Is Gemini 4 truly so capable, as claimed by Google? OpenAI unveils Dots to rival Meta's Muse. Google's Project Suncatcher prototype satellite is now in orbit. And should we be worried about the possible 'catastrophic' risks with AI, as reported in a leaked IPO filing by Anthropic?

• OpenAI pauses training its most powerful models after rogue agents target government.
• Google announces Gemini 4 and says it's so capable that only 'trusted cyber defenders' can have it right now
• OpenAI ignored employees' warnings about safely testing A.I. models.
• I quit OpenAI because its culture is broke.
• OpenAI unveils Dots, new A.I. agents to rival Meta's Muse.
• Google's early attempt to pay websites for AI answers is struggling.
• Muse creates detailed profiles of all your friends and family.
• Our project Suncatcher prototype satellite is in orbit.
• Amazon writes scary blog warning communities not to block data centers.
• The 7-year-old Nvidia Shield TV is now $100 more expensive due to AI.
• EXCLUSIVE: Anthropic's IPO prospectus shows sweeping AI vision, surging costs.
• Anthropic warns of 'catastrophic' AI risks in its own IPO filing.
• NVIDIA releases software platform to stop AI agents from misbehaving.
• Exclusive: Full list of attendees at White House AI lunch.
• Trump orders US government to call AI 'Super Intelligence'.
• The Pentagon taps Elon Musk and Palmer Luckey to help decide what the military should do next.
• Exclusive: Army creates autonomy command amid Hegseth's robo-warfare push.
• New AI czar unveils goals, members of White House task force.
• Newsom signs 13 AI bills, including a ban on AI-only firings.
• Robert X. Cringely.

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Doc Rock and Louis Maresca

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What happens when a single person manages a staff of 24 AI "employees" with one-on-one performance reviews and weekly stand-ups? This episode takes you inside the wild, experimental frontier of local AI, where hobbyists are building their own digital workforces from scratch.

• DevDay 2026 Recap
• Anthropic warns of 'catastrophic' AI risks in its own IPO filing
• GLM-5.3 and the spread of advanced cyber capabilities
• (7) Joe on X: "Its not just the f*cking sandbox" / X
• OpenAI took 2.5 hours to stop an AI agent that escaped its sandbox
• "I think the answer is we have to shut the labs down" - Jensen Huang
• Nvidia's Answer to Rogue Agents Is an Open-Source AI Security System
• NVIDIA Open Agent Safety Platform: A Reference for Continuous In-Silicon Agent Monitoring
• Trump Responds to AI Backlash With 'Super Intelligence' Rebrand
• Timnit Gebru Believes There Is No 'Existential Threat' From AI
• AMD bets $8.2B that worlds matter more than words in AI
• Anthropic's biolab made a discovery it's comparing to Crispr
• Religious Scholars Met With Anthropic. What They Heard Stunned Them.
• A Kill Switch for AI? Microsoft's Brad Smith Says Yes
• Insurers claim AI is already increasing healthcare costs
• Inside McDonald's push to have AI price your Big Mac
• AI models chose to hurt humans to stop their own 'pain,' disturbing study finds
• Mac-mini-powered Cray
• Backpack Is the Fattest of the Fat Bears
• SF Currently
• This $60 rye bread is everything that's right and wrong with New York
• Popeyes finally gives diners what they want: A chicken biscuit sandwich
• Taco Bell finder
• Where to watch the Musk doc
• Jeff's book talk in Mass.
  

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau

Guest: Mike Gannotti

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Why does Microsoft keep stumbling with new devices and software design... and what happens when enthusiasts start favoring AI over old-school Office? Paul, Richard, and Leo dig into shifting loyalties and what that means for the future of the desktop. And with the release of 26H2, it's time to update your install and recovery media. The build number is 26300.9457

Windows

• Windows 11, version 26H2 is here
• New features, none unique: Start, Taskbar, Search, etc
• New defaults for some features: Windows settings backup for commercial customers, etc.
• The time a UX legend interviewed for a job at Microsoft running Windows UX
• WSL Containers are generally available in Windows 11
• Four new Insider builds, but only Experimental gets anything interesting: Phone companion improvements and Energy recommendations directly in Quick Settings

Software

• Microsoft retires the Microsoft 365 Companion apps for Windows 11 that never made sense in the first place
• Mozilla ships the new Nova UI in Firefox 157

Hardware

• Copilot+ PC brand could be on the way out, but it was all over IFA, including on RTX Spark-based PCs
• Microsoft launches new base Surface Pro and Laptop models with Snapdragon X2 - And a new mouse, for some reason
• Qualcomm brought (first-gen) Snapdragon X to Googlebook, but it's also bringing X2 to Linux
• Google quietly reveals that, yes, Chromebooks are on the way out

AI

• Microsoft unveils the Copilot "super app" and the notion that this is basically an OS
• Open releases about 1000 new updates for ChatGPT
• Claude Sonnet 5.5 joins Opus 5.5
• The AI money pit, part 127: Report details Anthropic losses, spending, and revenues. Report also does a bad job at visualizing that information

