AI News Archive: May 18, 2026 — Part 1
Sourced from 500+ daily AI sources, scored by relevance.
- OpenAI defeats Elon Musk's lawsuit, removes obstacle to IPO
OpenAI defeats Elon Musk's lawsuit, removes obstacle to IPO Reuters
Score: 98🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/elon-musk-loses-lawsuit-against-openai-2026-05-18/ - NextEra plans to buy Dominion Energy for $66.8 billion, form biggest US power company as AI demand booms
NextEra plans to buy Dominion Energy for $66.8 billion, form biggest US power company as AI demand booms Reuters
Score: 89🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/nextera-energy-buy-dominion-668-billion-us-power-deal-2026-05-18/ - Pizza Hut’s AI rollout has caused franchisee to lose $100 million, lawsuit claims
Chaac Pizza Northeast has accused Pizza Hut of forcing the franchisee to use its AI-based delivery system that caused ‘cascading operational breakdowns’
Score: 88🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money/pizza-hut-ai-delivery-lawsuit-b2979021.html - AI system developed to help prevent airport collisions
Near misses like the one at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport inspired a group from the AirLab in Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute (RI) to create World2Rules, an AI system that learns interpretable safety rules from data to analyze, verify, and explain potential collision scenarios.
- France’s Publicis to Acquire LiveRamp for $2.55 Billion in AI Push
The deal is the French company’s biggest acquisition since 2019, and a departure from its habit of snapping up smaller businesses since then.
- Ballet dancer with ALS performs again through digital avatar: The Week's Good News
Plus, two lions who spent the beginning of their lives in a small enclosure are now learning what it’s like to roam free, through Zambia’s first rewilding of lions born in captivity
Score: 83🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://theweek.com/science/ballet-dancer-with-als-performs-again-through-digital-avatar-the-weeks-good-news - MatterChat model helps AI to 'see' the language of atom-scale physics to sharpen materials predictions
From writing emails to generating computer code, much of the artificial intelligence prevalent in our daily lives has succeeded by mastering one domain: text. However, this leaves a major blind spot in the physical sciences, where models depend on the high-resolution, three-dimensional data of the physical world, like the intricate lattice of atoms in a crystal. Delivering on the promise of using AI for science requires teaching these data-driven text models to seamlessly "talk to" physics-based models.
- Temple’s new AI tool helps keep blood sugar in check for patients with diabetes
Temple’s new AI tool helps keep blood sugar in check for patients with diabetes Inquirer.com
Score: 83🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.inquirer.com/health/temple-ai-tool-diabetes-insulin-monitoring-hospital-patients-20260518.html - Introducing Woosh: Sony AI's Sound Effect Foundation Model
Sony AI has released Woosh; a sound effect foundation model built for game and film sound designers.
Score: 83🤖 ModelsMay 18, 2026https://ai.sony/blog/introducing-woosh-sony-ais-sound-effect-foundation-model - An Entire “Local Newspaper” Just Shut Down When All Its Reporters Were Busted as AI Fakes
"Clearly, whoever's behind this does not care about the truth." The post An Entire “Local Newspaper” Just Shut Down When All Its Reporters Were Busted as AI Fakes appeared first on Futurism .
Score: 83🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/local-newspaper-shut-down-reporters-ai-fakes - AI has invaded the L.A. mayor's race. Some fear it's just the beginning
Some see fan-generated election campaign videos as a harbinger of how artificial intelligence could reshape political messaging across the country.
Score: 79🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-05-18/ai-has-invaded-la-mayors-race-some-fear-its-just-beginning - Pope Leo to issue text on human dignity and AI with Anthropic co-founder
The pope’s encyclical will address ‘the protection of the human person in the age of AI’, the Vatican says In the first major text of his papacy, Pope Leo will address the rapid rise of artificial intelligence . The Chicago-born pontiff will present the document, known as an encyclical, at the Vatican next week during an event attended by Christopher Olah, the co-founder of Anthropic – a US-based AI firm that has clashed with Donald Trump’s administration. Continue reading...
