Apple News: 12 September 2025 - 22 October 2025

October 28, 2025, 5:12 AM EDT. ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood told CNBC that rising interest rates could trigger a market shudder, signaling a shift from easy-money conditions to tighter financing. While acknowledging the risk of inflated AI valuations, she said she does not believe AI is in a bubble. Wood argued that innovation and rate dynamics do not invert historically, and that a reality check is likely as enterprises prepare to transform with embodied AI - even as big tech stock valuations may justify their upside in the long run. Her remarks came on the sidelines of Saudi Arabia's Future Investment Initiative, amid broader warnings from IMF and others about potential corrections if AI spending cools.

October 28, 2025, 5:10 AM EDT. DJI's Romo robot vacuum launches in Europe, using AI-powered navigation but not yet a Roborock-level rival. The three models-S, A, and P-range from €1,299 to €1,899 and include a self-emptying base, obstacle detection, mopping, and deodorizing. Built on drone-grade sensors, Romo uses dual fisheye vision sensors, solid-state LiDAR, and edge-aware depth algorithms to learn a home's layout and predict collisions. It even adapts brush rotation for debris and employs AI-driven edge geometry with flexible arms. Remote video feeds support pet checks via encrypted transmission and two-factor authentication. Still, a high price and limited smart-home integration may restrain broad adoption in Europe and beyond.

October 28, 2025, 5:08 AM EDT. Walmart is still offering the Galaxy Watch FE for just $99, a 50% off on the Bluetooth-only model. Once $199, this budget-friendly Samsung wearable delivers essential features like ECG monitoring, heart rate tracking, and advanced sleep coaching powered by AI. It also shows body composition analysis, a vivid AMOLED display protected by sapphire crystal glass, and up to 40 hours of battery life. While not as powerful as the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it remains a strong value for budget-conscious shoppers seeking a solid Samsung wearable. Act fast-this promo has persisted and could sell out again at Walmart.

October 28, 2025, 5:04 AM EDT. Amazon plans to cut thousands of jobs and has circulated internal messages urging managers to prepare for the layoffs. The disclosure points to a broad cost-cutting push as the company reassesses staffing and operations, with notes outlining timelines, expectations, and contingency plans for reductions across divisions. Details on which teams are affected and the scale remain unclear, but the development highlights a major restructuring move amid tighter budgets across tech and retail platforms.

October 28, 2025, 5:02 AM EDT. Payments app Venmo is expanding into housing payments through a new partnership with Bilt. Starting early next year, Bilt members can pay rent and mortgage and shop at local merchants via Venmo, using the Venmo balance or linked methods alongside ACH, debit, and credit. Users can complete housing payments in the Bilt app or directly in Venmo. Executives describe the move as Venmo's evolution from a peer-to-peer payments tool to an everyday commerce platform. The alliance leverages Bilt's rewards network for renters and follows recent tie-ins with UWM for mortgage lending and with GoPuff for home delivery. The goal is to give renters more payment flexibility and added monthly value while expanding Venmo's reach beyond P2P payments.