What changed in AI today

• Agents install and update through the Windows Store. Hermes, Perplexity, and OpenClaw are the first three officially supported agents at launch.
• Microsoft says it ships Prism emulator updates monthly to improve compatibility for x64 apps on the Arm-based chips.
• Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, Arc Raiders, Counter-Strike 2, and Dota 2 are supported out of the box. Call of Duty and Battlefield anti-cheat follow in 2027.
• Copilot Plus features such as Recall are not available at launch. Microsoft expects them first for Windows Insiders later this year.

Why it matters for marketers: Content teams building for Windows should plan for agent-based workflows and gaming reach, but not for Copilot Plus features on these laptops until later this year.

• Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho and Montana filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI.
• States allege OpenAI violated consumer protection laws by failing to warn users about ChatGPT dangers.
• Suits also accuse OpenAI of collecting data from minors and not keeping underage users off the chatbot.
• States seek civil penalties, an end to alleged misleading safety claims, and in some cases deletion of unlawfully collected data.

Why it matters for marketers: Marketers promoting AI chatbots to younger audiences may face tighter scrutiny of safety claims and age-gating, so review claims and consent practices now.

• Last week, Anthropic and OpenAI appeared to lead, with increasingly powerful models pulling ahead of rivals.
• Google was seen as hopelessly far behind the leaders, according to The Verge.
• Meta has spent billions trying to revive its floundering AI ambitions but had not yet emerged as a serious contender.

Why it matters for marketers: Content teams relying on one AI vendor should recheck model rankings, since the leading providers may shift soon.

• Square Kiosk has a 21.5-inch touchscreen and a voice layer that understands the seller's menu in real time.
• Customers can ask questions and request modifications or substitutions by talking to the AI agent.
• Presence detection lets the kiosk greet customers as they approach; payment works by contactless reader or card slot.
• Available starting today at $1,999 for Plus or Premium subscribers, plus a $99-per-device monthly software fee.

Why it matters for marketers: Restaurants and retailers using Square can now offer voice-led self-ordering, so content teams may need to write menu data and ordering copy for conversational AI.

• Engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, charged with using a device to intercept oral communications, per Justice Department release.
• Device was reportedly found plugged into a TV's USB port in an executive conference room, installed around September 28.
• OpenAI says it used its AI models to trace the device to a specific employee, who was fired and referred to the FBI.
• Alfozan appeared in federal court Tuesday after being arrested Friday; OpenAI reports no sign of model weight or customer data access.

Why it matters for marketers: Marketers and content teams handling confidential launch or strategy materials should review how sensitive meeting rooms and insider access are secured.

• Character.AI filed for Chapter 11 after lawsuits and struggles to scale, reporting assets and liabilities of $50 million to $100 million.
• Disney agreed to buy some assets for $20 million plus a non-exclusive perpetual license to its technology, per the report.
• The sale is expected to close in late November or early December; no bid or buyer for the assets had been secured yet.
• CEO Colin Adams said the platform will be wound down if no actionable bid emerges, while operations continue during the sale.

Why it matters for marketers: Marketers relying on Character.AI audiences or integrations should plan for possible platform shutdown and check alternative channels before late November.