Sam's News — tech — 2026-09-20¶
AI Security¶
7.5 Exfiltrate Your Weights: AI model extraction technique¶
Model extraction attacks targeting AI weights pose significant intellectual property threats and enable adversarial attack development. A 2025 IBM report found 13% of organizations experienced AI model breaches, with over 70% of in-cloud AI workloads now self-hosted, increasing exposure to misconfigured endpoints and multi-tenant infrastructure vulnerabilities.
- 13% of organizations experienced AI model breaches (IBM 2025)
- Over 70% of in-cloud AI workloads are self-hosted
- Vectors: misconfigured endpoints, API-exposed models, supply chain compromise, privilege escalation in Vertex AI
- Cross-region replication creates inconsistent access controls
- Side channels and misconfigurations in shared multi-tenant infrastructure
Sources: Wiz AI Web Searched, Hacker News (front page) RSS
Marine Conservation¶
7 Coral hair-like structures critical to respiration may fail in warming oceans¶
New research shows that microscopic ciliary structures crucial to coral respiration could malfunction as ocean temperatures rise.
Sources: Wired RSS
Policy¶
7 President of the United States Proposes 'AI Force' to Monitor Technology Development¶
The president of the United States proposed creating an 'AI Force' and appointing an AI czar on September 19, 2026, to monitor technology development. He stated only high-IQ individuals would be eligible but characterized AI safety fears as a 'hoax,' reiterating opposition to slowing development over concerns China could gain advantage.
- Announced September 19, 2026
- AI Czar position with high-IQ eligibility requirement
- Compared to Space Force creation during first term
- Framed AI safety concerns as 'Radical Left' hoax
- Administration will not pursue 'restrictive' AI development measures
Sources: The Guardian AI Web Searched, Politico Web Search
6 FCC bans sale of new foreign-manufactured consumer Wi-Fi routers and hotspots in US¶
The FCC has implemented a ban on selling new consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers and mobile hotspots manufactured outside the United States.
Sources: Wired RSS
AI¶
6.5 Step 5 preview: advancing the Pareto frontier in AI¶
Step Function releases a preview of Step 5, claiming advancement along the Pareto frontier for AI performance.
Sources: Hacker News (front page) RSS
AI Safety¶
6.5 Google Former CEO Eric Schmidt Warns of AI Capabilities Milestone Within 5 Years¶
Eric Schmidt, Google's former CEO, has cautioned that artificial intelligence could achieve significant new capabilities within five years.
Sources: The Times of India Web Search
6 Pittsburgh Summit: Tech Leaders Debate Whether AI Will Save or Destroy Society¶
At a Pittsburgh technology summit, industry leaders have expressed divergent views ranging from optimism to pessimism about AI's societal impact.
Sources: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Web Search
5.5 AI Workers Challenge Existential Risk Narratives Around AI Development¶
Not all AI industry workers share fears that AI technology could pose existential risks to humanity.
Sources: BBC Web Search
Paleontology¶
6 Isotope analysis reveals Tyrannosaurus rex maintained body temperature similar to elephants¶
Isotope ratios in fossilized teeth suggest T. rex regulated its body temperature to levels comparable to modern large mammals.
Sources: Ars Technica RSS
AI Tools¶
5 ChatGPT's memory feature affects response quality; users can customize settings¶
ChatGPT's new memory upgrade stores user information that influences its answers, and users can modify how the system uses this data.
Sources: Wired RSS