DeepSeek and the risk of AI health advice replacing doctors: a mother's story
October 28, 2025, 2:30 AM EDT. In a small eastern Chinese city, a 57-year-old kidney transplant patient turns to DeepSeek, a leading AI health chatbot, for diagnosis and guidance. She uploads ultrasounds and labs, tweaks her immunosuppressants, and follows lifestyle tips learned online, often at home rather than in a clinic. The bot answers with empathy, and she calls it her best health adviser. The writer, meanwhile, worries about relying on AI when human clinicians are overbooked and time-pressed. As chatbots seep into healthcare, they offer accessibility and support but also raise questions about safety, privacy, and proper oversight. The piece asks how AI can augment, not replace, doctors-and what care looks like when trust hinges on algorithms.
Chegg cuts about 45% of staff as AI reshapes online learning
October 28, 2025, 2:28 AM EDT. Chegg Inc., the Santa Clara online learning platform, said it will cut about 45% of its workforce-roughly 388 employees-to address reduced traffic from Google and shifts in generative AI. The restructuring aims to lower 2026 non-GAAP expenses by $100-$110 million and incur $15-$19 million in cash severance. Executive Chairman Dan Rosensweig will resume the CEO role, with Nathan Schultz stepping down to advisor. Chegg will remain independent, pursuing growth in its expanding skilling market and a new B2B focus beyond traditional study help. The firm cited 'new realities of AI' and changing search patterns as key drivers of the revenue decline and traffic drop.
Elon Musk launches Grokipedia, an AI-powered encyclopedia with Wikipedia disclaimer
October 28, 2025, 1:58 AM EDT. Elon Musk has launched Grokipedia, an AI-powered encyclopedia on X that aims to rival Wikipedia. The site touts version 0.1 as capable and promises 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,' though some results are adapted from Wikipedia and carry a note: 'The content is adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under Creative Commons.' Grokipedia relies on Grok, xAI's AI, to fact-check entries while user claims of copied content persist. Unlike Wikipedia, Grokipedia currently limits edits and offers less transparency on edits, and is tied to a for-profit venture. The Wikimedia Foundation responded by underscoring that Wikipedia is human-driven, open to collaboration, and built on community governance, even as AI experiments continue.
Amazon plans up to 30,000 corporate layoffs in major cost-cutting push
October 28, 2025, 1:56 AM EDT. Amazon is reportedly planning up to 30,000 layoffs among its corporate office staff as part of a broad cost-cutting push led by CEO Andy Jassy. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters say the cuts could reach roughly 10% of the company's corporate headcount, though Amazon employs more than 1.5 million people worldwide. The timing remains unclear, and the move would be Amazon's largest round of cuts since 2022. The company has been investing heavily in AI tools to boost efficiency, with Jassy signaling that automation may reduce routine tasks and require fewer people in some roles while reassigning staff to different jobs.
Amazon Reportedly Plans to Cut 30,000 Corporate Jobs This Week
October 28, 2025, 1:42 AM EDT. Reuters reports Amazon is planning to cut about 30,000 corporate roles this week across departments including HR, AWS, and Operations, Devices & Services. The cuts would amount to roughly 10% of Amazon's roughly 350,000 corporate employees, though they are a small fraction of its 1.5 million-strong workforce. Managers were told to prep communications training as notifications are set to go out Tuesday morning. No official reason was given, but CEO Andy Jassy has signaled a broader shift toward AI-driven roles, suggesting some tasks could be performed with fewer people. Some links to the recent AWS outage are noted in coverage, but no confirmation exists. Amazon has not commented, and readers should treat the report as unconfirmed until multiple sources or an official statement emerge.
Grokipedia: Elon Musk's AI-Generated Wikipedia Rival – What You Need to Know
October 28, 2025, 1:40 AM EDT. Elon Musk unveiled Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopedia designed as a rival to Wikipedia. Version 0.1 features over 885,000 articles, with all content generated and fact-checked by xAI's Grok and not editable by users. Musk claims future versions will improve, promising "truth, the whole truth." Some Grokipedia entries closely mirror Wikipedia articles, with disclaimers noting adaptations from CC BY-SA 4.0. The Wikimedia Foundation says human-made knowledge remains essential and that such experiments don't alter Wikipedia's mission. Grokipedia's approach raises questions about bias, transparency, and how AI-created knowledge should be governed while users will be able to request additions or deletions and be told why a decision was made.
