Anthropic, working with HHMI Janelia Research Campus, has begun a research preview of the Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a specification letting AI agents safely control physical lab and manufacturing devices like microscopes, liquid handlers and robotic arms. The standard is being shared with a first group of research labs and manufacturers before it becomes open source, and it works with any device with a programmable interface using protocols such as Model Context Protocol.
Google has released Gemini 3.5 Transcribe, a new speech-to-text model that converts raw audio into clean, formatted text while handling background noise, jargon, and disfluencies better than prior systems. It's available to developers via the Gemini API in Google AI Studio and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, split into a real-time streaming option and a pre-recorded audio processing option.
Google is rolling out a feature letting users personalize individual conversations in Google Messages with custom wallpapers and matching bubble colors. Users can pick from preset image categories like Animals or Space, upload their own photos, or select a simple color scheme, with a preview and reset option available. The customization requires RCS to be enabled and only appears on the user's own device, not for other chat participants.
OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, AMD and over 100 other companies and organizations signed a joint letter urging businesses and governments to urgently strengthen cybersecurity defenses as AI-driven threats accelerate. The signatories called for stronger security tools, wider adoption of both low-cost and frontier AI models, and government funding to help under-resourced sectors like hospitals and water utilities defend themselves.
Basement, a well-known New York City nightclub, announced on social media that anyone wearing or carrying smart glasses, such as Meta's, will be asked to leave and could face a lifetime ban. The club says the devices' ability to secretly record conflicts with its existing no-photo, no-video policy meant to protect patrons' privacy on the dance floor.
Whoop introduced a new accessory called the Meridian band, a titanium Milanese mesh strap designed to disguise its fitness sensors as jewelry. The band adds to the cost of an already premium wearable, appealing to users who want a more discreet, stylish way to keep the tracker on at all times.
Anthropic introduced the Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a new interface allowing AI agents to interact with any device that has a programmable interface, from lab instruments to manufacturing equipment. The company likened it to USB-C, standardizing communication between AI systems and hardware, and said it's model-agnostic so it isn't limited to Anthropic's own Claude models. MHS is currently in a research preview with select science, robotics and manufacturing partners, with plans to eventually open-source it.
Kodak engineer Steven Sasson built the first digital camera in 1975, a bulky device that shot low-resolution black-and-white images and took over 20 seconds per photo. Despite pioneering the technology, Kodak ultimately collapsed because it clung to the film-based business model that had made it successful, rather than embracing its own invention.
A retired detective shared three practical tips for employees who suspect a colleague is being dishonest with them at work. The advice focuses on how to approach the situation calmly and effectively rather than escalating conflict immediately.
Interest in true IMAX screenings has surged with Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, but not all theaters bearing the IMAX logo offer the same experience. Some venues feature massive 1.43:1 screens using 70mm film or dual-laser projection, while others are simply converted multiplex auditoriums with smaller, wider screens. This disparity has fueled the derisive nickname 'LieMAX' among moviegoers since 2009.
The ATF confirmed a cyberattack on a standalone system separate from its main network, formally classifying it as a 'major incident' that requires notifying Congress within a week. An ATF spokesperson said the affected system held sensitive data, including targets of ATF investigations. The Qilin ransomware gang has claimed responsibility on its leak site, though it has not published proof such as stolen data samples.
A team built a fuzzer with heavy AI code-generation assistance ('vibecoding') and used it to discover a division-by-zero vulnerability in FFmpeg, the widely used open-source multimedia framework. The bug was found through automated input generation and crash analysis rather than manual code review.