Tech & AI News Roundup — October 17, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC

Quick links to what's actually happening in AI, tech, and IT right now — curated from real reporting, not rewritten, so you can go read the full story wherever it's genuinely worth your time.

The Leap Second Is No More

The metric might not mean much to laypeople, but leap seconds have been a source of contention in the timekeeping community for years. Now, they’re dead. — Wired

Replit is no longer working with Anthropic, CEO says

Masad said the decision was made for a number of different reasons, including cost. Replit announced a partnership with OpenAI in August, but there was never any indication that it was no longer with Anthropic. — TechCrunch

We can finally hear some of Wu-Tang Clan’s Once Upon A Time in Shaolin album

Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, who got to hear the album for the first time thanks to Pablo Torre Finds Out. | Getty Images Wu-Tang's Once Upon A Time in Shaolin album has, for the most part, been extremely difficult to listen to, but you can now hear two snippets of the album thanks to the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, which just published an episode all about the exclusive record. Once Upon A — The Verge

Tesla driver says he was asleep and using FSD when he crashed into highway patrol cars

After this horrific crash involving a Tesla driver who said he was asleep and using the driver assist mode, the California Highway Patrol warns that "Despite its name, full self-driving is not fully autonomous. Technology does not relieve drivers of their responsibility to safely operate their vehicles." Video released by CHP shows the Tesla speeding past flares, cones, and emergency lights where — The Verge

Apple Reportedly Plans Oct. 28 Event for Touchscreen MacBooks and More

Apple reportedly plans an Oct. 28 hardware event, with touchscreen MacBook Pros, M6 Macs, and an OLED iPad mini expected. See what buyers should know. The post Apple Reportedly Plans Oct. 28 Event for Touchscreen MacBooks and More appeared first on TechRepublic. — TechRepublic

“thegentlemanpervert” producing AI CSAM is a NJ prosecutor, say cops

Discord user flagged AI CSAM, triggering arrest of New Jersey deputy AG. — Ars Technica

Katie Zacharia Was Linked to an AI Rare-Earths Startup. It’s Even Weirder Than It Sounds

The short-lived White House press secretary was listed as an adviser to a Kristi Noem–linked company that aims to use AI for mining. Both the company and she say she never worked there. — Wired

US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"

There are still significant hurdles ahead, both technical and legislative. — Ars Technica