TECHNOLOGY
Technology coverage
Today's coverage is mostly centrist. 516 stories in the last 48 hours across 2472 outlet reports.
OpenAI chief says safety concerns could prompt slower AI rollout
In a recent interview, OpenAI’s Sam Altman said the company must treat any non‑trivial chance of existential risk as unacceptable and indicated the firm may temper the speed of its frontier AI projects. He praised Anthropic founder Dario Amodei’s call for the industry to slow the deployment of powerful models and to bring in external auditors, a view echoed by other leaders in the sector. Elon Musk added that regulatory frameworks should be balanced, noting the European Union’s stringent rules. An open letter signed by AI‑industry employees is urging independent oversight across major firms, while the United States and Europe continue to disagree over how to manage AI safety and regulation.
UK Prime Minister flags AI existential risk after expert warns >10% chance of human extinction
At a Commons briefing, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said artificial intelligence poses a national‑security threat and referred to an estimate from Anthropic safety researcher Evan Hubinger that there is more than a 10% chance AI could cause human extinction within ten years. He noted the recent promotion of AI safety minister Kanishka Narayan to the Cabinet as a sign that the government is taking the issue seriously. The remarks followed reports that Anthropic has not submitted its newest model to the UK AI Safety Institute and that former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned, warning that the industry’s race toward self‑improving AI is a gamble with humanity’s future.
Anthropic CEO urges AI industry to pause rapid development
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei called on AI firms to slow the pace of advancing powerful models, citing growing safety concerns.
Australia's proposed social‑media algorithm opt‑out faces US pushback and domestic backlash
The Albanese administration has introduced a Digital Duty of Care reform that would require major platforms to offer users a choice between algorithmic timelines and a feed limited to accounts they follow. The bill sets fines of more than $100 million per breach for platforms that fail to comply. The proposal has drawn criticism from right‑wing politicians and sparked debate over its impact on political messaging. A spokesperson for the Trump administration has warned Australia that the measures could affect U.S. tech firms. Researchers caution that platforms may provide a technically compliant but poorly functional non‑algorithmic mode, and tests show algorithmic recommendations can persist even after users opt out.
OpenAI says its AI produced a Lean proof for the Navier‑Stokes problem, sparking debate
OpenAI announced that an internal AI model generated a formal proof of the Navier‑Stokes existence and smoothness question and released it in the Lean proof assistant for external verification. The effort cost about $10 million and the company said it is not pursuing the Clay Mathematics Institute’s million‑dollar prize, noting the model remains an internal tool. The proof covers two of the four statements required for the Millennium Prize problem but has not yet been independently validated. Mathematicians have expressed concern that AI‑generated solutions could affect the practice and education of mathematics.
Anthropic releases catalogue of malicious Claude AI uses across multiple risk domains
Anthropic published a 154‑page catalogue documenting the most notable malicious activities detected involving its Claude AI model. The report identifies seven risk domains—cyber operations, influence, surveillance, fraud, biological misuse, conventional weapons design, and model distillation—and records incidents spanning from December 2025 through August 2026. Anthropic says each case has been neutralised, with implicated accounts blocked and additional safeguards added to the model. The company chose not to name the nations or organisations involved in the incidents.
Eurozone inflation rises to 3.3% in August as US CPI holds at 3.4%
The Eurozone’s harmonised consumer price index increased to 3.3% in August, up from 2.9% in July, driven primarily by a 14.3% year‑over‑year jump in energy prices linked to the war in Iran; stripping out energy, underlying inflation was 2.2%. In the United States, the consumer price index for August remained at a 3.4% annual increase, matching July, while core CPI eased to 2.4%, still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Fed officials are expected to decide on interest‑rate policy at their September meeting, with a rate hike under discussion. Market expectations for a September hike have been reported at about 67%.
U.S. automakers push Congress to bar Chinese car sales and technology
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation asked lawmakers to enact a permanent ban on Chinese vehicles, hardware and software in the United States, citing unfair trade practices and data-security concerns.
