The Download: Trump’s new AI order, and smart glasses for warfare

<p><em>This is today&#8217;s edition of </em><a href="https://forms.technologyreview.com/newsletters/briefing-the-download/?_ga=2.179569122.736533416.1649661040-405833893.1649413289"><em>The Download</em></a>,<em> our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what&#8217;s going on in the world of technology.</em><br></p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5 key points in Trump&#8217;s new AI order</strong></h3> <p>Less than two weeks after scrapping an executive order on AI, President Donald Trump signed a new one on Tuesday. Promising to promote innovation and security, the policy represents a turning point in the White House’s AI governance—but is likely to attract criticism from both opponents and supporters of stricter regulation. Here are five key points from the order:<br><br><strong>1. It&#8217;s created a voluntary review system:</strong> tech companies will be asked to share frontier models with the government for review 30 days before they plan to release them.<br><strong>2. There’s no mandatory licensing:</strong> the government will not require permits before software can be deployed.<br><strong>3. It establishes a dedicated AI cybersecurity clearinghouse:</strong> the new hub will coordinate security checks with the private sector.<br><strong>4. It&#8217;s a watered-down version of the order Trump shelved last month:</strong> the earlier version requested models 90 days before their release.<br><strong>5. But it’s still a move towards stronger AI oversight: </strong>the policy marks a clear departure from the White House’s previous hands-off approach.</p> <p><em>Plus: here’s why </em><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/07/24/1120639/trumps-ai-action-plan-is-a-distraction/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*"><em>a previous Trump administration’s AI policy was a distraction</em></a><em> and how </em><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/12/1132386/ai-already-making-online-swindles-easier/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*"><em>AI is already making online crimes easier</em></a><em>.</em> </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>MIT Technology Review Narrated: inside Anduril and Meta’s quest to make smart glasses for warfare</strong></h3> <p>The defense-tech company Anduril has <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/18/1137412/inside-anduril-and-metas-quest-to-make-smart-glasses-for-warfare/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">shared new details about the augmented-reality headset for the military it’s prototyping with Meta</a>, including a vision for ordering drone strikes via eye-tracking and voice commands.</p> <p>Quay Barnett, who leads the effort at Anduril following a career in the Army’s Special Operations Command, aims to optimize “the human as a weapons system.” His vision is cyborg-inspired: drones and soldiers will see together, share information seamlessly, and make decisions as one.</p> <p><em>—James O&#8217;Donnell</em></p> <p><strong>This is our latest </strong><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/05/18/1137412/inside-anduril-and-metas-quest-to-make-smart-glasses-for-warfare/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*"><strong>story</strong></a><strong> to be turned into an MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast, which we publish each week on </strong><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6QefEeY1IKYVn5w6nUV83Y"><strong>Spotify</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mit-technology-review-narrated/id1523584878"><strong>Apple Podcasts</strong></a><strong>. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released.</strong></p> <p><strong>The must-reads</strong></p> <p><em>I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.</em></p> <p><strong>1 President Trump has signed an AI order that expands model oversight<br></strong>The long-awaited executive order aims to mitigate security threats. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/technology/trump-executive-order-ai.html">NYT $</a>)<br>+<em>It asks companies to submit models voluntarily for tests before release.</em> (<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/02/nx-s1-5844347/ai-safety-trump-executive-order">NPR</a>)<br><em>+ It’s a slimmed-down version of the order Trump shelved in May.</em> (<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/trump-signs-ai-executive-order-to-increase-government-oversight-e78fb21f?mod=tech_lead_pos1">WSJ $</a>)<br><em>+ And marks a strategic shift in his AI strategy.</em> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-signed-order-promote-advanced-ai-innovation-security-white-house-says-2026-06-02/">Reuters</a> $)<br><em>+ A war over AI regulation is coming to the US.</em> (<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/23/1131559/americas-coming-war-over-ai-regulation/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>2 SpaceX plans to raise $75 billion in IPO at $135 per share<br></strong>The company intends to sell 555.6 million shares. (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/spacex-plans-raise-75-billion-ipo-135-per-share-source-says-2026-06-03/">Reuters</a> $)<em>+ The fixed price breaks from the traditional IPO process. </em>(<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-03/spacex-seeks-75-billion-in-ipo-at-135-per-share-reuters-says">Bloomberg</a> $)<br><em>+ Morningstar says the valuation should be nearly 50% lower.</em> (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-ipo-valuation-starlink-grok-elon-musk-ai-morningstar-spcx-2026-6">BI</a>)<br><br><strong>3 Meta has scaled back plans to track workers&#8217; clicks and keystrokes to train AI<br></strong>All staff can pause it for 30 minutes, with some fully exempt.(<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/meta-rolls-back-parts-employee-tracking-tool-staff-backlash">The Information</a> $)<br><em>+ The changes follow a fierce backlash to the tracking plans.</em> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/meta-scales-back-ai-mouse-clicks-tool-citing-employee-concerns-2026-06-02/">Reuters</a> $)<br><em>+ AI is supercharging surveillance. