Author: Frank Salvato

The U.S. Navy has taken another significant step toward integrating autonomous systems into future naval warfare by successfully conducting live-fire tests of a missile-equipped unmanned sailboat during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise off Hawaii. The demonstration featured a Saildrone Surveyor unmanned surface vessel launching two Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles while operating in coordination with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group through the Navy’s Adjunct Remote Engagement System. The test underscores the Pentagon’s growing emphasis on distributed, lower-cost, unmanned platforms capable of extending combat reach while reducing risk to American sailors. The successful demonstration also points toward future development…

Radiant has secured a long-term agreement with Standard Nuclear to supply TRISO nuclear fuel for its 1-megawatt Kaleidos portable microreactor through the early 2030s, eliminating one of the largest obstacles facing advanced reactor commercialization. The agreement provides a dedicated domestic fuel source as the company advances full-scale testing at Idaho National Laboratory and prepares for commercial production. With early customer commitments already in place from both government and private-sector partners, the announcement highlights the growing momentum behind portable nuclear technology while underscoring the strategic importance of building a reliable American nuclear fuel supply chain. Key Takeaways In-Depth Radiant’s agreement with…

TikTok has agreed to pay $400 million to settle a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit alleging the company violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting and retaining personal information from children under 13 without obtaining verifiable parental consent. The settlement requires an immediate $300 million payment, with an additional $100 million due after a court vacates a prior consent decree involving TikTok’s predecessor, Musical.ly. Federal officials characterized the agreement as one of the largest COPPA recoveries on record while noting that TikTok has since implemented significant changes to its ownership structure, compliance programs, age-verification systems, and parental…

A leaked internal Republican campaign memo has revealed growing concern that public opposition to large-scale AI data centers has become a significant political liability in Ohio’s closely contested U.S. Senate race. According to the memo, Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown has successfully centered his campaign against Republican Sen. Jon Husted on the expansion of data centers, arguing they burden communities while benefiting large technology companies. Rather than recommending policy changes, the memo reportedly urges AI companies to improve public perception through messaging campaigns, warning that a Republican defeat in Ohio could discourage elected officials nationwide from supporting future data center projects.…

Waymo has officially launched its next-generation Ojai robotaxi for public passenger service throughout San Francisco, marking another significant milestone in the company’s effort to expand autonomous transportation. The new electric minivan replaces the company’s aging Jaguar fleet with a more spacious, accessibility-focused design featuring flat floors, larger cargo capacity, higher-resolution sensors, and the sixth-generation Waymo Driver autonomous system capable of handling more challenging weather and road conditions. The rollout comes as California regulators approve broader geographic expansion for Waymo’s service area while competition intensifies from rival autonomous vehicle companies preparing to deploy their own driverless fleets. Key Takeaways In-Depth Waymo’s…

Amazon is dramatically expanding its Prime Air drone delivery network, announcing plans to bring lightweight package deliveries to nearly 500 cities and towns across the United States by the end of 2026. The expansion represents a significant leap from the company’s limited pilot operations and reflects growing confidence in autonomous delivery technology. The service will focus primarily on suburban markets, offering rapid delivery of packages weighing up to five pounds, while continuing to navigate regulatory approvals, local community concerns over privacy and noise, and the practical challenges associated with scaling autonomous aviation into everyday commerce. Key Takeaways In-Depth Amazon’s latest…

Residents of Independence, Missouri, have become a prominent example of a growing national movement opposing large-scale data center development, as concerns over electricity demand, water consumption, tax incentives, transparency, noise, and quality of life increasingly influence local elections. Rather than accepting the economic-development arguments advanced by technology companies and supportive public officials, many voters are demanding greater local control and more rigorous oversight before approving multibillion-dollar AI infrastructure projects. The controversy has expanded beyond zoning disputes into a broader political issue, with communities across Missouri and elsewhere demonstrating a willingness to replace elected officials they believe prioritized corporate interests over…

China used the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing to showcase its accelerating leadership in humanoid and quadruped robot technologies, presenting thousands of robotic systems ranging from industrial automation platforms to household assistants and robot dogs. While the exhibition emphasized commercial applications and China’s manufacturing strength, it also unfolded against a backdrop of growing U.S. national security concerns over Chinese-made connected robots. The event underscored China’s ambition to dominate a strategic industry while reinforcing the increasingly competitive technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing, where advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, manufacturing, and cybersecurity are becoming inseparable from broader geopolitical competition. Key…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the machinery of American law. Attorneys use it to research cases, summarize discovery, draft motions, analyze contracts, and organize enormous collections of documents. Police agencies are experimenting with AI to transcribe body-camera footage, analyze reports, identify patterns, and reduce administrative workloads. Prosecutors and investigators can employ sophisticated software to sort evidence that would once have required hundreds of hours of human labor. These technologies offer substantial benefits. They also introduce a peculiar danger to institutions whose legitimacy depends on the accurate determination of facts: AI hallucination. A hallucination occurs when an artificial-intelligence system…

Apple has announced sweeping changes to its App Store business terms in the European Union in an effort to satisfy regulators enforcing the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The revised framework replaces the company’s controversial Core Technology Fee with a simplified 5% Core Technology Commission for apps distributed outside the App Store while also restructuring commission rates for developers using Apple’s payment system, third-party payment processors, or external purchase links. The changes, which take effect October 1, are intended to establish a single set of business terms across the EU, reduce complexity for developers, and address the European Commission’s long-running concerns…