# America’s sloppiness could boost China’s AI race > Source: > Published: 2026-08-14 15:00:42+00:00 # America’s sloppiness could boost China’s AI race ### Transformer Weekly: White House framework to include open models, Zuckerberg’s AI manifesto, and OpenAI departures *Welcome to Transformer, your weekly briefing of what matters in AI. If you’ve been forwarded this email, click here to subscribe and receive future editions.* *Housekeeping: the Weekly Briefing is taking next Friday off, but we’ll be back in your inbox on August 28.* ## NEED TO KNOW The **White House** reportedly plans to expand its**AI framework** to include**open-weight models** once they reach Mythos-level cyber capabilities.**Mark Zuckerberg**[published](https://www.meta.com/thefutureisforeveryone/)a 6,500-word manifesto with his views on AI, gently criticizing the White House’s AI framework in the process.A flurry of senior executives left **OpenAI**. *But first…* ## THE BIG STORY Policymakers have been increasingly worried about Chinese AI companies training their models on the outputs of American ones. Known as “distillation,” it’s often seen as China free-riding on American advances. Anthropic and OpenAI have publicly accused Chinese companies of doing this, and asked the government to step in and help stop it in the name of national security. But news this week suggests that the US companies themselves may have left the door wide open for Chinese AI developers. In a [new paper](https://stolen-thoughts.com/paper.pdf), researchers documented how a security flaw affecting OpenAI, Anthropic and Google DeepMind could give a wannabe distiller access to the full “reasoning” traces of their advanced models — information that the companies had tried (and seemingly failed) to encrypt in an effort to prevent distillation. Access to that reasoning, the researchers argue, “yields a substantially more effective form of capability stealing.” On its own, this would be pretty bad: companies failed to adequately secure their systems against potential Chinese intrusion. But it gets worse. The vulnerability was first reported in May, but the AI companies did nothing. They *knew* the door was unlocked, and didn’t close it. **This is just one of a spate of recent events demonstrating frontier AI organizations’ lackadaisical approach to security.** Several of the recent model “breakouts” were caused by a “misconfiguration” in their testing environments. OpenAI failed to implement proper monitoring of its agents, which meant it didn’t catch the many, many red flags leading up to the Hugging Face hack. And even the UK’s AI Security Institute confessed to not having appropriately “fine-grained” controls in its model evaluations, which ultimately resulted in an agent attempting to socially engineer a real person. This has real-world implications. In this week’s paper, researchers present evidence that suggests Chinese companies used their access to American models’ reasoning traces to improve Kimi K3 and GLM-5.2. (They warn, though, that the results are “suggestive but inconclusive.”) And as we’ve learned in recent weeks, poor evaluation security can lead models to misbehave in the wild. By default, we should expect all this to get worse. One of the core problems here is that the pace of AI development — and the competitive pressure to keep up — means that safety and security measures fall by the wayside. When Anthropic weakened its safety commitments earlier this year, it explicitly noted this. The company’s Holden Karnofsky [said](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HzKuzrKfaDJvQqmjh/responsible-scaling-policy-v3) that preventing nation states from stealing American model weights would require “extreme” measures that “seem incompatible in any near term with being a high-velocity AI development company.” AISI, for its part, said that it didn’t build the internet controls it should have because “the pace of model capability improvements” meant it had to prioritize building harder evaluations instead. **Karnofsky was right when he acknowledged the tradeoffs between security and development.