News/Policy
EU chief pushes for self-driving car network to rival US and China
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a continent-wide push to develop self-driving cars during Italian Tech Week in Turin, positioning artificial intelligence as a key solution for reviving Europe's struggling automotive sector. Her "AI first" strategy aims to help European automakers catch up with competitors in the United States and China while improving road safety and preserving millions of jobs across the region. What she's proposing: Von der Leyen outlined an ambitious plan to establish Europe as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology through coordinated action across member states. She proposed creating a network of European cities...
read Oct 2, 2025EU’s landmark AI Act forces companies to rethink cybersecurity fundamentals
The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act represents the world's most comprehensive AI regulation, fundamentally reshaping how organizations must approach AI security and compliance. As the latest provisions took effect on August 2nd, companies operating in or selling to EU markets face unprecedented requirements for AI system governance, particularly for applications classified as "high-risk." This groundbreaking legislation establishes the first mandatory framework for AI safety and ethics, but compliance demands more than checking regulatory boxes. Organizations must now embed security considerations throughout their AI development lifecycle, creating new operational challenges and opportunities across the technology landscape. How the Act rewrites cybersecurity...
read Oct 2, 2025Mexico drafts first AI law to protect creative workers from voice theft
Mexico's federal government is developing landmark legislation to regulate artificial intelligence use in creative industries, working with over 128 organizations including dubbing professionals, actors, broadcasters, and film institutes. The reform aims to protect creative works and copyright while preventing unauthorized AI replication of voices, images, music, and other artistic content. Why this matters: The legislation represents Mexico's first comprehensive approach to AI regulation in cultural sectors, addressing both technological misuse and broader labor protections for creative professionals. The National Copyright Institute (Indautor), Mexico's federal copyright agency, and the Legal Counsel of the Presidency are leading the initiative alongside industry associations...
read Sep 30, 2025Denver appoints first-ever chief AI officer to transform city services
Denver CIO Suma Nallapati will expand her role to become the city's first chief artificial intelligence and information officer (CAIO), a move Mayor Mike Johnston says positions Denver as a leader in municipal AI adoption. This new role reflects the growing importance of AI in city operations and the need for dedicated leadership to ensure responsible implementation across government services. What you should know: Nallapati, who has served as Denver's CIO since 2023, will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive AI strategy for the city and county.• Her expanded responsibilities include creating policies around AI governance and equity...
read Sep 29, 2025It’s official, California governor signs AI transparency law amid tech opposition
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act into law, establishing some of the nation's strongest AI safety regulations. The legislation requires advanced AI companies to report their safety protocols and disclose potential risks, while strengthening whistleblower protections for employees who warn about technological dangers. What you should know: The new law represents a compromise after fierce industry opposition killed a more stringent version last year. S.B. 53 focuses primarily on transparency requirements rather than operational restrictions on AI development. Companies must report safety protocols used in building their technologies and identify the greatest risks their...
read Sep 29, 2025e-LOPE: Ohio Republican introduces bill that would ban humans from marrying AI
Ohio state Representative Thad Claggett has introduced legislation that would ban humans from marrying artificial intelligence systems and strip AI of any legal personhood status. The Republican lawmaker's House Bill 469, filed September 25, aims to establish clear legal boundaries as AI technology advances and sparks nationwide debates about the relationship between humans and machines. What you should know: The proposed law would explicitly classify AI systems as nonsentient and block them from gaining human-like legal rights. House Bill 469 would prohibit AI systems from being recognized as spouses, owning real estate, controlling intellectual property, or holding financial accounts. The...
read Sep 29, 2025CEOs risk obsolescence by treating AI as efficiency tool instead of business reshaper
Fortune contributor Mike Hoffman argues that CEOs are misreading AI's transformative potential by treating it as an efficiency tool rather than a fundamental business reshaper. His analysis draws parallels to how Blockbuster missed streaming's disruptive power while focusing on optimizing store operations, warning that companies risk obsolescence if they fail to recognize AI as a signal detector that can identify problems humans can't see. The big picture: More than half of the Fortune 500 companies from 2000 no longer exist, with most failing not from lack of vision but from solving the wrong problems while missing critical market signals. Why...
read Sep 29, 2025Microsoft wins $3.1B federal AI contract with free Copilot access
Microsoft has secured a massive government cloud and AI contract through the General Services Administration's new OneGov deal, offering steep discounts including free access to its Copilot AI assistant for federal agencies. The agreement could generate $3.1 billion in first-year savings alone and positions Microsoft to dominate the rapidly expanding federal AI market against competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The big picture: This represents a strategic land grab for the federal government's AI infrastructure, with Microsoft leveraging existing compliance advantages to secure long-term vendor relationships. The three-year agreement covers Microsoft 365, Azure Cloud Services, Dynamics 365, and cybersecurity tool...
