In recent days, the bosses of the top US AI companies have supported more stringent regulation of the industry. Their statements came after a viral post from an Anthropic employee who said he quit over fears that AI could “kill us all.” A strong majority of US voters want more regulation, but the companies themselves face a classic “prisoner’s dilemma”: slowing progress only works if everyone does it. But if everyone does, any one company that doesn’t stands to reap huge rewards, given how transformative (and lucrative) the AI race is. Could government keep everyone in line? Maybe, but not everyone thinks that’s a good idea given the geopolitical stakes. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that any “guardrails” shouldn’t hamstring the US in its broader competition with Beijing.
Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West pipeline over the weekend after drone attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq damaged the crucial export route. The move comes just days after the Iran-backed Houthis seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces following a rapid and unexpected offensive on Friday. Together, the developments are a massive blow to Saudi oil exports. The Kingdom had been sending nearly 75% of its oil through the East-West pipeline and onward through the Bab el-Mandeb amid disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. Now, with the pipeline offline and the Bab el-Mandeb effectively closed to Saudi shipping, it has few options left to get its oil to global markets. Oil prices have already climbed above $108 a barrel, and the risk of taking Saudi crude – roughly 4% of global supply – off the market could push prices even higher.
A coalition led by Sweden’s Social Democrats eked out a narrow victory over the current center-right government in Sunday’s general election. The big surprise was the poor performance of the far-right Sweden Democrats, whose hardline immigration message had propelled them to second place in the 2022 election. Although they were still shut out of the governing coalition after that election, they reached an agreement to provide tactical support to the government on key votes. This time around, they are on track to lose 11 seats, their first decline ever. Analysts cited broader unease that the party, which has its roots in (since disavowed) ultra-nationalist and neo-Nazi movements of the 1980s, could actually enter government. But in a sense the party has already won an important victory — over the past four years it successfully pushed for significant restrictions on Sweden’s famously permissive immigration policies. Even under a new center-left government, the country is unlikely to return to that.
Should governments ban young people from social media? Paul Ash of the Christchurch Call Foundation says he has real reservations about age bans but understands why governments are turning to them.
Last month, Microsoft and Cyberlite launched their expanded AI Classroom Toolkit for educators. The toolkit focuses on the critical thinking skills needed to navigate an increasingly AI-powered world, with classroom-ready scenarios that help students learn how to evaluate AI-generated content, verify information, trace claims to reliable sources, and make informed decisions about what to trust online. The initiative is part of Microsoft’s broader work to help young people use AI safely and responsibly, while strengthening the judgment they need to participate confidently in an evolving digital environment. Read more here.
In this Quick Take, Ian Bremmer breaks down the New York Times investigation into Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with a Chinese tech executive that the US government believes was a spy for China.
Of the 193 UN member states, only 86 have had a female head of state or government since 1946, according to the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women’s Power Index.