Appeals Court Vacates FCC's Digital Discrimination Rules
A federal appeals court has vacated the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) digital discrimination rules, which aimed to prevent unequal access to broadband based on income, race, and other characteristics. The Eighth Circuit, led by Judge James Loken, ruled that the FCC overstepped by adopting a disparate impact standard and broadly defining the entities covered by the rules. This decision resolves a legal challenge that has been pending since September 2024, leaving the FCC with the task of developing new regulations to facilitate equal broadband access.
US Shifts AI Policy, Avoids Picking Industry Winners
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles announced that the US government will not select winners and losers in the artificial intelligence sector, indicating a shift in the administration's AI policy approach. This statement comes as the administration considers an executive order to establish a vetting system for new AI models, particularly in light of concerns surrounding Anthropic PBC's Mythos model, which has been identified as a potential cybersecurity risk. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noted that the administration is coordinating efforts to ensure AI models are thoroughly tested before release to mitigate risks to American businesses and government networks.
Anthropic Partners with SpaceX to Boost Computing Power
Anthropic PBC has signed an agreement with SpaceX to enhance its computing capabilities, securing access to over 300 megawatts of capacity from the Colossus 1 data center in Memphis. This partnership aims to meet the increasing demand for Anthropic's Claude AI software by substantially increasing its computing resources, which will allow for higher usage limits for its products. Additionally, Anthropic has expressed interest in collaborating with SpaceX to develop orbital AI compute capacity.
SpaceX to Launch 24 Starlink Satellites Tonight
SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, targeting a window between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. for the delivery of 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. This mission marks the 24th use of the rocket's first-stage booster, which is expected to land on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean following stage separation. A live stream of the launch will be available on SpaceX's X account.
