Tech Updates

The Israeli tech sector sees mixed activity, with SanDisk acquiring startup Imagn' for $30-40 million and SolCold developing a new UV sensor, while overall tech funding plunged 56% in 2023 to a four-year low. In the AI space, Apple's Tim Cook detailed the new 'Apple Intelligence' integrations, while Meta's AI faces criticism for bias, reportedly refusing to generate images of Jews and describing terrorists as "freedom fighters." Meanwhile, TheMarker published a report on Wall Street and a TechNation forecast for October 2025.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/r1f00e00j111l
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sy11xpujk11g
https://www.themarker.com/technation/2025-10-30/ty-article/.premium/0000019a-3597-ddf1-a1db-fdffa8830000?utm_source=App_Share&utm_medium=iOS_Native
https://www.themarker.com/wallstreet/2025-10-30/ty-article/.premium/0000019a-3438-d36c-a3bf-b47d9cbd0000?utm_source=App_Share&utm_medium=iOS_Native
https://www.themarker.com/technation/2025-10-29/ty-article/.highlight/0000019a-30da-d36c-a3bf-b4df97e50000?utm_source=App_Share&utm_medium=iOS_Native
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/syt00at1kbl
https://www.theverge.com/news/810735/tim-cook-ai-apple-intelligence-integrations

OpenAI is updating ChatGPT with company-specific knowledge, while Microsoft is overhauling Outlook with AI and adding new features to Notepad. YouTube is also leveraging AI, adding video upscaling to its TV app. The AI boom has driven Nvidia's valuation to a record $5 trillion, with its CEO dismissing bubble concerns. In medical research, Israeli scientists are using AI to predict epilepsy post-stroke. In other news, SAP has acquired Israeli startup Gigya for $350 million, and Israel is reportedly in talks with Elon Musk to deploy Starlink in Gaza.https://www.theverge.com/news/806046/openai-chatgpt-company-knowledge-updatehttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hygk5vralehttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hjrnvxaclehttps://www.theverge.com/tech/806162/microsoft-outlook-ai-overhaul-notepadhttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rkr200x00xehttps://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/10/nvidia-hits-record-5-trillion-mark-as-ceo-dismisses-ai-bubble-concernshttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/tv-focused-youtube-update-brings-ai-upscaling-shopping-qr-codes

Beyond Vibe Coding with Addy Osmani

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHIppEqwi0g

Adobe is expanding its AI capabilities, with its Firefly AI now able to generate soundtracks and speech. The company is also adding a beta AI assistant with prompt editing to Adobe Express and unveiling new AI features for Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere Pro.

Microsoft and its partners are deepening their AI integration. Microsoft launched an AI-powered Copilot mode in the Edge browser. A new agreement with OpenAI establishes an expert panel to determine the arrival of AGI. Additionally, Microsoft-owned GitHub is launching a new AI coding agent that uses models from both OpenAI and Anthropic.

Datadog is opening its first R&D center in Israel following its acquisition of Intentia.

Samsung announced the Galaxy Ring, a new smart ring device focused on health tracking.

Intel is set to lay off thousands of employees amid a slowdown in the PC market.

In other news, a podcast episode discusses ChatGPT, the "AI Browser Wars," and a potential sale of Warner Bros. Discovery.https://www.theverge.com/news/807809/adobe-firefly-ai-audio-generate-soundtrack-speechhttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rkyoer30gehttps://www.theverge.com/podcast/806031/chatgpt-atlas-ai-browser-wars-vergecast-warner-bros-discovery-salehttps://www.theverge.com/news/805833/microsoft-edge-copilot-mode-ai-launchhttps://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/10/expert-panel-will-determine-agi-arrival-in-new-microsoft-openai-agreementhttps://www.theverge.com/news/808032/github-ai-agent-hq-coding-openai-anthropichttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/skolcctcxghttps://www.theverge.com/news/807802/adobe-express-ai-assistant-prompt-editing-beta-max-2025https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/i74asa8kuhttps://www.theverge.com/news/807811/adobe-photoshop-lightroom-premiere-pro-ai-max-2025

• OpenAI has detailed updates for its ChatGPT and Atlas projects, with Atlas positioned as a competitor to Google Search. The company has also acquired the team that created Apple's Shortcuts app.
• YouTube is introducing a new AI tool designed to detect deepfakes and AI-generated likenesses.
• Industrial AI startup Cyp-I has raised $20 million in a funding round led by MoreTech.
• Perplexity AI has launched Comet Plus, a service aiming to deliver premium journalism in the AI era.
• A review is available for the new M5 MacBook Pro, which features fifth-generation Apple Silicon. Additionally, new iOS and macOS betas introduce a "Tinted Toggle" feature to adjust the "Liquid Glass" visual effect.
• Netflix plans to launch interactive games and experiences that will incorporate real-time voting.

https://www.theverge.com/news/805160/openai-chatgpt-atlas-updateshttps://www.theverge.com/news/803818/youtube-ai-likeness-detection-deepfakehttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sjvbwsragehttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/804931/openai-chatgpt-atlas-hands-on-google-searchhttps://www.storyboard18.com/digital/perplexity-ai-launches-comet-plus-aims-to-deliver-premium-journalism-in-ai-era-81932.htmhttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/m5-macbook-pro-review-fifth-generation-apple-silicon-in-a-familiar-wrapperhttps://www.theverge.com/news/803097/netflix-games-interactive-experiences-real-time-voting-q3-2025-earningshttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/new-ios-and-macos-betas-add-tinted-toggle-to-tone-down-liquid-glasshttps://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/10/openai-acquires-the-team-that-made-apples-shortcuts

CyberArk is set to acquire cloud security firm Venafi for $1.54 billion. In other news, an analysis suggests Nvidia's market dominance is more significant than its valuation, the Arabian Peninsula is emerging as a gaming powerhouse, and Israel is launching a NIS 1.5 billion fund for semiconductor chip development. Intel's Moovit has been named the official transit app for the Paris 2024 Olympics. In AI developments, Microsoft is updating its Copilot with a '90s-style animated assistant, a 'Real Talk' mode, and group chat capabilities. Anthropic is giving its Claude AI a memory upgrade for all subscribers, and Amazon has introduced an AI shopping tool called "Help Me Decide." Finally, a commentary explores Hollywood's misguided fascination with microdramas.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/bksnkmkage
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rjx0qzh6gl
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/syjyba2txx
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hkjcxuiaee
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rjen0000irel
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/microsoft-makes-copilot-human-centered-with-a-90s-style-animated-assistant
https://www.theverge.com/news/804124/anthropic-claude-ai-memory-upgrade-all-subscribers
https://www.theverge.com/news/804122/microsoft-copilot-real-talk-mode-group-chats-features
https://www.theverge.com/column/805250/hollywood-is-in-love-with-microdramas-for-all-the-wrong-reasons
https://www.theverge.com/news/805348/amazon-ai-shopping-help-me-decide

Andrej Karpathy – “We’re summoning ghosts, not building animals”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lXUZvyajciY&si=mG61GQYsF0J1d7xm

AI-powered features begin creeping deeper into the bedrock of Windows 11 - Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/microsofts-vision-for-ai-pcs-looks-a-lot-like-another-crack-at-cortana

Yes, everything online sucks now—but it doesn’t have tohttps://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/10/yes-everything-online-sucks-now-but-it-doesnt-have-to

Why world models are the next big thing in AI | The Verge

https://www.theverge.com/column/801370/ai-world-models-general-intuition-medal