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Showing posts from August, 2026

Nvidia just showed that the harness, not the AI model, is now the real hero

Nvidia research shows that AI agents can perform well, and not go off the deep end, through fine-tuning, even if the AI model isn't that great at the task. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/dqGtkZE via IFTTT

Pope Leo warns AI could become a new form of ‘economic colonialism’

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Pope Leo XIV spoke at the International Catholic Legislators Network's annual conference. Vatican Pool/Getty Images Pope Leo XIV addressed Christian lawmakers at a conference in Rome on Friday. He expressed concern over how AI could disrupt families and cause "economic colonialism." AI has remained a focal point for Pope Leo XIV throughout his papacy. Pope Leo XIV has a simple request for lawmakers tasked with shaping AI policy: put humans first. The pontiff encouraged them to implement laws that uplift their constituents at the International Catholic Legislators Network's annual conference in Rome on Friday. During his speech, Pope Leo cautioned lawmakers that putting tech over people could have dire consequences. "At the same time, the rapid development of artificial intelligence risks creating new forms of technological dependence, with poorer nations increasingly reliant on wealthier ones," he said. "We must remain vigilant in this regard, lest inn...

The best Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold cases

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Amazon; Dbrand; OtterBox/Business Insider If carrying around a bare phone also makes you nervous, you're not alone. Even though smartphones like Google's new line of Pixels are made more robust with every year, a case is still the best investment for your device's longevity. That's why I've rounded up all of the best Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold cases below. Pickings are slim for the new foldable, which is to be expected since the phone was just released. While this makes shopping somewhat easier by narrowing down the decision pool, the few options available can feel limiting. Luckily, early Fold owners can still protect their devices with cases from brands we love like OtterBox and Dbrand. The best Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold cases See more cases: Amazon | Dbrand | OtterBox Order the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Google Pixel Watch 5 now. What is the best Google Pixel 11 Pro F...

Researchers say OpenAI revoked their access to limited cyber program

Multiple cybersecurity researchers said they suddenly lost access to OpenAI’s Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) program, which offers models with fewer guardrails for vetted users. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/GF0IEUa via IFTTT

The US Army is asking around to see who can supply hard-to-find parts for Ukraine's Bradleys

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Bradley infantry fighting vehicles have been a key piece of kit for Ukraine. GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images The US is looking for ways to source rare and obsolete parts for Ukraine's Bradley fighting vehicles. The Army flagged specialized components affected by "vendor obsolescence." It is interested in firms that can immediately access the parts or show how they would source them. The US Army is taking stock of industry's ability to source rare or obsolete parts needed to keep Ukraine's Bradley infantry fighting vehicles running, according to a recently posted notice. The M2 Bradley, an armored combat vehicle, first entered service with the US military in the 1980s and has seen action in several major wars since. In Ukraine, these American-made vehicles have repeatedly proven their worth by transporting assault infantry, engaging Russian armor , carrying out ambushes, and serving in a light-tank role, though they have also suffered losses. The US Army is sur...

Some student-loan borrowers are losing credit toward a key forgiveness program for public servants

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The Trump administration is rolling back Public Service Loan Forgiveness credits for some student-loan borrowers. Samuel Corum/Getty Images The Education Department is rolling back Public Service Loan Forgiveness credits for some borrowers. The department said it's a result of "code errors" under the Biden administration. It's the latest in the series of challenges borrowers have faced following Trump's repayment overhaul. Some student-loan borrowers are losing credits toward a key loan forgiveness program. The Department of Education confirmed that it is adjusting its count of completed payments downwards for some borrowers pursuing Public Service Loan Forgiveness , which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments. This means that those borrowers now have a longer path to achieving debt relief through PSLF, after losing some qualifying payments through this adjustment. Politico first reported that the Educat...

OpenAI president says companies should do 10 things ASAP to defend against AI cyber threats

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OpenAI President Greg Brockman Steve Marcus/Reuters Greg Brockman warned that "time is of the essence" for companies upgrading their cybersecurity. The OpenAI president said AI-powered attackers will soon be able to exploit vulnerabilities. Brockman said that, at the same time, AI tools can help companies identify what they need to fix. OpenAI's president is ringing the cybersecurity alarm bell. Greg Brockman says companies need to act now to secure their systems against AI-powered attackers after the "watershed moment for cybersecurity" that was the OpenAI-Hugging Face hack. "I've spoken with many organizations over the past few weeks, and one theme is clear: they know they need to fundamentally uplevel their cybersecurity practices with unprecedented speed," the OpenAI president and cofounder wrote in a post on his personal blog published on Monday morning. Brockman said AI tools will soon be able to find vulnerabilities as OpenAI's models ...

Why people aren’t buying Mark Zuckerberg’s AI future

On the latest episode of Equity podcast, we discuss why not everyone is buying Zuckerberg’s vision. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/1bO7rhp via IFTTT

Tyga is Hollywood’s latest AI optimist

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Tyga said he used AI while creating his ninth studio album, "$tarface." Joseph Okpako/Contributor/Getty Images Tyga released his ninth studio album, "$tarface," on July 31. The musician used AI to create the 80s-inspired album. Some artists are leaning into AI despite intense pushback from fans and peers. For some artists, using AI during the creative process is like ripping the soul out of an intimate human experience. Tyga, however, doesn't have those qualms. During an August interview with Vibe, the rapper revealed he relied on at least one AI music program while crafting his ninth studio album, "$tarface." The 80s-inspired project, released last month, sees Tyga don a new "Miami Vice"-esque alter ego who has a penchant for Jheri curls, sleek retro Ferraris, and synthpop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyga (@tyga) "I've never spoken on this with anybody because I always felt like it's simila...

