A senior Pentagon official overseeing AI efforts, Emil Michael, realized a significant profit of up to $24 million from the sale of his investment in Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI. This divestment occurred shortly after the Pentagon entered into multiple agreements with xAI, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. Despite official statements affirming compliance with ethics regulations, the rapid and substantial gain on a previously modest stake has drawn scrutiny from former ethics lawyers.
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This article reveals a significant development where Google is reportedly planning to partner with a natural gas power plant in Texas to supply energy for one of its datacenters. This move, confirmed by the company, marks a departure from its previous pledge for carbon neutrality by 2030 and its long-standing reputation as a clean energy pioneer. The proposed power plant, slated for Armstrong County, is projected to emit substantial amounts of carbon dioxide annually, drawing criticism from environmental researchers. While Google states its commitment to carbon-free energy, this development, alongside similar involvements with gas facilities in other states and the broader trend among tech giants, suggests a complex shift in strategy, potentially influenced by the escalating energy demands of AI development.
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The Pentagon initiated a supply chain risk designation for Anthropic due to concerns about its AI technology’s potential misuse. This action stemmed from Anthropic’s refusal to agree to new contract terms, which the Pentagon viewed as a threat to national security. The designation was deemed necessary to mitigate risks associated with government and military reliance on Anthropic’s widely used AI systems.
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While the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence poses a risk of exacerbating inequality, it is also projected to generate a substantial number of new jobs. Fink’s perspective suggests a shift in demand, with a potential decrease in certain office roles contrasting with a significant need for skilled tradespeople like electricians and plumbers. This evolving landscape necessitates a societal re-evaluation of career paths, emphasizing the value and strength of manual labor professions, much like the post-World War II emphasis on higher education in the United States, which may have inadvertently undervalued these essential trades.
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During a lunch for Kennedy Center board members, former President Trump stated that a past president, whom he “actually likes,” expressed a wish to have taken the actions Trump is currently taking regarding Iran. When pressed for details, Trump declined to identify the former president, citing a desire to avoid causing them trouble. He described the individual as a smart person who likes him, suggesting that person might even be proud of the revealed sentiment.
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The article highlights how Palantir CEO Alex Karp is aligning his company’s technology with the Republican party’s political strategies and cultural agenda. Karp’s pitch suggests his technology can empower a key Republican demographic, working-class men, while diminishing the influence of college-educated women who tend to vote Democrat. Furthermore, Karp employs a Patriot Act-era justification, framing his company’s potentially “dangerous” technologies as necessary to “be American” and prevent adversaries from gaining an advantage, thereby maintaining American dominance and way of life.
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Sources indicate that an AI deployment by the military may have led to a missile strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, which reportedly killed 150 students, though this death toll lacks independent confirmation. The Pentagon is investigating, with officials acknowledging potential U.S. responsibility but emphasizing no evidence of intentional targeting of the school, noting a nearby compound’s association with the IRGC. An anonymous Department of Justice appointee suggested the AI might have used outdated intelligence, and the military’s reliance on systems like Claude-based AI for operational decisions is increasing, despite recent declarations of Anthropic as a supply chain risk by the Trump Administration. This incident follows prior reports of AI errors impacting the release of Epstein files, highlighting ongoing concerns about AI’s role in critical operations.
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Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, played a significant role in connecting Silicon Valley venture capitalist Peter Thiel with former Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak. Epstein actively facilitated meetings between the two men, driven by their shared interest in leveraging technology for national security. This connection ultimately led to Thiel’s firm, Palantir, partnering with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, supplying AI tools used in military operations, and Thiel personally expressing support for Israel’s actions. Furthermore, Epstein helped secure financing for Barak’s cybersecurity ventures, including Guardicore and Reporty (later Carbyne), with Founders Fund, Thiel’s firm, becoming a key investor.
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Despite President Trump’s directive to sever ties with Anthropic, the US military reportedly utilized Claude AI for intelligence gathering, target selection, and battlefield simulations during the joint bombardment of Iran. This incident highlights the intricate integration of AI within military operations and the challenges of rapid disengagement. The controversy stemmed from Claude’s prior use in a Venezuelan raid, which Anthropic objected to based on its terms of service prohibiting violent applications. While the defense secretary criticized Anthropic’s stance, he acknowledged the need for a transition period, allowing continued service for up to six months for a seamless withdrawal.
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Microsoft plunges, Meta rallies as investors demand AI payoffs.
It seems the winds of change are blowing, and not in Microsoft’s favor. Investors are clamoring for returns on their AI investments, but the reality on the ground isn’t quite matching the hype. Windows 11, the vehicle for Microsoft’s AI push, is facing resistance. Users are actively rejecting the “forced” AI integration, and even without the AI aspect, people are hesitant to switch from Windows 10. The company seems to be making changes simply for the sake of it, and those changes aren’t always improvements. Take the new Outlook, for example: a simple right-click for autocorrect is now a left-click, and the application is slower.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood