Anthropic Briefed Administration on Mythos Model; FCC Exempts Netgear from Foreign Router Ban; Google Launches Native Gemini App for Mac; Deepfake Nude Crisis in Schools-Worse Than Many Realize 

The co-founder of Anthropic has confirmed that the firm briefed the Trump administration on their Mythos AI model. Techcrunch.com notes that the new model will not be released to the public, due to it being ‘too dangerous’ and having powerful cybersecurity capabilities. Jack Clark, the co-founder of Anthropic said in an interview “Our position is the government has to know about this stuff, and we have to find new ways for the government to partner with a private sector that is making things that are truly revolutionizing the economy, but are going to have aspects to them which hit National Security, equities, and other ones…so absolutely, we talked to them about Mythos, and we’ll talk to them about the next models as well.” This comes after  reports last week that Trump officials were encouraging banks to test Mythos, including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, and Morgan Stanley. Let’s hope this claimed super Mythos model helps with cybersecurity and doesn’t make it easier for bad buys to crack security!

The Federal Communications Commission has just exempted Netgear from its ban on foreign routers…but strangely, gives no reason for the move. According to arstechnica.com, when the FCC banned foreign-made routers some 3 weeks ago, they said there could be exemptions in cases where the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security determines that the router does not pose national security risks. Router makers seeking conditional approvals must submit a justification for the use of foreign manufacturing and a “detailed, time-bound plan to establish or expand manufacturing in the United States.” The FCC and Netgear didn’t say what kind of justification or plan was submitted by Netgear.

Google has released a native Mac app for its Gemini AI…which up to now had just been on Android and iOS. 9to5google.com says This “native desktop experience” is launched via an Option + Space keyboard shortcut. There’s also the Gemini spark in the Menu Bar. You get a pill-shaped “Ask Gemini” bar with Liquid Glass. The “Add files and tools” plus at the left lets you upload Files, Drive, Photos, and NotebookLM, as well as Share window. Below, you will find Tools like Create image, Create video, Create music, Canvas, Deep research, Guided learning, and Personal intellegence. The window is identical to the one at gemini.google.com. You can share anything on your screen with Gemini, including local files. You can download it from theApp store. 

The use of deepfakes in schools is apparently worse than most know, despite laws that have been passed banning or restricting the tech. Apparently, teen boys are working industriously…downloading pics of girls they know from school from Instagram and Snapchat, then running them through ‘nudify’ apps that created fake nude photos or videos of them. Wired.com notes that the problem really started showing up in schools a couple years ago, but now have hit at least 90 schools worldwide and some 600 students…that’s according to a review of public incidents by Indicator. Generative AI has really opened the door to more of this. There are 30 reports from North America since 2023…and you can bet that incidents are drastically underreported. In a number of cases, things have been handled by schools, and haven’t hit the press. Deepfakes have been around since 2017, but have exponentially increased. 

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.