The UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is implementing stringent new online safety regulations for AI chatbot providers such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and X's Grok. These measures aim to protect children from illegal content, requiring compliance with the Online Safety Act or facing fines and potential blocking. The government also seeks powers to set minimum age limits for social media, restrict features like infinite scrolling, and limit children's access to AI chatbots and VPNs.
In the tech industry, AI demand is significantly impacting hardware supply. Western Digital, a major hard drive manufacturer, has already sold out all its storage capacity for 2026, with most going to its top business customers. The consumer market now accounts for only 5 percent of its income. This high demand is also driving up prices for computer hardware. Meanwhile, financier Jeffrey Epstein was revealed to have funded AI pioneer Ben Goertzel and helped him secure HK$8.9 million in grants from the Hong Kong government.
AI's influence extends to finance, with Dr. Lin Han, founder of Gate, predicting AI will transform trading within two years, blurring the lines between crypto and traditional assets. He envisions "Intelligent Web3" where AI agents simplify complex crypto trading. On the technical front, Markdown is emerging as the key language for AI agents, favored over HTML for its efficiency in reducing computational waste and speeding up responses.
However, the rapid expansion of AI is not without challenges. Rural communities in the United States are pushing back against the construction of large AI data centers. Economist David Autor warns that AI could threaten democracy by devaluing human labor, potentially leading to an unequal society. Voice actress Nancy Cartwright, known for Bart Simpson, also expressed skepticism about AI's ability to replace human voice actors, stating that "AI Has No Heart."
Globally, India's AI Impact Summit 2026 is underway, serving as a crucial test for the country's government-backed AI startups and its overall AI development strategy. In education, the Southeast Delco School District in Delaware County is utilizing an AI-powered tool called Amira to enhance early reading skills for students in elementary grades, acting as a personal reading tutor.
Key Takeaways
- The UK government is enforcing strict online safety rules for AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Grok to protect children, including potential fines and age restrictions.
- Western Digital has sold out all its hard drive capacity for 2026 due to high AI demand, with the consumer market now representing only 5% of its income.
- Financier Jeffrey Epstein funded AI pioneer Ben Goertzel and helped secure HK$8.9 million in grants from the Hong Kong government.
- Dr. Lin Han, founder of Gate, believes AI will transform trading within two years, integrating crypto and traditional assets.
- Markdown is becoming the standard language for AI agents, offering more efficiency and lower costs compared to HTML.
- India's AI Impact Summit 2026 is evaluating government-backed AI startups and the country's AI development strategy.
- MIT economist David Autor warns that AI could harm democracy by devaluing human labor.
- Rural communities in the U.S. are resisting the construction of large AI data centers.
- Delaware County schools are using an AI-powered tool, Amira, to improve early reading skills for students.
- Nancy Cartwright, voice of Bart Simpson, believes AI lacks the "heart" to replace human voice actors.
UK to enforce strict online safety rules for AI chatbots
The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will introduce tough new rules for AI chatbot providers like ChatGPT and Grok. These rules aim to protect children from illegal content online. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill will require compliance with the Online Safety Act, with fines for those who do not follow. The government also seeks new powers to quickly set measures like a minimum age of 16 for social media and restrict features like infinite scrolling. This action follows concerns about AI's potential harm to young people.
Prime Minister Starmer targets AI chatbots for child safety
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced new plans to control AI chatbots and protect children online. The government will target illegal content made by AI and seek powers to quickly act on a public consultation. This consultation will consider banning social media for children under 16 and restricting VPN use for minors. All AI chatbot providers must follow digital safety laws, including a ban on creating sexualized images without consent. These measures will be added to current crime and child protection laws.
UK strengthens online safety laws for AI chatbots
The UK government is tightening online safety laws for AI chatbot companies like OpenAI's ChatGPT and X's Grok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced these measures to close a loophole and protect children from illegal content. Chatbot providers must now follow "illegal content duties" or face fines and potential blocking. The new powers also allow setting minimum age limits for social media, restricting features like infinite scrolling, and limiting children's access to AI chatbots and VPNs. This move comes after concerns about AI-generated explicit content and the impact on children's mental health.
