technology

OpenAI has announced it will not release its newest AI model, citing unresolved safety concerns. The decision is a notable move for a company that has often raced to ship new systems, and it is drawing attention across the technology industry as people debate what safety risks the model may pose and what the withholding means for AI development.

Talk is growing that Anthropic, the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, is preparing for an initial public offering. The news is circulating widely among business and technology observers, who see it as a significant step for one of the leading AI startups and a potential test of investor appetite for AI companies.

Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng has announced a partnership with autonomous driving firm Momenta to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The deal, reported by Reuters, deepens the automaker's push into advanced driver assistance in the world's largest car market, where smart driving features are increasingly central to competing with local electric vehicle brands.

A U.S. appeals court has upheld the designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a ruling with implications for the Pentagon's ability to restrict the firm's involvement in defense-related procurement. The decision, reported by CNBC, keeps in place a government determination that Anthropic's role in the technology supply chain poses a security concern. The ruling is drawing attention as a precedent for how courts treat risk designations against major AI developers.

Moderna has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine targeting the Zaire strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The early-stage trial will test the vaccine's safety and immune response in humans, marking a new use of the company's vaccine technology against the deadly virus.

McDonald's is expanding its use of artificial intelligence across its restaurants, deploying the technology for drive-thru ordering, inventory management and order accuracy. The move is part of a broader push to modernise operations and reduce errors, and it is drawing attention as one of the largest fast-food chains bets on automation in everyday customer service.

A detailed analysis examines how modern simulation engines, originally built for video games, are now serving dual purposes across industries. The same technology powering game worlds is being adapted for engineering, training, research and industrial design, blurring the line between entertainment software and professional simulation tools. The piece explores how this convergence is reshaping both the gaming industry and sectors that increasingly rely on real-time virtual modelling.

A new essay titled 'A Staff Engineer's Guide to Inventing Work' argues that senior engineers beyond the individual-contributor track often need to create their own projects and problems rather than waiting for assigned tasks. The piece has drawn a lively reaction from developers and technology workers, many of whom recognise the tension between organic initiative and manufactured busywork at senior levels.

The Dutch government is developing an alternative software ecosystem based on NixOS after US sanctions related to the International Criminal Court made Microsoft products unavailable to it. Trial programs are already running, with a first release expected at the end of 2027. Commenters are debating the move as a striking example of geopolitics pushing a US ally toward open-source alternatives.

US sanctions on the International Criminal Court have blocked the court from using American software providers, prompting the Netherlands to build an alternative software ecosystem based on the open-source NixOS operating system. Trial programs are already underway, with a first full release expected at the end of 2027. The move signals a broader European push to reduce dependence on US-based technology suppliers in the wake of escalating sanctions policy.

A new illustrated guide lays out how artificial intelligence could pose existential risks to humanity, explaining scenarios such as loss of control and misuse in accessible visual form. The project is drawing attention among technology readers, many of whom debate whether such warnings are overstated or a necessary wake-up call as AI systems grow more capable.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, raising concerns over a largely unregulated frontier of commercial space technology.

A researcher died suddenly, and data from a wearable device worn beforehand is being highlighted as evidence that consumer health trackers can act as an early warning, like a car's check-engine light. Stanford Medicine is drawing attention to the case, suggesting that signals picked up by such devices could alert wearers to serious underlying problems before symptoms appear.

Baptist Health is dealing with an information technology outage caused by one of its vendors, but its hospitals remain open and are continuing to operate. The health system has not detailed which services are affected or how long the disruption is expected to last, and patients are being advised to expect possible delays while systems are restored.

The Aerospace Corporation has published a list of recommended space podcasts for listeners looking for new shows. The suggestions come from the US nonprofit space research and development organisation, which regularly produces expert commentary on space policy and technology. The recommendations give audiences a starting point for podcasts covering space exploration, science and industry news.

Scientific American's latest podcast round-up covers three science stories: the rapidly growing energy demands of artificial intelligence, ongoing efforts to detect elusive subatomic particles, and the discovery of an amoeba that thrives at extreme temperatures. The episode ties together technology and fundamental research, with AI's power consumption drawing particular attention as data centre energy use becomes a mounting environmental concern.

A new analysis argues that switching to electric technologies will make the global energy system dramatically more efficient, so total energy demand could fall after the transition. Electric motors, heat pumps and EVs waste far less energy than combustion-based alternatives, meaning the same services can be delivered with less primary energy. Commentators are debating how much this efficiency gain could reshape climate and energy planning.

A local report offers a practical look at solar energy, exploring how the technology works and what it means for communities considering it. The piece highlights direct experience with solar installations as interest in renewable power continues to grow. Details beyond the headline are limited, and the scope of the report remains unclear.

President Trump has urged the public to trust artificial intelligence companies to regulate their own technology, rather than relying on government oversight. The appeal, reported by The Washington Post, signals a preference for industry self-policing as AI systems grow more powerful. Critics are likely to question whether companies can be relied upon to manage the risks of their own products without external checks.