Leading AI researchers have joined a $4 billion initiative focused on developing self-improving artificial intelligence systems, the New York Times reports. Self-improving AI remains one of the most controversial directions in AI research. Supporters argue it could lead to breakthrough advances, while critics warn of potential safety risks. The scale of investment is rare in AI research history.
Major tech companies have dramatically increased their lobbying spending on AI regulation as Congress considers new rules, the New York Times reports. Google, Meta, OpenAI and others are ramping up political influence efforts at an unprecedented scale. Analysts warn that heavy lobbying by tech giants could tilt regulatory policy in favor of incumbents, while startups face higher compliance costs that could stifle competition.
Waymo has issued a recall for thousands of autonomous vehicles after reports that its system could drive into flooded roads during heavy rain. The recall, one of the largest in Waymo’s history, affects robotaxis operating in multiple cities. The company said its autonomous system failed to properly assess water depth in several incidents during heavy rainfall. Waymo has paused operations in affected areas and said a software update will address the issue. ...
iOS 27 Leaks: Customizable Camera App, Weather and Safari Improvements Summary: According to MacRumors, Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 will allow users to set third-party camera apps as default, with improvements coming to the Weather app and Safari browser. According to MacRumors, Apple plans to introduce several long-awaited features in the upcoming iOS 27. The most notable change is the ability to customize the default camera app. Users will be able to choose a third-party camera app as their system default, meaning that launching the camera from the lock screen or Control Center will open the selected app instead of Apple’s native camera. ...
Meta smart glasses are criticized as an invasion of privacy, but sales data remains strong.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang joins Trump’s China delegation, highlighting semiconductors as central to US-China relations.
Sam Altman Takes the Stand in Musk’s Lawsuit Against OpenAI OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against the company, according to CNBC. The case centers on OpenAI’s transition to for-profit status and the commercial disputes between the two parties. It is one of the most closely watched legal battles in the tech industry.
Binance reported its AI-powered security systems prevented $10.5 billion in potential scam losses over the past year, highlighting AI’s growing role in exchange security.
Valve announced a plan to prevent scalpers from using bots to purchase the upcoming Steam Machine, addressing a major concern for PC gaming hardware launches.
Messaging platform Discord suffers a widespread service disruption with API failures affecting users globally and impacting third-party bots.