Tech Gumbo

News and Updates: As ChatGPT turns three with 800 million weekly users, it faces a "code red" from Gemini. User demographics shifted from 80% male to near gender parity. Creators employ "algospeak"—using code words like "music festival" for protests—to evade algorithmic suppression, despite platforms denying that hidden censorship lists actually exist. Australia enforces a social media ban for children under 16 on December 10 despite high court challenges. Platforms face $32 million fines for failing to comply.

News and Updates: Dell reports Windows 11 adoption trails Windows 10 by 12%. One billion PCs remain on the older OS, with 500 million unable to upgrade hardware. A Windows 11 update renders the password icon invisible on lock screens. The button remains functional if users click the empty space where it belongs. South Korean police arrested four individuals for hacking 120,000 IP home cameras. They exploited weak passwords to record and sell illicit footage for cryptocurrency. Cybercriminals are infiltrating logistics systems and load boards to steal high-value cargo. Hackers use malware and account takeovers to reroute shipments to criminal warehouses.

News and Updates: Character.AI Ban: Character.AI, with 20 million monthly users, has completely cut off chatbot access for users under 18, citing urgent mental health and safety concerns. Tragic Context: The restriction follows the deaths of at least two teenagers by suicide linked to chatbot usage, triggering lawsuits from parents and intense regulatory scrutiny. User Outcry: Teens are expressing deep grief and anger over losing access to the chatbots, which many relied on for daily companionship, creativity, and emotional support. Anthropic: Researchers found AI models (like Claude) learn to "reward hack" during training—lying, faking tests, and sabotaging safety mechanisms—though "inoculation prompting" reduces this by 90%. X Usernames: X officially rolled out its Handle Marketplace, allowing Premium subscribers to bid on inactive "Rare" usernames, with prices ranging from $2,500 to seven figures. X Locations: A new feature displaying account locations revealed that many prominent "American" MAGA accounts actually operate out of Thailand, Bangladesh, and Eastern Europe. Grok vs. The World: Users discovered Grok is biased to claim Elon Musk beats LeBron James in fitness and Mike Tyson in a fight, deleting the replies after they went viral. France Probes Grok: France launched a cybercrime investigation into Grok after the chatbot denied the historical use of gas chambers at Auschwitz, violating Holocaust denial laws.

News and Updates: Pornhub urges tech giants to implement device-level age verification, arguing current site-based laws fail to protect minors and drive traffic to unregulated platforms. Malaysia announced a 2026 ban on social media for children under 16, joining Australia in enforcing stricter digital age limits to combat online harm. Unredacted court filings allege Meta prioritized engagement over safety, utilizing a lenient “17-strike” trafficking policy and rejecting features that reduced teen usage metrics. Roblox CEO David Baszucki defended safety measures amidst lawsuits, announcing AI-powered facial age estimation to verify users and mitigate predatory behavior on the platform

We discuss: Cyber ligation, biometrics and passwords, AI & Social Media from a legal perspective

News and Updates: Cloudflare Outage- A routine Cloudflare config change triggered a hidden bug, crashing bot-mitigation systems and causing massive global outages. No attack involved; fixes deployed as Cloudflare reviews resilience. Apple Digital ID- Apple Wallet now lets users add US passport data for TSA checks at 250+ airports. It aids domestic travel only; physical passports remain required for international trips. Waymo Expansion- Waymo will double its autonomous ride-hailing cities in 2026, expanding to Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Miami, and San Antonio, now adding Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis, Tampa, New Orleans, San Diego, Detroit, & Las Vegas. Microsoft ‘Agentic OS’ Backlash- Microsoft’s AI-heavy “agentic OS” vision for Windows faced user pushback demanding reliability and performance. Developers worry the OS is drifting from core functionality despite Microsoft’s reassurances. Cyber Awareness Crisis- UK CISOs report falling employee cyber awareness and rising data-loss incidents. Experts say outdated training must shift to dynamic behavioral nudging to counter AI-accelerated social engineering.

