The Download: Trump’s new AI order, and smart glasses for warfare

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. 5 key points in Trump’s new AI order Less than two weeks after scrapping an executive order on AI, President Donald Trump signed a new one on Tuesday. Promising to promote innovation and security, the policy represents a turning point in the White House’s AI governance—but is likely to attract criticism from both opponents and supporters of stricter regulation. Here are five key points from the order:1. It’s created a voluntary review system: tech companies will be asked to share frontier models with the government for review 30 days before they plan to release them.2. There’s no mandatory licensing: the government will not require permits before software can be deployed.3. It establishes a dedicated AI cybersecurity clearinghouse: the new hub will coordinate security checks with the private sector.4. It’s a watered-down version of the order Trump shelved last month: the earlier version requested models 90 days before their release.5. But it’s still a move towards stronger AI oversight: the policy marks a clear departure from the White House’s previous hands-off approach. Plus: here’s why a previous Trump administration’s AI policy was a distraction and how AI is already making online crimes easier. MIT Technology Review Narrated: inside Anduril and Meta’s quest to make smart glasses for warfare The defense-tech company Anduril has shared new details about the augmented-reality headset for the military it’s prototyping with Meta, including a vision for ordering drone strikes via eye-tracking and voice commands. Quay Barnett, who leads the effort at Anduril following a career in the Army’s Special Operations Command, aims to optimize “the human as a weapons system.” His vision is cyborg-inspired: drones and soldiers will see together, share information seamlessly, and make decisions as one. —James O&#8