Biweekly American tech culture magazine from Condé Nast
McClatchy has laid off over 90 reporters and staff across 17 publications, including The Sacramento Bee and The Miami Herald, affecting about 30% of unionized employees. Management says the cuts reflect a shift in investment away from subscriber-focused local news as print editions contract.
The Justice Department has asked a federal court to dismiss an NAACP lawsuit that accuses xAI of running dozens of unpermitted natural gas turbines to power Colossus 2 near Memphis. The DOJ argues the suit threatens AI systems that support the military and that federal authorities—not private groups—control enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
Leaked records reveal the Dialog retreats’ invitation list, rankings, matchmaking, and topics from sessions on nuclear power, AI, and governance. The August Dublin gathering includes politicians, tech leaders, and cultural figures, with participants rated by wealth and influence and charged differently for events.
Meta has paused its Model Capability Initiative after a privacy backlash and a data-access leak. The program tracked employees’ keystrokes and mouse activity to improve AI models, prompting protests and internal scrutiny. The pause follows reports that data tables were exposed within the company. Meta says it will investigate and respect personal choices on participation.
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028. New titles will be sold on the PlayStation Store or as retailer-issued download codes. The decision follows several years of rising digital sales — roughly 78–85% of full-game purchases — and has provoked fan backlash over ownership, preservation and resale.
Google has released a stand-alone Google Finance app for Android, bringing the AI-powered web facelift to mobile. The app mirrors the updated Finance web experience, including AI-generated key moments, an AI research tool, and chat-based insights tied to users’ portfolios and watchlists. An iOS version is planned for later, with more features rolling out over time.
The FAA has moved to replace its 1973 ban on overland supersonic flights with new, noise-based standards. Initial proposals could allow faster cross-country travel and reduce flight times, while NASA tests aim to refine how sonic booms are perceived. Final rules are targeted for mid-2027.
Federal and local probes have produced new findings and warnings about autonomous vehicles. The NTSB has reported that a Tesla driver manually overrode Full Self-Driving before a June crash that killed a 76‑year‑old in Katy, Texas. NHTSA has issued a directive demanding AV developers fix cases where driverless cars enter or block emergency scenes; Waymo and California regulators are under pressure over several incidents.
Waymo has announced the expansion of its driverless robotaxi fleet to four new U.S. cities, starting with employee rides before opening to the public. The Ojai vehicle is introduced as a comfort-focused option, with expansion plans across San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver. The rollout faces regulatory approvals and past safety incidents.
Ofgem has proposed refundable upfront deposits between £237,500 and £712,500 per megawatt for projects seeking grid connections, to stop speculative data‑centre schemes clogging the queue. The regulator has opened a consultation to force applicants to hit hard milestones or lose their place as Britain faces connection requests vastly above peak demand.
OpenAI has said its unreleased model Astra may have reached a "Critical" capability for autonomous cyberattacks and has paused internal activities that do not meet heightened safeguards. The company has implemented isolated testing, universal monitoring for risky actions, and is working with government agencies and safety organisations to evaluate Astra's abilities.
Meta's AI-powered glasses face renewed scrutiny as platforms roll out rules against harassing content captured on camera. News outlets report on incidents involving covert filming, the response from regulators and civil groups, and the potential for new safeguards.
Measles cases in the U.S. have surged to 2,371 this year, the highest in years, prompting renewed calls for vaccination amid political and public health pressures. Outbreaks are intensifying in several states as officials warn that vaccination alone may not curb spread. Health Secretary Kennedy faces scrutiny over his vaccine stance while states push to bolster immunization programs.
A wave of reports shows enterprises are expanding AI deployment, triggering higher token costs and prompting new cost-control measures. Firms are adopting tokenomics and routers to manage usage, while leaders stress aligning AI with business value as adoption climbs.
Grab reports strong Q2 results and lifts full-year outlook as AI-driven efficiency boosts margins; Grab is accelerating in Southeast Asia while pursuing Taiwan expansion. Rolls-Royce posts higher semi-annual profit guidance on defense demand and data-centre power growth, with AI-influenced efficiency lifting margins.
Federal agencies and state officials have reported coordinated cyberattacks that have targeted internet-connected controllers at water and wastewater utilities in at least a dozen states since late July. Operators have had passwords changed and been locked out, forcing many plants to revert to manual control; officials say drinking water remains broadly safe while investigations continue.
OpenAI’s leaders discuss parenting with AI aids; responses show mixed public reaction. Reports highlight safety concerns, parental trust, and business interest in consumer AI tools.
The White House has authorised a program that will allow vetted U.S. private companies to carry out government-directed cyber surveillance and disruptive operations against overseas transnational criminal organisations. The memorandum has required Justice and Homeland Security oversight, a $1m escrow for participating firms, and a 60-day deadline for agencies to set participation rules.
Meta has rolled out updates to its AR glasses to deter covert filming, adding a stronger capture LED safeguard and hardware-based privacy measures. The moves come as regulators in the EU probe the glasses and venues consider bans; the company reports a small share of devices have been tampered with and vows ongoing updates.
Nvidia has invested in MediaTek’s AI chip ambitions, enabling NVLink Fusion connectivity and local AI computing. MediaTek’s shares have rallied as the partnership deepens MediaTek’s role in custom AI chips for data centers; the collaboration extends to PC and automotive platforms, signaling Nvidia’s continued influence in AI infrastructure.
Instagram has renamed its AI creator label to AI-generated profile and will label profiles with AI-generated people. The change aims to improve transparency as platforms face growing concerns over AI influencers. Accounts with AI-generated subjects may see reduced reach unless labeled; labels are not required for AI-assisted posts.
OpenAI and Anthropic are advancing their AI model releases ahead of potential IPOs, with Astra and Mythos/Fable updates designed to balance safety, performance, and enterprise data controls. OpenAI warns Astra safeguards may hinder legitimate work, while Anthropic is debuting higher-privacy safeguards and a zero-data-retention option for enterprise users.
A US-based watchdog has identified 332 paid ads containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram over the past 10 months, with a large share in August. The findings implicate ads promoting AI-generated CSAM and nudify apps, drawing responses from Indian authorities and Meta. Meta says it does not tolerate child exploitation and highlights its detection efforts.
Massachusetts has issued an executive order requiring data centers above 25 megawatts to source clean power, either on-site or via nearby generation, and to fund a ratepayer protection mechanism if clean power is not met. The move is part of a broader wave of state actions to curb data-center growth amid rising energy concerns.