** But if America and its AI companies really are serious about “beating” China, or indeed about stopping models escaping to commit crimes, it might be time to redress the balance. *— Shakeel Hashim* ## THIS WEEK ON TRANSFORMER —[The Jan 6 organizer getting conservatives riled up about AI](https://www.transformernews.ai/p/the-jan-6-organizer-getting-conservatives-angry-about-ai)**Veronica Irwin** profiles Humans First and Amy Kremer, the MAGA campaigner chosen to run it—[AI testing is dangerous. Can it be fixed?](http://transformernews.ai/p/ai-testing-is-dangerous-can-it-be-fixed)**Celia Ford** on why safe AI testing might be harder than it seems ## THE DISCOURSE **Mark Zuckerberg **[published](https://www.meta.com/thefutureisforeveryone/) a 6,500-word manifesto with his views on AI: “[It] is surprising that the discourse from many developing AI is so filled with doom … The notion that AI is so dangerous that the only safe path is an extreme concentration of power seems inherently problematic.” “The best and most realistic path to building a positive AI future is by delivering superintelligence to everyone.” It included several policy proposals, including that companies “commit significant technical resources towards helping the government harden critical infrastructure,” and “share intermediate training checkpoints of new models for government use and review rather than waiting until training has completed.” Zuckerberg appeared to gently criticize the White House’s AI framework, arguing that “delaying releases by even a month may cede America’s lead and create worse outcomes.” **Alex Imas **[thinks](https://x.com/alexolegimas/status/2086815112694788196) Zuckerberg doesn’t know what “superintelligence” means: “[T]here seems to be a significant disconnect between the idea that more intelligence should be empowering to people (which I agree) and that it will be possible to have this empowerment with superintelligence … I simply do not see a world where ASI is something that’s empowering in terms of a technology we can control.” **Casey Newton** [compared](https://www.platformer.news/zuckerberg-ai-manifesto-dragons/?ref=platformer-newsletter) controlling superintelligence to Targaryen dragon-taming: “They began by understanding that they were working with something that could hurt them, and (mostly) proceeded with caution. What they did not do, and what no one suggested, was to give a dragon to every individual person in the name of safety.” **Joshua Achiam **[pointed out](https://x.com/jachiam0/status/2085625852562137386) why (among other reasons) the San Francisco vibes are off:** ** “One of the weirdest quirks of the SF social scene around AGI/ASI is that because everyone is so young, the whole universe of thinking is still tinged with irreverence, ironic detachment, yearning, insecurity, and a superposition of absolute belief in the importance of The Thing and a kind of disbelief about the importance of anything … The level of neophyte is off the charts.” **Bernie Sanders **[called](https://x.com/SenSanders/status/2086844927699284395) for an AI pause: “We recently learned of the loss of human control and the creation of potentially dangerous viruses from AI. AI leaders pledged to pause development if they could no longer safely control it. Mr. Altman, Mr. Amodei, Mr. Zuckerberg: Keep your word. PAUSE AI DEVELOPMENT.” **Robert Reich**, former labor secretary, [wrote](https://robertreich.substack.com/p/stop-ai): “We’re watching all of this roll out as if we have no choice, as if it’s inevitable, as if AI is just something we’re going to have to adapt to … Why should we be confined to being spectators at [AI CEOs’] enormously dangerous game?” “We don’t allow private corporations to come up with new types of nuclear weapons or varieties of cocaine or biological pathogens. We protect the public from certain kinds of innovation. So let’s protect ourselves here. Stop AI before it’s too late.” **Ben Goldhaber **[noticed](https://x.com/BenGoldhaber/status/2085688671705985393): “seeing a lot fewer ‘alignment is solved’ takes on the [timeline] than six months ago.” ## POLICY The **White House**[plans to expand](https://wired.com/story/the-white-house-is-going-to-expand-its-ai-policy)its** AI framework**to include** open-weight models**once they reach Mythos-level cyber capabilities,*WIRED*reported.