TECH
Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot dies in French plane crash
TechCrunch reports that Claude Guillemot, 69, co‑founder of Ubisoft, was killed in a plane crash in the coastal town of La Baule, France. Engadget adds that the accident involved a Cessna 421 on June 19, with the aircraft catching fire in a field near the airport. Ubisoft said the company is saddened by his death and offered condolences to his family.
Polymarket paid creators to post deceptive betting videos, WSJ finds
The Verge, citing a Wall Street Journal investigation, reported that Polymarket compensated influencers to film fake betting videos that appeared on social media. The WSJ identified over 1,100 deceptive clips, with creators confirming payment despite the lack of real wagers. The videos showcased fabricated wins totaling nearly $900,000, while the actual bets would have lost about $166,000. Following the revelations, some creators removed the content and Polymarket took down related sites used in the scheme.
NASA partners with Katalyst to launch rapid satellite rescue for Swift
Ars Technica reports that NASA awarded a $30 million contract to Katalyst Space Technologies to build the Link servicing spacecraft, which will rendezvous with the aging Swift observatory and raise its orbit before re‑entry. The mission was designed, built, tested and readied for a June launch in less than a year, using an air‑launched Pegasus XL rocket and streamlined testing to meet the urgent timeline. The effort demonstrates a new rapid‑response model for government‑commercial space collaborations.
OpenAI partners with Getty Images to add licensed photos to ChatGPT
OpenAI and Getty Images have announced a multi‑year licensing agreement that will integrate Getty’s licensed images into ChatGPT and OpenAI search results. Engadget highlighted the visual display feature, while the coverage notes Getty’s shift from a previously strong stance against AI, including past lawsuits and a recent deal with Perplexity AI.
Microsoft discovers crypto‑clipper malware that steals wallets via USB
Microsoft has identified a new lightweight backdoor, dubbed Crypto Clipper, that propagates through .lnk files on USB drives. The malware monitors clipboard contents for cryptocurrency seed phrases or wallet addresses, captures screenshots, and replaces found addresses with attacker‑controlled ones before exfiltrating the data over Tor via a local SOCKS5 proxy. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint flags the threat as suspicious JavaScript processes and labels it Trojan: Win32/CryptoBandits.A.
FDA advisors unanimously back Moderna's seasonal mRNA flu vaccine
Independent FDA advisory committee members voted 9‑0 to recommend approval of Moderna’s mRNA‑1010 seasonal flu vaccine, citing about 27% higher efficacy than standard shots and a solid safety profile. The vote comes after a Trump‑appointed official, Vinay Prasad, briefly blocked the vaccine’s review, a move later reversed following criticism from FDA scientists. The agency must issue a final decision by Aug. 5, and rollout will also depend on CDC advisory committee recommendations.
Trump administration bans Anthropic’s Mythos models, sparking cybersecurity concerns
The Register reports that the Trump administration issued an emergency export‑control order that halts access to Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable 5 models, citing national‑security risks. Bloomberg provided the wording of the letter, which treats the models as dual‑use technology and restricts even Anthropic employees. The New York Times added that Anthropic staff feel targeted by the move, while cybersecurity experts, including Katie Moussouris, argue the ban hinders defenders more than it helps attackers.
Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis over construction‑zone recognition failures
The Register reports that Waymo is recalling 3,871 fifth‑generation robotaxis after six incidents in Phoenix and seven in the San Francisco Bay Area where the ADS missed freeway construction signs or drove between lane‑closure cones. The company has imposed a temporary ban on freeway operation for the affected fleet until a software fix is applied. Other outlets have reminded readers of earlier Waymo recalls, such as a flood‑related issue, underscoring ongoing safety challenges.
Octopus Energy and CATL plan battery‑swap hubs for European trucks
Engadget reports that Octopus Energy has teamed with battery maker CATL to build Chinese‑style battery‑swap stations across Europe, aimed at keeping electric trucks on the road longer. The joint venture, called Swaptopus, intends to open its first UK mega hubs in 2027, offering minute‑long battery replacements that could be cheaper and faster than diesel refueling. The article notes that while battery swapping has struggled in passenger cars, it has seen uptake in Asia and may be better suited to heavy‑duty trucking.
Security flaws hit Windows, Linux and iPhone devices
The Register disclosed a new BootROM exploit, dubbed “usbliter8,” that compromises the secure boot chain on A12 and A13 iPhones and cannot be patched, though it requires physical access. Gizmodo warned that Windows users have been exposed to a ClickFix malware campaign, while Infosec noted a separate trojan affecting Windows systems and a lighter impact on macOS. Linux vulnerabilities were also flagged in the broader coverage, underscoring a wave of critical security issues across major platforms.