Federal regulators made new rules to help build AI data centers faster and cheaper. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) told regional electric grid operators to change how they connect big energy users, like AI data centers, to the power grid.
Key Facts
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued new guidance on Thursday.
The goal is to speed up the building of AI data centers.
The changes also aim to reduce the costs of connecting these centers to the electric grid.
Regional electric grid operators must change their processes for connecting large power demands.
This includes connections for AI data centers and other big energy users.
The new rules focus on making power grid connections quicker and more efficient.
This move supports the growing demand for AI computing power.
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FDA advisors voted unanimously to approve Moderna’s new seasonal mRNA flu vaccine called mRNA-1010 or mFlusiva. The vaccine was found to be more effective than standard flu shots and safe for older adults, and its approval follows earlier controversy within the FDA about reviewing the vaccine.
Key Facts
The FDA advisory committee voted 9–0 to support Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine.
The vaccine is called mRNA-1010 and branded as mFlusiva.
A large Phase 3 trial with over 40,000 adults aged 50+ showed it was 27% more effective than traditional flu shots.
A smaller Phase 3 trial with nearly 3,000 people aged 65+ showed stronger immune responses than the current high-dose flu vaccine.
The vaccine uses mRNA technology, the same used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, which allows faster development and better response to flu strains.
Earlier, a Trump-appointed FDA official blocked the vaccine from review, claiming the trial was inadequate, but this decision was reversed amid objections from FDA scientists.
The blocked official, Vinay Prasad, left FDA after other controversial decisions.
Moderna’s CEO expressed satisfaction with the committee’s approval and looks forward to working with the FDA.
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A federal health advisory panel recommended approval of a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology, the same science used in COVID-19 vaccines. The FDA is reviewing Moderna’s mFlusiva vaccine for people aged 50 and older before the upcoming flu season.
Key Facts
The vaccine is called mFlusiva and is made by Moderna.
It uses mRNA technology, which was important for COVID-19 vaccines.
The vaccine targets seasonal flu, especially for older adults.
Moderna wants full approval for people aged 50 to 64.
The company seeks temporary authorization for people 65 and older while more tests continue.
Approval could allow the vaccine to be available before winter flu season.
The recommendation came from a federal health advisory panel.
The FDA is the agency responsible for final approval.
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Stablecoins are a type of digital money that can move instantly and cheaply across borders using blockchain technology. They could enable machines, like cars and appliances, to pay each other automatically in small amounts, creating new ways for devices to do business without human intervention.
Key Facts
Stablecoins are digital dollars that use blockchain technology for fast, low-cost payments.
They offer near-instant money transfers compared to traditional systems like credit cards or SWIFT.
Traditional credit card fees often take about 3% of each transaction, costing businesses a lot.
Faster payments improve cash flow by delivering money immediately rather than days later.
Machines connected to the internet could soon transact with each other continuously and automatically.
Examples include electric cars paying for parking or charging by the minute and home solar panels selling power to neighbors.
This could lead to trillions of small machine-to-machine payments every day.
Industries like energy, telecom, cloud computing, and media could change their business models to use real-time, micro-payments instead of subscriptions or bills.
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NASA has asked Northrop Grumman to stop work on the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module, part of the Lunar Gateway project orbiting the Moon. This decision reflects NASA’s shift in focus from an orbital space station to a lunar surface base.
Key Facts
NASA announced a shift from a lunar orbital station to a Moon base on the surface in March.
Work on the Lunar Gateway, a lunar orbit space station, is paused.
HALO is a large, pressurized module where astronauts would stay during Moon orbit missions.
Northrop Grumman received contracts worth $1.1 billion to design and build HALO and related systems.
Paragon Space Development Corp. had a $100 million contract to develop HALO’s life-support system but was told to stop work recently.
Northrop Grumman says HALO can be used for other lunar missions and will reassign most affected employees.
NASA and Northrop Grumman remain on good terms despite the stop-work order.
Reasons for stopping work may include the module’s large weight for Moon surface delivery or technical problems like corrosion.
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Google will start a system on September 30, 2024, to verify Android app developers in certain countries to reduce scams and malware. This system will check developers’ identities for apps both inside and outside the Google Play Store, and it will include several trusted third-party app stores.
Key Facts
Google’s developer verification system begins on September 30, 2024.
The rollout will first happen in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Developers must verify their identities by paying $25 through Google’s developer console or through trusted app stores.
Apps from unverified developers cannot be installed on Google-certified Android devices once the system is active.
Verification will cover Google Play and seven third-party app stores, including Samsung Galaxy Store and Xiaomi GetApps.
New Google tools (APIs) will help developers register and check app status more easily.
A new service will appear on most phones with Android 8 or higher to block unverified apps once verification starts.
A special "limited distribution" option will allow hobbyists to share apps with up to 20 devices without full verification.
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Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said the company will raise the prices of its products. The increase is a response to higher costs for memory and storage chips used in their devices.
