The lunch briefing.
Mid-day check: Microsoft's CEO pushes back on "addictive" AI, New York bans new data centers, and AI designs its own vaccines.
AI Ethics. A significant internal debate at Microsoft has surfaced regarding the design philosophy of its AI agents. CEO Satya Nadella publicly rebuked a VP's proposal to make the AI agent "Scout" deliberately addictive, emphasizing that AI should empower users and reduce screen time. This incident highlights growing scrutiny over AI's psychological impact and ethical development within major tech companies. Meanwhile, Meta's smart glasses are also under fire as dormant facial recognition code was found in its AI app.
Frontier AI. The conversation around AI development is shifting, with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son claiming that AI is now designing OpenAI's next model, suggesting an accelerated path to "superintelligence." This rapid advancement, however, comes with escalating financial implications, as the industry grapples with the "token bill" and runaway costs. Anthropic's call for a collective slowdown in AI development, driven by concerns over recursive growth, is largely seen as an unrealistic aspiration given the current pace of innovation.
Digital Sovereignty. New York lawmakers have passed a one-year moratorium on new large data centers, signaling a growing concern over their environmental and energy footprint. This policy move, if signed into law, would be the first statewide ban of its kind, prompting a reevaluation of digital infrastructure expansion. In a related move towards national digital control, the Dutch government announced that only a European company would be permitted to operate its critical DigiD platform.
AI Applications. AI is demonstrating tangible progress in critical fields, with researchers successfully testing an experimental vaccine designed entirely by artificial intelligence in human trials. This breakthrough highlights AI's potential to revolutionize drug discovery and public health. Concurrently, cybersecurity threats are evolving, as Google and the FBI warn of a ransomware group that deploys fake IT workers for in-person data theft, underscoring the need for advanced security measures.
Satya Nadella publicly torches a VP's plan to make Microsoft's AI agent deliberately addictive
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella criticized an internal memo proposing to make users "addicted" to the company's new AI agent, Scout. Nadella stated that AI should empower people and lead to less screen time.
Researchers are using AI to create vaccines, and it's working
pEVAC-PS is the first experimental vaccine designed completely with AI to be tested in a human trial. This marks a significant step in AI's application in medical research.
New York lawmakers pass one-year ban on new data centers
New York State legislature passed a one-year moratorium on new large data centers, awaiting Governor Kathy Hochul's signature. The ban aims to assess the environmental and energy impact of these facilities.
Google and FBI warn of ransomware group that sends fake IT workers to hack victims in person
The Silent Ransom Group has been sending individuals posing as IT support to law firms to steal data using USB drives or remote access tools. Google and the FBI issued a warning about this in-person hacking tactic.
Meta’s facial recognition plans for smart glasses are worse than we thought
Dormant code for facial recognition has been discovered in the Meta AI app, suggesting future integration with smart glasses. This raises new privacy concerns for users.
AI is designing OpenAI's next model in a sign of 'superintelligence'
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son claims that AI is now designing OpenAI's next model, calling it a sign of "superintelligence." He believes artificial superintelligence will arrive sooner than his previous 10-year forecast.
The token bill comes due: Inside the industry scramble to manage AI’s runaway costs
The AI industry is grappling with the escalating costs associated with large language models, shifting the focus from rapid development to cost control. Companies are seeking guardrails to manage these expenses.
ISS astronauts had to shelter in place in the SpaceX Dragon capsule because of an air leak
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station were directed to shelter in the SpaceX Dragon capsule due to an air leak on the Russian side. This incident prompted a temporary safety measure for the crew.
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is leaving Microsoft's board after almost a decade
Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and an early OpenAI donor, is stepping down from Microsoft's board after nearly ten years. He previously left OpenAI's board in 2023.
Nintendo Switch 2 model featuring a removable battery will be released in the EU soon to meet regulations
Nintendo will release a revised Switch 2 model in Europe with a removable battery to comply with new EU regulations. This change ensures the product meets environmental and repairability standards.
Disguised Russian banking app surges to top three on the US App Store
A mysterious productivity app, only available in Russian, surged to the top three free iPhone apps in the U.S. App Store before being pulled. The app was suspected to be a disguised Russian banking application.
Amazon unveils latest warehouse robot as tech giants continue AI layoffs
Amazon introduced its newest warehouse robot, Proteus, amidst ongoing AI-related layoffs across the tech industry. An Amazon executive stated that robots have historically increased employment rather than reducing it.
Anthropic's bizarre call for everyone to slow down on AI is a pipe dream
Anthropic has called for a slowdown in AI development, citing concerns about recursive development, but critics view this as an unrealistic "pipe dream." The company's fears are well-founded, but its proposed solution is seen as impractical.
Dutch gov't will only allow European company to operate DigiD platform
The Dutch government announced that only a European company will be permitted to operate its DigiD platform. This decision aims to ensure data sovereignty and security for critical national infrastructure.