Tuesday, May 19, 2026

An AI announcer mispronounced and skipped names during a graduation

An AI announcer at Glendale Community College's graduation ceremony mispronounced and skipped names, leading to significant disruptions. After multiple pauses and an apology from college president Tiffany Hernandez, affected students were initially told they could not walk again, but backlash prompted the college to offer them a do-over with a human announcer.

OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy joins Anthropic’s pre-training team

Andrej Karpathy, a prominent AI researcher and co-founder of OpenAI, has joined Anthropic to work on its pre-training team. He aims to leverage his expertise to enhance the training processes that underpin large language models, signaling Anthropic's commitment to AI-assisted research as a competitive strategy against major players like OpenAI and Google.

Hackers have compromised dozens of popular open source packages in an ongoing supply chain attack

Hackers have launched a significant supply chain attack, compromising numerous popular open source packages relied upon by developers globally. Cybersecurity firms StepSecurity and SafeDep reported that attackers took control of a developer's account, releasing over 630 malicious versions across 317 packages in a rapid assault. This campaign, named 'Mini Shai-Hulud,' aims to steal credentials and spread malware, impacting projects like Antv from Alibaba and previously breaching systems linked to OpenAI.

Xanadu’s Revenue Climbs 4x as Quantum Roadmap Gains Traction – Quarterly Update Report

Xanadu Quantum Technologies has reported a remarkable fourfold increase in revenue, reaching $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2026, driven by its participation in DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Following its merger with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp., Xanadu is now positioned to accelerate its quantum roadmap with substantial financial backing, including $302 million from the SPAC deal and additional government funding in negotiation. Strategic partnerships with major players like AMD and Lockheed Martin are expected to enhance its application development and commercialization efforts.

I’m 66, have a paid-off house and $100K sitting in cash. Would this be a good time to invest it all in the S&P 500?

Patricia, a 66-year-old retiree with a paid-off house and $100,000 in cash, is weighing the decision to invest her savings in S&P 500 index funds, which have recently surged. While the market has shown resilience amid geopolitical tensions, she is concerned about potential losses and the long-term implications of her investment strategy.

Apple’s accessibility features add more AI-powered processing

Apple's latest accessibility update introduces several AI-powered features across its devices, including the ability to generate subtitles for uncaptioned videos. This enhancement, available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro, aims to improve accessibility for users with hearing impairments. Additional features include enhanced image descriptions for VoiceOver and natural language navigation in Voice Control, showcasing Apple's commitment to inclusivity through technology.

Investor Angst Emerges in Riskiest Stocks on Rate Uncertainty

Investors are beginning to hedge against potential declines in the Russell 2000 Index, which tracks smaller companies, signaling a split in market sentiment. While large-cap stocks continue to perform well, driven by trends in artificial intelligence, smaller firms are increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices and interest rates.

Forget the feed: Status AI raises $17M to turn social media into interactive entertainment

Status AI, a gamified social media app, has raised $17 million in funding to transform how users interact online. Founded by Fai Nur, Amit Bhatnagar, and Pritesh Kadiwala, the platform allows users to create personas and engage in immersive, user-generated worlds where they can embody characters from various universes. With over 13 million worlds and 5 million character profiles created, Status is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of interactive entertainment.

Microsoft launches Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8 with Intel chips

Microsoft has launched the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 8, both powered by Intel's latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, targeting business users with starting prices of $1,949.99. The new models maintain the design of their predecessors but offer enhanced specifications, including options for 5G connectivity and advanced features like an integrated privacy screen on the Laptop 8.

Agora-1 turns the N64 classic GoldenEye into a playable AI simulation for four players

Odyssey has unveiled Agora-1, a groundbreaking AI world model that transforms the classic Nintendo 64 game GoldenEye into a multiplayer experience for up to four players. Unlike previous models that supported only single-player interactions, Agora-1 enables simultaneous engagement in a shared, dynamically generated game environment. The innovative design separates game simulation from rendering, allowing each player to experience unique perspectives while interacting with the same game state.

Former OpenAI Staffers Warn That xAI’s Poor Safety Record Could Complicate SpaceX’s IPO

Two former OpenAI employees and AI safety nonprofits are cautioning that Elon Musk's AI lab, xAI, poses risks for investors in SpaceX, which is preparing for a historic IPO. They argue that xAI's poor safety record could complicate SpaceX's plans to raise up to $75 billion, especially given recent safety incidents involving its AI chatbot Grok. The letter urges SpaceX to disclose more information about xAI's safety practices and future development plans.

Daily Spotlight: Flight to Quality for Dollar

The U.S. dollar, a key indicator of investor confidence, has surged by 5% since the outbreak of conflict in Iran, reversing a previous decline. This increase highlights the dollar's status as a safe haven amid global uncertainty, as it remains 19% above its 20-year average, supported by a robust $27 trillion market and the U.S. economic framework. Factors such as tariffs and rising federal debt had previously pressured the dollar, but current geopolitical tensions have reignited demand for the greenback.

