Artificial Intelligence

BBC News examines a case in which artificial intelligence was used to hack a government, exploring how such an attack was possible and what it reveals about security weaknesses. The report raises questions about how AI tools can be exploited for cyberattacks on public institutions and what safeguards governments may need as the technology spreads.

Some members of Congress are openly questioning whether the legislature is equipped to regulate artificial intelligence, with one lawmaker describing the institution as 'barely capable of email.' The remarks reflect growing concern inside Washington that the technical complexity of AI is outpacing lawmakers' understanding, raising doubts that meaningful oversight or legislation can be passed in the near term.

North Carolina's attorney general is calling on Congress to establish safeguards around artificial intelligence following a series of bot attacks. The state's top legal officer argues federal action is needed to address misuse of AI-driven automated accounts. Details about the nature of the attacks, who was targeted, and what specific regulations are being proposed remain limited.

School systems across the globe are taking sharply different approaches to artificial intelligence in education. In the United States, Zohran Mamdani's veto has drawn attention to resistance against AI use in schools, while Estonia has embraced the technology with enthusiasm, integrating it into classrooms. The divide highlights how education authorities are still searching for common ground on whether AI helps or harms learning.

Politico reports on tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic over US artificial intelligence policy. The president had sought to accelerate AI development with a deregulatory push, but Anthropic's safety-focused stance has complicated that agenda. Commentators are debating what the standoff means for the future of AI regulation in Washington and the industry's relationship with the federal government.

Commentary out of Europe argues the EU needs an operational framework governing agentic artificial intelligence — AI systems capable of taking autonomous, executive actions rather than merely answering questions. The piece contends that existing rules were not designed for AI that can act on its own, and calls on European institutions to set clear oversight before such systems spread widely.

A college president is warning that artificial intelligence could either strengthen education or create dangerous shortcuts for students, saying the outcome depends on how institutions manage the technology. The remarks add to an ongoing debate in higher education over AI tools, academic integrity, and how to prepare students for a workplace increasingly shaped by AI.

Classified budget estimates indicate the National Security Agency is paying billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models, according to a new report. The figures suggest US intelligence agencies are investing heavily in evaluating advanced AI systems, likely for national security and surveillance applications. The scale of the spending is drawing attention to how deeply spy agencies are moving into AI.

An Australian tutoring company is telling parents to save their money and use AI tools to help their children learn instead of paying for tutoring. The unusual advice, reported by the Australian Financial Review, has sparked debate about whether artificial intelligence can replace human tutors and what it signals about the future of the private tutoring industry.

Japanese secondhand bookstores are reporting a fivefold surge in sales as bulk buyers purchase entire stock loads, in some cases tens of tons at once. One order of around 50 tons was shipped to the United States, and store owners suspect many large purchases end up in overseas facilities where books are scanned to train artificial intelligence models and then destroyed. The trend has raised concern among booksellers about losing rare volumes and the fate of the books themselves.

Mathematician Terence Tao has announced the formation of an Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, publishing the news on his personal blog. The group is intended to examine how AI is reshaping mathematical research and to advise the community on its use. The announcement is drawing wide attention among mathematicians and technologists debating AI's growing role in fundamental science.

OpenAI has announced the creation of an Advisory Group on Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence, according to a post on the company's website. The announcement suggests the group will examine how AI systems interact with mathematical research and practice. Details about the group's members, mandate and first projects have not been widely reported yet, so discussion is mostly about the announcement itself and what such an advisory body might do.

Chinese director Jia Zhangke is preparing 'Mamma Dunhuang', a new road movie starring his longtime collaborator and wife Zhao Tao. The filmmaker says he will not use artificial intelligence anywhere in the production, a stance that sets the project apart as AI debate sweeps the film industry. Details on plot and timeline remain limited, but the pairing of Jia, Zhao Tao and the Dunhuang setting is already drawing attention from international cinema watchers.