Technology
Nuclear weapons agency upgrading blast detectors on GPS satellites
The National Nuclear Security Administration is upgrading sensors on GPS satellites that will better monitor nuclear blasts around the world, according to the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons agency.
Senate panel punting on broader AI legislation as it takes up kids online safety bills
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is postponing plans to take up a series of AI bills until after the summer recess but is proceeding with a markup of child online safety bills next week.
New satellite imagery confirms Iranian attack on Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain
Newly released satellite images appear to confirm Iran's claim that it struck two Amazon Web Services data centers in Bahrain earlier in July.
Holy ghostwriter: Pastors turn to AI to help write sermons — and feel torn about it
A recently released survey from the evangelical research firm Barna Group found that most pastors are using artificial intelligence in their ministry.
Navy advances ship-based laser gun
The Navy this week announced a $17 million contract was awarded to a California contractor for a program to build a new laser gun called SONGBOW.
Historic divinity school is offering the first doctoral degree in ‘AI and Moral Agency’
Starting next year, Shaw's divinity school plans to offer a new degree track: a Doctor of Education (or Ed.D) in Artificial Intelligence and Moral Agency.
Elon Musk’s xAI sues Minnesota over its first-in-the-nation law banning ‘nudification’ technology
Elon Musk's company xAI has sued Minnesota over the state's first-in-the-nation law that bans "nudification" technology on websites and apps, potentially providing a test for how far states can go in constitutionally regulating the use of artificial intelligence.
U.S. Army begins shift to new AI-enabled command and control comms system
U.S. Army leaders on Wednesday announced the successful demonstration of a more than $3 billion Next Generation Command and Control digital communications prototype, saying the technology's development is on pace to catapult military planning and operations into the future.
Willie Nelson speaks out against AI data centers threatening rural farmland
WILLIE NELSON criticizes data centers: "Our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land. The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter)."
Meta shares drop as Q2 profit declines due to legal expenses and severance costs
Meta Platforms said Wednesday its second-quarter profit declined even as revenue beat Wall Street's expectations, as legal expenses and severance costs for recent layoffs weighed on its results.
Generation Z chooses ‘bed rot’ over real life: Experts see worsening loneliness crisis
Behavioral experts are sounding the alarm about a rise in young adults staying home on weekends to "bed rot" in front of digital screens -- a money-saving trend they say has worsened post-pandemic loneliness.
Telegram’s billionaire founder Pavel Durov has faced legal woes before — in Russia and France
Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, has repeatedly run into trouble with both the Kremlin and Western officials as he cast himself as a champion of free speech.
U.S. bans foreign-made humanoid robots, targeting China over national security
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is banning imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots and power inverters, citing national security risks, in a move that targets China. Beijing quickly accused the U.S. of protectionism.
Russia puts Telegram founder Pavel Durov on a wanted list over charges of aiding terrorism
Russia charged Pavel Durov, the founder, owner and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, with aiding terrorism and put him on an international wanted list, the country's main domestic security agency said Wednesday.
New York school pauses plan to deploy humanlike AI robot teacher after backlash
A school district in a rural corner of upstate New York is hitting pause on plans to deploy an AI-powered, humanoid robot in the classroom after state education officials, teachers and local residents raised concerns, including the maker's ties to a company that produces hyper-realistic sex bots.
Private mission to rescue NASA’s aging telescope runs into its own trouble
The spacecraft rushing to the rescue of an aging and sinking NASA telescope has run into its own problem.
Elon Musk launches invite-only X Money with a Visa debit card, 6% yield and real-time transfers
Elon Musk's social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, launched its own bank account-like product where users can send money to one another.
eBay agreed to pay nearly $50 million to couple sent cockroaches, bloody pig mask
eBay Inc. agreed to pay almost $50 million to a Massachusetts couple who said former employees of the company targeted them with threats and bizarre anonymous deliveries - including live insects, a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask, according to settlement details released Tuesday.
Democrat’s TV ad targets data centers in drive to oust Republican from swing Pennsylvania House seat
Democrat Paige Cognetti is taking a shot at artificial intelligence data centers in her challenge to freshman Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan, saying "we are not for sale" in a new TV ad in a swing Pennsylvania congressional district where communities are fighting data center projects.
Drivers endure overnight gas lines as a war-driven fuel shortage grips Iraq’s Kurdish region
Drivers in Iraq's semiautonomous northern Kurdish region waited in line for hours, some overnight, to buy gasoline in recent days as a fuel crisis gripped the main city, Irbil.