TechCapsules

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that AI requires only a “strong and smart” president as its guardrail, dismissing concerns raised by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and others who advocate slower development. Trump criticized Amodei’s 3,800‑word essay and claimed the U.S. already possesses “tremendous criminal and regulatory power” over AI firms. The post coincided with growing public unease after Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned over safety fears. Academics like Princeton’s Arvind Narayanan and UW’s Emily Bender argued that guardrails are [...]

Former President Barack Obama criticized President Donald Trump’s approach to artificial intelligence, urging stronger federal regulation amid rapid technological growth. Speaking at Colgate University, Obama highlighted concerns over safety, job displacement, and human control, noting Trump’s administration has dismissed AI oversight as “for losers.” He warned of a regulatory gap that could last several years, stressing the need for a comprehensive framework. The remarks followed Obama’s earlier private appeal to Democrats for action on AI governance. [...]

President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will name a new AI czar and create an “AI Force” modeled after the Space Force, though he offered no structural or funding details. He criticized the term “Artificial Intelligence,” proposing alternatives such as “Superior,” “Extreme,” or “Supreme Intelligence,” and urged followers to vote on the preferred name. Trump dismissed calls to dismantle AI as Democratic “hoaxes,” pledging to protect the industry while addressing safety concerns. The proposal [...]

The SEC has introduced a five‑year exemption for tokenized‑stock trading on public blockchains, but only for US‑operated, permissioned venues that use automated market maker (AMM) pools. The rule grants temporary relief from national exchange registration and dealer registration for venues that screen participants and control pool access. Eligible tokens must confer full shareholder rights—dividends, voting, and ownership—excluding synthetic exposure products. Existing decentralized exchanges like Uniswap and Raydium cannot qualify without creating permissioned pools. Firms such as Securitize, [...]

Montana is preparing a 2026 ballot initiative that would overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United by revoking the charters of corporations that spend money on politics, effectively treating them as “artificial persons” without free‑speech rights. A poll by Issue One shows 74 percent of Montanans, including majorities of Republicans and Independents, back the measure. The proposal is championed by the Transparent Election Initiative and has backing from former Republican governor Marc Racicot and former senator John [...]

President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff campaign, the most protectionist since the 19th‑century, is failing to win over the working‑class voters it was designed to attract. Polls from CNN and other outlets show a majority of Americans—including non‑college‑educated white workers—believe the tariffs hurt their finances. Even in traditionally blue‑collar states and districts, Democrats have comfortably opposed the measures, while Republican candidates struggle to defend them. Notable Democrats such as Ohio Senate hopeful Sherrod Brown and ironworker Brian Poindexter [...]

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he is seeking cooperation from major technology firms to strengthen child online safety laws and introduce stricter AI regulations. After meeting former Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple’s headquarters, Albanese emphasized that Australia cannot protect children alone and highlighted new “strong and intuitive controls” Apple plans to deploy. Australia’s 2023 law banned users under 16 from social media, and the draft legislation this month would impose a duty of care on [...]

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu announced that the government will not restore the fuel subsidy, directing states to reduce transport costs by October. The decision follows a broader push to curb subsidies and improve fiscal discipline. Tinubu also ordered an investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the National Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, highlighting concerns over miner safety and law enforcement practices. Additionally, he confirmed the implementation of the Digital Free Zones [...]