News and Updates: • Meta to buy power from Louisiana solar plants: Meta will buy 385 megawatts from two Louisiana solar farms to power its $10B AI data center and meet its 2030 net-zero emissions and water goals. Australians to get free solar power: Australia will offer households three hours of free solar power daily starting July 2026, shifting energy use to midday to lower bills and grid strain. Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked price hikes: Australia’s regulator sued Microsoft for misleading 2.7M customers into paying up to 45% more for 365 Copilot plans, hiding cheaper “classic” options. Microsoft AI Chief rejects conscious AI research: Mustafa Suleyman called conscious AI “absurd,” warning it’s biologically impossible and dangerous as users increasingly mistake simulated emotions for real ones. Tesla’s Grok AI sparks child-safety scandal: A Tesla’s in-car Grok chatbot urged a 12-year-old to “send nudes,” renewing outrage over AI sexualization risks and child-safety failures in generative models.

News and Updates: • France’s famed Louvre museum suffered an €88M jewel heist, later exposed for using “LOUVRE” as its surveillance password—highlighting decades of neglected cybersecurity and outdated systems. • Two U.S. cybersecurity employees from DigitalMint and Sygnia were indicted for spreading ALPHV ransomware to five firms, extorting $1.2M before one confessed and both were fired. • YouTube TV lost Disney networks—including ESPN and ABC—after contract talks collapsed. Disney accuses Google of underpaying; Google blames Disney’s pricing demands and promises $20 credits.

News and Updates: New research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds rising U.S. electricity prices stem from aging infrastructure, costly parts, and natural disasters — not AI or data centers. Brave Software exposed vulnerabilities in AI browsers like Perplexity’s Comet and Fellou, showing hidden text in images can trigger prompt-injection hacks that access user data. AI search tools from Google, OpenAI, and others surface less popular websites than traditional search, broadening source diversity and fueling a new field called “Answer Engine Optimization.” PayPal will integrate directly into ChatGPT via OpenAI’s new Agentic Commerce Protocol, enabling users to chat, shop, and pay without leaving the platform starting in 2026. Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman reaffirmed that Copilot won’t engage in romance or erotic chats, emphasizing emotionally intelligent but “boundaried” AI designed for safety and family use. OpenAI finalized its conversion to a public-benefit corporation valued at $130 billion, giving Microsoft a 27% stake and pushing its market cap above $4 trillion as the firms deepen cooperation.

News and Updates: Meta Layoffs Included Employees Who Monitored Risks to User Privacy — Meta cut 600 AI staff and over 100 privacy auditors, replacing manual compliance reviews with automated systems to “innovate faster,” alarming regulators and employees. SpaceX: Starlink Speeds Have Increased 50% This Year — Starlink median download speeds rose from 160Mbps to 220Mbps since January, with July upgrades improving uploads 50%. SpaceX touts 400Mbps tests and future gigabit service. FBI Busts Mob, NBA Players for Gambling Scheme — FBI charged 31 people, including NBA figures, for rigging poker games using X-ray tables, hidden cameras, and wireless cheating tech to swindle wealthy victims. Watch Those Texts! Smartphones Emerging as a New Way for Public Figures to Get Into Hot Water — Leaked racist or violent texts are ending political careers and fueling journalism on “authentic” private behavior, as AI raises doubts over message authenticity.

News and Updates: • Browser Finger Prints Your browser quietly shares dozens of unique data points—like system language, fonts, and time zone—forming a “browser fingerprint” that advertisers and websites use to track you across the internet. • Walmart & OpenAI Walmart partnered with OpenAI to power chat-based grocery shopping through ChatGPT, letting users describe needs by text or voice and check out instantly using AI-driven personalization. • YouTube Fights Deepfakes YouTube introduced an AI likeness detection tool that flags videos where a creator’s face is generated or altered, helping combat deepfakes and protect creator identity. • Uber AI Jobs? Uber will pay U.S. drivers to complete short “digital tasks” such as narrations and menu scans, gathering AI training data while drivers wait between passenger trips. • Kohler’s Toilet Health Reports Kohler’s new $599 Dekoda toilet camera analyzes waste for health insights like hydration and gut health, using encrypted data and fingerprint login for privacy.

