Morning Scan

The AI slowdown debate has gone geopolitical. Amodei wants the industry to pace itself, Beijing is calling it a Cold War script in disguise, and Trump thinks the whole idea is a "negative force" — all while Altman and Musk nod along. Apple keeps leaking product roadmaps, and the robotaxi beat delivered its most 2026 headline yet.

Connected World

Beijing answers Amodei's AI slowdown plan by calling it a Cold War script

China reads "let's pace the frontier" as "let's keep China behind the frontier," which is not an unreasonable read. (The Next Web)

Trump calls the people asking to slow AI down a negative force

Delivered from a golf course in Ireland, because of course it was. (The Next Web)

Sam Altman and Elon Musk back Dario Amodei's call to slow down the frontier of AI development

Two men not typically known for restraint, suddenly very into restraint. (SiliconANGLE)

Pacing the Frontier, AI's Digital Limits, AI Commissars

Ben Thompson's read: this is less safety policy than a bid for political control dressed up as caution. (Stratechery)

Obama urges Democrats to have a 'clear plan' for AI safeguards

Translation: the party currently does not have one, and everyone knows it. (TechCrunch)

“The math of direct relationships is breaking down.” — Patrick Raycroft, Beet

Connected World

Apple is reportedly working on iPhone game controllers

Under the Beats brand, per Gurman — Apple's gaming ambitions remain a decade-long slow nod across the room. (The Verge)

Gurman: iPhone Duo Likely to Get Face ID, Telephoto Lens by Third Gen

The foldable's getting a proper roadmap before most people have even seen the first one. (MacRumors)

Gurman: 'iPhone Duo Max' With Bigger Display Likely in Apple's Plans

Apple's answer to "what if the foldable, but more so." (MacRumors)

macOS Tahoe 26.4 update stops you from copying your login Keychain

More secure, more annoying — the classic Apple trade. (AppleInsider)

Connected World

Waymo pulls over, calls cops on riders with a ghost gun

A robotaxi playing snitch is either the future of public safety or a preview of a very different privacy debate — possibly both. (The Verge)

TechCrunch Mobility: Lyft has entered the robotaxi chat

Late to the party, but the party's still going. (TechCrunch)

Vera Rubin NVL72 Agentic Inference: 67x better Performance per Dollar

Nvidia's next platform is co-designed across six products — the moat just got wider and more expensive to cross. (SemiAnalysis)