The New York Times
Spending on AI infrastructure is reaching unprecedented levels, led by Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Together, the tech giants invested more than $130 billion in capital expenditures in the first three months of the year—mostly for datacenters—and plan to spend roughly $700 billion this year.
From "AI Spending Sets a Record, with No End in Sight"
The New York Times (04/29/26) Karen Weise
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Reuters
The European Union plans to expand its Digital Markets Act to more closely regulate cloud computing and AI services, aiming to ensure emerging tech sectors are “fairer and more contestable.” The rules already target major “gatekeepers” like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms. Going forward, the European Commission will assess whether cloud providers and AI services should face stricter oversight, including potential gatekeeper designations. Officials say the goal is to prevent anticompetitive practices as use of these technologies grow.
From "EU Rules Reining in Big Tech to Target Cloud Services, AI"
Reuters (04/28/26) Foo Yun Chee
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The Mainichi (Japan)
Beijing has become the first Chinese municipality to ban most drone sales and rentals, citing growing security concerns around low-altitude airspace near key government and military facilities. The new rules prohibit sales, transport, and use of drones and major flight-control components, while requiring existing owners to register their devices within three months. The move reflects heightened concerns over drones’ role in modern warfare and domestic security.
From "Beijing Bans Drone Sales to Tighten Security in Capital"
The Mainichi (Japan) (05/01/26)
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A new TechBrief from ACM’s Technology Policy Council (TPC) examines the benefits and risks of vibe coding. While vibe coding can speed development and make software creation more accessible, the authors warn it often skips core engineering practices that ensure systems are secure, reliable, and maintainable. "To use these tools safely, strong software engineering practices are still required, including clear specifications, meaningful testing, and enforced standards," said lead author Simson Garfinkel, chief scientist at BasisTech.
From "AI Vibe Coding Could Reshape Software Development but Lacks Key Safeguards, ACM TPC Warns"
ACM Media Center (04/30/26)
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New York Daily News
Technical problems disrupted computerized state math exams for thousands of New York State public school students, forcing some schools to delay testing. This is the second consecutive year that technical issues have disrupted state testing in school districts across New York. Students in Pennsylvania experienced similar issues last week, as more state education departments move to computerized assessments.
From "System Glitches Lock Out NY Students from Standardized Tests"
New York Daily News (04/29/26) Cayla Bamberger
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NPR
Families affected by the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in Canada have filed seven lawsuits in a federal court in San Francisco against OpenAI for negligence and providing a dangerous version of ChatGPT to the shooter. The suits allege OpenAI failed to take actions that could have prevented the violence, claiming the company failed to report the shooter's prior conversations with ChatGPT to authorities, and that ChatGPT itself was defective for not challenging the shooter or directing her to seek real-world help.
From "Families Sue OpenAI over Canadian Mass Shooter's Use of ChatGPT"
NPR (04/29/26) Geoff Brumfiel
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