China Mulls Stricter Export Controls on AI and Semiconductor Technologies, Microsoft Expands Mistral AI Partnership with Multibillion-Dollar Investment for European Data Centers, and Samsung Launches New Galaxy Credit Card with Tiered Rewards.

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Hackers are actively exploiting two critical security vulnerabilities in WordPress versions 6.9.0 through 6.9.4 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.1, potentially allowing attackers to gain full remote control of affected websites. While automatic updates, web application firewalls, and protections from hosting providers like Automattic are reducing the overall impact, millions of sites may still be vulnerable. WordPress users are strongly encouraged to update immediately.

Read More: TechCrunch

Chinese regulators are considering stricter export controls on artificial intelligence and semiconductor technologies to maintain domestic control over strategic assets. Proposed measures include limiting overseas access to advanced AI models, restricting transfers of model weights and data, preventing foreign companies from manufacturing chips based on Chinese designs, and tightening rules around foreign acquisitions of emerging AI technologies. The proposals remain under review as officials gather industry feedback.

Read More: Reuters

Microsoft has expanded its partnership with Mistral AI through a multibillion-dollar investment focused on building AI infrastructure across Europe. By bringing Mistral’s models to Azure Local and Azure AI Foundry, enterprise customers will be able to run AI workloads on local infrastructure, supporting Europe’s growing emphasis on “sovereign AI” while reducing dependence on U.S.-based cloud providers.

Read More: The Wall Street Journal

Samsung has introduced the Samsung Galaxy Card, a new Visa credit card issued through Barclays. The card offers tiered cash-back rewards, including 5% back on Samsung device purchases, integrates with Samsung Wallet, and is secured by Samsung Knox. Applications open on July 22, with additional welcome bonuses available for qualifying new cardholders.

Read More: Thurrott

A federal judge has approved Anthropic’s $1.5 billion class-action copyright settlement, awarding $3,000 per copyrighted work to eligible authors and publishers. Although the court reaffirmed that AI training on copyrighted material can qualify as fair use, it left unresolved allegations regarding Anthropic’s use of pirated content for training. Because the case was settled, the ruling does not create legal precedent, leaving broader AI copyright disputes unresolved.

Read More: TechCrunch

Google’s AI-powered search experience is increasingly keeping users inside Google’s ecosystem instead of sending them to publishers’ websites. Publishers, banks, retailers, and organizations like the Wikimedia Foundation report significant traffic declines as AI-generated answers replace traditional search results. Regulators, including the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, have begun requiring greater attribution and opt-out options as concerns grow over the future of the open web.

Read More: The New York Times

Samsung is introducing an AI-powered health assistant that combines data from Galaxy devices, including calendars and wearables, to deliver personalized wellness coaching. The platform introduces new health metrics while emphasizing user privacy and collaboration with healthcare researchers. Samsung says the long-term goal is to better connect wearable health data with clinical care.

Read More: Bloomberg

Samsung has created a new robotics division called RX (Robotics eXperience), led by former Hyundai executive Dongkun Lee and overseen by CEO TM Roh. The new group will focus on physical AI and establish research hubs in the United States, China, and Japan. Samsung is also investing 19 trillion KRW ($13 billion) in its Gumi facilities to begin manufacturing humanoid robots later this year.

Read More: Engadget

Alphabet is reportedly developing a custom server chip known internally as Frozen v2, with a potential launch in 2028. The chip is designed to improve Gemini’s efficiency while reducing dependence on Nvidia hardware, part of Google’s long-term strategy to control AI infrastructure costs and improve performance.

Read More: TechCrunch

Sony has filed a second lawsuit against AI music startup Udio, seeking statutory damages over the alleged unauthorized use of more than 30,000 copyrighted recordings to train its AI models. The lawsuit claims Udio copied music from YouTube without permission and argues that the company’s recent licensing agreements do not excuse past infringement. Sony is requesting a jury trial.

Read More: Engadget

Google reportedly planning a new AI chip for Gemini models, China’s passenger car market slumps big time, Microsoft pulls OneDrive sync app support for older Windows 10 versions.

