AI News Archive: May 26, 2026 — Part 16
Sourced from 500+ daily AI sources, scored by relevance.
- Alipay Launches AI Payment Tools for Shopping Agents
Alipay’s AI Wallet and Token Pay are built for AI agents that can shop, book services, and complete payments with user controls. The post Alipay Launches AI Payment Tools for Shopping Agents appeared first on TechRepublic .
- OpenRouter raises $113M to bring order to enterprise AI inference routing
Artificial intelligence inference routing startup OpenRouter Inc. today announced it has raised $113 million in new funding led by CapitalG, Alphabet Inc.’s independent growth fund, to push the envelope for providing access to generative AI models. Additional investors participating in the Series B round included Nvidia Corp.’s venture capital arm NVentures, ServiceNow Ventures, MongoDB Ventures, […] The post OpenRouter raises $113M to bring order to enterprise AI inference routing appeared first on SiliconANGLE .
- Tech titans mostly silent after Pope Leo’s warning about risks of AI
Pope Leo XIV’s sweeping warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence drew a largely muted response across the American technology world.
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload Toronto Star
- Gabriel Landeskog gets over debilitating injury with help of Vancouver AI movement platform
Plantiga’s cutting-edge tech ‘detects any red flags’ that could derail Avalanche captain’s recovery
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload San Francisco Chronicle
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload Houston Chronicle
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload The Denver Post
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload AP News
- Gabriel Landeskog uses in-skate sensors, AI-driven movement platform to manage his knee and workload
Gabriel Landeskog uses sensors in his skates and sneakers to monitor his biomechanics
- Uber COO Andrew Macdonald says AI 'tokenmaxxing' is becoming harder to justify
Tech giants like Uber are rethinking their massive AI investments. Concerns are rising over high costs and the difficulty in proving AI's real-world benefits. Language learning app Duolingo is also stepping back from AI usage metrics. Research suggests that more AI usage does not automatically mean better results. Companies now focus on efficiency and return on investment.
- Uber president says AI spending is getting ‘harder to justify’
There’s no clear connection between AI usage and productivity.
- Honeywell’s Quantinuum settles on $12.7bn IPO target after $20bn whisper
Quantinuum, the quantum-computing company majority-owned by Honeywell, is targeting a valuation of $12.7bn in its US IPO, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday, a level materially below the $20bn-plus figure that circulated earlier in May when the company filed its S-1. The new figure puts the IPO at roughly 27% above the $10bn pre-money valuation […] This story continues at The Next Web
- Spotify chief defends AI-generated music
Streaming app strikes deal with Universal allowing subscribers to create ‘controlled’ covers and remixes
- Spotify chief defends AI-generated music
Streaming app strikes deal with Universal allowing subscribers to create ‘controlled’ covers and remixes
- Spotify CEO says putting AI-generated music on the app is good—and not just for SPOT stock. Here’s why
We’ve written a lot about how AI is coming for your job . Now AI is coming for your music, flooding streaming platforms with “ AI music slop .” But instead of curbing it, Spotify’s CEO Alex Norström is doubling down and embracing AI-generated music—claiming it offers artists protection from piracy, and music-lovers more freedom to listen to and create more of the kind of music they want. Last week, Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) announced landmark licensing agreements, paving the way for Spotify to launch a new tool for premium subscribers. The tool enables them to create AI-generated song covers and remixes of their favorite songs from participating artists and songwriters on the platform. The deal has prompted two very different reactions. On Wall Street, the move sent shares of the stock up 16% last week , per the Financial Times . (On Tuesday, shares of Spotify Technology SA ( NYSE: SPOT ) were up nearly 2% in midday trading at the time of this writing.) However, the move also prompted swift backlash from recording artists and music fans alike. “I quit Spotify after many many years because of their attempts to integrate AI into music,” one Reddit user responded. “At this rate, Spotify won’t just be a streaming platform anymore,” another quipped. Norström has defended the move as a “rewarding outcome for artists and songwriters” that will compensate musicians, arguing Spotify is offering a “ controlled ” alternative for musicians to make money, instead of having their work ripped off. Critics, however, are wary. “I think if you are going to have AI music, it’s clearly better that you have AI music that is rooted in consent,” composer Ed Newton-Rex, who campaigns to protect creators’ copyrights, told The Guardian . “[However] the big question will be whether fans can share remixes they make for other people to listen to. If they can, I think you get into dangerous territory. These AI remixes will flood Spotify and drown out other songs, which will in turn put pressure on more musicians to sign up to the AI remix feature.” The bottom line, Newton-Rex said, is that this could end up making it even harder for musicians, who now would have to compete with AI-generated work. And that fear is already being realized. Three different AI-generated songs have already broken into the top of Spotify’s “Viral 50” charts. Heard that new band The Velvet Sundown on Spotify? Sorry to tell you, but that’s AI-generated. According to a 2025 study from Deezer, a global streaming app, some 50,000 AI-generated songs are uploaded daily to its platform, with 97% of respondents unable to discern whether or not the tracks were fully AI-generated.
