• OpenAI is now previewing its new model, GPT-5.6.
• OpenAI said access is limited to a few “trusted partners” at the US government’s request.
• GPT-5.6 was developed with OpenAI’s “most robust safeguards” so far, the company said.

OpenAI is limiting preview access to its latest GPT models at the request of the US government.

The company said it previewed the capabilities of its new series of GPT-5.6 models, which includes Sol, Terra, and Luna, to the US government ahead of Friday’s launch.

“At their request, we are starting with a limited preview for a small group of trusted partners whose participation has been shared with the government, before releasing more broadly,” the company said.

OpenAI said they were complying as part of its earlier agreement with the Defense Department, which allows the Pentagon to use its AI models.

OpenAI said the new models will become available to the wider public in the coming weeks.

The limited GPT-5.6 release comes after OpenAI’s chief rival, Anthropic, was forced to revoke access to its latest models, Mythos and Fable, on June 12 following the Trump administration’s imposition of broad export controls. Anthropic has yet to restore access to either model.

The debate around AI model safety has surged since Anthropic announced the limited release of Mythos Preview in April. At the time, Anthropic said it would release its most powerful model only to a limited number of cybersecurity firms and trusted companies due to Mythos’s advanced hacking capabilities. The disclosure that an AI model could easily find vulnerabilities in existing software and cyber infrastructure spooked investors and world leaders.

When Anthropic initially released Fable 5 on June 5, it said the model was in the “Mythos-class” but had enough safeguards in place to make it suitable for a broader public release.

President Donald Trump ultimately decided to take a light federal touch, warning that onerous federal regulations could cost the US its lead over China in the global generative AI race. His executive order, which he signed on June 2, allows leading AI model makers to voluntarily submit advanced models for federal review up to 30 days before public release.

In its statement, OpenAI expressed hope that government limitations will not become a permanent feature.

“We don’t believe this kind of government access process should become the long-term default,” the company said. “It keeps the best tools from users, developers, enterprises, cyber defenders, and global partners who need them.”

• A heat wave in Europe caused record-breaking temperatures across several countries.
• Much of Europe doesn’t have air conditioning, so people used fountains and ice cream to cool off.
• The heat affected public transportation, grocery shopping, and other aspects of daily life.

Over 120 million people across 18 European countries are caught in a heat wave, with record-breaking temperatures exceeding 113 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas.

The extreme conditions, which began last week and continued to spike on Thursday, were caused by a heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps heat and humidity.

The World Meteorological Organization reported in April that Europe is warming at a rate that is twice the global average due to the climate crisis, with 95% of the continent experiencing above-average annual temperatures last year.

With no air conditioning in much of Europe, there is little relief to be found from the sweltering weather. Several European governments issued health warnings advising the public to minimize unnecessary travel and carry water while outdoors.

The heat has also proven fatal, with five dead from heat exposure in Italy and 40 drowning deaths reported in France, where many young people have taken to swimming unattended in lakes and canals, The New York Times reported.

Photos show how extreme heat is affecting businesses, infrastructure, and daily life across Europe — and how locals and tourists are doing their best to beat the heat.

On Tuesday, a thermometer in Brussels displayed a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dogs and humans alike splashed in sidewalk sprinklers and fountains around Brussels for a break from the heat.

Billboards in Venice, Italy, issued heat wave alerts on Tuesday, when temperatures reached 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tourists on the Ponte della Paglia bridge in Venice carried umbrellas for some relief from the sun.

The UK experienced its hottest June day on record on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees Fahrenheit, causing train cancellations.

Signs at King’s Cross station in London advised train passengers to “only travel if absolutely necessary” on Wednesday and Thursday.

Riders on the tube in London carried fans to cool themselves off.

Sainsbury’s supermarket locations covered their refrigerated sections with blinds to help keep food cold.

In Paris, the Louvre announced it would close early through June 27 due to the extreme temperatures.

Ice cream sold out at supermarkets across Paris amid skyrocketing demand for frozen treats.

Sea lions snacked on ice cubes at Paris Zoological Park.

Zookeepers at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in the Netherlands provided giraffe-friendly ice cream.

In Tilburg, the Netherlands, locals stocked up on fans.

