A new analysis finds that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and data centers will drive a significant rise in U.S. electricity demand, potentially increasing power‑plant carbon emissions by up to 29 percent over the next decade. The study highlights that restoring wind and solar tax credits could cut emissions by more than 30 percent and lower wholesale electricity costs. It also notes that without stronger policies, the surge in data‑center power use could exacerbate climate impacts and raise costs for consumers. The report calls for robust guardrails on data‑center growth and accelerated renewable investment to balance the AI boom with climate goals. Read more →

The United States is confronting a growing clash over how to regulate artificial intelligence, drawing parallels to the hands‑off approach of the early Internet era. While some lawmakers pushed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to give the FCC oversight, modern efforts focus on preventing an AI arms race with China and addressing concerns about bias, misinformation, and job security. The White House has issued an executive order to block state‑level AI rules, arguing that fragmented regulation would hinder national competitiveness. Meanwhile, the EU has moved faster on user‑data protections, highlighting divergent global strategies. Read more →

A new International Energy Agency report shows global spending on data centers surpassing oil exploration, highlighting the massive power demand of AI-driven facilities. The surge strains electrical grids, especially near large cities, but also opens opportunities for renewable solutions such as solar farms and microgrids built from used EV batteries. Major AI firms like OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic have pledged billions toward new data center projects, while startups focusing on clean energy infrastructure stand to benefit from the shift. Read more →

Google Photos has rolled out six new AI-driven tools aimed at simplifying editing and searching within users' photo libraries. The "Help me edit" feature now offers personalized portrait adjustments, using facial data to remove sunglasses or fix closed eyes, and is expanding to iOS in the United States. The Nano Banana editor powers a new "Create with AI" section that supplies customizable templates for artistic restyling, initially reaching Android users in the United States and India. The Ask Photos search tool is expanding to over 100 additional markets and 17 new languages, while a new Ask button lets users ask detailed questions about individual images, currently available in the United States on both Android and iOS. Read more →

Google has detailed the rollout of Gemini for Home, its next‑generation AI that will replace Google Assistant on smart speakers, displays, and other home devices. The update will first reach users in the United States, with additional markets slated for the first quarter of 2026. Rollout is tied to individual home addresses rather than user accounts, meaning each residence is upgraded separately. Early users report the change as a major improvement, though the transition has not been seamless for everyone. Google encourages feedback through voice commands and notes that the upgrade will support devices up to a decade old, with basic AI features free and advanced capabilities available via a paid subscription. Read more →

OpenAI has launched Sora, a new social media app focused on AI‑generated videos. The iOS‑only service, which also runs at Sora.com, is being released initially in the United States and Canada and is limited to users who receive an invite code. Access is prioritized for paying ChatGPT Pro subscribers, who can share up to four additional codes with friends. All content on Sora is labeled as AI‑created, and the app requires users to log in with a ChatGPT account and enable push notifications to receive updates on availability. Read more →

Google Photos is extending its conversational editing feature beyond Pixel devices to Android smartphones in the United States. The tool lets users request photo changes by speaking or typing commands, leveraging advanced Gemini AI capabilities. To access the feature, users tap the “Help me edit” button, then describe edits such as removing background strangers, lightening colors, or eliminating glare. Availability requires an English-language Google account with Face Groups and location estimates turned on, and the interface presents original and edited images side‑by‑side for easy comparison. Read more →

Cisco Talos identified more than 1,100 Ollama servers publicly reachable on the internet, many of which lack proper security controls. While roughly 80% of the servers are dormant, the remaining 20% host active language models that could be exploited for model extraction, jailbreaking, backdoor injection, and other attacks. The majority of exposed instances are located in the United States, followed by China and Germany, underscoring a widespread neglect of basic security practices such as access control and network isolation in AI deployments. Read more →

Former Vice President Al Gore told reporters that China has become the world’s leading force in the energy transition, a development he would not have predicted 25 years ago. He praised China’s rapid expansion of solar capacity and its shift toward measurable emissions reductions, while criticizing the United States for policy reversals that have slowed its climate leadership. Gore also discussed the growing electricity demand from AI data centers, the importance of real‑time emissions tracking through Climate TRACE, and expressed cautious optimism that renewable technologies are accelerating faster than fossil‑fuel resistance. Read more →

A recent NordVPN National Privacy Test reveals that the United Kingdom outperforms the United States in identifying phishing websites, with 31% of U.S. respondents unable to correctly spot such scams. While the UK ranks among the top English‑speaking nations for overall cybersecurity awareness, both countries lag in understanding AI‑related privacy issues, each scoring only 5% on that metric. The study also highlights gaps in password storage knowledge and the use of online privacy tools, underscoring areas where both nations could improve digital safety practices. Read more →

