Sep 12, 2025

OpenAI signs $300B Oracle cloud deal for massive Stargate AI project

OpenAI has signed a $300 billion cloud computing agreement with Oracle, marking one of the largest cloud contracts in history. The five-year deal, which begins in 2027, positions OpenAI to secure massive computing resources as part of the broader $500 billion Stargate AI infrastructure initiative, while providing Oracle with unprecedented revenue visibility in the rapidly expanding AI market. What you should know: The agreement forms part of Stargate, an ambitious $500 billion AI infrastructure project that includes building 4.5 gigawatts of new data center capacity. OpenAI will purchase computing power from Oracle starting in 2027, providing the AI company with...

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Seattle mayor takes jab at cross-the-way Bellevue while unveiling new AI policy

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell took a playful jab at neighboring Bellevue during the unveiling of his city's new artificial intelligence policy, declaring "They don't have an AI House in Bellevue" while highlighting Seattle's innovation edge. The remarks underscore growing competition between the two Washington cities as tech companies increasingly establish offices across the region, with Bellevue attracting major players like Amazon, OpenAI, and Zoom in recent years. What you should know: Harrell made his comments while unveiling Seattle's AI policy at the AI House, a startup hub financially supported by the city on Seattle's waterfront. The mayor emphasized Seattle's "unique...

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Canada education report addressing AI safety ironically includes 15+ fake AI citations

A major education reform report for Newfoundland and Labrador, a Canadian province, contains at least 15 fabricated citations that experts suspect were generated by artificial intelligence, despite the document explicitly calling for ethical AI use in schools. The irony is particularly striking given that the 418-page report, which took 18 months to complete and serves as a 10-year roadmap for modernizing the province's education system, includes recommendations for teaching students about AI ethics and responsible technology use. What you should know: The fake citations include references to non-existent sources that bear hallmarks of AI-generated content. One citation references a 2008...

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AI police reports via bodycam save 20 minutes per case but raise courtroom concerns

The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office has completed a pilot program testing Axon's Draft One artificial intelligence technology, which creates initial police report drafts from body camera audio. The technology saves deputies an average of 20 minutes per report, freeing up hundreds of hours across the department for patrol duties and community engagement rather than paperwork. What you should know: Draft One uses AI to transcribe body camera audio into preliminary police reports, though multiple safeguards ensure human oversight remains central to the process. Deputies must modify at least 10% of the AI-generated draft before submission, and the software includes random...

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More pillager than villager? Chinese hacking tool “Villager” downloaded 10K times in 2 months

A mysterious Chinese AI penetration testing tool called Villager has been downloaded nearly 10,000 times since its July release, raising serious concerns about its potential misuse by cybercriminals. The tool, which combines Kali Linux with DeepSeek AI to automate offensive security operations, is being compared to Cobalt Strike's trajectory from legitimate red-team software to widely adopted malware infrastructure. What you should know: Villager represents a new category of AI-native penetration testing tools that could democratize advanced cyberattacks. The tool integrates Kali Linux toolsets with DeepSeek AI models to fully automate testing workflows, positioning itself as an AI-powered successor to Cobalt...

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Microsoft and OpenAI reshape $13B partnership as OpenAI eyes IPO

Microsoft and OpenAI have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to establish the "next phase" of their partnership, marking a significant shift in their collaboration structure. The deal reportedly modifies key provisions around technology access and revenue sharing, while paving the way for OpenAI's long-anticipated transformation from a nonprofit into a public benefit corporation. What you should know: The new agreement addresses how the companies will share technology and revenue from those technologies, though specific terms remain under negotiation. The deal modifies the original clause preventing Microsoft from accessing OpenAI's most advanced technology if the board determines it has achieved...

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Even dictionaries sue Perplexity AI over copyright infringement (but also false attributions)

Merriam-Webster and Encyclopedia Britannica have filed a federal lawsuit against Perplexity AI, alleging the company's "answer engine" unlawfully scrapes and copies their copyrighted content without permission or compensation. The lawsuit also claims Perplexity generates false AI hallucinations that are wrongly attributed to the dictionary and encyclopedia publishers, seeking unspecified monetary damages and an injunction to stop the alleged misuse. What you should know: This marks the latest in a growing series of copyright lawsuits targeting Perplexity's content practices across multiple industries. The complaint was filed in New York federal court and seeks both monetary damages and a court order blocking...

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Pickford AI casts 5 SAG actors including “Last of US” alum for interactive murder mystery series

Pickford AI has cast five SAG-AFTRA voice actors for "Whispers," an interactive murder mystery series that allows viewers to communicate directly with characters during the investigation. The project represents one of the first major productions to use SAG's newly established AI protocols, potentially setting a precedent for how talent is compensated as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in entertainment. What you should know: The interactive series breaks from traditional storytelling by letting audiences influence a murder mystery investigation in real-time. • Voice actors Stephen Chang ("The Last of Us," "Bosch Legacy"), Tohoru Masamune ("Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Never Have I...

