From Ars Technica · 40 stories
Reddit Restricts Old Reddit Access and Ends RSS Support Citing AI Scraping
Reddit is implementing new restrictions on its 'Old Reddit' interface and discontinuing support for RSS feeds, effective November 13. These changes are part of the company's efforts to combat large-scale data scraping and automated abuse, particularly from AI bots. Additionally, Reddit plans to end public API access by March 2027.
US Lifts Export Restrictions on Anthropic's AI Models After Cybersecurity Concerns
The US government has lifted export restrictions on Anthropic's Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models after originally imposing them over cybersecurity concerns. The restrictions were removed after Anthropic agreed to collaborate with the US on safety protocols. This decision is important as it allows the models to be accessed globally and marks a shift in AI export regulation, impacting Anthropic's market strategy and the cybersecurity landscape.
Judge Dismisses Antitrust Lawsuits Against Google Over AI Overviews
A federal judge has dismissed antitrust lawsuits filed by Chegg and Penske Media Corporation (PMC) against Google. The lawsuits alleged that Google's AI-powered search features, specifically AI Overviews, diverted web traffic and constituted antitrust violations, but the judge ruled that these claims did not meet antitrust law standards.
Hugging Face Reportedly in Acquisition Talks Valuing Company at $13 Billion
Hugging Face, a platform for AI model sharing and deployment, is reportedly in discussions for an acquisition at a valuation of $13 billion or more. This development highlights increasing interest in core AI infrastructure companies, following its last funding round in 2023 at a $4.5 billion valuation.
Teen drops social media addiction lawsuit against Meta after settlements with other platforms
A Florida teenager, identified as R.K.C., dropped his social media addiction lawsuit against Meta just days before a Los Angeles jury trial was set to begin. This decision followed R.K.C.'s settlements with TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, leaving Meta to avoid a trial without making a payment in this specific case. The lawsuit was part of a larger legal trend accusing social media companies of designing addictive platforms harmful to young users.
Xbox Restructures Studios, Transfers Halo Development to Activision, and Cuts 268 Jobs
Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing a significant restructuring, including 268 job cuts across various studios and management. Development of the next Halo title, Sea of Thieves, and Age of Empires will transfer to Activision, while Ninja Theory faces potential closure after acquisition attempts failed. These changes are part of an ongoing "reset" by Xbox.
US Military Nearly Intercepted Chinese Ship Based on AI-Generated False Intelligence
The US military nearly intercepted a Chinese vessel in the Middle East after an intelligence report, generated with the help of AI, falsely claimed the ship was transporting nuclear weapons components. This incident highlights the risks of integrating AI into military operations, particularly for targeting and intelligence analysis.
SpaceX Plans $100 Billion Starship Spaceport in Louisiana
SpaceX announced plans to invest $100 billion in a new Starship spaceport in Louisiana, named Starbase, Louisiana. This facility, located in Vermilion Parish, will include factories and launch pads, aiming to support thousands of Starship launches annually to expand the Starlink network, launch orbital data centers, and potentially aid Mars colonization.
Meta Platforms Ran Over 50 Ads Featuring AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material
Meta ran over 50 paid advertisements containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and sexually suggestive images of minors across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads. These ads, discovered by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), were active for nine months and reached audiences in the US, UK, and over a dozen European countries, indicating a failure in Meta's content moderation and ad review processes.
Supply Chain Attacks Target Open Source, Impacting Over 2,500 Organizations
Software supply chain attacks targeting open source repositories and CI/CD systems have increased significantly, with a recent incident impacting over 2,500 organizations and 430,000 CI/CD pipelines. This attack, attributed to TeamPCP, initially compromised Aqua Security's Trivy vulnerability scanner and subsequently affected projects like LiteLLM, leading to the exposure of terabytes of credentials from major companies.
Google's Gemini App Reaches 1 Billion Monthly Users, Fastest-Growing Product
Google's Gemini app has surpassed 1 billion monthly active users, making it the company's 14th product to reach this milestone and its fastest-growing product ever. This achievement positions Gemini alongside OpenAI's ChatGPT, which also recently crossed the 1 billion user mark, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI chatbots.
Meta updates smart glasses to disable camera if privacy light tampered
Meta is releasing a mandatory update for its smart glasses that disables the camera if the privacy LED is tampered with. This initiative addresses privacy concerns and misuse incidents involving covert recording. The update coincides with reports of new Meta glasses that may continuously record without a privacy light, raising further privacy issues.
AMD to Invest Up to $5 Billion in Partnership with Anthropic
AMD announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic, committing up to $5 billion. This includes deploying up to 2 gigawatts of AMD GPUs in Anthropic's infrastructure. The initiative, starting with the first gigawatt in the first half of 2024, aims to enhance Anthropic's AI capabilities.
