TECH
US lifts export ban on Anthropic’s Mythos and Fable models
The Commerce Department removed the export‑control requirement that had forced Anthropic to block public access to its Mythos and Fable AI models. TechCrunch framed the decision as a politically driven move by the Trump administration amid competition concerns from Asian AI firms. Engadget highlighted the department’s focus on security safeguards and the reinstatement of access for approved U.S. organizations, citing Amazon’s warnings about jailbreak risks.
Getty ends $3.7 billion Shutterstock merger after UK regulator blocks editorial assets
The U.S. Department of Justice gave the deal unconditional antitrust clearance, but the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority required Shutterstock to divest its global editorial business, including Backgrid and Splash. Getty said it would not accept those conditions and its board voted on July 6 to terminate the merger. The breakup occurs as both companies confront growing competition from AI‑generated image services. (The Verge)
Meta adds usage limits and subscription tier to its AI glasses
The Verge reported that Meta will cap the on‑device Conversation Focus feature at three hours per month for free users and offer up to 15 hours for a $19.99 “Meta One Premium” subscription. The company says the limit targets power users while core AI functions remain free. Critics note the feature runs locally and question the need for a paywall as Meta pressures its AI costs.
Amazon fined $2.25 million for failing to help identity theft victims
The Verge reported that the Federal Trade Commission fined Amazon $2.25 million for refusing to provide identity‑theft victims with records of fraudulent purchases, a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Victims said Amazon required them to guess the fraudster’s name and did not delete their credit‑card information within the 30‑day deadline. Amazon said it has resolved the matter with the FTC and implemented process improvements for affected customers.
Google shuts down Tenor GIF API, forcing platforms to seek alternatives
Google announced the Tenor API will be discontinued on June 30, 2026, ending the free GIF service that powered sites such as X, Discord, WhatsApp and Bluesky. The company said the move lets it focus resources on core products, while Tenor remains available for Google’s own apps. Affected services are already migrating to alternatives like Klipy and Giphy, according to Ars Technica.
Etched reaches $5 billion valuation after securing $1 billion in AI chip sales
Etched, founded in 2022, says it has booked $1 billion in contract orders for its AI inference chips, packaged as “frontier inference clusters,” and has raised a total of $800 million to date. The latest $500 million round, led by Stripes, brought the company’s post‑money valuation to $5 billion and included investors such as VentureTech Alliance, Jane Street, Two Sigma and angels Andrej Karpathy, Geoffrey Hinton and others.
Claude AI helps hacker exploit Front Gate ticketing system
Security researcher Ian Carroll used Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.7 to discover and exploit a SQL‑injection flaw in Front Gate Tickets, the platform that sells tickets for most major U.S. music festivals. The AI generated a bypass that gave Carroll super‑administrator access, allowing him to issue unlimited VIP tickets. Carroll reported the bug, Front Gate patched it within 24 hours and said no tickets were misused, while Anthropic highlighted its Cyber Verification Program that permits such research. Wired emphasizes the ease of AI‑assisted hacking and the broader security implications.
Realta Fusion powers lightbulb directly from fusion reaction
Realta Fusion said its WHAM demonstration device generated enough electricity to light a bulb by harvesting power directly from the fusion plasma, a claim it calls a first for a private company. The company reports the prototype converter achieved about 90% efficiency, far above the ~33% efficiency of steam turbines, and could boost commercial plant output by 20‑30 percent. While Realta is the first to publicly show the technology, other fusion startups such as Helion also plan to use direct energy conversion but have not yet demonstrated it.
Dish files for Chapter 11 but says services will keep running
Dish Network, the EchoStar-owned provider of Dish TV and Sling TV, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after missing a $2 billion debt deadline caused by delays in selling its 5G spectrum. The company said its core TV and mobile brands will keep operating and it plans to exit bankruptcy by the end of Q3 2026. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal noted the stalled spectrum sales to AT&T and SpaceX as the root of the liquidity shortfall.
Apple asks Supreme Court to overturn contempt ruling in Epic Games case
Apple has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit contempt finding that could force it to lower the commission it charges developers for bypassing the App Store payment system. The filing argues the court should base contempt rulings on explicit language rather than the “spirit” of the injunction, while Epic Games says it will continue fighting the fees at the high court. Meanwhile, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority is gearing up to scrutinize Apple’s and Google’s app‑store practices, adding an international regulatory dimension to the dispute.