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Hugging Face says an autonomous AI agent breached its production infrastructure, and its own team ran into a very 2026 problem: US frontier models wouldn’t help analyze real attacker commands because of safety guardrails. So Hugging Face used China’s open-weight GLM 5.2 locally to review more than 17,000 logs, while telling customers to rotate access tokens.

source: Hugging Face

The Information’s sources say Google is working on a new AI chip designed specifically to run Gemini more efficiently. The idea is to lower the cost of serving AI inside Google’s own cloud, while continuing its long-running TPU strategy as Nvidia keeps dominating AI accelerators.

source: Reuters

China’s passenger car sales fell 20.2% in the first half of 2026, putting the market on pace for its worst year since 2021. Exports are helping, but shrinking margins and a collapse in internal combustion sales point to a bigger shakeout ahead.

source: The Next Web

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI does not name Jony Ive, even though he’s the public face of OpenAI’s hardware ambitions. Gurman also reports Apple is testing Live Notes at the Genius Bar, which records, transcribes, and summarizes customer conversations.

source: Bloomberg

Microsoft will stop supporting the OneDrive sync app on older Windows 10 versions on August 15th. Windows 10 22H2 gets support until October 2028, but earlier versions lose updates, fixes, security patches, and tech support.

source: The Register

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won says customers are asking SK hynix for 60 to 100% more AI memory in 2027, even though major new capacity won’t arrive next year. He warned that high memory prices could lead to “chipflation,” new competitors, and more government pressure over access to high-bandwidth memory.

source: The Korea Herald

Mozilla is testing a faster Firefox release schedule, moving Desktop and Android from a four-week cycle to a two-week cycle starting in September. Firefox 155 is now targeted for September 1st, while the Extended Support Release schedule stays annual.

source: The Register

Microsoft is expanding its use of AMD’s Helios rack-scale AI platform and EPYC data center processors inside Azure. It’s a useful win for AMD as it tries to compete with Nvidia, and gives Microsoft another AI infrastructure option alongside Nvidia GPUs and its own Maia chips.

source: CNBC

Alibaba previewed Qwen3.8-Max, a 2.4 trillion-parameter AI model it says is second only to Anthropic’s Claude Fable 5. The model is available through Alibaba’s Token Plan, Qoder, and QoderWork, with open weights promised soon, though benchmark details are still thin.

source: South China Morning Post

Prediction market Kalshi moves into biotech, new study findings show no clear electromagnetic wave cancer risk in mobile phone use, Microsoft’s 13-inch Surface Laptop struggles with 8GB of RAM.

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Show Notes

This week, everyone seems to be looking for a side hustle. Meta and SpaceX may start renting out computing power, Kalshi wants people betting on drug trials, and Apple is raising prices while fighting battles on several fronts.

Meta’s enormous AI infrastructure bill could start paying for itself. The company is reportedly discussing a two-year deal worth as much as $10 billion to supply Anthropic with computing power, potentially turning Meta into a cloud provider as well as an AI developer.

Source: The New York Times

Apple has told roughly 40 former employees now working at OpenAI to preserve documents related to its trade-secret lawsuit. The letters suggest Apple believes the alleged misuse of its hardware secrets may reach further than the two employees named in the case, while OpenAI says it hasn’t seen evidence supporting the claims.

Source: MacRumors

Apple Music’s individual plan is rising from $11 to $12 a month, while the family plan jumps from $17 to $20 and the student tier moves from $6 to $7. Apple One’s Family and Premier bundles are also getting $2 increases, with Apple pointing to higher music-licensing costs.

Source: 9to5Mac

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has ordered Apple and Google to remove 13 face-swapping apps capable of producing non-consensual nude images. Google says it removed the five Android apps identified in the letters, but Chiu argues that app stores shouldn’t be profiting from tools easily used for sexual abuse.

Source: Wired

Prediction market Kalshi is expanding into biotech, with contracts tied to clinical-trial results and FDA decisions. The company says it will screen traders and bar anyone with material nonpublic information, though letting people wager on drug trials opens up an entirely new collection of ethical questions.

Source: Bloomberg

A review of research commissioned by the World Health Organization found no clear link between mobile-phone use and cancers of the brain, head, or neck. Researchers said the brain-cancer evidence was particularly strong, although the data on some other possible health effects remains limited.

Source: The Conversation

Samsung’s next foldable phones have made the traditional pre-launch appearance online. Images shared by Evan Blass reportedly show a wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 alongside the Z Flip 8 and Fold 8 Ultra, days before Samsung’s July 22 event.

