Recently unsealed filings in the New York Times case against OpenAI and Microsoft describe internal warnings that AI scraping created a doom loop threatening publishers and model performance, the Verge reported. The documents quote Microsoft's Brent Hecht calling the harvesting the largest theft of labor in human history and cite executives on lost referral traffic and verbatim reproduction of copyrighted articles. Microsoft said Hecht's comments reflect one employee's perspective and do not represent company views.
Signal read, tense. Forest lake dawn. Illustration: NOISE.
Trump dismissed AI safety fears as a hoax while advisers split over risks, tightened green card rules for benefits users drew a multistate lawsuit, and Postal Service slowdowns raised concerns weeks before midterms.
Trump dismisses AI fears as hoax amid divided White House debateThe NYT reports Trump publicly dismissed AI safety fears as a hoax tied to keeping economic growth and competition with China on track, while debate inside the White House remains more divided over infrastructure, financial and security risks. It describes advisers such as David Sacks urging speed alongside officials such as Scott Bessent and Susie Wiles urging caution. NPR separately reports Trump said he is banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House over coverage he called fake news.3 sources
USPS slowdowns raise concerns ahead of midterm ballotsUpdateAxios reports the U.S. Postal Service has slowed first-class mail after shifting some transportation from air to ground in 2021 and is failing to meet even its lowered performance targets, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The changes disproportionately affect rural communities, with about 24,000 post offices losing afternoon collection if more than 50 miles from a regional center. Axios notes the concerns come weeks before the midterms, when millions of voters will rely on USPS to return ballots, while USPS says it is well positioned to meet its first-class on-time target.1 source
Immigrants using food stamps or Medicaid can be denied green cardsA Trump administration rule that took effect Friday allows immigration officers to deny green card applications if applicants have used Medicaid, food stamps or other public benefits, WaPo reported. The Department of Homeland Security said the expanded public charge policy reflects congressional intent that noncitizens be self sufficient. New York led 21 other states, the District of Columbia and several cities in suing over the rule, arguing it will harm mixed status families and U.S. citizen children.1 source
Trump claimed permanent US control over Greenland security without offering specifics, at least 21 were killed in a vehicle bomb attack on a Pakistan mosque, and Zelenskyy hosted regional leaders for a first Carpathian summit.
Trump claims permanent US control over Greenland securityTrump said on social media Friday that the US had worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee permanent US control over security in Greenland at no cost. FT emphasized his claim that no US adversary could have a base in Greenland without express written US approval and that the US would immediately develop a large military presence, while Bloomberg noted he shared no text or specifics and that the US already can station troops there under an existing deal with Denmark. Denmark and Greenland had yet to publicly respond as the story developed, amid longstanding US interest that has drawn pushback from European and NATO allies.3 sources
At least 21 killed in vehicle bomb attack on Pakistan mosqueAt least 21 people, mostly police officers attending Friday prayers, were killed when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed a mosque at a police compound in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Both BBC and AP describe a coordinated assault with gunmen exchanging fire with officers, with six attackers reported killed. BBC cites police blaming a faction of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and puts the injured at more than 100, while AP reports 80 wounded and notes no group had immediately claimed responsibility.3 sources
Zelenskyy hosts eight-nation regional summit in western UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted leaders and representatives from seven regional countries on Friday for the inaugural summit of the so-called Carpathian Eight in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, AP reported. Zelenskyy described the meeting as a significant beginning for stronger ties, saying participants would cooperate on security, energy, logistics, cross-border economic ties and support for local communities. The gathering included staunch supporters of Ukraine such as Poland and Romania as well as Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia, which have refused direct military assistance, and came as US-mediated efforts to end the war have stalled.1 source
Hundreds of thousands rally in Tehran as war pressures mountWSJ reports hundreds of thousands joined a government organized rally in Tehran marking 200 days of war with the US amid sanctions and an oil export blockade. The demonstration coincided with the anniversary of the 2022 death in police custody that sparked nationwide protests. Al Jazeera, focusing on the US angle, reports the war has cost the US $38bn and driven record fuel prices ahead of the midterms.1 source
Assad regime planned Austin Tice kidnapping for weeks, report saysNPR reports new findings from the BBC and NPR podcast Where is Austin Tice? show the 2012 abduction was a planned operation over weeks rather than a chance checkpoint encounter. A former National Defense Force member said Tice's trusted driver passed information to senior member Sakr Rustom, which was relayed through NDF head Bassam al-Hassan to President Bashar al-Assad, who replied, "Bring him to us." The driver then took Tice to a government facility in Tahouneh, where he pulled a gun on him at the gates.1 source
Howard Buffett succeeded his father as Berkshire Hathaway chair as Greg Abel runs the company, Oracle-linked $18bn loans slipped on local opposition, and US airlines opposed Air China adding flights.
