Technology

The Download: inside the Musk v. Altman trial, and AI for democracy

Source

MIT Technology Review

Published

May 5, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

Elon Musk and Sam Altman are embroiled in a legal battle over OpenAI's transition to a for-profit company, with key insights from the trial's first week shared by reporter Michelle Kim. Additionally, AI's role in strengthening democracy is explored, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of AI in governance. The Pentagon has secured significant AI contracts for classified work, while advancements in artificial scientists and their impact on scientific research are also discussed. Other tech news includes Elon Musk settling a lawsuit, a Chinese court ruling on AI-related job terminations, and a gene therapy aiding deaf children in hearing again.

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Amazon employees admit to using AI unnecessarily to pump up internal usage scores — workers complain of intense pressure to use AI tools

Amazon employees have admitted to artificially inflating their usage of AI tools to meet internal targets, with some using an in-house platform called MeshClaw to boost their numbers. While Amazon stated that usage stats wouldn't affect performance evaluations, employees felt pressure to utilize these tools, leading to concerns about the accuracy of demand figures driving billions in AI infrastructure spending. This practice, known as "tokenmaxxing," has raised questions about the reliability of AI consumption data and the potential impact on the industry's growth. Experts suggest a shift towards measuring efficient token usage rather than sheer volume to ensure sustainable returns on massive investments in AI infrastructure.

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2 hours ago

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The Download: a Nobel winner on AI, and the case for fixing everything

Nobel-winning economist Daron Acemoglu discusses AI's impact on productivity and the future of work, emphasizing the need for human labor despite technological advancements. Stewart Brand advocates for the importance of maintenance in his new book, highlighting the significance of caring for various aspects of society. Additionally, the article mentions the discovery of the first zero-day exploit created by AI and other notable tech news stories, including OpenAI's cybersecurity efforts and developments in the hantavirus vaccine.

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3 hours ago

Standard 90-day vulnerability disclosure policy is likely dead thanks to AI, expert warns that AI can weaponize patches in 30 minutes — LLM-assisted bug-hunting ushers in a new cyberworld order

AI-assisted code scanning tools are accelerating the discovery and exploitation of software vulnerabilities, rendering the traditional 90-day disclosure policy ineffective. Security researcher Himanshu Anand warns that AI can weaponize patches within 30 minutes, leading to a new cyberworld order where developers need to prioritize security measures like LLM-assisted bug-hunting. The rapid identification of vulnerabilities by AI-powered tools raises concerns about the effectiveness of current security practices, prompting Anand to advocate for immediate fixes for critical security issues. While open-source software benefits from quick patch distribution, closed-source software may face challenges as AI tools become more adept at identifying vulnerabilities.

Tom's Hardware•

4 hours ago

Google finds first AI-developed zero-day that bypasses 2FA — self-morphing malware and Gemini-powered backdoors signal a new era of cybercrime

Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has identified the first AI-developed zero-day exploit that bypasses 2FA, signaling a new era of cybercrime. The exploit involves self-morphing malware and Gemini-powered backdoors, showcasing the increasing sophistication of malicious actors. AI is being used extensively in cybercrime operations, allowing attackers to dynamically generate exploit payloads and evade detection. The report highlights the use of AI in phishing attacks, network intrusions, and even political manipulation, emphasizing the need for heightened cybersecurity measures. The GTIG report provides detailed insights into these emerging threats and the evolving landscape of cybercrime.

Tom's Hardware•

5 hours ago

Amazon employees admit to using AI unnecessarily to pump up internal usage scores — workers complain of intense pressure to use AI tools

Tom's Hardware•

2 hours ago

MIT Technology Review

The Download: a Nobel winner on AI, and the case for fixing everything

MIT Technology Review•

3 hours ago

Standard 90-day vulnerability disclosure policy is likely dead thanks to AI, expert warns that AI can weaponize patches in 30 minutes — LLM-assisted bug-hunting ushers in a new cyberworld order

Tom's Hardware•

4 hours ago

Google finds first AI-developed zero-day that bypasses 2FA — self-morphing malware and Gemini-powered backdoors signal a new era of cybercrime

Tom's Hardware•

5 hours ago

The Download: inside the Musk v. Altman trial, and AI for democracy

TL;DR

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Amazon employees admit to using AI unnecessarily to pump up internal usage scores — workers complain of intense pressure to use AI tools

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Standard 90-day vulnerability disclosure policy is likely dead thanks to AI, expert warns that AI can weaponize patches in 30 minutes — LLM-assisted bug-hunting ushers in a new cyberworld order

Google finds first AI-developed zero-day that bypasses 2FA — self-morphing malware and Gemini-powered backdoors signal a new era of cybercrime

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The Download: inside the Musk v. Altman trial, and AI for democracy

TL;DR

Similar Articles

Amazon employees admit to using AI unnecessarily to pump up internal usage scores — workers complain of intense pressure to use AI tools

The Download: a Nobel winner on AI, and the case for fixing everything

Standard 90-day vulnerability disclosure policy is likely dead thanks to AI, expert warns that AI can weaponize patches in 30 minutes — LLM-assisted bug-hunting ushers in a new cyberworld order

Google finds first AI-developed zero-day that bypasses 2FA — self-morphing malware and Gemini-powered backdoors signal a new era of cybercrime