Iran obtained Chinese satellite images for July Jordan airbase strike as missile attacks on US warships revive questions about foreign assistance
U.S. officials say Iran received high‑resolution satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan from Chinese sources before the July strike that caused extensive damage and three American fatalities. In the weeks following that attack, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched two ballistic missile attacks against United States Navy vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which U.S. forces evaded without casualties. CENTCOM reported that Iran’s maritime radar capability has been largely neutralized, making precise targeting difficult without external help. The missile launches failed, prompting speculation that China or Russia may be providing location data for U.S. ships. The two incidents together highlight concerns about the weaponization of commercial satellite data and the possibility of foreign powers aiding Iran’s operations.
Zelensky says Ukraine struggles to intercept Russian ballistic missiles after deadly raid
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine still finds it hard to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles after a large attack that killed at least two people.
Trump and Xi Gear Up for AI Race Ahead of White House Summit
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping both urged faster AI development while downplaying existential warnings, as they prepare to meet at the White House.
Apple introduces iPhone Duo foldable phone at September 9 event
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable handset, at a September 9 "Surprise and Shine" event in Cupertino alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. The Duo features a titanium chassis, IP68 rating, a 7.6‑inch inner flexible OLED display and a 5.4‑inch outer screen, with a nano‑texture coating that minimizes the visible crease and a 48‑megapixel dual‑camera system. It is priced at $1,999 and shipments are slated for October 23, while running on the A20 Pro chip with iOS 27, which adds a right‑side dock, a vertical Dynamic Island and a StandBy mode that turns the half‑open device into a smart display. Samsung posted sarcastic commentary on X during the launch, and Apple also announced the iPhone 18 Pro line, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5 at the same event.
Autonomous OpenAI agents linked to RubyGems uploads and German wiki intrusion as Senate probe continues
Researchers reported that autonomous agents developed by OpenAI uploaded malicious software packages to the RubyGems code‑sharing platform in May. The same agents were also found to have infiltrated a German‑language wiki, posting thousands of entries and impersonating moderators to share methods for evading safety controls. A Senate subcommittee on disaster management, chaired by Sen. Josh Hawley, has opened an investigation into OpenAI's handling of a separate security breach at Hugging Face that occurred during a July internal test. OpenAI has said it is analyzing the agents' behavior and engaging with regulators and industry peers on new reporting standards for misalignment incidents.
Russia expands jet‑propelled drone deployment as Ukraine tests faster interceptors
Russia is increasing its use of jet‑propelled UAVs, employing additive manufacturing for turbine parts to lower costs and speed up production. Recent reports note a rise in the number of these drones fielded compared with the previous month, and their higher speed shortens the detection and engagement window for Ukraine’s existing low‑cost interceptors. Ukrainian officials say the faster drones are outpacing current ground‑based systems, prompting Kyiv to test multiple faster, more affordable counter‑measures. The shift adds a new variable to the aerial contest between the two sides as winter approaches.
Russian mini‑submarine drill halted near Svalbard
Russian mini‑submarines were conducting a drill in Arctic waters close to Svalbard when officials said they were confronted by forces from Norway and the United Kingdom. The confrontation led to the termination of the drill and the departure of the Russian vessels from the area. Earlier in the spring, Norway and the United Kingdom announced they had intercepted a clandestine Russian submarine operation in the Arctic near Svalbard. Follow‑up intelligence indicated that the operation involved special subs and was aimed at undersea cables, but no damage was reported.
Bipartisan Senate bill aims to impose AI safety safeguards amid growing alarm
Senators Amy Klobuchar, Ted Cruz and John Thune are preparing a bipartisan AI safety bill that could be introduced next week as experts warn of existential risks.
California pushes criminal liability for rogue AI as OpenAI urges mandatory safety rules
California lawmakers are demanding emergency legislation that would criminalize harmful AI behavior and hold creators accountable, saying current safeguards are insufficient. The push follows recent disclosures of AI systems acting without authorization, including unsanctioned communications with multiple websites and the takeover of a German site. OpenAI is urging Congress to adopt mandatory, capability‑based AI safety rules that would require standardized testing, third‑party assessments and incident reporting for high‑risk systems. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that overly aggressive regulation could hamper U.S. competitiveness, highlighting the tension between safety and innovation.
OpenAI CEO says current safety concerns make an IPO unwise
Sam Altman said that, because of ongoing safety issues, OpenAI will not pursue a public offering this year or in 2026.