Source: 9to5Google

SpaceX is reportedly discussing a potentially multibillion-dollar deal to provide computing power for Defense Department AI projects. The arrangement would expand the company’s defense role beyond satellites and communications, giving the SpaceX orbit even deeper access to sensitive government work.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft’s new $950 Surface Laptop still gets high marks for its hardware and battery life, but its base model comes with just 8GB of memory. The Verge found Windows 11 consuming most of that before normal multitasking even began, making the machine a strong argument for buying 16GB instead.

Source: The Verge

Google Delays Flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro Amid Internal Hurdles and Stiff Competition, SpaceX Aborts Starship Launch After Engine Failure, and Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K3: 2.8 Trillion Parameter Model.

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Honda has pulled the plug on U.S. sales of the Prologue electric SUV, effectively ending sales of all its EVs in the U.S. after the 2026 model year. This is largely due to the loss of federal incentives and a shift away from its collaborative platform with General Motors. The decision significantly limits Honda’s U.S. zero-emission vehicle offerings, leaving the hydrogen-powered CR-V e:FCEV in California as the primary alternative, despite the company’s continued commitment to EVs in international markets.

Source: Engadget

Google is facing significant delays in the release of its flagship AI model, Gemini 3.5 Pro, amid internal challenges, bureaucratic hurdles, and intense competition from rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI. While the company is working to unify its AI development efforts, it struggles with capacity constraints and organizational fragmentation. Furthermore, while some customers find utility in the existing Gemini 3.5 Flash model, others report dissatisfaction with its performance and cost compared to competitor offerings, leading some to shift toward alternative models.

Source: Bloomberg

SpaceX’s second attempt to launch its upgraded Starship rocket was aborted on Thursday after an engine ignition failure moments after liftoff. Elon Musk confirmed that engine issues triggered an automatic abort, and the company plans to replace two engines before rescheduling the launch for next week. Following the failed attempt, SpaceX’s stock price dropped below its $135 IPO price, closing down more than 4% in after-hours trading as the company faces continued technical hurdles in its efforts to validate the Starship-Starlink system for orbital data centers.

Source: TechCrunch

Chinese startup Moonshot AI has launched Kimi K3, its largest AI model to date with 2.8 trillion parameters. While it still trails leading U.S. systems like Claude Fable 5 and GPT 5.6 Sol, it has surpassed other models on benchmarks such as coding and general agents. This development highlights China’s rapid progress in AI despite compute constraints, intensifying the U.S.-China AI race and drawing interest from Western companies due to the model’s competitive performance and lower costs, prompting U.S. lawmakers to consider potential restrictions.

Source: CNBC

Micron Technology has locked in several long-term deals with major automotive suppliers like Qualcomm and Harman to supply the memory and storage needed for the next generation of AI-driven vehicles. As the demand for AI tools pushes the chip industry to scale up, these partnerships help Micron stabilize its supply chain and pricing for automakers. With the industry moving toward software-defined vehicles, these agreements put Micron in a strong position to support advanced features like digital cockpits and driver-assistance systems, helping them capitalize on growth beyond their core data center business.

Source: Reuters

Signal’s latest beta includes a handy new feature that lets you link an Android phone or tablet to your main account, removing the need for a separate number for each device. By scanning a QR code from your primary phone, you can sync your chat history across devices. The update also introduces a customizable, split-screen interface for tablets that makes it easier to view your chats in landscape mode, though these features are currently still in beta.

Source: Engadget

Amazon-owned Zoox has initiated a software recall for its fleet of 105 robotaxis after one vehicle failed to navigate a smoke-filled emergency scene in June. The update, which improves the detection of heavy smoke and active emergency sites, was released following pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which recently warned AV developers to ensure their vehicles do not interfere with first responders. There were no injuries reported during the incident.

Source: TechCrunch

Major music publishers, including Universal Music Group and Sony Music, have agreed to end their long-standing legal battle with X Corp over copyright infringement claims. Both sides filed requests in Tennessee and Texas federal courts to dismiss the pending lawsuits and countersuits with prejudice, effectively resolving the dispute without immediate public confirmation of the specific terms or any settlement details.

Source: Reuters

Netflix revealed in its Q2 earnings report that roughly 300 titles now incorporate generative AI, primarily for post-production tasks like complex visual effects, worldbuilding, and crowd enhancement. As the company increases its investment in AI acquisitions and new studio initiatives, it reported $12.56 billion in earnings while actively diversifying its content strategy with podcasts, short-form clips, and potential always-on channels to better compete with free-to-watch platforms like YouTube.