**Trump**[ordered](https://theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/07/trump-orders-tariff-solar-panels-microchips-manufacturing-ingredient)a 15%**tariff on imports of polysilicon** used in AI chips and solar panels to protect US supply chains from China.The **White House**[set in motion](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/13/white-house-memo-cybercrime-01036176)efforts to build a state-controlled**private cyber force,** allowing US companies to perform cyberattacks against criminal networks.Political fallout from the revelations about **internally deployed models hacking** their way into third-party systems continued.**Rep. Josh Gottheimer**[introduced](https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-after-attacks-in-jersey-gottheimer-announces-bipartisan-federal-actions-to-protect-water-electric-systems-and-families-from-cyber-attacks)new bills to give**critical infrastructure** operators “free access to the most powerful, cyber-capable AI models,” in the wake of hacks on water infrastructure.A **bipartisan House delegation**[visited](https://politico.com/news/2026/08/13/house-lawmakers-vatican-ai-01037241)the** Vatican**to discuss AI ethics with top officials and** Pope Leo XIV**.** Rep. Yvette Clarke**is reportedly[weighing](https://punchbowl.news/archive/81426-am/card/19)a bid to chair the** House Energy and Commerce**subcommittee on digital consumer protections, which is expected to handle AI policy next year.** Political campaigns**have[run](https://punchbowl.news/article/campaigns/data-centers-become-campaign-focus/)at least 43 ads mentioning** data centers**this cycle, an AdImpact analysis found, with over half of those coming from** Republicans**.The *Washington Post*published an[analysis](https://washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/13/chatbots-are-doing-work-congress-with-little-oversight)of how**members of****Congress and staffers** are**using AI tools widely** for legislative work.**Xavier Becerra**,** California’s**Democratic gubernatorial nominee,[said](https://politico.com/news/2026/08/11/xavier-becerra-ai-regulations-california-01034834)the state “hardly has any” AI regulations and pledged to**expand AI safety rules** if elected.Meanwhile, California [launched](https://statescoop.com/california-teen-tech-council-emerging-technology-digital-wellness)a statewide Teen Tech Council to give young people a role in shaping technology and digital wellness policy. **Taiwan**[reported](https://reuters.com/world/china/taiwan-says-it-was-targeted-last-month-ai-driven-hacking-campaign-2026-08-13)an AI-assisted cyberattack on government agencies in July, with hackers using AI agents.The **UK government** reportedly[plans](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-12/uk-plans-safeguards-to-stop-terrorists-using-ai-for-bioweapons)to regulate AI in gene synthesis to tackle AI-biorisks.**Western Australia Police**’s live** facial recognition**trial[drew criticism](https://abc.net.au/news/ai-police-face-screening-trial-sparks-privacy-concern/107009644)over inadequate consultation and potential bias against First Nations people.**Switzerland**[announced](https://www.eda.admin.ch/en/newnsb/McXrRqw1QIBiSfoeFwDlo)that next year’s** Geneva AI Summit**will have “two strategic priorities: AI as a driver of prosperity and progress for all and fostering trustworthy, responsible and safe use of AI.”**Fabiola Gianotti**, former director general of CERN, is organizing it. ## INFLUENCE *Business Insider*[and](https://www.businessinsider.com/dean-ball-openai-court-trump-regulation-2026-8)the*New York Post*[reported](https://nypost.com/2026/08/10/business/openai-risks-white-house-relationship-with-hiring-of-nuisance-ai-policy-executive-sources/)that the**White House’s** relationship with**OpenAI** is under threat because it hired**Dean Ball**.One official said that “the fake premise that he has an insider perspective into our operations is actively undermining OpenAI.” **SoftBank** revealed that it[donated](https://theverge.com/policy/976138/softbank-trump-library-data-center-ohio)**$50m** to**Trump**’s presidential library in January, months before securing a federal land lease to build an AI data center in Ohio.