1 Meta agrees to pay up to $18 billion in landmark child safety lawsuit
Meta has pledged up to $18 billion to settle a major case over social media’s impact on children and says it will introduce stricter safeguards for young users on Instagram and Facebook. (Associated Press)
+ The proposed changes could also restrict features linked to mental health concerns. (Guardian)
+ Meta is urging TikTok and YouTube to adopt similar child safety measures. (Axios)
+ Parents may need to restart child monitoring applications after the changes. (MIT Technology Review)
2 Nvidia agrees to acquire AI platform Hugging Face for $13 billion
Nvidia has reportedly agreed to acquire Hugging Face, the open-source AI model and development platform, in one of the chipmaker’s largest deals to date. (The Information $)
+ The acquisition would give Nvidia greater control over a major hub for open-source artificial intelligence. (Reuters $)
+ Nvidia has reportedly invested in Hugging Face since 2023. (Gizmodo)
+ The deal comes as Nvidia approaches $100 billion in quarterly revenue. (The Verge)
3 AI-powered brain surgery system helps surgeons remove tumors
An artificial intelligence system analyzed surgical camera footage in real time to support brain tumor removal procedures. (BBC)
+ The technology identified critical anatomical structures surgeons needed to avoid during the operation. (Guardian)
+ The breakthrough highlights the growing role of AI in healthcare and raises questions about how the technology will benefit patients. (MIT Technology Review)
4 US says China-linked hackers targeted NASA, Federal Reserve and Senate
US officials say a cyberespionage campaign linked to China targeted NASA, the Federal Reserve, the US Senate and critical infrastructure. (CNN)
+ Authorities also said they seized the online platform allegedly used in the attacks. (Bloomberg $)
5 Trump considers new tariffs on semiconductors and high-tech products
President Trump is considering additional tariffs on imported semiconductors and other technology products, a move that could increase costs for US artificial intelligence data centers. (Politico)
+ The proposed tariffs could eventually cover laptops, gaming consoles and servers. (Reuters $)
6 NASA design combines nuclear thermal and electric propulsion for spacecraft
NASA’s new bimodal nuclear propulsion concept combines nuclear thermal propulsion with electric propulsion to provide spacecraft with greater speed and efficiency. (IEEE Spectrum)
+ The agency is planning a nuclear-powered mission to Mars. (MIT Technology Review)
7 Ukraine tests high-altitude balloon launch system for military drones
Ukraine has conducted an experiment involving the launch of a drone from a high-altitude balloon, a strategy that could extend operating range while conserving battery power. (The Economist $)
+ Proposed regulatory changes could also lead to more drones operating in US airspace. (MIT Technology Review)
8 Google moves AI responsibility team out of DeepMind
Google has reportedly transferred its AI responsibility team out of DeepMind, raising concerns about the group’s independence and oversight role. (The Wall Street Journal $)
Source: www.technologyreview.com