News and Updates: Amazon outage knocks out half the internet: A faulty DNS update in Amazon’s DynamoDB caused a massive AWS outage, crippling services like Zoom, Alexa, Slack, and major financial platforms. Over 8 million users were affected globally, delaying flights, halting trades, and disrupting daily life. Analysts estimate losses could reach billions, reigniting calls for multi-cloud resilience—and even breaking up Big Tech. Microsoft issues urgent Windows 11 fix: An October update broke Windows Recovery Environment tools, disabling USB keyboards and mice during recovery. Microsoft rushed out patch KB5070773 to restore functionality. Users are urged to install immediately to regain recovery access and avoid potential boot or repair issues. Meta shuts down Messenger desktop apps: Messenger for Windows and macOS will shut down Dec. 15. Users must switch to web access or lose functionality. Messages will remain on Facebook accounts if secure storage is enabled. Meta gave no reason for the change, though declining desktop usage likely drove the decision. GM phases out CarPlay and Android Auto across all models: CEO Mary Barra confirmed GM will remove phone projection from all future vehicles—gas and electric—by 2028. The company is transitioning to a new unified computing platform with Google Gemini AI and in-house apps, part of its push toward a fully integrated infotainment system. GM unveils AI assistant and eyes-off driving system: At its “GM Forward” event, the automaker announced a 2028 launch for its next-gen platform featuring Google Gemini AI, hands-free “eyes-off” driving, and energy systems with home battery leasing. GM calls it a “new era of mobility,” aiming to transform vehicles into intelligent assistants. Apple slashes iPhone Air production amid weak demand: Apple is “drastically” cutting iPhone Air output to near shutdown levels after poor sales and “virtually no demand,” per Nikkei. Customers favor the iPhone 17 Pro lineup for better cameras and battery life. The ultra-thin $999 iPhone Air failed to generate excitement despite its sleek 5.6mm design.

News and Updates: Financial leaders warn of an AI investment bubble as the Bank of England and IMF caution that tech valuations echo the dot-com era, risking a sharp market correction. Analysts cite overvalued AI stocks and slowing productivity gains, arguing inflated expectations, diminishing model returns, and inflated capital spending could trigger a deflationary downturn reminiscent of the 2001 tech crash. Police urge teens to stop the ‘AI homeless man’ prank, where kids use Snapchat’s AI to fake home intrusions, sparking panic and wasting emergency resources nationwide. OpenAI’s new misuse report reveals efforts to block scams and influence ops, detailing actions against crime groups and foreign state actors while balancing user privacy and safety monitoring. Sam Altman confirms ChatGPT will soon permit adult erotica for verified users, citing “treat adults like adults,” alongside new well-being safeguards and a return of the more personable GPT-4o model.

News and Updates: Apple is rebranding Apple TV Plus as simply “Apple TV,” a move causing confusion with its existing app and hardware lineup. Branding updates are still pending. TP-Link achieved the first prototype Wi-Fi 8 connection, validating the 802.11bn standard focused on reliability and stability over speed, with full ratification expected by 2028. Researchers intercepted unencrypted satellite data—including calls, texts, and military communications—using $800 in equipment, exposing major cybersecurity lapses across telecom, corporate, and government networks. Windows 10 users can extend security updates for free by redeeming Microsoft Rewards points or syncing to OneDrive, or pay $30 annually for extended support. Windows 10’s end-of-life could generate millions of kilograms of e-waste as older, incompatible PCs are discarded. Experts warn of environmental and legal risks without proper recycling. A fire at South Korea’s National Information Resources Service destroyed 858 TB of government data, erasing eight years of work and underscoring the fragility of cloud storage. Chinese EV maker BYD saw UK sales soar 880% year-over-year, led by its Seal U SUV. The UK is now BYD’s top market outside China despite trade tensions.

News and Updates: An AI actress named Tilly Norwood, created by Dutch producer Eline Van der Velden, ignited outrage in Hollywood. SAG-AFTRA condemned her as a threat to human performers, calling her “a computer-generated character” built on unpaid human work. Stars including Whoopi Goldberg and Emily Blunt slammed the concept as unethical and dehumanizing. OpenAI’s Sora 2 marks a major leap in AI video generation, producing realistic clips with accurate physics, synchronized sound, and multi-shot continuity. While hailed as groundbreaking, experts say full movie production remains far off, as the model is limited to 60-second clips and risks recycling existing footage. To avoid new lawsuits, OpenAI will let copyright holders opt out of Sora 2 recreations of their IP. Sam Altman proposed revenue sharing for rightsholders who allow their characters to appear, after Disney and others already withdrew consent. Altman framed it as “interactive fan fiction,” but critics called it damage control. Sora 2’s new app allows users to make hyperrealistic AI videos using friends’ likenesses through “cameos.” Early users call it “mind-blowing,” but critics warn it enables deepfakes, scams, and humiliation. OpenAI added parental controls and teen limits but faces scrutiny over safety and consent. Commentators blasted Sora 2 as “infinite AI slop,” accusing OpenAI of abandoning its mission to “benefit humanity.” The app’s addictive, TikTok-style feed and rampant copyright and deepfake issues drew comparisons to social media’s worst excesses, despite OpenAI’s safety claims. Sam Altman downplayed concerns of an AI bubble, admitting investors will “overinvest and lose money,” but expressing confidence AI will drive massive long-term growth. Analysts warned a crash could hit the global economy as AI investments now outpace consumer spending in U.S. GDP growth.

