1. Revolut Enters India to Challenge Banks’ ‘Criminal’ Forex Fees
Revolut, the UK-based fintech giant, has officially launched in India, targeting excessive forex fees charged by traditional banks. The platform now integrates with UPI (Unified Payments Interface), aiming to simplify global payments for Indian users.
With a strategy to onboard 20 million users by 2030, Revolut’s India rollout marks a major fintech milestone.
The company plans to process over $7 billion in transactions and offer transparent currency exchange rates for travelers and global businesses.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
2. Deepfake Ethics: You Can’t Libel the Dead — But Should You?
A recent editorial highlights growing ethical concerns about AI-generated deepfakes of deceased individuals. While defamation laws protect the living, the debate around creating synthetic representations of the dead raises new moral and legal questions about consent and respect.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
3. Trump’s DOE Proposes Massive Cuts in Clean Energy Grants
In a controversial move, the Trump administration’s Department of Energy has proposed reducing billions in grants for automakers like GM and Ford, as well as numerous climate-tech startups. Critics argue the cuts will stifle innovation in electric mobility and clean energy R&D.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
4. AMD’s Role in OpenAI’s Billion-Dollar Chip Ambition
As OpenAI continues to purchase massive GPU stockpiles for model training, Wall Street analysts are observing how AMD might profit through strategic supply contracts. This move could offset OpenAI’s high hardware costs while benefiting chip manufacturers financially.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
5. Google Expands AI App “Opal” to 15 More Countries
Google’s experimental AI vibe-coding app, Opal, is expanding globally. The tool uses AI to help users code based on mood and interaction style, blending creative prompts with structured programming support. It’s now available in 15 additional countries.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
6. Otter.ai Reinvents Itself Beyond Meeting Notes
Otter.ai, known for meeting transcriptions, is evolving into a broader AI-powered productivity platform. CEO Sam Liang aims to reposition Otter as a multi-tool for summarization, workflow automation, and AI-driven insights for professionals.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
7. Tesla Unveils Cheaper ‘Standard’ Model 3 & Y Variants
Tesla has revealed more affordable “standard” versions of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. These slightly simplified versions aim to attract mid-range buyers and boost global sales amid increasing competition in the EV market.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
8. X (Twitter) Introduces ‘Premium Business’ & ‘Premium Organizations’
To simplify verification tiers, X (formerly Twitter) has restructured its verified program. Two new segments — Premium Business and Premium Organizations — will now represent brands and institutions separately.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
9. Facebook Gives Users More Control Over Videos
Meta’s Facebook is introducing new algorithmic controls, allowing users to customize what kinds of videos appear in their feeds. This is part of a larger initiative to make Facebook Reels and video recommendations more user-driven.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
10. ICE Used Fake Cell Towers to Track Phones
In a startling revelation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allegedly used vehicles equipped with fake cell towers to spy on phone users. Privacy experts warn of civil liberty violations and demand policy reform.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
11. Mastodon Adopts ‘Starter Packs’ Like Bluesky
Decentralized social network Mastodon is set to introduce “Starter Packs,” inspired by Bluesky’s modular approach. The update aims to simplify onboarding and enhance user discoverability.
📖 Source: TechCrunch
12. Anthropic Expands to India, Partners with IBM
AI company Anthropic, the maker of Claude, plans to open a new office in India and explore collaborations with billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerates.
Simultaneously, it has announced a strategic partnership with IBM to integrate Claude into enterprise AI solutions.
📖 Source: Wall Street Journal
13. Bonus: Amazon’s October Prime Day Deals Are Live
Tech enthusiasts rejoice — Amazon Prime Day 2025 is live with hundreds of tech deals across brands like Apple, Samsung, Anker, and Bose. Highlights include up to 50% off Echo devices, $300 off laptops, and discounts on Prime Video and Kindle Unlimited subscriptions.
📖 Source: The Verge
🔍 Summary
From Revolut’s bold fintech move in India to Anthropic’s expansion, this week was packed with innovation and controversy.
While startups are scaling globally, governments and regulators are catching up on AI ethics, data security, and green tech funding.
The takeaway? The future of technology is now intertwined with policy, privacy, and powerful AI collaborations — a landscape where disruption meets accountability.