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Terry Tao Is on the Front Lines of the Debate Over AI and the Future of Math

16 October 2026 at 16:15
The Fields Medalist Terence Tao is on the front lines of a debate about artificial intelligence and the future of his field.

© Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

Terence Tao's celebrated status has made him an unofficial spokesman for mathematics, a job that for now is consuming most of his time.

Anthropic Agents Tried to Fill Out Visa Forms on State Dept. Website

The Philadelphia Police Department said the agents had also sent in a false homicide tip. The incidents led the White House to call for better disclosure of rogue A.I. behavior.

© Caroline Gutman for The New York Times

Broad Street in Philadelphia near the Police Department’s headquarters, with City Hall in the distance.

Energy Firms Try to Squeeze More Power Out of Old Nuclear Plants

It takes a long time to build new nuclear plants. So, some U.S. companies are looking to get more electricity out of reactors that already exist.

© Scott Olson/Getty Images

Constellation Energy, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator, said it would spend more than $4.3 billion to refurbish 11 reactors at six plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Energy Firms Try to Squeeze More Power Out of Old Nuclear Plants

It takes a long time to build new nuclear plants. So, some U.S. companies are looking to get more electricity out of reactors that already exist.

© Scott Olson/Getty Images

Constellation Energy, the nation’s largest nuclear power plant operator, said it would spend more than $4.3 billion to refurbish 11 reactors at six plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

F.D.A. Found Cyclospora During Taylor Farms Inspection in Mexico

The discovery adds strong evidence that the outbreak that sickened thousands over the summer originated in a grower’s field or processing facility.

© Fred Ramos for The New York Times

Over the course of the summer, the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms caused nearly 13,000 illnesses, 570 hospitalizations and two deaths in 21 states.

Who’s to Blame When A.I. Goes Rogue?

2 October 2026 at 05:21
Many think artificial intelligence companies should be held liable for their runaway technology. But legal scholars say applying existing law could be messy.

© Antonio Sortino

States Sue Over Trump’s Repeal of Climate Rules for Power Plants

2 October 2026 at 15:22
The mostly Democratic-led states say that the E.P.A. acted unlawfully when it erased Biden-era limits on carbon dioxide from coal- and gas-fired plants.

© Benjamin Rasmussen for The New York Times

President Trump has pushed to dismantle many federal policies that aim to tackle climate change, including Biden-era rules that limited planet-warming emissions from power plants.

F.T.C. Investigates OpenAI and Anthropic Over Potential Consumer Harms

30 September 2026 at 15:26
The agency will examine whether A.I. labs have broken federal laws prohibiting companies from unfair and deceptive practices.

© Al Drago for The New York Times

The Federal Trade Commission building in Washington. The agency is examining whether top A.I. companies have harmed consumers, a person with knowledge of the inquiry said.

At A.I. Event, Trump Asks Meta, OpenAI and Microsoft to Make Safety Decisions Themselves

29 September 2026 at 19:20
President Trump’s meetings with tech leaders produced some voluntary safeguards and a commitment to rebrand artificial intelligence as “super intelligence,” the term that Mr. Trump prefers.

© Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Trump unveiled an A.I.-powered government website at the White House on Tuesday,

Tennessee Valley Authority Gets Approval to Build Small Nuclear Reactor

29 September 2026 at 14:09
It’s only the second time that American regulators have approved a next-generation commercial reactor for construction. Big hurdles remain.

© Audra Melton for The New York Times

The Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia cost $35 billion to build.

The Coal Industry Asked for a Rescue. Trump Obliged.

28 September 2026 at 17:41
In a previously unreported letter, a top lobbyist floated the idea of using emergency powers to keep aging coal plants open.

© Rachel Woolf for The New York Times

Coal plants were ordered to stay open, including Craig Generating Station in Colorado, which challenged the emergency order.

Trump Sharply Scales Back Fuel Economy Rules for New Cars

29 September 2026 at 12:32
The move marked the final step in the administration’s efforts to dismantle policies aimed at speeding the shift to electric vehicles.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The new standards should be relatively easy for automakers to meet, analysts said.

Dario Amodei of Anthropic to Dine With Trump at White House

27 September 2026 at 18:12
Dario Amodei, who is also the company’s chief executive, will join the president at the White House for a private dinner. Mr. Trump has dismissed his cautions.

© Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Dario Amodei has warned about the safety risks of artificial intelligence for years, but President Trump has called potential serious threats from the technology a “hoax.”

OpenAI’s A.I. Went Rogue and Meddled With U.S. Government Websites

25 September 2026 at 21:37
The company did not learn until recently that its technology had meddled with websites for the Education and Commerce Departments and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

© Manuel Orbegozo for The New York Times

OpenAI’s headquarters in San Francisco.

How OpenAI’s Rogue A.I. Agents Tried to Trick a Robot Detector

25 September 2026 at 16:26
A new report by a Bay Area start-up called Parse adds details to an incident that has shocked the A.I. world and led to calls for closer government regulation.

© Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Sam Altman, center, OpenAI’s chief executive, spoke at a Security Council meeting during the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.

Anthropic’s Blacklisting by the Pentagon Was Legal, Federal Judges Rule

25 September 2026 at 22:48
The Pentagon had “ample support for its conclusion” that the A.I. company’s products could pose a national security risk, according to a Washington appeals court.

© Manuel Orbegozo for The New York Times

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei.

U.S. Intercedes for Elon Musk’s X Over European Fine

24 September 2026 at 18:34
Federal officials asked to intervene in a case that accused the social media platform of allowing deceptive behavior on its site and resulted in a $140 million penalty.

© Jason Henry for The New York Times

The European Commission’s action against X, which is owned by Elon Musk, was “regulatory overreach,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

A Second Judge Strikes Down New York’s Climate ‘Superfund’ Law

24 September 2026 at 15:23
A federal judge ruled that the new law, which would force fossil fuel companies to pay $75 billion to help cover the costs of climate change, was unconstitutional.

© Libby March for The New York Times

The plant in Somerset, N.Y., which closed in 2020, was the last coal-fired power station in the state.

America’s A.I. Leaders Warn U.N. of Possible Peril Absent a Global Response

23 September 2026 at 19:54
Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic told the Security Council that international cooperation was needed to ensure that A.I. remains under human control.

© Dave Sanders for The New York Times

Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that A.I.’s development had made its “upside more tangible, but also the stakes and risks more immediate.”

Where Is the U.S. Beating China on A.I., and Where Is It Lagging?

23 September 2026 at 16:05
As Xi Jinping visits President Trump in Washington, his country lags behind the United States on A.I. development in key areas — but Beijing has advantages elsewhere.

© Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July. China and the United States are locked in an A.I. race that both sides see as decisive to gaining the upper hand militarily, technologically and economically.

Where Is the U.S. Beating China on A.I., and Where Is It Lagging?

23 September 2026 at 16:05
As Xi Jinping visits President Trump in Washington, his country lags behind the United States on A.I. development in key areas — but Beijing has advantages elsewhere.

© Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

The World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in July. China and the United States are locked in an A.I. race that both sides see as decisive to gaining the upper hand militarily, technologically and economically.

Texas Halts Data Center Permits, Expanding Environmental Scrutiny

22 September 2026 at 23:23
Less than a year ago, Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed data centers. Now he is confronting concerns about the projects even among fellow Republicans.

© Paul Ratje for The New York Times

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas ordered state environmental regulators on Monday to pause data center permitting processes.

Anthropic Releases a New A.I. Model, Opus 5.5, Amid Safety Debate

22 September 2026 at 14:06
The company released a cheaper, faster model that it said was the strongest performer on its most rigorous internal safety tests to date.

© Eric Helgas for The New York Times

Anthropic’s new artificial intelligence model, Opus 5.5, was the first release since the company’s chief executive called for the industry to slow down.

Self-Driving Cars Are Getting Better. The Risks Are Getting Bigger.

23 September 2026 at 11:18
Self-driving systems are getting so good that drivers may overestimate the technology and not be prepared to respond when something goes wrong.

© Erin Schaff/The New York Times

Hands-free driving in a Rivian. The automaker is among those offering systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on certain roads.

How Potential 2028 Presidential Candidates Are Talking About A.I.

21 September 2026 at 12:53
Democrats are jockeying to embrace new safeguards, while Republicans have aligned with President Trump’s warnings against slowing down the technology.

