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iRobot, which brought robotic vacuum cleaners to the masses with its iconic Roomba models, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Massachusetts-based company plans to sell all assets to its primary supplier, a Chinese company known as Picea Robotics. If approved by a bankruptcy court, the move would allow iRobot to "continue operating in the ordinary course, pursue its product development roadmap, and maintain its global footprint," iRobot wrote in a press release. The company expects the deal to close in February 2026, but says it will continue to operate "with no anticipated disruption to its app functionality, customer programs, global partners, supply chain relationships or ongoing product support." That means your Roomba should continue to clean normally and you'll be able to get consumables and replacement parts. However, investors of common stock "will experience a total loss and not receive recovery on their investment" if the deal is approved, iRobot stated. The company didn't discuss how the move might affect its employees in the US or elsewhere. Bankruptcy seemed a likely outcome for iRobot after Amazon dropped its $1.7 billion acquisition of the company last year following a veto threat by European regulators. The company's fortunes continued to decline and it issued a statement to investors in March 2025 that it had "substantial doubt about [its] ability to continue." It's a sad turn of events for the company that invented the robotic vacuum niche and launched its first product, the Roomba, back in 2002. It dominated that space for more than a decade, but its market size has steadily shrunk more recently, particularly since Covid, due to competition from rivals like Roborock and Dreame. Though iRobot retooled its product lineup earlier this year with new models like the Roomba 105 Vac Robot series and Roomba Plus 505 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock, but they failed to move the sales needle enough. The company was reportedly hit hard by Trump's 46 percent tariff in Vietnam where it manufactures products for the US market. If the sale is approved, iRobot says it will return in force. "Today's announcement marks a pivotal milestone in securing iRobot's long-term future," said CEO Gary Cohen. "The transaction will strengthen our financial position and will help deliver continuity for our consumers, customers, and partners."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/irobot-has-filed-for-bankruptcy-and-may-be-taken-over-by-its-primary-supplier-091602257.html?src=rss
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A pop-up bakery opening in Amsterdam this week moves asylum seekers out of political abstraction and into everyday work.Bakkerij van Waarde (Bakery of Value) will operate for just two days in December, selling handmade apple pies and cakes created with refugees who helped develop both the concept and recipes. The initiative, organized by refugee support organization VluchtelingenWerk Nederland, aims to demonstrate what emerges when people are given opportunities to contribute from day one rather than being forced to wait on the sidelines.The bakery addresses a stark reality: asylum seekers in the Netherlands currently face waiting periods exceeding two years before their cases are processed. During this time, they're prohibited from working, studying or meaningfully participating in society. That enforced idleness takes a toll on their health and their future prospects. Bakkerij van Waarde flips the script by showcasing the skills and value refugees bring when barriers are removed. All proceeds from cake sales will be split between VluchtelingenWerk Nederland and the Refugee Company.TREND BITEAs political rhetoric increasingly frames asylum seekers as burdens rather than contributors, Bakkerij van Waarde offers a tangible counter-narrative. The pop-up doesn't just raise funds it illustrates potential. By focusing on what refugees can create when given agency, rather than what they require when denied it, the initiative reframes the conversation from crisis management to talent recognition. For those unable to visit, the bakery offers a signature Ter Apeltaart recipe in exchange for donations, extending its reach beyond Amsterdam while maintaining its core message: when people are valued, value is created.
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Google seems to be cracking down on the use of Disney characters in AI-generated videos on YouTube after it was hit with a cease and desist letter. According to reports by Variety and Deadline, the company removed dozens of videos featuring Deadpool, Moana, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars characters and other Disney IP as of Friday, just days after Disney accused it of "infringing Disneys copyrights on a massive scale." The letter, seen by both publications earlier this week, called out Google not just for hosting these videos on YouTube, but also for using copyrighted works to train models including Veo and Nano Banana. Prior to this, Disney has come after Character.AI as well as Hailuo and Midjourney both of which it's suing over AI-related copyright infringement. But, that doesn't mean it's shunning AI-generated content altogether. The company on Friday announced a deal with OpenAI that will bring Disney characters to Sora and ChatGPT, and bring AI-generated shorts from Sora to Disney+. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-pulls-ai-generated-videos-of-disney-characters-from-youtube-in-response-to-cease-and-desist-220849629.html?src=rss
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