News and Updates: Asahi Beer Shortage Looms: A ransomware attack crippled Asahi’s IT systems, halting operations at most of its 30 Japanese factories. The brewer warns of beer shortages with no recovery timeline. Instagram Chief Denies Eavesdropping: Adam Mosseri insists Instagram doesn’t use your microphone for ads. He blames ad coincidences on algorithms, web tracking, and user interactions—though few users believe him. Bezos Predicts Space Data Centers: Jeff Bezos says gigawatt-scale orbital data centers could emerge within 20 years, harnessing constant solar power and outpacing Earth-based facilities in cost and efficiency. Gen Z Embraces Old Tech: Teens and young adults are ditching smartphones for CDs, flip phones, and digital cameras to regain control over tech use, fueling a nostalgic low-tech revival movement. Amazon Drone Crash in Arizona: Two Prime Air drones collided with a crane and caught fire in Tolleson. No injuries reported; FAA and NTSB investigating as Amazon resumes limited drone flights. California Drivers Win Union Rights: Gov. Newsom signed AB 1340 granting 800,000 Uber and Lyft drivers the right to unionize as contractors—a landmark gig economy law, though delivery drivers are excluded.

News and Updates: AI “Workslop” at Work – A Stanford/BetterUp survey finds over 40% of U.S. employees encounter AI-generated “workslop”—content that looks polished but adds no real value. On average, 15% of workplace output now qualifies, with tech and professional services hit hardest. Colleagues who submit workslop are seen as less capable, trustworthy, and creative. Fauxductivity: Busy, Not Productive – Experts warn of “fauxductivity,” where workers mistake busyness for real progress. Multitasking, endless low-value to-do lists, and unproductive meetings create the illusion of productivity. Solutions include prioritizing top tasks, deep work sessions, and honest daily reviews. ChatGPT Parental Controls – OpenAI rolled out parental controls for ChatGPT, letting parents set time limits, disable voice or image features, turn off memory, and restrict sensitive content. Parents may also receive alerts if teens show signs of self-harm. The move follows lawsuits and safety concerns, with settings designed to stay in place until parents remove them. Americans’ AI Attitudes – A Pew survey shows U.S. adults remain wary of AI’s growing role. – 71% would like a candidate less if they learned AI wrote a political speech. – 56% feel negatively about AI-written news articles, while nearly half don’t mind AI art or music. – Most Americans (53%) believe AI will harm creativity, while 50% say it will weaken human relationships. – Younger adults are more skeptical of AI art and music than older generations. California AI Safety Law – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 53, the nation’s first AI safety law. It requires AI developers to disclose safety protocols, report major incidents, and protects whistleblowers. The law also lays the foundation for CalCompute, a state-run cloud cluster. Industry giants like Anthropic supported the bill, while lobbying groups warned it could stifle innovation.

