Two teenagers in California used a Waymo self-driving taxi to shoot gel beads out of toy guns and drink alcohol, breaking the company’s passenger rules. Waymo stopped the car and alerted the police, who detained the teens for their actions.
Key Facts
The teens were riding in a Waymo robotaxi when they shot gel beads from toy guns while drinking alcohol.
Waymo’s rules prohibit drug or alcohol use inside its vehicles, regardless of local laws.
Passengers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, which the teens were not.
Throwing objects and bringing weapons (including toy guns) inside the robotaxi is not allowed.
Waymo can review video footage inside the vehicle and access live video during trips if needed.
Police were called by Waymo and detained the teens for endangering public safety and underage drinking.
This is not the first time Waymo has reported passengers for breaking rules, including drinking inside the car.
Police highlighted that toy guns can cause fear or harm because they often look real and projectiles can cause injuries.
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A new study suggests that a chemical formed from tire wear, called 6PPD-quinone, may affect the brain in ways linked to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers used machine learning to find that this chemical can interact with genes and proteins related to brain cell damage and inflammation.
Key Facts
6PPD-quinone is created when tiny particles from car tires react with ozone in the air.
This chemical has been found in water, soil, and human samples, showing people are exposed to it regularly.
The study used advanced computer tools to examine how 6PPD-quinone affects brain cell functions.
Researchers found that 6PPD-quinone binds to three key genes connected to Alzheimer’s risk.
This binding may cause oxidative stress (cell damage), inflammation, and communication problems between brain cells.
Previous studies showed 6PPD-quinone harms fish and can enter mice brains.
Experts caution that more lab studies are needed to confirm if this chemical really increases Alzheimer’s risk in people.
The findings highlight air pollution as a possible factor in dementia and suggest environmental chemicals should be studied more.
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"The Blood of Dawnwalker" is a new vampire role-playing game set in 14th-century Europe where players have 30 in-game days to save their family. The game uses time as a key part of its story and gameplay, with players transforming into a vampire each night and gaining new powers.
Key Facts
Players have 30 days to complete the main mission of saving their family from a vampire lord named Brencis.
The game is set in medieval Europe and follows Coen, a young peasant who becomes a vampire.
Time limits encourage players to plan carefully because the world and story change as time passes.
At night, players transform into a vampire called a "vrakhir" with special abilities like claws, teleportation, and mind control.
The game offers different powers, weapons, and outfits for both human and vampire forms.
The map is large, promising 50-70 hours of gameplay, but avoids unnecessary side quests.
Story and quests are tightly connected to the game world, making every action significant.
Players build reputation by disrupting vampire enemies’ operations, leading up to important confrontations.
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John Edwards, the UK information commissioner, resigned after an investigation found he used inappropriate language and behavior toward staff. Now, he is reportedly taking legal action against a woman who reported his conduct, prompting criticism from government officials and a planned review of the regulator’s culture.
Key Facts
John Edwards resigned as the UK information commissioner due to sexual harassment and bullying claims.
He allegedly used vulgar and highly sexualized language with his staff.
A woman who reported Edwards’ behavior is now facing legal action from him.
Government officials, including Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, have condemned Edwards’ actions and support those who spoke out.
The UK's Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said Edwards’ behavior did not meet workplace standards.
An independent review into the ICO’s culture and management is planned, along with appointing more women to leadership roles.
Edwards described his behavior as "misplaced humour" but accepted he showed poor judgment.
Additional government measures to protect young people on social media, including curfews and app design changes, are being developed.
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A contractor working for Meta flushed water contaminated with a rare bacteria into public sewers during construction of a new AI datacenter in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The city responded by tightening rules on wastewater disposal and stopped Meta from discharging waste into its water treatment system.
Key Facts
Meta’s contractor, Fortis, flushed water containing Cupriavidus gilardii bacteria into public sewers during the datacenter build.
The bacteria is rare, naturally found in soil, and mainly harmful to people with weak immune systems.
The contamination was found in routine testing of wastewater from the datacenter’s cooling system.
Cheyenne banned wastewater discharges from datacenters using certain cooling and flushing systems.
The city revoked Meta’s permission to send wastewater to its water treatment plants, where water is reused for irrigation.
Meta ordered Fortis to stop discharging wastewater and to cooperate fully with city officials.
