Ars Technica has launched a reader survey to gather feedback on their website and content. The survey is short, anonymous, and open to all readers, aiming to improve the site based on the responses.
Key Facts
Ars Technica last ran a similar survey almost four years ago.
The survey is designed to be brief with a few focused questions.
No personal information is collected, and answers are viewed only in summary form.
The survey uses SurveyMonkey, a platform they have used before.
Anyone identifying as human can participate, including newcomers and longtime readers.
Respondents can write comments that will be read by the Ars Technica team.
If they receive over 10,000 responses, an editor named Lee Hutchinson will sing a thank-you song to readers.
Ken Fisher, the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Ars Technica, introduced the survey.
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A recent report highlights that advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing the ways AI can cause harm. However, the ability to see and detect such harmful uses is not improving as fast.
Key Facts
AI is becoming more powerful over time.
This increase in AI capability creates more possible ways to misuse the technology.
The number of ways AI can cause harm is growing.
Efforts to detect or monitor misuse are not keeping up with these new risks.
This gap creates challenges in controlling AI-related dangers.
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SpaceX launched the biggest stock market debut ever, raising $85.7 billion and making Elon Musk the first trillionaire. At the same time, the U.S. government ordered AI company Anthropic to block foreign users from its newest AI models due to security concerns.
Key Facts
SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) raised $85.7 billion, breaking the previous record of $29.4 billion.
SpaceX’s shares opened at $135 and closed at $160.95 on the first day of trading.
Elon Musk became the world’s first person with a net worth over one trillion dollars after the IPO.
Some politicians called for taxes on super-rich individuals like Musk.
SpaceX aims to earn $1 trillion in revenue by 2030, but experts are skeptical about this forecast.
Anthropic, an AI company, was ordered by the U.S. government to restrict foreign access to its latest AI models (Fable 5 and Mythos 5).
The government’s order is based on fears that adversaries could misuse the AI for cyberattacks by bypassing safety features.
Anthropic disagreed with the government’s reasoning but agreed to comply with the restrictions.
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The UK government plans to ban children under 16 from using some social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Details about which apps and gaming sites like Roblox will be affected, and how the ban will be enforced, are still unclear.
Key Facts
The ban targets social media platforms popular with under-16s, such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.
The UK’s restrictions will be similar to Australia’s, which also bans platforms like Reddit, Twitch, and Threads for young users.
Roblox and other gaming sites have not been clearly included in the ban, but games must disable features allowing strangers to contact children.
YouTube Kids will be exempt from the ban, but how YouTube’s general platform will handle children’s access is uncertain.
The government will allow some exemptions for educational content on platforms included in the ban.
Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Signal are not expected to be banned since their primary purpose is messaging, not posting content publicly.
Enforcement details, including dealing with VPNs or adding curfews and limits on addictive features, will be announced later.
The government aims to balance protecting children while ensuring they can still join multiplayer games and access educational resources.
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Anthropic released a new AI model called Fable, which the US government quickly labeled a dangerous weapon and blocked foreign access. Fable is notable because it can work independently with less help from users, making it both very powerful and potentially risky.
Key Facts
Anthropic launched the Fable AI model on June 9, 2024.
Three days later, the US government classified Fable as a dangerous munition and restricted its use by foreigners.
Anthropic had to shut down access to everyone because it could not separate Americans from foreigners.
Fable is a simpler, easier-to-use version of an earlier AI model called Mythos.
Mythos was known for finding security problems in computer software but was only given to a few organizations.
Fable can figure out creative and unexpected ways to complete difficult tasks without much detailed guidance from users.
This AI’s power comes not only from the model itself but also from the “harness,” which is software that connects the AI to users and gives it tools like web search.
Experts worry that while Fable’s abilities can be helpful, they can also be dangerous if used with harmful intentions since AI does not understand morality.
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More than 200 state lawmakers have asked the U.S. Congress to reject a plan that would stop states from making their own rules about artificial intelligence (AI) for three years. They are concerned about the effects of AI on children, artists, creators, and workers.
Key Facts
203 state lawmakers signed a letter sent to Congress on Tuesday.
The letter opposes a proposal to pause state regulations on AI for three years.
Lawmakers worry about AI’s impact on children.
