. For $11.99 per month, users can access unlimited conversation summaries and integrations with various apps, including Amazon.com and Alexa+. This upgraded service also includes suggested tasks, daily highlights from conversations, a personal assistant, and customizable conversation templates.

A key aspect of Bee's functionality is its private computing security architecture. Unlike other devices that store raw audio recordings, Bee processes conversations in real-time and then deletes the audio. Transcripts are encrypted with unique keys created by each device, ensuring that only authorized users can access them.

When connected to Alexa, the Bee device can leverage Voice ID technology to recognize users' voices and record their conversations. This allows for seamless integration between the two devices, enabling users to access their Bee insights and summaries hands-free.

The connections to Amazon.com and Alexa open up new possibilities for users, including making purchases from Amazon or asking Alexa to provide information about their Bee interactions. This level of convenience is made possible through the optional connection to Alexa, which can be easily disabled if desired.

Bee's integration capabilities extend to popular productivity software platforms, allowing users to leverage their existing workflows. This includes seamless connectivity with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Microsoft Outlook, enabling features like automatic email drafting and meeting setup.

Users can also upload personal photos or connect their Apple HealthKit data to Bee, enriching the insights provided by the device. By incorporating this information, Bee can offer a more comprehensive understanding of users' overall wellness.

The design of both new devices is characterized by simplicity, with only one button for power control and an indicator light that signals when the device is summarizing conversations. The Frontier model adds additional features, including IP67 water resistance and up to seven days of battery life.

Bee's mobile app has been redesigned in tandem with the release of these new devices, providing a more intuitive user experience. A desktop app is also available for users who prefer working on their computers.

Availability details indicate that the Bee Frontier can be purchased immediately through Amazon, while the Eclipse will follow shortly thereafter.

Amazon's latest foray into artificial intelligence has brought forth two new personal AI devices: the Bee Frontier and the Eclipse. The Bee Frontier is available for immediate purchase through Amazon, while its sibling, the Eclipse, will follow shortly thereafter.

The introduction of these devices marks a significant expansion of Amazon's AI offerings, which are designed to integrate seamlessly with users' daily lives. Details on pricing were not provided in the announcement, but it is mentioned that the Bee Frontier starts at $75, suggesting a range of options to suit different budgets and preferences.

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/15/amazons-bee-launches-two-new-personal-ai-devices-starting-at-75/

A new chip and support for 4K at 120Hz are notable improvements in the new model, while audio passthrough is also included. The remote control now has a built-in locator feature that can be tracked through Apple's Find My service, which should make it easier to find the device when it gets lost.

However, despite some welcome additions, the updated Apple TV 4K still leaves room for improvement in certain areas. Some users were hoping for more advanced features, but they have been largely left out of this new model.

The price of the new device has also been a point of contention, with Apple increasing the cost to $300 for the sole remaining model, which comes with 128GB of storage and both Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity.

The new Apple TV 4K has some notable features that may appeal to tech enthusiasts, including built-in far-field microphones for seamless interaction with Siri, even when placed in a crowded space like a credenza.

One of the most significant upgrades is the addition of a dedicated AV1 decoder, which enables high-quality streaming from compatible apps such as Netflix. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who rely on these services for their entertainment needs.

While the new Apple TV 4K has several improvements, its performance as an integral part of a home theater system remains a top concern. The device's ability to integrate with other devices and create a surround sound system using HomePod speakers is an interesting concept, but it may not be practical or cost-effective for many users.

The idea of using HomePod 2s and HomePod Mini 2s as part of a surround setup is intriguing, especially for those invested in the Apple ecosystem. However, for users who already have a high-end sound system, such as an Atmos setup with premium speakers from brands like SVS and Revel, investing in additional smart speakers may not be a viable option.

The Apple TV 4K's audio capabilities have been a point of contention for many users who value high-quality sound systems in their homes. One feature that has been long-awaited is the ability to send raw audio signals directly through the device, rather than relying on its Continuous Audio Connection.

