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Tech News
A tech commentator argues that corporate AI adoption remains stuck because the technology still exposes its rough edges to users, unlike the iPhone, which succeeded by unifying existing technologies into one polished experience. The piece draws a parallel between Steve Jobs' 2007 iPhone unveiling and the current state of enterprise AI, suggesting the sector awaits a similar moment of integration and simplicity.
Following an August incident where a burst water line at an Athlon BT-operated Bitcoin-mining facility in El Reno, Oklahoma spilled nearly four million gallons of water, a subsequent fire marshal inspection uncovered a string of serious safety violations. Investigators found flammable liquids stored near combustible materials, poorly maintained fire extinguishers, damaged electrical wiring, an empty emergency lockbox, and code-violating vegetation, prompting the city to issue the facility a failing safety grade.
Governor Maura Healey signed an executive order requiring data centers with peak demand above 25 megawatts to supply their own clean power meeting state renewable energy standards, or fund new generation or pay into a ratepayer protection fund. The order also discourages communities from signing non-disclosure agreements with developers and pauses a recently enacted data center sales tax exemption while regulators implement the new rules.
Apple's upcoming iPhone Duo, arriving in October, includes a fourth camera hidden beneath the inner display alongside its front-facing and dual rear cameras. Unlike those, the under-screen camera lacks a listed megapixel count and skips features like 4K video, cinematic mode, slow-mo, LED flash and portrait mode, offering only 1080p recording, FaceTime support, Center Stage and an f/1.8 aperture.
Cisco has verified that attackers are actively exploiting CVE-2026-20079, a maximum-severity (CVSS 10.0) flaw in its Secure Firewall Management Center software that lets unauthenticated remote attackers bypass login and run commands as root. The company first disclosed the bug in March without evidence of exploitation, but updated its advisory this week to acknowledge PSIRT detected active attacks in August, though it hasn't shared attacker identity or attack timeline details. CISA has since added the flaw to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, giving federal agencies until September 12 to patch.
At the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, CoreWeave CEO Mike Intrator told CNBC that AI and data center companies have not adequately communicated the advantages of their technology to the public. He argued that community opposition stems less from data centers themselves and more from broader anxiety about the rapid pace of technological change and its uncertain effects on people's lives and children's futures.
Several U.S. states that previously granted multi-decade tax exemptions to lure data center investments from Amazon, Meta and Google are now reconsidering or rolling back those deals. The reversal follows growing public backlash over the facilities' strain on local resources and limited job creation relative to the tax revenue forgone.
Analog Devices has agreed to acquire Alif Semiconductor in an all-cash deal valued at $1.35 billion. The acquisition is aimed at broadening ADI's reach into fast-growing markets, including data-center infrastructure and defense applications.
Verdant, an economic think tank pushing for stricter data center regulation, says techUK's widely cited job creation figures are inflated. It estimates existing UK data centers support about 4,400 direct jobs versus techUK's 24,300, and projects only 10,400 permanent jobs by 2035 for planned sites versus techUK's forecast of 40,200.
Google announced plans to invest $15 billion in AI infrastructure in Finland, expanding its data center footprint in the country. The move adds to a wave of similar large-scale investments by U.S. tech companies aiming to grow AI computing capacity outside the United States.
Reuters reports that Big Tech firms including Amazon, Google, and OpenAI are exploring Argentina's Patagonia region for large-scale data centers, drawn by its cold climate and abundant hydroelectric, wind, and shale gas energy. The region still lacks sufficient fiber infrastructure, and its political future is uncertain ahead of next year's presidential election.
US energy storage set another quarterly record, powered largely by seven new gigascale battery installations exceeding one gigawatt-hour each, according to a report from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence and the Solar Energy Industries Association. Behind-the-meter batteries also grew, with data centers accounting for roughly three-quarters of new commercial installations, even as residential battery installations are projected to fall 16% in 2026 after a supporting tax credit expired in 2025.