- ByteDance offers AI team special stock to fend off poaching
TikTok owner issues shares tied to AI business unit as China’s tech talent war heats up
- ECB warns banks of new AI risks
The European Central Bank (ECB) has summoned major banks to an emergency meeting to warn of new cybersecurity risks linked to advanced AI models, according to the Financial Times . Frank Elderson, vice chair of the ECB’s Supervisory Board, said banks must become significantly faster at installing security updates. According to the ECB, new AI tools can make it possible to identify and exploit security flaws much faster than in the past. One example is Anthropic’s AI model, Claude Mythos Preview. According to the company, the model has detected thousands of serious vulnerabilities in operating systems and web browsers . European banks are considered more vulnerable because many lack access to the technology, while some US banks are already testing it. The ECB is hoping US banks will share their experiences with European competitors.
- Finland’s Quanscient raises €10 million to scale its multiphysics simulation platform for the AI era
Quanscient, a Tampere-based startup specialising in cloud-based multiphysics simulation technology and quantum algorithms, today announced a €10 million Series A funding round to accelerate its international expansion. The round was led by Danish quantum fund 55 North and Austrian industrial investor B&C Group, with full re-participation from existing investors Maki.vc, Crowberry Capital, QAI Ventures, and […] The post Finland’s Quanscient raises €10 million to scale its multiphysics simulation platform for the AI era appeared first on EU-Startups .
- Aiven co-founder Hannu Valtonen’s Avrea emerges from stealth with €4 million to build AI-native CI/CD platform
Avrea, a Helsinki-based startup offering an AI-native CI/CD platform built for the new era of development, today announced that it has emerged from stealth and has raised €4 million ($4.7 million) in total pre-Seed funding led by Earlybird. Avrea was founded by Hannu Valtonen, co-founder of Finnish unicorn Aiven, and Juha Valvanne, co-founder of Nosto. […] The post Aiven co-founder Hannu Valtonen’s Avrea emerges from stealth with €4 million to build AI-native CI/CD platform appeared first on EU-Startups .
- Massachusetts Uber, Lyft drivers certify first statewide ride-hailing union amid automation fears
Drivers in Massachusetts for ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft have become the first in the nation to certify a union.
- Anthropic Co-Founder Tells Vatican AI Must Be Guided from Outside Big Tech
Anthropic co-founder advocates for AI oversight
- Rajasthan govt, Wadhwani AI sign MoU to deploy AI solutions in state’s agri ecosystem
Wadhwani AI will serve as a technical partner to the state, supporting the deployment, integration, and implementation of AI-driven tools
- Google responds as Gemini AI Pro user exhausts 5-hour limit in minutes
A Google AI Pro subscriber claimed a single Gemini avatar video request exhausted the entire five-hour quota despite the generation reportedly failing. Here's what Google said
- Realtor Toolkit
AI cold emails & listing descriptions for realtors
- How can I make AI Agents more reliable and restrict the actions they can take?
Learn how to make AI agents more reliable and restrict the actions they are allowed to take using layered controls like model configuration, prompt structure, output schemas, tool design, guardrails, routing logic, and scoped permissions. Includes practical guidance for n8n.
- Tata Elxsi launches ViTel, a material intelligence solution for med-tech powered by Viridium AI
Tata Elxsi announced the launch of ViTel, a Material Intelligence solution for Medical Device manufacturers, co-developed with Viridium AI, a material intelligence platform company. ViTel is being formally introduced at DeviceTalks Boston 2026, where Tata Elxsi is presenting its latest advances in AI-powered MedTech engineering and compliance. The post Tata Elxsi launches ViTel, a material intelligence solution for med-tech powered by Viridium AI appeared first on Express Computer .
