TECH
Trump administration permits Anthropic Mythos 5 access for select US entities
The White House has eased export controls, allowing Anthropic’s Claude Mythos 5 model to be used by more than 100 U.S. government agencies and private companies, citing safeguards. TechCrunch notes the change also permits non‑American employees at those organizations, whereas Wired highlights that the decision stops short of reopening the consumer‑facing Fable 5 and points to earlier security concerns involving a South Korean telecom firm. Anthropic said it is working to restore access quickly and continues negotiations to expand availability, while both outlets mention the broader context of U.S. AI policy and related actions by OpenAI.
Margaret Atwood warns AI’s ‘garbage in, garbage out’ problem
The Verge reported that author Margaret Atwood, speaking at a literary festival in Portugal, said she tried Anthropic’s Claude once and received an incorrect answer, illustrating her view that AI outputs reflect the quality of their training data. She described users who rely on AI without verification as opportunists and stressed that even business users must check AI results.
Apple seeks US approval to buy RAM from blacklisted Chinese supplier
The Verge reports that Apple is requesting an exception from the Trump administration to source memory chips from CXMT, a Chinese company blacklisted by the Pentagon for its ties to the People’s Liberation Army, amid rising RAM prices. Financial Times commentary notes that while the purchase is not illegal, it carries significant reputational risks and could face export controls. Lawmakers, including House China committee chair John Moolenaar, have warned that partnering with a military‑linked firm would be a grave mistake.
South Korea aims to train half‑million troops as drone warriors
Ars and Reuters report that South Korea’s defense ministry will train all 500,000 service members to operate drones as a “second personal weapon,” targeting deployment of up to 60,000 drones by 2029. The Korea Times notes the initiative faces hurdles, including a shrinking conscript pool, a ban on Chinese components, and limited domestic production capacity, despite drawing inspiration from Ukraine’s drone tactics. A reorganized drone command will partner with industry, while the U.S. military also integrates drone training for its forces stationed in the country.
California bans loud ads on streaming services by July 1
California's new law (SB 576) makes it illegal for streaming platforms to play commercials louder than the accompanying video starting July 1. The regulation mirrors the CALM Act for broadcast TV and comes ahead of a similar Illinois requirement slated for July 2027. Industry groups including the Motion Picture Association and the Streaming Innovation Alliance have opposed the measure, arguing many services already manage ad loudness, while Ars Technica reports that providers will need to integrate real‑time loudness control into their ad insertion workflows.
NYT amends lawsuit claiming Microsoft built supercomputer to steal articles
Ars Technica reported that the New York Times has moved to amend its copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, narrowing its claim to allege that Microsoft built a custom supercomputer to train AI on the Times’ articles without permission. The amendment follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that tightens the standard for contributory infringement, leading the Times to dismiss two other claims. Microsoft called the filing a last‑ditch effort, while OpenAI reiterated that its training practices constitute fair use.
FCC accused of concealing Chairman Carr’s Signal messages about DOGE
Ars Technica reports that an advocacy group and journalist have sued the FCC, alleging it violated a Freedom of Information Act request by withholding records about possible DOGE influence and Elon Musk’s dealings with the agency. The filing claims Chairman Brendan Carr uses a Signal account for government business, which the FCC says it does not support on official phones. A federal judge previously ordered the FCC to produce the documents, but the agency has reportedly limited its search and delayed compliance.
Scientists discover antibiotic megacluster targeting bacterial biotin synthesis
Researchers at McMaster University identified a large gene megacluster in Streptomyces that produces four molecules which together block the essential biotin‑making pathway in many pathogens. Laboratory and mouse experiments showed the combined compounds kill bacteria more effectively than individual agents. The finding, reported by Ars Technica, suggests genome‑mining for such natural synergistic clusters could revitalize antibiotic development, though extensive testing and clinical trials remain necessary.
China’s LineShine tops world supercomputer ranking, beating US despite export bans
China’s new LineShine system, installed at the National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen, achieved 2,198 exaflops and claimed the top spot in the TOP500 list, overtaking the U.S. El Capitan machine. The CPU‑only architecture relies on domestically produced processors, networking and the Kylin Linux OS, allowing it to sidestep U.S. export controls on GPUs and advanced chips. Wired notes the achievement signals Beijing’s push to demonstrate technological self‑reliance amid tightening American restrictions.
Luxury moon‑buggy‑inspired electric vehicle launches from ex‑Apple, Audi team
Amble has unveiled the $25,000 Amble One, a street‑legal electric buggy built for luxury resorts, offering a 60‑mile range, 40 mph top speed and a sub‑450 kg weight to qualify as an EU L7e vehicle. The startup’s founders, former Audi, Ford, Apple and Cowboy executives, cite NASA’s lunar rover and Apple’s material‑focused design ethos as inspiration. Ars emphasizes the vehicle’s premium resort positioning, while Wired stresses the founders’ tech pedigree and hints at a more conventional “Amble Two” slated for 2029.