TECH
Polymarket paid creators to post deceptive betting videos, WSJ finds
According to a Wall Street Journal investigation reported by both The Verge and TechCrunch, Polymarket paid online creators to film and share videos that portrayed fake bets and inflated winnings on its platform. The Verge noted that over 1,100 clips showed supposed $900,000 wins that would actually have lost $166,000 and featured subtle clues like a misspelled URL, while TechCrunch highlighted that the videos were produced using near‑exact copies of the site and amplified by a marketing “social‑media army,” with creators later adding “@polymarket partner” to their bios. Polymarket said it is committed to accurate, fair markets and will audit its promotional content.
Taiwan ramps up drone production for defense and export markets
Ars Technica reports that Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has proposed a $6.6 billion six‑year budget to acquire more than 208,000 attack drones and related unmanned systems, aiming to strengthen its own defense and spur domestic industry. Companies such as Thunder Tiger are securing US military contracts, expanding production overseas, and partnering for AI software, while drone exports have already surpassed $115 million this year. The initiative faces political deadlock in the legislature and stiff competition from China’s DJI, highlighting both defense and export challenges.
Apple launches iOS 27 with on-device AI features for iPhone
Apple’s iOS 27, arriving later this fall, embeds on‑device “Apple Intelligence” across core apps. New capabilities let users split receipts with Apple Cash, auto‑update compromised passwords, receive contextual suggestions in Messages, see call‑related details, create calendar events from natural language, and simplify Shortcuts, Home notifications, and Safari tab grouping. All features run locally to protect privacy, according to TechCrunch.
Trump administration funds coal plants with repeated environmental violations
Ars Technica reports that the Department of Energy granted millions to three coal plants, Cumberland in Tennessee, Grand River in Oklahoma, and Roxboro in North Carolina, despite documented Clean Air and Clean Water Act violations. The article notes that the Trump administration has reversed climate regulations and justified the funds as necessary for grid reliability, while local activists and environmental groups condemn the support as a step backward for clean energy. The grants have drawn criticism for overlooking compliance histories and potentially extending harmful emissions.
UK moves forward with flawed facial age‑verification AI for asylum seekers
Ars Technica reports that a leaked Home Office study found the facial age‑estimation system routinely misclassifies children, especially Sub‑Saharan African girls, as adults. The investigation, also covered by WIRED and Lighthouse Reports, highlights bias, poor image quality and stress‑related inaccuracies, prompting rights groups to demand a halt. The Home Office says the tool will supplement officer judgment, but it has dismantled its advisory committee and delayed full rollout to 2027.
NASA terminates Northrop Grumman lunar HALO module development
NASA has ordered Northrop Grumman and its subcontractor Paragon Space Development to halt work on the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module for the Lunar Gateway. The agency cited a shift to a surface‑based lunar base and concerns over the module’s mass and corrosion issues, while Northrop says most affected employees will be reassigned within its space portfolio. Ars Technica reports the stop‑work order has not strained the NASA‑Northrop partnership, as both explore alternative uses for the HALO hardware.
Blue Origin begins rebuilding launch pad as industry reports diverse space updates
Ars Technica reports that Blue Origin has started reconstruction of Launch Complex 36 in Florida after the New Glenn explosion, with Jeff Bezos and Dave Limp saying the pad will be ready for a test launch by year‑end. Space News highlighted the same effort and added that NASA sees the pad’s return as key to the Artemis program. Other outlets noted parallel developments, including Relativity Space’s announced Mars orbiter mission (Space News) and continued test‑flight delays for SpaceX’s Starship and Europe’s Isar Aerospace rockets (Ars Technica).
Nobel laureate John Jumper leaves DeepMind for Anthropic
TechCrunch reports that John Jumper, co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in chemistry for AlphaFold, announced his departure from DeepMind after nearly nine years to join rival Anthropic, praising the company’s scientific environment. Bloomberg notes that Jumper was a key member of Google’s team developing coding tools that have struggled to gain commercial traction. The coverage also mentions that DeepMind researcher Noam Shazeer is leaving for OpenAI.
Car makers drop Android Auto in 2026, citing data and subscription concerns
General Motors announced it will remove Android Auto from its electric vehicles and replace it with a proprietary system powered by Google's Gemini AI. Automakers say they want greater control over in‑car data and new subscription revenue, while also avoiding Google’s data collection. Although some consumers have expressed backlash, Android Auto will still be available in most other 2026 models.
Google sets September rollout for Android app verification, lists supported stores
Google announced that its developer verification system will go live on September 30, starting in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The rollout will apply to apps from Google Play and several third‑party stores, including Honor, OPPO, Samsung Galaxy Store, Transsion Palm Store, Vivo V‑Appstore, and Xiaomi GetApps. New APIs will help developers register and check verification status, while a limited‑distribution option lets hobbyists share apps with up to 20 devices without a fee.