- More digital and AI tools for local retailers to train staff, improve operations and revenue
More digital and AI tools for local retailers to train staff, improve operations and revenue The Straits Times
- Top Australia bank CEO says AI will mean smaller teams, no use ‘pretending otherwise’
Top Australia bank CEO says AI will mean smaller teams, no use ‘pretending otherwise’ The Straits Times
- Drew Houston to step down as Dropbox CEO after two decades, could pursue something new in AI
"I’m sure that I’ll have no shortage of ideas and stuff to work on," Houston says.
- Who is Christopher Olah? Anthropic billionaire who spoke about AI alongside Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican
On Monday, Pope Leo XIV made history by becoming the first pope to personally present an encyclical, a letter of great importance in which a pope explains his views on a major moral or social challenge facing the world, to his followers. The leader of the Catholic Church didn’t do so on his own, however. He had help in unveiling the encyclical , “Magnifica humanitas: On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence .” The Anthropic cofounder and self-proclaimed atheist Christopher Olah was also present. An unlikely speaker The Vatican doesn’t normally invite outsiders to speak, let alone those in the tech industry. But Leo, who has issued numerous warnings on AI before, clearly had an urgent point to make due to “the gravity of the moment,” he said. In the pope’s view, that moment is one where a few powerful people control the fate of the world. Leo didn’t name names, but it seemed clear he was speaking about—and to—the billionaire executives in charge of the largest tech companies. “When such power is concentrated in the hands of a few,” he warned in the letter, “it tends to become opaque and evade public oversight, increasing the risk of distorted forms of development that give rise to new dependencies, exclusions, manipulations and inequalities.” He continued, explaining the importance of “freeing technology from monopolistic control and opening it to discussion and debate” by “making it human-friendly and restoring it to the plurality of human cultures and ways of life.” Interestingly, Leo and Olah weren’t at odds over the point, or any of the views presented in their speeches. In fact, the tech founder and religious leader appeared deeply aligned. Where does Christopher Olah fit in? Out of the gate, Olah presented himself as a different kind of tech founder: one who is cautious, even worried, about AI. He began his speech by calling himself a person who got into AI work because he “has a desire to help things go well for humanity.” Still, he warned that even those who feel similarly can easily get caught up in the technology’s capabilities. “Every frontier AI lab, including Anthropic, operates inside a set of incentives and constraints that can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing,” he told the audience. He even asserted that he shares Leo’s view that AI is dangerous when controlled by a powerful few. “AI development is concentrated in a handful of wealthy nations. How can we ensure the gains of AI are shared globally?” he asked. AI could ‘displace human labor’ Interestingly, the tech founder is known for his groundbreaking research on AI “interpretability,” or how to make machines more human friendly. He previously led interpretability research at OpenAI. So his stance that humans must be able to remain in control of the technology is not much different from Leo’s. Both Olah and Leo also spoke to something that has been on the minds of many in recent years: AI’s impacts on workers. While we’ve heard those in the tech sector make wildly appealing promises about AI’s ability to create jobs, Olah didn’t stick to the script. “There is a real possibility that AI will displace human labor at a very large scale. If that happens, supporting those who have been displaced will be a moral imperative of historic proportions,” he said. A call for collaboration Perhaps the greatest takeaway from both Leo and Olah, however, was their joint call for continued collaboration. Olah pressed the point that while those who are skilled in science and math may be the ones creating powerful technology, that doesn’t mean they are the people best equipped to make choices about how it is used. He said conversations among tech leaders and religious and moral leaders are crucial in keeping AI in check. “It is through dialogue and mutual effort, through the push and pull, that humanity will achieve great things,” Olah said. “That is what I see in Magnifica humanitas , and it is why I am grateful to his holiness and to the church for taking up this work of discernment,” he added. Leo echoed the call, noting that “the church wishes, with humility and frankness, to be part of conversations on artificial intelligence.” He said the church may not have “technical answers” and doesn’t wish to “displace those with expertise.” Instead, he offered the idea that the church has something else to give: “a wisdom concerning the human that our present time desperately needs.” That wisdom, according to both Leo and Olah alike, may be hard to find when talking to the powerful few who are at the helm of AI.
- Who Is Christopher Olah, the Anthropic Cofounder Welcomed by Pope Leo?
The pontiff delivered a fiery screed against AI—as Olah, the company’s Interpretability Research Lead, sat just a few seats away.
- Survey reveals that 99% of CEOs now expect AI-driven layoffs — companies are racing to replace junior workers with AI, even as many executives remain uncertain about the returns on AI investments
A new Mercer report reveals that 99% of CEOs expect AI-driven layoffs within two years, with entry-level workers facing the biggest threat as companies slash junior roles despite many executives admitting AI investments still show weak or unproven returns.
