Digest of 7 US-centric stories: IL AI Safety Bill, privacy screen review, bee colony discovery, Ebola research funding cut, Google engineer's fraud arrest, AI book controversy, and Oura's AI health ring.
AI startups and established companies are cutting costs by switching from expensive models like Anthropic's Claude to cheaper, open-weight alternatives, saving millions. This shift comes as OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for potential IPOs, facing pressure from customers demanding clearer ROI and competition from tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.
Tech hardware prices, including Steam Machines, Surface devices, MacBooks, and Xbox consoles, are significantly increasing due to severe component shortages driven by the AI data center boom, making expensive products the new reality for consumers.
The UK government will halve tariff-free steel imports to 3.2m tonnes from July 1, introducing new safeguards to combat global oversupply of cheap Chinese metal and support its domestic industry. Tariffs on imports above quotas will double to 50%. The EU is implementing similar measures.
Bitcoin's price dropped below $60,000, driven by spot selling, ETF outflows, and macroeconomic pressures, with on-chain data indicating a demand failure and potential structural bear market territory.
A temporary VAT cut from 20% to 5% on attractions and kids' meals is introduced in the UK for the summer holidays, aiming to help families with the cost of living. While Chancellor Rachel Reeves highlights its benefits, critics and families express skepticism, calling the savings negligible and suggesting other measures would be more effective.
Traders are betting on a downturn in the semiconductor sector, with options volume in the inverse ETF SOXS surging. Calls are outpacing puts, suggesting speculation on chip stock declines.
Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $35 during Prime Days, down from $60. The second-generation device offers double the storage, Wi-Fi 6E support, and seamless integration with Alexa smart home systems.
Illinois passes the strongest AI safety bill in the US, mandating third-party safety audits for AI companies like OpenAI and Google, with Governor Pritzker set to sign.
Author Cory Doctorow discusses his new book, The Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Life After AI, critiquing the AI industry's hype, economic bubble, and the creation of 'reverse centaurs' where humans serve machines, rather than the other way around.
Falling housing prices in Denver offer relief to renters like Karl Baumgartner, who secured a larger apartment. While beneficial for renters, the economic implications are complex, differing from distress-driven declines seen in cities like Detroit.
Valve advocates for open PC ecosystems, criticizing companies that subsidize hardware or buy exclusive content to create closed systems. They believe openness drives innovation and allows consumers to choose devices based on personal preferences like price and performance.
Wyze introduces a $79.98 BodyScan smart scale, $40 cheaper than its previous model. It lacks Wi-Fi but syncs via Bluetooth to Apple Health and Google Fit, and features a simpler LED display. The scale still offers detailed body composition analysis with eight electrodes and a retractable handle.
The Florida Panthers, after bolstering their offense, are reportedly looking to address their goaltending situation by acquiring Samuel Ersson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. With Sergei Bobrovsky's future uncertain and Daniil Tarasov a UFA, Ersson presents a cost-effective option.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella warns AI leaders (implied: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google) against monopolizing AI value while warning of job losses and safety risks, advocating for a more inclusive AI development model.
EasyJet has rejected a £4.74bn takeover offer from US investment firm Castlelake, accusing it of trying to buy the airline "on the cheap." Castlelake claims its latest bid offers compelling value and proposes an EU ownership structure to comply with regulations, partnering with EU nationals Peter Bellew and Mark Breen.
EasyJet has rejected a £4.74bn takeover offer from US investment firm Castlelake, calling it "opportunistic" and an attempt to buy the airline "on the cheap." Castlelake aims to partner with EU nationals to comply with ownership regulations.
Morgan Stanley has updated its filings for its Ether and Solana ETFs, proposing fees of 0.14%, aiming to be the lowest in the US market. This move follows their competitive fee strategy for their Bitcoin ETF.
根據Numbeo數據，台灣普通牛奶零售價每公升3.09美元，位居全球第一。網紅Cheap批評此現象，認為是「自己人割自己人韭菜」，但律師林智群反駁，認為僅以單一商品論斷台灣，世界觀過於狹隘。
European carmakers are reintroducing small electric cars, moving away from large SUVs. Improved battery tech and lower manufacturing costs enable models like the Renault Twingo E-Tech, aiming to navigate narrow city streets and compete with Chinese manufacturers.
OpenRouter's new Fusion API uses multiple cheaper AI models combined to match the performance of expensive ones like Anthropic's Fable 5. It sends prompts to several models, uses a judge model to find consensus and contradictions, and a synthesizer to create a final answer, offering Fable-level intelligence at a lower cost.
India's Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri suggested petrol and diesel prices may decrease as cheaper crude oil arrives. He defended current prices, noting limited increases despite global volatility and government excise duty cuts, while OMCs face daily losses.
Texas, once a hub for data centers with generous incentives, is now requiring these facilities to fund the grid infrastructure they rely on, shifting costs from households to the industry. This move by Governor Greg Abbott could set a precedent for AI buildout regulation nationwide.
Tim Henman believes tennis is in a good state but could be improved, citing the sport's calendar and governance as areas for development. He also discusses Emma Raducanu's coaching situation and Jack Draper's injury struggles.
