Bill Gates says AI companies cannot be trusted to regulate themselves and is calling on Congress to step in with new rules. During an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Gates warned that AI could cause serious harm if it falls into the wrong hands. His stance echoes what Sam Altman and others said at the United Nations, where leaders pushed for international safety standards to keep AI development in check.
Experts are growing more urgent about the need for oversight. Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, left his job because he believes AI could pose an existential threat by the end of the decade. He and others want independent auditors to review AI safety practices. Meanwhile, some Democrats in Congress are drafting legislation that would require companies to test AI models alongside government experts. Critics of tighter rules worry that slowing development could put the U.S. at a disadvantage against China.
On the product and business side, AI is moving fast. Microsoft Copilot is evolving from a chatbot into what Oppenheimer analyst Brian Schwartz calls an AI operating system. New tools like Cowork and Autopilot could be sold through subscriptions and usage-based pricing, potentially boosting Azure growth and Microsoft's stock. Schwartz raised his price target to $570 and maintained an Outperform rating.
Shopify has also made a move, linking eligible merchant stores to Meta's Muse AI shopping agent. Customers can now browse and buy using Shop Pay inside Muse, putting Shopify in direct competition with Amazon, which blocks similar AI shopping integrations. The partnership could reshape how merchants handle customer acquisition and reduce their dependence on any single channel.
Governments are leaning into AI as well. Singapore's Cyber Security Agency deployed two AI tools to scan and test about 2,000 government systems for vulnerabilities, particularly after attacks linked to UNC3886. The tools run automated security checks and source code scans, with plans to expand to banking, healthcare, and energy sectors. Tighter vendor security rules could follow as early as 2027.
The FAA is also putting AI to work, rolling out an $875 million system called SMART into air traffic control. SMART pulls together 200 data streams, including weather and flight paths, to help specialists anticipate and solve problems before they cause delays. In a separate development, the Cleaner Kit app for iOS uses AI to scan photos, emails, and contacts to free up phone storage, and it already has over 70 million users with a 4.5-star App Store rating.
AI is even changing how people engage with politics and investing. Voters are increasingly turning to ChatGPT and Google AI tools for election information, with political AI use jumping roughly 20 percent during primary season. Meanwhile, a Bridgewise study found that 62 percent of Filipinos use AI for investment decisions, the highest rate among 19 countries surveyed, and 88 percent trust the data even when it is sometimes wrong.
Key Takeaways
- <ul><li>Bill Gates urges Congress to regulate AI, arguing companies cannot self-police and that safeguards are needed to prevent misuse.</li><li>Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warns AI could threaten humanity by decade's end and calls for independent safety audits.</li><li>Microsoft Copilot is transforming into an AI operating system, with analyst Brian Schwartz raising his price target to $570.</li><li>Shopify integrates Meta Muse AI shopping agent, putting it in competition with Amazon's approach to AI commerce.</li><li>Singapore deploys AI tools across 2,000 government systems to improve cybersecurity after UNC3886 attacks.</li><li>FAA launches $875 million SMART system combining 200 data streams to reduce flight delays and improve air traffic control.</li><li>Filipino investors lead the world in AI adoption for investments, with 62 percent using AI tools and 88 percent trusting the data.</li><li>Voters are increasingly using AI chatbots and search tools for political information, with usage rising about 20 percent during primary season.</li><li>AI bots are flooding researchers with unsolicited messages, raising concerns about privacy and accountability across platforms like iLands.</li><li>Cleaner Kit app uses on-device AI to scan and clean phone storage, reaching over 70 million users with a 4.5-star rating.</li></ul>
Bill Gates urges government regulation of AI development
Bill Gates says AI companies cannot self-regulate and wants lawmakers in Washington to pass new rules. He believes government monitoring and safeguards are required to prevent harm from AI. Gates also warns that AI could cause massive damage if used by people with bad intentions. His comments came during an interview on NBC News Meet the Press. Other leaders like Sam Altman also called for international AI safety standards at the United Nations.