read Sep 29, 2025Trump administration makes AI top priority for government efficiency, IRS and more in sights
The Trump administration has officially designated artificial intelligence as a key priority in its fiscal year 2027 science and technology agenda, formalizing what many agency leaders have already identified as crucial for streamlining government operations. This White House directive comes as federal agencies increasingly view AI as essential for maintaining efficiency while operating with reduced workforce levels. What you should know: The administration's AI focus reflects broader government efficiency goals aimed at doing more work with fewer federal employees. Agency leaders across government have previously discussed how AI can streamline operations and reduce staffing requirements. The formal designation in the...
read Sep 26, 2025Cambridge researchers use AI to map hedgehog habitats from satellite data
Cambridge researchers have developed an AI model that identifies bramble patches from satellite imagery to map potential hedgehog habitats across the UK. This innovative approach addresses a critical conservation challenge, as European hedgehog populations have declined by 30-50% over the past decade, and traditional tracking methods are too expensive and labor-intensive for large-scale monitoring. How it works: The AI system combines satellite data with citizen science observations to detect brambles, which serve as essential hedgehog habitats for shelter, nesting, and food sources. The model uses relatively simple machine learning techniques—logistic regression and k-nearest neighbors classification—rather than complex deep learning models...
read Sep 26, 2025Never “Metabot” they didn’t like: Meta bets big on humanoid robots with software-first strategy
Meta is positioning humanoid robotics as its next "AR-size bet," signaling a multi-billion dollar investment in the emerging field. CTO Andrew Bosworth revealed that CEO Mark Zuckerberg directed the creation of a dedicated robotics research team earlier this year, with the company developing its own humanoid robot called "Metabot" while planning to license its software platform to other manufacturers. The big picture: Meta views software, not hardware, as the primary bottleneck preventing widespread humanoid robot adoption, focusing its efforts on solving complex manipulation tasks that current robots struggle with. Key technical challenges: Bosworth emphasized that while robots can perform dynamic...
read Sep 26, 2025UNC’s AI fellow shares 5 insights on balancing technology with academic integrity
Universities across the country are grappling with a fundamental question: how do you prepare students for a workforce increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence while maintaining academic integrity? At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, that challenge falls to Dana Riger, the institution's inaugural generative artificial intelligence faculty fellow—a role that positions her at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and traditional pedagogy. Riger, a clinical associate professor in UNC's School of Education specializing in human development and family science, has spent the past 16 months helping faculty navigate the complex terrain of AI integration in higher education. Since taking...
read Sep 25, 2025Pennsylvania state rep seeks ban on AI primary teachers following pro-AI charter school rejection
Pennsylvania State Rep. Nikki Rivera has introduced legislation to ban charter schools from using artificial intelligence as the primary instructor, requiring certified human teachers instead. The bill follows the state Department of Education's rejection of Unbound Academy's charter application, which proposed AI-driven instruction with human "guides," highlighting growing concerns about AI replacing traditional teaching methods. What you should know: Rivera's proposed legislation would deny AI-powered charter and cyber charter applications as a safeguard against unproven instructional practices. The bill aims to prevent taxpayer dollars from being redirected "from those manipulating the law for their own profit at the expense of...
read Sep 25, 2025Senators probe Big Tech over H-1B hiring amid US layoffs
Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin are demanding answers from Amazon, Meta, Apple, Google, and Microsoft over allegations that these companies laid off American workers while simultaneously hiring thousands of foreign H-1B visa holders at potentially lower wages. The bipartisan inquiry comes as President Trump has imposed a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applications, fundamentally reshaping how tech companies access foreign talent. What you should know: Amazon faces the heaviest scrutiny for allegedly blaming AI adoption for massive layoffs while hiring over 10,000 H-1B workers. Amazon sponsored the most H-1B visas in 2024 at 14,000, compared to Microsoft and...
read Sep 25, 2025Elon Musk’s xAI sues OpenAI for trade secret theft
Elon Musk's xAI has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the ChatGPT maker has engaged in systematic theft of trade secrets through former employees who joined OpenAI. The legal action represents an escalation in the ongoing feud between Musk and his former company, adding corporate espionage claims to an already complex web of litigation between the AI rivals. What you should know: xAI claims OpenAI orchestrated a deliberate pattern of stealing proprietary information through strategic employee poaching. The lawsuit centers on former xAI employee Xuechen Li, who allegedly stole confidential information before joining OpenAI. According to xAI's legal filing,...
read Sep 24, 2025Commerce Department opens probe into medical equipment and robotics imports
The U.S. Commerce Department has opened national security investigations into imports of medical equipment, robotics, and industrial machinery under Section 232 authority. These previously undisclosed probes, initiated on September 2, could lead to significant tariff increases on a broad range of critical goods including personal protective equipment, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing systems. What you should know: The investigations target four key sectors that are considered essential to national security and economic competitiveness.• Personal protective equipment and medical items under scrutiny include face masks, syringes, and infusion pumps.• The robotics category encompasses programmable, computer-controlled mechanical systems used in manufacturing and...
