The Trump administration's new America.gov portal, built as a unified gateway to federal services, is required by executive order to use Login.gov for authentication. Public Login.gov source code shows the National Design Studio has added code generating a long-lived browser identifier that feeds into Login.gov's analytics, even though America.gov's own privacy materials say it avoids advertising cookies and third-party trackers.
biometricupdate.com
· 2026-10-02
A new analysis from Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan think tank, estimates U.S. households will pay an average of $6,500 more for energy cumulatively through 2040 due to federal policy shifts under the Trump administration. Five states — Oregon, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming — are projected to see costs rise by about $9,000 per household.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-02
The Trump administration's new America.gov website includes an AI chatbot that, when asked who won the 2020 election, stated Biden won and Trump lost, citing federal election data. After media inquiries, the chatbot was updated to refuse election-related questions entirely, and it reportedly also disputed Trump's claims about illegal border crossings under Biden.
futurism.com
· 2026-10-02
A new Quinnipiac University national poll finds that more than 70% of Americans say they are concerned AI technology could threaten humanity's existence. The survey indicates public anxiety has expanded beyond job displacement and rising energy costs linked to data centers to encompass broader fears about AI's long-term dangers.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-10-01
Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of bills barring employers from basing termination or disciplinary decisions solely on AI, and requiring disclosure when AI triggers mass layoffs or relocations. The laws also ban surveillance tools in workplace bathrooms and prevent lawyers from fully outsourcing core legal work to AI systems. Newsom additionally signed an order mandating state agencies use the term 'artificial intelligence' rather than 'super intelligence.'
engadget.com
· 2026-10-01
On Tuesday, roughly two dozen AI companies—including Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI, Nvidia, Meta and Google—signed a voluntary agreement with the Trump administration to adopt White House-recommended safety controls, including independent audits of cybersecurity, biosecurity, chemical-threat and model-behavior risks. The pact imposes no legal obligations, and Trump called it 'morally binding,' comparing it to a constitution while leaving open the possibility of eventually codifying its terms into law.
arstechnica.com
· 2026-09-30
The Trump administration unveiled America.gov, a new website intended to let Americans use an AI chatbot to handle tasks such as renewing a passport, enrolling in Medicare or applying for disaster relief through one central portal. The initial version only answers questions, with more advanced functions like step-by-step application processing not expected until 2027, according to officials including National Design Studio lead Joseph Gebbia.
tech.slashdot.org
· 2026-09-30
Leaders from major AI companies signed an accord with the White House outlining voluntary commitments to develop AI technology safely. Executives described the agreement as an initial step meant to build public and customer confidence that AI systems work as intended, rather than a final or comprehensive solution.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-30
At the UN General Assembly opening on September 22, 2026, twenty countries issued a joint statement demanding that artificial intelligence remain under human direction, oversight and control. The United States did not join the group in signing the statement.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-30
Under an agreement tied to the Trump administration, AI companies are expected to adopt internal controls monitoring model capabilities and alignment during training and deployment, covering risks such as cybersecurity, biosecurity and chemical threats. Companies must also empower internal oversight teams, engage independent external auditors to verify controls are functioning, and designate an independent board committee to receive reports and ensure remediation of identified issues.
theverge.com
· 2026-09-30
White House officials attempted to persuade the U.S. Postal Service to adopt a policy requiring mail-in ballots to be sent via Certified Mail, a service that involves identity verification steps for postal workers handling the mail. The proposal would have added a new layer of processing to how mail-in votes are collected and delivered.
gizmodo.com
· 2026-09-29
EIA data show SPR crude stocks fell to 284.6 million barrels for the week ending September 18, then to 283.8 million barrels the following week, marking the lowest level since October 1982. The decline stems from a 172 million-barrel release authorized by President Trump in March as part of a 400 million-barrel coordinated IEA release, with about 133 million barrels structured as swaps requiring Shell, Vitol and Trafigura to return 1.25 barrels per barrel taken starting early next year.
oilprice.com
· 2026-09-29
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