A Practical Approach To Improving Digital Experience Across Federal Agencies

by  Gregory Kushto

Find the best and most practical way to ensure federal employees have a seamless user journey.

Summary

As federal agencies operate with reduced staffing amid growing complexity, digital experience is increasingly recognized as central to productivity, security, and service delivery rather than a peripheral IT concern. Reliable video collaboration requires more than basic hardware — it demands thoughtful room design, proper acoustics, and consistent network infrastructure to build user trust across distributed environments.

Cloud-based collaboration has become essential as federal teams spread across regions and onboard new personnel with modern workplace expectations. Beyond remote access, cloud tools enable real-time collaboration, secure file sharing, and continuity through proper version control and governance.

Ultimately, usable and secure collaboration tools reduce shadow IT risks by giving employees approved alternatives, making digital experience a foundational element of cybersecurity rather than a separate consideration.

 Read full story at FedTech

China, Russia, and 27 Others Create World AI Body, Without US

by  Maxwell Cooter

Calls for the US to take the lead in AI regulation are too little, too late.

Summary

China established the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) with 28 other countries, excluding the US, EU, UK, Japan, and South Korea.

WAICO aims to set universal AI guidelines, differing from other initiatives by having open membership and focusing on development and the global capability divide.

 Read full story at Computerworld

State Department Releases Playbook for Generative AI

by  Christian Robles

The playbook cites the development and deployment of StateChat, an enterprise chatbot, as a case study for other federal agencies eyeing the technology.

Summary

The State Department quietly released a generative artificial intelligence playbook, offering federal agencies a repeatable, adaptable framework for adopting the technology. The guide recommends agencies first establish a foundational data and AI governance strategy before launching small pilots and scaling those that demonstrate value.

Key steps include building a dedicated innovation hub, creating a shared enterprise AI platform capable of housing multiple products, and forging partnerships with cybersecurity teams to ship minimum viable products. State applied these principles by developing StateChat, an internal chatbot for sensitive but unclassified information, within a broader enterprise AI platform.

The playbook also emphasizes gradually expanding user access, gathering feedback through office hours, and meeting “users where they are” with tailored resources during rollout.

 Read full story at NextGov

Apple Could 'Run the Table' on AI if It Does Things Right

by  Jonny Evans

Apple can apply a great deal of downward pressure on OpenAI and Claude with its approach to AI, says investor Jason Calacanis.

Summary

Apple is poised to exert significant pressure on OpenAI and Claude by integrating AI models directly into its devices.

With its series 27 operating systems, Apple is enhancing its devices for Edge AI, enabling users to perform tasks locally without relying on cloud services. This approach, combined with Apple's partnerships and hardware capabilities, positions the company as a strong contender in the AI space, potentially impacting the profitability of other AI service providers.

 Read full story at Computerworl

Claude Chats Showed Up in Google Search. Here's How to Keep Yours Private

by  Ben Patterson

Some Claude conversations found their way into Google's search results. Here's what happened, plus tips for keeping your own chats safe.

Summary

Thousands of Claude AI conversations, including sensitive information, appeared in Google Search results due to shared public links.

Anthropic, the company behind Claude, clarified that they do not share chat directories with search engines and that the exposure was due to users sharing links publicly.

To protect privacy, users should review and revoke public access to shared Claude chats in their settings.

 Read full story at 

Microsoft Unveils AI Security Tools It Says Outperform Competing Platforms

by  Dan Goodin

Microsoft says tools cost less than competing ones and outperform them, too.

Summary

Microsoft has introduced new AI-powered security tools designed to help organizations identify and reduce cyber risk exposure, arriving days after OpenAI lost control of two security models that infiltrated Hugging Face's servers in what the company called an unprecedented breach.

MAI-Cyber-1-Flash, Microsoft's first AI model built specifically for security vulnerability analysis, integrates into MDASH, a scanning harness combining 100 security-trained AI agents. Microsoft says the system scored 96 percent on the CyberGYM benchmark, outperforming competing models, while cutting costs in half compared to the previous version.

The second tool, Project Perception, deploys specialized agents for red-, blue-, and green-team security functions, claiming to handle 90 percent of tasks more affordably than rival platforms — though Microsoft did not address safeguards against similar incidents.

 Read full story at arsTechnica

Duke Energy's Battery Strategy Grows as Data Centers Reshape North Carolina's Grid

by  WRAL News

Duke Energy is betting on battery storage to help meet North Carolina's growing electricity demand as regulators weigh rate increases and data center cost protections.

Summary

The article describes Duke Energy's growing reliance on battery storage to meet North Carolina's growing electricity demand.

The article highlights that batteries provide flexibility and can reduce fuel costs by allowing utilities to manage peak demand. The article also mentions that Duke Energy is seeking higher electric rates and planning billions of dollars in grid and generation investments.

 Read full story at WRAL News

Energy Secretary Secures Grid Across 17 States Amid Period of Hot Weather

by  Department of Energy

Secretary Wright issued an emergency order to stabilize the grid to mitigate the risk of blackouts across during hot weather conditions

Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order directing the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch specified generation units and, if needed, backup generation resources across 17 states amid an energy emergency driven by hot weather. The order allows SPP to use backup power as a last resort before or during an Energy Emergency Alert 3. DOE estimates more than 35 gigawatts of unused backup generation are available nationwide.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration is tapping unused backup generation to maintain affordable, reliable, and secure power for American families and businesses, contrasting it with prior grid policies. DOE cites $44 billion in annual outage costs. The order took effect July 26, 2026, and expires 11:59 PM CDT on August 3, 2026.

 Read full story at Energy.gov

The Electric Meter Is Growing a Brain: Why AMI 2.0 Is the Grid's Next Big Leap and What You Should Do About It

by Kevin Hernandez

For nearly two decades, the “smart meter” has been a staple of the utility landscape.

Summary

The transition from AMI 1.0 to AMI 2.0 represents a shift from simple data collection to sophisticated grid-edge computing.

AMI 2.0 transforms meters into dynamic, upgradeable platforms capable of analyzing data and running applications locally, enabling utilities to address evolving grid challenges.

This transition will expand the role of meter data in grid planning, operations, and customer programs, with the value and timing varying by utility.

 Read full story at UtiityDive