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/21/1135919/ai-surveillance-privacy-llms-bulk-data/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>4 Microsoft wants to ‘make users addicted’ to its new AI assistant<br></strong>According tointernal documents for the &#8220;Scout&#8221; tool. (<a href="https://www.404media.co/microsoft-wants-to-make-people-addicted-to-scout-its-new-ai-assistant-internal-documents-reveal/">404 Media</a>)<br><em>+ Microsoft launched the assistant on Tuesday. </em>(<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/02/microsoft-launches-scout-an-openclaw-inspired-personal-assistant/">TechCrunch</a>)&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5 Mathematicians fear that AI threatens their field<br></strong>A new declaration raises concerns about AI’s trustworthiness. (<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/06/mathematicians-warn-of-ai-threats-to-profession-as-industry-encroaches/">Ars Technica</a>)<br><em>+ It arrives a week after OpenAI said it solved a famous math problem.</em> (<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-math-solves-erdos-problem-openai-c4029e84">WSJ</a> $)<br>+ <em>A startup wants to change how mathematicians do math. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/03/25/1134642/this-startup-wants-to-change-how-mathematicians-do-math/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>6 Scientists have found a way to supercharge computer worms with AI<br></strong>The worm could target any known flaw in the world’s computers. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/technology/scientists-find-way-to-supercharge-dangerous-computer-worms-with-ai.html">NYT</a> $)<br><em>+ AI supercharging scams.</em> (<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/04/21/1135647/supercharged-scams-ai-artificial-intelligence/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>7 Google must let UK publishers opt out of AI search features<br></strong>Online publishers can choose not to appear in the AI Overviews. (<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c775pp26yz5o">BBC</a>)<br><em>+ Google is now testing features for sites to exit AI search.</em> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/uk-regulator-enforces-new-competition-requirements-google-search-2026-06-03/">Reuters</a> $)</p> <p><strong>8 America’s data center build-out is falling way behind schedule<br></strong>60% of those planned for completion in 2027 aren’t yet under construction. (<a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/americas-data-center-build-out-is-falling-way-behind-schedule-e408a9a8?mod=tech_lead_story">WSJ</a> $)<br><em>+ Nobody wants a data center in their backyard. </em>(<a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/01/14/1131253/data-centers-are-amazing-everyone-hates-them/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C*">MIT Technology Review</a>)</p> <p><strong>9 EVs are getting cheaper worldwide—except in the US<br></strong>The US is short on supportive policies and affordable Chinese EVs. (<a href="https://restofworld.org/2026/iea-global-ev-outlook-us-sales-drop/">Rest of World</a>)</p> <p><strong>10 The European Parliament is ditching Google for… Quant<br></strong>The French search engine is the new default on in-house computers. (<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-ditches-google-for-french-search-engine/">Politico</a>)<br><em>+ The switch comes amid a broader push to wean the EU off US tech</em>. (<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/c05e152d-36e5-4446-a706-5f5fa5d98315?syn-25a6b1a6=1">FT</a> $)</p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Quote of the day</strong></p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>“SpaceX’s valuation could be richer than a plate of dauphinoise potatoes.”</strong></h2> <p>—Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/03/morningstar-spacex-ipo-target-price-nasdaq.html">tells CNBC</a> that SpaceX’s IPO price looks overloaded with expectations.</p> <p><strong>One More Thing</strong></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1444" height="1083" src="https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JA22_marseilles_mobile-edited-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1138324" srcset="https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JA22_marseilles_mobile-edited-1.jpg 1444w, https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JA22_marseilles_mobile-edited-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://wp.technologyreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JA22_marseilles_mobile-edited-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1444px) 100vw, 1444px" /></figure> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><br><br>Marseille’s battle against the surveillance state</strong></h4> <p>Heading toward Marseille’s central train station, Eda Nano points out what looks like a streetlamp on the Rue des Abeilles. But this sleek piece of urban furniture is not a lamp. It’s a video camera, with a 360-degree view of the narrow street.</p> <p>Nano, a 39-year-old developer, wants to make Marseille residents more aware that they’re being watched. She’s part of a growing group of activists resisting the rise of policing cameras in their hometown.</p> <p><a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/06/13/1053650/marseille-fight-surveillance-state/?utm_source=the_download&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=the_download.unpaid.engagement&amp;utm_term=*%7CSUBCLASS%7C*&amp;utm_content=*%7CDATE:m-d-Y%7C">Find out how the rebellious port city of Marseille is fighting the surveillance state</a>.</p> <p><em>—Fleur Macdonald</em></p> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>We can still have nice things</strong></p> <p><em>A place for comfort, fun, and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? </em><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><em>Drop me a line</em></a><em>.)</em></p> <p>+ These <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2022/04/tom-hegen-solar-power">aerial photos of solar farms</a> transform renewable energy into abstract art.<br>+ Open a window over Earth’s water with this hypnotic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTnJyARSqL4&amp;">4K atmospheric film made from satellite imagery</a>.<br>+ Spend three relaxing hours with David Attenborough narrating this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV7r8yV_eGg&amp;">collection of extraordinary wildlife moments</a>.<br>+ Radiohead sounds beautiful on traditional Japanese instruments in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8-HThz3pQk&amp;t=175s">koto performance of “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi”</a>.</p>