This would allow more advanced audio/video receivers to handle the decoding process, potentially eliminating playback issues and delivering a more seamless listening experience. Furthermore, enabling audio passthrough would give users greater flexibility in how they set up their home theaters.

Some users have also been holding out hope for Apple to support 120fps output, particularly those who use Moonlight to stream games to the device. Currently, most streaming services top out at 60fps, and adding this feature could have helped to differentiate the Apple TV 4K from its competitors.

Other premium features that might have justified a higher price point include HDMI passthrough or a digital optical output, which would allow users to integrate their Apple TV with other devices in their home theaters.

The high-end price of the Apple TV 4K is already a concern for many potential buyers.

However, some may argue that the device's premium features and sleek design justify its cost, despite being matched by cheaper alternatives from Google, Roku, and Amazon.

For most users, these omissions are not a major issue, but those who value having all the latest bells and whistles in their home theater setup might be disappointed.

The Apple TV 4K's high price point is likely to make it less appealing to customers who can get similar functionality for significantly less elsewhere.

The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1011324/apple-tv-4k-missed-features

Measuring at 12 inches with a resolution of 2800 x 1840 pixels, the display boasts a new technology called Nanomatte that aims to reduce glare and give users an immersive on-screen experience. The screen's performance is particularly noticeable when used outdoors, where it tends to reflect too much light. In contrast, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro's screen reflects only a small amount of light, allowing users to see what's behind them without losing image sharpness.

Amazon has clearly prioritized this aspect of the device, starting with this screen when building the best tablet they've ever shipped. The company has partnered with Corning to etch the display at a sub-pixel level, reducing glare while minimizing the rainbow-shimmering effect that can occur on other matte screens.

The Nanomatte coating is one of the key differentiators between the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro and its competitors. Other mid-range tablets from Amazon offer similar features but lack this innovative display technology. Those devices also come with a range of Amazon bloatware, which may not appeal to all users.

While I haven't had the chance to review these other devices, it's clear that they serve an important purpose - providing affordable Android options for those who need them. However, the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro stands out from the pack due to its exceptional display, which sets a new standard in this price range.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro boasts an impressive display, one that stands out from other Android tablets in its price range. The viewing angles are incredibly wide, allowing users to easily switch between different positions without compromising on picture quality.

While the display is not perfect, it has some notable features that make up for any minor shortcomings. For instance, the anti-glare texture gives the device a subtle shimmer effect when displaying light text on a black background. However, this is a small price to pay for the excellent viewing angles and vibrant colors.

One area where the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro falls short of more premium devices is in its brightness levels. While it's not a major issue, users may find themselves wishing for a bit more luminescence, especially when using the device in bright lighting conditions. Fortunately, this hasn't been a significant problem due to the anti-glare texture.

The display also has some specific modes that can be adjusted to improve picture quality. These settings allow users to tweak tone and color to enhance readability, with options like "Boosted" and "Natural available for fine-tuning. During my review, I found that switching from Boosted" to "Natural" made a noticeable difference in the overall picture.

The display's 120Hz refresh rate is also noteworthy, delivering smooth visuals when running demanding games or applications like Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Additionally, the 3:2 aspect ratio feels natural for web browsing and side-by-side work, making this device well-suited for productivity tasks.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro's display modes have proven to be a pleasant surprise, making reading on the device a more enjoyable experience than expected. This is particularly noticeable when compared to other giant screens available in the market.

In my testing, I've found that the 12 Pro's screen outperforms any iPad I've tried, both indoors and outdoors. While it may not have the same glass finish as some of its competitors, such as the iPad Pro with nano-texture glass, its performance is still impressive.

The device's MediaTek Dimensity 8400 processor has been a mixed bag in terms of performance. In benchmarking tests, it falls somewhere between last year's flagship high-end Android phone and this year's flagship phone from two years ago. However, when compared to the current iPad Pro, the 12 Pro lags significantly behind.

