Every morning, the most relevant news on the topics I follow, selected from leading Italian and international outlets, with a short summary of each article.
Edition of Thursday, 15 October 2026 · updated at 08:29
Models, agents, regulation and enterprise applications of AI.
Agentic AI requires an innovative data architecture integrating ontologies, working memory, and predictive analysis to guide safe business decisions. The World Model represents a dynamic representation solution to address this architectural challenge.
Eight US states have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI accusing the company of harming children and misleading customers about ChatGPT's safety. The complaints allege OpenAI violated consumer protection laws by failing to warn about risks.
Google and Meta unveiled frontier models competing with OpenAI and Anthropic's best offerings. After appearing behind, the two companies have reignited competition in the AI sector.
Apate.ai deploys AI agents to infiltrate fraudulent schemes and gather data on criminal tactics. Unlike typical business uses, this approach leverages AI agents to enhance fraud awareness.
Figma introduced new features to configure how agents operate on its platform. The release also includes code layers feature available in open beta.
Square launched the Square Kiosk, an ordering device with a 21.5-inch touchscreen and conversational agentic voice layer. The kiosk understands menus, recognizes customers, and allows requests and modifications in natural language.
Floqer developed AI agents to automate sales prospect research. The solution addresses a common challenge for sales and revenue operations teams.
Ricursive Intelligence founders are developing AI capable of designing chips, learning from iterations, and improving subsequent designs. The goal is to automate and accelerate chip design processes.
Implementing AI agents in businesses requires rigorous evaluation of economic results considering productivity, computing costs, and service quality. It is essential to distinguish actual savings from purely potential benefits.
McKinsey will ask entry-level candidates to have a 10-minute conversation with an AI client simulation during interviews. The simulation reflects 80% of scenarios McKinsey consultants might encounter, with human evaluators assessing responses.
Innovation, digital strategy, cloud and business transformation.
TextYess, founded in 2023, raised 4 million euros in a round led by Italian Founders Fund. The startup develops AI agents on WhatsApp for eCommerce support, used by brands including Pittarosso, Ducati and Giordano Shop, with 141% NRR and UK expansion plans.
Juventus Forward Squad 2026/27 involves 11 startups across Sport Performance and Corporate Innovation. The program uses venture clienting to test solutions on real challenges, from biomechanical analysis to fan data, offering startups access to a complex organization and validation for other clients.
A new OpenAI report shows AI agent users in Italy grew 10.8 times, with 65% of European tokens used in the country compared to 55% EU average. The data indicates OpenAI tools usage among European customers.
Neurafense and Unguess won the absolute awards at Digital360 Awards and Cybersecurity360 Awards 2026. The event in Lazise brought together over 200 CIOs and CISOs to recognize the best digital innovation experiences in businesses and Public Administration.
The EU SRIP 2026 report highlights a significant gap between European scientific strength and its ability to transform it into digital leadership. AI represents the convergence point of research, infrastructure, capital, skills, productivity and technological sovereignty.
Pulsee Relax Fix 36-month offer expires October 14, 2026, guaranteeing electricity at 0.15 euros/kWh and gas at 0.702 euros/Smc with fixed rates for three years. Including digital management and Energimetro for personalized consumption monitoring.
Xi Jinping proposes a community for open source AI to BRICS. While models are freely downloadable, strategic value lies in cloud platforms, computing capacity, training and standards that can transform a free offer into lasting technological dependency.
The International Conference on Weights and Measures, concluding tomorrow October 15, aims to define a common standard for measuring time on the Moon and in space.
In 2027 choosing a portable terminal is a financial architecture decision for SMEs and professionals. Key factors are native integration with cash register, zero settlement times, sustainable commissions and 4G/5G connectivity, with compliance via POS-Telematic Register pairing.
Making a company AI-ready requires evolution of data management and AI lifecycle for performance, scalability and governance. WeAreProject identifies key components beyond traditional physical infrastructure.
Threats, vulnerabilities and regulations such as NIS2, GDPR, DORA and the AI Act.
Attackers are exploiting a critical flaw in Cisco Secure Email Gateway that allows unauthenticated senders to write files to the appliance's operating system and execute commands with root privileges. The attack involves sending a crafted email attachment through the gateway.
Cisco has patched an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability in Secure Email Gateway that enables remote unauthenticated attackers to execute commands with root privileges.
Palo Alto Networks has released security updates for a high-severity PAN-OS zero-day flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-0322, that has been actively exploited in attacks targeting firewalls.
Microsoft fixed over 1,400 vulnerabilities in October 2026 Patch Tuesday, including an already-exploited zero-day and two publicly disclosed flaws. The record number of CVEs requires companies to reconsider their patching priorities and update management strategies.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) urged security teams to immediately patch an Ivanti Connect Secure vulnerability exploited in zero-day attacks since at least October 1st.
Ledger has asked resellers and distributors across major Asian countries to suspend wallet sales and remove products from shelves while investigating potential device tampering in a supply-chain attack.
Microsoft, along with Health-ISAC, JC3, and private sector companies including Resecurity and Cloudflare, announced the disruption of three phishing kits (CoGUI, Haozi, and Iron Man System) responsible for over 1 billion scam messages since January 2026.
An attack on refrigeration systems at French supermarkets demonstrates how a shared vulnerability can compromise hundreds of facilities. OT security becomes a matter of governance, operational continuity, and control of physical processes.
AI-powered penetration testing can uncover complex attack paths, but safety restrictions and network limitations leave many assets and vulnerabilities untested. Combining agentic pentesting with exposure validation can help close these gaps.
During an authorized assessment, an AI pentesting agent independently discovered a critical authentication bypass on a major insurer's production website. The bug allowed users to choose where their one-time passcode would be sent.
