Rise of the AI Soldiers

SAN FRANCISCO — The Phantom MK-1 looks the part of an AI soldier.

by Charlie Campbell

SAN FRANCISCO — The Phantom MK-1 looks the part of an AI soldier. Encased in jet black steel with a tinted glass visor, it conjures a visceral dread far beyond what may be evoked by your typical humanoid robot. And on this late February morning, it brandishes assorted high-powered weaponry: a revolver, pistol, shotgun, and replica of an M-16 rifle.

“We think there’s a moral imperative to put these robots into war instead of soldiers,” says Mike LeBlanc, a 14-year Marine Corps veteran with multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, who is a co-founder of Foundation, the company that makes Phantom. He says the aim is for the robot to wield “any kind of weapon that a human can…

Consumers paid for Trump’s illegal tariffs. These companies may profit.

President Trump imposed sweeping global tariffs during his first year as president

by Rebecca Crosby and Noel Sims

President Trump imposed sweeping global tariffs during his first year as president. To justify many of the tariffs, Trump relied on a novel interpretation of a 1977 law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which did not mention tariffs at all. But in February, the Supreme Court struck down the majority of Trump’s tariffs, ruling 6-3 that Trump had exceeded his authority. The court found that Trump’s tariffs were unconstitutional, as “taxation power clearly belongs to Congress…

X Users Find Their Real Names Are Being Googled in Israel After Using X Verification Software “Au10tix”

Awide range of anonymous X (Twitter) users have reported that their real names are suddenly being Googled in Israel shortly after they began criticizing the country for its actions in Palestine.

by Alan Macleod MPN.news

Awide range of anonymous X (Twitter) users have reported that their real names are suddenly being Googled in Israel shortly after they began criticizing the country for its actions in Palestine. Some connected the phenomenon to Au10tix, the software X requires users (even anonymous ones) to use in order to verify their real identities…

Giant 10-person ‘flying taxi’ passes first flight test in China | Live Science

China’s massive Sky Dragon and Matrix aircraft are suitable for up to 10 passengers, or more than one ton of cargo.

By Alan Bradley

A Chinese company successfully flew a 5-ton (4,536-kilogram) electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) in a new feat for electric aircraft. Its makers at Fengfei Aviation claim it’s the largest eVTOL to ever complete a test flight.

During the test flight, the V5000 aircraft lifted off in VTOL mode, switched to fixed-wing mode for a short flight, and then transitioned back to VTOL mode to safely land. VTOL vehicles mimic helicopters, enabling them to lift off and land on helipads or in other smaller spaces without requiring supporting infrastructure, such as the runways used by fixed-wing aircraft…

15,000 targets struck in Iran, Hegseth says; Lebanon is near a “breaking point”; U.S. temporarily lifts Russian oil sanctions

U.S. and Israeli airstrikes pound Iran for the fourteenth day as death toll rises to 1,444.

by Drop Site News

U.S. and Israeli airstrikes pound Iran for the fourteenth day as death toll rises to 1,444. Trump issues another threat against Iran. Hegseth says over 15,000 targets hit in Iran, while Iranian Red Crescent reports strikes on over 21,700 civilian sites. Mojtaba Khamenei vows to keep Hormuz closed; Brent crude tops 100. Six U.S. crew members die after refueler crashes in Iraq. IRGC says it struck U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. U.S. temporarily lifts sanctions on Russian oil already at sea. Lebanon death toll rises to 687 amid Israeli assault. Israel’s defense minister admits attacking Lebanese infrastructure. Lebanon nearing “breaking point” with over 816,000 displaced. IDF drops indictment against soldiers accused of sexually abusing Palestinian detainee. Israel deepens restrictions on aid entering Gaza. Attack on synagogue in Michigan; suspect lost several family members in Israeli strike on Lebanon. AIPAC spends over $15M on four Illinois House races. China mediates to ease Pakistan–Afghanistan fighting. Sudanese army drone strike kills four civilians at border market. Russia says Ukrainian drone strike killed eight medics in Donetsk. Cuba confirms “sensitive dialogue” with U.S…

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