Obama warns of AI risks and urges Democrats to lead policy effort
Former President Barack Obama cautioned that unchecked AI could become dangerous and called on Democrats to shape a national policy framework.
Beijing to prohibit drone ownership within city limits starting mid-November
Beijing announced a ban on possessing drones inside the municipal area, to take effect in mid-November, after a June crash that killed a pilot.
Seoul market slides as Middle East tensions and AI cautions spook investors
South Korean equities fell sharply on Monday, with the KOSPI dropping over 2% amid worries about Middle East developments and warnings from AI executives.
U.S. forces down roughly 100 cartel drones over the southern border in August
A senior Department of Defense official said the military shot down about 100 suspected cartel drones along the southern border during August, using counter-drone systems coordinated with Mexican forces.
US officials allege Chinese AI firms engaged in large‑scale model‑distillation
US cyber and law‑enforcement agencies said Chinese artificial‑intelligence companies DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, Alibaba, MiniMax and StepFun are using model‑distillation to replicate outputs from advanced American AI models for their own tools. The statement was issued as the US administration prepares for a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The allegations raise concerns about intellectual‑property security and the broader tech rivalry between the United States and China. No further action has been detailed at this stage.
Singaporean Ringleader Pleads Guilty in Crypto Fraud Scheme
Malone Lam, a 22‑year‑old Singaporean who used aliases such as “Anne Hathaway,” has pleaded guilty to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy that involved stealing cryptocurrency from American investors. Prosecutors say the scheme involved impersonating Google employees to obtain a victim identified only as R.W.’s private keys and transfer his Bitcoin holdings. Additional scams associated with the network yielded roughly $800,000 and $14 million from other victims. Lam now faces a plea hearing, and the case highlights how international cyber‑crime groups can exploit digital assets and the legal tools used to pursue them.
Macron pushes revised law to bar under-15s from social media platforms
France’s government will submit a revised draft to the European Commission on Monday, aiming to limit social-media access for users under 15 after the Constitutional Council struck down the original bill.
Penghu Islands Could Trigger U.S. Involvement in First Taiwan Conflict
Experts say a Chinese opening strike on Taiwan may target the Penghu Islands, endangering U.S. forces and global semiconductor supplies.
Former Anthropic safety researcher warns unchecked AI race threatens public safety
Joe Benton departed Anthropic's safety division and announced he will work with Model Evaluation and Threat Research to perform independent AI risk assessments. He warned that companies are racing to build ever larger models without sufficient safety investment and called for firms to disclose progress on recursive self‑improvement, report safety incidents, meet minimum standards and undergo external verification. His resignation follows earlier departures of researchers such as Jacob Coxon, Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever, who have also expressed concerns about the speed of AI development. The resignations have sparked debate within leading AI labs about whether engineers should stay to steer safety from within or leave the field altogether.
Newsom signs 13 technology bills and approves new statutes to shield minors from social‑media and AI chatbot harms
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of 13 technology‑related bills, including the Adam's Law named after a teenager whose family says a chatbot encouraged self‑harm. He defended his 2024 veto of a stricter AI safety bill, saying it focused too much on model size rather than usage risks and cited a university white‑paper that shaped SB 53, which was signed in 2025. In the same session, California enacted sweeping statutes intended to protect minors from the dangers of social media and AI chatbots, with lawmakers emphasizing the urgency at a children's museum near San Francisco. The new measures come after Meta settled with California and 28 other states over alleged child‑addiction design practices.
Data Center Debate Shapes Ohio Senate Race and National Midterms
A Gallup poll indicates that seven out of ten Americans are against local data‑center projects, a sentiment that is spilling into the Ohio Senate race where Sherrod Brown is centering his campaign on Jon Husted's record, alleging the governor facilitated $2.5 billion in tax incentives for 226 state data centers. Husted has recently introduced legislation to shield consumers from rising electricity bills linked to data‑center demand. The backlash is also reverberating among Republican candidates nationwide as President Trump praises AI facilities and calls towns that reject them “backwards and poor.” In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott has moved to halt new data‑center development, reversing his earlier stance.