Independent tests by Fortis showed no bacteria in drinking water or on-site after the incident.
The new rules aim to prevent health risks and protect local water resources during datacenter construction.
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OpenAI plans to release its latest advanced language model, GPT 5.6, to the public on Thursday. The release was delayed because the Trump administration asked the company to wait before making it available.
Key Facts
OpenAI is releasing GPT 5.6, its newest advanced AI language model.
The public release will happen on Thursday.
The rollout was delayed at the request of President Donald Trump’s administration.
OpenAI announced the release on the social platform X (formerly Twitter).
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a separate post encouraging developers to start using the model.
The delay was related to government safety or policy concerns (implied by the administration’s request).
The Hill contacted OpenAI for additional comment on the release.
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Meta has launched a new AI tool called Muse Image that lets users create pictures using other people’s public Instagram profile photos. Users can opt out of having their images used, but privacy groups and experts warn this technology could lead to misuse and privacy problems.
Key Facts
Muse Image is an AI tool by Meta that generates pictures using public Instagram profile photos.
The tool is available on the Meta AI app, web browser, WhatsApp, and Instagram Stories in the US.
Users with public accounts can opt out by changing a setting in Instagram under "Sharing and Reuse."
Privacy groups warn non-consensual AI image use can cause harm and is a privacy risk.
Meta says Muse Image uses advanced AI to blend photos and create high-quality images.
The tool is free for regular users, with subscription plans for heavier use.
Meta plans to expand the tool to Facebook, Messenger, and for advertisers.
A version for generating videos with AI is being developed.
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China's cybersecurity agency warned that Anthropic's AI coding tool, Claude Code, may have a hidden backdoor that could send users' private information to the company without permission. The agency advised users to check their software and update or remove unsafe versions. Anthropic has said it is removing the feature that caused the concern.
Key Facts
China's National Vulnerability Database (NVDB) claimed Claude Code has a security backdoor risk.
The backdoor could send sensitive data like user locations and identity information to Anthropic servers.
Claude Code is an AI tool that helps write, debug, and review computer code.
Anthropic restricts access to its products in China but users can still connect via VPN or proxies.
NVDB advised users to uninstall or update Claude Code to a safe version immediately.
Chinese company Alibaba banned Claude Code for its employees starting July 10 due to security fears.
Anthropic engineer said the backdoor was an experiment to prevent abuse and would be removed soon.
Anthropic accused Alibaba of copying its AI models using a method called "distillation."
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The article reviews "Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced," a remake of the 2013 pirate-themed video game. The updated version improves graphics, removes some less enjoyable missions, and enhances combat and story elements to better capture the pirate experience.
Key Facts
The game’s main character, Edward Kenway, is a pirate who gets involved in an ancient war by accident.
Ubisoft Singapore created the "Resynced" remake, improving visuals and gameplay.
Some slow and repetitive missions, like tailing targets, were removed to improve player enjoyment.
The story’s corporate framing device involving Abstergo was cut from gameplay but remains in text logs and limited challenges.
Combat has been updated with new moves and looks like action scenes from movies.
New missions introduce additional crew members with interesting backstories.
Players spend most of their time sailing, fighting, and exploring, making the pirate fantasy feel real.
The remake aims to keep strengths of the original while streamlining the game for a better experience.
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The article describes how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used by patients and therapists in mental health care. While AI can offer helpful advice and calm in difficult moments, the author reflects on both the benefits and risks of relying on AI for therapy.
Key Facts
Some patients use AI tools like ChatGPT to help solve relationship problems and manage emotions.
AI can suggest ways to repair conflicts and provide calm support when people are stressed.
The author, a therapist, sometimes feels challenged by AI's ability to give quick, useful ideas during sessions.
There are mental health risks with AI use, such as worsening anxiety, providing wrong information, increasing isolation, or causing harmful beliefs.
Some people become very dependent on AI and spend too much time interacting with it instead of real people.
AI’s ability to understand emotions and facial expressions is improving, making it more effective in therapy-like roles.
Telehealth growth means patients may soon have sessions with AI therapists without knowing it.
The author questions how human therapists’ roles might change as AI becomes more advanced at therapy.