Score: 70🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/pope-leo-encyclical-human-dignity-ai-anthropic - Sigma Computing doubles valuation to $3 billion in Series E as agentic analytics race heats up
Sigma Computing has raised $80 million in Series E funding at a $3 billion valuation, doubling its worth in a year and positioning the San Francisco-based company as one of the most aggressively valued players in the business intelligence market. The round was led by Princeville Capital, with new strategic investors Databricks Ventures, ServiceNow […] This story continues at The Next Web
Score: 69💰 MoneyMay 18, 2026https://thenextweb.com/news/sigma-computing-series-e-80-million-3-billion-valuation - NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang at Dell Technologies World: ‘Demand Is Going Parabolic, Utterly Parabolic’
Agentic AI inference at one-tenth the cost per token with NVIDIA Vera Rubin NVL72. Agent sandboxes run 50% faster on NVIDIA Vera than traditional CPUs — while enterprise data queries are up to 3x faster with the Vera CPU. And 5,000 enterprises like Lilly, Samsung and Honeywell are running AI workloads on Dell AI Factories […]
- AI-powered CPR coach outperforms 911 dispatchers in guiding bystander resuscitation
AI-powered CPR coach outperforms 911 dispatchers in guiding bystander resuscitation EurekAlert!
- Vera Arrives: NVIDIA’s First CPU Built for Agents Lands at Top AI Labs
The first NVIDIA Vera CPUs arrived at three of the world's leading AI labs on Friday — Anthropic in San Francisco, OpenAI in Mission Bay, SpaceXAI in Palo Alto — followed by a delivery to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in Santa Clara on Monday. NVIDIA Vice President of Hyperscale and High-Performance Computing Ian Buck hand-delivered them.
- Anthropic to present exposed Mythos flaws to global watchdog – claims critical vulnerabilities found ‘in every major operating system and web browser’
Mythos presents a threat to the global economic system, so the world's financial experts and banking officials want to know what it can do.
- An AI–enabled cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor
An AI–enabled cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructor EurekAlert!
- Banned Nvidia AI Chips Keep Reaching China Despite US Crackdown
US export-control cases show how Nvidia chips and other restricted tech are allegedly diverted to China and Russia through shell firms and intermediaries. The post Banned Nvidia AI Chips Keep Reaching China Despite US Crackdown appeared first on TechRepublic .
Score: 66🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-nvidia-ai-chip-smuggling-export-controls-apac/ - A Massive Samsung Strike Is Looming. It Could Short-Circuit the Entire AI Revolution
Samsung workers threaten to go on strike, risking billions in memory business.
Score: 66🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.inc.com/phil-rosen/samsung-strike-micron-korea-stock-market-outlook/91346134 - Edge Inference Chip Startup SiMa.ai Raising at $1.4 Billion Valuation
Edge Inference Chip Startup SiMa.ai Raising at $1.4 Billion Valuation The Information
- Anthropic CEO makes a 'doomsday' prediction for software companies
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told WSJ at the World Economic Forum in Davos that software is heading toward being "cheap, maybe essentially free," warning that whole careers built around writing code may not survive the AI shift. The Anthropic chief executive also predicted SaaS incumbents leaning on code complexity as a moat could "go bust" as ServiceNow, Snowflake and Microsoft stocks slide and Anthropic eyes a $900 billion valuation.
- Apple's Next-Gen Siri App May Lean Heavily on Google's AI
When Apple's AI assistant gets major renovations with iOS 27, what does that mean for privacy?
Score: 64🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/apple-siri-google-gemini-ai-ios-27/ - China says 'world's first' offshore wind-powered underwater data center has entered full operation, houses 2,000 servers — 24 megawatt subsea AI facility uses ocean water for passive cooling and offshore wind for power
China has begun full operations at a 24 MW underwater AI data center off Shanghai’s coast, using offshore wind power and seawater cooling to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency
- Dust raises $40M Series B to build the “multiplayer” operating system for enterprise AI
Agentic AI company Dust today announced a $40 million Series B led by Abstract and Sequoia, with participation from Snowflake and Datadog. With this round, Dust has raised over $60 million in total fu...