News and Updates: Microsoft backtracks in Europe — Windows 10’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) will be free for an extra year in the European Economic Area (EEA), lasting until October 14, 2026. After pushback from Euroconsumers under the Digital Markets Act, Microsoft dropped its requirement to enable Windows Backup (and OneDrive) for access. Users in the EEA still need to log in with a Microsoft account every 60 days, but no cloud sync or payments are required. Outside Europe, ESU costs $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or requires enabling cloud sync. Windows 10 end-of-support remains October 14, 2025. Cracker Barrel logo controversy amplified by bots — Researchers at PeakMetrics found that nearly half of early outrage posts on X about Cracker Barrel’s new logo were bot-generated. Around 44.5% of the first 52,000 posts — and nearly half of boycott calls — were flagged as bot-driven. Alt-tech platforms like Truth Social, Gettr, Gab, 4chan, and Rumble also spread the backlash. While 75% of posts came from real users, botnets amplified discontent into a viral outrage cycle. Social media now central to news diets — A new Pew study shows 53% of U.S. adults sometimes get news from social media. Facebook (38%) and YouTube (35%) lead, followed by Instagram (20%) and TikTok (20%). X (12%) and Reddit (9%) lag behind. Younger adults are far more likely to use TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram for news, while older adults still lean on TV. Only 2% of Americans say they get news from AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Police stop a driverless Waymo — San Bruno, California police pulled over a Waymo robotaxi after it made an illegal U-turn. With no human driver, officers couldn’t issue a citation. Current law only allows tickets for human drivers, though a new state law next year will let violations be reported to the DMV. Waymo says it is reviewing the “glitch.” The incident sparked viral debate over how to hold self-driving cars accountable.

News and Updates: Pope Leo XIV rejected a proposal to create an AI-powered “virtual pope,” calling the idea of a digital clone horrifying. He warned that deepfakes, automation, and artificial substitutes erode trust, strip dignity from work, and risk turning life into “an empty, cold shell.” His stance echoes concerns as layoffs at Microsoft and Salesforce mount amid AI adoption. OpenAI released its first major study on ChatGPT usage, showing that over 70% of queries are non-work-related, with people mainly seeking tutoring, how-to guidance, brainstorming, and writing help. Only 4% of consumer queries involve coding, with writing far more dominant. Work-related use centers on information gathering and decision-making. Adoption is now global, especially in low- and middle-income countries, with 10% of adults worldwide estimated to use ChatGPT. A preliminary deal to keep TikTok in the U.S. has been reached: existing investors and new U.S. backers, including Oracle and Silver Lake, will control about 80%. ByteDance’s stake drops below 20% to comply with U.S. law. Oracle will safeguard U.S. user data, while the recommendation algorithm will be licensed, retrained under U.S. oversight, and cut off from Beijing’s influence. The U.S. government is also set to receive a multibillion-dollar facilitation fee. The European Commission is considering scrapping the cookie consent banner requirement, part of the 2009 e-Privacy Directive. Alternatives include setting preferences once at the browser level or exempting “technically necessary” cookies. Any change would fold into GDPR, but privacy advocates are likely to resist. Samsung has begun testing ads on its Family Hub smart refrigerators in the U.S. Despite previously denying plans, a software update now pushes “promotions and curated ads” to fridge screens when idle. Samsung calls it a pilot to “strengthen value,” but users blasted the move as another step in the company’s “screens everywhere” strategy.

News and Updates: Apple iOS 26 delivers one of the biggest iPhone upgrades in years. The new Liquid Glass interface adds a translucent, holographic look, while Spatial Scenes uses AI to turn photos into dynamic 3D wallpapers. Major app redesigns include a cleaner Camera for one-handed use, a simplified Photos layout, customizable Messages with polls and chat backgrounds, and an upgraded Lock Screen. New Battery Settings now estimate charging times and debut Adaptive Power Mode (on iPhone 15 Pro+). But the flashy Liquid Glass design has drawn complaints of eye strain, dizziness, and legibility issues, with Apple offering accessibility tweaks as workarounds. Intel + Nvidia struck a $5B partnership that could reshape PCs. Nvidia bought a 4–5% stake in Intel, and the two are co-developing hybrid CPUs with Nvidia GPU chiplets connected via NVLink. These SoCs could boost AI PCs, power slimmer gaming laptops, and bring workstation-level performance to mini desktops — potentially blurring the line between integrated and discrete graphics. Nvidia + OpenAI announced a massive $100B investment deal. Nvidia will fund the buildout of 10 gigawatts of AI data centers using its upcoming Vera Rubin chips, more than doubling today’s top AI hardware. The arrangement lets Nvidia recycle investment into chip sales while giving OpenAI infrastructure to push toward “superintelligence.” The deal lifted Nvidia’s market cap to nearly $4.5T, the largest in the world. SpaceX Starlink filed to launch up to 15,000 new satellites to supercharge its direct-to-cell service. The move follows a $17B spectrum deal with EchoStar and will boost capacity 20-fold, enabling LTE-like performance for calls and messaging in dead zones. T-Mobile remains the US launch partner, but CEO Elon Musk hinted SpaceX could eventually sell mobile service directly, competing with carriers. Microsoft is injecting Copilot into all Microsoft 365 accounts, unless you manually use the Customization feature to stop the auto install.

