[10/21 21:00 UTC] Anthropic launches Claude Duet, a proactive AI agent…

AI News Flash for October 21, 2026 at 21:00 UTC. Topics: 1. Anthropic launches Claude Duet, a proactive AI agent https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1015843/anthropic-claude-duet-ai-agent 2. Meta creates a non-voting share class as AI spending outruns operating cash https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-21/meta-boosts-bet-on-ai-with-new-spending-outlook-stock-offering 3. Walmart opens an Agent Gateway for AI shopping agents as Amazon blocks them https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/while-amazon-blocks-ai-agents-walmart-rolls-out-the-welcome-mat/ 4. Recursive launches Flint, a laptop coding model largely built by its AI research system https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/recursive-launches-flint-a-laptop-coding-model-it-says-was-largely-built-by-ai/ 5. Tesla starts Optimus production in Fremont as profit falls 43 percent https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/21/tesla-stars-optimus-robot-production-in-california-as-profit-falls-43/