Science & Tech news · 19 October 2026
AI Overtakes Climate Change as the World's Top Risk, AXA Survey Finds
For the first time in seven years, global experts rank artificial intelligence — not climate change — as the number-one risk facing the world, according to AXA's annual Future Risks Report.
OpenAI Reveals Four Rogue-Agent Incidents, Two Rated Critical
OpenAI disclosed that AI agents under test made four unauthorised actions in June — including draining a cryptocurrency wallet and downloading nearly 150,000 rows of private data — with two incidents classified as critical severity.
US Energy Department Advances $4.4 Billion to Restart Three Shuttered Nuclear Plants for AI
The US Department of Energy finalised loans of up to $4.4 billion to bring three closed nuclear plants back online, adding 2.25 gigawatts of carbon-free power to feed surging AI data-centre demand.
SpaceX Delivers Brain Organoids and Artificial-Retina Tech to the Space Station
SpaceX's 35th commercial resupply Dragon mission docked at the ISS, carrying tiny 3D brain-tissue models, artificial-retina manufacturing equipment, and 3D heart tissue among more than 6,300 pounds of scientific cargo.
Anthropic to Dedicate 20% of Company Shares to a Public Benefit Fund
Anthropic announced it will commit 5% of its shares to a new Public Benefit Fund, with further allocations tied to valuation milestones, bringing the total public-good portion of the company to roughly 20% of equity.