TechCapsules

In a live interview at The Atlantic Festival, former FTC chair Lina Khan discussed the growing alarm over “rogue” AI agents and the regulatory response needed to curb potential catastrophes. Khan argued that the United States already possesses many of the legal tools required to manage AI risks, questioning the urgency of new legislation. She critiqued the current “AI‑alarmism” narrative as misaligned, noting that money and political influence shape both the debate and policy outcomes. Khan also reflected [...]

University of Alaska regents reviewed a draft artificial‑intelligence policy presented by chief information officer Ben Shier. The proposal would obligate the system’s three campuses to develop AI plans for students, faculty and staff, emphasizing human‑talent preservation, data security and expanded access to educational services. Shier noted that AI amplifies existing privacy and monitoring concerns rather than creating new issues. The draft, assembled over the summer, has drawn criticism for limited faculty and student input before the academic [...]

India’s telecom regulator, TRAI, has amended its commercial communications rules to obligate caller‑ID and call‑management apps to forward user‑generated spam reports to a blockchain‑based platform operated by telecom operators. The platform aggregates reports to enforce anti‑spam measures across the network. Truecaller, whose Indian user base exceeds 350 million, labeled the mandate “anti‑competitive,” arguing it forces the transfer of valuable data to telcos without reciprocal benefit. The rule also bars apps from automatically blocking calls from government‑designated promotional, service [...]

Hyundai Motor chief executive Jose Munoz warned that the United States could soon experience a surge of low‑priced Chinese vehicle imports similar to the disruption seen in Europe, unless Washington maintains tariffs and other market‑access safeguards. He noted Chinese cars are 30‑40 % cheaper than rivals in markets such as Italy, Spain and France, where EU duties and minimum‑pricing rules have been imposed to counter perceived unfair subsidies. In the EU, Chinese‑branded cars accounted for over 9 % of sales [...]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated SEMICON India 2026 in New Delhi, unveiling the “Semicon 2.0” roadmap that aims to transform India’s semiconductor sector from policy‑driven incentives to full‑scale manufacturing. The event highlighted the emergence of a domestic ecosystem that now includes design, packaging and research capabilities, and featured the launch of new commercial production lines for chips. Modi invited multinational firms to set up fabrication facilities in the country, emphasizing India’s readiness to host advanced fabs. Government officials said the roadmap will [...]

The European Commission unveiled a draft “EU KIDS Act” on Sept 17 that would impose strict age limits and safety requirements on social‑media, gaming and AI services for minors. Children under 13 would be barred from creating accounts, while 13‑ and 14‑year‑olds could only use “mini‑accounts” linked to a parent’s profile and limited to one hour of screen time. Users aged 15 and older could sign up. The proposal also forces platforms to prove their services are before [...]

The Energy Storage Summit in Berlin highlighted flexible connection agreements (FCAs) as a central theme, with most new BESS projects encountering restrictions. Inertia services were praised as a promising opportunity amid tightening business conditions. Delegates expressed disappointment over Germany’s upcoming capacity market, citing limited access for storage and stringent de‑rating rules. The EPC‑wrap model emerged as the preferred deployment approach, while EU plans to broaden bans on Chinese inverters could reshape the market for European PCS manufacturers. [...]

The Sandpoint City Council voted Wednesday to adopt an amendment that bans standalone data centers larger than 5,000 square feet within the city’s three industrial zones. The measure follows a July 15 directive after Councilor Pam Duquette learned that existing zoning permits such facilities. City Planner Bill Dean crafted the code to focus on size and location, avoiding complex environmental metrics, and warned that any new standards must apply uniformly across the entire zone district. Mayor Jeremy [...]