Morning Scan

Wednesday's mix: AI's compute demand keeps growing, geopolitics keeps showing up in supply chains and satellite orbits, and Walmart wants $120 for a membership covering two of its stores. Sony is selling a gold-plated MP3 player.

$45B — The size of the compute deal Nscale and Anthropic are reportedly discussing, the latest in a long string of giant Anthropic infrastructure agreements. (TechCrunch)

Machines & Minds

Nscale and Anthropic are reportedly in talks for yet another $45B compute deal

"Yet another" in that headline is accurate: $45B deals are now a recurring line item. (TechCrunch)

Muse Spark Open, Meta + Apple, Thin and Thick

Meta ships an open model, and Apple is helping you run it locally. (Stratechery)

Former Google DeepMind top researcher launches London "compute-efficient" AI company

An AlphaGo co-creator is betting on doing more with less compute, a contrarian position. (Tech.eu)

Accused OpenAI spy had folder called "Saudi Gov Docs," FBI says

A court denied release of the former engineer, and the folder naming convention is not helping his case. (Ars Technica)

The US sanctions MiraclePlus, a Chinese VC firm founded by ex-Microsoft executive Lu Qi, over alleged ties to Zhisuan (paywall)

Washington is now sanctioning the "Chinese Y Combinator" over alleged theft of Google's AI secrets. (Bloomberg)

Connected World

Russian spacecraft maneuvers in "extreme proximity" to satellite used by Ukraine

The first known case of a Russian military satellite crowding a commercial imaging satellite, which puts commercial space inside the battlefield. (Ars Technica)

Defense contractors in two NATO allies hacked in recent Russia-linked campaign

Fancy Bear sat inside two defense contractors' networks with a recently documented backdoor. (The Record)

The unlikely winners from Trump's Iran war (paywall)

From Canada to Argentina, buyers scrambling to replace supply lost to Hormuz disruption are driving a surge in investment and production. (Financial Times)

The fossil fuel comeback is here

The US is building more fossil fuel infrastructure than in a decade as renewable growth slows, with data centers driving demand. (The Verge)

The New Consumer

Walmart launches joint membership with Sam's Club as it leans into delivery, gas discounts

One $120-a-year membership across both banners is Walmart's latest bid to turn convenience into a subscription. (CNBC)

General Motors beats Wall Street's Q3 earnings expectations, narrows full-year guidance

A beat, a narrower earnings range, and a higher free cash flow outlook make for a tidy quarter in Detroit. (CNBC)

Louis Vuitton and Hermès among luxury retailers looted in French riots (paywall)

Authorities are now chasing the loot across Vinted, Amazon and eBay, so the resale market is involved too. (Financial Times)

Connected World

Sony updates the Walkman as a $5,900 gold-plated MP3 player

Android 16, a touchscreen, and a price tag that could buy roughly 5,900 one-dollar songs, if anyone still sold them. (The Register)