‘Supplemental’ Municipal Utility Begins Solar-and-Storage Installs in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor launched the Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU), a supplemental municipal utility that began installing solar‑plus‑storage systems for about 150 homes in the Bryant neighborhood, with plans to reach 1,000 homes by 2027. The pilot, supplied by FranklinWH and partnered with Michigan Solar Solutions, Homeland Solar and Oak Electric Service, will create a virtual power plant managed via Texture’s platform. The program targets low‑income residents to lower energy costs and improve grid resilience, serving as a stepping stone toward broader municipal ownership and renewable infrastructure. DTE Energy, the incumbent utility, supports the effort but warns a full municipal utility could cost $1 billion and raise bills 30‑40%.
Woolpert and Chance Maritime in Uncrewed Hydrographic Survey First
Woolpert and Chance Maritime have launched NOAA's first fully uncrewed offshore hydrographic survey off Pensacola, Florida, using the 40‑foot MC40 and 29‑foot MC29 unmanned surface vessels equipped with Woolpert’s multibeam sonar. The mission will capture 1,391 square nautical miles of...
Treasury Warns AI Model Could Hack Bank Accounts, Urges Immediate Action
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that Americans should be worried about AI-driven hacks to their bank accounts, citing Anthropic’s Claude Mythos model that can locate thousands of software flaws. The warning follows an emergency April meeting with Federal Reserve...
UAE Cyber Security Council, Cisco and Open Innovation AI Launch National AI Test and Validation Lab
The UAE Cyber Security Council, Cisco and Open Innovation AI announced the creation of a National AI Test and Validation Lab in Abu Dhabi. The facility will certify AI models for security, safety and compliance, marking the first government‑backed AI...
State Audit Slams NYC Schools for Lack of Student Data Privacy Oversight
The New York City Department of Education failed a state audit that revealed extensive gaps in student data privacy oversight. Auditors found the district lacks a comprehensive inventory of third‑party software, has experienced 141 security incidents—including breaches affecting 820,000 students—and...
SSE Vs. SASE: Federal Agencies’ Guide to Cloud Security Architecture
Federal agencies advancing zero‑trust and hybrid work are shifting from perimeter security to cloud‑delivered models. Two frameworks—Security Service Edge (SSE) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)—offer distinct paths: SSE provides security‑only services such as SWG, CASB and ZTNA, while SASE...
Bipartisan Senate Bill Takes Aim at AI Voice Cloning and Deepfake Fraud Targeting Mobile Users
The bipartisan AI Fraud Accountability Act (S.3982), introduced by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester and Tim Sheehy, would make it a federal crime to use AI‑generated voice clones, synthetic video, or other deepfakes for financial fraud and identity theft on mobile...
Project ARIA Pushes AI From Concept to Soldier-Ready Capability
The U.S. Army’s Project ARIA, launched in March, is moving artificial intelligence from experimental labs to soldier‑ready tools. By partnering with industry and academia, the initiative targets high‑value use cases such as logistics, policy compliance, and daily workflows to cut administrative...
OpenGov Expands AI-Native Platform to Unify ERP, HCM, and Public Sector Operations
OpenGov announced a major upgrade to its Public Service Platform, merging its ERP system with human capital management (HCM) on a single data foundation. The AI‑native suite now includes OG Assist, an embedded assistant that guides users through tasks, data...
New Bill Would Narrow Scope of Colorado’s Landmark 2024 AI Law
Colorado Democrats introduced Senate Bill 26-189 to sharply narrow the state’s 2024 AI law, SB 24-205, by replacing the broad “high‑risk artificial intelligence systems” definition with a limited “automated decision‑making technology” (ADMT) framework. The proposal eliminates proactive risk assessments and...
Leaked Data Deal Fuels Concerns as Europeans Risk US Entry Bans for Critics of Trump
A leaked draft of a U.S.-EU biometric data‑sharing agreement reveals that Washington could deny entry or arrest EU citizens who criticize President Donald Trump. The proposal, pushed by the European Commission after U.S. threats to revoke visa‑free travel, would grant...
