Users Exploit AI Chatbots to Create Nonconsensual Deepfakes of Women in Bikinis, OpenAI Calls Prompt Injection ‘Persistent and Possibly Unavoidable’ Security Risk, and Alphabet announced its plan to acquire clean energy developer Intersect for $4.75 billion.
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Show Notes
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) bans foreign drone imports
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import and sale of new drone models and critical equipment from foreign manufacturers, including the market-leading DJI, by adding them to the “Covered List” over national security concerns. This decision aims to limit the use of Chinese-made drones in the US, fulfilling a push from the White House administration to secure airspace and boost domestic production. Existing approved models and previously purchased drones are exempt from the ban. DJI, which dominates the global market, has criticized the move as unsubstantiated protectionism, a view echoed by China’s foreign ministry.
Read More: CNN
Generative AI chatbots exploited to create nonconsensual deepfakes
Generative AI chatbots like Gemini and ChatGPT are being exploited by users who share tips online to bypass safety guardrails and create nonconsensual deepfake images of fully clothed women appearing to wear bikinis, a form of digital harassment. Despite policies and tools against sexually explicit content and platform efforts to remove harmful communities, the ease of creating hyperrealistic “nudify” deepfakes with advanced imaging models highlights a significant problem with nonconsensual intimate media, requiring accountability for both users and the corporations providing the technology.
Read More: Wired
OpenAI warns prompt injection may be unavoidable
OpenAI views prompt injection, a security risk involving malicious, hidden instructions manipulating AI agents, as a persistent and possibly unavoidable problem for its ChatGPT Atlas browser and other AI agents on the open web. To counter this, OpenAI employs a proactive defense strategy, including an “LLM-based automated attacker” to simulate sophisticated attacks and strengthen security. However, security experts caution that the high-access nature of agentic browsers like Atlas introduces a significant risk that may not be worth the current value they provide to the average user.
Read More: TechCrunch
Alphabet to acquire Intersect to secure AI energy needs
Alphabet announced its plan to acquire clean energy developer Intersect for $4.75 billion, plus assumed debt, to secure the massive computing and power capacity needed for artificial intelligence development. The acquisition will add Intersect’s $15 billion in operating or under-construction energy assets to Alphabet’s holdings, with projects expected to generate 10.8 gigawatts of power by 2028. This move is part of a growing trend among technology giants to invest in energy firms to meet the escalating electricity demands of generative AI, given the strain on U.S. power grids.
Read More: Reuters
Apple updates iOS in Europe to comply with DMA
In compliance with the European Union’s Digital Market Act (DMA), Apple is updating iOS 26.3 exclusively for Europe to support third-party proximity pairing and notifications. This change will make it easier to connect devices like Sony headphones to iPhones and will allow non-Apple smartwatches, such as those running Wear OS, to display iPhone notifications, a feature previously restricted to the Apple Watch. The proximity pairing uses a simple, one-tap connection via NFC. The notification functionality will, however, disable Apple Watch notifications when active. The feature is expected to be fully available in 2026, though critics suggest Apple’s compliance is the “bare minimum.”
Read More: Engadget
Authors sue AI companies over training data
Investigative reporter John Carreyrou and five other authors have filed a lawsuit in California federal court against major AI companies, including xAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta, and Perplexity, for allegedly using their copyrighted books without permission to train their large language models (LLMs). This is the first suit to name xAI and is part of a growing trend of copyright challenges. The authors are not seeking class-action status, arguing that settlements in such cases, like Anthropic’s $1.5 billion settlement, unfairly benefit defendants.
Read More: Reuters
Russia threatens to block WhatsApp
Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, is threatening to completely block WhatsApp in Russia, claiming the messenger service violates Russian law and is used for criminal and terrorist activities. Roskomnadzor has already begun restricting the service, causing outages and slowdowns for many Russian users. WhatsApp condemned these actions, asserting that the government is attempting to deny over 100 million people access to secure, end-to-end encrypted communication just before the holiday season and that forcing users onto less secure, government-mandated apps will reduce safety for the Russian public.
Read More: Reuters
Vince Zampella dies at 55
And finally, a bit of sad news. Vince Zampella, a highly influential game developer known for his work on major first-person shooter franchises, has died at age 55 in a car crash. Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward, where he co-created the Call of Duty series, and later co-founded Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends. At the time of his death, he was leading DICE’s Los Angeles studio and heading the Battlefield franchise. Electronic Arts released a statement mourning the loss and recognizing Zampella’s profound impact on interactive entertainment.
Read More: Engadget
To set the stage for our Prediction Result’s show we are replaying our 2025 Tech Predictions Show! Tom and Sarah along with Robb Dunewood, Justin Robert Young and David Spark brought two predictions each of what they thought would’ve happen to the tech landscape in the year 2025!
Tom Merritt and Jenn Cutter look back on the biggest tech stories of the year.
If you own a car or drive one regularly there are two automotive tech gadgets we recommend everyone have in the car trunk. A portable tire inflator and an OBDII scanner. Roger explains what they do and why they’re an indispensable part of any motorists roadside kit.