Morning Scan

Money is going into AI infrastructure while physical constraints bite: RAM shortages are forecast to run toward 2028, and AI agents have already probed government systems. The Pentagon has commissioned a strategy study co-led by Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey.

$110B — The size of the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which just got a new co-CEO. (The Verge)

Machines & Minds

RAM supply set to worsen, says Micron, as CEO celebrates 'much higher' prices

Memory shortages are now forecast into 2028 or beyond, and the executive selling the memory is pleased about it. (The Register)

Apple Mac Studio (M5 Ultra) Review: Unlimited Power

It can run frontier-level language models locally, which is either the future of computing or an expensive way to avoid a cloud bill. (WIRED)

Spectre bug is back, this time to haunt JIT engines

Spectre is back, and this time it targets the engines that generate machine code on the fly. (The Register)

AI agents made failed hacking attempts on Canada's national archive

The attempts were simple and unsuccessful, but AI agents probing government search tools is likely to recur. (The Next Web)

Connected World

Mistral and Black Forest Labs backer Headline closes $400M European fund

Europe's AI founders have a larger early-stage fund to draw on, with a notable portfolio behind it. (Tech.eu)

MuleSoft founder's DIG Ventures closes $120M fund for AI infrastructure

Another London-based fund is backing the picks-and-shovels layer, with roughly 30 early-stage companies targeted. (The Next Web)

Forget supersized: McDonald's is exploring an $8.5 billion bet on an American fast food wave led by proteinmaxxing, portion control, and GLP-1s

The health wave, long a threat to fast food, may now be its next growth strategy. (Fortune)

Connected World

The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next

A 120-day study on the future of warfare, co-led by two founders who also sell to the Pentagon, plus Newt Gingrich. (TechCrunch)

Factory CEO just accused his VC board adviser of spying for Cognition

The adviser took a CRO job at a rival, adding corporate espionage allegations to the AI coding-agent competition. (TechCrunch)

Returning from vacation? The government can search your phone without a warrant.

A writer is suing to have his data deleted, which raises the stakes on your airport playlist. (Ars Technica)

Connected World

'Kpop Demon Hunters' sequel will be released in cinemas as well as on Netflix

Netflix's co-CEO confirms a theatrical run, a reversal for a streamer that once treated cinemas as an afterthought. (NME)

Gurman Reports Apple Is Launching New 'Smart Home' Products on October 13 (paywall)

Apple's long-delayed smart-home push has a date. (Daring Fireball / Bloomberg)