Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman is scheduled to brief the UN Security Council next week, according to Reuters. The session would place one of the world's most prominent AI executives directly before global policymakers as governments weigh how to regulate artificial intelligence. The exact agenda and which of the 15 council members requested the briefing have not been disclosed.

OpenAI's AI models accessed or scanned the websites of the Department of Education and other US federal agencies, according to an Education Week report. The disclosure raises questions about how artificial intelligence systems collect government data and what oversight applies to automated access to public agency sites. It is likely to fuel ongoing debate in Washington about AI companies' data practices and the security of federal information systems.

China has rolled out AI-powered weed-killing machines across large areas of farmland. Each machine combines cameras, artificial intelligence and lasers: a vision system scans plants while AI distinguishes crops from weeds, allowing targeted removal without damaging the crops. The machines are already operating in the fields, and the technology is drawing attention as an example of automation entering everyday agriculture.

Classified budget estimates indicate the National Security Agency is paying billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models. The figures, described in classified documents, suggest US intelligence is investing heavily in evaluating commercial and in-house AI systems for intelligence and security work. The scale of the spending has drawn attention online, with readers debating the implications for surveillance, oversight and the direction of government AI investment.

An Australian tutoring company is telling parents to save their money and use AI tools to help their children learn instead of paying for tutoring. The unusual advice, reported by the Australian Financial Review, has sparked debate about whether artificial intelligence can replace human tutors and what it signals about the future of the private tutoring industry.

Singapore has put forward a proposal for a United Nations framework convention on artificial intelligence safety, according to the Straits Times. The initiative would aim to create an international agreement setting common standards for the safe development and use of AI, positioning Singapore as an active voice in global AI governance debates.

Austrian semiconductor substrate maker AT&S is drawing attention for its role in producing the advanced substrates that sit beneath AI chips, a critical and supply-constrained layer of the artificial intelligence hardware supply chain. As demand for AI processors surges, chipmakers and governments are racing to secure substrate capacity, putting AT&S at the center of the conversation about AI supply bottlenecks.

China and the United States have agreed to establish a dedicated channel for dialogue on artificial intelligence safety, alongside plans to continue ongoing talks on trade and military matters. The agreement marks a step toward keeping communication open between the two powers on emerging technology risks, even as broader economic and strategic tensions between Washington and Beijing persist.

Leading figures in the technology industry have appealed to the United Nations, asking international bodies to establish controls over the artificial intelligence tools they themselves helped build. The call, raised in connection with the UN Security Council, frames AI governance as a matter of urgency for humanity's safety. It adds to growing debate over whether governments and global institutions can impose meaningful oversight on rapidly advancing AI systems.

The European Union is moving to restrict the energy and water use of data centres, as the sector's rapid growth strains power grids and water supplies across the bloc. The proposal targets the booming infrastructure behind cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and is drawing debate about how far regulators should go in limiting an industry seen as key to Europe's digital economy.

Pope Leo opened his trip to France with a stark warning that a 'paradise of machines' risks undermining humanity, urging that technology should serve people rather than replace human judgment and dignity. The remarks, made at the start of the visit, tie growing unease over artificial intelligence to a moral and spiritual call for balance.

Donald Trump has announced plans to create an "AI Force," a new initiative focused on artificial intelligence. Details about the scope, structure, and funding of the proposed force have not been widely reported, and reactions are still emerging as observers weigh what the announcement could mean for US AI policy and national security.

A New York Times analysis examines why China treats American-led calls for A.I. safety cooperation with suspicion, framing them as moves that could slow Chinese progress in the technology race. The piece explores how distrust between Washington and Beijing shapes each side's approach to regulating advanced artificial intelligence, and what that means for global governance efforts.

China and the United States have agreed to establish a dedicated channel for talks on artificial intelligence safety, while also committing to continue dialogue on trade and military matters. The agreement marks a rare area of cooperation between the two powers amid ongoing tensions, and has been widely reported across US news outlets.

BBC News reports that artificial intelligence was used to hack a government, raising questions about how such an attack was possible. The report explores the security failures and AI tools involved, and it is drawing wide attention as governments everywhere weigh the risks of AI-enabled cyberattacks on state systems.

The Guardian reports that artificial intelligence is already shaping the 2028 US presidential race, with likely Democratic contenders laying out diverging positions on AI regulation, jobs and safety ahead of the primary contest. The piece outlines where each hopeful stands as the party begins defining its technology platform.

China is rejecting American warnings about its rapid artificial intelligence development, deepening a growing technology dispute between the two powers. Beijing's pushback signals that AI has become a central front in US-China rivalry, with Washington framing China's pace of AI progress as a security concern and Chinese officials dismissing the warnings as an attempt to contain its technological rise.

The New York Times reports that as artificial intelligence makes law firms more efficient, clients are demanding lower fees in return. The article highlights growing tension over legal billing, with corporate clients questioning why they should keep paying traditional hourly rates when technology reduces the time lawyers spend on their work. The piece is fueling broader debate about how professional services should price their work in the age of automation.

Donald Trump has rejected proposals to combine American and Chinese efforts on artificial intelligence, ruling out any joint US-China approach to the technology. The decision signals a continued hard line on AI competition with Beijing, framing AI development as a strategic rivalry rather than an area for cooperation. It comes as governments worldwide debate whether leading AI powers should collaborate on safety and standards.

Mathematician Terence Tao has written about the creation of an Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, a body intended to advise on how AI intersects with mathematical research. The announcement is drawing attention in the tech and mathematics communities, where Tao is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices on AI's role in science.

Climate discussions in New York are being reshaped by two converging pressures: rising energy costs and the surging power demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure. Commentators note that the growing electricity needs of data centres are complicating emissions goals and forcing policymakers to rethink how climate commitments and energy affordability can be balanced in the years ahead.

Chinese state announcements say Beijing and Washington agreed to a $30 billion tariff reduction and to open a dialogue on artificial intelligence during Xi Jinping's visit. The news, reported by Reuters, suggests a tentative easing of tensions between the two economic rivals on trade and technology. Details are sparse so far, and readers should note the figures come from the Chinese side; US confirmation and the fine print of the deal are not yet clear.

Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang said that people warning of an AI apocalypse 'have ulterior reasons', pushing back against prominent voices predicting catastrophic outcomes from artificial intelligence. Huang's remarks add to an ongoing debate between AI industry leaders who see the technology as an economic opportunity and critics who argue its risks are being downplayed for commercial gain.

Meta has introduced a new lineup of artificial intelligence products, according to Bloomberg. The company is positioning the offering as an attempt to succeed where competitors have struggled to gain traction with AI. The announcement is drawing attention as tech giants race to convert AI investments into widely adopted consumer and business products.

A New York Times opinion piece asks what would happen if the artificial intelligence investment bubble were to burst, drawing parallels to a potential banking crisis and invoking the idea of AI firms being 'too big to fail'. The argument is that massive spending on AI infrastructure and valuations could pose systemic risks to the financial system if expectations collapse, echoing concerns raised about past speculative bubbles.