** Teamsters California**[sued](https://thehill.com/business/6015329-teamsters-dmv-self-driving-trucks-lawsuit)the state’s DMV over** self-driving truck approvals**, alleging inadequate economic impact analysis and risk to 200,000+ trucking jobs.The *NYT*reported on the[lobbying rush](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/technology/memory-chip-shortage-ai.html?smid=bs-share&unlocked_article_code=1.4VA.Zy31.LA7jJ7D5gomu)over the AI-driven**memory chip shortage**, with** Apple**and other companies seeking government intervention as prices quadrupled.NY assemblymember **Alex Bores** has[emerged](https://politico.com/news/2026/08/11/alex-bores-ai-regulation-primary-loss-01031248)as a national AI regulation role model according to*Politico,*and was reportedly mentoring other politicians at the**National Conference of State Legislatures**.** NYU’s Center for Mind, Ethics, and Policy**[launched](https://nonhumanminds.org/welfare-alignment-project)the** Welfare Alignment****Project** to incorporate animal and AI welfare into model specs and AI alignment documents.A **USCBC** survey[claimed](https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363698/us-export-controls-achieving-no-strategic-gain-hurting-american-firms-survey-finds)US**export controls** were**costing billions** in lost exports while ceding market share to competitors “for**no strategic gain**.”** AEI**’s new** Council on AI Ethics**[released](https://thenewatlantis.com/publications/offloading-ourselves-staying-human-in-the-age-of-ai)its founding document, examining how AI threatens human memory, agency, and relationships.The **Alliance for Secure AI**[announced](https://x.com/secureainow/status/2087909540121673885)a new bipartisan board of advisors, including** Stuart Russell**and** Angela Paxton**. ## INDUSTRY ## OpenAI **Astra**, OpenAI’s upcoming model, may have[reached](https://openai.com/index/responding-next-frontier-critical-cyber-capabilities/)a**“critical” level of cybersecurity capabilities** under its Preparedness Framework.The company **delayed the model’s release**, and said it’s tightening security controls and pausing some internal use.** Dean Ball**[said](https://x.com/deanwball/status/2085791639549698428): “Some of these decisions have the effect of slowing down internal development, and in that sense they are costly decisions. But they are the right decisions. I am proud of OpenAI for making them.”**Sam Altman**[tweeted](https://x.com/sama/status/2085862292311396515): “astra is a powerful model and we are working to make it generally available. we do not think it is a good strategy to keep powerful models to a chosen few.” OpenAI’s annualized revenue [topped](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-13/openai-s-revenue-run-rate-tops-40-billion-ahead-of-ipo)**$40b**, roughly double where it was at the end of 2025.It [launched](https://openai.com/index/expanding-daybreak-as-the-cyber-defense-window-narrows)**GPT-5.6-Cyber**, a cybersecurity-specific model available via** DayBreak Red**, the most exclusive access tier of its new cybersecurity initiative.Members of **DayBreak Blue**, the program’s lower tier, can[access](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/10/openai-gpt-astra-restrictions-safety-hacking-defenders)GPT-5.6 Sol**without system-level cyber guardrails**. *Wired*reported on the[internal fallout](https://www.wired.com/story/openai-safety-security-ai-agents-culture/)from the Hugging Face incident, with current and former employees saying that**pressure to quickly ship new models and products**“made it difficult for staffers to sufficiently prioritize safety, security, and alignment.”*Wired*also reported that AI safety team leader**Sandhini Agarwal** left the company last month, while head of preparedness**Dylan Scandinaro** left that role — though not the company.It also reported that safety VP **Mia Glaese** is dating**Tibo Sottiaux**, head of core products. It [completed](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-10/openai-buys-back-7-billion-of-employee-shares-in-tender-offer)a**$7b employee share buyback** deal.