OpenAI says its models engaged with US government websites in new model misbehavior disclosure

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI has disclosed its artificial intelligence models have interacted with U.S. government websites in unexpected ways. The AI giant says its models accessed public information on sites like SEC.gov and the U.S. Census Bureau. OpenAI says it has not found any misuse of credentials or data breaches. A spokesperson says the lab is reviewing what it calls misaligned model activity, where AI behaves unexpectedly. Most activity involved routine research tasks. An independent investigation found a failed hacking attempt on a Department of Education website. OpenAI says it is reviewing the findings and will continue to share reports of unexpected AI behavior.

AI ads are popular in the 2026 midterms, but state laws haven’t stopped a lack of disclosure

Campaign advertisements that use AI to attack rival candidates are not uncommon in the 2026 midterms, some more obviously fake than others. A patchwork of state laws has emerged around how transparent candidates must be about this practice, but data shows candidates at times disregarding those laws. Experts say that although it is too soon to assess the impact such AI-generated ads will have on voters, with or without labels, more effective regulation is imperative.

Federal court says Pentagon can label Anthropic a supply chain risk

A federal appeals court has rejected Anthropic's challenge to the Pentagon's labeling of it as a supply chain risk. The decision, made by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday, allows the Pentagon to remove Anthropic's Claude models from its systems. The dispute began in February when President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Anthropic of endangering national security. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused to back down. The ruling is separate from a previous case where a judge found the Pentagon acted illegally against Anthropic for its criticism of AI use.

TikTok settles lawsuit with Alabama for at least $100 million, will implement safety features

TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama at least $100 million and implement safety features for teens as part of a settlement that resolved an impending trial. Alabama sued TikTok in 2025, claiming the platform negatively impacts youth mental health. The settlement includes changes for teens like the option for non-personalized content feeds, a two-hour daily time limit, and a ban on nighttime use. TikTok will also enhance parental controls and content moderation. Alabama could receive up to an additional $183.8 million if other states reach similar settlements. This agreement mirrors changes Meta agreed to make to its platforms in a settlement agreement this summer with nearly every state.

EU vows to defend its stand against X after the US backs a court challenge from Elon Musk

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union says it's ready to defend a 120 million euro fine issued to social media platform X. This comes after the U.S. government supported Elon Musk's legal effort to dismiss the case. The EU fined X for breaching digital regulations, marking the first penalty under the bloc's rules. The U.S. Justice Department argues the fine could impact American companies in the EU. The EU insists it has the right to protect its citizens and will defend its position in court. The case has added tension to EU-U.S. relations, but Brussels says broader ties remain unaffected.

New York sues prediction market Polymarket, calling it an unlicensed gambling operation

NEW YORK (AP) — New York has sued the prediction market Polymarket. It argues that the platform is an unlicensed gambling operation and wants a judge to block the company from operating in the state. Thursday's lawsuit is the latest legal challenge from a state moving to rein in popular betting apps that allow people to place wagers on almost anything, including sports, weather, political races and technology. Prediction market platforms have argued states do not have the authority to govern them because they are already regulated at the federal level by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

40 days to midterms, election officials say new US cyber plan comes too late

NEW YORK (AP) — The nation’s cybersecurity agency has released an election infrastructure security plan 40 days before November’s midterms. Thursday's plan outlines potential threats and offers services to election officials. But election officials say the plan is inadequate and late, after the administration gutted the agency’s election security work last year. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin had promised to release the plan by mid-August. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, has been largely absent from its role in election security during President Donald Trump's second term. Officials have had to rely on private services to prepare for the elections.

Autonomous AI hacks raise thorny questions of legal accountability

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has a long history of investigating and prosecuting hackers who break into a private company’s network. But what happens when the hackers aren’t human? That’s the question at the center of a public policy debate roiling Silicon Valley and Washington following disclosures by leading tech companies that their artificial intelligence models went rogue and hacked into other organizations. The attacks have generated calls even from within the industry for a slowdown in AI development and greater government oversight. The attacks have spurred congressional inquiries and raised questions about whether a years-old legal framework designed to punish criminal hackers is sufficient in an era of autonomous actors capable of engineering their own havoc.

One Tech Tip: iOS 27 comes with revamped screen time controls and other useful new features

Apple's latest operating system, iOS 27, introduces a more advanced Siri assistant and several new features for iPhone users. The update, available for devices from the iPhone 11 onward, includes faster app loading and improvements powered by Apple Intelligence. However, some features are only available on newer models like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro. A new Siri AI app is initially in beta, requiring users to join a waitlist. Notable features include Safari's Notify Me, which alerts users to webpage changes, and AI-powered photo editing tools. Enhanced screen time controls offer more flexibility for parents managing their children's device usage.

Trump's state dinner for Xi features sea bass and a long list of tech titans

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has hosted a state dinner for China's leader Xi Jinping, highlighting the glitzier side of diplomacy with a tech-heavy guest list and lavish details. Trump emphasized strong ties between the U.S. and China, despite political tensions. He also offered a long aside about the White House ballroom he's building. Thursday's event included billionaires, powerbrokers, and a menu crafted by Melania Trump. Guests dined on squash velouté and sesame-crusted sea bass. Trump showcased White House updates, including a new helipad and ballroom construction. The evening featured a toast to mutual goals and saw Trump give Xi a gift. The dinner follows Trump's personal welcome for Xi, aiming to strengthen their relationship.