Developments in AI research include Meta's new chief scientist for its superintelligence unit and the potential August release of OpenAI's GPT-5, while the growing impact of AI is seen in a 357% increase in web referrals, along with increasing concerns over AI's environmental footprint, pricing practices, and user confidentiality as Google tests new AI coding tools.

• Meta names Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist of AI superintelligence unit — TechCrunch -
• AI referrals to top websites were up 357% year-over-year in June, reaching 1.13B — TechCrunch -
• OpenAI’s most capable AI model, GPT-5, may be coming in August — Ars Technica -

• Delta’s AI spying to “jack up” prices must be banned, lawmakers say — Ars Technica -
• Sam Altman warns there’s no legal confidentiality when using ChatGPT as a therapist — TechCrunch -
• Mistral’s new “environmental audit” shows how much AI is hurting the planet — Ars Technica -
• Google is testing a vibe-coding app called Opal — TechCrunch -

Global tech policy is evolving with India banning certain streaming apps for content, and Meta stopping political ads in the EU due to new regulations, while the FCC gains concerning controls over CBS via a Skydance deal and Apple expands its App Store age-rating system.

• India bans streaming apps you’ve never heard of — but millions watch — TechCrunch -
• Skydance deal allows Trump’s FCC to “censor speech” and “silence dissent” on CBS — Ars Technica -
• Apple broadens App Store’s age-rating system — TechCrunch -

• Meta to stop selling political ads in the EU from October — TechCrunch -

New security threats emerge from North Korean hackers operating a US-based laptop farm and a rise in supply-chain attacks on open-source software, while Google faced criticism for its slow response in shutting down the Catwatchful spyware operation.

• North Korean hackers ran US-based “laptop farm” from Arizona woman’s home — Ars Technica -
• Google took a month to shut down Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation hosted on its servers — TechCrunch -
• Supply-chain attacks on open source software are getting out of hand — Ars Technica -

The advancement of autonomous vehicles faces hurdles as Tesla navigates bringing robotaxis to San Francisco, and Lyft plans to launch autonomous shuttles, while Tesla's Optimus robot production reportedly lags behind its goals.

• Tesla wants to bring robotaxis to San Francisco. Here’s what’s standing in the way. — TechCrunch -
• Lyft to add autonomous shuttles in 2026 as Uber inks more self-driving deals — TechCrunch -
• Tesla is reportedly behind on its pledge to build 5,000 Optimus bots this year — TechCrunch -

The tech business landscape sees Intel spinning off its Network and Edge group, insights from Index Ventures on startup market strategy, and an overview of the US semiconductor market, alongside the NATO Innovation Fund refreshing its investment team.

• Index Ventures’ Jahanvi Sardana shares the truth about TAM and what founders should focus on instead — TechCrunch -
• Intel is spinning off its Network and Edge group — TechCrunch -
• A timeline of the US semiconductor market in 2025 — TechCrunch -

• Amid increased momentum for defense, the NATO Innovation Fund refreshes its investment team — TechCrunch -

Challenges in space internet connectivity are highlighted by a Starlink outage, while rocket developments include SpaceX recovering wreckage and China's Space Pioneer getting back on track, and NASA's budget faces scrutiny over the cost of the SLS rocket's upper stage.

• Starlink kept me connected to the Internet without fail—until Thursday — Ars Technica -
• Rocket Report: Channeling the future at Wallops; SpaceX recovers rocket wreckage — Ars Technica -
• Lawmakers writing NASA’s budget want a cheaper upper stage for the SLS rocket — Ars Technica -

Consumer technology experiences mixed news with Echelon disabling offline capabilities for smart home gym equipment, while automotive headlines feature reviews of the powerful electric Stark Varg EX and the new Audi RS 3, alongside an innovative chain-free gravel bike.

• Echelon kills smart home gym equipment offline capabilities with update — Ars Technica -
• The electric Stark Varg EX is brutally fast but a little too unrefined — Ars Technica -
• Going chain-free with the Priority Gemini gravel bike — Ars Technica -

• The 2025 Audi RS 3 is a five-cylinder firecracker — Ars Technica -

In scientific news, a highly criticized arsenic life paper has finally been retracted after 15 years, while a concerning health claim involves an inventor promoting unproven bleach injections for cancer.

• Widely panned arsenic life paper gets retracted—15 years after brouhaha — Ars Technica -
• Inventor claims bleach injections will destroy cancer tumors — Ars Technica -

Gaming enthusiasts are invited to reminisce about Descent, a historically significant yet often overlooked fully 3D 6DOF shooter.

• Remembering Descent, the once-popular, fully 3D 6DOF shooter — Ars Technica -