As nations grapple with AI's growing influence, today's stories reveal the complex dance between innovation and control, from South Korea's ban on DeepSeek to Elon Musk's dramatic attempt to reshape OpenAI's future. Meanwhile, the U.S. government's quiet adoption of powerful AI technology at the IRS signals a transformative shift in how institutions might soon interact with citizens, raising questions about privacy, power, and the changing nature of public service.