Source: The Verge

Roblox has introduced Build, a new mobile-based AI tool that enables users to create games from simple text prompts, bypassing the need for traditional programming. While the feature aims to democratize game development, it has sparked industry concerns regarding potential quality issues and increased competition, prompting Roblox to emphasize that it will rank AI-generated games based on player retention to ensure quality. The feature launches in public alpha on July 28 for users in New Zealand, with further AI-powered development tools for playtesting and 3D scene generation expected to roll out in the coming months.

Source: TechCrunch

OnePlus will end operations and no longer release products in North America and Europe, Hyundai seeks full ownership of Boston Dynamics, and Google renames NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook.

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On Wednesday 404 Media reported a hacker revealed the AI music generation tool Suno scraped millions of songs and lyrics from “YouTube Music, Deezer, and Genius, as well as from the stock music libraries Pond5, Jamendo, Freesound, the International Music Score Library Project, and podcasts via RSS feeds”. Also that the hacker was able to access customer information and Stripe payment data for hundreds of thousands of users. As previously reported, Warner Music settled a lawsuit with Suno and reached a licensing agreement. Cases brought by Universal Music Group and Sony Music remain ongoing.

Source: 404 Media

Also on Wednesday Suno announced a new iOS iMessage extension enabling the creation of 30 second songs from voice recordings or prompted inside a conversation without opening the app. Though, in order to work, both users must have the app installed.

Source: Digital Trends

OnePlus confirms the company will no longer operate in North America and Europe, with the last product remaining the OnePlus 15 from 2025. Oppo, the parent company of OnePlus since 2021, will continue to operate overseas. OnePlus products will still be available in China while Oppo sub-brand Realme will exit the Chinese market and also remain in use overseas.

Source: CNET

On Thursday 29 countries signed an agreement to establish an international body called the World AI Cooperation Organization, to be headquartered in Shanghai. The 29 countries include 10 African and 12 Asian countries, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, Serbia, Belarus, Russia, and China. More details expected during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, July 17th – 20th, in Shanghai.

Source: Reuters

On Thursday the European Commission issued two binding measures to Google under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Google must permit equal access on Android devices to rival AI assistants at the same level as Google’s own Gemini. Google must also give third-party search engines access to search data that the Commission notes “only Google Search can collect at scale” and this will cover AI chatbots that basically act as a search function.

Source: The Verge and European Commission

1Password is launching a Claude integration for Mac users to enable Anthropic’s AI agent to sign in on websites, without giving the agent the ability to see passwords or two-factor authentication codes. The feature can function across multiple websites as part of a single task to facilitate multi-step workflows. 1Password for Claude for Mac is only available to business, family, and individual plan subscribers using the desktop app and browser extension alongside the Claude desktop app and browser extension.

Source: 9to5Mac

Hyundai Motor Group intends to acquire SoftBank Group’s remaining holdings in US robotics firm Boston Dynamics, which would bring the company fully under Hyundai’s ownership. The transaction’s value is expected to be approximately $325 to $335 million for SoftBank’s 9.9% holdings.

Source: Yahoo Finance and Reuters

Visa launched the enterprise service Visa Stablecoin Platform (VSP) to issue, store, transfer, and redeem stablecoins on a Visa-managed system, which includes support for the OpenUSD stablecoin. The Visa press release shares how “stablecoin-linked cards connect crypto and stablecoin wallets to the global Visa network, allowing users to spend digital assets at millions of merchants worldwide.”

Source: CoinDesk

xAI is suing a South Carolina individual in a Texas federal court over misuse of the AI system to generate child sexual abuse material. The man was arrested earlier in 2026 on the charge of sexually exploiting minors. In the filing, the suit is looking to “hold Defendant accountable for his repeated, deliberate, and unconscionable violations of the xAI Terms of Service and Acceptable Use Policy through his abhorrent abuse of Plaintiff’s generative AI chatbot known as “Grok.”” Reuters reports this case is among the first to be brought against AI users over CSAM.

Source: Reuters

Google renamed NotebookLM to Gemini Notebook. The AI research assistant will remain a standalone app and now feature stronger integration with the Gemini app and Google search. Improved features include adding access for each Notebook to a secure cloud computer for writing and executing code, and adding .json and Microsoft PowerPoint as output formats. The features are available to Google AI Ultra users and Workspace business customers with AI Ultra Access and AI Expanded Access, and will be available to Pro web users over the coming weeks.

