How a Continuous Learning Cycle Will Redefine National Advantage

by  Artie Mabbett

America's long-term advantage in artificial intelligence will depend on how effectively government and industry connect digital innovation, physical testing and engineering expertise into a continuous learning cycle, writes Artie Mabbett of North Wind.

Summary

National advantage in the AI era comes not from algorithms or computing power alone, but from connecting AI and digital engineering with physical testing and human expertise, argues North Wind, whose engineering lineage traces through Calspan back to 1950s hypersonic test facilities. AI now lets engineers analyze results in hours instead of weeks and explore thousands of design variations before hardware is built.

Yet physical testing matters more than ever — digital twins and AI models reduce uncertainty, but their assumptions must still be validated against reality, particularly in hypersonic development. New independent test facilities are under construction to meet growing ground–test demand.

The author calls for a connected innovation ecosystem linking government, industry, and academia, arguing that continuous learning between digital engineering and physical testing will define America's next national advantage.

 Read full story at Washington Technology

How AI Could Make It Harder for Governments to Use Hacking Tools

by  Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai

AI's Bug-Hunting Boom Could Reignite the Encryption Backdoor Debate

Summary

Cryptography professor Matthew Green sparked debate with a viral thread arguing AI could make software so secure that law enforcement loses its ability to lawfully hack criminals, potentially reviving government pushes for encryption backdoors. Since the 2014 “going dark” era, authorities have relied on an uneasy truce — buying hacking tools instead of demanding backdoors — but Green warns AI's bug–finding speed could end that arrangement.

Experts are split. Some, like researcher Luna Tong, describe a temporary “gold rush of bugs” before scarcity sets in. Others, including Hamid Kashfi, argue complex, valuable bugs will persist since AI can assist researchers who choose not to report them.

Katie Moussouris believes devices remain far from bug–free, predicting backdoor pressure is unlikely before the next presidential election.

 Read full story at TechCrunch

U.S. Government Lab Reportedly Probing Chinese Lidar Security Risks on Behalf of Private Industry

by  Bruce Gil

The tests come as some American automakers are exploring the possibility of using the cheaper tech in their cars.

Summary

The Idaho National Laboratory is reportedly investigating potential cybersecurity risks associated with Chinese-made lidar sensors, funded by companies in the electric and autonomous vehicle industry.

While lidar technology is becoming more affordable and appealing to American automakers, concerns persist about data security and potential vulnerabilities. Lawmakers have proposed bills to ban Chinese-made lidar, citing fears of data collection and potential vehicle disabling.

 Read full story at Gizmodo

Anthropic Boots Users, Wipes Payment Info to Protect Against Malware Attack

by  Charlie Osborne

Claude users are being signed out of their accounts to stop a new malware campaign that is draining their AI usage.

Summary

Anthropic alerted Claude users to an infostealer campaign targeting AI platform credentials.

The malware, appearing on Windows and Mac PCs, steals login sessions to consume usage credits. Users should remove suspicious software, run a malware scan, and contact support if unauthorized charges occur.

 Read full story at ZDNet

Google Launches a Canva Alternative That Lets You Create Posters, Flyers, and Social Posts With AI

by  Manisha Priyadarshini

Pics integrates directly into Google Docs and Slides, with Drive integration coming in the following weeks.

Summary

Google Pics enters a competitive AI design space already occupied by Canva's Magic Edit, Magic Eraser, and Magic Switch, along with Adobe Express's Firefly–powered object insertion and translation tools. Pics' key differentiator is deep Workspace integration — users can tap a specific object in an image, describe the desired change, and leave everything else untouched.

The tool can edit or translate embedded text across 29 languages while preserving original fonts, generate multiple variations from one prompt, upscale images up to 4K, and crop for different platforms, with real–time team collaboration built in.

Pics works from its own site as well as directly inside Google Docs and Slides, with Drive integration coming soon. Access begins today for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers, AI Pro for Education users, and eligible Workspace business and enterprise plans.

 Read full story at Digital Trends

Meta's Plans to Replace Workers With AI Fell Flat, Report Says

by  Evan Schuman

The Reuters report is a cautionary tale in which Meta discovered that AI promises rarely become AI reality.

Summary

Meta reportedly backed off a plan to cut up to 60% of some teams and replace them with AI under “Project OT,” after internal data showed the initiative wasn't working, according to a Reuters investigation. Code changes rose 220% year–over–year, but features actually reaching users grew just 36%, while major technical and security incidents spiked 40% and firefighting time rose 70%.

Employee tracking software meant to train AI agents on human behavior sparked backlash, and morale–boosting gestures like better snacks failed to help. Analysts say the episode is a cautionary tale: Greyhound Research's Sanchit Vir Gogia noted Meta “booked a forecast as capacity” before AI performance existed in production.

Experts warn against mistaking AI–generated activity for genuine productivity or business value.

 Read full story at Computerworld

Private Gas Plants to Power Data Centers Would Skirt State's Renewable Energy Law

by  Jeniffer Solis

A major data center developer is looking to build two private gas power plants less than 30 miles from Reno as data center growth outpaces NV Energy's ability to supply electricity

Summary

Denver–based Fleet Data Centers is seeking Nevada regulatory approval to build two private gas power plants generating over 360 megawatts near Reno to power its Peru Ridge and South Valley data center campuses, as growth outpaces NV Energy's infrastructure. The plants would burn roughly three times the methane gas used by NV Energy's entire Northern Nevada residential and commercial base.

Advocacy groups argue the project would undercut Nevada's 2030 renewable portfolio standard and could raise statewide emissions nearly 12% if operating in 2025, while Fleet contends it is exempt as a self–generator rather than an energy provider. The Public Utility Commission of Nevada will decide September 8.

Experts warn similar “temporary” gas plants are being pushed across the West and often outlast their intended lifespan, straining pipeline capacity during peak demand.

 Read full story at Nevada Current

Transmission Expansion Could Spur Billions in Savings, Especially in PJM: Study

by  Ethan Howland

About a dozen inter- and intraregional projects in the Eastern Interconnection could help meet load growth, lower retail electric rates, bolster reliability and support U.S. security, the study found.

Summary

A new CERA Consulting study finds that targeted interregional transmission projects across the Eastern Interconnection could deliver substantial cost savings by letting lower–cost electricity flow to higher–cost regions, while reducing the need for new power plants and local transmission builds. The analysis identified 12 to 13 high–value projects across the Northeast, PJM, Southeast, MISO South, and SPP under base and high–demand scenarios.

In the unconstrained base demand case, the Eastern Interconnection footprint generates about $12.4 billion in net present value at a 1.77 benefit–to–cost ratio, with PJM capturing the largest share at $6.7 billion. Advanced technologies like dynamic line ratings could boost benefits further.

Dennis, a former DOE transmission official, called for permitting and transmission policy reforms to encourage high–value projects over smaller, less impactful ones.

 Read full story at UtilityDive

US Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Capacity Almost Doubled During First 18 Months of President Trump's Second Term

by  Andy Colthorpe

US battery storage industry broke deployment records in Q2 2026 in gigawatt-hour terms, underpinned by growth in the utility-scale segment

Summary

U.S. utility-scale battery energy storage capacity nearly doubled during the first 18 months of Trump’s second term, with a 104% jump in deployments in Q2 2026.

This growth was driven by increasing demand for energy storage, particularly in red states, and a focus on domestic manufacturing and grid security. Analysts now predict even higher demand for energy storage, with a revised forecast of 683GWh by 2030.

 Read full story at Energy Storage News