Argentina’s Milei pitches a regulation-free AI haven at the end of the world

TRELEW, Argentina (AP) — Data centers are facing a growing backlash in the United States and Europe. Argentina wants to lure them anyway. President Javier Milei is pitching Patagonia to tech giants as a haven for artificial intelligence, touting open land, abundant wind and gas, proposed tax breaks and a promise not to regulate AI. But the plans remain mostly on paper, with investors wary of next year’s election. The biggest test is near Trelew, where a Polish developer plans a $3 billion campus that at full capacity could use nearly three times as much electricity as Buenos Aires. Ranchers who leased the land welcome it. Others fear the environmental toll and question what Argentina will get in return.

FBI blames North Korea for stolen billions from Binance in biggest hack in history

New York (AP) — The FBI says the billions of dollars stolen from Binance within minutes in the biggest crypto heist in history was orchestrated by North Korean hackers. The bureau says this week's attack was tied to “malicious cyber activity” by an entity known as TraderTraitor. That same entity behind a $1.5 billion Bybit hack last year. The FBI said Saturday that it is advising crypto exchanges, blockchain analytics companies and others to block transactions tied to certian addresses to keep the money from being laundered further. Later Saturday night, President Donald Trump said authorities were still learning about the case, however, and added, “We don't know if it was North Korea.”

Graphika finds China-linked Spamouflage accounts posing as US voters on X

WASHINGTON (AP) — Analysts at Graphika report that the influence campaign known as Spamouflage is active ahead of the midterm elections. Accounts likely linked to China are posing as U.S. voters and posting divisive content about politics and social issues. On Friday, Graphika identified Spamouflage-linked activity on X that resembles tactics seen in 2024 before the U.S. presidential election. Intelligence officials have long warned about online influence operations by Russia, China, and Iran targeting U.S. voters. Darren Linvill from Clemson University says Spamouflage is ineffective at mimicking Americans but is more successful at suppressing information and harassing the Chinese diaspora.

What to know about the $6.3B hack on Binance, likely the biggest-ever crypto theft

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, says hackers stole more than $6 billion in what appears to be the largest cryptocurrency heist on record. Blockchain firms have pointed to the attack coming from a North Korean hacking unit. The company said it has reserved more than $6.34 billion of company funds to cover the stolen assets and was beginning to recover assets for users. Binance worked with blockchain partners to freeze roughly $3 billion in affected assets. The cryptocurrency exchange has promised to cover all losses, and it has been sharing regular updates on its social media channels as it uncovers more information about the hack.

What to consider if a company that made AI-related job cuts wants you back

NEW YORK (AP) — Companies have been slashing jobs to invest in artificial intelligence, raising anxiety among workers who fear they may lose their livelihoods to machines. But sometimes replacing workers with AI doesn’t work out, because the tools can’t do the job as well as their human predecessors, and those companies wind up quietly rehiring workers for the positions they eliminated. Management experts suggest figuring out your competitive edge as a human and emphasizing skills such as empathy, ethics, judgment and institutional knowledge. Workers who are asked back to a company can request a contract to feel more secure.

One Tech Tip: How to get started with AI agents, and which are best for specific tasks

Agentic artificial intelligence is gaining popularity beyond tech circles, with personal AI agents becoming more widely accessible. Companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic are competing with consumer-friendly AI agents. These agents, designed to work proactively for users, have surged this year. For those getting started with using agents, experts suggest using multiple agents to maximize productivity. Each agent has unique strengths, so it's essential to experiment and find what works best for you. Privacy is a concern for some users, so experts also recommend being cautious when sharing personal information with these tools.

New York enacts ban on 'unsafe' chatbot behavior with kids as states push AI regulation boundaries

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — New York is enacting farther-reaching restrictions ban on certain chatbot behaviors to protect children using artificial intelligence. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that outlines prohibited "unsafe AI companion features" for interactions with minors. Violations could lead to fines. The law takes effect Jan. 1. This move comes amid growing concerns about AI risks and a lack of federal regulation. New York and California are leading efforts to regulate AI, with California recently passing similar laws. Experts say these state laws could serve as models for others. However, some aspects of New York's law remain broadly defined.

FTC orders Walmart, Delta and others to share how they use personal data to set prices and pay

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is ordering Delta Air Lines, Walmart and other companies to provide detailed information on how they use consumers’ data when they are setting prices. The commission said Wednesday it is also studying how ride-sharing and delivery companies like Uber use their independent drivers’ personal data when they are setting compensation rates. Orders were also issued to United, JetBlue, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Target. The FTC’s actions reflect customers’ increasing concerns about pricing technology and the use of artificial intelligence to collect vast amounts of data. Delta and JetBlue said Wednesday that they don't use personal data to set individualized prices.

DoorDash offers $17 billion for Instacart in what would be a big consolidation for grocery delivery

DoorDash is offering $17 billion to buy Instacart to supercharge its grocery delivery business in what would be a big consolidation in grocery delivery. DoorDash said the Instacart brand name and app will remain, and Instacart shoppers can continue fulfilling orders for Instacart. Instacart customers will now have access to 50,000 additional stores covered by DoorDash. Instacart, founded in 2012, specializes in grocery and convenience store delivery in the U.S. and Canada. DoorDash was founded a year later as a restaurant delivery business but expanded to grocery delivery in 2020.

Utah charges Kalshi and its founders, escalating a fight over who can regulate prediction markets

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Utah is pursuing criminal charges against prediction market operator Kalshi and two executives, after a federal judge rejected Kalshi’s effort to prevent Utah from enforcing its anti-gambling laws against the activity. The felony charges filed Wednesday could represent a new tactic in how states try to assert regulatory authority over the fast-expanding activity. The charges include 13 counts of violating the state’s prohibition on gambling and another charge involving profiting off illegal activity. The defendants are Kalshi and its co-founders, chief executive officer Tarek Mansour and chief operating officer Luana Lopes Lara. Kalshi called the charges a “crazy overreach” and said it looks forward to “putting a stop to this in court.”