ADAPT Act

Agentic AI is reshaping how companies buy and run technology, according to commentary arguing that long-standing enterprise software norms no longer hold. Traditional procurement cycles, licensing models and governance assumptions built for conventional software are being challenged by autonomous AI systems that act on their own. The piece is prompting debate among technology leaders about how enterprises should adapt their strategies for this new class of AI tools.

Retailers are rebuilding their payment infrastructure to serve agentic commerce, where AI agents rather than human shoppers initiate and complete purchases. The shift requires new payment rails that can authenticate machine-driven transactions, handle delegated authority, and manage fraud risks when software acts on a customer's behalf. Industry coverage suggests payments providers and merchants see agent-led buying as the next major e-commerce battleground.

A bill to revise US cryptocurrency taxation, known as the ADAPT Act, has been submitted in the United States. It covers everyday use of crypto, including payments for purchases, and touches issues such as staking, gas fees, wash sales, and stablecoin transactions under the Trump administration. Japanese commentary is asking whether Japan should reconsider its own crypto tax rules in response to the US move.

Russian filmmaker Fyodor Bondarchuk has spoken about Aleksei German's film Hard to Be a God, describing it as the most difficult project he has worked on. Bondarchuk acted in the sci-fi adaptation, which German spent decades making before its 2013 release. His remarks are being picked up by Russian film outlets and audiences revisiting the cult classic.

A bill to overhaul US cryptocurrency taxation, reportedly called the ADAPT Act, has been introduced, covering everyday purchases made with crypto and touching issues like wash sales, staking rewards, gas fees and stablecoin payments under the Trump administration. Japanese commentary is focusing on how Japan's stricter crypto tax rules compare and whether reform could follow there.

The Climate Superfund Act, which would require fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damage adaptation costs, has suffered another significant legal defeat. The law, enacted in states such as Vermont and New York, has faced mounting constitutional challenges from business groups and industry associations arguing it unfairly imposes retroactive liability. The latest ruling is another blow to proponents of making polluters fund climate resilience projects.

The OpenID Foundation has released a 2025 white paper on identity management for agentic AI, addressing how autonomous software agents can be authenticated and authorized when acting on behalf of users. The paper examines the gaps existing identity standards like OAuth and OpenID Connect leave when AI agents, rather than people, initiate actions across services. Developers and security professionals are weighing how current identity infrastructure can adapt to machine-driven agents.

A second federal court has struck down New York's Climate Change Superfund Act, the state law requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for climate adaptation costs. The ruling is a significant setback for the law's backers and raises fresh legal questions over states' attempts to make energy producers liable for past emissions.

New research suggests urban environments may act as 'training grounds' where invasive species adapt to harsh conditions before spreading further. Cities expose plants and animals to heat, pollution and disturbance, potentially selecting for highly resilient traits. The finding raises concerns that urban areas could accelerate future biological invasions into surrounding natural ecosystems.

Congress has passed the Common Cents Act, sending it to President Trump for signature as American businesses continue adjusting to the phaseout of the penny. The legislation addresses the future of the one-cent coin amid rising production costs and changing payment habits, with retailers adapting pricing and cash-handling practices ahead of its formal retirement.

A new stage adaptation of the classic thriller North by Northwest is running at ACT's Toni Rembe Theatre in San Francisco. KPFA has published a review of the production. Early critical response is drawing attention to how Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 film translates to the live stage.

Attention is turning to the Protect College Sports Act, proposed US legislation aimed at regulating college athletics, and what steps could follow for the bill. Observers are weighing its chances in Congress, its potential impact on the NCAA, athlete compensation, and how universities would have to adapt if it becomes law.