Casio has opened pre‑orders for Moflin, an AI‑enabled robotic pet that offers a calming, cuddle‑friendly experience. The plush, hamster‑like device, which can express emotions through head movements, touch sensors, and voice recognition, will ship later this year for a price of $449. Designed for users seeking a soothing companion, Moflin learns a unique personality over time based on interaction, though it lacks a reset function. The launch follows strong sales in Japan and marks Casio’s expansion into the U.S. market. Read more →

Samsung is rolling out a software update for its Family Hub smart refrigerators in the United States that will show advertisements on the Cover Screen when the display is idle. The move is part of a pilot program aimed at adding value for home appliance customers. Ads appear only when the fridge is not showing content such as Art Mode or a photo album, and they can be dismissed, though they will not reappear for the duration of the campaign. Samsung has not clarified whether the ads can be disabled entirely during the pilot. Read more →

Cisco Talos identified more than 1,100 Ollama servers publicly reachable on the internet, many of which lack proper security controls. While roughly 80% of the servers are dormant, the remaining 20% host active language models that could be exploited for model extraction, jailbreaking, backdoor injection, and other attacks. The majority of exposed instances are located in the United States, followed by China and Germany, underscoring a widespread neglect of basic security practices such as access control and network isolation in AI deployments. Read more →

Cisco Talos identified more than 1,100 Ollama servers publicly reachable on the internet, many of which lack proper security controls. While roughly 80% of the servers are dormant, the remaining 20% host active language models that could be exploited for model extraction, jailbreaking, backdoor injection, and other attacks. The majority of exposed instances are located in the United States, followed by China and Germany, underscoring a widespread neglect of basic security practices such as access control and network isolation in AI deployments. Read more →

Former Vice President Al Gore told reporters that China has become the world’s leading force in the energy transition, a development he would not have predicted 25 years ago. He praised China’s rapid expansion of solar capacity and its shift toward measurable emissions reductions, while criticizing the United States for policy reversals that have slowed its climate leadership. Gore also discussed the growing electricity demand from AI data centers, the importance of real‑time emissions tracking through Climate TRACE, and expressed cautious optimism that renewable technologies are accelerating faster than fossil‑fuel resistance. Read more →

Former Vice President Al Gore told reporters that China has become the world’s leading force in the energy transition, a development he would not have predicted 25 years ago. He praised China’s rapid expansion of solar capacity and its shift toward measurable emissions reductions, while criticizing the United States for policy reversals that have slowed its climate leadership. Gore also discussed the growing electricity demand from AI data centers, the importance of real‑time emissions tracking through Climate TRACE, and expressed cautious optimism that renewable technologies are accelerating faster than fossil‑fuel resistance. Read more →

A recent NordVPN National Privacy Test reveals that the United Kingdom outperforms the United States in identifying phishing websites, with 31% of U.S. respondents unable to correctly spot such scams. While the UK ranks among the top English‑speaking nations for overall cybersecurity awareness, both countries lag in understanding AI‑related privacy issues, each scoring only 5% on that metric. The study also highlights gaps in password storage knowledge and the use of online privacy tools, underscoring areas where both nations could improve digital safety practices. Read more →

A recent NordVPN National Privacy Test reveals that the United Kingdom outperforms the United States in identifying phishing websites, with 31% of U.S. respondents unable to correctly spot such scams. While the UK ranks among the top English‑speaking nations for overall cybersecurity awareness, both countries lag in understanding AI‑related privacy issues, each scoring only 5% on that metric. The study also highlights gaps in password storage knowledge and the use of online privacy tools, underscoring areas where both nations could improve digital safety practices. Read more →

Casio has opened pre‑orders for Moflin, an AI‑enabled robotic pet that offers a calming, cuddle‑friendly experience. The plush, hamster‑like device, which can express emotions through head movements, touch sensors, and voice recognition, will ship later this year for a price of $449. Designed for users seeking a soothing companion, Moflin learns a unique personality over time based on interaction, though it lacks a reset function. The launch follows strong sales in Japan and marks Casio’s expansion into the U.S. market. Read more →

Casio has opened pre‑orders for Moflin, an AI‑enabled robotic pet that offers a calming, cuddle‑friendly experience. The plush, hamster‑like device, which can express emotions through head movements, touch sensors, and voice recognition, will ship later this year for a price of $449. Designed for users seeking a soothing companion, Moflin learns a unique personality over time based on interaction, though it lacks a reset function. The launch follows strong sales in Japan and marks Casio’s expansion into the U.S. market. Read more →