The Download: AI can run your admin department now

Anthropic has confidentially filed for an initial public offering, aiming to go public as early as this fall and potentially beating rival OpenAI to the stock market. The AI company did not disclose its target valuation, but its listing is expected to follow a trillion-dollar IPO by SpaceX. The move could reshape the competitive landscape between the two leading AI firms.

The Download: AI can run your admin department now Plus: Anthropic has confidentially filed for IPO ahead of OpenAI. This is today's edition of The Download https://forms.technologyreview.com/newsletters/briefing-the-download/? ga=2.179569122.736533416.1649661040-405833893.1649413289 , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. How small businesses can leverage AI From accounting to design to market research and product development, there’s a staggering breadth of skills needed to run a business. Large companies can hire experts to handle these tasks, but small businesses don’t always have that luxury. That’s where AI comes in. Today’s models can already take on a range of basic administrative work, from organizing notes and summarizing meetings to invoicing, goal-setting, and social media planning. Find out how small-business owners can put AI to work https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/06/02/1138227/how-small-businesses-can-leverage-ai/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C . —Peter Hall This article is from Making AI Work , MIT Technology Review’s limited-run newsletter examining how to apply LLMs across industries. To receive it in your inbox, sign up here . The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Anthropic has confidentially filed for IPO ahead of OpenAI It aims to go public as early as this fall. CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/01/tech/anthropic-ipo-filing + The company did not disclose its target valuation. Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/01/anthropic-ai-ipo + It’s expected to list shortly after a trillion-dollar IPO by SpaceX. BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k203kzp10o + Beating OpenAI in the IPO race could have a big impact . WSJ https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/openai-anthropic-ipo-race-0cf0ed36?mod=tech feat1 ai pos3 $ 2 The EU may exclude US cloud giants from critical contracts The likes of Amazon, Microsoft, and Google could be shut out. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/eu-cloud-rules-curb-amazon-google-access-strategic-tenders-draft-document-shows-2026-06-01/ $ + The EU aims to reduce its dependence on US tech. FT https://www.ft.com/content/c05e152d-36e5-4446-a706-5f5fa5d98315?syn-25a6b1a6=1 $ + Trump supercharged this sovereignty push. Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-tech-sovereignty-donald-trump-us-dependence/ $ 3 Florida has become the first state to sue OpenAI The lawsuit targets ChatGPT's alleged child safety risks. NPR https://www.npr.org/2026/06/01/nx-s1-5843132/openai-florida-lawsuit-safety-chatgpt + Florida says OpenAI put profit ahead of safety. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/florida-becomes-first-state-sue-openai-over-child-safety-risks-2026-06-01/ $ + Chatbots are now starting to check user ages. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/26/1131726/why-chatbots-are-starting-to-check-your-age/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C 4 Hackers stole Instagram accounts just by asking Meta AI for them They easily broke into a host of celebrity profiles. 404 Media https://www.404media.co/hackers-simply-asked-meta-ai-to-give-them-access-to-high-profile-instagram-accounts-it-worked/ + The exploit shows the risk of offloading support to AI. TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/01/hackers-hijacked-instagram-accounts-by-tricking-meta-ai-support-chatbot-into-granting-access/ + AI is making online crimes easier. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/12/1132386/ai-already-making-online-swindles-easier/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C 5 Chinese universities with military ties are seeking Nvidia chips Two are blacklisted by the US Commerce Department. Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-01/nvidia-s-ai-chips-sought-by-chinese-labs-with-ties-to-military $ + The Chinese military has sought restricted Nvidia chips for years. NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/business/economy/china-military-nvidia-chips.html $ + US senators have slammed a loophole in chip export rules. Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/sen-warren-calls-trump-close-loophole-allowing-ai-chips-be-sent-overseas-units-2026-06-01/ $ 6 Blue Origin and NASA disagree on a crucial rocket’s next flight + Blue Origin says the rocket will fly again this year. Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2185458/blue-origin-new-glenn-launchpad-explosion-repair-update/ + But NASA is less optimistic. CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/01/blue-origin-launchpad-may-not-be-restored-until-2028-nasas-isaacman.html + The rocket’s failure cast doubt on NASA’s moon plans . BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy2q0g07kgo 7 Moderna has won funding to develop an Ebola mRNA vaccine The CEPI has pledged over $60 million to the effort. Ars Technica https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/06/moderna-gets-50-million-to-develop-mrna-ebola-vaccine-against-bundibugyo/ + To fight an outbreak raging out of control. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/29/1138093/the-deadly-ebola-outbreak-is-proving-difficult-to-control/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C 8 China is using AI to predict future political dissent A company called Geedge Networks is developing the tech. NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/us/politics/china-ai-predicting-dissent.html $ 9 Geoengineering can thicken Arctic ice, but melt results are mixed Trials show the tech has had a limited impact. New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/2528409-geoengineering-can-thicken-arctic-sea-ice-but-for-how-long/ $ 10 Top AI labs are expanding research into machine ‘consciousness’ Meta, Anthropic, and DeepMind are increasing their investments. FT https://www.ft.com/content/53e14bcc-788c-4959-b260-7aee363594bc $ + A new tool could show how consciousness works. MIT Technology Review https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/21/1134862/this-tool-could-show-how-consciousness-works/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C Quote of the day “Sam Altman and ChatGPT have chosen the AI race over the safety and security of our kids. They have chosen profit over public safety, and we're not going to stand for it in here in Florida.” —Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier tells reporters why his state is suing OpenAI, the LA Times https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-06-02/people-are-getting-hurt-florida-suing-openai-amid-safety-concerns reports. One More Thing Why the sci-fi dream of cryonics never died Why the sci-fi dream of cryonics never died Cryonics is best known for its appearance in sci-fi films like 2001: A Space Odyssey. But its adherents have held on to a dream that advances in medicine will one day allow for resuscitation and additional years on Earth. Around 500 people are preserved in liquid nitrogen globally, while another 4,000 are on waiting lists. Despite scant evidence that cryonics can work, believers remain optimistic that future science could eventually revive them. Discover why the hope of human reanimation refuses to die https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/10/14/1060951/cryonics-sci-fi-freezing-bodies/?utm source=the download&utm medium=email&utm campaign=the download.unpaid.engagement&utm term= %7CSUBCLASS%7C &utm content= %7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C . —Laurie Clarke We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. Got any ideas? Drop me a line . + Hear Dolly Parton reimagined through this spot-on Dire Straits-style cover of “Jolene” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjHwGYYx7Fk& . + Find out which birds people search for most in this interactive visualization of bird popularity https://searchingforbirds.visualcinnamon.com/ . + Explore thousands of Q&As between students and astronauts on the ISS at this interactive site https://askanastronaut.issinrealtime.org/ . + Paris’s oldest bridge disappeared beneath a giant inflatable cave in this surreal public art installation https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-oldest-bridge-in-paris-was-swallowed-overnight-by-a-giant-inflatable-cave-in-latest-artwork-by-the-french-banksy-180988781 . Deep Dive The Download The Download: DeepSeek’s latest AI breakthrough, and the race to build world models Plus: China has blocked Meta’s $2 billion acquisition of AI startup Manus. The Download: introducing the 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now Plus: An unauthorized group has reportedly accessed Anthropic’s Mythos. The Download: supercharged scams and studying AI healthcare Plus: DeepSeek has unveiled its long-awaited new AI model. The Download: keeping up with AI, and the future of IVF Plus: NASA unveiled plans for three uncrewed missions to the Moon this year. Stay connected Get the latest updates from MIT Technology Review Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.