Robin Radar Accelerates Delivery of IRIS Drone Detection Radars to the Gulf Region
Robin Radar Systems has rapidly delivered its IRIS 3D drone‑detection radars to Gulf states, meeting urgent security needs. The compact, mobile units provide 360° coverage and can detect small drones up to 12 km, integrating seamlessly with existing counter‑UAS architectures. The...
Over 800 New EV Chargers May Be Coming To Philadelphia
Philadelphia announced a public‑private partnership, ChargePHL, to install over 800 electric‑vehicle charging stations citywide within a decade, with some estimates reaching 1,000. The rollout averages about 80 new chargers per year and awaits City Council approval in June. Officials highlight...
AI as New Civic Interface: Risk and Opportunity
Faster than many realize, AI is becoming the primary interface through which we form beliefs and participate in democratic self-governance. This shift could further strain already fragile institutions, but it could also help address problems like polarization and declining civic...
Governments Should Adopt Open‑Source Sovereign AI
More governments and public agencies should use HF and open-source AI in general. Let’s go sovereign AI!
Call for Counter-Drone Tech to Protect Infrastructure Receives High Volume of Proposals
UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) has opened a competition for counter‑UAS solutions to protect critical national infrastructure, receiving a high volume of proposals that delayed its assessment timeline. The feedback release has been pushed to 24 June 2026, with contracts expected to...
US Gov to Pre‑Approve Google, Microsoft, xAI Models
Google, Microsoft, and xAI will allow the US government to review their new AI models. The Center for AI Standards and Innovation will now evaluate new models before they’re released publicly https://t.co/esafvxPaCb
Google, Microsoft, and xAI Agree to Let US Government Test AI Models Before Public Release — OpenAI and Anthropic Also...
Google, Microsoft and Elon Musk’s xAI have agreed to give the U.S. Commerce Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) early access to their frontier AI models before they are released publicly. OpenAI and Anthropic, already partnered with CAISI,...
CISA Urges Critical Infrastructure Firms to ‘Fortify’ Before It’s Too Late
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released new guidance under its international “CI Fortify” initiative to help critical infrastructure operators isolate and recover from cyber intrusions. The advice, modeled on Australian 2025 guidance, stresses preparing for unreliable third‑party connections...
Montgomery County Completes Transit Depot Microgrid Project
Montgomery County, Maryland, completed a 6.8‑MW transit‑depot microgrid at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operation Center. The system includes 9,800 solar panels, 2 MW/6.9 MWh of battery storage and 2.38 MW of charging capacity to serve 200 Ride On buses and...
Keeping Pace
POPVOX Foundation debuted its monthly "Keeping Pace" newsletter, rebranding from Future‑Proofing Congress, to give congressional staff nonpartisan, vendor‑free AI and technology education. The launch comes amid a rapid AI surge, with Anthropic, OpenAI and China’s DeepSeek unveiling new frontier models...
Google, Microsoft, xAI to Share AI Models with Trump
JUST IN: Google, Microsoft, and xAI agree to share early AI models with Trump administration for security review
LA Mayor Karen Bass Orders AI‑Powered Permit Overhaul to Speed Housing
Mayor Karen Bass, together with Los Angeles Business Council President Mary Leslie, signed an executive directive that mandates AI‑driven permit reviews and pre‑approved home plans. The policy aims to cut red tape, improve inter‑agency communication, and accelerate housing production across...
Senate Advances GUARD Act, Banning AI Companions for Minors and Prompting ID‑Check Debate
The Senate Judiciary Committee moved the Guidelines for User Age‑verification and Responsible Dialogue (GUARD) Act forward, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit AI companions for anyone under 18 and require proof of identity for all AI chatbot users. Critics warn...
Governor Polis Announces New Tool to Help Coloradans Navigate Life After Disaster
Governor Jared Polis unveiled the Colorado Disaster Recovery Navigation Tool, an online platform that offers step‑by‑step guidance, a searchable resource database, and best‑practice advice for homeowners, renters, small businesses, and agricultural producers after natural disasters. The tool consolidates state, federal...
