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This Week's Tech Stories That Actually Matter

OpenAI's Sora Just Became the Fastest-Growing AI App Ever

Sora hit No. 1 on the U.S. App Store within days of launch. Over 164,000 installs and viral growth that outpaced even ChatGPT's debut. Sam Altman says monetization, content revenue-sharing, and rightsholder controls are coming next.

AI video generation just went mainstream. Your TikTok competition is about to get algorithmically generated.

Robinhood Turned Into a Full-Blown Betting Platform

Robinhood's prediction markets are exploding. Users wagered on more than 4 billion event contracts overall, with 2 billion in Q3 alone. CEO Vlad Tenev is riding a regulatory loophole that leverages CFTC oversight and a Kalshi partnership.

The results? A $100M+ annual revenue driver, booming parlay volume, and a surging stock price. The line between financial speculation and betting just disappeared.

When your brokerage app lets you bet on the Oscars and NFL games, you're not trading anymore. You're gambling.

Bitcoin Smashed Records at $125,700

Bitcoin crossed $125,700 per coin this week as ETF inflows, inflation jitters, and October's "Uptober" effect fueled an investor stampede. Crypto's $2.4 trillion market cap now dwarfs shaky global stocks.

Wall Street money keeps pouring in. Your skeptical uncle might need to reconsider his position.

Saudi Arabia Just Bought EA for $55 Billion

Electronic Arts agreed to be taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners (Jared Kushner's firm). It's the biggest gaming buyout in history.

The Kingdom is betting big on becoming a gaming superpower. Questions about innovation, creative direction, and global industry influence are mounting.

When oil money buys FIFA(FC) and Madden, the game changes in ways we're still figuring out.

Friend AI's $1M Subway Campaign Went From Viral to Infamous

Friend AI plastered New York subways with ads for their $129 AI friendship necklace. The million-dollar blitz generated thousands of social posts, graffiti, and fierce debate about digital relationships and privacy.

The campaign was impossible to miss and even harder to ignore. Marketing genius or dystopian nightmare? Probably both.

Apple Pulled ICEBlock After Federal Pressure

Apple removed ICEBlock, an app tracking ICE agents' real-time locations, after federal officials called it a security risk. The decision ignited debate about digital civil rights, safety, and platform power.

App Store politics just got a lot more complicated.

TL;DR: That's your week. AI video conquered, betting became trading, Bitcoin soared, Saudi money bought gaming, AI friendship sparked controversy, and Apple bent to federal pressure. The future keeps getting weirder.

Cheers,
Oleg👊

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