Key Facts
Apple plans to increase product prices.
The price hikes are due to rising costs for memory and storage chips.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, shared this news in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
The interview was published on a Wednesday.
The price changes aim to balance Apple’s expenses with market conditions.
No specific products or price amounts were detailed in the interview.
Rising chip costs are affecting many tech companies’ pricing strategies.
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Apple has fixed a serious security flaw in its Beats Studio Buds earbuds that allowed nearby hackers to listen to users’ conversations without permission. The update is installed automatically when the earbuds connect to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Key Facts
The vulnerability, named CVE-2025-20701, affected the earbuds' Bluetooth firmware and let attackers pretend to be trusted devices.
This flaw could let hackers hear sounds picked up by the earbuds’ microphone if they were close enough.
Apple released the fix in Beats Firmware Update 1B211, delivered automatically to users’ devices.
The security issue was discovered by researchers Dennis Heinze and Frieder Steinmetz from the company Insinuator.
The flaw comes from chips made by Airoha Systems, which issued a software update to fix the problem.
Other headphone brands like Jabra, Bose, and JBL have also issued similar patches.
The attack requires the hacker to stay near the user and within Bluetooth range.
Experts recommend turning off Bluetooth when not in use to reduce risk.
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AI data centers use a lot of electricity and water, which raises environmental concerns. However, their overall environmental impact is smaller compared to other big industries like beef production, coal power plants, cement manufacturing, and commercial aviation.
Key Facts
U.S. data centers used about 176 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2023, around 4.4% of the country's total electricity use.
Globally, data centers account for 1 to 2 percent of electricity usage, and this is expected to increase as AI grows.
AI data centers use energy, water for cooling, and create emissions during construction.
The environmental impact of data centers varies depending on whether they use renewable energy or fossil fuels.
Beef production creates large greenhouse gas emissions due to methane from cattle and resource use, exceeding emissions from air travel.
Coal-fired power plants are some of the largest sources of carbon dioxide, emitting more than many data center campuses.
Cement production contributes about 7 to 8 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, more than AI computing emissions.
Commercial aviation produces hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually, with long flights creating several tons per passenger.
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A discussion highlighted that technology is closely linked to political values. Differences between Europe and the United States in regulating technology reflect their distinct political beliefs, illustrated by the recent US export ban on advanced AI tools from the company Anthropic.
Key Facts
Technology has deep connections to politics, affecting how it is regulated.
Europe and the US have different approaches to tech regulation based on their values.
The US recently banned exports of the latest AI tools developed by Anthropic.
The discussion took place during a France24 debate segment.
Regulation of AI reflects broader political and ethical concerns in each region.
The US export ban shows how the country controls tech spread for political or security reasons.
The conversation was framed as part of understanding global tech governance and values.
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Noah Graves is not a real musician but an AI-created Christian rock artist developed by The Christian Wave project. The AI-generated music and videos have attracted many listeners online, raising questions about how people can tell the difference between real and artificial artists.
Key Facts
Noah Graves is an AI-generated artist made by The Christian Wave project.
The music combines Christian themes with rock and metalcore styles.
The song “Lost and Seeking” was released on May 29 and has over 88,000 views.
Many listeners first thought Noah Graves was a real person due to the high-quality music and videos.
The AI-generated music has been widely shared on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.
Some fans appreciate the music’s emotional themes regardless of its AI origin.
Others feel confused or think it is misleading that the AI persona was not clearly labeled as artificial.
The story reflects a growing trend where AI blurs the line between real and synthetic music artists.
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Waymo is recalling nearly 3,900 self-driving robotaxis because their software failed to recognize construction zones and ramp closures on freeways in Arizona and California. This problem caused some vehicles to drive at speed into these dangerous zones, leading to safety concerns and a temporary driving restriction while the issue is investigated.
Key Facts
The recall affects Waymo's 5th Generation Automated Driving System used in Jaguar robotaxis.
The issue involves the software not properly detecting freeway construction zones and ramp closures.
Incidents happened in Phoenix, Arizona, and the San Francisco Bay Area in April and May.
Waymo paused freeway driving for its robotaxis to investigate the problem.
In one case, a passenger reported fear for their safety when the car sped through a construction zone and police followed.
Waymo offered three free rides worth up to $40 each to the passenger involved.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) posted the recall notice and warned about collision risks.
Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet, and it expanded freeway robotaxi service in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles last year.
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At the 10th VivaTech festival in 2026, IBM showcased its latest quantum computing system and discussed how this technology can solve problems that regular computers cannot handle. Experts from IBM talked about the practical uses of quantum computing, challenges from global politics, and future goals for the technology.
Key Facts
VivaTech 2026 is the 10th annual festival focused on technology innovation.
IBM presented its Quantum System Two chandelier, a new quantum computing technology.
Quantum computers can handle complex problems beyond the reach of classical computers.
Industries like healthcare and finance could benefit from quantum computing advances.