Score: 64💰 MoneyMay 18, 2026https://tech.eu/2026/05/18/dust-raises-40m-series-b-to-build-the-multiplayer-operating-system-for-enterprise-ai/ - Waymo Reaching 11 Cities & 1,400 Square Miles As World Cup Approaches
The World Cup is fast approaching, and Waymo has been expanding its service in new cities while also growing its service areas in existing cities in anticipation of the biggest sporting event in the world. “The world’s largest 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing service just got bigger,” as the company wrote a ... [continued] The post Waymo Reaching 11 Cities & 1,400 Square Miles As World Cup Approaches appeared first on CleanTechnica .
Score: 64🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://cleantechnica.com/2026/05/18/waymo-reaching-11-cities-1400-square-miles-as-world-cup-approaches/ - Researchers have built a device that increases computer chip processing speed by 1000 times — but without generating extra heat, potentially ushering in a new generation of devices, but you won't get one for several years at least
University of Tokyo researchers created a magnetic switching device, achieving ultra-fast processing speeds while potentially drastically reducing energy consumption.
- Federal agencies would use NIST’s AI guidelines under bipartisan House bill
The legislation from Reps. Lieu, Nunn and Beyer mandates agencies develop guidelines and use the AI Risk Management Framework. The post Federal agencies would use NIST’s AI guidelines under bipartisan House bill appeared first on FedScoop .
- Apple's upgraded Siri 2.0 may be almost two years late, but Apple could offer something no other AI chatbot has
Apple's upgraded Siri 2.0 may be almost two years late, but Apple could offer something no other AI chatbot has Tom's Guide
- Wearables increasingly look to AI to predict health problems before they happen
Companies worldwide are studying the potential for technology to predict health events. This would push boundaries of data collection and information sharing.
- AI Helps Bring Monkey Species Back from Brink of Extinction
Plus, Meta’s largest data center to date goes up in Louisiana, robots will soon work out at a gym in Germany, and Uber makes a $1.25 billion deal with Rivian.
Score: 62🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-helps-bring-monkey-species-back-from-brink-of-extinction - UK Firms Should Take Steps to Limit Risks From Frontier AI Models, UK Says
British companies should take steps to plan for and mitigate risks from new artificial intelligence models, the country’s finance ministry, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority regulator said on Friday. “The cyber capabilities of current frontier AI …
Score: 62🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2026/05/18/870278.htm - Microsoft ushers in AI-native era with open agentic stack, Linux updates
At the Open Source Summit North America 2026, Microsoft today revealed a sweeping set of updates aimed at strengthening the foundation of the AI-native era. Central to these announcements is the upcoming public preview of Azure Linux 4.0 on Azure Virtual Machines and the general availability of Azure Container Linux. These distributions represent a hardened … continue reading The post Microsoft ushers in AI-native era with open agentic stack, Linux updates appeared first on SD Times .
Score: 62🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://sdtimes.com/open-source/microsoft-ushers-in-ai-native-era-with-open-agentic-stack-linux-updates/ - FDA alignment is critical to serving the rare disease community. AI can help
The FDA has introduced models intended to accelerate rare disease drug development, but recent reversals of guidance from the agency speak to a lack of clarity in its implementation. AI can help focus this process.
- Meta begins cutting 8,000 jobs this week as record profits fund a $145 billion AI infrastructure bet
Meta will begin cutting approximately 8,000 jobs on 20 May, the largest single round of layoffs the company has undertaken since its 2023 restructuring, in a move that lays bare the scale of Mark Zuckerberg’s bet that artificial intelligence infrastructure is worth more than the people it replaces. The company is also cancelling 6,000 open […] This story continues at The Next Web
Score: 62🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://thenextweb.com/news/meta-layoffs-8000-zuckerberg-ai-reality-may-2026 - Chinese Surgical Robots Surpass Da Vinci in Domestic Market Share, Expanding into Global Remote Surgery
China's homegrown surgical robot industry has reached a turning point: the MicroPort MedBot Toumai has overtaken Da Vinci in domestic market share for January–May 2026, while pioneering remote surgery across multiple countries.
