AI robot company decommissioned its robots ‘Terminator-style’ in a 75-ton vat of molten steel

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Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

Figure, a U.S.-based robotics company, decommissioned its older AI robots by dropping them into a 75-ton vat of molten steel. The company stated that maintaining its F.02 fleet was no longer practical because its newer F.03 models are increasing in numbers. However, Figure noted that disassembling the older units is difficult and time-consuming due to proprietary technology inside them. Sending the robots to a third party for recycling would risk exposing this technology, while keeping an internal team occupied would divert workers from developing the upcoming F.04 model.

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US Army unit deploys drone assembled completely in-house, uses 3D-printed ‘Dragoon Bombs’ with ball bearing shrapnel

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AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

The U.S. Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based in Bavaria, Germany, has launched an attack drone it claims is the first one its unit has built and flown. According to Stars and Stripes, soldiers of the Dragoons assembled an Orqa MRM2-10 drone and fitted it with a 3D-printed casing called "Dragoon bombs." These explosives can be modified; for example, they could include ball bearings to target enemy personnel or use a shaped charge to defeat light armor.

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Database expert runs Doom in SQL with just 5,900 lines of code

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Tom’s Hardware • Bruno Ferreira • October 4, 2026

In 2026, Lukas Vogel of the SQLDoom project ported the 1993 game Doom to CedarDB, a performance-focused database compatible with PostgreSQL. While the visual display and sound are handled by Python acting as peripherals, all mathematical logic runs inside the database. The original game’s data structure was already highly relational, requiring only 1,000 lines of Python to convert entities from the WAD package into database tables.

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Modder brings Nvidia Pascal GPU support to Windows XP 32-bit

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Tom’s Hardware • Bruno Ferreira • October 4, 2026

SupraGSX has added support for Nvidia Pascal-era graphics cards to Windows XP 32-bit, bringing modern features like DisplayPort and HDMI handling. This update targets the 10-series and Quadro P2000 through P6000 models. The new software is based on a spin-off of the existing 368.81 driver, which Nvidia previously released as its last official Windows XP support for 9-series GPUs. It also incorporates firmware from Quadro 376.84 drivers and utilizes Video Protected Region support from Windows 7 GeForce 378.78. While some online sources suggest the project was "vibe-coded," the developer’s repository does not mention this, and build instructions show no clear signs of clanker activity.

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Robotics startup has real human vs. robot cage match, California responds with cease-and-desist order

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Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

A robotics startup called REK received a cease-and-desist letter from the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) after hosting a human versus robot fight in San Francisco on September 18, 2026. The event featured YouTuber Frankie LaPenna facing three different robots in a cage. CSAC ordered the company to stop holding, promoting, or sponsoring unsanctioned fights without a license, noting that organizing such events is a misdemeanor. REK founder and CEO Cix Liv shared the official document on social media.

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Modder ‘fixes’ melting RTX 5090 power connectors with custom distributor

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Tom’s Hardware • Jhet Borja • October 4, 2026

Reddit user u/DallasGrave shared a fix for his RTX 5090 graphics card, whose 12VHPWR connector was overheating. He attached a custom-made power distributor to the back of the GPU that splits the electrical load across more wires to reduce heat. The modder is connected to GRAVEPC.com, a company known for custom cooling solutions in small form-factor PCs. When asked if this modification would be covered under PNY’s warranty, u/DallasGrave stated they are a PNY partner and customers can buy similar cards with full warranty coverage directly from them. However, this specific mod is not currently available on their website.

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Best Amazon Prime Day tech deals live

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Tom’s Hardware • Stephen Warwick • October 5, 2026

Amazon Prime Day returns in October 2026 to offer tech deals despite rising prices for PC components like CPUs and GPUs. The event begins Tuesday, October 6, but experts have already identified worthwhile offers across categories including laptops, monitors, and storage. Participation requires an Amazon Prime membership, with monthly plans at $14.99 and annual plans at $139. A free trial also grants access to these sales.

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Anthropic reports Florida woman’s Claude ‘diary’ threat to shoot up sheriff’s office, felony charge follows

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Tom’s Hardware • Shane Downing • October 5, 2026

A woman from Lee County, Florida, was arrested on a felony charge after her Anthropic Claude chatbot conversation, referred to as a "diary," contained threats reported by Anthropic’s human review team. According to an arrest report, the user identified as "Carli" stated she would "shoot up" the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on September 26. A follow-up message the next day allegedly mentioned acquiring a new gun. This marks at least the third such case involving Anthropic chats reaching police since August.

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Russia’s uncrewed robot tank fails during debut military display in front of President Putin

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Tom’s Hardware • Etiido Uko • October 5, 2026

Russia’s new Shturm uncrewed tank failed during its debut at the Tsentr-2026 military exercise held from September 28 to October 3, 2026. According to an October 3 Defense Blog post, the vehicle repeatedly lost its command-and-control radio link with its separate command car. This failure forced organizers to abandon remote operations and switch to a human driver-mechanic for the demonstration in front of President Vladimir Putin.

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Windows 11 was released five years ago today

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Tom’s Hardware • Mark Tyson • October 5, 2026

Windows 11 was released on October 5, 2021, five years ago. While Microsoft has faced numerous controversies since then, including forcing capable hardware into retirement by raising minimum system requirements and mandating online Microsoft accounts for setup, things are reportedly settling down. The company recently introduced the Windows 11 26H2 update, which it describes as a "predictable and low-disruption" release rather than a revolutionary change.

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