U.S. Department of Defense Secures $200M AI Contracts with OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, xAI for National Security
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on July 14 it has awarded up to $200 million in AI contracts to OpenAI, Google parent company Alphabet, Anthropic, and xAI, aiming to accelerate the deployment of advanced AI capabilities across national security systems. The contracts, managed by the DoD’s Chief Digital and AI Office (CDAO), will fund the development of "agentic AI workflows" to address critical defense challenges, including cybersecurity, intelligence analysis, and operational decision-making .
1 minute read
Musk Debuts Grok 4 as 'PhD-Level' AI, Achieves 44.4% on Humanity's Last Exam, Perfect AIME Score
lon Musk's xAI unveiled Grok 4 on July 9, positioning it as the "world's strongest AI" with PhD-level reasoning capabilities and multimodal advancements. The fourth major iteration of xAI's foundational model introduces five new voice modes, cuts response latency by half, and integrates real-time image/video processing, enabling culturally sensitive content analysis for social media platforms like X
2 minute read
EU Unveils Final AI Code of Conduct to Guide Compliance with AI Act
The European Commission on July 10 released the final version of the General-Purpose AI Code of Conduct, a voluntary framework designed to help companies adhere to the EU’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) set to take effect on August 2. The guidelines apply to mainstream generative AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama, and Grok, outlining requirements for transparency, copyright compliance, and systemic risk management.
2 minute read
New Zealand Unveils First National AI Strategy to Boost Competitiveness
The New Zealand government on July 8 launched its first national AI strategy, outlining a roadmap to accelerate AI adoption, enhance productivity, and strengthen global competitiveness. The initiative comes as the country lags behind other advanced economies in AI readiness, with many businesses yet to plan AI adoption. Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Shane Reti stated the government will provide regulatory guidance to encourage responsible AI use, along with the Responsible AI Guide to help businesses use, develop and innovate AI in an ethical, transparent way that meets internati
1 minute read
Mixed Reality: Merging VR and AR to Reshape Tech Landscape
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies have sparked immense enthusiasm in the consumer electronics market, with tech giants rushing to enter the space. After acquiring Oculus VR in 2014, Facebook is set to launch its first VR headset this year, while Samsung, Sony, and HTC also plan to roll out their VR products. The influx of capital signals that VR is poised to become the next mainstream entertainment technology.
1 minute read
Hong Kong Unveils Ambitious Digital Asset Policy 2.0 to Lead Global Race
Hong Kong has launched its Digital Asset Policy Statement 2.0, marking a pivotal upgrade from its 2022 predecessor to solidify its position as a global leader in digital assets. The June 27 announcement emphasizes stablecoin regulation and asset tokenization as core priorities, aligning with the U.S. Senate’s recent passage of the Genius Act to regulate stablecoins, signaling intensified global competition in this burgeoning sector.
2 minute read
Anthropic Data Shows Minimal Demand for AI Emotional Support via Claude
Anthropic’s latest report reveals only 2.9% of users turn to its AI model Claude for emotional companionship, with conversations involving companionship or role-playing accounting for less than 0.5%. This contrasts sharply with perceptions of surging demand for AI companionship.
1 minute read