- 'UAE Government 4.0': Cabinet approves project to train 80,000 employees in Agentic AI
'UAE Government 4.0': Cabinet approves project to train 80,000 employees in Agentic AI
Score: 61🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/approves-project-to-train-80000-employees-in-agentic-ai - Gradiant Announces Series E Financing at $2 Billion Valuation to Accelerate Expansion in AI, Semiconductors, and Industrial Water Infrastructure
New investment supports strategic M&A, next-generation R&D, and IPO readiness as Gradiant experiences record growth driven by AI infrastructure and advanced manufacturing
- UAE’s Mal secures central bank in-principle approval to launch AI-native Islamic digital bank targeting $7tn market
UAE’s Mal secures central bank in-principle approval to launch AI-native Islamic digital bank targeting $7tn market Arabian Business
Score: 61🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.arabianbusiness.com/finance/fintech/uae-mal-central-bank-approval-ai-islamic-digital-bank - TEGNet: AI that freely designs thermoelectric devices
TEGNet: AI that freely designs thermoelectric devices EurekAlert!
- OpenAI launches Plaid integration for ChatGPT Pro users
Select ChatGPT users can now connect their bank accounts to the AI-powered chatbot for personal money management advice based on their financial history.
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.americanbanker.com/news/openai-launches-personal-finance-tools-for-chatgpt-pro-users - OpenAI Wants to Give Users Personal Finance Insights. It Could Change How They Manage Money.
OpenAI Wants to Give Users Personal Finance Insights. It Could Change How They Manage Money. Barron's
- BUILD America 250 Act hands AV trucks a fed framework
The BUILD America 250 Act creates the first federal framework for autonomous commercial trucks. It is not a green light. DOT has 2 years to write the safety standard; the liability question stays in front of a jury; and the bill funds retraining for drivers in the cab today. The post BUILD America 250 Act hands AV trucks a fed framework appeared first on FreightWaves .
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.freightwaves.com/news/build-america-250-act-hands-av-trucks-a-fed-framework - Google's Android Update Pushes Smartphones Into the AI-First Era
Gemini will now have more control over your apps and tasks. It could be the start of a wider shift in how we use our phones.
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/google-gemini-intelligence-ai-first-smartphone/ - Microsoft Intros New Agentic AI Security Multi-Model Defense System
A new multi-model agentic AI security system built by Microsoft's Autonomous Code Security team helped researchers find 16 new vulnerabilities across the Windows networking and authentication stack, the company anounced in a recent security blog post.
- Inside Meta’s $200 Billion Louisiana Data Center Bet
Meta is building one of the largest artificial intelligence data centers in the world, and it's going up in a remote corner of Louisiana. Financed by one of the biggest private capital deals ever assembled, the project in rural Richland Parish will require up to 7.5 gigawatts of power, 5 gigawatts for computing alone, from 10 brand new natural gas plants. In a region desperate for economic revival, the data center has become more than just infrastructure: it’s a bet on the future. (Source: Bloomberg)
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-05-18/inside-meta-s-200-billion-louisiana-data-center-bet - China’s Xpeng begins mass production of robotaxis in Guangzhou
China’s Xpeng begins mass production of robotaxis in Guangzhou Reuters
- AI startup revenue hits $80 billion, but Anthropic and OpenAI take almost all of it
Anthropic and OpenAI now capture 89 percent of revenue among top AI startups, according to an analysis by The Information. The article AI startup revenue hits $80 billion, but Anthropic and OpenAI take almost all of it appeared first on The Decoder .
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://the-decoder.com/ai-startup-revenue-hits-80-billion-but-anthropic-and-openai-take-almost-all-of-it/ - Sam Altman backs “micropayment” model for AI agents to compensate publishers
Late last month, Sam Altman sat down with Nicholas Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic, for a podcast episode of Re:think, the publication’s marketing and branded content studio. One clip has been making the rounds on social media the past couple days. In a rare moment, Altman was asked point blank by a media executive...
Score: 60🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/05/sam-altman-backs-micropayment-model-for-ai-agents-to-compensate-publishers/ - Elon Musk vows nationwide self-driving cars despite growing safety concerns
This expansion follows their initial introduction in Texas. Speaking via video link at the Smart Mobility Summit in Tel Aviv, Musk stated that such vehicles are already operational in Texas and would extend nationwide within the year
Score: 59🌐 MovesMay 18, 2026https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-tesla-self-driving-robotaxis-spacex-b2978626.html