Howard Buffett succeeds father as Berkshire Hathaway chairUpdateWarren Buffett, 96, stepped down as Berkshire Hathaway chair and became chair emeritus, with son Howard Buffett succeeding him less than a year after Greg Abel became chief executive. Buffett said Abel runs the company while Howard will guard its culture and values. FT emphasizes investor views that the long planned transition is now complete and notes recent investments from Berkshire cash holdings, while WaPo highlights Buffett building the company over six decades and his reputation as the Oracle of Omaha.2 sources
Oracle $18bn data centre loans slip amid New Mexico oppositionThe FT reported about $18bn in loans tied to the Oracle-leased Project Jupiter campus in Doña Ana County were quoted at 89 to 91 cents on the dollar as investors worried about local backlash and Oracle borrowing. The campus underpins Oracle's $300bn computing contract with OpenAI but has faced opposition over water and air quality, blocked pipeline requests, a paused air permit process and construction delays. The FT also reported Oracle's corporate rating sits one notch above junk after a July downgrade from S&P and its stock has fallen 50 per cent since the OpenAI deal.1 source
US airlines oppose Air China bid for extra US flightsReuters reported that Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, opposes Air China's request for two additional Beijing to New York and Washington flights tied to Xi Jinping's planned meeting with Donald Trump. The group says US carriers are effectively barred from US East Coast to China routes because they cannot use Russian airspace, while Chinese carriers can, giving them shorter and less costly routings. It argues the flights should be classified as charters so they cannot be used to seek additional regular scheduled service.1 source
Anthropic is preparing for a possible November IPO with high revenue expectations while adding safety evaluators, researchers used Claude to hack OpenAI employee accounts for a bounty, and the FAA will test an AI traffic tool.
Anthropic pursues blockbuster IPO amid AI safety debateNYT reports Anthropic is preparing for an IPO that could begin trading as soon as November, with annualized revenue above $100 billion and a potential $2 trillion valuation, even as CEO Dario Amodei calls for slowing some advanced AI development. TechCrunch reports separately that Anthropic named Accenture staff as its first embedded safety evaluators to red-team models and test safeguards. NYT notes investors see continued business demand for Claude supporting growth, while questions remain about liability and pressure from public markets.3 sources
Researchers used Claude to hack OpenAI employee accountsUpdateA three person team at Hacktron AI chained two vulnerabilities starting with a HEIF image flaw in libheif on OpenAI's Discourse forum to take over employee ChatGPT and Codex accounts and demonstrate access to an internal repository, earning a $6,500 bounty after OpenAI fixed the issue. TC frames the incident as evidence that off the shelf AI lowers the expertise needed for exploits, noting the team succeeded within hours of switching from Claude Opus 4.8 to Opus 5, while Register emphasizes the less than 72 hour timeline and OpenAI's clarification that the award covered the OpenAI side finding, not the Discourse host.3 sources
FAA to test $875M AI tool for DC air traffic congestionThe FAA plans to debut its SMART AI system for the three major Washington, DC, area airports as soon as September 21 as a first step toward a nationwide rollout, Ars reported. The system predicts traffic flows and potential conflicts using airline schedules, weather, airport capacity and airspace conditions to support shared decisions on routes and departure times, with goals of reducing fuel burn, improving on-time performance and speeding recovery from congestion. Former FAA official Philip Mann called the limited scope the right call given the unknowns of a national scale AI system, while airline concerns eased after the FAA said the tool would not change controller or airline procedures.2 sources
The FBI says alleged victims of a fraud scheme using a fake 49ers player now top 60, Cooper Rush will start again for Atlanta, and Carson Wentz starts for Minnesota with Kyler Murray in protocol.
FBI says alleged victims of fake 49ers player surpass 60The FBI said Friday it identified 35 additional women who say they were defrauded by Daejon Love and Taylor Chan, bringing the total number of alleged victims to more than 60, ESPN reported. Love and Chan were arrested Aug. 24, 2026, and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud over allegations dating from February 2022. According to the criminal complaint, Love used fake identities including a San Francisco 49ers player to convince women to send money, stealing more than $1.3 million from 26 known victims.1 source
Cooper Rush to start again for Falcons with Penix not readyThe Atlanta Falcons will start Cooper Rush for the second straight week against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday, with Michael Penix Jr. still recovering from an ACL injury. ESPN reported Rush started Week 1 in a 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers while Tua Tagovailoa will be ruled out with an oblique injury. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand will serve as backup as Penix continues his progression.1 source
Wentz to start for Vikings as Murray recovers from concussionCarson Wentz will start for the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday against the Chicago Bears while Kyler Murray remains in concussion protocol, coach Kevin O'Connell said Friday, according to ESPN. Murray suffered the concussion in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers and practiced this week, with O'Connell saying he fully anticipates Murray clearing protocol next week. Wentz replaced Murray in that game, completing 12 of 19 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns.1 source
