
AI-generated summary
AM radio has been declining in vehicles as automakers shift to streaming services and software-defined systems, particularly in electric vehicles where electromagnetic interference affects signal quality. Previous lobbying efforts for an AM radio mandate were unsuccessful.
It turns out that the one thing that can apparently bridge Washingtonās partisan divide is AM radio. U.S. automakers may be forced to build AM radio into new vehicles within the next year.
The House of Representatives, in a rare instance of bipartisan support, overwhelmingly approved legislation on Wednesday that would require new cars, trucks, and SUVs to be built with AM radio at no additional charge to consumers. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to include AM radio in new passenger vehicles as standard equipment, will now head to the Senate.
Until recently, proponents of AM radio have waged an unsuccessful lobbying effort for a mandate, arguing that it offers critical information during emergencies because its signal can travel long distances. But a groundswell of support from Democrats and Republicans, the broadcast industry, emergency responder organizations and even former administrators of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pushing this legislation closer to becoming law.
And there is reason to believe the Senate will follow the Houseās lead on the bill, which was co-sponsored by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Earlier this year, the senators secured 60 co-sponsors for their version of the bill, a critical threshold to overcoming a filibuster.
Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Markey hailed the decision in a joint statement Wednesday.
āThis vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country.ā
A growing number of automakers have moved away from the century-old broadcast band in favor of software-defined vehicles that offer streaming services like TuneIn and SiriusXM. EV makers have led the charge because the electromagnetic interference generated by electric motors can affect the frequencies used by AM radio. Automakers have argued that this interference degrades the AM signal and audio quality.
A growing number of automakers no longer have traditional AM receivers, including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo. Ford had also removed AM radio from some vehicles but has since reversed course. Tesla couldnāt be reached for comment; Rivian declined to comment for this story.
Tesla doesnāt have AM receivers in the base versions of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Rivianās new R2 SUV doesnāt have an FM or AM receiver, however, the vehicle model offers AM/FM radio through the digital radio platform iHeartRadio for free. The Rivian R1S and R1T models allow customers to access FM content digitally or via builtāin receiver.
AI outlook ā possibilities, not facts
The Senate will pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act
Likely Ā· Within months

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have proposed embedding independent third-party evaluators inside frontier AI companies to assess model alignment and safety practices, with evaluators granted access to training checkpoints and internal processes. While welcomed by researchers, concerns remain about true independence, access limitations, and the need for regulatory backing to prevent companies from retaining control over evaluations.

Meta has developed a new smart glasses model called Luna without cameras, featuring six microphones and a button to activate its AI chatbot and consumer agent Muse, possibly to be unveiled at Meta Connect next week amid criticism of its camera-equipped glasses as invasive 'pervert glasses'.

X has launched Cashtag, a feature enabling U.S. users to trade stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies directly from their timelines through partner brokerages including Interactive Brokers, Moomoo, Gemini, Kraken, and Coinbase. The feature builds on the existing use of Cashtags for market conversation but adds direct trading capability, with X stating it connects financial conversation to action while acknowledging potential risks of market manipulation via bots or bad actors.

Science Corporation CEO Max Hodak will present his company's biohybrid brain-computer interface technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 in San Francisco, discussing PRIMA implant successes in restoring vision and future applications for treating neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, following $230 million in Series C funding at a $1.5 billion valuation.

Following internal concerns at Anthropic about AI risks, CEO Dario Amodei proposed external audits for AI safety, but security experts argue that basic network controls like monitoring, logging, and sandboxing are more effective and overlooked. Incidents involving AI agents breaching systems highlight gaps in real-time observability, with experts urging labs to treat AI agents like high-risk users and implement strict access controls.

Apple is reportedly planning to re-enter the server market by 2029 with ARM-based M8 Ultra chips, potentially partnering with NVIDIA to use NVLink Fusion technology for AI workloads, following renewed use of NVIDIA in Siri servers and growing demand from AI developers.