Jerry Chow, IBM’s Chief Technology Officer for Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, discussed real-life benefits and geopolitical challenges.
Geopolitical pressure affects the development and sharing of quantum technology.
The festival highlighted the next important steps needed to bring quantum computing into widespread commercial use.
Quantum computing is moving from an experimental stage to practical commercial applications.
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Wargaming has released "World of Tanks: HEAT," a new game focused on fast, close-up tank battles with unique characters called Agents. Unlike the original "World of Tanks," this standalone game offers more action and cross-platform play, while still keeping a mix of realistic and fictional elements.
Key Facts
"World of Tanks" is a popular online tank battle game launched in 2010.
"World of Tanks: HEAT" is a new, separate game, not just a new mode.
HEAT uses a new game engine that supports playing across PCs and all major consoles.
The gameplay is more action-packed and focused on quick, direct confrontations.
Players can choose special characters called Agents and customize tanks.
The game aims to balance about 70% realism with 30% fictional design.
HEAT emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and using each Agent’s and tank’s strengths.
The original "World of Tanks" will continue to get updates and support.
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A Pew survey found that 40% of Americans believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a negative effect in the future. The survey reflects mixed feelings about how AI might change society.
Key Facts
40% of Americans expect AI to have a bad impact.
The survey was conducted by Pew Research Center.
The results show people are concerned about AI’s future role.
Some experts, like MIT Sloan professor Eric So, discuss the survey findings.
The survey was reported on by CBS News.
Opinions about AI’s effects vary among the public.
The survey highlights uncertainty about AI technology.
The focus is on Americans' views about AI’s impact going forward.
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Rockstar Games announced the pre-order date and showed the official cover art for Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6). The game will be available from November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, after being delayed twice.
Key Facts
GTA 6 pre-orders start on June 25 in digital stores and select retailers.
The game will launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
GTA 6 was delayed twice, originally planned for autumn 2025 and then May.
The cover art shows the main characters, Jason and Lucia, with other figures, set in a fictional state inspired by Florida.
The design includes elements like flamingos, alligators, fast cars, helicopters, and motorbikes in a colorful pop-art style.
GTA 5, the previous game, came out in 2013 and is the second best-selling game ever.
Earlier trailers for GTA 6 have gained 446 million views combined.
Fans are still waiting for a new gameplay trailer after previous story-focused reveals.
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The article discusses concerns about the reliability of data from the FDA on the drug mifepristone. It emphasizes the need for the FDA to use strong and trustworthy data from real-world sources when reviewing the drug.
Key Facts
The article focuses on the FDA’s data about mifepristone, a medication.
There are doubts about how trustworthy the current data is.
The FDA will publish a review of this data soon.
The review will be closely examined and questioned.
To be credible, the FDA should use solid data from real-life situations, not just limited or controlled studies.
Real-world data means information gathered from everyday use outside of clinical trials.
Strong data is important to ensure safety and accuracy in medical decisions.
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Congress is looking into using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve how it works and make its processes more efficient. This effort is supported by the Bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress and the POPVOX Foundation.
Key Facts
Congress wants to use AI to modernize its operations.
The goal is to increase efficiency in congressional work.
The Bipartisan Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is involved.
The POPVOX Foundation is also helping with this project.
AI could assist in managing tasks and information for lawmakers.
This is part of a broader effort to update how Congress functions.
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A new clinical trial is testing a gene therapy that may make human cells younger by partially reprogramming them. This trial focuses on treating eye diseases like glaucoma and will first check if the therapy is safe for humans.
Key Facts
The trial is the first in humans to test if cells can be made younger through "cellular reprogramming."
The therapy targets three genes to restore nerve function between the eye and the brain.
Life Biosciences, co-founded by Harvard professor David Sinclair, is sponsoring the trial.
The current trial only tests safety, not if the therapy can slow aging or cure glaucoma.
Success could prove the concept of cellular reprogramming as a way to treat aging.
Longevity biotech companies have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in investments.
Some major investors include tech billionaires like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Longevity research aims to treat aging as a biological process that might be changed by medicine.
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Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple will have to raise the prices of its products because the demand for memory chips is very high due to growth in artificial intelligence (AI). He explained that costs for these chips have risen a lot, making it impossible for Apple to keep prices steady.
Key Facts
Apple needs to increase product prices due to high demand for memory chips from AI growth.
Tim Cook called the price rises “unavoidable” but said Apple has tried to protect customers from them.
Memory chip prices, especially for DRAM used in AI servers, have increased sharply—around 50% every quarter since late 2025.
Apple might raise the price of the upcoming iPhone Pro model by about $270 to keep profits stable.
AI data centers expanding rapidly have caused strong competition for key electronic parts, pushing prices up.
Tim Cook described the price increase as a “hundred-year flood,” a huge and rare event.
The US has restrictions on working with Chinese memory companies, which affects supply chains.
Cook suggested all options should be considered to improve the supply of important components.
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