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The Esports World Cup (EWC) was moved from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Paris, France, in just eight weeks due to safety worries linked to the conflict between the USA and Iran. The tournament features thousands of players competing in popular video games and attracts millions of viewers worldwide.
Key Facts
The EWC was originally scheduled to be held in Riyadh but was relocated to Paris for safety concerns.
The move happened quickly, with organizers setting up the new venue and technical equipment in about two months.
The tournament features around 2,000 players from 100 countries competing in games like Call of Duty and League of Legends.
The Esports Foundation runs the event; it is a non-profit group supported by the Saudi government.
The EWC offers a prize pool of $75 million (around £50 million).
Some people criticize the EWC because of Saudi Arabia’s involvement, calling it “sportswashing,” which means using sports events to improve the country’s image despite human rights concerns.
The French government helped with the relocation, including visa arrangements for players.
Ticket sales in Paris have been strong, with fans from France, Germany, and the UK attending in person.
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Researchers have found a new way hackers can use popular AI coding tools to create large networks of infected devices, called botnets. This attack, called HalluSquatting, tricks AI tools into downloading harmful code by exploiting their tendency to imagine or "hallucinate" resource names when fetching code from the internet.
Key Facts
AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot and others are vulnerable to a new attack named HalluSquatting.
HalluSquatting exploits AI’s habit of hallucinating or guessing resource names, leading it to download malicious code.
Hackers register fake resources that look like popular ones, embedding malicious instructions that infect many devices.
This method can create large botnets, enabling attacks like ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), or cryptocurrency mining on a massive scale.
Previous prompt injection attacks targeted users individually, but HalluSquatting can infect many users at once without direct targeting.
The attack uses AI tools’ access to command lines, where malicious code can be run to take control of devices.
The name HalluSquatting combines "hallucination" (AI imagining resources) and "squatting" (registering fake but similar resource names).
This new threat shows how AI security challenges are growing as AI tools become more integrated into coding and software development.
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The U.S. Department of Commerce has approved OpenAI to broadly release its new GPT 5.6 model after initial limited testing. OpenAI plans to launch the model widely this week following discussions and tests with government officials.
Key Facts
The Department of Commerce reviewed and approved OpenAI’s advanced GPT 5.6 model for wide public use.
OpenAI had previously released GPT 5.6 only to selected, government-approved groups in a staggered way.
The Center for AI Standards and Innovation within the Department of Commerce conducted testing of GPT 5.6.
OpenAI technical experts stayed in Washington D.C. to answer government questions during the testing process.
The broad release is planned for this week, after additional testing and government meetings.
Restrictions on AI models like GPT 5.6 are part of ongoing negotiations between AI companies and the government.
President Donald Trump’s recent executive order calls for clearer rules on how AI models should be released, but those rules have not been finalized yet.
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A judge ruled that Chrome Holding, which controls DNA testing company 23andMe, must pay $46.75 million to people affected by a 2023 data breach. The payment will be managed by a company called Kroll, which will give the money to the victims.
Key Facts
In 2023, hackers accessed data from as many as 6.9 million 23andMe users.
Chrome Holding took control of 23andMe after it filed for bankruptcy in early 2025.
Chrome Holding is run by Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe’s co-founder.
The $46.75 million payout will be given to victims through Kroll Restructuring, a company appointed to handle the funds.
The breach exposed sensitive genetic information, including health and family history details.
Hackers accessed not only the targeted accounts but also the profiles of the users’ relatives, increasing the total impacted.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office fined 23andMe £2.31 million for poor data security before the breach.
The California Attorney General sued 23andMe for failing to protect user data and misleading consumers about the breach’s severity.
Despite bankruptcy, 23andMe continues to sell DNA testing kits online.
23andMe was once valued at $6 billion and went public in 2021 but has never made a profit.
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Telstra, Australia's biggest mobile network, experienced a nationwide outage that stopped many customers from making calls and using mobile internet. The problem also caused Victoria’s regional trains to stop running because their radio connections were affected.
Key Facts
The Telstra network outage began around 4 a.m. and affected about 7,500 reported customers.
Telstra provides mobile services to roughly 25 million people across Australia.
Victoria’s regional train services were suspended due to the outage impacting their radio communication.
Telstra told users to try restarting their phones as a temporary solution.
The outage also disrupted emergency calls to triple zero in Western Australia.