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AI sign language platform debuts at Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony Museum

The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House is partnering with Rochester-based startup Sign-Speak to provide on-demand AI-powered American Sign Language interpretation for visitors. This marks the first museum collaboration for the AI platform and addresses a significant accessibility gap in Rochester, which has one of the world's largest deaf populations per capita. Why this matters: The partnership aligns with the museum's mission to broaden conversations about civil rights and inclusion, making historical narratives accessible to previously underserved visitors while showcasing how AI can bridge communication barriers. How it works: Visitors will scan a QR code to access Sign-Speak's AI...

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Anthropic moves on inner circle, doubles DC workforce as AI policy chief warns of massive change ahead

Anthropic is planning a major Washington D.C. expansion, doubling its employee count and opening an official office by 2026 to prepare lawmakers for AI's accelerating impact on American industries. The company's head of policy Jack Clark warns that current AI developments are "small potatoes compared to where it'll be in a year," positioning this as a critical moment for policymaker education ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential election. Why it matters: Anthropic believes AI is moving too fast for policymakers to keep up, with Clark describing the challenge of communicating exponential technological change as "almost without precedent." Clark...

read Sep 11, 2025

AI upscaling tools create fake details in FBI Kirk shooting investigation photos

Internet users are using AI tools to upscale and "enhance" blurry FBI surveillance photos of a person of interest in the Charlie Kirk shooting, but these AI-generated images are creating fictional details rather than revealing hidden information. The practice demonstrates how AI upscaling tools can mislead criminal investigations by inferring nonexistent features from low-resolution images. Why this matters: AI upscaling has a documented history of creating false details, including past incidents where it transformed Obama into a white man and added nonexistent features to Trump's appearance, making these "enhanced" images potentially harmful to legitimate investigations. What happened: The FBI posted...

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Claude AI now remembers conversations automatically for Team users

Anthropic has rolled out automatic memory capabilities for Claude AI, allowing the chatbot to remember details from previous conversations without prompting. The feature is currently available only to Team and Enterprise users, enabling Claude to automatically incorporate user preferences, project context, and priorities into its responses. What you should know: This upgrade builds on Anthropic's previous memory feature that required users to manually prompt Claude to remember past chats. Claude's memory now carries over to projects, a feature that lets Pro and Teams users generate diagrams, website designs, graphics, and more based on uploaded files. The system appears particularly focused...

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Nvidia unveils Rubin CPX GPU with 128GB memory for AI inference

Nvidia has unveiled the Rubin CPX GPU, a new compute-focused graphics processor featuring 128GB of GDDR7 memory specifically designed for enterprise AI inference workloads. The announcement positions Nvidia to address the growing demand for long-context AI applications in software development, research, and high-definition video generation, with shipments planned for late 2026. What you should know: The Rubin CPX represents Nvidia's first GPU to reach 128GB memory capacity, delivering up to 30 petaFLOPs of NVFP4 compute performance.• The GPU integrates hardware attention acceleration that Nvidia claims is three times faster than the GB300 NVL72.• Four NVENC and four NVDEC units are...

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Swim team? Old news! All-girls underwater robotics team raises $2K through community raffle.

The Clarkston P.E.O. FE Chapter has partnered with ECH Science, an all-girls underwater robotics team, to promote women's education through a fundraising raffle. The collaboration highlights growing community support for encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers through hands-on robotics and engineering programs. What you should know: ECH Science brings together girls from different schools and communities who share a passion for science, technology, engineering, and math. The team explores new concepts through hands-on outreach activities and competitive challenges, applying scientific and engineering processes in real-world scenarios. They have become a local role model and inspiration for others in the community...

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Job alert: Adam offers $250K for founding engineer to build AI-powered CAD software

Adam, an AI-powered computer-aided design startup, is hiring its first founding engineer with a salary range of $160K-$250K plus 1-2% equity. The Y Combinator W25 company recently achieved viral success with its text-to-CAD interface that allows engineers to create 3D models through natural language commands, positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven design automation. What you should know: Adam is building revolutionary CAD software that lets users speak physical objects into existence through AI. Engineers can select a face and say "Add mounting holes matching the bolt pattern from the other part, with identical diameters, spacing, and offsets," and Adam...

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Pennsylvania’s AI Horizons summit bets big on AI hardware with $20B investment push

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro joined Senator Dave McCormick and industry leaders at Pittsburgh's second annual AI Horizons summit, where the city is positioning itself to become a global leader in physical AI technology and hardware manufacturing. The event highlighted Pennsylvania's broader strategy to attract AI infrastructure investments and streamline regulations to capture what Shapiro called a "generational change" in economic opportunity. What you should know: Pittsburgh is specifically targeting physical AI technology manufacturing rather than just software development, aiming to produce the hardware that industries worldwide will need as AI integration accelerates. Key investment details: Shapiro highlighted Pennsylvania's success in...