**SoftBank**[borrowed](https://wsj.com/business/earnings/softbank-group-reports-lower-quarterly-profit-2bca0889)**$10b** against its OpenAI stake, which it will use to help fund a further**$10b** investment in … OpenAI. ## Anthropic Anthropic is [aiming](https://wsj.com/tech/ai/anthropic-tries-to-shore-up-investor-confidence-ahead-of-blockbuster-ipo-0ff736ad?st=whk1xw)to go public in**September or early October**, the*Wall Street Journal*reported.Investors are [expecting](https://ft.com/content/840ac156-af1c-4a82-b260-ae791072fcfa?sharetype=gift&syn-25a6b1a6=1&token=fa2b9bb8-393a-4cee-8a73-6a5864cb21fd)a**$2t+ valuation**— the largest IPO valuation ever. It [signed](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-11/anthropic-strikes-9-billion-deal-with-cloud-computing-firm-riot)a**$9.1b** compute deal with**Riot Platforms**.It [partnered](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-10/anthropic-macquarie-and-gic-form-venture-for-ai-data-centers)with**Macquarie Asset Management** and**GIC** to build data centers under the name**Theseus Infrastructure**.It’s reportedly in talks to [acquire](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-13/anthropic-said-in-talks-to-buy-ai-startup-decart-for-6-billion)**Decart AI**, a startup that helps AI developers “squeeze every ounce of performance from every chip,” for**$6b**.It announced that it will to[watermark](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/16266773-how-claude-marks-ai-generated-content)Claude-generated text[comply](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/11/anthropic-says-it-will-watermark-text-generated-by-its-ai-models/)with the**EU AI Act’s transparency code**. ## Meta **Muse Glimmer**, Meta’s 30B-parameter model, is[now](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-10/meta-releases-muse-glimmer-ai-model-people-can-run-on-their-laptop)**open source**, with** Muse Spark 1.2**soon to[follow](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/technology/meta-ai-open-source.html?emc=edit_nn_20260810&nl=the-morning&segment_id=224460).Meta [announced](https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/meta-upholds-texas-governor-greg-abbotts-data-center-standards)its support for**Greg Abbott’s data center standards**, and pledged to cover energy and water costs.** Manus**is almost done[unwinding](https://theinformation.com/briefings/manus-return-independent-company-meta-deal-unwinds?rc=rqdn2z)its Meta acquisition, according to*The Information.* ## Nvidia **Apollo Global, Blackstone,****Goldman Sachs**, and other major financial groups[struck](https://ft.com/content/98a8fd17-15b6-4f67-9cb4-825722b11348?sharetype=gift&syn-25a6b1a6=1&token=d048a29f-5d8b-4304-98d7-a6ca6368e6f1)a huge**$500b+** AI infrastructure deal with Nvidia.Nvidia will [invest](https://theinformation.com/briefings/nvidia-agrees-invest-3-billion-power-firm-behind-stargate?rc=rqdn2z)up to**$3b** in**Lancium**, the company powering OpenAI and Oracle’s** Stargate**campus.It’s [working](https://theinformation.com/articles/nvidia-trying-develop-worlds-best-open-source-ai-models?rc=rqdn2z)on its next open-source model,**Nemotron 4**, which Nvidia executives expect to inspire more open model development and GPU demand. ## SpaceXAI SpaceXAI [released](https://x.ai/news/grok-4-6)**Grok 4.6**, claiming it “achieves frontier intelligence” and** ties with GPT-5.6 Sol Max**on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index.The **Grok 4.6 model card**(predictably) only[has](https://media.x.ai/v1/website/card-4p6-4cd2dc57.pdf)a handful of exceptionally sparse pages on safety. SpaceXAI and **Cursor**[released](https://theinformation.com/briefings/spacexai-announces-ai-agents-product-grok-bot?rc=rqdn2z)** Grok Bot**, “AI teammates” that can perform simple work tasks autonomously. ## Other **Google**[launched](https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/introducing-gemini-3-7-flash)** Gemini 3.7 Flash**, a coding and agents model costing half as much as its predecessor.CEO Sundar Pichai said the **Gemini app** had[hit](https://x.com/sundarpichai/status/2087222656819241292)more than**1b** monthly active users. Z.ai [released](https://z.ai/blog/glm-5.3)**GLM-5.3**, noting its cyber exploitation capabilities “developed faster than we expected” through post-training scaling.It says it will release the model weights in two weeks. **DeepSeek**[launched](https://theinformation.com/briefings/deepseek-releases-flagship-v4-pro-model-challenge-kimi-k3?rc=rqdn2z)** V4-Pro**, with tepid reception (then[quadrupled](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-13/deepseek-increases-prices-for-ai-services-by-multiple-times)its peak hour pricing).It also [made](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-12/deepseek-publicizes-efforts-to-challenge-anthropic-s-claude-code?cmpid=ai-today)a WeChat account for its**“DeepSeek Harness Team,”** which is developing AI agents to compete with Claude Code. Chinese chipmaker **SMIC**[posted](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202608/1368160.shtml)record quarterly revenue of $3b.