Brands, advertising, media and marketing technology.
Retail media networks are relatively new with a steep learning curve for brands and retailers. Understanding how they work is essential to leverage their potential in modern marketing strategies.
Contextual intelligence is a powerful tool for helping brands reach viewers in new ways. Discussed at ADWEEK House Advertising HQ, it represents a significant evolution in targeting strategies.
AI has made it easier for marketers to produce content at scale. The bigger challenge now is creating content that truly reflects brand identity and differentiation.
The new owner of the 128-year-old publication plans to transform the brand into an AI-powered marketplace, despite the strategy's spotty track record in the industry.
Brands, agencies and platforms shared insights at Advertising Week about Gen Alpha's habits with AI, creators and co-viewing, helping marketers understand how to reach this demographic effectively.
Michelle Chin discusses how the casual dining chain's marketing is evolving, including through a new partnership with agency BBDO Chicago.
Square has launched its first standalone kiosk equipped with an AI ordering assistant, with no advertising displayed on the screens.
Publicis' Sapient division exemplifies AI's dynamics, struggling with growth but proving instrumental in winning new business without traditional pitches.
In their new book 'Marketing nell'era digitale' published by Egea, Andrea Rea and Genni Perlangeli move beyond the narrow definition of 'digital marketing' to embrace a holistic vision integrating promise, product, reputation and economic value in a post-consumerist scenario.
In September 2026, Italian radio stations saw a 13% decline in video views compared to the previous two months. News-focused stations grew, with Rai Radio1 surging 51%, while music stations declined as summer season ended and live event content decreased.
Virtual, augmented and mixed reality: devices and use cases.
A VR mod transforms Titanfall 2's campaign for VR headsets, retaining the original's quality but feeling fundamentally different. While some aspects work better in VR, others get lost in translation, yet the mod remains among the best ever created for the platform.
The 'You Are Here: At the Magic Castle with Siegfried Tieber' experience lets Apple Vision Pro users watch live-captured magic performances at Hollywood's exclusive Magic Castle private club. Two 20-minute episodes offer unedited performances and close-up perspectives of live magic.
Meta and Sandisk partnered to provide certified microSD cards and USB-C flash drives for the incoming Meta VR Glasses launching Spring 2027. The Meta VR Glasses will support microSD cards up to 1TB, with Sandisk as the exclusive official provider.
The Magician VR: The Cursed Wand is a mystical shooter letting players cast spells by drawing symbols in the air with a magic wand. Released October 15, 2026 for Quest at $19.99, the game requires considerable practice before mastering magical abilities.
Valve officially discontinued Index, its PC VR headset launched in 2019, applying a 20% discount on all related products. While Index remains supported on Steam and SteamVR, the system's total price is now significantly higher than the original offering.
BattleGroupVR2, available in Early Access since November 7, 2025 on Steam and August 28, 2026 on Quest, is a space tactical simulator significantly improving upon its predecessor. The game positions players as a spaceship captain controlling fleets in immersive 3D battles.
SideQuest significantly simplified the download process to just a few steps: sign in with Meta Account and allow Bluetooth connection. The update also enables automatic Steam game port installation directly from the headset, eliminating USB transfers.
Terrible Posture Games released the 'Thank You, Recruit!' update on October 15 with engine upgrade to Unreal 5.7, two new game modes, and hand tracking support on Quest. The update includes numerous fixes and balancing changes accumulated over recent years.
Japanese regulatory filings revealed Pico's next flagship 'Space Pro' headset, an Apple Vision Pro competitor, ahead of its planned Q4 2026 launch. Images show both external and internal components of the device through publicly available Japanese ministry files.
Valve announced that the order queue for Steam Frame, its recently launched standalone VR headset, now stretches into 2027. Customers can view their expected order window by logging into the Steam Frame product page, with deliveries expected by December or in 2027.
The main international headlines.
Musk commented on an interview with Ukrainian leader Zelensky, arguing that the situation will continue to worsen and that he should step down.
An Australian Defence Force member is under investigation following discovery of a hidden camera in a women's shower on a Navy ship. Meanwhile, health minister Mark Butler pledges to reintroduce a bill to reduce private health insurance rebates for over-65s.
UK GDP grew 0.1% in August, defying forecasts of 0.1% contraction. The growth occurs despite falling consumer spending, two weeks before chancellor John Healey's budget aimed at addressing the cost of living crisis.
The government refused to specify when the public will have free access to information about ownership of large land plots in England and Wales. Emma Reynolds had announced in March plans to partially lift the Land Registry paywall.
The UK prime minister will visit Scotland during the SNP conference this weekend, with predictions his presence will overshadow the independence party's event led by John Swinney, who aims to revive momentum for a second independence referendum.
In a series on Poland, citizens describe how wages have risen alongside the cost of living. The Varso tower overlooks Stalin's Palace of Culture and Science, a divisive building representing either the country's oppressive past or an historical icon.
Ukrainian president Zelensky told the Financial Times that Ukraine will resume attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, stating that the pause on such operations has ended.
Elon Musk suggested US government involvement in slowing Starlink speeds for Ukraine. Ukraine confirmed improved Starlink access but continues facing speed limits disrupting battlefield operations.
Anthropic reported surging revenue to investors ahead of potential stock market debut, as some investors express concerns about massive spending on AI infrastructure.
Dense orange smog blanketed the Indonesian city of Palangka Raya as wildfires continue raging in surrounding areas, forcing residents to face an environmental crisis.
News stories belong to their respective publishers. Summaries and headline translations are generated automatically with AI: the original article, linked from each headline, is the authoritative source.