Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Sam Altman are all talking about public ownership in AI
WASHINGTON (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has met with Sen. Bernie Sanders to discuss public ownership in AI companies — a meeting that highlighted the tension between AI powerhouses and policymakers. President Donald Trump also expressed interest in the idea, showing how the two politicians, fueled by populism, are embracing the concept. But concerns about AI's impact are growing, with backlash over data centers in local communities and job prospects. Policymakers are exploring AI regulation, with bipartisan efforts in Congress and oversight from the Trump administration.
Anthropic urges industry coordination to allow for a 'pause' in AI development if risks grow
Anthropic is proposing that top AI companies coordinate a way to pause the development of advanced AI systems if they become too dangerous. The company behind the Claude chatbot says the technology is improving so quickly that there's a risk humans could lose control. In a blog post Thursday, Anthropic suggests giving the world an “option” to slow or temporarily pause AI development. The company plans to research ways to implement this pause, noting that AI models are getting faster, doubling their task capabilities every four months. This rapid advancement could lead to AI designing its own successors, raising control concerns.
Trump calls for military to accelerate use of AI while protecting Americans
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling for the U.S. military and national security agencies to accelerate their use of artificial intelligence. But the president is also acknowledging the need to protect civil liberties and to maintain oversight over autonomous weapon systems. Trump issued his memo on Friday as anxiety grows over AI, from replacing people’s jobs to helping to identify targets on the battlefield. Trump directed the military to ensure that autonomous weapons systems respect the chain of command. He also called for restrictions on AI when it comes to censorship and unlawful surveillance of Americans.
China can build humanoids at scale. The hard part is finding enough buyers
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese humanoid robots are making waves with their ability to do backflips, direct traffic and even make coffee. As such robots become more advanced, Chinese companies are looking for ways to profit from them. The government helped support their development, and startups say they have thousands of orders from both public and private companies looking to deploy them as China grapples with an aging population and rising labor costs. China’s domestic market appears to show strong demand for robots in various sectors from industrial to retail. While the U.S. excels in development of AI-powered robot “brains,” China leads in mass production and hardware and soon may be able to cut prices sharply.
Broken speaker? Finicky zipper? Anticonsumerist Repair Cafes urge you to fix it instead of pitch it
NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) — Repair Cafes are part of a new brand of anticonsumerism. The cafes and other efforts try to offer an alternative to mass-produced, disposable goods that have dominated the economy for the last half-century. Repair Cafes are free events where volunteers with technical know-how help neighbors fix household items. They started in the Netherlands with a single cafe in 2009 and grew to a global nonprofit. At a recent event in New Paltz, New York, volunteers helped attendees fix items from lamps and knives to sound mixers and balky zippers. There’s also the Buy Nothing Project and a growing number of tool-lending libraries. All are dedicated to repairing, trading, and giving instead of buying and selling.
One Tech Tip: What to know about flying with lithium ion portable battery chargers
If you're flying with a power bank, be aware of the latest rules. Airlines require lithium-ion battery chargers to be in carry-on luggage, not checked bags. Most airlines allow two power banks per passenger, each with a capacity of up to 100 watt hours. Larger batteries need airline approval. These rules are due to safety concerns after incidents involving battery fires. Keeping batteries in the cabin allows crew to act quickly if there's a problem. Avoid using power banks during flights and check for any signs of damage. Always follow airline guidelines to ensure safety.
AI companies are barreling toward huge Wall Street debuts. A look at the biggest players
Some of the leading artificial intelligence companies are moving toward initial public offerings this year at eye-popping valuations. From Anthropic to SpaceX to OpenAI, tech giants are looking to take their shares public to access more capital in the race to shape the technology’s future. But amid the billions — even trillions — at stake, worries about an AI bubble are looming in the background. Some experts fear tech companies and venture capitalists are pouring too much money into a still-nascent and unproven technology.
UN nuclear watchdog says it's been unable to inspect Iranian facilities
VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. nuclear watchdog has been unable to inspect nuclear facilities in Iran affected by the war last June, according to a confidential report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog. The confidential report, which was circulated to member states and seen Thursday by The Associated Press, comes as tensions have flared again in the Middle East. The IAEA reported that it “cannot provide any information on the current size, composition or whereabouts of the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran or whether Iran has suspended all enrichment-related activities.” Iranian drones damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport Wednesday, killing one person, wounding dozens and briefly closing the airfield — the latest in back-and-forth attacks by Iran and the U.S. that test a fragile ceasefire.
Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on federal regulation of telecom companies
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration in a case about the power of federal regulators over telecommunications companies. In an 8-1 ruling Thursday, the justices preserved one of the Federal Communications Commission’s key enforcement tools. Verizon and AT&T challenged multimillion-dollar penalties imposed after the agency determined that the companies failed to safeguard customer location data. The companies argued that the FCC's process was unconstitutional and they hoped to build on a line of Supreme Court cases limiting the power of federal agencies. The high court disagreed, though after the administration said companies didn't have to pay the fines right away.
What to Stream: 'Michael,' Olivia Rodrigo and Keith Urban albums and Bonnaroo
The streaming service debut of “Michael” and new albums from Olivia Rodrigo and Keith Urban are among the entertainment highlights this week hitting streaming services. It's a big week for music fans, with “Song Sung Blue,” about a Neil Diamond tribute act, landing on Netflix. Prime Video continues its YA/romance streak with “Every Year After,” an eight-episode series based on a novel by Carley Fortune. Those looking to take in a music festival from home can check out Disney+ and Hulu's streams of top acts from the Bonnaroo fest, including sets by The Strokes, Noah Kahan, Skrillex and RÜFÜS DU SOL.