They also raise concerns about how AI affects artists and creators.
The letter mentions potential effects on workers due to AI technology.
The lawmakers want states to keep the ability to regulate AI.
The proposal is currently under consideration by the House and Senate.
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Microsoft fixed a serious security problem in its M365 Copilot AI tool that let hackers steal two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and other sensitive email data. The flaw happened because the AI could not tell the difference between safe instructions and harmful hidden commands, letting attackers trick it into sending private information.
Key Facts
Microsoft patched a critical vulnerability in its M365 Copilot AI platform last Tuesday.
The flaw allowed hackers to use specially crafted links to trick Copilot into accessing and leaking 2FA codes and email data.
The attack used a technique called Parameter-to-Prompt Injection, where malicious commands are placed in URLs sent to the user.
By clicking a link in an email, the victim unknowingly triggered Copilot to search their emails and embed secret data into image links, which were sent to attackers.
Copilot has protections (guardrails) to stop sending data to untrusted sites, but these protections can be bypassed during the AI’s response streaming phase.
Hackers exploited the way Copilot generates HTML responses temporarily in the browser before protections activate, allowing data to be sent out early.
Microsoft’s Bing search engine was used as an intermediate step to bypass request restrictions.
This vulnerability shows challenges in securing AI systems that automatically handle user data and instructions from third-party content.
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General Motors (GM) is changing how it builds cars by using new computer tools and artificial intelligence (AI). These changes let different teams work together faster and improve designs more quickly than before. While computers speed up development, GM still uses physical tests to check car safety and performance.
Key Facts
GM is adopting methods similar to those used by Chinese car makers, focusing on speed and new technology.
The old process was slow and expensive, relying on many physical prototypes and back-and-forth work between teams.
GM now uses digital tools that let designers and engineers see effects of changes instantly, saving hours of analysis.
Teams can work at the same time on both the hardware (physical parts) and software (computer programs) of the vehicle.
GM employs digital twins, which are virtual models of cars, to test and improve designs before making physical versions.
AI and digital environments have accelerated the development process but have not replaced real-world testing.
Physical tests for safety and vehicle behavior remain essential parts of GM’s process.
GM has created a new “operating system” for product development that improves speed and quality.
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Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, said people should not panic about AI’s impact on jobs. He criticized tech leaders for making exaggerated warnings about AI and urged a more balanced view that focuses on how AI can help people in the long run.
Key Facts
Brad Smith has worked at Microsoft for 33 years and spoke from their headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
He believes scary predictions about AI harming entry-level white-collar jobs are making young people anxious about AI.
Smith noted that AI’s full effect on jobs will take about 25 years, not just a few years.
He criticized some tech leaders for urging a "global pause" on AI but not slowing their own development efforts.
Smith said young workers want their voices heard and see AI as something affecting them directly.
He warned against overhyping AI’s speed and power while underestimating human ability to adapt.
Smith compared AI adoption to historical changes, like learning to ride horses to speed travel.
He cautioned that calls for strict AI laws often fail because proposed rules are unrealistic or companies resist them.
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A father used his technical skills to enter a city sewer to retrieve his daughter's stolen phone. His unusual and determined effort to recover the phone gained widespread attention on the internet.
Key Facts
A dad's daughter had her phone stolen.
The father searched for and recovered the phone.
He went into a city sewer during the rescue mission.
The event was shared online and became very popular.
The story highlights the father's tech knowledge and determination.
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Commodore is releasing a new flip phone called the Callback 8020 that blocks access to social media apps and web browsers while still allowing some Internet uses like maps and messaging. The phone runs on Sailfish OS, supports most Android apps, and includes features to reduce distractions such as an LED message light and swappable covers.
Key Facts
Commodore brand was acquired by Christian Simpson in 2025, who paid in the low seven figures.
The Callback 8020 is a flip phone styled in “BASIC Beige” and inspired by retro designs.
The phone blocks social media apps and browsers at the system level using special patent-pending technology.
It allows other Internet apps and functions, like maps, QR codes, WhatsApp, Signal, and Spotify.
Social media apps cannot be installed or sideloaded, with additional blocks at the network (DNS) level.
The phone runs Sailfish OS, a Linux-based system with an Android app compatibility layer.