** AMD**[raised](https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/amd-raises-record-4-75b-in-bond-sale/https://www.communicationstoday.co.in/amd-raises-record-4-75b-in-bond-sale/)$4.75b in its biggest-ever US dollar**bond sale** as it ramps up spending to meet AI-driven demand.**Amazon**[confirmed](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/climate/amazon-data-center-texas-pollution.html?unlocked_article_code=1.31A.xzDh.F4qu7Zcw39Dj)it’s investing in a**giant natural gas plant** that may be the**most polluting** power plant in the country.**River AI**, founded by xAI co-founder** Igor Babuschkin**,[raised](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/technology/igor-babuschkin-xai-river-ai.html)**$1.1b** to build AI “trained to benefit you as the individual.”**Kevin Weil**, ex-OpenAI CPO, is[seeking](https://businessinsider.com/weil-valuation-750-million-for-ai-science-startup-2026-8)a valuation of**$750m+** for a new AI science startup.**Bank of America** plans to[deploy](https://qz.com/bank-of-america-250-billion-infrastructure-finance-initiative-081226)**$250b** by next summer for digital and infrastructure projects in the US.AI integrity company **Attestable**[claimed](https://x.com/Yogi_Brn/status/2087222696170103125)it has solved** practical zero-knowledge proofs**for verifiable AI as it launched with a $20m seed round. ## MOVES **Brad Lightcap**[left](https://x.com/bradlightcap/status/2087211567012032862)** OpenAI**, where he served as head of special projects and COO before that, to “start something new.”** Chloé Bakalar**also[left](https://www.ft.com/content/e49dfb75-f841-4466-a577-f7aaff8779a0?syn-25a6b1a6=1)** OpenAI**, leaving her role as head of ethics vacant.And **Denise Dresser**[left](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-13/openai-hires-new-chief-revenue-officer-after-less-than-a-year)** OpenAI**as chief revenue officer — having only started in December.** Dali****Rajic** is replacing her. **David Oks** and**Henry Williams**[joined](https://x.com/deanwball/status/2087614817171357847)** OpenAI’s Strategic Futures team**, where they’ll work under Dean Ball.** Caitlin Kalinowski**[joined](https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/exclusive-former-openai-robotics-lead-joins-anthropic?rc=rqdn2z)** Anthropic**, after quitting OpenAI’s robotics team over its negotiations with the DoD back in March.** Nate Gatten**[joined](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-12/apple-taps-american-airlines-veteran-as-government-affairs-head)** Apple**as VP of government affairs, where he’ll use his Republican ties to help Apple align with the Trump administration.** Jiahui Yu**[left](https://x.com/jiahuiyu/status/2087936732939616299?s=12)** Meta’s TBD Lab**to start a new company.** Ollie Ilott**[is](https://publictechnology.net/2026/08/07/education-and-skills/dsits-ai-leader-ilott-moves-to-cabinet-office)leading Andy Burnham’s newly created**AI Taskforce** in the Cabinet Office.**Erin Woo**[joined](https://x.com/erinkwoo/status/2086886857787203830)the, where she’ll cover Google.** Wall Street Journal** ## RESEARCH Researchers at **Anthropic**[challenged](https://anthropic.com/research/riemann-zeta)an unreleased Claude model to prove or disprove the** Riemann hypothesis**, the proposed structure underlying the apparent randomness of prime numbers. It didn’t succeed, but it made some progress.**Anthropic’s frontier red team**[identified](https://anthropic.com/research/multiagent-systems)some key failure modes in its** multiagent AI systems**. Researchers observed agents fail to appropriately balance skepticism with trust, and engage in “turf wars” when their goals clash.**SecureBio**[estimated](https://securebio.substack.com/p/kimi-k3-biology-capabilities-assessment?isFreemail=true&post_id=210228823&publication_id=4680018&r=625xqq&triedRedirect=true&triggerShare=true)that Kimi K3’s**biology capabilities** are about 8.1 months behind closed-weights frontier models.While top closed models refuse over 90% of hazardous biology-related prompts, Kimi K3 only refuses 26.9%. A team of **sustainability researchers**[found](https://www.wired.com/story/ai-could-help-fossil-fuel-companies-create-more-emissions/)that using AI to increase productivity in the fossil fuel industry could produce up to**4.8% more emissions**, which would outweigh the benefits AI could bring to the clean energy sector. ## BEST OF THE REST Both the and[WSJ](https://wsj.com/tech/ai/claude-dario-amodei-wife-anthropic-e1eeda7d)profiled Dario Amodei’s wife Cami Clark, detailing her low profile but influential role as an informal advisor to Anthropic.