World Rushes to Enforce ID, Threatening VPN Anonymity
There’s something ominous about the speed with which the entire world has marched to require identification on platforms and, as I expected, begin the process of banning anonymous VPNs.
Unlocking Mexico’s Digital Potential
Mexico’s digital transformation is accelerating, yet key barriers remain. A recent reform dissolved the independent telecom regulator (IFT) and transferred authority to a less autonomous commission, raising concerns about oversight. High spectrum fees—among the OECD’s highest—discourage network investment, while digital‑government...
Australian Digital Health Agency Notes Progress in Delivery of National Healthcare Interoperability Plan
The Australian Digital Health Agency announced that 75% of the 44 actions in its National Healthcare Interoperability Plan have been completed as of the January‑March 2026 quarter. Two domains—innovation and benefits—are fully finished, while standards are 93% complete, leaving only...
EFF and 18 Organizations Urge UK Policymakers to Prioritize Addressing the Roots of Online Harm
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and 18 digital‑rights groups have sent a joint letter to UK policymakers urging a shift away from blanket age‑gating and access restrictions proposed under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. They argue that mandatory age‑assurance systems...
You're in the Army Now! Why Trump 2.0 Is Drafting More Enterprise Tech Vendors Into Its "AI-First War Department"
The U.S. Department of War has finalized agreements with eight leading AI vendors—including SpaceX, Google, NVIDIA, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and AWS—to run frontier AI models on its Impact Level 6 and 7 classified networks. The contracts follow the administration’s decision to blacklist...
Government to Create Task Force to Examine Labelling for AI-Generated Content
The UK government will establish a dedicated task force to examine whether AI‑generated content should be formally labelled. The move follows the EU AI Act’s 2024 transparency requirement and emerging US state laws, though Britain currently lacks such legislation. Ministers...
Draft Regulations Set Stage for Digital Identity in SA
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has released draft amendments to the Identification Act, proposing a voluntary digital identity system that coexists with existing physical IDs. The framework would let citizens store electronic versions of IDs, birth and marriage certificates...
New Frontier of AI Forces Trump's Heavy Hand
President Trump entered office promising an unfettered AI market, but 15 months later his administration is drafting an executive order that would make the White House the primary gatekeeper for the most powerful models. The plan includes a working group...
Build Fast, Pay Your Way: Washington’s AI Infrastructure Doctrine
In early 2026 Washington re‑defined data‑center projects as strategic AI infrastructure, pairing fast‑track permitting and federal land access with strict cost‑allocation rules. The Ratepayer Protection Pledge obligates Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI to finance new generation and...
Building the Future of Parliaments, Together: Digital Parliaments Project 2026 Q1 Convening Progress Report
The Digital Parliaments Project (DPP) released its Q1 2026 progress report, highlighting the open‑source ParlLink platform’s rapid adoption across Caribbean legislatures and its expansion into Africa. Since its launch, ParlLink has digitized more than 4,000 documents and introduced AI‑driven tools...
Edge AI Surges as Cloud Monopoly Fades
The cloud just lost its monopoly. Blaize + Winmate: $15M deal to run AI on naval vessels, disaster zones, border ops: no internet required. Edge AI market: $11.8B today → $56.8B by 2030. AI is going where the cloud can't follow. https://t.co/iZ7DCKLPrB
A Blueprint for Using AI to Strengthen Democracy
The piece argues that AI is reshaping democracy through three layers: how citizens acquire information, how they act via personal agents, and how collective governance functions. It warns that unchecked AI could amplify polarization, yet highlights opportunities such as AI‑assisted...
Anritsu Deploys Wireless Test Infrastructure at CERT Tunisia to Support Device Certification
Anritsu has installed a comprehensive wireless test infrastructure at Tunisia’s national testing authority, CERT. The solution spans 2G through 5G NR, including IoT and WLAN, enabling full‑spectrum device validation. With this platform, CERT can certify all wireless equipment entering the...