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Naval War College and Salve Regina host AI national security forum

The U.S. Naval War College partnered with Salve Regina University to host the third Forum at Newport, focusing on artificial intelligence and national security implications. The event brought together military leaders, academics, and industry experts to examine how AI technologies are reshaping defense strategies and preparing tomorrow's military leaders for emerging challenges. What you should know: The forum featured keynote remarks from Admiral (ret.) Michael S. Rogers, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command, emphasizing the critical intersection of AI and national security.• The event was designed to strengthen collaboration between the two Rhode Island institutions and foster scholarship on global...

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Water in a dust bowl: Tulsa teachers build underwater robots for Navy-aligned STEM program

The Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance hosted professional development training for 20 teachers to launch underwater robotics programs at their schools through the SeaPerch Challenge. The initiative aims to expand access to hands-on STEM education while preparing students for real-world careers in fields like naval operations and engineering. What you should know: The SeaPerch program teaches students to build and operate remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), developing skills directly applicable to military and civilian careers. Teachers learn comprehensive technical skills including cutting pipe, soldering, and drilling to construct the underwater robots. The program is partnered with the Naval League, which helps...

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Google Home app gets major automation upgrade with smart triggers

Google has rolled out a substantial upgrade to its Home app's automation system, giving users significantly more control over how their smart home devices respond to daily routines and environmental changes. This enhancement, now available for both Android and iOS users, represents the company's most comprehensive update to household automation tools in recent years. The upgrade addresses a common frustration among smart home users: the inability to create nuanced, context-aware automations that adapt to real-world scenarios. Previously, users were limited to basic if-then commands, but the new system allows for multiple conditions and more sophisticated triggers that can account for...

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How Apple’s translation AirPods create new economic value in consumption (not production)

Apple's new AirPods feature live translation capabilities, marking one of the first tangible examples of AI creating entirely new possibilities rather than simply reducing costs. The technology addresses language barriers that act as "invisible tariffs" on the global economy, potentially opening new markets and unleashing economic opportunities previously constrained by communication gaps. The big picture: Unlike most AI applications that focus on replacing human labor or cutting costs, Apple's translation-enabled AirPods represent AI's potential to expand consumption and create new economic value rather than just making existing processes cheaper. Why this matters: According to PWC, a global consulting firm, two-thirds...

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WIRED tested the $129 AI necklace that alienates users and fails technically

The Friend, a $129 AI necklace created by 22-year-old entrepreneur Avi Schiffmann, continuously records conversations and responds with intentionally rude commentary designed to combat loneliness. Two WIRED reporters who tested the device found it to be a social disaster that alienated people at gatherings and suffered from significant technical problems, highlighting broader issues with always-on AI wearables. What you should know: The Friend pendant hangs around users' necks and records everything they say, then uses AI to provide snarky commentary about their conversations. The device is designed with a deliberately foul mood, as Schiffmann believes moodiness makes AI more engaging...

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Amazon Prime Video adds AI “Pocket Health” QB threat levels to NFL broadcasts

Amazon Prime Video has launched new AI-powered features for its Thursday Night Football broadcasts, including "Pocket Health," which analyzes offensive line data to visualize quarterback threat levels in real-time. The enhancements represent Amazon's continued investment in AI-driven sports analytics, building on existing machine learning tools to differentiate its NFL coverage and provide viewers with deeper tactical insights. What you should know: Amazon's latest AI features focus on providing tactical analysis that wasn't previously available to television audiences. Pocket Health uses AI to analyze "tens of thousands of data points" across the offensive line during plays, creating on-screen visuals that indicate...

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AI rent-a-bots patrol Austin neighborhoods with remote human oversight

Austin-based CTX Patrol has deployed AI-powered security robots in partnership with Daxbot, an Oregon-based robotics company, to patrol northeast Austin neighborhoods. One robot named Palmer now monitors the Windsor Park area, representing a cost-effective approach to maintaining continuous security presence while keeping human operators safely removed from potential threats. How it works: Palmer combines advanced surveillance technology with remote human oversight to monitor neighborhoods around the clock.• The robot is equipped with advanced cameras and facial recognition technology to detect suspicious activity in real-time.• Trained operators monitor Palmer continuously from Daxbot's headquarters in Philomath, Oregon, ready to assess threats and...

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Sonic Boon: Stable Audio 2.5 creates 3-minute custom tracks for enterprise branding

Stability AI has launched Stable Audio 2.5, an enterprise-focused AI model designed to help brands create custom, three-minute audio tracks within seconds. The tool enables companies to build a distinctive "sonic identity" through fully licensed, AI-generated music and soundscapes that can be deployed across advertising, retail locations, and other brand touchpoints. What you should know: Stable Audio 2.5 represents the first audio generation model specifically designed for enterprise-grade sound production. The model can create custom musical tracks up to three minutes long in seconds, complete with intro, middle section, and outro compositions. Users can fine-tune the model on their organization's...

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