The European Union today accused Microsoft of violating antitrust rules with its handling of the Teams productivity app.
Why it matters: The move comes a day after the EU accused Apple of unfairly restricting apps, signaling an escalation of European regulators' broader crackdown on Big Tech.
Friction point: The European Commission found that Microsoft had illegally boosted Teams by refusing to give customers a choice on whether to buy it when getting other Microsoft apps.
The other side: "Having unbundled Teams and taken initial interoperability steps, we appreciate the additional clarity," Microsoft said in a statement, saying it would work to address remaining concerns.
Apple said it had made "a number of changes" already and "we are confident our plan complies with the law," NYT reported.
The Biden administration's new plan to rip and replace Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software from U.S. tech stacks has been roughly a decade in the making.
Why it matters: A slow-burn approach to considering the ban — the toughest action yet against a foreign-based cybersecurity company — could help the U.S. government avoid the same implementation woes it's faced in similar cases, experts say.
The Biden administration's new plan to rip and replace Kaspersky Lab's antivirus software from U.S. tech stacks has been roughly a decade in the making.
Why it matters: A slow-burn approach to considering the ban — the toughest action yet against a foreign-based cybersecurity company — could help the U.S. government avoid the same implementation woes it's faced in similar cases, experts say.
The big picture: The U.S. government is still struggling to remove Chinese telecommunications company Huawei's equipment from American networks, nearly five years after actions started.
And lawmakers only just passed a law this year to force China-based ByteDance to divest its ownership in TikTok or face a ban — after roughly four years of regulatory back-and-forth. (Even that law is being challenged in court.)
👨🏻⚖️ Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is expected to plead guilty to a felony charge tied to his alleged role in one of the biggest leaks of classified information in U.S. history. (Axios)
🧪 The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency confirmed in a blog post that hackers targeted its Chemical Security Assessment Tool between Jan. 23 and 26. (Nextgov)
🏛 The House Energy and Commerce Committee has started circulating a new version of the American Privacy Rights Act ahead of Thursday's markup. (Axios Pro)
@ Industry
🏥 Bureaucratic requirements for hospitals and medical providers could be slowing down the recovery process after a ransomware attack, experts warn. (Wired)
For the readers wondering (and I know some of you are): No, I haven't recovered yet from Travis Kelce's surprise on-stage appearance at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour over the weekend!
A new biotech AI startup from former Meta researchers is releasing a tool to help scientists craft new molecules in a process they say mirrors half a billion years of evolution. (Axios)
Major record labels sued the startups behind two AI music services — Suno AI and Udio AI — yesterday, alleging copyright infringement. (Axios)
A day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had talks with Meta to integrate its AI technology into Apple's operating system, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Meta reached out to Apple months ago and was rebuffed over privacy concerns. (Bloomberg)
A startup called Created by Humans is launching to help book authors license their work to AI companies.
Why it matters: Many large language models train on books and other types of creative content, even though there aren't universal permissioning or monetization systems in place.
The Department of Homeland Security has made its first 10 hires for its newly formed AI Corps, according to a release exclusively shared with Axios.
Why it matters: U.S. officials have said that they need more expertise to help determine the best ways to safely leverage artificial intelligence tools within the federal government.
The new 50-person AI Corps, modeled after the U.S. Digital Service, will study ways to tap AI across DHS's portfolio, including countering fentanyl trafficking, combating online child sexual exploitation and enhancing cybersecurity.
What they're saying: "The interest in it has been phenomenal," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told Axios on Monday.
"We need that expertise to really fuel our interest in leading the federal government in the safe and responsible deployment of AI to advance our mission."
The following people are joining DHS's AI Corps, according to a press release shared with Axios:
Sadaf Asrar, a former AI tech expert for the National Center for Education Statistics
Zach Fasnacht, previously a senior product manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC);
Pramod Gadde, a founder of several healthcare-related startups, including AI startup Confidante;
Sean Harvey, former lead for YouTube's trust and safety team focused on global elections and misinformation;
Jenny Kim, a principal product manager at McKinsey & Co. and an alumna of the DHS Digital Service;
Babatunde Oguntade, a senior principal data scientist at CACI International, which supported agencies like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency;
Christine Palmer, former chief technology officer of the U.S. Naval Observatory;
Dr. Stephen Quirolgico, who has worked on advanced technology projects at DHS, NIST and DARPA;
Raquel Romano, a senior director of engineering at Fora and a U.S. Digital Services alumnus; and
Robin Rosenberger, a director in the Pentagon's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
Between the lines: Competition for these roles has been stiff. Mayorkas previously said in April that the department had received over 3,000 applications for the 50 spots.
The selected new members come from a variety of backgrounds: Some already work in the U.S. government, while others are joining from roles at Big Tech companies, startups and within the research community.
New flexible hiring practices for AI-related jobs has made it easier for DHS to compete with private sector roles and fast-track new AI Corps hires, Mayorkas added
"Things move more rapidly, and so we're moving more rapidly, as well, to meet the moment," Mayorkas added.
Miami-Dade County officials last week introduced "autonomous power chairs" that assist travelers with mobility issues at Miami International Airport.
Why it matters: The airport is the nation's first to receive self-driving chairs, designed to make travel between gates easier for those with injuries, those who have difficulty walking long distances and the elderly.
An AI-meets-biotech company launching Tuesday is releasing a tool to help scientists craft entirely new molecules in a process they say mirrors half a billion years of evolution.
The big picture: Researchers are pushing hard to try to use AI to create new molecules in order to engineer better medicines, biofuels and materials.
Europe's decision to move forward against Apple for violations of its new tech competition law highlights a shift toward tighter regulation of the iPhone maker.
Why it matters: Despite being one of the world's largest companies and controlling a vast, tightly integrated platform, Apple has largely managed to avoid regulators' crosshairs.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is expected to plead guilty to a felony charge related to his alleged role in one of the biggest leaks of classified information in recent U.S. history, per court documents filed Monday.
The latest: "Julian Assange is free," per a WikiLeaks statement posted to X stating that the publisher had boarded a flight out of the U.K. and was headed for his native Australia after London's High Court granted him bail on Monday morning.
