Daily Brief - 11 November 2026

AI capabilities push into biology and autonomous agents, regulators target algorithmic harms, and commercial robotics expand into new markets.

Tencent AI chief says frontier models nearing biology mastery

Vinces Yao Shunyu, chief AI scientist at Tencent and former OpenAI researcher, warned on 8 November that AI systems are approaching mastery of biology. The development promises to accelerate drug discovery and medical research but introduces safety risks the field has barely begun to address, as large models tackle molecular structures, protein folding, and genomic sequences. Read more →

Pudu Robotics weighs European factory as overseas sales hit 80 per cent

The Shenzhen robotics maker derives approximately 80 per cent of revenue from international markets, founder Felix Zhang Tao said. That export-heavy profile is driving the company to explore manufacturing operations in Europe, while it also plots entry into the humanoid sector against established rivals. Read more →

Apple accelerates Siri overhaul to match OpenAI and Meta on autonomous agents

CEO John Ternus has instructed software chief Craig Federighi to compress development timelines for an agentic Siri capable of multi-step task automation and third-party app control, targeting mid-2027. Internal assessments acknowledge the assistant remains a generation behind competitors in task complexity and autonomy. Read more →

Brussels says TikTok's For You feed violates DSA, demands algorithm redesign

The European Commission issued preliminary findings on 6 November stating that TikTok's recommendation engine creates self-reinforcing content loops that pose mental health risks. The regulator argues sustained exposure to themes related to sadness, body image, or isolation threatens vulnerable users, and the platform faces design changes or fines up to 6 per cent of revenue. Read more →

Riding Pony.ai and Baidu robotaxis in Shenzhen and Beijing

Autonomous ride-hailing services from Pony.ai and Baidu now operate commercially in multiple Chinese cities. First-hand test rides reveal that initial unease at the empty driver's seat recedes quickly, replaced by appreciation for a different kind of silence: no obligatory conversation, no social negotiation, just the car driving itself through urban traffic. Read more →

Binance CFO exits weeks after exchange loses $6.3 billion in theft

Kaiser Ng resigned as chief financial officer following more than five years with the platform. The departure comes barely ten days after Binance suffered a security breach that saw $6.3 billion in digital assets stolen, forcing the exchange to suspend withdrawals and triggering a liquidity crisis. Read more →

Meta adds project workspaces to Muse agent platform

The company introduced Spaces, a feature that lets users establish dedicated environments for specific projects and ongoing tasks. Each Space maintains its own conversation thread and context, allowing the agent to pursue a defined objective without mixing information across different projects. The update follows voice interaction capabilities rolled out last week. Read more →

SpaceXAI releases free Grok add-on for Google Workspace

The chatbot launched as a no-cost alternative to Gemini inside Docs, Sheets, and Slides in July 2026. Installation grants access across all three editors, with Grok opening in a side panel. The appeal is clear after Google folded Gemini into Business and Enterprise plans, raising the effective price to 32 dollars per user per month. Read more →

Compiled by OTW Briefing Desk from Opentechwire reporting.