Local timeline

Amazon has abruptly banned Meta's Muse, an AI shopping agent. The ban highlights a brewing battle for dominance in online retail.
Source: Daily Maverick
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-04-crossed-wires-meta-vs-amazon-the-battle-for-the-future-of-online-commerce/
#AIAgents #Meta #Amazon

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced financing for tens of thousands of Quantum Systems interceptor drones for Ukraine as part of a winter 2026/2027 military aid package.
Source: Tech.eu
https://tech.eu/2026/10/04/germany-funds-tens-of-thousands-of-interceptor-drones-as-quantum-systems-scales-in-ukraine/
#Tech

AI slop seems to be overwhelming bug bounty programs. https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/04/google-froze-its-open-source-bug-bounty-program-due-to-a-significant-rise-in-ai-submissions/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

On Equity, we discussed the Trump administration's attempts to rebrand AI. https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/04/can-super-intelligence-and-a-non-binding-safety-pact-solve-ais-image-problem/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Malaysia is strengthening AI workforce readiness through a national initiative that targets five million AI-ready Malaysians by 2030.
Source: OpenGov Asia
https://opengovasia.com/malaysia-ai-readiness-initiative-targets-five-million-by-2030/
#TechPolicy

President Donald Trump defended data centers at a rally in southwestern Ohio, saying they should benefit local communities and warning that shutting them down would send business to China.
Source: Fortune
https://fortune.com/2026/10/04/trumps-ohio-rally-gets-quiet-after-he-defends-data-centers-a-toxic-political-issue-with-bipartisan-opposition-you-cant-just-turn-them-off/
#TechPolicy

When your own government becomes an AI-powered hacker army.
Source: The Mandarin
https://www.themandarin.com.au/321271-when-your-own-government-becomes-an-ai-powered-hacker-army/
#TechPolicy

China aims to have solid-state batteries in large-scale use by 2030, but CATL's chairman rates the technology only four out of nine and says million-vehicle deployment before that date is very unlikely.
Source: The Next Web
https://thenextweb.com/news/china-solid-state-2030-dunkirk
#AI

Lina Khan said AI companies are following the same playbook that got Big Tech into trouble.
Source: Business Insider
https://www.businessinsider.com/lina-khan-says-ai-companies-shouldnt-follow-big-tech-playbook-2026-10
#TechPolicy

Donald Trump established a Super Intelligence Force led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton.
Source: The Decoder
https://the-decoder.com/trump-launches-super-intelligence-force-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-actual-superintelligence/
#TechPolicy

Trump named Jay Clayton, Andrew Ferguson, Emil Michael and Scott Kupor to lead a Super Intelligence Force. The force has no statutory authority or budget.
Source: The Next Web
https://thenextweb.com/news/trump-super-intelligence-force-leaders
#TechPolicy

Trump announced an AI czar for his newly created Super Intelligence Force. The organization is called the Super Intelligence Force and there is someone in charge of it.
Source: Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/2276762/trump-announces-an-ai-czar-for-his-newly-created-super-intelligence-force/
#TechPolicy

President Zelensky said Russia is sharing jet-powered drone technology with North Korea.
Source: The Kyiv Independent
https://kyivindependent.com/very-dangerous-moment-russia-sharing-jet-powered-drone-tech-with-north-korea-zelensky-says/
#TechPolicy

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility, your hub for the future of transportation and now, more than ever, the role AI is playing in it. https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/04/techcrunch-mobility-reining-in-robotaxis/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Huawei unveiled its Mate 90 smartphone series featuring a new Kirin 9050 Pro chip that uses a proprietary "LogicFolding" three-dimensional architecture.
Source: Innovation Village
https://innovation-village.com/huawei-unveils-mate-90-series-defying-us-sanctions-with-logicfolding-kirin-chip/
#Tech #Huawei

This new task force is Trump's latest response to the debate over AI safety. https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/04/trump-unveils-his-new-super-intelligence-force/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon

Economists question whether AI can deliver the productivity gains needed to justify trillions in spending while AI spending now dwarfs the railway and dot-com booms.
Source: TechCentral
https://techcentral.co.za/ai-spending-railway-dot-com-booms/286847/
#AI

The author says they quit the movement shaping AI. Artificial intelligence insiders are quitting their jobs, saying the technology could mean the end of humanity.
Source: France 24
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20261004-why-i-quit-the-movement-shaping-ai
#TechPolicy

Jhanvi Kapoor condemned an AI-generated explicit video of her and said circulating fictionalised content without consent is deeply violating and borders on sexual assault.
Source: Gulf News
https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/jhanvi-kapoor-condemns-ai-generated-explicit-viral-video-calls-for-respect-and-consent-1.500698088
#TechPolicy

Residents of Dalby may soon live beside a $31bn datacentre.
Source: The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/05/queensland-data-centre-anthropic-western-downs-dalby
#AI