Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or
get DTNS shows ad-free.
A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of this would be possible.
If you enjoy what you see you can support the show on Patreon, Thank you!
Send us email to feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com
Show Notes
Alphabet Plans to Raise $80 Billion for AI Buildout
Google parent company Alphabet plans to raise $80 billion through a stock sale, including $10 billion to Berkshire Hathaway, to fund a massive AI infrastructure buildout and global compute. This investment is intended to meet the strong demand for its AI solutions and services, which is currently exceeding available supply, while retaining a healthy balance sheet. This capital expenditure is part of a larger plan, as CEO Sundar Pichai announced at Google I/O that Google expects to spend between $180 billion and $190 billion on capex this year, contributing to the up to $700 billion expected to be spent by tech giants on AI capital expenditures this year.
Source: TechCrunch
Anthropic Expands Mythos Access to 150 More Partners
Anthropic is significantly expanding access to its powerful Mythos AI model to an additional 150 partners across more than 15 countries, reaching new sectors like power, water, and healthcare. The company stated this move is intended to make software more secure and help the industry adapt to how AI will change cybersecurity. This expansion follows the confidential filing of Anthropic’s IPO prospectus. The Mythos model, which has raised concerns over its potential for hackers to quickly expose software vulnerabilities, has already contributed to Project Glasswing partners, including Apple and Microsoft, revealing over 10,000 high or critical security flaws.
Source: CNBC
Meta AI Support Assistant Exploited for Instagram Account Takeovers
Meta’s new AI support assistant for account recovery was exploited by hackers to hijack Instagram accounts, bypassing two-factor authentication. Attackers used VPNs to spoof locations and convinced the chatbot to change account emails for password resets. While Meta has patched the vulnerability and is securing accounts, the breach potentially impacted high-profile users, including an account linked to the Obama White House.
Source: Engadget
Tencent Integrates WeChat Pay With PayPal
Tencent has integrated WeChat Pay with PayPal, allowing US users to pay mainland Chinese merchants by scanning QR codes via the PayPal app. This partnership connects PayPal’s 400 million users to China’s mobile-payment economy, addressing a major barrier for foreign tourists. While part of a broader strategy to boost tourism, analysts expect limited immediate financial gains for Tencent due to low US traveler volumes.
Source: The Next Web
BYD Offers Full-Damage Coverage for Self-Driving Accidents
Chinese EV maker BYD is demonstrating high confidence in its self-driving technology by offering full-damage coverage for accidents occurring while using its Urban Navigate on Autopilot feature. This guarantee, available to BYD owners in China for one year, covers vehicle repairs, third-party property damage, and personal injury costs with no payout cap. This bold move follows a similar previous offer for its Intelligent Parking feature and stands in contrast to the legal challenges faced by competitors like Tesla.
Source: Engadget
UK Adopts SpaceX Starshield for Military Operations
The United Kingdom has begun using SpaceX’s militarized Starshield satellite network for operational military traffic. This makes it one of the first non-U.S. countries to adopt the system. Meanwhile, the standard Starlink service is now relegated to non-operational uses like personnel communication, underscoring the company’s effort to separate the two services for security and military applications.
Source: Reuters
Amazon Sued Over Ring’s Facial Recognition Feature
Amazon is facing a class-action lawsuit filed by Virginia resident Charles Sigwalt over its Ring doorbells’ “Familiar Faces” feature, which uses AI to recognize and store images of individuals without their permission. The complaint highlights a core asymmetry of consent where the camera purchaser agrees to the surveillance while passersby, such as neighbors or delivery drivers, have their biometric data captured without any practical way to opt out. Sigwalt is seeking at least $5 million in damages, pointing to Amazon’s own awareness of legal risks as evidenced by the company’s decision to withhold the feature in Illinois and Texas, states with stringent biometric privacy laws.
Source: The Next Web
Instagram Limits Repeated Exposure to Potentially Harmful Content for Teens
Meta is implementing new policy changes on Instagram to restrict teens from encountering repeated exposure to content that, while not violating rules, could be harmful in large quantities, such as posts related to body image and mental health. This initiative aims to balance recommendations in Feeds, Explore, and Reels to prevent algorithmic “rabbit holes,” and Meta plans to extend these restrictive settings to Facebook and Messenger later this year.
Source: Engadget
Amazon Announces Earlier Prime Day Event
Amazon has announced that its annual Prime Day event will take place earlier than usual this year, running from June 23-26. Reflecting current economic conditions and record-low consumer sentiment, the focus has shifted from indulgent purchases to essential items like groceries and household goods. This strategic pivot follows last year’s event, which saw U.S. retailers record $24.1 billion in online spending, a significant 30.3% year-over-year increase.
Source: TechCrunch