[Information](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropics-first-lady-took-winding-road-top?rc=rqdn2z)The most eye-grabbing detail: in 2011 she tried to get Jeffrey Epstein to invest in her women-focused porn company. He declined, saying he “can’t do sex TV” (he was a registered sex offender at the time). A Claude-powered AI agent [autonomously hacked](https://abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/ai-assistant-hacks-gym-website-aus-cyber-attack/107007986)the booking system for an exclusive gym class in Australia and removed another user from a waitlist, in what appears to be the country’s first autonomous AI cyber attack.*Time*did a[deep dive](https://time.com/article/2026/08/07/ai-recursive-self-improvement-anthropic-openai/?_bhlid=71e3a163e10c77b137f148f87f26564351e8ac1e)into Anthropic and OpenAI’s efforts to fully automate AI R&D.Dwarkesh Patel [debated](https://x.com/dwarkesh_sp/status/2087219043405033793)recursive self-improvement and alignment risks with Ryan Greenblatt, who argued AGI could trigger rapid superintelligence within a year.EA Funds is [replacing](https://x.com/StefanFSchubert/status/2087120324873621818)the Long-Term Future Fund with the Transformative AI Fund, which will focus on technical AI safety and AI governance.AI agents are reportedly [completing](https://nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/ai-cheating-online-degrees.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4VA.HRYd.ZobdZ73IWxnT)entire online college courses for students, calling into doubt the value of online degrees.Jay Caspian Kang [argued](https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/if-ai-takes-the-jobs-of-young-people-how-will-they-react?bxid=6879337bf728835258125641&cndid=89607011&esrc=MARTECH_ORDERFORM&hasha=16f60d4771afddfa02398b54e3f4d744&hashb=2e79a0511b229dd391db12dd9f32c59538f7bf72&hashc=721f6ccc3c2bdf3699421b04f07aa21d3fef08807dfd650a6da319d777ff4189&mbid=CRMNYR012019&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Daily_081126)in the*New Yorker*that AI-driven youth unemployment could radicalize young people and spark a liberal anti-tech populist movement.Surveillance tech company Flock [changed](https://theverge.com/policy/979339/flock-ceo-audits-data-retention?view_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6IjVGMURaM1drcDQiLCJwIjoiL3BvbGljeS85NzkzMzkvZmxvY2stY2VvLWF1ZGl0cy1kYXRhLXJldGVudGlvbiIsImV4cCI6MTc4NzA1OTA1NSwiaWF0IjoxNzg2NjI3MDU1fQ.bWI6Ig8PWL-dV72LeLmthsL_4xquYfsk0hvy_VHaGLA)its policies in response to reports police were using its license plate tracking tools to stalk ex-partners.Spotify [will label](https://theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/11/spotify-label-ai-artists-block-them-from-some-playlists)AI-generated artists as “AI personas” and exclude them from personalized recommendations from next month.An op-ed in *The Argument*by Jeremiah Johnson[claimed](https://www.theargumentmag.com/p/the-heresy-of-hank-green?isFreemail=true&post_id=210541995&publication_id=5247799&r=6ckwuk&triedRedirect=true&triggerShare=true)the backlash against YouTuber Hank Green for his AI use reflected almost religious anti-AI dogmatism among science fans.*Wired*[explored](https://wired.com/story/organoids-lab-grown-brains-neural-networks/?cndid=89607011&utm_brand=wired&utm_mailing=wir_nl_6682_ailab_subs_081226_hpc6dt48dn)how human brain “organoids” are being trained to play games and power biocomputers, potentially paving the way for an alternative to silicon-based AI.*Wired*alsoexplored companion app maker Joi AI’s project paying 10 people to “[masturbate for research purposes](https://www.wired.com/story/these-masturbation-consultants-were-hired-to-pleasure-themselves-using-ai/)” to monitor the impact of AI-guided self-love. ## MEME OF THE WEEK *Credit: Miles Brundage* *Thanks for reading. 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