EP 297. Deep dive. Bullies and the AI, Privacy and Security Weekly update for the week ending June 23rd., 2026

This week we dive deep, highlighting a volatile period for the technology sector, defined by increased government intervention and emerging security threats. The U.S. administration is reportedly targeting AI firms like Anthropic over national security and military compliance, while other companies face critical zero-day vulnerabilities and disputes over bug bounty programs. Beyond security, the landscape is shifting due to ambitious legislative proposals to redistribute AI wealth and major corporate pivots, such as Midjourney’s move into medical imaging and GM’s expansion into energy storage. Supply chain issues also persist, with AI-driven hardware shortages driving up consumer electronics prices globally. Meanwhile, advancements in 3D-printed batteries and enterprise knowledge graphs signal a new era of infrastructure design. Ultimately, these developments reveal a complex environment where geopolitical strategy, ethical accountability, and rapid innovation are becoming inextricably linked.