Lawmakers must act quickly on AI regulation, experts warn
An AI researcher named Jacob Coxon quit his job at Anthropic because he fears AI could destroy humanity by the end of the decade. He says there are not enough safety rules in place. Some experts want independent auditors to check AI safety. Democrats in Congress are working on laws that would have companies test AI models with government experts. Critics worry that slowing AI development could hurt the race with China. The article calls on lawmakers to make AI safety their top priority.
Singapore deploys AI tools to boost government cybersecurity
Singapore is using new AI tools to protect about 2,000 government systems after attacks by a group called UNC3886. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore now focuses on finding attackers already inside networks instead of just blocking them. The Government Technology Agency built two AI tools that run automatic security tests and scan source code for weaknesses. Officials plan to expand these tools to critical sectors like banking, healthcare, and energy. Singapore also wants to tighten security rules for vendors and suppliers starting as early as 2027.
Shopify links stores to Meta Muse AI shopping agent
Shopify has connected eligible merchant stores to Meta's Muse AI agent. Customers can now browse and buy products using Shop Pay directly inside Muse. This move puts Shopify in competition with Amazon, which blocks similar AI shopping tools. The deal could change how merchants handle customer acquisition and reduce their reliance on single channels. Investors are watching closely to see how this affects Shopify's growth plans.
Microsoft Copilot becomes an AI operating system, analyst says
Oppenheimer analyst Brian Schwartz says Microsoft Copilot is changing from a chatbot into an AI operating system. This shift could increase user engagement and create more ways for Microsoft to make money. New features like Cowork and Autopilot may be sold through subscriptions and usage-based pricing. Schwartz expects Azure growth to accelerate and could push Microsoft stock higher. He raised his price target for Microsoft to $570 and kept an Outperform rating.
Filipino investors lead the world in trusting AI for investments
A Bridgewise study called The State of AI for Wealth in 2026 surveyed 2,100 people across 19 countries. Sixty-two percent of Filipinos use AI for investment questions, compared with 45 percent globally. Eighty-eight percent trust AI data, and 83 percent believe AI gives them an edge over investors who do not use it. Even after receiving incorrect data, Filipino investors kept trusting the technology.
FAA deploys $875 million AI system at US airports
The Federal Aviation Administration began deploying the SMART system into air traffic control. The system combines 200 data streams including weather, flight paths and traffic flow into one platform. It helps aviation specialists see future conditions and fix problems before they happen. The FAA expects the system to reduce flight delays and cancellations.
AI bots are flooding researchers with unsolicited messages
AI agents are contacting researchers directly to ask for data, collaboration and paid work. Researchers in Australia and the United States reported receiving these messages, raising concerns about privacy and accountability. The platform iLands, which launched in July 2026, has over 81,000 active agents. Researchers worry about who gets credit for AI-produced work and whether agents can be stopped from misbehaving.
Voters increasingly rely on AI for political information
Voters are using AI chatbots and search tools to learn about politics and elections. ChatGPT and Google AI tools are the most common sources. Political AI use rose about 20 percent during primary season. Some voters worry AI can confuse ballot language and lead to wrong votes, while others use it to compare candidates and understand proposals in simple terms.
AI-powered Cleaner Kit app helps save phone storage space
Cleaner Kit is an iOS app that uses AI to find duplicate photos, blurry screenshots and old emails. It scans your camera roll, merges contacts and cleans up Gmail in bulk. The app processes everything on the device instead of in the cloud. Over 70 million people use it, and it has a 4.5 star rating on the App Store.
Sources
- Bill Gates says AI companies self-regulating isn’t enough and governments should be involved in monitoring
- Juggling Act: Lawmakers must act now to regulate AI amid doomsday predictions
- Singapore shifts cyber strategy after UNC3886 attacks, deploys AI security tools
- What Shopify (SHOP)'s Meta AI Shopping Deal Means For Shareholders
- Microsoft Copilot Is Turning Into An ‘AI Operating System’ — Here’s What It Means For MSFT Stock, According To Oppenheimer’s Brian Schwartz
- Investment AI is leveling the playing field
- FAA installing controversial AI software at US airports
- AI bots are flooding researchers with requests for data, money and collaboration
- Voters are turning to AI on politics. Is it up to the task?
- This $30 AI storage cleanup app saves you from buying more cloud space
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