According to CNN reporting, a US Special Operations Command Pacific analyst used a generative AI chatbot to draft an intelligence report on a Chinese vessel, and the tool fabricated claims that it was carrying nuclear weapons. That false information was formatted into a standard military intelligence document and acted upon, with planes airborne and troops preparing to board the ship before the error was caught and the operation aborted.
futurism.com
· 2026-09-18
A New York Times opinion editor defended the practice of publishing op-eds under politicians' names even when the pieces are ghostwritten or assisted by staff, arguing this has long been standard practice. The comment came amid broader discussion about how AI tools are now blurring the line between human and machine-assisted writing in opinion journalism.
wsj.com
· 2026-09-18
iOS 27 introduces a bill-splitting feature in Apple Wallet that uses the iPhone camera and Apple Intelligence to scan receipts and calculate what each person owes, including tax and tip. The tool works across Messages, Wallet, and Visual Intelligence, with a new Siri camera mode able to identify receipt items and trigger a split-payment option automatically.
9to5mac.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
Apple's iOS 27 update brings a major Apple Intelligence overhaul, including a much-improved Siri, but some newer iPhones now need up to 14GB of free storage for full AI functionality, compared to 8GB previously. This higher requirement applies specifically to iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, Air, Duo, and 18 Pro models, while other iPhones still only need 8GB.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-18
Despite widespread claims that artificial intelligence is destroying the value of computer science degrees, employers say demand for graduates remains strong. However, hiring managers now expect candidates to demonstrate practical skill working alongside AI tools rather than just traditional programming knowledge.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-18
Commentary on the AI industry notes that the widening gap between techno-optimists and doomsayers has left the public without a clear, trustworthy voice to follow. Both camps are accused of overstating their cases—one promising utopia, the other predicting catastrophe—while much of the underlying hype serves commercial interests rather than sober analysis.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-18
The FAA plans to launch SMART, a cloud-based AI system built by Air Space Intelligence, in the Washington, DC air corridor next week as the start of a phased nationwide rollout. The tool analyzes flight schedules, weather, and airport capacity to give airlines and controllers a shared view of traffic flow and potential conflicts, and was developed under an $875 million FAA grant.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-18
A Pew Research Center poll spanning 37 countries found that a median of 46% of respondents believe artificial intelligence will destroy more jobs than it generates. Only 9% of those surveyed expect AI to result in a net increase in employment.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-18
American AI governance discussions focus largely on existential risks and protecting humanity from potential harms of advanced systems. Chinese authorities, by contrast, prioritize AI rules that shield the Communist Party's authority and political stability, reflecting fundamentally different visions of what 'safe' AI should look like.
wsj.com
· 2026-09-18
The FAA plans to roll out SMART, a cloud-based AI platform built by Air Space Intelligence, to help air traffic controllers manage workflows and flight routing amid an ongoing staffing shortage. The system analyzes airline schedules, weather, airport capacity and airspace conditions to predict traffic flows and flag potential conflicts before they happen, at a cost of $875 million over 12 years, starting in the Washington, D.C. area before wider rollout.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-09-17
Apple's macOS 27 Golden Gate update skips a visual overhaul for Photos but packs in a new Tools pane with Apple Intelligence features, including an upgraded Clean Up tool, a generative Extend tool for expanding images, and a Spatial Reframing option that builds a 3D scene model to shift camera perspective. iCloud Shared Albums also gain full-resolution sharing across all photo and video formats and now let Android and Windows users contribute via iCloud.com.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-17
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