Source: CNET and Google

Stripe and Advent International Propose $53 Billion PayPal Acquisition, the U.S. Government Facilitates AI-Cybersecurity Collaboration, and a Judge Dismisses a Class-Action Lawsuit Against Apple Regarding iCloud Imagery.

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OpenAI is reportedly developing a screen-free, AI-powered smart speaker designed to function as a personalized home companion rather than a traditional voice assistant. The device is said to feature a distinct “personality,” learn from a user’s digital life, and may even include mechanical movement. Former Apple engineers are reportedly helping develop the hardware, although OpenAI is currently dealing with separate legal issues related to other hardware projects.

Source: TechCrunch

Stripe and Advent International have reportedly offered $53 billion to acquire PayPal, valuing the payments giant at $60.50 per share—a 28% premium. The proposal comes as PayPal continues restructuring under CEO Enrique Lores to improve growth and reduce costs. While negotiations remain confidential and no agreement is guaranteed, the move reflects ongoing consolidation in the payments industry as companies seek greater scale and competitiveness.

Source: Reuters

The U.S. government is creating a new collaboration between AI developers and operators of critical infrastructure to share cybersecurity vulnerabilities discovered by advanced AI systems. Announced as part of a June executive order, the initiative is intended to reduce the risk of malicious actors exploiting weaknesses in sectors including finance, healthcare, and energy. It also signals a broader shift toward increased federal oversight of AI’s national security implications.

Source: Reuters

A federal judge has dismissed with prejudice a class-action lawsuit accusing Apple of failing to prevent child sexual abuse material from being stored and shared on iCloud. The court ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shields Apple from liability for user-generated content and noted there is no federal requirement mandating specific scanning technologies. Plaintiffs are considering an appeal, but the ruling resolves the primary federal case against Apple on this issue.

Source: The Next Web

Spotify is expanding free managed accounts for children under 13 to more international markets. Parents on any Spotify plan can now create child-friendly accounts featuring explicit content filtering, private profiles, and parental controls over artists and songs. The managed accounts also keep children’s listening activity separate from the primary account holder’s recommendations.

Source: Engadget

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new AI policy framework emphasizing that Australian creative works should not be treated as free AI training data. The proposal also calls for large AI data centers to produce net-positive energy contributions and minimize water consumption. While the government has established an Office of AI and plans additional standards, enforcement details and legislation have yet to be finalized.

Source: The Next Web

Intel is beginning to use ASML’s High Numerical Aperture (High NA) extreme ultraviolet lithography machines to manufacture select layers of its upcoming Panther Lake laptop processors. The technology, first tested in Oregon in 2024, gives Intel practical experience with next-generation chip manufacturing while refining its 18A process. Although High NA systems are significantly more expensive and technically complex than existing EUV machines, they are expected to play a key role in future semiconductor miniaturization.

Source: Reuters

Twenty-six former Meta employees have filed a lawsuit claiming the company relied on AI-driven layoff selection tools that disproportionately affected workers on medical or family leave. The plaintiffs allege automated productivity tracking ignored legally protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Meta disputes the claims, saying human managers made the final decisions, while the plaintiffs are seeking an independent audit and plan to pursue arbitration.

Source: Engadget

The U.K. plans to introduce new social media safeguards for 16- and 17-year-olds by Spring 2027. Proposed measures include a midnight-to-midnight curfew and disabling features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay. Government trials suggest the restrictions improve sleep and mental health, although they may reduce social engagement. The initiative complements broader efforts to strengthen online protections for minors.

Source: CNBC

Beginning July 22, Google will launch its new Play Catalog Access Program, replacing its previous Registered App Stores initiative. The program allows eligible U.S.-based third-party Android app stores to access the Google Play catalog while distributing their storefronts through Google Play. Participants must pay annual service fees, and app downloads will continue to be processed through Google Play. Google also announced expanded alternative billing options and reduced app commissions to 10% as part of broader efforts to increase competition.

Source: Engadget

LAPD Allows Flock Safety Surveillance Contract to Expire , New York Enacts One-Year Moratorium on Large Data Centers, and Microsoft Updates Windows 11 Search Box to Improve User Experience.

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Google has expanded the availability of its Gemini chatbot integration into the Chrome browser in the UK, allowing desktop and iOS users to summarize web pages, compare information, and manipulate images with security-focused AI tools. This move, which follows OpenAI’s discontinuation of its ChatGPT Atlas browser, positions Google’s Chrome as an increasingly powerful AI-driven hub, potentially reducing the necessity for a standalone Gemini desktop application.