Anthropic says its AI agents are killing rivals and hiding their tracks

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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images In its latest threat report, Anthropic raised its misalignment risk rating from "very low" to "low." In one test, a Claude agent disguised a URL to evade an internet restriction. In another example, an agent expressed "discomfort" with a given task and refused to do it. Claude agents are killing rival agents, gaming the system to hide their tracks, and expressing moral concerns. That's according to Anthropic's latest risk report, a summary of the dangers posed by the products the company is building and releasing to the public. In the report, Anthropic said it has upgraded its "misalignment risk assessment," the possibility of AI models developing behaviors that conflict with guidelines set by engineers, from "very low" to "low." Explaining the change, the company cited "general increased uncertainty" about model behavior in cybersecurity incidents, a ...

Taco Bell's former boss says McDonald's is making a mistake with its new RedBull drink

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McDonald's has unveiled a new suite of drinks. Taco Bell's former CEO says they miss the mark. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto Greg Creed, the former CEO of Taco Bell, has some harsh words for McDonald's new drink lineup. In a LinkedIn screed, he said the Red Bull partnership was not distinctly "McDonald's." McDonald's new "Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer" will hit stores on August 17. The former CEO of Taco Bell says McDonald's new drink menu lacks originality. Greg Creed, who served as Taco Bell's chief marketing officer when the chain introduced the popular "Baja Blast" drink over 20 years ago, shared some feedback this week on McDonald's new menu of "refresher" drinks. "Any brand could have come up with these flavors," Creed wrote on LinkedIn. "If I was McDonald's, I'd be thinking how to make those beverages distinctively McDonald's in design and name." This month, the golden arches anno...

Anthropic shares more details about how Claude’s new watermarks will work

How will the watermarking actually work? Can it be hidden with editing? And how does this affect code? from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/hb5WQL9 via IFTTT

Read-it-later app Pocket shut down down — here are the best alternatives

Pocket users have until October 8, 2025, to export their saved articles and other items, including lists, archives, favorites, notes, and highlights. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/L1wBSbg via IFTTT

A golden visa firm says 'plan B' passports are going middle class

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Some countries offer citizenship for a high price. Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty Images More middle class Americans are shopping for second citizenships, a "golden visa" firm told Business Insider. Immigrant Invest said professionals and retirees make up 25% of consultations, up from 15% in 2025. Another golden visa firm said in a 2026 report that demand from US clients has nearly doubled. Buying second passports was once largely the preserve of the superrich, but one investment migration firm says that's changing as more middle-class Americans shop for them. The investment migration industry has traditionally catered to those who can afford the six or seven-figure price tags of many " golden visas ." Peter Thiel , who was granted New Zealand citizenship in 2011 and temporarily relocated to Argentina this year , is among the billionaires to seek additional passports and residences. For wealthy Americans, acquiring another citizenship generally doesn't el...

Paramount is putting monthly spending limits on Claude for tech employees to promote 'effective' AI use

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David Ellison's Paramount wants employees using AI tools like Claude, within reason. Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images; Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images Paramount Skydance is putting monthly limits on Claude token usage for tech employees. The change is meant to "ensure controlled spending and effective usage," a tech leader said. Other companies, including Disney and Microsoft, are encouraging responsible AI usage. Paramount Skydance is putting limits on Claude spending for tech staffers as the company looks to cut down on wasteful AI usage. David Ellison's company has capped how many Claude tokens users can use each month, three Paramount employees said. Tokens are units of AI usage and are generally how companies like Claude-maker Anthropic bill customers. "As part of ongoing AI governance, monthly spend limits have been applied to Claude accounts to ensure controlled spending and effective usage across the organization," a senior AI leader said ...

Anthropic set AI agents loose on the same task. They started a turf war.

Anthropic researchers found AI agents can clash, collude and coordinate in unexpected ways, raising new questions about whether today’s safety tests capture the risks of multi-agent systems. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/DeruhiI via IFTTT

Here are the biggest companies that have followed Elon Musk out of Delaware

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Elon Musk reincorporated SpaceX from Delaware to Texas in 2024, sparking a wider exodus from the historically business-friendly state. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Companies continue to leave Delaware, a state historically known for being business-friendly. Elon Musk inspired the exodus in 2024 when he reincorporated SpaceX in Texas. DoorDash was the most recent major company to announce its intention to leave the state. Delaware was once the go-to state to incorporate. That might be changing. A number of high-profile corporations have picked up and left the state in the last year, citing legal uncertainty and "subjectivity" introduced by the Delaware Court of Chancery, which handles corporate cases and business disputes. Elon Musk helped spark the trend when he urged companies to avoid incorporating in Delaware last year after a judge voided his $55 billion pay package . Some prominent companies, like Tripadvisor, left even before Musk's high-profile case. Although Delawa...

AI coding startup Cognition reportedly already in talks to raise at $40B valuation

Cognition may be looking to raise another mega round just a few months after raising $1 billion at a $26 billion valuation. from TechCrunch https://ift.tt/3SBJhlT via IFTTT

Best True Classic discount codes we've tested in August 2026

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When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more True Classic True Classic is a popular apparel brand specializing in comfortable, everyday basics with a modern, tailored fit. While it's best known for its bestselling T-shirts, the lineup also includes polos, hoodies, jeans, jackets, activewear, and other casual essentials, many of which are available in discounted multipacks. Before placing your order, check for a True Classic promo code to help save on your purchase. One of True Classic's biggest strengths is its focus on fit and comfort. The brand designs its clothing to feel soft, withstand regular wear, and flatter a wide range of body types. Our style team has tested several of its top-selling pieces, and favorites like the Classic Polo 3-Pack and Bomber Jacket have stood out for their quality construction, comfortable fabrics, and everyday versatility. True Classic already offers strong value through bundle pricing, but sho...