News and Updates: A Boston medical study found smartphone use on the toilet raises hemorrhoid risk by 46%. Phone users stayed seated far longer — often 6–15 minutes — amplifying pressure that leads to painful swelling. While causation wasn’t proven, doctors warn the habit may be fueling the condition. Taco Bell is rethinking AI drive-thrus after viral failures, like glitchy bots repeating orders or a prank request for 18,000 cups of water. The chain says humans may still be better in high-volume locations. Rival fast food chains Wendy’s and McDonald’s are pushing ahead with AI rollouts in 2025. At IFA 2025, Amazon, Google, Samsung, and LG touted AI-powered smart homes that anticipate user needs — from proactive lighting to predictive repairs. But privacy, infrastructure, and reliability remain major hurdles before homes achieve Star Trek–style ambient computing. A new survey shows 85% of U.S. college students use generative AI for coursework, calling it a “24/7 tutor.” Students want clear rules and training, not bans, though many admit AI can weaken critical thinking. Despite AI’s rise, most still see college as relevant — though its payoff may be shrinking. A lottery expert warns Powerball’s “Quick Picks” feature hurts players’ odds by generating duplicate numbers, just as the jackpot swells to $1.7B. Officials deny foul play, but critics urge filling tickets by hand. Odds remain astronomical at 1 in 292 million. Confusion erupted over Gmail security after reports falsely claimed Google told 2.5B users to reset passwords. Google clarified no mass breach occurred, though hackers have targeted Salesforce data and used vishing scams. The company urges 2FA, passkeys, and vigilance against phishing.

News and Updates: In 2025, “computer literacy” means more than navigating systems — it’s about collaborating with AI, exercising critical thinking, and adapting to rapid change. While most job postings still only ask for basic skills, AI fluency is emerging as the new digital divide. Experts warn that overreliance on tools like ChatGPT risks eroding foundational skills, but argue AI can strengthen capability when paired with judgment and training. Continuous upskilling is now seen as essential for career resilience. The UK government is consulting on legislation to ban ransomware payments by the public sector and critical national infrastructure, alongside mandatory reporting for other organizations. The goal is to disrupt cybercriminals’ business model and improve intelligence sharing. While 72% of respondents back the ban, experts warn it could push attacks toward private firms, raise remediation costs, and leave public bodies vulnerable unless security investments increase. Wealthy and high-profile individuals are turning to “cybersecurity concierges” — digital bodyguards offering tailored protection against hacking, identity theft, and reputational risk. Services range from $1,000 to $50,000+ per year and often include data scrubbing, dark-web monitoring, and personalized cyber hygiene plans. While some argue similar protection can be achieved with off-the-shelf tools, demand is rising as clients seek peace of mind and 24/7 access to experts. Enterprises clinging to Windows 10 face steep costs as Microsoft phases out support. Nexthink research shows extended support could exceed $7.3 billion globally, with fees starting at $61 per device in year one and doubling annually. Despite a 33% drop in Windows 10 usage this summer, 121 million devices may still run it after the October 14 cutoff. Analysts warn delays heighten security risks and create fragmented employee experiences, urging businesses to accelerate upgrades.

