News · Trends
AI news daily: what changed on October 19, 2026
3 AI stories from TechCrunch AI, The Verge AI, rewritten and sourced.
1. Anthropic says it's committing 5% of its shares to a 'public benefit fund'
Anthropic announced it will allocate 5% of its shares to a public benefit fund. The company, Anthropic, made this commitment as part of its corporate structure. The specific percentage mentioned is 5%. The fund's purpose or objectives were not detailed in the announcement. No further information about the fund's management or goals was provided. The company did not specify when the shares will be transferred or how the fund will operate. This action aligns with Anthropic's stated focus on long-term societal impact.
Source: TechCrunch AI
2. A woman was arrested in Philly for blocking a delivery robot
A woman in Philadelphia was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after blocking an Uber delivery robot and refusing to move. Carolyn Marvin stood in the robot's path, according to reports. She told Philadelphia's ABC13 that she was protesting the robots' impact on human delivery jobs. Marvin stated she had been confronting such robots whenever she encountered them. The incident involved an Uber delivery robot, which is part of the company's automated delivery services. No specific details about the robot's capabilities or the case's next steps were provided. The arrest highlights tensions over automation in delivery services.
Source: The Verge AI
3. Disney agrees to hire the majority of Character.AI's workforce
Disney has agreed to hire the majority of Character.AI's workforce following a recent filing. The document states that "vast majority" of employees offered positions at Disney accepted them. The agreement is described as a stalking horse bid, indicating it could prompt other companies to submit higher offers. No specific numbers or roles were provided about the workforce size. The filing does not confirm if all employees will join Disney or if remaining staff will be laid off. The next steps depend on whether competing bids emerge. The situation remains unresolved as of the report.
Source: TechCrunch AI
All news →