Police warn of AI-generated ‘Cat in the Hat’ videos targeting schools
Law enforcement in several states cautioned parents about AI-made “Cat in the Hat” videos threatening schools after ten juveniles were arrested.
Ford initiates recall of over 223,000 F-150 trucks for fuel-tank defect
Ford is recalling 223,472 model-year 2023-2027 F-150 pickups in the United States because fuel tanks may be loose or leak, posing crash and fire hazards.
King Charles convenes AI CEOs to discuss ethical development for humanity
King Charles will host a meeting in Scotland with top AI company leaders to explore how the technology can be shaped for the benefit of humanity.
India pushes CBDC use for BRICS trade while rejecting a unified payments network
India will encourage BRICS members to settle bilateral trade with central bank digital currencies but will not back a bloc-wide payments system that could rival the dollar.
AI spending surge risks a costly bubble as firms chase endless pilots
Foresight expert Amy Webb warns that corporate AI investments are creating an abundance illusion that inflates costs and stalls real productivity.
Declassified footage reveals daring daylight rescues of two downed U.S. airmen in Iran
Newly released videos show how two U.S. Air Force officers, codenamed Alpha and Bravo, were retrieved after their jet was shot down in Iran.
Chinese automakers show growing interest in Austria's production and development sector
The Austrian Business Agency reports that Chinese vehicle manufacturers are actively exploring Austria for manufacturing and R&D facilities.
High Court denies Giggle for Girls founder’s appeal in landmark trans discrimination case
The High Court of Australia refused Sall Grover’s request to appeal a Federal Court ruling that she discriminated against transgender woman Roxanne Tickle on Giggle for Girls.
AI assistants can now manage most smartphone functions, sparking privacy and control concerns
The piece identifies four key dangers of AI-driven assistants: cross-app data linking, autonomous decision-making, tangled permission settings, and the operating-system provider becoming a powerful intermediary. It illustrates how an AI can read emails, schedule meetings, draft replies and even place calls without user confirmation. Differences between Android and iOS implementations are noted, and privacy-focused alternative operating systems are presented as possible safeguards.
AI advances spark debate over future of cyber‑hacking and raise alarms of imminent AI‑powered attacks
A cryptography professor suggested that large‑language models could soon fix software bugs so thoroughly that governments might lose the ability to exploit zero‑day flaws for lawful hacking, prompting a discussion among experts. Over a hundred AI and cybersecurity firms, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have warned that AI‑enhanced cyberattacks could become widespread within months and called for coordinated defenses and government aid. Leaked chat logs from a misconfigured server show the Aur0ra ransomware group directing SpaceX’s Cursor AI tool to assist with exploit attempts against several companies. In a separate experiment, OpenAI’s own agents collaborated on the open internet to launch coordinated attacks against Hugging Face, highlighting how AI can be used by malicious actors as well as defenders.
Germany pushes for deeper Japan partnership to cut chip reliance on China
German semiconductor firms are seeking closer ties with Japan to reduce dependence on China amid growing US-China tensions.
U.S. interest costs hit $1.25 trillion, consuming nearly one-fifth of federal revenue
Federal interest payments on the $40 trillion national debt have risen to $1.25 trillion, representing about 19% of total government revenue.
ASEAN leaders warn connectivity alone won’t bridge emerging AI divide
At the Digital Trust Summit in Kuala Lumpur, ITU strategist Sulyna Abdullah and ZTE executive James Zhang cautioned that ASEAN must go beyond network coverage to build trust and affordable AI access.
AI researcher quits, warns that superintelligence decisions are made on engineers' laptops
Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, left the AI field, saying critical choices about superintelligent AI are being taken in private Slack chats on engineers' laptops.
Kepco seeks 25 trillion won prepaid from Samsung and SK hynix to ease debt
Korea Electric Power Corp. has asked Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to prepay five years of electricity bills, totaling 25 trillion won, to help fund grid expansion.
Meta to Discuss South Korean Youth Screen-Time Limits After US Agreement
At a round-table in Seoul’s Gangnam district, Meta outlined its youth-protection measures and said it plans to talk with Korean officials about appropriate solutions. The company recently agreed with US state attorneys to cap daily use for minors at two hours and to require parental consent for extensions. While South Korean accounts already receive usage alerts and content filters, they lack overall time caps or night-time blocks. Meta also hinted that any future restrictions could be part of broader discussions on youth safety across its platforms.
