Axios

OpenAI says its new ChatGPT Agent, introduced Thursday, is capable of starting and finishing complex web and computing tasks independently.

Why it matters: Agents are a buzzy concept in AI right now, but exactly what they can do in real-world settings without humans is just beginning to come into view.

Nvidia unveiled a new AI weather forecasting model it calls capable of making very fast forecasts and better estimating risks of extreme events.

Why it matters: Tech companies are moving deeper into AI-based models at a time when climate change is worsening some risks and harms.

As tech giants seek nuclear power for AI data centers, the flip side of that coin is emerging — using AI to improve reactor licensing and construction.

Why it matters: Energy demand for data centers is rising fast, and nuclear energy is carbon-free and round-the-clock.

The Trump administration is being sued by 20 states that are seeking to block the cancellation of a grant program that helped protect against potential natural disasters.

The big picture: "By unilaterally shutting down FEMA's flagship pre-disaster mitigation program, Defendants have acted unlawfully and violated core separation of powers principles," says the lawsuit that was filed in Boston on Wednesday. The program has helped state, local and territorial governments and tribal nations work to reduce their hazard risk.

Nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens (72%) say they use AI for companionship, with more than half of those doing so at least a few times a month, a new survey released Wednesday finds.

Why it matters: AI companions can be dangerous to young users, posing an "unacceptable risk," according to Common Sense Media, who published the findings.

Firefighters in Arizona were tackling two out-of-control wildfires in extreme heat on Tuesday — including one at the Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim that's forced evacuations, road closures and razed a historic lodge and other structures.

The big picture: The Dragon Bravo Fire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and prompted parts of the park to close had grown to an estimated 8,570 acres and the White Sage Fire to nearly 52,000 acres by Tuesday evening.

New Orleans and Jefferson Parish officials are preparing for up to 10 inches of rain as a tropical system heads toward Louisiana.

Why it matters: That's more rain than New Orleans typically gets in the entire month of July.

• Officials are setting up sandbag locations and encouraging residents to prepare for the possibility of street flooding.