Federal government strikes unprecedented $0.42 deal with xAI to deploy Grok AI models across all agencies through 2027, providing immediate access to advanced Grok 4 reasoning technology with dedicated engineering support and enterprise upgrade paths.
Trump administration launches controversial AI-powered Medicare prior authorization program called WISeR in six states starting January 2026, using algorithms to approve or deny medical procedures like knee surgeries and implants, sparking bipartisan opposition from lawmakers and doctors who fear delayed care and lack of transparency in automated healthcare decisions.
AI company Cohere raises additional $100 million funding, pushing its valuation to $7 billion while launching new Command A series enterprise models with vision, reasoning, and translation capabilities for secure deployment across global markets.
France makes history, naming Clara Chappaz as the world's first AI minister, underscoring its determination to lead the global AI revolution and harness this transformative technology.
Nationwide teacher shortages persist, with 1 in 8 teaching positions vacant or filled by uncertified educators, impacting over 6 million students; some states face worsening shortages while others implement reforms, signaling need for sustained solutions to stabilize the workforce.
As the AI job boom intensifies geographic concentration in major tech hubs like the Bay Area, generative AI drives expansion to emerging metro areas, prompting calls for regional economic development aligned with national AI strategy to harness AI's transformative potential.
In a groundbreaking move, Anthropic becomes the first major tech company to endorse California's SB 53 AI bill, mandating transparency measures and safety procedures for advanced AI models offered in the state, aligning with recommendations from California's AI policy working group.
Trump hosts 33 tech titans for White House dinner, where attendees pledge billions in U.S. investments, signaling industry's warming ties with administration despite notable absences like Elon Musk and Jensen Huang.
Switzerland unveils Apertus, a 100% open, multilingual AI model built by public institutions for public good, trained on over 1,000 languages with transparency and compliance as core principles, demonstrating generative AI can be powerful and open.
Melania Trump highlights the importance of teaching AI literacy to students from an early age, stating 'the robots are here,' as the White House emphasizes AI in K-12 education for American competitiveness, with major tech firms pledging new commitments to the initiative.