read Sep 24, 2025Meta moves to sell wholesale electricity through new subsidiary Atem Energy
Meta has filed an application with federal regulators to sell wholesale electricity through its newly formed subsidiary Atem Energy, marking the tech giant's entry into energy markets. The move reflects Meta's growing need to secure reliable power for its expanding AI data center infrastructure, which is driving unprecedented electricity demand across the industry. What you should know: Meta's energy subsidiary seeks broad market authorization to manage the company's massive power requirements. Atem Energy has requested Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to sell energy, capacity, and ancillary services by November 16. The wholly owned subsidiary was created earlier this year...
read Sep 24, 2025TELUS launches Canada’s first sovereign AI factory in $1.5B push
Canada has positioned itself as a leader in sovereign AI development, with NVIDIA joining government officials and industry leaders at the All In Canada AI Ecosystem event in Montreal this week. The gathering highlights Canada's commitment to building domestic AI capabilities while TELUS launches the country's first fully sovereign AI factory and RBC Capital Markets develops AI agents for financial services, underscoring the nation's push for digital independence in the age of artificial intelligence. What you should know: Canada's AI Minister Evan Solomon emphasized digital sovereignty as the most pressing policy issue of our time, declaring that nations must develop...
read Sep 24, 2025Federal judge in Puerto Rico fines lawyers $24K for AI-generated fake citations
A federal judge in Puerto Rico has sanctioned two plaintiffs' lawyers for filing court documents containing at least 55 defective case citations in a FIFA lawsuit, ordering them to pay $24,400 in legal fees to opposing counsel. Chief U.S. District Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach suggested the attorneys likely used AI to prepare their filings despite their denials, highlighting the growing judicial scrutiny of artificial intelligence misuse in legal practice. What you should know: The sanctioned attorneys, José Olmo-Rodríguez and Ibrahim Reyes, represent the Puerto Rico Soccer League in a lawsuit claiming FIFA, soccer's world governing body, conspired to restrict sanctioned tournaments...
read Sep 24, 2025200+ world leaders demand AI safety consensus by end of 2025
Over 200 world leaders, Nobel laureates, and industry experts have co-signed an open letter demanding international consensus on AI safety measures by the end of 2025. The petition, released during the UN General Assembly, calls for "clear and verifiable red lines" to prevent "universally unacceptable risks" from artificial intelligence development. What they're saying: The letter emphasizes the urgent need for binding international agreements on AI safety protocols.• "An international agreement on clear and verifiable red lines is necessary for preventing universally unacceptable risks," the letter states, adding that safeguards should build upon "existing global frameworks and voluntary corporate commitments." Who...
read Sep 24, 2025California requires AI companies to disclose training data in 2026
California has passed Assembly Bill 2013, requiring generative AI developers to publicly disclose their training data starting January 1, 2026. The Generative Artificial Intelligence Training Data Transparency Act represents one of the most comprehensive U.S. rules on AI disclosure, potentially strengthening copyright lawsuits while raising compliance burdens for companies operating in the state. What you should know: The law mandates detailed public disclosures about datasets used to train AI models, including sources, availability, size, and whether copyrighted or personal data are included. Developers must publish information on their websites about data sources, whether datasets are publicly available or proprietary, their...
read Sep 23, 2025OpenAI and partners add 5 new data centers to $500B Stargate project
OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank announced plans to build five new AI data centers across the United States as part of their $500 billion Stargate project, expanding the initiative launched by President Trump in January. The new facilities will bring the project's total data center capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts with over $400 billion in investment over the next three years, positioning the partnership to capture a significant portion of the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure market. What you should know: The five new data centers will be strategically distributed across multiple states to support the growing demand for AI computing power....
read Sep 23, 2025Perplexity launches $200 monthly AI email assistant for Gmail and Outlook
Perplexity has launched Email Assistant, an AI-powered tool that integrates with Gmail and Outlook to manage emails, draft responses, and schedule meetings. However, the service comes with a steep price tag of $200 monthly, as it's exclusively available to Perplexity Max subscribers, making it one of the more expensive AI email solutions on the market. What you should know: Email Assistant offers comprehensive inbox management capabilities but requires users to interact through a specific email address. Users must either email [email protected] or CC the address in email threads to activate the AI assistant. The tool can draft replies in the...
read Sep 23, 2025California bill requires data centers to report water usage, awaits Newsom signature
California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 93, which would require data centers to report their water consumption both before operating and annually thereafter. The legislation, now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom's signature, comes as the AI-driven data center boom puts growing pressure on water resources in California and the drought-stricken Southwest. Why this matters: Data centers can consume massive amounts of water for cooling—up to 500,000 gallons per day for a 100-megawatt facility—yet many companies don't currently disclose their usage, making it difficult for communities to plan for water allocation amid ongoing shortages. Key details: The bill requires both new and...
read