Democratic leaders panic and GOP divides as AI fears spread

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Monday forcefully rejected calls to slow the development of artificial intelligence, dismissing concerns about its risks as a "hoax" and warning the United States remains locked in a fierce technological race with China. The president's position has put him at odds with a growing chorus of industry leaders and bipartisan lawmakers warning that AI could soon advance beyond human control.

Top executives from three of the country's leading AI companies — OpenAI's Sam Altman, Anthropic's Dario Amodei and SpaceXAI's Elon Musk — issued exceptional calls this past weekend for collaboration on a path forward that could "pace the frontier" of AI development.

Rare flashes of bipartisanship have also emerged on Capitol Hill, where Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, is working with Democrats on legislation aimed at guarding against AI's most catastrophic risks, including its potential use to develop biological weapons.

And Democratic elders, including former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have urged their party to treat the threats posed by AI as an acute national security crisis.

—Los Angeles Times

Amazon suspends ties with cargo airline, and MIA still faces delays after crash

MIAMI — Amazon has suspended ties with a cargo airline operating the plane that crashed at Miami International Airport a week ago.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground delay advisory at the airport as flight operations improved Monday morning for travelers. “Operations are normal,” as far as the FAA is concerned, spokesperson Crystal Essiaw told the Miami Herald on Monday morning in an email.

But if you’re flying from MIA, they’re not quite normal yet. On Monday, the airport still posted dozens of flight delays, and one runway still remained closed while another one was restricted. As of 1 p.m. Eastern time Monday, the number of delayed flights increased to more than 60, according to tracker FlightAware.

All flights were halted at Miami International Airport on Sept. 6, after an Amazon cargo plane overshot the runway and crashed, hitting several vehicles and catching on fire. Five people were killed, and several injured, including the two pilots aboard.

—Miami Herald

Texas changes what students learn about 9/11, Islam, Christianity. What to know

DALLAS — The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks happened 25 years ago, but how Texas students learn about that day is still evolving. Just days before this year’s anniversary, the State Board of Education approved new social studies standards that will change what high school students learn about 9/11, religion and other parts of history.

Some of the changes have already drawn controversy, raising questions about how certain topics will be presented to students. Texas high school students already study the Sept. 11 attacks, but the new standards require them to learn more about what led to the attacks and their aftermath.

Students will be expected to learn that the attacks were “motivated by radical Islam,” a phrase that is now explicitly included in the standards. In world history, 9/11 will also be taught as part of the “rise of radical Islam,” alongside lessons on terrorism, al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS.

In U.S. history, lessons will cover the roles of former President George W. Bush, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice following the attacks. Students will also examine the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq and what the standards describe as the “decline of civil liberties due to the PATRIOT Act.”

—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Iran-Gulf talks delayed as Saudi Arabia counters Houthi attacks

A meeting between Iran and several Gulf Arab nations over a temporary shipping lane through the Strait of Hormuz was postponed, highlighting tensions with the Islamic Republic.

Talks were set to take place in Oman on Monday but was delayed “for now” after a request from Saudi Arabia, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. That was partly down to the kingdom’s frustration over continued attacks on its territory by Iran-supported groups such as the Houthis, said one person familiar with the matter, asking not to be identified by name discussing sensitive matters.

“Saudi Arabia’s request to postpone the regional summit and attribute it to developments in Yemen is a diversion from the root causes of this crisis,” Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday.

The Saudi government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Brent crude prices have topped $108 a barrel in recent days due to fears that a prolonged war in the Middle East will further constrain supplies of fuel such as diesel.

—Bloomberg News