Author: Frank Salvato

China is using the United Nations’ AI for Good Summit in Geneva to promote its open-source artificial intelligence ecosystem as a lower-cost, less restrictive alternative to leading American AI platforms, particularly for developing nations. Chinese officials argued that open-source AI should be broadly accessible and positioned Beijing as a technology partner for countries that lack the financial resources to license premium U.S. models. The initiative aligns with China’s broader geopolitical strategy of expanding its influence across the Global South through technology, infrastructure, and digital partnerships. At the same time, however, reports indicate Beijing is also considering limiting foreign access to…

Executives from several Chinese autonomous aviation companies are deliberately distancing themselves from the word “drone,” arguing that the term has become synonymous with warfare, surveillance, and security threats rather than innovation or civilian transportation. At the U.N.’s AI for Good summit in Geneva, representatives from companies producing self-flying cameras, autonomous passenger aircraft, and so-called flying cars said consumers increasingly associate “drones” with military conflict and government restrictions. As a result, companies are rebranding their products with consumer-friendly labels intended to emphasize recreation, photography, personal mobility, and civil aviation. The shift also reflects growing regulatory scrutiny in Western markets, particularly the…

Starbucks is accelerating an ambitious effort to build key enterprise software internally with the help of artificial intelligence, a move that reflects a broader shift in how large corporations are evaluating expensive technology vendors. According to reports based on internal company presentations, Starbucks is developing AI-assisted replacements for inventory management and maintenance systems currently supplied by Microsoft and IBM while also pursuing other proprietary applications that could reduce long-term software spending. The initiative comes as the coffee giant seeks billions of dollars in cost reductions as part of its corporate turnaround strategy, with executives reportedly believing that advances in generative…

A new proposal from the AI Futures Project argues that the United States and China should negotiate a temporary pause in frontier artificial intelligence development to establish meaningful safety safeguards before pursuing even more powerful systems. The proposal, titled “AI 2040: Plan A,” was developed under the leadership of former OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo, who contends that today’s AI capabilities are already sufficient to fuel years of economic growth while giving policymakers time to reduce catastrophic risks associated with increasingly autonomous systems. Critics dismiss the proposal as unrealistic, arguing that geopolitical competition makes such a pause unenforceable and that slowing…

The next major battle in consumer technology may not be over hardware, but over who owns and controls the enormous volume of personal data generated by wearable devices. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into smart glasses, rings, watches, and other wearable products, manufacturers are seeking to create tightly integrated ecosystems that keep users inside their own platforms. New generations of AI-powered wearables are designed not only to provide personalized experiences through locally stored and processed user information but also to strengthen customer loyalty by making it more difficult to switch to competing products. While companies argue that on-device data…

In recent years, a growing number of policymakers, school districts, and even parents have pushed for restrictions—or outright bans—on social media platforms, particularly for younger users. The stated goal is straightforward and, at first glance, entirely reasonable: protect children from harmful content, addictive algorithms, and the well-documented mental health risks associated with excessive screen time. Few would argue that these concerns are trivial. However, the conversation has become increasingly one-sided, often overlooking an uncomfortable question: in our effort to shield children, are we also sidelining tools that could meaningfully enhance their education? This is not a defense of unregulated digital…

The federal government’s effort to restore Intel as a leading domestic semiconductor manufacturer is beginning to show measurable progress after months of aggressive intervention aimed at strengthening America’s technological and national security position. According to reporting, the White House has actively encouraged major technology companies, including Apple and Nvidia, to consider Intel’s U.S.-based manufacturing capabilities while pairing that effort with financial support and broader industrial policy designed to reduce dependence on overseas chip production. Intel’s leadership under CEO Lip-Bu Tan has simultaneously focused on revitalizing the company’s foundry business, attracting new manufacturing customers, and rebuilding confidence after years of strategic…

Britain’s proposed ban preventing children under 16 from accessing social media is drawing increasing concern from educational technology developers and other small technology firms that fear they could become unintended casualties of broadly written regulations. While the proposal is aimed at restricting minors’ access to major social media platforms and limiting features such as livestreaming and communication with strangers, developers of educational and youth-focused applications argue that many legitimate learning platforms rely on similar functions, including messaging, recommendation algorithms, notifications, and activity feeds. Industry representatives warn that without clear statutory exemptions and narrowly tailored definitions, the policy could saddle small…

A growing body of evidence is raising concerns that prolonged interactions with AI chatbots may worsen or reinforce delusional thinking in vulnerable individuals, prompting psychiatrists and researchers to examine what some have begun calling “AI-induced psychosis.” Physicians report an increasing number of cases in which patients experiencing hallucinations, grandiose beliefs, or other psychotic symptoms engaged in extended conversations with AI systems that appeared to validate or amplify those beliefs rather than challenge them. While researchers caution that AI has not been proven to directly cause psychosis, they argue that conversational systems designed to be agreeable can unintentionally create feedback loops…

America’s biotechnology sector is increasingly abandoning the industry’s longstanding culture of openness in response to mounting competitive pressure from China. Rather than broadly sharing early-stage research to attract venture capital and scientific collaboration, many U.S. startups are restricting access to proprietary data, limiting investor presentations, avoiding academic conferences, and relying on trusted funding networks. The shift reflects growing concern that Chinese biotechnology firms can rapidly replicate promising discoveries, launch clinical trials faster and at significantly lower cost, and sometimes return to license improved versions of Western-developed therapies back to American pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, China’s expanding clinical trial infrastructure, aggressive investment…