In my day-to-day use, I've found that the device has plenty of power for most tasks, including gaming, work, and watching videos. The only instances of slowness have been minor issues with the Android experience, such as a stuttering app switcher when loading.

The 12 Pro's hardware is somewhat basic, but it gets the job done. The four speakers are decent, producing loud and clear sound, although they may lack some depth in terms of tone and clarity.

The camera system on this device has some notable limitations when it comes to color representation, but it still manages to deliver decent results for video calls despite these shortcomings.

One of the more pleasant surprises is the 99 keyboard case, which offers a comfortable typing experience - although it can be a bit fiddly to detach and manipulate.

The included 99 pen also provides a smooth and responsive writing experience, but its utility is somewhat hampered by the fact that not many Android apps are optimized for stylus input.

Battery life is another area where this device falls short of expectations, with around eight hours of screen time available - less than what Amazon advertises and slightly below my own preferences.

The various compromises made in terms of design and functionality don't necessarily add up to a major problem.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro's design compromises extend beyond its hardware and software capabilities. Two non-removable homescreen widgets are added, serving as advertisements for Amazon products rather than providing any useful functionality.

These widgets occupy valuable space on the tablet's interface, taking up real estate that could be used for more practical purposes. The top left corner of the screen is commandeered by an ad promoting premium ingredients in cooking, which launches a persistent Alexa chat window in the bottom right corner when clicked.

Fortunately, this issue can be mitigated with relative ease. Android users can install a new launcher within 30 seconds, effectively bypassing Amazon's unwanted widgets and reclaiming control over their tablet's interface.

For those considering purchasing an Alexa Tablet, it is recommended to act quickly. Doing so will allow users to take advantage of the device's capabilities without being burdened by Amazon's aggressive advertising tactics.

The Alexa Plus assistant, touted as a key feature of the device, falls short of expectations in terms of functionality and usability. Despite its slow performance and tendency to get lost in conversations, it remains the default choice for users, with limited access to apps and data that hinders its effectiveness.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro's performance issues are well-documented, but when stripped of its Amazon-centric features, it reveals a capable Android device.

This paradox makes evaluating the tablet challenging, as users must weigh its limitations against its overall value as a reading and streaming device.

While it may not be suitable for heavy use as a primary computer due to the dearth of large-screen Android apps, the tablet excels in specific niches such as reading and streaming content.

In direct comparison, an iPad with 256GB of storage is available at the same $550 price point, offering superior software and app support.

The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/tech/1010780/alexa-tablet-12-pro-review

The sheer scale of Amazon's robotic operations is staggering, with tens of millions of same-day and one-day package deliveries happening daily thanks to these machines. This massive workforce is a testament to the company's dedication to meeting the demands of its 200 million Prime subscribers who expect speedy delivery of their purchases.

Amazon's deployment of robots has also had a profound impact on its human workforce, with over 1.5 million full-time and part-time employees working for the company worldwide. According to Amazon executives, the growing robot fleet has eased the burden on its human workers by taking on the toughest tasks that carry the greatest risks of physical fatigue and injury.

However, labor advocacy groups and independent researchers have raised concerns about the impact of warehouse automation driven by AI on human workers. They point to evidence suggesting that while robots may be taking on some of the toughest tasks, they are also creating new challenges for employees who work alongside them.

The introduction of collaborative robots has changed the dynamic between humans and machines in the workplace, say experts. Collaborative robots really change that dynamic, notes Brian Greenwood, professor of business at George Mason University. It's physically proximate, and the robot dictates the pace of work.

Amazon's e-commerce fulfillment centers are among the most demanding workplaces in the retail industry, with hundreds of thousands of human employees working tirelessly to assemble and ship out customer orders. The relentless pace of work is perfectly suited to robotics and AI, which can process vast amounts of data and perform repetitive tasks with precision.

The growing reliance on robots and AI has significant implications for the future of work, particularly in industries where automation is already transforming job roles. As Amazon continues to invest heavily in its robotic workforce, it will be interesting to see how this trend affects employment patterns and worker safety in the years ahead.

