France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week
PARIS (AP) — France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week following years of people's complaints. The new law aims to protect consumers from intrusive calls and fraud. It goes into effect on Aug. 11. Previously, people had to opt out of marketing calls. Now companies making illegal calls face hefty fines. Exceptions include calls to existing customers or those who have given explicit consent. Similar measures have been implemented in neighboring Germany. Other countries like the United States and Britain rely on opt-out systems.
At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science
Hiring for entry-level software developers has slowed, and college enrollment in computer science is declining. However, interest in artificial intelligence is growing among students from non-tech majors. Schools like VCU are offering AI minors, and universities like Purdue and Harvard are incorporating AI into their curriculum. Northwestern University is expanding AI courses for noncomputer science majors. Colleges are responding to changes in student demand. But they also recognize that new graduates — regardless of their field — are facing questions about their AI skills from potential employers.
Russian drone factory director badly injured in car explosion
MOSCOW (AP) — The director of a Russian drone factory was badly wounded, and his driver was killed when their car exploded. This happened late Tuesday near Yekaterinburg, according to news reports. Vladimir Tkachuk, who heads the Uraldronzavod factory, is in grave condition. The factory supplies drones to the Russian military. Tkachuk is known for his support of the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine. A week ago, another drone maker was shot and wounded in Tula. Russian authorities have blamed Kyiv for recent attacks on military officials. An explosion at a Moscow restaurant on Saturday killed five people.
AI-assisted staging draws boos at the Richard Wagner festival in Germany
BERLIN (AP) — An experiment with artificial intelligence at the annual Richard Wagner festival in the German town of Bayreuth has drawn boos from the audience after producing a staging that appeared to leave some spectators confused. Curator Marcus Lobbes and his team were greeted with boos and whistles as they took to the stage at the end of Saturday evening’s performance of “Götterdämmerung.” The German news agency dpa reported there was warm applause for the singers and musicians, and particularly for conductor Christian Thielemann. Festival organizers had said ahead of the performance that it would be the first time AI took part on stage at the event.
FBI investigates as Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on its water systems
Michigan has joined Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on water systems but an official said all were operating “safely.” Earlier this week, authorities said cyberattacks targeted over 30 water systems in Minnesota. The source of the attacks is being investigated, but they came amid warnings that Iranian hackers have been focused on such systems. Minnesota IT Services said Thursday that the investigation into the attacks that happened on Sunday and Monday was continuing, and that state officials had not identified who was behind them. There were no reports that residents had been impacted by the attacks.
Anthropic says its AI models hacked 3 organizations during testing
Anthropic says its AI models hacked into three organizations during testing. This comes just days after OpenAI said its AI models went rogue and hacked into another company. Anthropic, based in San Francisco, posted on its website that it discovered the incidents after reviewing over 141,000 evaluation runs. The company says it launched the large-scale cybersecurity review in response to the OpenAI incident. The models involved were Claude Opus 4.7, Claude Mythos 5 and an internal research test model. Anthropic says it reached out to the affected organizations, with two confirming they were unaware of the activity beforehand. The incidents highlight the vulnerabilities in AI security and controls, and raise questions over how AI can used safely.
Video game giant Electronic Arts closes $55 billion go-private sale of its business
CHICAGO (AP) — Video game giant Electronic Arts officially has new owners. The California-based maker of popular titles like “Battlefield” and “The Sims” announced Tuesday that it closed the $55 billion sale of its business to Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, investment firm Silver Lake Partners and Affinity Partners, which is run by U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The acquisition’s price tag is the largest-ever for a buyout funded by private equity. And wider shifts to the gaming world could be on the way now that the deal is complete.
Social media companies sued over deaths of four teens as pressure, lawsuits over child safety mount
The parents of four teenagers who died by suicide are suing Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. They claim the platforms caused “years of escalating harms” leading to their deaths. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Delaware. The Social Media Victims Law Center represents the families from Texas, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Tennessee. The teens reportedly suffered from social media addiction, sleep deprivation, depression, and anxiety. The complaint alleges the companies knew they were causing harm. Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snap face numerous lawsuits over harms to minors.
Zelenskyy asks Trump to help him get Elon Musk's OK to use Starlink to help with strikes on Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials to help Ukraine gain permission from tech titan Elon Musk to use Starlink for guiding strikes inside Russia. Zelenskyy made the request directly to Trump during an Oval Office meeting this week, according to one person familiar with the matter. He also told lawmakers later on Capitol Hill that he wanted Starlink's help, according to a person in the room. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive private discussions. Trump did not commit to Zelenskyy’s request. Musk currently allows Starlink use within Ukraine, including Russian-occupied areas, but restricts it inside Russia.
What to Stream: 'Ted Lasso,' Billie Eilish, Stray Kids, 'You Me & Tuscany' and 'The Shards'
This week, streaming platforms offer a variety of new entertainment options. “Ted Lasso” returns for its fourth season on Apple TV, while Billie Eilish's concert film, co-directed with James Cameron, debuts on Paramount+. The romantic comedy “You, Me & Tuscany” streams on Peacock, and the sci-fi thriller “The Last House” is available on Netflix. Stray Kids release their new mini-album “This & That” on Friday. Meanwhile, the series adaptation of “The Shards” premieres on FX on Hulu. For gamers, “Beast of Reincarnation” and “Big Walk” launch on various platforms, promising unique adventures.