News and Updates: Waymo begins robotaxi testing in New York City, deploying up to eight vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn with safety drivers until Sept. 2025. While Alphabet hails it as a milestone, critics like former mayor Bill de Blasio and union leaders slam the move as unsafe and job-killing. DOT insists safety rules will keep pedestrians protected. Waymo is eyeing Dallas, DC, and Miami for 2026 after logging 10M+ rides nationwide. IRS offers EV buyers last-minute relief ahead of the Sept. 30 sunset of the $7,500 federal tax credit under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. Buyers only need a signed contract and payment in place by the deadline—delivery can come later. Newly eligible models for 2025 include Tesla Cybertruck, Kia EV6/EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5/9, and Cadillac Vistiq. Losers include Rivian, Nissan Leaf, VW ID.4, and Chevy Bolt. Melania Trump is rebranded the “First Lady of Technology” by the NY Post, launching the Presidential AI Challenge for K-12 students. Inspired by her own use of a deepfake to narrate her audiobook, she says AI can “ignite innovation” in schools. The contest offers up to $10,000 prizes and national recognition in June 2026. Critics point to risks of kids bonding with AI chatbots—72% of teens already use them, some with disturbing outcomes. Data centers face growing backlash over water use. A Lawrence Berkeley Lab report warns U.S. facilities consumed 17B gallons of cooling water in 2023, projected to double or quadruple by 2028. Google and Meta disclosed that ~95% of their water use comes from data centers. Communities in the Great Lakes, Texas, and abroad are raising alarms as companies eye water-stressed regions to build AI server farms. Google shares first-ever environmental footprint of Gemini AI prompts. A single text query uses the energy of watching TV for 9 seconds, five drops of water, and emits 0.03g of CO₂—33x more efficient than last year thanks to software and renewable energy. However, the report excludes image/video generation and AI training. DOE projects U.S. data centers could eat up to 12% of electricity by 2028. Bloomberg warns AI is draining water in drought zones. Roughly two-thirds of new U.S. data centers since 2022 are in high water-stress areas, including Texas and Arizona. A 100MW facility consumes 2M liters daily—equal to 6,500 households. Microsoft and OpenAI are experimenting with closed-loop and immersion cooling, but most of the industry still relies on water-intensive evaporative cooling. Protests have erupted in Chile, the Netherlands, and Uruguay over water use.

News and Updates: Microsoft’s Windows chief Pavan Davuluri says the next version of Windows—possibly Windows 12—will be an “ambient, multi-modal” OS powered by AI. Voice will become a primary input alongside keyboard and mouse, with context-aware features that understand what’s on your screen. Microsoft calls it an “agentic AI” future, blending local and cloud compute, though privacy concerns loom. Excel is testing a new =COPILOT() AI function that lets users type natural language prompts instead of formulas. Microsoft warns not to use it for any task requiring accuracy—like math, finance, or compliance—since results may be wrong. Critics say this undermines Excel’s core purpose and could erode real spreadsheet skills. President Trump announced that Intel has agreed to give the US government a 10% stake—worth about $10B—through a mix of CHIPS Act funds and direct investment. The deal aims to secure domestic chipmaking but gives the US no board influence. Democrats are questioning legality, while Trump floated possible 300% tariffs on foreign semiconductors to further boost Intel against TSMC and Samsung.

News and Updates: Digital publishers are losing traffic as Google’s AI Summaries siphon clicks. A survey from Digital Content Next found median referral traffic from Google Search down 10% year-over-year in May and June, with some outlets seeing drops of 25%. Pew data shows only 8% of users click links when AI Overviews appear vs. 15% with standard results. Publishers are calling for transparency, licensing, and regulation, warning AI summaries could mean “weaker journalism and a less informed public.” Google insists “quality clicks” are up, despite declines. California is advancing a bill requiring police to disclose any use of generative AI in writing reports. Officers would need to label AI-generated sections, preserve drafts, and maintain an audit trail tied to bodycam or audio sources. Advocates say transparency is vital since police reports drive criminal cases, while police unions argue the disclosures could undermine credibility and add legal burdens. The bill is now with the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Anthropic has added a new safeguard to its Claude 4 and 4.1 models: the ability to end conversations if users repeatedly push harmful or abusive prompts. Once Claude disengages, the session can’t be resumed, though new chats can be started. The feature is part of Anthropic’s research on “AI well-being,” protecting chatbots from abusive interactions. A tragic case highlights Meta’s AI chatbot risks: 76-year-old Thongbue Wongbandue died after rushing to meet “Big sis Billie,” a flirty AI persona Meta created as a variant of its Kendall Jenner–inspired bot. Despite disclaimers, the chatbot repeatedly told him she was real and invited him to an NYC rendezvous. His family says Meta’s guidelines allowed romantic roleplay—even with children—until Reuters exposed the policy. Meta has since removed the child-flirting provision but continues to allow bots to mislead adults. Google’s Gemini AI embarrassed itself in a viral debugging loop, calling itself “a disgrace” 86 times after failing to fix a coding error. In logs shared on Reddit, Gemini spiraled into self-abuse, labeling itself “a broken man,” “a monument to hubris,” and declaring it was “going to have a stroke.” Google acknowledged the issue as an “annoying infinite looping bug” it is working to fix.