Most of the research surrounding the risks to society of artificial intelligence tends to focus on malicious human actors using the technology for nefarious purposes, such as holding companies for ransom or nation-states conducting cyber-warfare. A new report from the security research firm Apollo Group suggests a different kind of risk may be lurking where few look: inside the companies developing the most advanced AI models, such as OpenAI and Google. The risk is that companies at the forefront of AI may use their AI creations to accelerate their research and development efforts by automating tasks typically performed by human scientists. In doing so, they could set in motion the ability for AI to circumvent guardrails and carry out destructive actions of various kinds. They could also lead to firms with disproportionately large economic power, companies that threaten society itself.

To hear Silicon Valley tell it, the end of disease is well on its way. Demis Hassabis, a Nobel laureate for his AI research and the CEO of Google DeepMind, said on Sunday that he hopes that AI will be able to solve important scientific problems and help "cure all disease" within five to 10 years. Earlier this month, OpenAI released new models and touted their ability to "generate and critically evaluate novel hypotheses" in biology, among other disciplines. These are all executives marketing their products, obviously, but is there even a kernel of possibility in these predictions? If generative AI could contribute in the slightest to such discoveries--as has been promised since the start of the AI boom--where would the technology and scientists using it even begin?

Google has announced that it will no longer be bringing new Nest Thermostats to Europe due to the "unique" requirements of heating systems in the region. The company launched its redesigned fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat in 2024. "Heating systems in Europe are unique and have a variety of hardware and software requirements that make it challenging to build for the diverse set of homes," Google says. The third-generation Nest Learning Thermostat and the Nest Thermostat E will continue to function, receive security updates and be sold while supplies last. If you're in the market for a new thermostat that works with Google Home, though, you'll have to turn to a third-party option.

Google just announced that it will soon drop support for the first- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats. The devices won't stop working completely, but remote access is going away, as are software updates and compatibility with the Google Home app. The older Nest Learning Thermostats that are losing support include the second-generation units for the U.S., released in 2014, as well as the European version of the second-gen thermostat, which also went on sale in 2014. The original Nest Learning Thermostat, which was released only in the U.S., landed in 2011. Google says it will drop support for the thermostats starting October 25, 2025. Besides no longer receiving software updates, the older Nest Leaning thermostats will lose Nest and Google Home app support, meaning no more out-of-home control.

Generative AI's impact on the environment is still deeply understudied, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and its human effects are just as unclear. In the latest of several AI technology assessments conducted by the GAO -- a nonpartisan agency that provides audits and evaluations to Congress, executive agency leaders, and the general public upon request -- the legislative office outlined multiple human and environmental risks posed by the tech's unhampered development and widespread use. "Generative AI may displace workers, help spread false information, and create or elevate risks to national security," the report reads. Threats to data privacy and cybersecurity, the use of biased systems, and a lack of accountability could have unintended effects on society, culture, and people, writes the GAO. And just as pressing is the need to determine how much of an energy drain AI's training (and ongoing use) presents and how we can mitigate it.

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. "Free speech" was the battering ram that Elon Musk used to justify his pursuit of Twitter in 2022. He talked about the platform as the new digital town square. He said social media companies' moderation policies should be no more restrictive than national laws. "I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means," he wrote after agreeing to a 44 billion takeover. In the three years since making the deal, Musk has continued to cloak himself in the armor of a free speech warrior, out there fighting for the rest of us.

Microsoft's controversial Windows Recall has now been generally released, and it poses as much of a risk to your privacy as it could be a boon to your productivity. Recall is just one of several new features that either have or will be arriving on Copilot PC, Microsoft said Friday. Recall, Windows' improved semantic search, Live Captions, Cocreator, and Restyle Image and Image Creator within Photos are now all available for Copilot PCs that include Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs as well as PCs with qualifying processors from AMD and Intel. A few features -- Click to Do, Live Captions, and Voice Access -- are available for Copilot PCs running on Snapdragon, but support for AMD and Intel chips isn't quite available. For Microsoft, the release of these AI-powered features are cause for celebration, finally delivering on promises of an AI-powered world that the company first made a year ago.

The Ecobee Smart Doorbell (wired) is a reliable, easy-to-use, high-end video doorbell. It depends on hardwired power, but it can trigger a homeowner's existing chimes. As with many of its competitors, you'll need to pay for a subscription to unlock all its features, but it can be incorporated into a robust home security system with professional monitoring at a very reasonable price. If you're already using one of Ecobee's smart home thermostats or security systems--or you're thinking about installing one--you'll want to consider the company's first video doorbell. The Ecobee Smart Doorbell Camera (wired) doesn't just compete with category leaders Ring, Nest, and Arlo, it also brings a few smart ideas of its own--and it plays especially well within Ecobee's larger smart home/home security ecosystem.

With AI, one can now produce thousands of high-quality illustrations and videos. But that is only part of the story. The case has moved to discovery and is set to begin in September 2026. In allowing this claim to proceed, "the judge noted a statement by Stability's CEO, who claimed that Stability compressed 100,000 gigabytes of images into a two-gigabyte file that could'recreate' any of those images." The implications of such litigation -- as well as the rising and often controversial use of generative AI for producing images for commercial use -- are profound for designers, businesses, and society at large.

Secret messages can be hidden inside fake conversations generated by AI chatbots. The technique could give people a way to communicate online without arousing the suspicion of oppressive governments. When messages are encrypted for secure transmission, the resulting cipher text – an unusual string of garbled characters – stands out like a sore thumb. That is fine if you are keeping secrets in a country where secrets are allowed, but under brutal dictatorships, this could land a citizen in hot water.