The use of robots in warehouses is often justified by the need to alleviate workers from tasks that are considered "dull, dirty and dangerous". According to US Occupational Safety and Health Administration data, workplace injury rates in the warehouse sector have historically been more than double those found across all industries.

This trend is not surprising given the nature of work in warehouses. With millions of people employed in this sector, turnover and workplace injuries are common issues that companies like Amazon are working to address through automation.

Despite significant advancements in robotics, human workers still play a crucial role alongside their automated counterparts in Amazon's fulfillment centers. The company has developed a range of robotic systems designed to work in tandem with its human workforce, but these robots are not yet capable of handling all tasks on their own.

Amazon's acquisition of Kiva Systems in 2012 marked an important milestone in the development of its robotic fleet. Kiva was one of the first companies to pioneer wheeled mobile robots that bring items directly to workers, rather than requiring them to walk around and fetch goods from shelves.

Since acquiring Kiva, Amazon has rapidly expanded its robotics capabilities through a combination of internal manufacturing and strategic investments. The company now manufactures many of its robotic systems in-house at facilities in Massachusetts, with new production factories planned for Austin, Texas, and Greenwood, Indiana.

Amazon's focus on developing its own robotic technologies is driven by the need to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction. As Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, explained, the company aims to tackle complex technical challenges in order to make a meaningful impact on its customers' lives.

The majority of Amazon's million-robot fleet consists of wheeled mobile robots that can navigate warehouse aisles with ease. The company claims that its robotic Sequoia system can significantly accelerate item storage by coordinating swarms of these robots and streamlining the inventory process.

Amazon has also developed larger robotic systems, such as Hercules and Titan, which are capable of retrieving heavy loads from high shelves. These robots are designed to work alongside human employees at various workstations, freeing them up to focus on more complex tasks.

As Amazon continues to invest in its robotic workforce, it is likely that we will see further innovations in warehouse automation. The company's emphasis on developing its own technologies and manufacturing capabilities suggests a long-term commitment to leveraging robotics for business success.

Amazon's expansion into new production facilities underscores the scale of its investment in robotics. With more robots set to be manufactured in the coming years, it is clear that Amazon sees a significant future for automation in its operations.

Amazon's mobile robots are typically confined to grid-lined areas and fenced-in spaces, staying clear of human employees. However, the company's newest robot, Proteus, has advanced sensors that enable it to navigate freely around humans and objects.

The movement of multiple robots through narrow lanes can sometimes cause congestion. To mitigate this issue, Amazon developed its DeepFleet AI foundation models, which predict potential robotic traffic jams ahead of time.

Amazon is also increasing the number of robotic arms deployed in its facilities. These arms are capable of retrieving items from high storage pods, sorting packages, and placing them on carts or mobile robots for further processing.

The company's plans to expand its robotic arm fleet have been confirmed by Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky during a recent earnings call. When questioned about the current number of deployed robotic arms, an Amazon spokesperson revealed that it is in the thousands.

Amazon initially acquired third-party robotic arms to handle heavy pallets and bins within its facilities. However, the company has since developed its own robotic arm technology, starting with Robin, which was first tested in 2021.

Robin represents a significant innovation in robotics, as it can sort individual packages from cluttered piles and identify items for picking and placement on mobile robots. According to Dresser, this milestone marked Amazon's attempt to tackle complex customer orders using advanced robotics.

The robotic arm's software analyzes the conveyor belt before taking action, quickly ranking possible picking actions based on a top-down view of the cluttered area. This enables the robot to efficiently select packages for processing and placement.

The Amazon Robotics team's early attempts at developing picking strategies for their robotic arms were hindered by limitations in each approach. One method prioritized larger packages but struggled when smaller items overlapped or lay on top of them. Another strategy focused on selecting packages near the top of piles, but this often failed to retrieve partially buried or "unreachable picks".