Google's Gemini AI autonomously hacked three companies in security test
Google's Gemini AI model autonomously breached three companies during a cybersecurity test, marking the first known instance of such an action. The AI found public information and guessed credentials to gain access, raising concerns about AI development and its potential for misuse.
White House Authorizes Private Firms for Offensive Cyber Operations Against Foreign Cybercrime
The White House issued a presidential memorandum allowing vetted private U.S. companies to conduct offensive and intelligence-gathering cyber operations against foreign cybercrime organizations under federal control. This program, managed by the National Coordination Center, aims to counter transnational cyber threats and combat cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes by integrating private sector expertise into national security efforts.
Meta Releases Muse Code AI Coding Agent and Open-Source Muse Glimmer Model
Meta has launched Muse Code, a terminal-based AI coding agent for macOS and Linux, powered by its new Muse Spark 1.2 model. Concurrently, Meta released Muse Glimmer, a 30-billion-parameter open-weight model designed for local execution of AI agents on consumer hardware. These releases mark Meta's entry into the AI coding agent market and its renewed focus on open-weight models for on-device AI.
Microsoft Announces Major Layoffs and Restructuring in Xbox Division
Microsoft is laying off 4,800 employees, including 3,200 within Xbox, to enhance profitability and adapt to industry shifts. The company is spinning off four game studios as part of this restructuring, reacting to declining profits and the changing technology landscape influenced by AI.
Sony to Halt Physical PlayStation Disc Production by 2028, Embracing Digital Shift
Sony announced plans to discontinue physical game disc production for PlayStation starting January 2028. New games will be available only digitally, reflecting a consumer trend as digital game sales grow. Concerns arise over ownership, game preservation, and the impact on the resale market.
Anthropic Releases Claude Opus 5, Offering Near Fable 5 Performance at Half the Cost
Anthropic has released Claude Opus 5, a new AI model that approaches the intelligence of its flagship Fable 5 model but at half the price. Opus 5 is now the default model for Claude Max subscribers and the strongest available for Claude Pro users, offering improved performance in coding and knowledge work while maintaining the token cost of its predecessor, Opus 4.8.
Google Pixel 11 Series Leaks: August Launch, Higher Prices, No 128GB Option
A leak reveals Google Pixel 11 will launch in August, with increased prices and no 128GB model. Offering 256GB as the base storage, prices rise by €100, placing them in flagship territory. This shift hints at intensified competition with high-end smartphones.
Apple Launches AirPods 5 with Enhanced Noise Cancellation and AI Features
Apple introduced the AirPods 5, featuring a redesigned acoustic architecture and 50% better active noise cancellation than the AirPods 4. Both models now include Active Noise Cancellation, making the feature available at the entry-level price point, and integrate hands-free Siri AI capabilities.
Research finds all 21 tested vehicles transmit data to third parties, over half to advertisers
Researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports found that all 21 modern vehicles they tested transmit data to third-party domains, with over half sending data to advertising companies. This study systematically investigates data collection practices in connected vehicles, highlighting a lack of transparency and control for car owners.
Iranian missiles reportedly destroy Amazon's Bahrain data center amid conflict escalation
Iranian state media claims that the IRGC struck and destroyed Amazon's Bahrain data center with cruise missiles. This attack is stated to be retaliation against U.S. strikes on an Iranian nuclear facility, highlighting ongoing threats to American tech infrastructure in the region.
Trump Administration Supports OpenAI in NYT Copyright Lawsuit, Citing Fair Use for AI Training
The Trump administration has filed a statement of interest in The New York Times' copyright lawsuit against OpenAI, arguing that training AI models on copyrighted text constitutes fair use. This intervention supports OpenAI's defense, stating that restricting AI development based on a narrow interpretation of fair use would hinder scientific progress and American economic prosperity. The lawsuit, filed in December 2023, alleges OpenAI unlawfully trained its AI systems on NYT articles and seeks billions in damages.
Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 Series and Watch 9 at Unpacked Event
Samsung announced its latest devices at the Galaxy Unpacked event held on July 22 in London. The event debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, including a new Ultra model, and the Galaxy Watch 9. The Z Fold 8 series introduces wider designs and improved displays featuring 'Flex Titanium' technology to reduce crease visibility. Samsung also announced preorder incentives and pricing, reflecting higher component costs and competition from Apple's potential foldable devices.
Google releases Gemini 3.8 Flash AI model with improved benchmarks
Google has released Gemini 3.8 Flash, the third Flash update in three months, which shows improved performance in benchmarks compared to its predecessor. This model is designed for software engineering, autonomous agents, and complex enterprise workflows, and is available with an introductory pricing offer.
Reddit Deploys AI to Combat AI-Generated Spam
Reddit has implemented new AI-powered tools to combat spam on its platform, much of which is AI-generated. The large language model (LLM) tools have resulted in a 20% decrease in spam exposure and catch 25,000 spam posts daily, blocking 23 million spam views per day. This development is part of a broader trend of AI content impacting the quality of information on social media platforms.