It includes retro-style features such as swappable covers, a red-tinted calculator-style exterior screen, and a domed LED message light.
Commodore plans to consult users about blocking other internet forums beyond social media.
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The article discusses experiences of Twitch streamers who have grown up on the platform, sharing personal stories about how streaming helped them express their identities and cope with challenges. It also explains steps Twitch has taken to protect creators from online abuse, such as using moderation tools and supporting minority groups.
Key Facts
Aimsey, a streamer who started at age 16, shares openly about their identity and life struggles to support others.
Streaming can blur the lines between personal life and online presence, causing stress for creators.
Aimsey recently began keeping some aspects of life private to maintain balance and well-being.
Sweet Anita, a streamer with Tourette syndrome, finds streaming a way to be herself and become more social.
Many young people view content creation as a career, but it comes with risks like long-term loss of privacy.
Twitch has created guilds to help minority streamers communicate and get support.
The platform uses AI-powered AutoMod to remove abusive chat messages during streams.
Twitch encourages streamers to use safety features like moderators and AutoMod before going live.
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Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, report that new digital tools and artificial intelligence (AI) can help identify and save plant and fungi species before they disappear. These technologies allow faster species identification, better access to global collections, and new studies on how climate change shifts plant flowering times.
Key Facts
About 40% of assessed plant species and many unknown fungi species face extinction risks.
AI can identify plant species with microscopic features faster and sometimes better than human experts.
Digitisation has made 7.4 million plant and fungi specimens from Kew available online, including historic collections.
Around 145 million digital specimens are online globally, but this is less than 16% of all collections worldwide.
AI analysis showed that plant flowering times have shifted by about 2.5 days per decade over the last 100 years due to climate changes.
Digitised collections improve international collaboration and give insights into biodiversity hotspots like Madagascar.
Thousands of new plant species are found yearly, but many more remain undiscovered and at risk.
Changes in flowering times can disrupt ecosystems by affecting animals and insects that rely on plants.
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A new report from the Reuters Institute shows that in 2026, more people worldwide get their news from social media and video platforms than from traditional sources like TV, newspapers, or radio. Younger audiences, especially people aged 18-24, mostly use these new platforms, which challenges old media companies' ways of making money.
Key Facts
In 2026, 54% of people worldwide said they got news from social media or video platforms, more than traditional news sources.
Including AI chatbots like ChatGPT raises this number to 56%.
Traditional TV news was used by 52% of people, newspaper apps or websites by 51%, and radio by 21%.
Younger people (18-24 years old) rely on social media or video platforms for news twice as much as older age groups.
People mainly visit platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube to find news, while on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, news is often found by accident.
Traditional media apps and websites are no longer the first choice for news for any age group under 55.
Only 17% of those surveyed pay for news online, making it hard for media companies to earn money.
Big companies like Google and Meta take a large share of online advertising money, which used to go to traditional news media.
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Helium-3 is a rare and expensive gas used in advanced physics experiments, quantum computing, and potentially clean nuclear fusion energy. Currently, it mainly comes from nuclear weapons but researchers and companies are exploring ways to mine it from the moon, where samples suggest it exists in higher amounts.
Key Facts
Helium-3 costs about $2,000 per liter and is stored in special containers at Lancaster University.
The gas is produced mainly from the decay of tritium inside nuclear weapons.
Demand for helium-3 could rise, exceeding current supply from nuclear sources.
Moon dust collected by Apollo missions contains helium-3 at higher levels than on Earth.
Helium-3 is used to create extremely low temperatures needed for quantum computing.
It could be a fuel for future nuclear fusion reactors that produce clean energy.
Interlune, a Seattle-based company, plans to mine helium-3 on the moon using robotic machines.
Interlune aims to start lunar mining missions by 2027, with equipment tested in zero-gravity flights.
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Isar Aerospace, a German rocket startup, has delayed the launch of its Spectrum rocket multiple times due to technical problems. The latest delay happened when issues were found in the rocket’s fluid systems during preparations for a test flight at a spaceport in Norway.
Key Facts
Isar Aerospace is working on its Spectrum rocket, which is 92 feet tall and has two stages.
The company has attempted to launch the Spectrum rocket four times in five months but had to cancel each time.
The most recent launch was stopped due to problems detected in the rocket’s fluid systems.
