Thursday, June 18, 2026

AI & Tech Innovation

Midjourney has unveiled its first hardware product, a full-body ultrasound scanner that uses AI to capture detailed internal body composition, aiming for MRI-comparable image quality and a potential annual or daily health check-up tool. The Verge

The White House ordered Anthropic to revoke SK Telecom's access to its Claude Mythos AI model, citing alleged ties to China, a new detail in the ongoing controversy over US export controls on advanced AI. Wired

Anthropic employees accuse the Trump administration of targeting them with export rules that forced the company to block access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals, including its own staff, prompting concerns about the legal basis for such controls. The Verge The New York Times

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that price increases are "unavoidable" due to soaring memory chip costs driven by the AI boom, which is creating unsustainable expenses for the tech giant. Fox Business

Allbirds has rebranded as Smartbird and appointed a former AWS executive as CEO, signaling a full pivot to AI and causing its shares to soar over 50%. Reuters

Markets & Economy

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 3.5% to 3.75% in its first meeting under new chair Kevin Warsh, but signaled a possible rate hike before year's end, causing US stock markets to drop. The Guardian The New York Times

Oil prices fell as the US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz took effect, providing some relief at the pump with average US gasoline prices dropping below $4 a gallon for the first time in months. The New York Times Reuters

SpaceX shares fell 5% after a three-day rally, showing signs of waning investor bullishness following its blockbuster debut. CNBC

Intel shares rose 9% after President Trump announced the company would partner with Apple on US chip design, continuing a recent rally for the chipmaker. CNBC

Trump Administration & Politics

President Trump has delayed the confirmation hearing for his pick for Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, in an attempt to advance an unrelated voting bill, causing frustration among Senate Republicans. NPR

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll indicates a record low share of Americans approve of President Trump's job performance and his handling of the economy heading into the summer before a key midterm election. NPR

Senate Democrats have launched an inquiry into the Trump administration's remaking of US vaccine policy, demanding officials provide records by next week. STAT+

Ukraine hit a Moscow refinery as President Zelenskyy seeks Trump's support to end the war, continuing a pattern of attacks damaging Russia's energy facilities. Al Jazeera

Business & Corporate Moves

Elon Musk may pursue a mega-merger of SpaceX and Tesla, a move that some shareholders might object to but would likely face little legal challenge. The New York Times

Roelof Botha, former leader of Sequoia Capital, has joined SpaceX's board of directors, filling an existing vacancy days after the company's public debut. TechCrunch

Cognite has launched a new integrated supply chain offering, leveraging AI agents, apps, and data models to enhance resiliency and reduce decision latency for operations and supply chain teams. Financial Post

Quick Shots

• 🤖 Jeff Bezos predicts AI will create labor shortages rather than replace human jobs, offering a counter-narrative to common fears. The Hill
• 🇬🇧 The Bank of England is expected to hold interest rates steady, with upheaval in the Middle East stalling further reductions. BBC
• 🇨🇳 Operating humanoid robots with your body is becoming a hot job in China's hardware capital, Shenzhen, using VR rigs reminiscent of Ready Player One. Wired
• 🇬🇧 The UK plans to scan asylum-seekers' faces for age checks despite internal Home Office tests showing the technology is flawed and risks life-altering errors. Wired
• 🦠 Cybersecurity researchers uncovered malware that twisted math, likely designed to slow down Iran's nuclear program. NPR