Axios

The U.S. Army is ordering upgraded Switchblade attack drones from AeroVironment in a deal worth $186 million, Axios has learned.

The big picture: The buy is part of a broader $990 million contract for Lethal Unmanned Systems announced in August 2024.

Fortune 500 CEOs ranked AI and "new technology" as the top risk to their industry, in a survey out Thursday morning.

Why it matters: It's a little surprising, given that many CEOs have been ride-or-die on the new technology.

Congress needs to examine the Pentagon's ongoing dispute with Anthropic over the limits of government use of AI models, per a letter from AI safety nonprofit Alliance for Secure AI, government watchdog Common Cause and libertarian student group Young Americans for Liberty.

Why it matters: Pressure on the Hill to weigh in on the fight between the Department of Defense and Anthropic is heating up.

Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) on Thursday will reintroduce a bill aimed at cementing U.S. leadership in AI.

Why it matters: With foreign rivals investing aggressively in AI and emerging tech, lawmakers are searching for ways to reinforce the U.S. edge.

At the Winter Olympics this year, I added a new title to my reporting job: credentialed photographer.

The big picture: The gig gave me a literal front-row seat to history in Milan. Covering my third Olympics for Axios, it also dealt me a learning curve I had to navigate for more of the events than in past years.

Armed with some of the best gear on earth, I still felt like a novice — fumbling the focus, missing split-second moments, wondering if I was in over my head.

Prediction market Kalshi disclosed Wednesday that it had suspended two users — an editor for the MrBeast YouTube platform and a former California gubernatorial candidate — for allegedly violating its prohibition against "insider trading."

Why it matters: Prediction markets are under scrutiny over whether their platforms enable people with inside information to financially capitalize on their knowledge.

Nvidia on Wednesday delivered a revenue projection that exceeded expectations, and CEO Jensen Huang declared that "the agentic AI inflection point has arrived," providing more fuel for AI bulls.

Why it matters: Debate is swirling over the sustainability of the booming AI economy — and Nvidia is positioned squarely at the center of it.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday that the company is nearing a deal to finalize its investment in OpenAI.

Why it matters: Nvidia announced an agreement to invest up to $100 billion in the ChatGPT creator in September, but the deal hasn't yet closed, sparking fears that it could be in trouble.

The more that autonomous vehicles can learn to drive in the virtual world, the less time they need to practice on physical streets.

Why it matters: Simulation could accelerate robotaxi rollouts — Waymo is now operating in 10 cities — provided AI-generated training data truly mirrors reality. Not all experts are convinced.

AI may be siphoning off investment dollars that once flowed to energy startups, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency.

Why it matters: The global shift is a stark, data-driven sign of the times — climate ambition is collapsing just as the AI race accelerates.