Samsung bans and is working to remove SmartTV apps containing proxy functionality, Apple adds a cap for security reports from researchers due to the flood of AI submissions, and Microsoft announces price hikes for consoles in the EU and United Kingdom.
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Show Notes
On Monday, the US government announced it created a voluntary framework for evaluating large language models, to be discussed with AI companies on Tuesday. Axios reports “the administration is engaging with “many more” industry partners than just Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.” No details of the framework are public at this time.
Source: Axios
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports the global memory chip shortage which already impacted availability of Apple’s Mac mini and Mac Studio, is now affecting supply of the MacBook Air. Attempting to purchase a MacBook Air from Apple’s site shows a delay currently ranging from the end of August into September. Gurman says Apple aims to address the supply constraints by obtaining memory from Chinese companies.
Source: Bloomberg and TechCrunch
Also in Gurman’s Power On newsletter, he notes Apple is working on integrating Apple Vision headsets and the company’s future smart glasses to act as health and fitness companions. As corroboration, Apple’s job site lists a position for “strategic product design leader” for the Vision Products Group, looking to “define the future of health, well-being and fitness experiences across vision products.” The Apple Vision Pro reportedly planned to include a way to support working out with the headset, using the sensors to monitor workout form, but this was abandoned due to tech limitations and the fact that the headset is heavy to workout in. Apple’s upcoming smartglasses will likely eliminate the weight issue.
Source: Digital Trends
The Financial Times reports Apple is capping the amount of security reports a researcher can keep open at once due to the amount of AI bug-related submissions. Submissions through the internal security portal now have a 30-day cool-off period alongside the cap, though users can submit requests to increase the capped quota. These new rules are a result of the current verification bottleneck, as all submissions undergo a human review, though Apple has reportedly begun to use AI to assist in sorting the influx of reports in order to rank them based on immediate threat level.
Source: The Financial Times and Digital Trends
On Friday a Federal Judge ruled against xAI’s motion to pause a Minnesota law banning nudification technology. In a two page order, US District in Minnesota Judge Donovan Frank wrote “xAI filed the motion on July 29, 2026, nearly three months after the law was signed, and only three days before the law is set to take effect. Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate.” A hearing scheduled for August 19th will decide whether or not to grant a preliminary injunction. xAI argues grok already prohibits the generation of “nude or sexualized images of people without their consent.”
Source: NBC News
Over the weekend, Microsoft announced the scheduled price increases for the Xbox Series consoles in Europe and the United Kingdom. The Xbox Series X with disc drive 1TB consoles will rise by €200 or £170, now costing €799.99 and £669.99. The Xbox Series S 512GB machines jumps €150 or £130, now reaching €499.99 and £429.99. These prices are higher than the previously announced USD increases, at a 30 to 40% hike. This is the third round of price increases since May 2025, largely blamed on rising costs for RAM and other console components.
Source: The Verge and Video Game Chronicle
On Saturday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips granted a preliminary injunction to the City of Santa Monica over some of Waymo’s overnight charging lots between 11 pm and 6 am, classifying them as a “public nuisance.” City officials and locals note the constant disturbance is caused by Waymo vehicles creating light and sound pollution, as well as traffic congestion. Waymo is appealing the ruling and the next court hearing is scheduled for October 2026.
Source: ArsTechnica
Following reporting on cybersecurity company Mnemonic’s discovery that some apps on Samsung’s smart TV platform can “route strangers’ web traffic through a home internet connection”, Samsung has announced a ban on the practice. Apps that included the potential traffic hijack included a licensed Pac-Man game from Samsung’s Editor’s Choice section of its app store. A Samsung rep told TechCrunch, “We have already restricted new app registrations that incorporate such proxy functionalities on our Smart TV platform” and “We are currently implementing strict platform-wide developer policies explicitly banning residential proxy SDKs”. Samsung is also working on removing all currently available apps with these banned components.
Source: TechCrunch