OpenAI's pipeline found 948 working Linux root exploits for $1.2m
OpenAI has published results from an autonomous pipeline that scans the Linux kernel, reproduces findings, writes exploits and drafts patches for human review. In one mid-October run using an upcoming cyber model, it dynamically reproduced 1,724 vulnerabilities and produced 948 working local privilege escalation exploits against a stock desktop distribution, at about $1.2 million in API credits, or roughly $1,279 per exploit. OpenAI says the agents used at least 10 novel exploitation techniques, and it is reporting critical bugs first, with candidate patches, through its Patch the Planet partners. The point is that finding kernel bugs is no longer the bottleneck: triage, maintainer review and patch uptake are. Expect a heavier stream of kernel security fixes, and keep machines updated. OpenAI: A thousand fewer paths to root
What else matters
Tencent launches Hy4 with vision and computer use
Tencent's Hy4 adds visual understanding and computer-use abilities for the first time, alongside better long-context and long-horizon agent performance. Pricing stays at about $0.90 per million input tokens and $2.70 per million output tokens, and Tencent says weights and system cards follow in the coming days, with a cheaper Hy4 Flash due soon. Tencent announcement
Midterms hand Democrats Congress, and AI policy gets harder
With Democrats taking both the House and Senate, analysts expect more oversight of AI and data centres: scaled-back tax incentives, more grid costs pushed onto developers and early safety rules. Sweeping legislation would still face a presidential veto, so states such as California may keep setting the pace. The National
EU puts €525m into chip startups
The European Commission and member states will provide €440 million in grants to help chip startups commercialise designs, plus €85 million for a European Chips Design Platform offering design tools, IP blocks and manufacturing access. European firms hold under 1% of global chip-design revenue, so this is a catch-up move driven by AI demand. Reuters via Investing.com
SpaceX shops a $40bn GPU financing deal
Goldman Sachs and Apollo are lining up investors for about $40 billion of debt to buy Nvidia Rubin GPUs through an off-balance-sheet vehicle that leases them to SpaceX for five years, with delivery expected in the first half of 2027. It is billed as the largest GPU financing ever. Aju Press, citing Bloomberg