Western Digital hard drives sold out for 2026 due to AI demand
Western Digital, a major hard drive maker, has already sold out all its storage capacity for 2026. This happened less than two months into the year. Most of these hard drives went to its top seven business customers, with some having deals extending to 2027 and 2028. The company reports that the consumer market now makes up only 5 percent of its income. This high demand from AI companies is causing prices for computer hardware like processors and video game consoles to rise.
Epstein funded AI pioneer Ben Goertzel and Hong Kong grants
US government documents reveal that financier Jeffrey Epstein funded AI pioneer Ben Goertzel. Epstein also helped Goertzel secure HK$8.9 million in grants from the Hong Kong government. Ben Goertzel previously led artificial intelligence and robotics projects in the city.
Simpsons Bart voice actress says AI has no heart
Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson for 800 episodes, believes artificial intelligence cannot do her job. She stated that "AI Has No Heart" and wants a human to take over her role in the future. Cartwright expressed little confidence in AI's ability to replace human voice actors.
Rural towns push back against AI data centers
Tech companies are building thousands of large data centers to power the artificial intelligence revolution. They are moving into rural communities across the United States, promising new jobs. However, some of these communities are resisting the arrival of these huge data centers. Karen Weise, a technology reporter for The New York Times, reported on one county's pushback against Big Tech.
Gate founder sees AI transforming crypto and traditional trading
Dr. Lin Han, founder of Gate, believes artificial intelligence will change trading within two years. He also thinks the difference between crypto and traditional assets is fading. Gate, which started as Bter.com, now offers over 50 products and services and holds licenses in 80 places. The platform is expanding to include tokenized stocks, gold, and other traditional assets, allowing 24/7 trading and better portfolio choices. Dr. Han envisions "Intelligent Web3" where AI agents simplify complex crypto trading for everyone.
Markdown becomes key language for AI agents
Markdown is quickly becoming the standard language for AI systems and agents, as traditional HTML is not efficient for AI search engines. Cloudflare introduced a "Markdown for Agents" feature that automatically converts HTML into structured markdown. HTML includes extra information like layout and styling that large language models do not need. Markdown provides a simpler, structured format with headings, lists, and links, which is easier for AI to understand. This approach helps AI companies by reducing wasted computation, lowering costs, and speeding up responses because markdown uses fewer "tokens" than HTML.
India AI Mission faces first test at Impact Summit
India's AI Impact Summit 2026 is underway, marking the first major test for the country's government-backed artificial intelligence startups. These 12 startups will showcase their AI models this week. The summit will also evaluate New Delhi's strategy for AI development amid changing global AI economics. The event began with large crowds and some organizational issues, which the Ministry of Electronics and IT expects to resolve.
Economist warns AI could harm democracy by devaluing human work
MIT economist David Autor warns that artificial intelligence could weaken democracy by making human labor less valuable. He explains that most people earn income through their work, and if AI takes over, many will have nothing to offer the market. Autor believes democracy relies on citizens both contributing and claiming from society. If people only claim benefits like Universal Basic Income without contributing market value, it poses a serious threat to how democracy functions. He fears a future where a few AI company owners control all resources, leading to an unequal and divided society.
Delaware County schools use AI to boost reading skills
The Southeast Delco School District in Delaware County is using an AI-powered tool called Amira to help students improve their early reading skills. Amira works like a personal reading tutor for children in first, second, and third grades. This technology aims to give young students extra support in learning to read.
Sources
- AI chatbots to face strict online safety rules in UK
- UK’s Starmer announces crackdown on AI chatbots in child safety push
- AI chatbot firms face stricter regulation in online safety laws protecting children in the UK
- Thanks a lot, AI: Hard drives are already sold out for the entire year, says Western Digital
- Exclusive | Epstein funded AI pioneer, helped get him Hong Kong government grants
- Deadline Hollywood
- When A.I. Comes to Town: The Backlash Over Data Centers
- Gate Founder Dr. Lin Han on AI, Crypto, and TradFi's Future
- WTF is Markdown for AI agents?
- One year, 12 startups: India AI Mission faces its first real test
- MIT Economist David Autor Explains How AI Can Weaken Democracy By Devaluing Human Labour
- Delaware County school district turns to AI to help boost early reading skills
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