NEWS
Tech & AI News Roundup — October 17, 2026, 7:03 PM UTC
8 real stories worth knowing about, with links to the original reporting.
By Vibecoders Hub · 10/17/2026 · 4 min read
Quick links to what's actually happening in AI, tech, and IT right now — curated from real reporting, not rewritten, so you can go read the full story wherever it's genuinely worth your time.
Replit is no longer working with Anthropic, CEO says
Over the weekend, Masad clarified that OpenAI would replace Anthropic as its default model provider. Claude will still be available to customers on the platform. — TechCrunch
Mercedes-AMG’s first ground-up SUV is a 1,150hp electric beast
Earlier this year, Mercedes' AMG performance brand grabbed our attention with the GT four-door coupe, a souped-up sports sedan with three axial flux motors delivering over 1,150 horsepower. Well, now meet its beefier cousin, the 2028 Mercedes-AMG GT SUV, an equally powerful, ultra-fast-charging electric people-hauler. The AMG GT SUV (say that five times fast) marks the first time in the performanc — The Verge
Elon Musk settles lawsuits over $1 million voter giveaway
In 2024, Elon Musk promised to give away $1 million a day to a randomly selected registered voter in a swing state. That prompted legal challenges, raised questions about its legality, and drew lawsuits from two Arizona residents claiming the lottery was a fraud. Musk has now agreed to settle the two lawsuits filed in Austin, Texas, though the details of the settlement have not been made public. T — The Verge
HTC Made Smart Glasses That Are Way More Private
These smart glasses do just about everything Meta glasses can, but they're not tied to a social media platform. — Wired
Nvidia Launches Three Nemotron AI Models, Including Two for Local AI Agents
Nvidia introduces three Nemotron AI models, including a 120B-parameter system and two smaller Bolt models designed for local AI agents and enterprise tasks. The post Nvidia Launches Three Nemotron AI Models, Including Two for Local AI Agents appeared first on TechRepublic. — TechRepublic
Sony Wants Audiophiles to Pay $5,900 for Its New Gold-Plated Walkman
Sony's new gold-plated Walkman costs $5,900 and promises premium audio. Here's what its upgraded hardware offers and whether it's worth the price. The post Sony Wants Audiophiles to Pay $5,900 for Its New Gold-Plated Walkman appeared first on TechRepublic. — TechRepublic
Tesla turns to 50-year-old stunt technology as it tries to Roadster again
If you want to make a car spin in the air, compressed gas is a good way to do it. — Ars Technica
OpenAI Research Model Spent 3rd-Party Test ETH Without Permission to Deploy Smart Contract
OpenAI has disclosed seven new incidents in which its artificial intelligence (AI) models exhibited misaligned behavior, including one case where its research model, after not having funds on an Ethereum test network, spent test cryptocurrency from a third-party's wallet without authorization to complete a coding task. The incident, the AI company said, involved an internal research model part — The Hacker News