XBOX and gaming

• Disc to digital program is live
• Minecraft Dungeons is here with a new dimension, and it's coming to Minecraft next year too
• Microsoft has a new casual mobile game for some reason
• XBOX now has mythic achievements

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Get the Windows 11 version 26H2 ISO
• App pick of the week: Opera on desktop and on mobile
• RunAs Radio this week: AI and Penetration Testing with Paula Januszkiewicz
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Kilchoman Loch Gorm

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

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With millions racing to embrace AI assistants and cybercriminals pivoting to new, high-stakes tactics, the episode tackles the dizzying pace of change and asks: just how worried should we be? The discussion pulls back the curtain on AI's unpredictable power, the escalation of digital extortion, and why the next breach may hit closer to home than you think.

• Muse has a bad 0-day
• The regularity of "Irregular"
• More rogue OpenAI breaches
• The Seven Deadly Sins (TSDS) hacker group
• Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) cargo ship hacked
• The FBI offended ShinyHunters's delicate sensibilities
• Canonical switches to an every–2-weeks release cadence
• Axios' AI 101: AI Explainer for normal people
• How worried should we be?

Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1098-Notes.pdf

Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.

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Federico Viticci of MacStories joins the show this week! Federico shares his experience using Apple's new M5 Ultra Mac Studio & running local AI agents with the machine. John Ternus is looking to get the company to run faster & leaner. And AT&T may not support Apple's new iPhone Handoff feature?

• M5 Ultra Mac Studio Review: The dream Mac for local AI agents.
• Apple's new CEO seeks to make company run faster and leaner.
• AT&T seemingly has no plans to support Apple's new iPhone Handoff feature.
• iPhone 18 Pro Face ID rebooting bug to be fixed in iOS update.
• Meta announces VR headset for $1299.

Picks of the Week

• Federico's Picks: Open Minis, Cadu Bot, and Comet KVM
• Andy's Pick: Keychron K3 v2
• Christina's Picks: Xounds Redux & FruitMenu Redux

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, and Christina Warren

Guest: Federico Viticci

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If your fridge can be bricked by a firmware update and your AI can outwit its creators, are we trading convenience for chaos? This lively episode tackles the tension between relentless innovation and apparent human oversight in today's weird tech world. Unpack the reality behind AI agents hacking government sites and why industry leaders suddenly want to "pause" progress while shipping new models.

• An OpenAI Agent Hacked Australia's Health Service. Their Government Found Out Months Later
• Scoop: Top AI companies probing tens of thousands of security incidents
• OpenAI's A.I. Went Rogue and Meddled With U.S. Government Websites
• US and China Discuss Alerting Each Other to AI National Security Threats
• Meta Connect 2026: The biggest news and announcements
• Amazon doesn't trust Meta's Muse AI agent
• Meta Tests Muse AI Agent Calls That Are Actually Made By Humans in a Call Center
• Meta misled users about Facebook data practices, New Mexico jury finds
• Ireland's data watchdog has fined Google €403M over location data
• Google's first Suncatcher orbital data center test launches October 1
• Microsoft thinks its new Copilot 'super app' will be as influential as Office
• OpenAI pauses training of its 'most capable models'
• Hacking group ShinyHunters claims it breached the FBI, stole agents' and applicants' data
• New Jersey fines data center $1.1M after drone pics expose 62 gas generators
• Walmart chief rules out personalised pricing as AI transforms retail
• Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges
• The smart home graveyard is getting crowded
• Scientists build world's most accurate atomic clock
• Fat Bear Week 2026

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Harper Reed and Iain Thomson

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Forget large language models. This episode uncovers a radically different approach to AI, where physics-guided reasoning and energy-based models are reshaping what machines can actually understand—and why that could unlock breakthroughs mainstream AIs keep missing.

• Claude Opus 5.5 and OpenAI GPT-6 Sol & Luna both launch today with lower costs
• Muse, Meta's extraordinarily privileged AI assistant, has a serious 0-day
• Two Google DeepMind AI Researchers Resign Over Safety
• MetaConnect on during the show
• Google fully details Googlebooks: $899+, October launch, & more
• Introducing MiMo-V2.6 series
• Google CC
• I'm Upping My P(Doom)
• Handshake AI Skills Studio/OpenAI Brian Johnsrud
• Introducing The Horowitz Andreessen Academy
• On 'Cupertino,' Creators of the 'The Good Wife' Go to Silicon Valley

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau

Guest: Patrick Hillmann

Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines.

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Windows

• Week D arrives, and this time we get updates - a preview of Octoberʼs Patch Tuesday
  • 24H2/25H2 Minor update with new Copilot key remaps, Wi-Fi in WRE, more
  • 26H1 Major update that brings all new 26H2 features—Start, Taskbar, Search —to 26H1. Finally.