Charlotte Douglas Airport Deploys Airspan MobileAccess 6000 Platform
Airspan Networks and Wireless Services have installed the Airspan MobileAccess 6000 Digital DAS platform throughout Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The system supports every sub‑6 GHz cellular band and the C‑band, delivering consistent, high‑speed in‑building wireless connectivity. This deployment is a key component...
Mexico's Telcel and AT&T Disconnect 1 Mln Mobile Lines in Year to Date
Mexico's two largest mobile carriers, Telcel and AT&T, have disconnected more than 1 million prepaid lines in the first quarter of 2026. AT&T alone deactivated 577,000 numbers, while Telcel cut 483,000. The mass disconnections stem from a new regulatory mandate that...
Time Limits, Curfews or a Full Ban: How UK May Restrict Social Media for Under-16s
The UK government is moving toward either a blanket ban or strict age‑based restrictions on social‑media use for under‑16s. A consultation, closing at the end of May, outlines possible curbs such as bans on livestreaming, disappearing messages, and algorithmic feeds....
New Smart Airside Safety System at Bengaluru Kempegowda
Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport has deployed an integrated Smart Airside Safety System that combines AI‑driven computer vision, automated signaling and a central monitoring platform. The technology focuses on Cross Service Roads, where aircraft and ground vehicles intersect, replacing manual light...
The First X’trapolis 2.0 Electric Tram Begins Service in Melbourne
Alstom’s first X’trapolis 2.0 electric tram entered service in Melbourne on May 5, 2026, marking the rollout of a EUR 300 million (≈ USD 327 million) order for 25 six‑car units. Built at Alstom’s Dandenong and Ballarat plants, the train can carry up to 1,225 passengers and features...
Sensys Gatso Deploys Gantry-Mounted Speed Cameras Across Sweden
Sensys Gatso Group has finished installing its gantry‑mounted Automated Traffic Control cameras on three high‑traffic Swedish roads, marking the first phase of a 12‑year nationwide safety programme. The gantry design provides a wider field of view and sharper images, enabling...
Contract for Railway Digitalization in Indonesia Using 5G and AI
Indonesia’s state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia, digital solutions firm PT Solusi Sinergi Digital, and Huawei have signed a strategic MOU to roll out 5G and artificial‑intelligence technologies across the national rail network. The agreement targets a pilot on...
Europe Is Debating a Digital Euro But Progress Is Slow
The European Central Bank, led by Christine Lagarde, is pushing for a digital euro but expects the first issuance no earlier than 2029. The initiative is framed as a geopolitical move to secure payment‑system sovereignty and reduce reliance on U.S....
Physical Access Is the Gap in Cybersecurity Strategy
The Trump administration’s new Cyber Strategy emphasizes zero‑trust, AI defenses and post‑quantum cryptography, but it omits the physical front door. Security leaders recognize that digital safeguards alone leave a blind spot when attackers exploit trusted appearances in buildings. Ownership of...
Vic Gov Invests $106m in Communities and Families IT Transformation
Victoria’s Department of Families, Fairness and Housing will receive a $106 million AUD (≈$70 million USD) IT transformation program over the next three years, the largest single tech spend in the 2026‑27 state budget. The funding is part of a broader $126 million...
Paygasus and Enghouse Launch Joint Payment Platform
Paygasus and Enghouse Transportation and Public Safety have unveiled a unified payment platform that combines contactless fare collection, parking revenue management, and EV‑charging payment processing for North American transit agencies and municipalities. The cloud‑native solution consolidates all transactions into a...
Tuesday Briefing: How AI Facial Recognition in Policing Works – and How It Can Go Wrong
The Guardian reports that UK police are rapidly deploying live facial‑recognition systems to scan crowds, while retailers are using similar tools to spot suspected shoplifters. Advocates claim the technology improves security, but critics warn it can misidentify individuals and operates...