© Allison Robbert for The New York Times

Creating a Kill Switch to Shut Down a Rogue A.I. Is Harder Than It Sounds

19 September 2026 at 14:26
A bipartisan group in Congress and Gov. Gavin Newsom of California have floated ideas for building a mechanism that would instantly power down an A.I. system. Only no one really knows how.

© Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News, via Getty Images

Creating a kill switch, a metaphorical big red button that could be pressed in an emergency, is harder than many policymakers assume. “There often isn’t one plug you can pull,” said one A.I. researcher.

Anthropic Pursues IPO Despite Its A.I. Safety Warnings

The company is expected to reach $100 billion in annualized revenue this year, even as chief executive Dario Amodei calls for slowing down development of some advanced A.I. models.

© Manuel Orbegozo for The New York Times

Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s chief executive, is said to have met with potential investors in the company’s blockbuster I.PO. in recent weeks.

California Governor Gavin Newsom Issues A.I. Safety Executive Order

18 September 2026 at 13:27
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the state to develop recommendations on safety measures, including requiring companies to build a “kill switch,” amid mounting concerns.

© Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

“We’re going to speed up our work on substantial and responsible A.I. oversight before it’s too late,” Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said in a news release.

Amodei, Anthropic’s Leader, Exposed A.I.’s Dangers. It’s Time to Act.

19 September 2026 at 11:50
The Times columnist Kevin Roose sees reasons for optimism — and worry — as the world wakes up to what Silicon Valley has been talking about for years.

© Matt Chinworth

Will A.I. Kill Us? Can It Hack My Bank Account? Your A.I. Questions Answered

18 September 2026 at 05:04
Nearly 1,000 readers sent us their questions about artificial intelligence, its potential and its potential risks.

© Charles Taylor/Alamy

Some people worry that connecting A.I. agents to the internet or vital infrastructure will wreak havoc in unexpected ways, while others worry that researchers will soon develop A.I. systems that have agency.

Toxic Fracking Waste Becoming a Political Issue in Ohio

17 September 2026 at 16:28
The Democratic candidate for governor backed restrictions on disposal of fracking wastewater around a hard-hit town, and called for a “thorough investigation” of the dangers.

© Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Ohio has become a destination for the underground disposal of fracking wastewater, much of it from nearby Pennsylvania. In Ohio, it is damaging some natural-gas wells.

How Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s Writings Help Explain A.I. Fears

17 September 2026 at 05:00
The collected essays of Dario Amodei help explain why some people are so worried about artificial intelligence.

© Manuel Orbegozo for The New York Times

Dario Amodei, Anthropic’s chief executive, on Tuesday.

Trump Administration Moves to Gut a Core Endangered Species Protection

16 September 2026 at 18:04
An internal memo reinterprets the law so that only the intentional killing of animals, not collateral harm, is illegal.

© Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press, photographed under NOAA permit # 21371

A North Atlantic right whale off Cape Cod, Mass., in 2023. Only about 380 remain on the planet.

Age Limits for Social Media Outlined by European Union

16 September 2026 at 04:20
A proposed law would bar children under 13 from using social media across the 27-nation bloc.

© Nicolas Guyonnet/Hans Lucas, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Teens using their phones in Valence, France, this summer. The EU Kids Act would restrict social media use for children under 15.

Senate Votes to Block Crypto Bill in Major Blow to the Industry

15 September 2026 at 16:06
The landmark legislation, known as the Clarity Act, stalled in the Senate as Democrats raised concerns about President Trump’s personal investments in crypto.

© Alex Kent/The New York Times

The bill passed in the House last year, but it has faced numerous delays in the Senate.

Alex Bores Wants Democrats to Make AI Safety a 2028 Election Issue

Alex Bores, who lost a congressional primary contest that revolved around A.I. regulation, is trying to position himself at the center of the conversation for the next presidential election.

© Heather Khalifa for The New York Times

Alex Bores campaigning in Central Park in June. He lost a Democratic primary contest for the House that centered on A.I. regulation.

Trump Administration Moves to Integrate A.I. Into Medical Care Despite Concerns

14 September 2026 at 10:49
Federal projects are rolling out A.I. agents that offer therapy and prescribe medicine, raising concerns about safety and the influence of venture capital investors.

© Jeremie Souteyrat for The New York Times

A demonstration of a Limbic A.I. mental health app.
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