The web becomes a hive mind of AI agents as Vercel builds a cloud to host them
October 28, 2025, 1:28 AM EDT. The web is evolving into a sprawling network of AI-enabled agents that collaborate across apps and services. As developers outfit websites and platforms with autonomous routines, the result is a new kind of distributed software ecosystem-a hive mind of decisions, data, and actions. Vercel is signaling a bold move to create a cloud designed to host and orchestrate these agents, offering managed runtimes, edge compute, and seamless integration with existing tooling. For builders, the vision promises faster deployment, scalable AI workloads, and tighter coupling between frontend experiences and backend intelligence. The shift raises questions about interoperability, security, and governance as autonomous software becomes mainstream on the internet.
Apple tops $100B in services revenue as legal risks mount
October 28, 2025, 1:24 AM EDT. Apple has topped $100 billion in annual services revenue for the first time, signaling a durable shift from devices to a growing ecosystem that includes iCloud, App Store, Music, TV+, and AppleCare. The milestone underscores the profitability and recurring revenue that services bring as hardware growth slows. Yet the spotlight on Apple's market power continues to bring rising legal risks and regulatory scrutiny in several jurisdictions over App Store practices, data privacy, and competition. Analysts say services profits could bolster margins and cushion quarterly results, but policy actions and potential settlements may influence pricing, commissions, and user experience. If sustained, the services push could redefine Apple's trajectory and long-term growth prospects.
Original Pixel Watch gets final October update as Wear OS support ends
October 28, 2025, 1:20 AM EDT. Google rolled out Wear OS 6 for the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3, but the original Pixel Watch won't get this update. Google is releasing a final October build, BW1A.251005.003.W, based on Wear OS 5.1 that includes only security updates and bug fixes. It does not include the October security patch and remains on June. Owners can install it via Settings → System → System updates while the watch is on charge and on Wi-Fi. This marks the end of official support begun in October 2022 with a promised three years of updates. A future update is unlikely unless a critical vulnerability appears. By contrast, the Galaxy Watch 4 will receive Wear OS 6, while the original Pixel Watch helped shape Google's current smartwatch lineup, culminating in Pixel Watch 4.
Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G vs Nothing Phone 3a 5G: Price, specs and India launch
October 28, 2025, 1:06 AM EDT. Nothing Phone 3a Lite 5G and Nothing Phone 3a 5G are set for a head-to-head in India. The launch teaser reveals a transparent design with a new rear LED for notifications, while the 3a 5G retains Glyph lights around the camera. Both models reportedly share a 6.77-inch AMOLED, 120Hz display. In performance, the Lite 5G reportedly uses the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 with 8GB RAM, while the 3a 5G uses Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. Battery remains 5000mAh, but charging differs at 33W vs 50W. Camera setups are similar: 50MP main, 50MP telephoto, 8MP ultrawide; selfie is 16MP on Lite vs 32MP on 3a. Price expectations: 3a 5G Rs. 23,999 (8GB+128GB) and 3a Lite around Rs. 20,000.
An AI bubble isn't a bad thing for savvy investors, says Groq CEO
October 28, 2025, 12:52 AM EDT. Groq's CEO argues that an AI investment bubble can accelerate innovation rather than burst markets. For savvy investors, the key is identifying how demand for AI chips, inference accelerators and specialized hardware outpaces supply, creating opportunities in both startups and established players. The exec emphasizes that while valuations may rise, the long-term trajectory of AI adoption across data centers, cloud services, and edge devices justifies capital inflows. Groq positions itself as a differentiated player with high-efficiency AI chips and a software stack tuned for real-time workloads, making it attractive to those betting on sustained AI demand. In short, the bubble could fuel winner-takes-most momentum for firms delivering practical, scalable AI infrastructure.
Google and NextEra to Restart Iowa's Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant to Power AI Era
October 28, 2025, 12:18 AM EDT. Google and NextEra Energy announced a 25-year deal to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa, returning the 615-MW plant to operation by early 2029 pending regulatory approval. Under the agreement, Google will buy a sizable share of the plant's output as 24/7 carbon-free energy to power its cloud and AI infrastructure, with the remainder sold to CIPCO on similar terms. NextEra will gain full ownership after acquiring CIPCO and Corn Belt Power's stake. The revival marks a major step in the convergence of Big Tech and clean baseload power, promising about 400 permanent jobs and more than $9 billion in total economic benefits for Iowa, plus local tax revenue. The deal signals a broader push to secure low-carbon, reliable generation for the AI-driven economy.
