Meta Acquires Thinking Machines Co-Founder With Record-Breaking $1.5B Package
Meta successfully recruited Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Mira Murati's AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, after offering a compensation package potentially worth up to $1.5 billion over six years. The deal followed Meta's unsuccessful attempt to acquire Thinking Machines outright, escalating what industry observers describe as an unprecedented war for elite AI talent.
Tulloch will join Meta's newly formed TBD Labs unit, headed by Meta Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang. The hire underscores the existential nature of AI competition among tech giants—when acquisition fails, compensation becomes astronomical. The move adds another chapter to Meta's increasingly forceful campaign to close the gap with rivals such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google in the race to build next-generation AI systems.
Sources: TechCrunch
Apple Launches M5 MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro
Apple unveiled new MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro models powered by the next-generation M5 chip, featuring up to 3.5x more performance for AI workflows. The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,599, the 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, and the latest Vision Pro starts at $3,499, all available for pre-order with availability beginning October 22.
The M5 chip features a next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core, delivering up to 3.5x the AI performance and up to 1.6x faster graphics than the previous generation. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro also offers up to 24 hours of battery life and faster SSD performance than the previous generation. Apple's consistent pricing despite the performance leap suggests confidence in its component costs even amid inflationary pressures.
Sources: Apple Newsroom, CNBC
Tesla Demonstrates Cybercab Progress, Launches FSD "Mad Max" Mode
Tesla has ramped up testing of its autonomous two-seater Cybercab, with drone footage showing activity at both Fremont Factory and Gigafactory Texas, marking the first sustained testing sightings in recent weeks. Tesla's Cybercab lead engineer confirmed the autonomous vehicle has made substantial progress over the past year, describing it as "sooo good".
In parallel, Tesla released a new FSD v14.1.2 update introducing "Mad Max" mode, a new speed profile that users report provides aggressive but cautious driving patterns well-suited for congested traffic. The simultaneous advances in both autonomous taxi hardware and Full Self-Driving capability signal Tesla's serious commitment to robotaxi deployment, though regulatory approval timelines remain uncertain.
Sources: Teslarati
Google Teases Gemini 3.0 Launch, Strengthens Smart Home AI Integration
Leaked internal documents suggest Google plans to announce Gemini 3.0 on October 22, 2025, following a rapid development cycle where multiple Gemini versions launched throughout 2025, including 2.5, 2.5 Pro, Flash, and Flash-Lite. While unconfirmed, some Gemini Advanced users report already seeing notifications of upgrades to "Gemini 3.0 Pro," described as Google's "smartest model yet".
Separately, Google debuted its refreshed lineup of Google Home and Nest devices designed to showcase its AI assistant Gemini, along with its revamped Google Home software platform and new business strategy for the AI era. Google announced its intent to build flagship hardware in certain categories while making Gemini accessible to other manufacturers and businesses, mirroring its successful Android ecosystem strategy.
Sources: 9to5Google
Deel Raises $300M at $17.3B Valuation, Crossing $100M Monthly Revenue
Payroll infrastructure company Deel secured $300 million in Series E funding led by Ribbit Capital, alongside Andreessen Horowitz and Coatue, at a $17.3 billion valuation. The San Francisco-based company reported crossing a $100 million monthly revenue mark in September 2025, a significant milestone for enterprise software platforms.
Deel plans to use the capital for strategic acquisitions and to expand its global payroll infrastructure, targeting native payroll services in over 100 countries by 2029. The round reflects continued investor confidence in global hiring infrastructure despite ongoing litigation with competitor Rippling, signaling that the market for payroll solutions remains robust even amid competitive pressures.
Sources: Reuters
Walmart Partners with OpenAI to Enable Shopping Directly in ChatGPT
Walmart is partnering with OpenAI to allow customers to shop through ChatGPT, the retail giant announced Tuesday. The collaboration will enable Walmart and Sam's Club shoppers to browse products and complete transactions within ChatGPT using a feature called Instant Checkout.
The partnership signals the arrival of "agentic commerce" — where AI doesn't just answer questions but anticipates what shoppers need next. Customers will press a "buy" button in ChatGPT's app when they shop, after linking their Walmart accounts to ChatGPT. The deal positions OpenAI's transactional capabilities front-and-center while marking Walmart's most significant AI commerce move to date, leapfrogging Amazon's earlier autonomous shopping initiatives.
Sources: Walmart Newsroom
Kailera Therapeutics Raises $600M to Advance Obesity Therapy Pipeline
Biotech startup Kailera Therapeutics raised $600 million in Series B funding to push its obesity therapy into global trials. Kailera's injectable therapy targets dual metabolic hormones (similar to blockbuster drugs like Zepbound) and already showed an average 18% weight loss in a Phase 3 trial in China.
The funding was led by Bain Capital's private equity arm and joined by investors like Royalty Pharma and sovereign wealth funds from Qatar and Canada. The substantial raise underscores investor conviction in next-generation obesity treatments as GLP-1 agonists continue capturing both medical and consumer attention globally. Kailera plans to initiate international studies using the new capital.
Sources: Kailera Therapeutics
Lila Sciences Raises $115M to Scale AI-Driven Scientific Discovery
AI startup Lila Sciences raised $115 million in a Series A extension at a valuation above $1.3 billion. The Cambridge-based company is building "AI Science Factories" – automated laboratories run by specialized AI models – to conduct continuous experiments and generate proprietary data for breakthroughs in life sciences and chemistry.
The funding round reflects institutional recognition that AI can accelerate scientific research through continuous, autonomous experimentation. Rather than replacing human researchers, Lila's approach augments their capabilities by handling routine experimental iteration at scale, freeing domain experts to focus on hypothesis generation and interpretation.
Sources: Reuters
Upgrade Secures $165M for IPO Bridge, Eyes Public Listing in 12-18 Months
Fintech startup Upgrade secured $165 million as it gears up for a public offering within the next 12–18 months. The fresh capital values Upgrade at about $7.3 billion (pre-money), a 21.7% premium to its prior valuation.
Upgrade plans to use the funding to bridge to an IPO in the next 12–18 months and to give liquidity to its team ahead of that exit. The consumer credit platform — known for credit cards and BNPL products — has disbursed over $42 billion to date. The round signals renewed investor appetite for fintech platforms demonstrating durable business models and clear paths to profitability.
Sources: Bloomberg Law News
Sources verified as of October 18, 2025