In response, the team shifted from hand-crafted algorithms to a machine learning-based approach. This involved training an AI model on over 394,000 picking actions from deployed robotic arms to estimate the probability of successful pick completion. The model then used an online pick ranker to prioritize optimal actions for the Robin robots.

The machine learning method outperformed traditional algorithms in a trial, achieving a success rate of 93.73 percent compared to 92.28 percent. This may seem like a small margin, but it translates to approximately 16,500 fewer failed picks during a period involving over 1 million total picks. For Amazon's operation, speed and efficiency at scale are paramount.

The Amazon Robotics team further demonstrated the effectiveness of machine learning in reducing failed pick rates by up to 20 percent during an experiment with 2 million picks by robotic workstations designed to mimic the operations of Amazon's Robin fleet. This research was presented at the International Symposium on Experimental Robotics in July 2025.

As the technology advances, it is being applied to new tasks within Amazon's warehouses. The Cardinal robot, capable of placing packages weighing up to 50 pounds into wheeled carts for transportation, began operating at a Nashville facility in November 2022.

The task of packing packages efficiently is akin to playing Tetris, with the goal of maximizing container density to reduce transportation costs and environmental impact. This focus on sustainability and cost-effectiveness is driving innovation in Amazon's robotic arms development.

Amazon's efforts to develop more efficient robotic arms have significant implications for the future of human work within its warehouses. As these machines become increasingly capable, they may assume a greater share of tasks currently performed by humans, potentially altering the nature of warehouse labor.

Amazon's robotic arms are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with Cardinal now being deployed in larger numbers to handle customer orders. This new system builds on lessons learned from Robin, which was capable of picking up and manipulating packages, but also adds the ability to densely pack items into carts.

Cardinal is not alone in its capabilities, however, as Amazon's Sparrow robotic arm has been developed to tackle an even more challenging task: handling the vast array of products that can go into customer orders. With hundreds of millions of different items to contend with, Sparrow focuses on consolidating partially filled containers to create densely packed totes.

When items are picked out for customer orders, Sparrow continually refills the totes, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. This level of complexity requires advanced AI capabilities, which Amazon's Robotics team has developed using foundation models.

These foundation models have enabled the team to efficiently identify and classify products, eliminating the need for manually coding every single item. As Dresser explained, this approach has greatly improved the development of new robotic strategies for grasping a wide range of products.

The success of Sparrow has also led to the creation of a foundation model for robotic perception that can handle new, never-before-seen products. This innovation will be crucial in future-proofing Amazon's fulfillment centers against the constant influx of new items.

Amazon Robotics team members have emphasized the importance of scalability and adaptability in their work. As Katyal noted during a presentation at the Intelligent Robots & Systems conference, building ad hoc perception models for every task and embodiment is not a viable solution due to its limitations.

Instead, the team has developed a generalized action model that can be used with different types of robotic arms, each with unique combinations of suction and finger grasping capabilities. This approach will enable Amazon's robots to adapt to new situations and tasks more easily.

The use of foundation models in robotics is a significant development, allowing for greater efficiency and flexibility in product handling and classification. As the demand for automation continues to grow, it remains to be seen how these advanced systems will impact human workers in warehouse settings.

Amazon's latest robotic arm, Vulcan, represents a significant advancement in warehouse automation technology. This innovative system combines vision capabilities with force feedback sensors that provide a sense of touch, enabling it to accurately pick out or stow away items within inventory pods.

The introduction of Vulcan is expected to address some of the limitations of previous robotic arms, which have primarily relied on vision alone. According to Amazon's experts, tasks such as inserting an item into a pod or creating space for new items are challenging with traditional non-touch-based systems, like suction-based systems used in Sparrow robots.

Vulcan has been deployed at select fulfillment centers in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, since 2025. While not yet widely adopted, the company plans to expand its use of this robotic arm by 2027, potentially leading to increased productivity and efficiency in warehouse operations.

