Today’s top stories include the US government’s $8.9 billion investment in Intel to bolster domestic chip manufacturing, a major DDoS attack on Arch Linux, and Waymo’s debut autonomous vehicle tests in NYC. Additionally, Microsoft’s Windows update caused streaming issues, and OpenAI warns that AGI could make money obsolete amid soaring AI investments.
▶️ Internet Infrastructure
FFmpeg.org Unresponsive Due to Server Timeout and Connectivity Issues
The ffmpeg.org server is currently unresponsive due to a timeout, likely caused by server overload, network configuration, or security settings.
- The webpage at ffmpeg.org is unresponsive due to a connection timeout
- Possible causes include server unavailability, network issues, or firewall/proxy restrictions
- Troubleshooting steps involve retrying later, checking network and security settings, and adjusting DNS or permissions
US invests $8.9B in Intel for strategic stake to boost US semiconductor industry
The US government invested $8.9 billion for a 9.9% stake in Intel, emphasizing support for domestic semiconductor manufacturing amid geopolitical and supply chain concerns.
- The US government acquired a 9.9% stake in Intel by investing $8.9 billion in common stock at $20.47 per share, totaling $11.1 billion including previous grants.
- The deal involves purchasing 433.3 million primary shares, with the investment being passive, without board or governance rights, but with voting alignment on shareholder matters.
- President Donald Trump announced the agreement during remarks at the White House, highlighting its strategic importance for domestic semiconductor industry and national priorities.
Waymo Launches NYC’s First Autonomous Vehicle Tests in Manhattan and Brooklyn
Waymo obtained a permit to test eight autonomous vehicles in Manhattan and Brooklyn through September, marking NYC’s first AV testing launch with driver supervision, part of nationwide expansion.
- Waymo received its first permit from the New York Department of Transportation to test autonomous vehicles in NYC.
- Testing will involve up to eight vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September, with driver supervision required by law.
- The company announced in June it filed permits for testing in NYC and has expanded its services nationwide, including Austin, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.
Arch Linux Battles Ongoing DDoS Attack, Seeks Enhanced Protection
Arch Linux faces ongoing DDoS attacks impacting its website, AUR, and forums, prompting mitigation efforts and evaluation of protection providers amid reliance on mirror lists.
- A botnet launched a DDoS attack on Arch Linux, affecting main website, AUR, and forums, now in its second week
- Project is working with hosting providers and evaluating DDoS protection options, including cost, security, and ethics
- Mitigation relies on mirror lists from main infrastructure; users advised to use
pacman-mirrorlistand verify installation media with official signing keys
Data I/O Ransomware Attack Disrupts Major Tech Supply Chain
Data I/O suffered a ransomware infection on August 16, disrupting critical manufacturing and communication systems; investigation is ongoing, with some systems still offline.
- Data I/O, a major electronics supplier for Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, experienced a ransomware attack on August 16, disrupting operations.
- The attack impacted internal/external communications, shipping, manufacturing, and support functions; some systems remain offline with no fix timeline.
- The company activated response protocols, secured systems, hired cybersecurity experts, and is investigating the breach; no data theft or attribution confirmed.
Coweta County Halts $17B Data Center Over Community Concerns
Coweta County halted approval of Project Sail, a $17B hyperscale datacenter by Prologis, due to community opposition over environmental impact, resource use, and limited local employment opportunities.
- Coweta County in Georgia has imposed a moratorium on datacenter approvals amid local opposition to Project Sail, a proposed $17 billion hyperscale datacenter.
- Residents oppose the development, citing concerns over energy and water consumption, noise, air pollution, and lack of local job opportunities; the site was reduced from 13 to 9 buildings.
- The project, acquired by Prologis, would cover 831 acres, require over 900 MW of electricity, and potentially consume 9 million gallons of water daily, necessitating infrastructure upgrades.
Researchers Urge Power-Aware AI Training to Prevent Grid Instability
Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI researchers call for standardized, power-aware AI training methods and infrastructure coordination to address fluctuating energy demands that threaten grid stability.
- Researchers from Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI published “Power Stabilization for AI Training Datacenters” highlighting uneven power demand during AI workloads.
- Power oscillations between GPU compute (near thermal limits) and communication phases (near idle) can cause grid instability, with swings reaching tens or hundreds of megawatts.
- The paper emphasizes the need for coordinated solutions combining software workload balancing, GPU firmware power smoothing, and energy storage to mitigate grid impact.
Microsoft Limits Onmicrosoft.com Email Sends to Curb Spam in 2025
Microsoft will enforce email sending limits on onmicrosoft.com domains from October 15, 2025, to reduce spam, requiring tenants to migrate to custom domains and update SMTP addresses.
- Microsoft announced that from October 15, 2025, it will throttle emails sent from onmicrosoft.com domains, limiting to 100 external recipients per organization per 24-hour window.
- Starting December 1, restrictions will roll out gradually, beginning with tenants with fewer than three seats and expanding to tenants with over 10,001 seats by June 2026.
