Tech & AI News Roundup — October 17, 2026, 4:03 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.

Ember’s new temperature-controlled mug makes my nightly tea ritual even better

The biggest change about Ember's new mug is that you no longer have to open the app to adjust your drink’s temperature. — TechCrunch

Meta removes language that may have allowed it to scrape news sites

After backlash, Meta is updating its terms again to remove language that suggested it could scrape content from sites, including news sites, to train its AI. Specifically, the following language no longer appears on the commercial terms page: … Meta may use any content from such domains, web pages, or URLs to provide, develop, improve, research, train, and maintain the integrity of, the Meta Compa — The Verge

Pikmin 4 is $20 off ahead of its $10 Nintendo Switch 2 update

Pikmin preparing to do battle with a Bulborb | Image: Nintendo If you’re wondering what video game to play this weekend, my colleague Sheena Vasani spotted a discounted Nintendo Switch title with instant digital delivery. Walmart has the digital version of Pikmin 4 for Switch discounted to $39.88, just over $20 lower than its usual price. This version of the game follows the same puzzle formula as — The Verge

Plug-in solar is legal in these 10 states now – how it could save you money

So-called balcony solar setups are becoming legal across the US. Here’s the latest. — ZDNet

JAMB’s Canadian ambition: A $20 ticket to a system parents fought to leave

JAMB plans to offer its entrance exam in Ottawa from 2027, using Nigeria’s diplomatic mission rather than building a new facility. But easier access to the test may not persuade diaspora families to choose Nigerian universities, where concerns about teaching quality, safety and reliability remain. — TechCabal

These 12 Automatic Cat Feeders Were the Best We Tested in 2026

We tested some of the most popular automatic dry- and wet-food pet feeders to see which ones are worth the money. — Wired

Why BioWare's Neverwinter Nights still has thousands of active players

The single-player is just OK, but according to the players, that doesn't matter. — Ars Technica

Don’t Let a Crypto Inheritance Get Stuck on the Blockchain

Claiming an inheritance of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency can be like hunting for buried treasure. It doesn’t have to be. — Wired