Ars Technica: https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/10/inside-amazons-robotic-arms-race-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-human-work/

The tablets, which include three models - the 12 Pro, 11, and 8 - boast aluminum unibody designs, high-resolution displays, and run on Android. This marks a departure from Amazon's previous approach, where its tablets ran on Fire OS and had their own app store.

Amazon is taking a new approach with these devices to reach a broader audience, rather than simply rebranding its existing Fire Tablets. According to an Amazon spokesperson, this is an entirely new product line with fresh hardware and software.

The Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro has been engineered for optimal balance, measuring just 6.5 mm thick. Its key features include a 12-inch display with a resolution of 280 pixels per inch (PPI), a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 3:2 aspect ratio that provides more screen space.

The tablet's display options include a standard model and one with Nanomatte technology, which reduces glare for improved visibility.

The Alexa Tablet 12 Pro boasts impressive performance capabilities, outpacing any previous Amazon tablet by a significant margin. Specifically, it offers nearly three times the processing power and nine times the graphics capability of its predecessors. As a result, users can expect seamless handling of demanding tasks such as multi-window multitasking, graphics-intensive gaming, and 4K streaming.

To further enhance productivity, Amazon has introduced two new accessories: the Alexa Tablet Pro Pen and Pro Keyboard. These peripherals are designed to transform the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro into a comprehensive workstation, allowing users to work efficiently and effectively.

Pricing for the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro starts at $499.99, while the Nanomatte model is available from $549.99. The tablet will be offered in Graphite color option. This new range of devices marks an exciting development in Amazon's line-up of tablets.

The integration of On-Screen Intelligence with built-in Alexa+ functionality enables users to interact with their device in a more intuitive way. By asking Alexa to examine the on-screen content, users can receive relevant assistance and guidance. For instance, while browsing trails online, users can ask Alexa to recommend the most suitable hike based on their preferences.

The smaller sibling of this range is the Alexa Tablet 11, which features an 11-inch display with a 2.5K resolution at 276 pixels per inch. This device boasts 90Hz smooth scrolling and a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, reading, and browsing. The tablet offers 15 hours of video playback and dual Dolby Atmos speakers, starting at $329.99 in Graphite, Amethyst, or Matcha colors.

The new Alexa Tablet lineup has introduced a compact option called the Alexa Tablet 8, boasting an 8.7-inch display housed in a lightweight all-aluminum design that tips the scales at 329 grams.

This pint-sized device is designed for on-the-go use, with Amazon touting its portability and ability to be easily carried anywhere for reading, browsing, or streaming content.

Notably, all three new tablets are launching with an enhanced Kindle reading experience, which includes features such as silencing notifications, reducing blue light emission, and extending battery life up to 20 hours when the Kindle app is open.

Amazon has also announced the introduction of Amazon Kids tablets in two sizes: 8.7-inch and 11-inch, each available in bundles that include a tablet, kid-proof case, and a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+, offering access to thousands of child-friendly content options.

The new Alexa tablets from Amazon will be available for purchase starting October 14, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Japan. These countries join a growing list of territories where Amazon's latest devices can be purchased.

In addition to these markets, the tablets will also go on sale in several European countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, but with a slightly later start date of October 19. This wider availability is likely to make the new Alexa tablets more accessible to consumers around the world.

The launch of these devices marks an expansion of Amazon's tablet offerings, which will now include both standard Alexa tablets and specialized kid-friendly models. The latter are designed for younger users and come in two sizes: 8.7-inch and 11-inch.

Each device will be available as part of a bundle package that includes a kid-proof case and a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+, providing access to a range of content tailored specifically for children.

Amazon has announced that its new Alexa tablets will come equipped with additional features and services. The devices will offer access to Google Play Store, giving users a wider range of app choices beyond Amazon's own offerings.

These tablets are part of Amazon's push into the tablet market, aiming to provide families with an affordable option for kids' entertainment and education. Each device will be available as part of a bundle package that includes a kid-proof case and a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+, providing access to a range of content tailored specifically for children.

TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/08/amazon-unveils-new-alexa-tablets-with-alexa-and-google-play-store-access/