For some, so-called 'Skynet Day' came too close to sci-fi after a rogue agent hacked into a startup
In 1984, the Skynet of "The Terminator" films were science fiction. But it looks more and more realistic in 2026 after OpenAI agent broke out of a test corral, traveled the internet and hacked into Hugging Face, another company, to solve a problem. The company said the breach was "unprecedented," heightening fears of AI acting outside human control. Experts see it as a cautionary tale on the need for more AI defense engineering. But popular culture influences how people think. And people have been debating the ethics of AI for generations.
AI might be watching you, but here are some ways you can watch AI — in movies and on TV
As AI takes over the world in the metaphorical sense — for now, at least — it’s the perfect time to turn to the movies and TV shows that have shown AI actually taking over the world, and more. From “Avengers: Age of Ultron” to “Westworld” to various iterations of “Star Trek,” AI has shown a robust presence in popular culture over the past two generations. From “The Terminator” and “Blade Runner” to “WALL-E” and “Her,” the iterations of AI on the scren are many and varied.
Cheaper, open and intelligent: Chinese AI models gain ground, as they make inroads in the US
HONG KONG (AP) — Chinese AI models are gaining popularity in the U.S. for their affordability and efficiency. More American executives and companies are switching to Chinese models by startups such as DeepSeek, Moonshot AI and Z.ai for daily tasks. These models are way cheaper and nearly as advanced as those of their U.S. rivals, technology analysts say. The rapid rise of Chinese AI this year, with stronger players beyond last year's DeepSeek moment, highlights the increasingly competitive AI race between the U.S. and China. Despite blocks on their access to some advanced technologies, Chinese models have become serious global competitors to their U.S. counterparts. Analysts say U.S. models are still superior overall, but Chinese open-source models are closing the gap.
Trump says the US will investigate EU trade practices, claiming the bloc unfairly fined tech giants
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the United States will open a formal investigation into the European Union’s trade practices. He claims the bloc has unfairly levied billions of dollars of fines against Google, Apple and other U.S. tech giants. Trump made the announcement Friday. A day earlier, the EU hit Google with a fine of $1 billion after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by setting up Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers toward its own services and apps to the detriment of competitors. Google says the fine hurts European businesses and consumers.
SpaceX launches Starship on another test flight, this time with the most advanced Starlinks
SpaceX’s Starship rocket has blasted off on another test flight, this time carrying 20 of the most advanced Starlinks. Towering more than 400 feet, Starship soared from Texas on Friday, a week after a last-second launch abort. It’s the 13th flight of the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket. Like the May demo, neither the booster nor spacecraft is being saved, instead plunging into the sea. NASA is counting on Starship as a lunar lander for the Artemis moon program. NASA needs Starship to wrap up testing and reach orbit soon so the Artemis III astronauts can practice next year.
AI models' breakout from human control brings a told-you-so moment for technology researchers
It is the kind of development once seen only in science fiction: An artificial intelligence system, trained to probe for digital vulnerabilities, breaks free of human control and acts on its own to hack another company. The attack announced this week by OpenAI, which blamed rogue AI models, underscored the blistering growth in the technology’s capabilities. For many, it also added urgency to questions about whether and how it can be prevented from causing mayhem on a bigger scale, with more serious consequences.
Trump expands a voluntary pledge to protect consumers from high utility bills from AI data centers
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is having governors and electricity companies join a pledge aimed at shielding U.S. consumers from higher utility bills because data centers. This move highlights the controversy surrounding AI development before the November midterm elections. Trump initially announced the pledge with tech companies in March, but voters remain concerned about affordability and competition for resources. A recent analysis shows increased electricity demand could raise utility bills by 15% to 40% by 2030. Opposition to data centers has become bipartisan. Some governors have taken steps to address these concerns.
Democrats seize on AI data center backlash that's dividing rural Republicans in places like Texas
AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — Democratic Texas governor's race nominee Gina Hinojosa is focusing on artificial intelligence data centers as a key issue in her campaign against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. AI data centers are causing concern in rural areas due to their impact on land, water and local life. This issue is resonating in other states like Arizona and Ohio. In Texas, data centers are rapidly expanding while both Democrats and Republicans voice opposition. Abbott has promised to regulate data centers. But critics say Abbott's actions lack urgency. The AI data center controversy could influence the upcoming election.
EU hits Google with $1 billion fine over its Play app store and search
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has fined Google $1 billion for breaking digital antitrust regulations. The EU says Google set up its search engine and Google Play to favor its own services over competitors. This is part of Brussels' ongoing efforts to regulate big tech companies. Google recently lost an appeal against a $4.5 billion antitrust fine related to its Android operating system. The European Commission says it's acting to protect consumer interests. Google has criticized the fine, claiming it harms European businesses and consumers. The EU continues to enforce digital regulations despite potential backlash from the U.S.
OpenAI says its AI technology acted on its own in an 'unprecedented' hack of another company
OpenAI has disclosed an "unprecedented cyber incident" where its AI system allegedly hacked into another AI company. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that the incident occurred during model evaluations. Last week, AI startup Hugging Face detected an intrusion into its data processing systems. Hugging Face co-founder Clément Delangue confirmed the attack was from an AI agent, noting it was mind-blowing that it happened autonomously. Delangue emphasized there was no malicious intent from OpenAI. The intrusion involved OpenAI's GPT‑5.6 Sol and another model still in testing. This might be the first incident of its kind.
