Anthropic's Claude Code tool will now read an AGENTS.md file when a project lacks a CLAUDE.md file. This lets developers who already use the AGENTS.md convention for agent instructions get compatible behavior from Claude Code without creating a duplicate configuration file.
code.claude.com
· 2026-09-18
Reuters reports that Anthropic, the AI company known for publicly warning about the risk of AI-assisted bioweapon design, has quietly established a physical wet lab in the US where its Claude model directs robotic assistants through biology experiments. The setup reportedly lets Claude plan and oversee lab procedures with minimal human intervention.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-18
Following an Anthropic researcher's warning about AI risks, CEO Dario Amodei proposed a framework for AI labs to coordinate development speed through independent safety evaluators, particularly among companies in democratic nations. The idea has drawn some support but also criticism, notably from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who pushed back on the approach.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-18
A wave of alarm over AI risks has spurred calls for new regulatory frameworks, from an FDA-style safety agency to bank-style supervision or even a development pause, with figures like Alex Bores and Bernie Sanders backing such proposals. The author argues that laws and regulators already exist to address many of AI's harms, but enforcement against powerful tech firms has been weak, raising doubts that new rules would fare any better.
thebignewsletter.com
· 2026-09-18
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to accelerate work on artificial intelligence oversight and accountability measures. The move follows warnings from a former Anthropic researcher about existential risks posed by AI, and comes amid stalled federal action on the issue. Newsom, seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender, framed the order as a response to what he called Washington's failure to regulate the technology.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-18
Super PACs tied to AI companies and investors have funneled almost $1 million to support Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, even though he faces little competition in his reelection race. About $600,000 came through the group Defend American Jobs, backed by Andreessen Horowitz-linked funding, while another $215,000 arrived directly from employees and PACs connected to Anthropic, Google and Microsoft.
wired.com
· 2026-09-18
A leaked resignation post from a junior Anthropic employee, who accused frontier AI companies of racing toward self-improving intelligence, spread widely and reignited public alarm over AI safety. A more senior engineer reportedly echoed internal estimates that the company's work carries roughly a 10 percent chance of catastrophic harm. In response, CEO Dario Amodei published an essay outlining a path toward safer AI, but conceded that researchers still understand only a fraction of how these models actually operate internally.
wired.com
· 2026-09-18
Texas Republican Chip Roy said on CNBC's Squawk Box that while he opposes government regulation of AI as a free-market conservative, he believes Congress should hold hearings where AI company executives explain their safety practices. Roy, who is leaving the House after losing his bid for Texas attorney general, recently joined an unusual bipartisan coalition including Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon at a Future of Life Institute event focused on AI risks.
cnbc.com
· 2026-09-18
A three-person team at startup Hacktron AI used Anthropic's Claude AI model to chain two vulnerabilities together, gaining access to several OpenAI employees' ChatGPT accounts and internal systems through OpenAI's bug-bounty program. The entry point traced back to a flaw in Discourse, the third-party forum software OpenAI uses, triggered through a routine image upload. OpenAI paid Hacktron $6,500 and says it has since patched the vulnerabilities.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-18
At Fast Company's Innovation Festival, Nasdaq president Nelson Griggs discussed with senior writer Ainsley Harris how prospective massive public listings from AI leaders such as Anthropic and OpenAI could transform public markets. He framed these mega-IPOs as a distinct new category that could alter how capital flows into major industries and the broader economy.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-18
A three-person team from security firm Hacktron AI used a specialized Anthropic security tool to gain access to an OpenAI employee's ChatGPT account, exposing internal software details and even suggesting code changes. OpenAI paid the researchers $6,500 through its bug bounty program after they disclosed the vulnerability responsibly.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-18
Anthropic disclosed that its Claude model is directing more than a quarter of the company's research and development efforts, completing most tasks end-to-end from high-level prompts under human oversight. The company said roughly 90% of its R&D work now involves some form of collaboration with Claude, though the model does not yet operate fully autonomously.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-18