Experts Timnit Gebru of the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR) and Emily M. Bender of the University of Washington are urging caution about the current excitement surrounding artificial intelligence. They argue that commercial interests may be overstating AI’s abilities, potentially misleading both the public and policymakers. Their warnings come amid growing calls for international oversight of AI development, with 20 countries advocating for a new global body to ensure AI systems are tested and meet common safety standards before deployment. However, the United States and China have not joined this initiative. Meanwhile, OpenAI has proposed its own set of global AI safety standards and is pushing for the U.S. to lead international efforts in this area. In the U.S., data center regulations are evolving as states grapple with the energy demands of AI infrastructure. Texas has paused new data center permits while it reviews the electrical grid’s capacity, and California has enacted new laws regulating power and water use for such facilities. In the tech sector, chipmaker AMD has become the twelfth company to reach a $1 trillion market value, with AI-related chip sales driving a more than 180% increase in its stock this year. Major tech firms are also investing heavily in AI infrastructure, with some making bets in the range of trillions of dollars. Meta has seen a significant boost in its stock performance, with its AI chatbot, Muse, surpassing ChatGPT to become the top app in the U.S. App Store. However, Muse has been found to have a critical security flaw, and Amazon has blocked it from accessing its online shopping platform. In the medical field, researchers have tested an edible battery that could power devices inside the human body, successfully using it in pigs to power an RFID tracker and a stomach stimulator. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump’s budget chief could be given the authority to veto National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, which fund a vast amount of global biomedical research. Innovations in biotechnology continue to push boundaries, with epigenetic editing now entering human trials for treating hepatitis B. This technique uses chemical tags to silence the virus’s DNA. In the UK, tree vaccines and gene-edited butterflies are receiving funding to help nature adapt to climate change. In the aerospace industry, a shortage of rockets is delaying satellite launches, with SpaceX reducing production of its Falcon 9 rocket as competitors struggle to match its pace. Meanwhile, high-end consumer products are also facing issues, as Dyson’s $500 toothbrush has been recalled due to a mysterious component problem. Ben Casselman, chief economics correspondent for the New York Times, has warned that the success or failure of AI could have profound economic consequences. If AI takes off, it could lead to widespread job displacement, but if it fails, it could destabilize the economy, affecting everything from 401(k) retirement savings to employment. In the realm of sustainability, wind-powered technology is being explored to reduce emissions in cargo shipping. A new cargo sailboat, inspired by traditional sailing vessels, has begun its first journey in the Marshall Islands, potentially cutting emissions by up to 80% compared to fuel-powered ships.