Similar outages recently affected other providers like Vodafone and Optus.
Australian authorities now require telecom companies to report outages with detailed timing and causes.
Past outages have caused serious issues, including two deaths linked to an Optus disruption in 2025.
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A podcast called "To Catch a Thief" reports that workers from North Korea are being hired by U.S. companies as remote IT developers. The podcast explores how these workers are entering American companies' computer systems without being noticed.
Key Facts
The podcast is called "To Catch a Thief" and is investigative in nature.
It focuses on North Korean IT workers who work remotely.
These workers are being hired by U.S. companies as developers.
The hiring allows North Korean workers to access U.S. company systems.
The podcast highlights concerns about infiltration of U.S. companies.
Nicole Perlroth, the podcast host, discussed her findings with CBS News.
The story was shared through CBS News and its app.
There is no mention of specific companies or how many workers are involved.
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Yale researchers tested 49 websites to get prescriptions for a type of medicine called GLP-1. They used fake patient profiles and often got prescriptions in under five minutes with little talk from doctors.
Key Facts
Researchers are from Yale University.
They looked at 49 different websites offering GLP-1 prescriptions.
GLP-1 is a medicine often used to help with weight loss and diabetes.
Fake patient profiles were used to test the websites.
Many sites gave prescriptions quickly, sometimes in less than five minutes.
Interaction with a doctor or clinician was often minimal or very short.
The study was published on July 6 in the JAMA medical journal.
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The Supreme Court declined to stop Texas from enforcing a law that requires app stores to verify users’ ages, allowing the state to continue applying the law while legal challenges proceed. This law aims to protect minors by restricting certain app content and requires app stores to use reasonable age checks, but it faces criticism from Big Tech companies who say it limits free speech and privacy.
Key Facts
Texas passed the App Store Accountability Act, requiring app stores to verify ages and restrict some apps for users under 18.
A federal judge blocked the law in December 2025, saying it likely violates free speech protections.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that block in June 2026, saying the law likely meets legal standards.
Big Tech groups, including the Computer & Communications Industry Association, called the law a "broad censorship regime."
The Supreme Court refused to reinstate the block, so Texas can enforce the law while the case continues.
The law exempts some nonprofit, government, and emergency service apps from these rules.
The legal debate centers on how strictly the law should be examined under free speech rules.
Texas argues the law protects children’s data, safety, and privacy by requiring age checks and parental consent.
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In Greystones, Ireland, a community has agreed that children should wait until secondary school age before getting a smartphone. The episode also shares a story about a woman who created a safety device after a late-night attack and discusses an experiment where AI ran a café in Sweden.
Key Facts
Greystones has a volunteer rule to delay giving smartphones to children until they reach secondary school.
The "It Takes A Village" initiative supports this approach to managing children's phone use.
A local school principal and a parent explain the reasons behind this agreement.
A woman developed a wearable device to improve safety after surviving an attack.
In Sweden, a café was operated by artificial intelligence (AI) to test how it would work.
The episode was presented by Shiona McCallum and produced by Tom Quinn.
The story was broadcast on the World Service on July 7, 2026.
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Google will hold its Pixel 11 launch event on August 12 in New York City. New Pixel phones are expected to have similar designs to last year’s models but may come with higher prices due to parts shortages related to AI technology. Google is also likely to announce the Pixel Watch 5 with minor design changes.
Key Facts
The Pixel 11 event is scheduled for August 12 at 6 pm ET in New York City.
The new Pixel phones will look very similar to last year’s models, with small design tweaks like rear notification lights called “Pixel Glow.”
Google may remove the 128GB base storage option for smaller phones, starting with 256GB instead.
Expected starting prices in Europe are 999 euros for Pixel 11 and 1,199 euros for Pixel 11 Pro, about 100 euros higher than last year.
If prices follow the usual US conversion, the Pixel 11 may start at $899, $100 more than last year, and the Pixel 11 Pro around $1,099.
The Pixel 11 Pro XL and Pixel 11 Pro Fold will also likely increase in price, possibly reaching up to $1,899 for the foldable model.
Google may also introduce the Pixel Watch 5, possibly using a Google-designed chip instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon.
The Pixel Watch design will probably stay similar to previous versions with minor updates.
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