A federal judge just slapped down the Trump administration's blacklisting of AI firm Anthropic, declaring it an illegal act of retaliation against a government critic.
A U.S. federal judge ruled the Trump administration's blacklisting of AI giant Anthropic was unlawful, finding the government illegally punished the company for publicly criticizing the Pentagon's use of AI. The GuardianThe Verge
Over 100 tech companies, including OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, issued a joint warning about an impending surge in AI-powered cyberattacks and called for global collective action to bolster defenses. Fox Business
Nicola Coughlan, Matt Lucas, and Hugh Bonneville are among actors backing a "Save Our Voices Now" campaign, urging legislation in the UK to protect voice ownership against AI cloning. The Guardian
The Trump administration's proposed tariffs on semiconductors are drawing sharp criticism from the AI industry, which labels the plan as "the single dumbest way imaginable" to win the AI race. Ars Technica
A $900 million payout from a canceled offshore wind deal is set to benefit a Trump donor, raising questions about the administration's energy policy decisions. The Washington Post
AI & Chip Industry Developments
Nvidia is shaking up its AI cloud strategy and expanding its political influence, while SK Hynix commits to U.S. chip production amid a looming memory shortage.
Nvidia has paused revenue-sharing deals with AI cloud companies, a move that could reshape its strategy for supporting the AI ecosystem. WSJ
Nvidia is expanding its Washington footprint by launching a new corporate Political Action Committee (PAC) funded by employees, signaling increased engagement in election spending. The Hill
SK Hynix plans to begin AI chip production in Indiana by 2029, with the company's CEO predicting a memory shortage will persist through 2030. Reuters
Anthropic introduced a new Model Hardware Standard, aiming to enable AI agents to control physical devices and interact with the real world. Ars Technica
Nvidia is bolstering support for Chinese open AI models like DeepSeek and Qwen, even as it warns that potential U.S. restrictions on Chinese AI could negatively impact its business. CNBC
Business & Market Shifts
PayPal is reeling from a failed $50 billion acquisition bid, while Gap seeks to revive its struggling Old Navy brand with a new CEO.
Advent and Stripe have abandoned their $50 billion pursuit of PayPal, sending the payments giant's stock diving. Bloomberg.com
Gap shares jumped 12% after the company named a new CEO for its struggling Old Navy brand, which reported a decline in comparable sales last quarter. CNBC
Marvell Technology stock sank despite solid earnings, as high market expectations overshadowed its performance, even with record revenue and raised guidance driven by AI demand. Barron's
Canadian retailer SSENSE is grappling with Trump's tariffs by moving a core part of its business to the United States, allowing American customers to avoid hefty import duties. New York Times
Trump Administration Actions
President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario, escalating tensions with Canada, while his administration faces scrutiny over its handling of prediction markets.
President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America," reiterating his criticism that Canada "treats us very badly" following collapsed trade talks. New York Times
A legal dispute over prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket has drawn in the Trump administration, the president’s son, and nearly every state attorney general, sparking a furious political battle. New York Times
The ATF declared a "major incident" after a ransomware gang claimed a hack, making it the latest federal agency to report a significant cybersecurity breach. TechCrunch
Quick Shots
🇦🇺 Australian police arrested two alleged "TeamPCP" hackers for supply-chain attacks targeting companies like Mercor and OpenAI. TechCrunch
📱 Meta is addressing its "pervert glasses" reputation by fixing a privacy loophole that allowed smart glasses wearers to record after covering the LED light. The Verge
📚 Google launched "Expert Intelligence" for Gemini Notebook, allowing users to add Play Books and interact with them using AI. 9to5Google
👷♀️ Younger workers are increasingly deserting digital jobs for traditional crafts like bookbinding and metalwork, seeking "AI-proof" careers. The Guardian
💰 Benjamin Rosen, the venture capitalist who brought early funding to tech giants like Apple, Lotus, and Compaq, has died at 93. New York Times