A robot is beating human pros at table tennis. Its maker calls it a milestone for machines
A paddle-wielding robot is so adept at playing table tennis that it is posing a tough challenge to elite human players and sometimes defeating them, according to a new study in the journal Nature that shows how advances in artificial intelligence are making robots more agile. Japanese electronics giant Sony built the robotic arm it calls Ace and pitted it against professional athletes. Ace proved a worthy adversary, though one with some non-human attributes: nine camera eyes positioned around the court and an uncanny ability to follow the ball’s logo to measure its spin.
Trump media company replaces ex-congressman Nunes as CEO after stock plunge that wiped out billions
NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump business behind Truth Social is replacing a former congressman and big supporter of the U.S. president as leader of the social media platform after a stock collapse in the past year. Devin Nunes, a former California congressmen in Donald Trump’s first term, is being replaced temporarily by digital media executive Kevin McGurn as chief executive officer. The company, Trump Media & Technology, didn’t give a reason for Nunes leaving. After soaring following Trump’s re-election in November 2024, stock in the company plunged 67%, wiping out more than $6 billion in investor wealth.
SpaceX says it can buy AI coding tool Cursor for $60B later this year
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — SpaceX says it has the rights to buy artificial intelligence coding tool Cursor for $60 billion later this year as Elon Musk’s space exploration and AI company looks for ways to compete with rivals Anthropic and OpenAI ahead of a planned Wall Street debut. SpaceX said that, alternatively, it could pay $10 billion to “work together” with Cursor. SpaceX announced the deal Tuesday on the social platform X, which along with the AI chatbot Grok is part of a constellation of properties that Musk has merged into his rocket company.
Florida's attorney general launches criminal probe into ChatGPT over FSU shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida's attorney general has opened an investigation into OpenAI's ChatGPT. The probe, announced Tuesday, examines the AI app's interactions with a gunman charged with a fatal shooting at Florida State University last year. Attorney General James Uthmeier says prosecutors reviewed chat logs between ChatGPT and the gunman, Phoenix Ikner. They aim to determine if the app aided or abetted the crime. Florida's Office of Statewide Prosecution has subpoenaed OpenAI for records. Ikner faces charges of murder and attempted murder, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. An OpenAI spokeswoman called the FSU shooting a tragedy but said the company had no responsibility.
Anthropic seeks to debunk Pentagon's claims about its control over AI technology in military systems
WASHINGTON (AP) — Anthropic on Wednesday told an appeals court that it can’t manipulate its artificial intelligence tool Claude once it is deployed in classified Pentagon military networks. The assertion aims to debunk the Trump administration’s attempt to brand the rapidly growing technology company as a supply chain risk. The statement made as part of 96-page filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. provided a glimpse at the arguments that Anthropic’s lawyers intend to make as part of a lawsuit filed last month in the fallout of a contract dispute over how AI technology can be used in fully autonomous weapons and potential surveillance of Americans.
New York sues Coinbase and Gemini, seeking to halt unlicensed prediction market businesses
NEW YORK (AP) — New York is suing Coinbase and Gemini over unregulated and unlicensed prediction market platforms that the state contends are illegal gambling operations. Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit was filed Tuesday in state court in Manhattan. James is seeking to bar the companies’ platforms from operating in the state unless and until they obtain licenses from the state Gaming Commission. Messages seeking comment were left for Coinbase and Gemini. Both companies began as cryptocurrency trading platforms before branching into the prediction space, which has been dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.
Most serious cyberattacks against the UK now from Russia, Iran and China, cyber chief says
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — The head of the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre warns that hostile nations like Russia, Iran and China are behind the most serious cyberattacks in the U.K. In a speech Wednesday, Richard Horne said British businesses need to prepare for large-scale cyberattacks, especially if the U.K. becomes involved in international conflicts. Recently, countries like Sweden and Poland have reported Russian-linked attacks on critical infrastructure. Horne said that while ransomware is common, state-sponsored cyberattacks pose the greatest threat. He is urging companies to understand these risks and improve defenses before it's too late.
Federal judge strikes down some Trump administration actions that have slowed clean energy projects
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Massachusetts has struck down some of the Trump administration’s orders slowing down the development of clean energy. That includes a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. Chief Judge Denise J. Casper on Tuesday ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims. Casper issued a preliminary injunction to stop the administration from implementing the policies. The Interior Department in July said all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters must be personally approved by Burgum, oversight it said was needed to end preferential treatment for these technologies.
Apple's new CEO John Ternus steps into the spotlight after flying under the radar for years
LONDON (AP) — Apple has announced that John Ternus will become the next CEO, taking over from Tim Cook on September 1. Ternus is a company veteran who has been with Apple for 25 years, most recently overseeing hardware engineering for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Despite his significant role, Ternus has kept a low profile outside the company. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Apple, which has fallen behind in the artificial intelligence race. Analysts say Ternus faces the challenge of advancing Apple's AI capabilities. Ternus expressed humility and commitment to Apple's values in his new role.
Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO and hand reins over to the iPhone maker's hardware leader
Apple CEO Tim Cook is stepping down from the job that he inherited from the late Steve Jobs, ending a 15-year reign that saw the company’s market value soar by more than $3.6 trillion during an iPhone-fueled era of prosperity. The 65-year-old Cook will hand the CEO duties to Apple’s head of hardware products, John Ternus, on Sept. 1 while remaining involved with the Cupertino, California, company as executive chairman. Although he never shook the perception that he lacked Jobs’ vision, Cook leveraged the popularity of the iPhone and other breakthroughs orchestrated by his predecessor to lift Apple to heights that seemed unfathomable when it was on the brink of bankruptcy during the mid-1990s.
