Each week in Internet and Tech Weekly we examine the latest developments from the digital world, drawing on announcements from leading players such as Google, Meta, OpenAI and others. Here is what shaped the past seven days in technology, and why it matters.
Headlines from the Week
Cloudflare warns AI could undermine the web’s business model
Cloudflare’s CEO Matthew Prince has raised concerns that AI “answer engines” are cutting publishers out of the internet economy. “The more that users consume content without visiting the sites that created it, the more the sustainability of the open web is at risk,” he explained, according to The Guardian. The company has now begun blocking AI bots by default and is calling for a system where AI firms compensate content creators, much like streaming services pay musicians.
Salt Typhoon espionage campaign expands into critical infrastructure
The FBI has issued a fresh warning about the Chinese-backed Salt Typhoon hacking group, which has now moved beyond espionage into direct attacks on infrastructure in more than 80 countries. “This is not just spying. This is active disruption of the systems that keep nations running,” an official told Reuters. Western agencies are now coordinating on new countermeasures.
FTC pushes back against weakening encryption
In Washington, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has urged major technology firms to resist pressure from European and British regulators to alter encryption systems or increase content takedowns. “Compliance with these requests could contravene U.S. law and fatally damage user trust,” the FTC wrote in a statement, according to Politico. The agency is pressing companies such as Apple, Google and Meta to maintain end-to-end protections.
AI boom faces reality check
Despite headline-grabbing announcements, signs are emerging that the AI surge may be entering a cooler phase. MIT research suggested that “95 percent of generative AI projects have produced little or no measurable revenue impact.” Meanwhile, Sam Altman of OpenAI admitted that the launch of GPT-5 had been mishandled. “We botched it, plain and simple,” he told Windows Central, citing bugs and reduced user trust. Meta has also reportedly slowed its AI hiring.
Silicon Valley bankrolls AI-friendly politics
A new political action committee called Leading the Future has been launched with the backing of high-profile figures such as OpenAI’s Greg Brockman and venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. According to The Information, the group has already raised $100 million to support candidates who are seen as “pro-AI” in the run-up to the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
AI and the classroom under the spotlight
Wired has announced a live panel discussion, “Back to School in the Age of AI,” exploring the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in education. Topics range from microschools to regulation. As the magazine put it, “AI is not just changing how we teach, but what we consider worth teaching.”
NBA champion turns to digital equity
Away from the boardrooms of Silicon Valley, NBA champion Tristan Thompson has taken on a new role as Chief Digital Equity Officer at World Mobile. In a press release he said, “Access to the internet should be a right, not a privilege. I want to help connect communities that the big telecoms have ignored for too long.” His appointment signals growing interest in bridging the digital divide.