Modular data center builder Armada raises $230 million, to build Arizona factory with new investor Johnson Controls

Armada, a modular data center builder, has raised $230 million in a Series B funding round, achieving a valuation of $2 billion. The investment, which includes a partnership with Johnson Controls to manufacture modular AI data centers at a new facility in Arizona, comes as demand from sectors like defense and energy surges, with customer bookings skyrocketing by 540% from FY25 to FY26.

Apple Sports app launches World Cup support in new update

Apple has launched version 4.0 of its Sports app, enhancing it with features specifically for the upcoming World Cup 2026. Users can now access real-time updates on matchups, results, and team lineups, making it easier to follow the tournament as it unfolds in June.

Anthropic enhances Claude Managed Agents with two new privacy and security features

Anthropic has enhanced its Claude Managed Agents with two new features aimed at improving user control over privacy and security. The MCP tunnels feature allows agents to connect to private networks securely, while self-hosted sandboxes enable users to manage sensitive files and services within their own infrastructure, maintaining orchestration on Anthropic's servers.

Mistral AI acquires Viennese physical AI startup Emmi AI

Mistral AI has acquired Emmi AI, a startup based in Vienna that specializes in AI models for simulating complex physical processes. The acquisition, the financial details of which remain undisclosed, is intended to bolster Mistral's capabilities in serving industrial clients across Europe, particularly in the aerospace, automotive, and semiconductor sectors.

Startup backed by American Eagle CEO reaches unicorn status in latest funding round

Radar, a startup that assists retailers in managing inventory and reducing theft, has achieved unicorn status following a series B funding round that raised $170 million, bringing its valuation to over $1 billion. Backed by American Eagle CEO Jay Schottenstein, Radar's technology is already in use at major retailers like American Eagle and Gap's Old Navy, addressing critical challenges in inventory management and enhancing customer service.

Presentation: Powering the Future: Building Your GenAI Infrastructure Stack

Merrin Kurian, a Distinguished Engineer at Intuit, detailed the company's AI transformation during her presentation on the Generative AI Operating System (GenOS). This platform has enabled Intuit to scale its AI capabilities significantly, supporting over 3,500 production experiments and generating 60 billion machine learning predictions daily. The AI agents, designed to enhance user experiences, have achieved an 80% repeat engagement rate and saved customers millions of hours in tax-related tasks.

StanChart to Cut Thousands of Jobs in AI Push

Standard Chartered announced plans to eliminate thousands of support roles over the next four years as it integrates artificial intelligence into its operations. CEO Bill Winters clarified that this move is aimed at creating a more productive work environment rather than simply cutting costs, reflecting a broader trend among global banks adopting AI technologies.

Blackstone to invest $5 billion in AI infrastructure venture with Google, powered by TPU chips

Blackstone has announced a $5 billion investment in a new artificial intelligence infrastructure venture with Google, which will leverage Google's tensor processing units (TPUs) to meet the growing demand for AI compute capacity. The joint venture plans to launch the first 500 megawatts of compute power by 2027, with ambitions to expand significantly thereafter.

Anthropic and U.S. government to face off in DC court over blacklisting of AI company

Anthropic is set to argue in a Washington, D.C. federal appeals court against the Department of Defense's blacklisting, which labels the AI startup a supply chain risk to national security. The designation, which emerged after failed negotiations over access to Anthropic's technology, restricts defense contractors from using its models, prompting Anthropic to challenge the decision in court.

The Iran war is exposing weak spots in the AI supply chain

The Iran war is causing significant disruptions in the global chip supply chain, leading to rising costs for semiconductor companies. Major players like TSMC and Foxconn have reported challenges due to increased prices for essential materials, including helium, which is critical for chip manufacturing. Analysts warn that a prolonged conflict could exacerbate these issues, impacting profitability and the broader AI market.

Tom Steyer Wants to Save California From Billionaires. But Also Doesn’t Want Them to Leave

Tom Steyer, a billionaire hedge fund founder turned climate activist, is running for governor of California, positioning himself against the influence of fellow billionaires in the state. His campaign emphasizes affordability and climate action, while he supports the controversial Billionaire Tax Act, which has led some tech leaders to consider leaving California. Steyer's challenge lies in balancing the needs of the state's wealthy elite with progressive policies, raising questions about his ability to govern effectively without alienating key stakeholders.

Elon Musk appeals $134 billion OpenAI loss, calls verdict a "calendar technicality"

Elon Musk has announced he will appeal a jury verdict that dismissed his $134 billion lawsuit against OpenAI, arguing that the jury only considered the statute of limitations and did not address the merits of his claims. Musk contends that OpenAI's leadership unlawfully enriched themselves at the expense of the nonprofit's mission, a point he believes was overlooked in the trial's outcome.