Disney’s Character.AI Deal: $20 Million License, Staff Hires and a Bankruptcy Fight
Disney Character.AI deal explained: a $20 million license, most of the startup’s staff hired, and lawsuits left behind in Chapter 11. What states want.
Technology
Technology news from The Boston Report: gadgets, apps, space and aviation, Big Tech and the startups and trends shaping how we live and work.
Hacker Used AI Agents to Breach 100+ Company Websites, Report Says
AI agents hacking campaign: a hacker used the Cairn platform to breach 100+ company sites, including Deere, SharkNinja and Cummins, NorForge and Reuters say.
Tenstorrent Raises $1.5 Billion as Valuation Jumps to $6.2 Billion
Tenstorrent Series E: Jim Keller’s RISC-V AI chip company raised $1.5 billion at a $6.2 billion valuation to scale Galaxy servers and take on Nvidia.
AI Chip Production in 2026: Record Demand, Tight Supply and a Map of New U.S. Chip Plants
AI chip production is at a record but supply is tight. Map 11 new U.S. chip plants with costs, CHIPS Act awards, start dates and delays, as of Oct. 18.
Tech Stocks Slide as AI Debt Fears Hand the Nasdaq Its Worst Week Since June
The Nasdaq fell 2.1% on Oct. 16, ending its worst week since June as chip and AI cloud stocks slid on debt and yield worries. The numbers and what is next.
Proofpoint Agrees to Buy Varonis for $6.3 Billion in Bet on AI Data Security
Proofpoint will buy Varonis for $49.75 a share in cash, about $6.3 billion, closing in early 2027. Terms, premium, AI security context and reactions.
Woburn Startup VEIR Raises $110 Million to Bring Superconducting Power to AI Data Centers
Woburn startup VEIR closed a $110M Series C on Oct. 8 for superconducting AI data center power. Deal size, investors, impact and open questions.
Appeals Court Rules AI Training on Westlaw Headnotes Was Not Fair Use
The Third Circuit upheld Thomson Reuters’ win over ROSS Intelligence, ruling AI training on Westlaw headnotes was not fair use. What it means for AI.
Anthropic Commits 5% of Its Shares to New Public Benefit Fund
Anthropic will put 5% of its shares into a new Public Benefit Fund, pending stockholder approval, with 2% more per 50% rise in value. What is known.
MIT Researchers Build AI Model That Reads Crystals in 3D to Find New Materials
MIT researchers built a vision-language AI model that links 3D crystal structures to properties, surfacing promising solid-state battery electrolytes.