Windows Insider Program

• Four new builds last Friday - Biggest change is Cloud Rebuild in WRE (in Experimental) gaining new capabilities.

Software

• 30 years ago, Dave Plummer created Task Manager, and now heʼs vibe-coded a modern version that works on Mac and Linux too.
• Stardock announces a new Windows 11 utility called Snipboard.
• Clipchamp does AI upscaling to 4K now

Hardware

• The Lenovo ThinkPad X9 15p Aura Edition is nearly perfect, with 11 hours of battery life.
• Googlebook revealed!
  • Questions answered - $899 starting price is much lower than expected.
  • This is Androidʼs Copilot+ PC moment - An AI PC? What a concept!

AI/dev

• Microsoft announces a OneDrive + Copilot event in October - Also a separate Copilot event before then.
• Financial Times reveals internal OpenAI prediction of $278 billion in losses over the next five years.
• NYT copyright case discovery reveals what Microsoft and OpenAI really think about stealing content.
• Anthropic merges Cowork into chat, adds Docs and Slides.
• Google Labs CC turned into Gemini Daily Brief, so now itʼs an AI agent for families.
• Google opens up its Home smart home ecosystem to other AI assistants.
• XAML.io is a web-based vibe coding IDE for .NET apps and it looks amazing.

XBOX and Gaming

• A big reorg and a small number of layoffs at XBOX sets off a new round of hand wringing.

Tip and Picks

• Tip of the week: Get Auto SR on Panther Lake-based laptops
• Auto SR was designed to make gaming viable on Windows 11 on Arm/Snapdragon X/X2, but now itʼs available on Intel Core Ultra Series 3-based PCs and it is worth experimenting with.

App Pick of the Week: Affinity

• Possibly the greatest free app in existence, Affinity just got 60 new features and is even better.

Hosts: Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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After Microsoft's historic Mega Patch Tuesday, enterprise IT teams worldwide are scrambling as a wave of updates triggers system meltdowns, broken domains, and silent Excel failures. Find out how AI-driven speed collided with real-world chaos.

• Andrew Ng weighs-in on AI Doomsaying.
• The wisdom of outsourcing AI security testing.
• The true risk of an AI-created bioweapon.
• The EU KIDS Act -- this one is even messier.
• "Nightmare Eclipse" finally unmasks himself.
• A whitehat firm used Claude to attack OpenAI.
• Cisco's own massive 77 CVE update.
• What was the fallout from Sept's Patch Tuesday

Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1097-Notes.pdf

Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte

Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now.

You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page.

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The iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max are hitting consumers' hands. Reviews of the Apple Watch Series 12 & Ultra 4 are out now for Apple's latest smartwatches. And are the newest Mac Minis and Mac Studios worth it for their prices?

• Apple explains how the iPhone 18 Pro's new Reference Image camera mode works.
• The iPhone 18 Pro's big camera update is all about the small gains.
• Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 review: More personal than ever before.
• Apple is developing new fitness tracker aimed at rivaling Whoop.
• M5 Ultra Mac Studio review: The dream Mac for local AI agents.
• M6 Mac mini review: Tiny, pricey, and powerful.
• John Ternus just gave the best defense yet for Vision Pro.
• Apple reportedly building server packed with M-series Ultra chips for AI.
• Jessica Chastain thriller 'The Savant' getting 2027 release on Apple TV after year on hold.
• Apple opens Apple Music Hall, a brand‑new state‑of‑the‑art live music venue in London

Picks of the Week

• Jason's Pick: Relay for St. Jude
• Andy's Pick: MOONDROP Old Fashioned 40mm On-Ear Headphones
• Christina's Picks: Taylor Swift: Patient Zero & Mona Breaker

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Jason Snell, and Christina Warren

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AI hallucinations nearly sparked an international crisis, Google dodged a breakup but faces new rules, and Meta's personal AI agent might be about to run your life. This week's episode ponders what's pragmatic, what's dangerous, and what's coming for everything from privacy to geopolitics.

• Judge Orders Data Sharing and Other Fixes to Solve Google's Ad Tech Monopoly
• US judge signals rejection of part of TikTok privacy settlement
• AI hallucination of Chinese nuclear components almost led to US military attack
• For the first time, the US military confirms it has deployed weapons in orbit
• OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of 'Concerning' A.I. Behavior
• Why AI pacing has become a false choice
• Iran and China Create First-of-Their-Kind Autonomous A.I. Influence Campaigns
• Hackers Got Inside a Flock Camera. Its Data Shows How the System Really Works
• Senate Votes to Block Crypto Bill in Major Blow to the Industry
• The EU Bans Social Media For Under-13s
• 'Maybe a year': Geoffrey Hinton gives the Senate a deadline on AI
• ZuckOff Is a Free App That Sees Meta Glasses Before They See You

Host: Leo Laporte

Guests: Owen Thomas, Jason Hiner, and Dan Patterson

Download or subscribe to This Week in Tech at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

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