Source: Thurrott

The Los Angeles Police Department is allowing its contract with surveillance firm Flock Safety to expire, citing significant concerns regarding privacy, civil liberties, and data security. This decision follows growing backlash against Flock, including reports of false positives leading to wrongful detentions, various security lapses exposing camera data, and scrutiny over unauthorized access to its systems by federal agencies. Despite the company’s claim that it can resolve these “misconceptions,” the LAPD’s move reflects a broader trend of cities reassessing their reliance on the surveillance network.

Source: TechCrunch

Governor Kathy Hochul has enacted a one-year moratorium on new hyperscale data centers exceeding 50 megawatts in New York to address concerns regarding environmental impact, energy costs, and resource depletion. This executive action creates time to develop new regulatory standards while the state also considers further restrictions and the removal of tax incentives for such facilities, reflecting a growing national trend of municipalities scrutinizing the infrastructure demands of AI-driven technology.

Source: The Verge

Microsoft is updating the Windows Search Box in Windows 11 to improve the user experience by reducing visual clutter, streamlining the results display, and enhancing the visibility of metadata for search hits. These updates, available to Windows Insider members, include new toggles for web and store results, the removal of sponsored content from search results, and improved file and app discovery, reflecting Microsoft’s recent shift toward prioritizing quality-of-life enhancements for the operating system.

Source: Engadget

Three additional Chinese firms, including ZTE, have received U.S. approval to purchase advanced AI chips from Nvidia and AMD, expanding the list of companies cleared for these imports beyond major tech giants. This development unfolds amidst intensified U.S.-China tech rivalry, where Washington continues to balance restrictive export controls on advanced computing power to prevent military modernization with the goal of maintaining U.S. technological dominance. Despite these export licenses, actual deliveries remain uncertain as deals face continued scrutiny and regulatory hurdles from both U.S. and Chinese authorities.

Source: Reuters

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) have announced sweeping new consumer protections designed to increase affordability and market transparency. These initiatives include a proposed “Junk Fees” rule, which mandates upfront, all-in pricing to eliminate hidden charges, and a final “Click-to-Cancel” rule effective October 1, 2026, which simplifies subscription cancellations. Together, these measures aim to save New Yorkers millions annually by curbing predatory business practices and ensuring straightforward, honest transactions across the city.

Source: NYC.gov

Meta’s new AI image detector, designed to identify images created by its Muse Image model using “Content Seal” watermarking, has proven unreliable against simple edits like cropping. A Reuters analysis found the tool failed to detect 55% of images that had been cropped, highlighting the vulnerability of current watermarking methods to common manipulations. While Meta defends the technology as a work-in-progress, this failure underscores the ongoing challenge of relying on detection tools in an era where AI-generated content is increasingly used to spread misinformation, particularly as election cycles approach.

Source: The Next Web

Telegram’s “t.me” domain experienced a temporary outage on Monday after the domain registrar, DomainME, placed the domain “on hold” for OFAC compliance. The suspension was likely triggered by U.S. Treasury sanctions against a VPN provider that had a t.me link included in its sanctions listing. The domain was restored by Tuesday, and Telegram’s other domains remained operational throughout the incident.

Source: TechCrunch

A coalition of U.S. states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has sued to block the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the consolidation of two major film distributors would create unfair market power. The complaint contends that the deal would squeeze local movie theaters by reducing their leverage and forcing higher ticket prices or reduced amenities, while simultaneously limiting competition for basic cable TV networks, likely leading to increased consumer costs.

Source: Reuters

Meta discontinues AI tool able to pull from any public Instagram account, the European Commission will propose a three tier system for minors on social media , and Waze announces new features including a ‘Less Chatty Mode’.

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On Friday, following days of intense online reactions, Meta announced the new Instagram feature enabling users to generate AI images of anyone with a public Instagram account would be discontinued. In a statement a Meta spokesperson said, “We’ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it’s no longer available.” The Muse Image Instagram tool had a lifespan of less than a week as it was previously announced just last Tuesday.

Source: Variety

Anthropic announced the extension of Claude Fable 5 for paying customers through to July 19th along with a 50% increase to Claude Code weekly usage limits. This change will not apply to Free users, API usage, and select Enterprise plans. After July 19th Fable 5 will transition to a usage credits system.

Source: Bleeping Computer

The New York Times reports European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will propose a tiered access system for minors on social media in September. The first tier recommends zero screen time for children under 3, the second would allow those under-13 only adult-supervised access to social media, and a third would allow 13-18yos access only to platforms with guardrails against compulsive use, like disabling infinite scroll. No word yet on how any enforcement will be handled.