- 99 Percent of CEOs Are Preparing to Lay Off Workers and Replace Them With AI Within Two Years, Survey Finds
Thanks for the heads up. The post 99 Percent of CEOs Are Preparing to Lay Off Workers and Replace Them With AI Within Two Years, Survey Finds appeared first on Futurism .
- NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list
NASA is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for a sprawling moon base, less than two months after the Artemis II mission
- NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list
NASA is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for a sprawling moon base, less than two months after the Artemis II mission
- Activist Erin Brockovich takes on US data centre boom
US environmental activist Erin Brockovich, made famous by the film bearing her name, has launched a citizen platform tracking data centre projects across the country.
- AI’s massive data center boom is sparking a backlash across America — and Erin Brockovich is leading the charge
AI’s massive data center boom is sparking a backlash across America — and Erin Brockovich is leading the charge Tom's Guide
- US Law Enforcement Warns of ‘Anti-Tech Extremism’ as AI Hatred Grows
As Americans stew over the looming risk of job-stealing AI and data centers in their back yards, the feds are raising the alarm about a new category of threat, documents obtained by WIRED show.
- Got a Backlog of Long-Form Articles? Spotify Can Now Read Them Aloud
Got a Backlog of Long-Form Articles? Spotify Can Now Read Them Aloud PCMag Australia
- Got a Backlog of Long-Form Articles? Spotify Can Now Read Them Aloud
Got a Backlog of Long-Form Articles? Spotify Can Now Read Them Aloud PCMag Middle East
- AppOmni’s Marlin AI Brings Autonomous Investigation to SaaS Security
Marlin AI automatically analyzes SaaS misconfigurations, investigates related activity across enterprise environments, and recommends remediation steps — while stopping short of fully autonomous corrective action. The post AppOmni’s Marlin AI Brings Autonomous Investigation to SaaS Security appeared first on SecurityWeek .
- MUSE-Autoskill: Self-Evolving Agents via Skill Creation, Memory, Management, and Evaluation
Large language model (LLM) agents rely on reusable skills to solve complex tasks. However, existing skill creation approaches treat skills as isolated and static artifacts, limiting their reusability, reliability, and long-term improvement. We propose MUSE-Autoskill Agent (Memory-Utilizing Skill Evo...
- Natural Language Query to Configuration for Retrieval Agents
Modern retrieval agents expose many configuration choices -- LLM, retriever, number of documents, number of hops, and synthesis strategy -- each shaping both answer quality and serving cost. Today, these pipelines are typically hand-tuned once per workload, leaving substantial per-query optimization...
- Alignment Tampering: How Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback Is Exploited to Optimize Misaligned Biases
Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) is the standard method to align Large Language Models (LLMs) with human preferences. In this work, we introduce alignment tampering, a potential vulnerability where the LLM undergoing alignment influences the preference dataset, causing RLHF to ampli...
- Guiding LLM Post-training Data Engineering with Model Internals from Sparse Autoencoders
Model internals encode rich information about how a large language model (LLM) processes its training data; however, post-training data engineering largely relies on external signals and ignores rich intrinsic signals lying in model internals. We propose SAERL, a data engineering framework for LLM r...
- It's Not Always Sycophancy: Measuring LLM Conformity as a Function of Epistemic Uncertainty
Large language models (LLMs) are known to abandon their initial stance to conform to user pushback. While prior research largely attributes this behavior to sycophancy learned during reinforcement learning from human feedback, we hypothesize that conformity is also driven by a model's epistemic unce...
- Falcon-X: A Time Series Foundation Model for Heterogeneous Multivariate Modeling
Time series foundation models (TSFMs) are transforming the forecasting paradigm through large-scale cross-domain pretraining. However, most existing TSFMs remain univariate, and recent efforts to enable cross-variate modeling still operate directly within the raw variate space. This design introduce...
- Lost in Sampling: Assessing Lexical Reachability in LLMs via the Word Coverage Score (WCS)
Modern Large Language Models (LLMs) are often criticized for producing repetitive and homogeneous text, despite possessing vast latent vocabularies. While previous research has focused on model knowledge and training data, we investigate the role of decoding mechanics in suppressing linguistic diver...
- PilotTTS: A Disciplined Modular Recipe for Competitive Speech Synthesis
Building state-of-the-art text-to-speech (TTS) systems typically demands millions of hours of proprietary data and complex multi-stage architectures, creating substantial barriers for resource-constrained research teams. In this report, we present PilotTTS, a lightweight autoregressive TTS system th...