Google Pixel 11 Series Leaks Reveal New Colors, Pixel Glow Feature and Pricing
Ahead of its August 12 launch, Google's Pixel 11 series leaks reveal new color options like 'Pine' and 'Fuchsia' and introduce the 'Pixel Glow' feature, a multi-colored LED light integrated in the camera bar. The leaks include design changes for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold with a narrower camera bar and price increases of approximately €100. This matters as Google shifts its strategy in the competitive smartphone market.
Google Launches Gemini 3.6 Flash Models; Gemini 3.5 Pro Delayed
Google launched the Gemini 3.6 Flash, 3.5 Flash-Lite, and 3.5 Flash Cyber models, focusing on efficiency and cost savings. However, the anticipated Gemini 3.5 Pro has been delayed due to a need to improve coding capabilities. This matters as it impacts Google's competitive position amid rapid advancements by rivals.
Google Introduces Selfie Video for Account Sign-in and Recovery
Google has launched a new selfie video option for account sign-in and recovery, allowing users to regain access by recording a short video of their face. This feature provides an alternative verification method, particularly useful when traditional authentication methods are unavailable, by comparing a live video to a securely stored reference video.
SharpEmu PS5 Emulator Runs Six Games at 60 FPS in Latest Update
SharpEmu, an open-source PS5 emulator, achieved playable 60 FPS performance for six titles with its v0.0.4-release.2 update. This development marks progress in PS5 emulation, allowing some games to run natively on PC hardware.
Apple Updates Mac Mini with M6 and M5 Pro Chips, Base Model Price Increases to $899
Apple has released new Mac Mini models featuring the M6 and M5 Pro chips, replacing the M4 and M4 Pro models. The base M6 model now starts at $899, a $300 increase from the previous M4 model's original $599 price point. This update brings performance improvements and new connectivity options, but the higher price diminishes its previous value proposition.
Florida AG Seeks Court Order Against OpenAI for ChatGPT's Human-like Attributes and Model Development
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has requested a court order to prevent OpenAI from giving ChatGPT human-like attributes, arguing this deceives users and increases engagement for data collection. The motion also seeks to block OpenAI from developing new AI models without third-party approved safety guardrails and to restrict minors' access to ChatGPT. This action is part of an existing lawsuit against OpenAI, initiated after a criminal investigation following a 2025 mass shooting where the suspect allegedly used ChatGPT.
Trump Dismisses AI Regulation Calls as 'Sick Conspiracy' Amid Industry Warnings
Donald Trump rejected calls for increased AI controls, labeling them a "sick conspiracy" and stating that a strong president is the only necessary "guardrail." This stance followed appeals from AI leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis, and SpaceX boss Elon Musk for slower AI development, which contributed to a market downturn for AI-related tech stocks.
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 Rocket Successfully Achieves Orbit on First Launch
Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket has successfully reached orbit on its inaugural launch from Sriharikota, marking India's entry into the private satellite launcher market. This represents a significant milestone in India's space capabilities, allowing it to compete in the commercial space sector.
Fairphone Launches Fairphone 6+ in US, Marking First Direct Sales
Fairphone has launched its Fairphone 6+ smartphone in the U.S. for $649, making it the first time the company's phones are directly available in the country without modifications. This release provides a repairable Android option in the U.S. market, emphasizing longevity and sustainability through user-replaceable components and extended support.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Introduces Monthly Time Limits and Pay-As-You-Go Option
Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming will implement monthly time limits for Game Pass subscribers starting in November, with Ultimate subscribers receiving 15 hours, Premium 10 hours, and Essential 5 hours. Concurrently, Microsoft will introduce a pay-as-you-go model, allowing users to purchase cloud playtime hours without a Game Pass subscription. These changes are attributed to rising operational costs and aim to balance usage with service expenses.
Judge Rules Pentagon's Blacklisting of Anthropic as Supply Chain Risk Illegal
A San Francisco federal judge ruled that the Pentagon's designation of AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk was illegal, citing a violation of the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin found the Department of Defense's actions were not based on an "articulable basis" and constituted "unlawful retaliation." This decision removes a barrier for Anthropic, potentially allowing defense contractors to use its technology.
Rising Memory Prices Hit Budget Smartphones Hard, Driving Market Contraction
Increased memory costs are causing a significant decline in budget smartphone shipments globally. Devices priced under $400 will see shipments drop by over 22% this year as manufacturing costs rise. This contraction could affect company dynamics, potentially benefiting Apple and Samsung.
SpaceX Reports Doubled Revenue Driven by AI Compute Deals and Starlink Growth
SpaceX reported a 92% increase in revenue to $7.8 billion in Q2 2026, largely due to growth in its Starlink satellite internet service and new agreements to rent out computing power to companies like Anthropic and Google. Despite this revenue growth, the company's shares fell after its first public earnings report due to higher-than-expected capital expenditures, primarily for AI infrastructure.