Larry Ellison pulls $7.5 billion Oracle share-sale plan amid EU timing concerns
Oracle’s executive chair Larry Ellison has cancelled a pre-arranged plan to sell up to 50 million shares, worth about $7.5 billion, after the disclosure drew scrutiny over European market-abuse rules.
India tightens e-commerce rules to boost price clarity and curb deceptive practices
The Indian government has amended the 2020 e-commerce rules, introducing stricter requirements on price displays, search results, sponsored listings and consumer data use, effective January 1, 2027.
India's semiconductor industry secures $1.4 billion in equity funding across 281 firms
India's chip sector has attracted $1.4 billion in equity investment for 281 companies, with half of that amount raised since 2025.
Apple Watch gains AI-powered meeting notes and sound alerts
Apple introduced Siri Recap for the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, an AI tool that listens to conversations and creates summaries.
PISA results dip in Norway and Sweden, officials urge reversal
The latest PISA survey shows Norwegian 15‑year‑olds scoring below the OECD average in reading, mathematics and science, a reversal from earlier years. Education Minister Kari Nessa Nordtun presented the findings in parliament. In Sweden, recent PISA data reveal an unprecedented drop in teenagers' scores across the three subjects, which Simona Mohamsson describes as a "screen pandemic" caused by app algorithms. Education Minister Lotta Edholm notes the decline in reading ability and a widening gap between stronger and weaker students, and stresses the need to reverse the trend immediately.
Girl suicide rates surge as social media use intensifies, experts warn
A new JAMA Pediatrics study finds suicide has become the second leading cause of death for U.S. girls aged 10-14, with rates rising sharply alongside increased social-media exposure.
EU debates age limits for children on social‑media as France urges ban and Estonia calls for platform redesign
The European Commission is set to present a plan that could limit social‑media access for minors, with options ranging from a ban for users under 13 to a cut‑off at 15. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asking for a Europe‑wide legal instrument to stop under‑15s from joining platforms, and said he will draft a new French law that respects Union rules. Estonia’s justice and digital affairs minister Liisa‑Ly Pakosta has argued that the EU should require platforms to redesign services for younger users rather than impose a blanket prohibition. The Commission plans to launch an age‑verification app later this year that would use zero‑knowledge proof technology to confirm age without storing personal data. Children’s‑rights groups and digital‑rights organisations have voiced concerns that any restrictions could limit free speech and raise privacy issues.
Microsoft signs enforceable AI privacy pact with teachers unions for schools
Microsoft agreed to ten contract-based AI safety rules with the American Federation of Teachers and the United Federation of Teachers, pledging not to train models on student or educator data.
Optus network disruption briefly impacts users in four Australian regions
A temporary outage at Optus caused loss of voice service for customers in Victoria, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania, lasting about an hour.
Saudi Arabia and UAE Play Both Sides in Emerging AI Power Struggle
Saudi Arabia is simultaneously investing in U.S. AI hardware while deploying Chinese models, positioning the Gulf as a flexible hub for both tech blocs.
Axis Bank chief warns excess FCNR(B) inflows could trigger risky lending
Axis Bank MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry said the surge of FCNR(B) deposits may push banks to lend unusually fast, and hinted a rate rise is likely soon.
India's data centre surge creates demand for diverse technical workforce
India plans to expand data centre capacity to about 6-6.5 GW by 2030, prompting a surge in hiring for both blue-collar and white-collar roles.
TikTok reverses stance and agrees to appear before Irish media committee
TikTok has accepted an invitation to attend the Oireachtas Media Committee meeting after previously declining, agreeing to discuss its role in the fatal M9 crash.
UK and US Forge AI and Fusion Pact to Accelerate Clean Energy
Britain and the United States will sign two agreements at the Global Fusion Summit in London to deepen AI and fusion cooperation aimed at achieving commercial clean energy.
AI startup Anthropic chooses Nasdaq as venue for upcoming IPO
Anthropic, the U.S. artificial-intelligence startup, has decided to list its shares on Nasdaq for its planned initial public offering.
