New Pentagon Cybersecurity Rules Spur Small Defense Suppliers to Quit Military Work, Major Tech Companies Ban Experimental Agentic AI Tool, OpenClaw, and Iranian Nationals Indicted for Trade Secret Theft from Google and Other Tech Companies.
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Show Notes
YouTube Expands Conversational AI to TVs
YouTube is expanding its experimental conversational AI tool to smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. This feature allows users to ask questions about a video without pausing it, accessible via a new on-screen “Ask” button and the remote’s microphone. This move capitalizes on the high volume of YouTube big-screen viewing and enhances competition with rivals like Amazon’s Alexa and Roku’s AI assistants. This fits into YouTube’s broader AI initiatives, including comment summaries and search carousels.
New U.S. Defense Cybersecurity Rules Create Barriers
New U.S. Defense Department cybersecurity rules (CMMC), launched last November, are prompting small defense suppliers to consider leaving military work due to high compliance costs and confusing requirements. The new regulations aim to protect sensitive unclassified information, but the lack of clarity on what data is truly sensitive is forcing contractors to impose strict compliance standards even on suppliers who may not handle critical data. Companies face months-long waits for the stricter Level 2 audits, which are expected to begin around November. This situation risks slowing down production, despite the administration’s push for increased output.
Tech Companies Ban OpenClaw Over Security Concerns
Tech companies like Meta, Valere, and others are implementing internal bans on the experimental agentic AI tool, OpenClaw, due to concerns about its unpredictability, potential for privacy breaches, and ability to take control of user computers. Valere initially prohibited the software, with Valere’s CEO citing risks to client data and GitHub codebases, though Valere later allowed a research team to study it in isolation. While some companies rely on existing security, others, like Massive, are cautiously moving to monetize the technology by integrating it into a commercial service called ClawPod.
Three Engineers Indicted in Google Trade Secret Case
A federal grand jury indicted three Silicon Valley engineers: Samaneh Ghandali, Soroor Ghandali, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, identified as Iranian nationals, for conspiracy and theft of trade secrets from Google and other tech companies. The engineers, two of whom worked at Google, are accused of exploiting their positions to steal hundreds of confidential files, including processor security data, and transferring the sensitive information to Iran. Google detected the theft through security monitoring and referred the case to law enforcement, which alleges the defendants took deliberate steps to evade detection.
WhatsApp Adds Group Message History Feature
WhatsApp is introducing a new feature called “Group Message History” that allows group administrators to privately share a curated selection of recent messages with new members. This significantly improves the onboarding experience by providing new participants with necessary context without cluttering the main group chat with old, forwarded messages. The feature is designed to maintain a clean conversation flow and enable newcomers to participate immediately.
SoftBank Plans $33B Gas Power Plant
SoftBank’s subsidiary, SB Energy, is planning a $33 billion, 9.2-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant on the Ohio-Kentucky border. If built, it would be the largest in the U.S., capable of powering 7.5 million homes. Though the power’s use is unspecified (grid or data centers), SoftBank is developing a proof-of-concept data center at GM’s former Lordstown plant. The massive project is expected to take up to a decade and could annually emit around 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, with a potentially greater overall climate impact due to methane leaks.
Google Launches Gemini 3.1 Pro
Google released Gemini 3.1 Pro, a new AI model with significantly improved reasoning, achieving a 77.1% score on the ARC-AGI-2 test. The model, released after Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.6, features advanced capabilities such as generating animated SVGs, creating functional websites (Creative Coding), and developing interactive 3D simulations (Interactive Design). Gemini 3.1 Pro is available to consumers via the Gemini app (Pro/Ultra plans) and NotebookLM, and to developers and enterprises through the Gemini API in tools like AI Studio and Android Studio.
Google Play Sees Drop in Malicious Apps
Google’s enhanced investment in proactive security and AI technology has significantly reduced malicious app activity on Google Play, preventing 1.75 million policy-violating apps from publication in 2025 (down from over two million previously) and banning over 80,000 bad developer accounts (a substantial drop from 333,000 in 2023). These measures, including developer verification and AI-assisted reviews, are deterring bad actors and raising ecosystem standards. However, the increase in malicious non-Play Store apps detected by Google Play Protect suggests that malicious developers are shifting away from the official store.
Sony Shuts Down Bluepoint Games
Sony is closing Bluepoint Games, the studio behind the Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls remakes, in March, leading to about 70 job losses. The closure follows a business review and the cancellation of a live-service God of War game the studio was developing after its 2021 acquisition. This decision reflects Sony’s ongoing difficulties in the premium online multiplayer sector.