- The change aims to combat spam activity exploiting new Microsoft 365 tenants, which can harm the reputation of the onmicrosoft.com domain; affected organizations must migrate to custom domains and update SMTP addresses.
US government invests $8.9 billion in Intel to boost chip manufacturing
The US government purchased a 10% stake in Intel for $8.9 billion using pre-allocated funds, aiming to boost domestic chip manufacturing and national security.
- The US government acquired a 10% stake in Intel for $8.9 billion, funded through existing allocations under the CHIPS Act and Secure Enclave program
- Intel received $5.7 billion in grants from the CHIPS and Science Act and $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program; total grants amount to $2.2 billion so far
- The government reserves the right to buy an additional 5% at $20 per share; current stock price around $25; government does not hold a board seat
▶️ Software Development
Thunderbird 142 Boosts Security and Adds Folder Customization Features
Thunderbird 142 introduces bug fixes, folder view enhancements, and message link features, with future plans for Exchange support and Thunderbird Pro subscription, reflecting ongoing rapid development.
- Thunderbird 142 released with 25 bug fixes and security updates, including message link copying features moved from context menu
- Adds folder view sorting, customizable folder pane, and drag-and-drop folder reordering; introduces “Reset folder order” option
- Hints at upcoming features: native Exchange Server support, PDF signature display, and Thunderbird Pro paid service; Thunderbird spun off to MZLA subsidiary
Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 Update Gives Developers More Control Over Copilot Suggestions
Microsoft’s August 2025 update for Visual Studio 2022 enables developers to control Copilot’s suggestions, reducing distractions by allowing toggling, pausing, and partial acceptance of AI code completions.
- Microsoft introduced a feature in August 2025 for Visual Studio 2022 (version 17.14.13) allowing developers to disable or modify Copilot suggestions
- Developers can now set Copilot to wait for a pause before suggesting code, turn off automatic completions, or trigger suggestions via keypress
- Code suggestions can be hidden with a margin indicator and accepted line-by-line, providing more control over AI assistance
▶️ Management and Leadership
Bluesky Blocks Mississippi Access Over Age Verification Law and Privacy Concerns
Bluesky blocks Mississippi access due to resource limitations and privacy issues related to HB 1126, which requires universal age verification and parental consent, risking hefty penalties.
- Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi over age verification law HB 1126, citing resource constraints and privacy concerns
- Mississippi law mandates universal age verification and parental consent for users under 18, with penalties up to $10,000 per user
- Bluesky states the law’s broad scope and privacy implications hinder small platforms’ ability to comply and threaten free speech and innovation
Kimbal Musk Supports Elon Musk’s $29B Pay and Tesla’s xAI Investment Plan
Kimbal Musk endorses Elon Musk’s $29 billion stock-based pay and Tesla’s planned investment in xAI, with shareholder approval pending, amid ongoing legal disputes over Musk’s previous $56 billion compensation.
- Kimbal Musk supports Elon Musk’s $29 billion interim stock-based pay package and Tesla’s potential investment in xAI, contingent on shareholder approval.
- Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package was struck down by a Delaware judge in January 2024 and again upheld in December 2024; Tesla has been appealing.
- Tesla’s board granted Musk the interim package in August 2025 to incentivize focus; the package requires him to remain in a top role for two more years; shareholder vote scheduled for November.
US Government Invests $8.9 Billion in Intel to Boost Domestic Semiconductor Industry
Intel and the Trump Administration reached a historic agreement for the U.S. government to invest $8.9 billion in Intel, supporting domestic semiconductor expansion and reinforcing U.S. technology leadership.
- U.S. government to invest $8.9 billion in Intel common stock, representing a 9.9% stake at $20.47 per share, for a total of $11.1 billion including previous grants
- Investment funded by remaining $5.7 billion in grants under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act and $3.2 billion from the Secure Enclave program
- Government’s stake is passive with no board representation, and includes a five-year warrant for an additional 5% of shares at $20 per share if Intel’s foundry business ownership drops below 51%
UK LibDem Opposes Tesla’s UK Energy License Over Security Concerns
UK LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey opposes Tesla’s UK electricity license application, citing Musk’s political interference and national security risks; Tesla seeks to expand retail energy services without power plant control.
- UK Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey opposes Tesla Energy Ventures’ application for an electricity supply license, citing national security concerns.
- Tesla Energy Ventures, a Tesla subsidiary, applied in July to Ofgem for a license to supply electricity to UK domestic and non-domestic premises.
- Elon Musk’s company has historically engaged in residential solar and battery systems, and retail energy reselling via Tesla Electric in Texas; UK plans remain unspecified.
Microsoft Ends Support for OneNote for Windows 10 in 2025, Launches Unified App
Microsoft will end support for OneNote for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, transitioning to a unified app with long-term support and new features like Copilot-powered note generation.
- Support for OneNote for Windows 10 ends on October 14, 2025, after which the app becomes read-only
- Microsoft consolidates efforts into a single, more powerful OneNote app for Windows, ending support for the UWP version
- No Microsoft 365-style support extension; support will not be available even for Windows 10 with Extended Security Updates
UK MoD Doubles Sky Sabre Air Defense with £118M Land Ceptor Purchase
UK MoD’s £118 million purchase of six Land Ceptor missile launchers, utilizing MBDA’s CAMM missile, doubles Sky Sabre systems to improve air defense amid evolving threats like UAVs and ballistic missiles.
- UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) purchased six Land Ceptor missile systems at a cost of £118 million ($158 million)
- The acquisition doubles the deployable Sky Sabre air defense systems, enhancing UK’s air defense capacity
- Land Ceptor uses MBDA’s CAMM missile, part of the Sky Sabre system, capable of intercepting cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones; contract duration is three years
U.S. Government Takes 10% Stake in Intel Through Chips Act Investment
The U.S. government takes a 10% equity stake in Intel by converting $8.9 billion in Chips Act grants, marking unprecedented private-sector intervention to support U.S. chip manufacturing.
- U.S. government acquires a 10% stake in Intel by converting $8.9 billion in Chips Act grants to equity, with potential for additional shares if Intel’s foundry ownership drops below 51%
- The deal values Intel shares at $20.47, below the recent $24.80 closing price, and makes the government Intel’s largest shareholder
- The agreement follows a two-week period of political and corporate negotiations, with President Trump emphasizing future government interventions in the semiconductor sector
▶️ Technology
DeepSeek-V3.1 Launches with Hybrid Inference and 128K Context Support
DeepSeek-V3.1, released on August 21, 2025, introduces hybrid inference modes, 128K context support, API enhancements, and a 840B token model, with updated tokenizer and open-source weights.
- DeepSeek-V3.1 introduces hybrid inference with “Think” and “Non-Think” modes, supporting faster response times and enhanced agent capabilities
- API updates include non-thinking mode (
deepseek-chat), thinking mode (deepseek-reasoner), 128K context window, support for Anthropic API format, and strict Function Calling in Beta - Model features include 840B tokens continued pretraining, updated tokenizer and chat templates, with open-source weights available at Hugging Face and Base; pricing changes effective September 5, 2025
Apple Considers Using Google Gemini AI to Upgrade Siri
Apple is exploring using Google Gemini AI to enhance Siri, signaling a move toward external AI development; Google is training a custom model on Apple’s servers for deployment next year.
- Apple is in early discussions to use Google Gemini AI to power a revamped Siri voice assistant.
- Apple approached Google to develop a custom AI model for Siri, with training already underway on Apple’s servers.
- The initiative indicates a potential shift toward outsourcing AI technology development for Apple’s products.
Samsung S95D OLED and TCL QM7K QLED: Top 2025 TVs for Bright Rooms and Sports
Samsung S95D OLED TV with matte anti-glare screen and 4K HDR is ideal for bright rooms, while TCL QM7K QLED offers high brightness, local dimming, and 144Hz support for sports in 2025.
- Samsung S95D OLED TV features an anti-reflective matte screen, 4K resolution, HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and 144Hz refresh rate.
- TCL QM7K QLED TV offers 4K Ultra HD, Mini LED backlight with local dimming, HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, four HDMI 2.1 ports, and supports up to 144Hz.
- The Samsung S95D delivers peak brightness around 1,800 nits with wide viewing angles, but lacks Dolby Vision support; the QM7K peaks at approximately 1,800 nits with improved contrast over previous models.
OpenAI Warns AI Could Make Money Obsolete Amid Billions in Funding
OpenAI warns investors that AGI may render money obsolete while raising billions USD, including a $300 billion valuation led by SoftBank, amid concerns of AI investment bubble and limited ROI.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned of potential obsolescence of money in a post-AGI world and expressed concerns about AI investment overexcitement.
- OpenAI is raising billions of USD, including a new $300 billion valuation led by SoftBank and $6 billion from employees selling stock at a $500 billion valuation.
- Despite warnings, tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon enforce mandatory AI use among employees, with MIT studies indicating 95% of firms see no measurable ROI from AI to date.
Firefox 142 Boosts Privacy with AI Summaries and Local LLM Support
Firefox 142 adds AI link summaries, regional link previews, and supports local LLMs via wllama API, enhancing privacy and developer capabilities while including CRLite for security.
- Firefox 142 introduces AI-generated link summaries and supports local LLM integration via the wllama API for extensions
- Link previews with AI key points are available in certain regions, processed on-device for privacy
- The update includes Mozilla’s CRLite certificate revocation feature and new UI management options for tabs and extensions
Microsoft Update Causes NDI Streaming Issues on Windows 11 and 10
Microsoft’s August 2025 Windows Security Update introduces RUDP-related issues causing jittery NDI streams, affecting Windows 11 and 10 versions, with users advised to delay installation pending fix.
- Windows 11 August 2025 Security Update causes severe stuttering, lag, and choppy audio/video in NDI streaming applications, including OBS and NDI Tools
- The issue affects Windows 11 24H2, Windows 10 22H2, and Windows 10 21H2, linked to the Reliable User Datagram Protocol (RUDP) used by NDI
- Microsoft recommends switching to TCP or plain UDP protocols or uninstalling the update; investigation ongoing with no estimated fix date