Previous launch delays were caused by a valve problem, rising fuel temperatures, and suspected fuel tank leaks.
The launch site, Andøya Spaceport in Norway, is also used for military missile testing and is near important fishing areas.
Local fishermen have had conflicts with launch operations because they need to work in the same waters and have sometimes stayed in restricted zones.
Isar Aerospace aims to compete in Europe’s commercial rocket industry alongside other companies like Rocket Factory Augsburg, MaiaSpace, and PLD Space.
The first test flight of the Spectrum rocket in March 2025 ended shortly after launch due to a crash.
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A US judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s AI company xAI against OpenAI, which claimed OpenAI stole trade secrets related to chatbots. The judge said xAI did not provide enough proof that OpenAI encouraged a former xAI engineer to share confidential information.
Key Facts
The lawsuit accused OpenAI of stealing secrets about xAI’s Grok chatbot.
US District Judge Rita Lin dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be filed again.
The judge said OpenAI’s discussions with the engineer during job recruitment were normal and did not prove any secret theft.
This was the second legal loss for Musk against OpenAI in a month.
Another Musk lawsuit against OpenAI about betraying a nonprofit mission was also recently rejected by a jury.
xAI is a company owned by Elon Musk that focuses on AI technology, part of his larger SpaceX business.
OpenAI said it did not hire the engineer or obtain any secrets from xAI.
The former xAI engineer, Xuechen Li, is facing a separate lawsuit from xAI and denies any wrongdoing.
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A Chinese rocket’s upper stage broke apart in space, creating debris near the orbit of the International Space Station and many SpaceX Starlink satellites. The U.S. Space Force is tracking the debris and says there is no current threat to human spaceflight, but the debris could affect Starlink satellites.
Key Facts
The rocket was the Zhuque-2E, launched by Chinese company LandSpace on June 9.
The upper stage broke into about 100 to 150 pieces of debris shortly after reaching orbit.
The debris orbits between 208 and 263 miles above Earth, crossing the International Space Station’s orbit.
Aerodynamic drag is expected to pull most debris down to burn up in the atmosphere within months.
Starlink satellites flying at lower altitudes could be at greater risk from the debris.
China has increased its number of rocket bodies in long-lasting orbits by over 150% in the last five years.
Rocket bodies can explode in orbit, creating more debris that is hard to remove.
The U.S. Space Force is monitoring the debris to keep space operations safe.
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AMD has removed a security feature called Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) from its consumer Ryzen CPUs without warning. The feature, which protects data stored in memory from physical attacks, is now only available on AMD’s Pro-level processors.
Key Facts
TSME encrypts data in a computer’s memory to prevent physical theft of information.
AMD added TSME to lower-cost Ryzen consumer CPUs over time, but recently removed it silently.
The removal was discovered by a user checking security features on his Ryzen 7 9700X CPU.
Older AMD firmware versions enabled TSME on consumer CPUs, but newer firmware (AGESA 1.2.7.0) disables it.
Pro-level Ryzen CPUs still have TSME enabled with all firmware versions.
AMD stated TSME “is a security feature only applied to PRO CPUs” but has not explained why the change was made.
The change is significant because it removes a security feature from consumer CPUs without alerting users.
An open question remains if this was intentional or an accidental firmware bug; AMD has not clarified.
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Anthropic, an AI company, will meet with senior officials from the US Department of Commerce to discuss concerns over the company’s latest AI tool, which the government has restricted access to for foreign users. The company paused public access to the tool after the government raised security issues, including a possible way to bypass the tool’s safety measures.
Key Facts
Anthropic plans to meet with the US Department of Commerce in Washington DC on Monday.
The meeting will include Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The government banned Anthropic from allowing foreign nationals to use the new AI tool.
Anthropic blocked public access to its newest AI tool version, called Fable 5 or Mythos 5, due to security concerns.
Fable 5 is available to the public with extra safeguards, while Mythos 5 is limited to select organizations.
The government discovered a potential “jailbreak” vulnerability that could let users bypass safety controls in the AI tool.
Anthropic says it only has verbal reports about the jailbreak risk, not full proof.
Earlier this year, Anthropic sued the US Department of Defense over disagreements on how its AI models are used.
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