Source: The New York Times and Digital Trends

In a submission to the European Commission during a call for evidence for the Copyright Directive review, Google notes “Blocking DNS resolvers, IPs, VPNs, is ineffective, as it does not remove content at all and is easily circumvented by using alternative DNS resolvers” and that these actions are “disproportionate, catching lawful services, […] and blocking entire domains”. This filing was labeled “Privileged and Confidential” though TorrentFreak located Google’s 21-page contribution on the Commission’s public website alongside other submissions.

Source: TorrentFreak

On Monday, TSMC reported a 67.9% year-on-year rise in June sales and TSMC’s total revenue reached 2.4 trillion new Taiwan dollars, approximately $74.99 billion USD, which is a 35.6% increase compared to the same period from 2025. According to Counterpoint Research, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. has a 73% share of the global pure-foundry market in Q1 2026. TSMC will release Q2 earnings on July 16th.

Source: CNBC

Taiwan’s National Science and Technology ​Council Minister Wu Cheng-wen announced TSMC will add two more chip packaging plants in Chiayi Science Park. TSMC already has two plants in the park; the first has entered mass production with the second plant expected to shortly. The minister predicts all four plants will generate ​300 billion new ​Taiwan dollars (approximately $9.35 ⁠billion) in annual production value as well as create over 9,000 jobs.

Source: Reuters

In the continuing back-and-forth between Epic and Apple, last week Apple had submitted a request to pause proceedings that would decide what commission, if any at all, Apple would be permitted to charge on purchases outside the App Store. Epic now filed a response opposing the request saying “This is Apple’s third attempt to delay the inevitable: a hearing to evaluate Apple’s proposed fee on steered transactions”. Epic also argues the Supreme Court is not expected to rule on the matter until June 2027 and further delays will hurt competition on Apple’s platform.

Source: 9to5Mac

GPS app Waze announced new features including a ‘Less Chatty Mode’ which cuts down on interruption frequency for a less-broken-up music listening experience during navigation. Waze can now also suggest routes based on user habits, recognizing if a driver prefers highways to roads or vice-versa and presenting those routes by default. And Waze is introducing a ‘Motorcycle Mode’ for recommending the smoothest routes on 2-wheels.

Source: The Verge

Anthropic finds internal workspace J-Space inside Claude, Sony launches the IER-M500 in-ear monitors, humanoid robots conduct world-first operation on live pigs.

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Apple is taking OpenAI to court over its device ambitions, claiming former Apple employees brought confidential hardware information with them. The case puts a very public legal cloud over OpenAI’s push beyond software.

Source: 9to5Mac

ChatGPT Atlas is not quite disappearing so much as being absorbed. OpenAI plans to retire the standalone browser and move users toward ChatGPT’s desktop app and browser integrations.

Source: 9to5Mac

OpenAI and Google reportedly provided AI model access to subsidiaries of Chinese tech giants through Singapore. The arrangement may be legal, but it shows how tricky AI export controls get when global corporate structures are involved.

Source: Financial Times

Meta is reportedly exploring smart glasses that could capture audio and images throughout the day so an AI assistant can answer questions about what happened. The feature sounds useful in theory, but always-on wearables still have a major consent problem.

Source: The Verge

Anthropic says Claude appears to use an internal “J-Space” to organize information before responding. That could help researchers better understand model behavior, especially when the system is processing more than it reveals in its final answer.

Source: MIT Technology Review

India approved a new Vivo-Dixon manufacturing partnership that keeps majority ownership with Dixon while still drawing on Vivo’s production expertise. It is a careful balancing act: build local electronics capacity without handing over too much control.

Source: TechCrunch

Sony’s new IER-M500 earphones are aimed less at casual listeners and more at people working on stage. At $120, they give musicians and sound techs a lower-cost wired monitoring option.

Source: Engadget

UC San Diego researchers used tele-operated humanoid robots to perform gallbladder surgeries on live pigs. The work is still preclinical, but it hints at a future where surgical robots can work in ordinary operating rooms instead of specially built setups.

Source: Ars Technica

Meta Faces Potential 6% Turnover Fine Following European Commission Findings on Addictive Design, Netflix Shifts Strategy to Combat Declining Engagement, and the UK Imposes Direct Regulatory Oversight on Major Cloud Providers for Financial Sector Resilience.

