December 7, 2025, 8:58 AM EST. AST SpaceMobile Inc. (ASTS) jumped about 31.5% as investors priced in the upcoming launch of its BlueBird 6 next-generation satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India on December 15. The satellite features the largest commercial phased array in low Earth orbit-nearly 2,400 square feet-and promises up to 10x the data capacity of earlier generations. CEO Abel Avellan said the mission will enable ubiquitous cellular broadband directly to smartphones from space, underscoring US leadership in space innovation. The company also plans to expand its manufacturing sites in Texas and Florida to ramp up BlueBird 6 production, strengthening the supply chain and increasing capacity. Five launches are planned from December 15 through March 2026.
December 7, 2025, 8:54 AM EST. Edmonton has launched a pilot where police body cameras powered by AI are trained to detect faces from a watch list of about 7,000 people, flagged for categories like violent or assaultive, armed and dangerous, or high-risk offenders. The project, six years after Axon warned about ethical concerns with facial recognition, has sparked alarms about privacy and public debate. Axon frames it as early-stage field research to test performance and necessary safeguards, not a product launch. Critics, including Barry Friedman, warn of real costs and risks without clear benefits or oversight. If expanded, the approach could reshape policing globally, prompting calls for stronger oversight, transparency, and robust privacy protections.
December 7, 2025, 8:50 AM EST. Prince William says keeping smartphones away from his children is a tense issue, underscoring a universal parenting challenge in the digital era. The interview notes that children access too much stuff they don't need to see online and that families try to balance play, sports and learning with constant connection. The piece also cites tech leaders who limit device use at home-Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Susan Wojcicki, Mark Cuban-as evidence that even giants set screen-time rules. With about 95% of teens having access to a smartphone and many online almost constantly, experts warn that excessive use reshapes conversation, eye contact, and growing brains. A 2025 Common Sense Media report shows younger kids now own devices too, and, as the article concludes, excessive screen time can harm developing brains.
December 7, 2025, 8:24 AM EST. U.S. Sen. John Curtis and Sen. Richard Blumenthal unveiled the QUIET Act to curb AI-driven robocalls and texts. The bill would require that any use of artificial intelligence disclose its involvement at the start of the call or message and would double penalties for impersonation scams. An exception covers communications requiring substantial human intervention. Supporters, including AARP, say the bill protects older Americans who face frequent scams. The proposal follows ongoing efforts on caller ID verification and autodialer restrictions, though volumes remain high. Lawmakers cite FTC data on rising losses by older adults and argue the bill would curb AI-enabled deception while protecting legitimate innovation.
December 7, 2025, 8:22 AM EST. Chinese internet giants are accelerating AI investments, with Alibaba's cloud revenue up 34% YoY to about $5.6B, and management signaling they may spend more than 380 billion yuan for AI buildout. Analysts call this a turning point for China's domestic computing power industry, with other cloud players likely to follow. Chinese restrictions on Nvidia push attention to homegrown players like Cambricon (revenue surged >4,000% H1) and Hygon, and newcomers like Moore Threads whose IPO drew Tencent and ByteDance funding. Goldman Sachs sees Cambricon as a beneficiary, with a target above 2,100 yuan. Regulators have supported Moore Threads IPO; U.S. controls keep onshore GPU capacity as a potential constraint in 2026.