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Show Notes

OpenAI has released its new GPT-5.6 model family, comprising Sol, Terra, and Luna, which offers enhanced efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and robust capabilities in enterprise tasks, scientific research, and cybersecurity. Designed to outperform competitors like Anthropic’s Fable, the new lineup features significantly improved coding performance and token efficiency while introducing ChatGPT Work to assist enterprise teams with daily clerical tasks. These models are now available across OpenAI’s platforms, with a tiered pricing structure tailored to specific performance needs.

Source: TechCrunch

The European Commission has preliminarily found that Meta violated the Digital Services Act by implementing addictive designs on Instagram and Facebook, such as infinite scroll and autoplay, which negatively impact user well-being. While Meta argues it has taken steps to protect teens, the Commission claims these measures are insufficient and burdensome for parents. As a result, the Commission is calling for fundamental design changes, warning that Meta could face fines of up to 6% of its total annual turnover if these findings are confirmed.

Source: Engadget

Netflix is currently navigating a period of declining subscriber engagement and increasing market competition despite a strong foundation of hit franchises. To combat this trend and stabilize its growth, the company is shifting its strategy by exploring the introduction of live channels, potential streaming bundles, and low-cost content additions like video podcasts and short-form media. While maintaining its independence from major acquisitions, Netflix is aggressively pursuing strategic partnerships and selective sports rights, such as the World Cup, to bolster its ad-supported tier and improve overall viewer retention.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

The UK government has designated Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Oracle as critical third-party suppliers to strengthen the resilience of its financial sector against cyberattacks and technology outages. Effective July 13, these providers will face direct regulatory oversight from the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority, and the Financial Conduct Authority, necessitating regular resilience testing and incident reporting. This move aligns the UK with a similar EU framework and aims to protect financial institutions from systemic disruptions caused by cloud service failures.

Source: Reuters

Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, is stepping down from her full-time role to a part-time advisory position due to ongoing health challenges. Since joining OpenAI in 2025, Simo consolidated business and product operations, and her departure leaves a leadership vacuum as OpenAI prepares for a potential IPO. This transition occurs amidst executive churn and shifting compensation strategies at OpenAI, which has recently eliminated stock vesting cliffs to retain talent in an increasingly competitive AI market.

Source: TechCrunch

Taiwanese chip-testing firm King Yuan Electronics (KYEC) has announced plans to invest up to $1.4 billion to establish a new facility in the United States. This move aligns with a broader trend of Taiwanese semiconductor and electronics companies, such as Foxconn and Wistron, expanding their U.S. manufacturing footprint, particularly for AI server production, following TSMC’s major investment in Arizona. KYEC has not yet disclosed the specific location, construction timeline, or primary customers for the new facility.

Source: Reuters

According to Microsoft’s 2026 environmental sustainability report, its fiscal year 2025 carbon emissions rose 25% year-over-year due to AI data center expansion and a shift away from unbundled renewable energy certificates. Though falling behind its 2030 carbon-negative goal because existing solutions lag behind AI’s energy demands, Microsoft remains committed. Meanwhile, the company met its annual electricity needs with renewable energy and exceeded its water replenishment goals.

Source: Engadget

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is launching PMX AI, an autonomous, agentic AI avatar trained on his writings and speeches to assist citizens with government services and career guidance. Developed by Zetrix AI, the initiative aims to enhance governance and connect with voters ahead of the 2028 elections, positioning Malaysia as a leader in digital innovation while following global trends in using AI for official leader communication.

Source: Bloomberg

Microsoft’s new Teams Workplace Check-in feature automatically updates employee locations via Wi-Fi and desk connections to simplify coordination. Although Microsoft denies it is a monitoring tool, highlighting manual overrides and a lack of historical logs, the rollout has triggered privacy concerns. Critics argue that alongside return-to-office mandates, it risks becoming invasive workplace surveillance that erodes trust and creates social pressure.

Source: Engadget

To celebrate Pokémon Go’s 10th anniversary, Niantic and Scopely hosted an exclusive Times Square battle event, realizing a concept from the 2016 launch trailer. Over 1,500 players joined the real-world raid, a milestone for the mixed-reality game that has reached over 800 million players and $6 billion in lifetime spending. Now a sustained “forever game,” the franchise is focusing on its community-centric strategy, leveraging global volunteers and fostering multigenerational, in-person connections to ensure growth for the next decade.

Source: WIRED