In Germany, winter maintenance vehicles in Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis sprayed down roads to keep the asphalt from softening.

Parts of Germany’s A2 highway still had to close on Thursday after the high temperatures damaged the road’s surface.

A farm in Oberried, Germany, utilized a misting system to help alleviate heat stress for its cows.

Across Europe, government organizations advised people to stay hydrated.

• Most days, I found myself feeling exhausted, burned out, and glued to my phone after work.
• So, I began attending reading parties, laid-back hangs where people gather to read independently.
• It’s the perfect low-pressure social activity for me to feel refreshed and get off my phone.

After work each day, I found myself feeling mentally exhausted and burned out.

Seemingly endless emails and a phone that buzzes long after 5 p.m. left me craving a more balanced lifestyle, particularly one that didn’t make me feel constantly available.

However, I was struggling to find activities and plans that would actually stick.

I know exercise can be mood-boosting, so I tried going to the gym after work. Most of the time, though, I ended up canceling because I was too tired and it didn’t sound like much fun.

I also attempted to make regular plans to go to happy hour with coworkers. This didn’t stick, either, and I didn’t exactly want all my social interactions to revolve around alcohol.

Instead, I continued spending most evenings sitting on my couch, doomscrolling on Instagram, waiting for my husband to get home from work.

At one point, after checking my screen-time settings, I was horrified to realize I was spending an average of four hours a day on my phone.

When I told my friend about my unsuccessful attempts to fix my post-work habits, she suggested I attend a reading party (or Silent Book Club).

I’d seen people around the world posting about attending these low-pressure events, where attendees gather to read books independently and silently, then have discussions afterward.

It seemed strange to turn an activity I usually do alone into a group one, but I was willing to give it a try.

I was skeptical, but the reading party helped me get off my phone in a fun way

Shortly after, I headed to a reading party at a café near me with a copy of “The Handmaid’s Tale” in hand.

As I arrived, I was worried I’d be the only one in attendance. Instead, I was surprised to see about a dozen people spread out at tables in the back corner of the café — all with books in hand, coffees nearby, and no phones in sight.

A woman smiled at me and scooted over, so I could sit at the empty seat beside her. I pulled out my book, ordered an oat-milk latte, and tried to start reading.

Instead, I kept getting distracted and couldn’t get comfortable in the chair. I shifted from side to side and had to reread the same page three times because I kept looking up at the sound of the espresso machine or someone walking by.

I wondered how long I could possibly sit here like this as I resisted the urge to grab my phone to check the time. Everyone else’s were away, and I didn’t want to be judged for having mine out.

After about 20 minutes, I finally got comfortable and was able to really dive into my book.

Our group read, uninterrupted, for one and a half hours, and then the woman who had organized the event got our attention and said the reading part of the event was finished. She motioned for us to go around in a circle, introduce ourselves, and share what we were reading.

Once everyone was through, attendees chatted with the people beside them. The conversations flowed naturally. We all liked reading and set aside time in our schedules to go there, so it was easy to break the ice.

I found out the girl next to me was also a big Bukowski fan, and it was nice to pick each other’s brains about our favorite works of his. Shortly after, the event came to a close.

People began to leave, and I liked not feeling pressured to exchange Instagram handles or phone numbers with anyone. I simply thanked the host and said I’d be back.

I left feeling refreshed and calm.

It’s nice having semi-regular plans that help me connect with others in a low-pressure way

Instead of looking down at my phone during my walk home, I found myself enjoying the beauty of my neighborhood — people walking their dogs, chatting in cafés.

As I continued, a buzz in my bag snapped me out of the present moment. Without thinking, my hand shot into my purse and grabbed it. I laughed when I saw that I had no important messages, only a promotional email about a sale at Ikea. I had missed nothing.

I won’t say this event was a magic cure that’s made me never reach for my phone or feel stressed after work. However, it helped me to connect with others and myself in a more present way.

I’ve now been attending these parties every other week or so for about six months. It’s gotten easier to get comfortable, stay focused on the page I’m reading, make post-reading conversation, and not feel tempted to grab my phone.

And when I’m truly desperate to know what time it is, I just look at the watch that I’d forgotten I owned.

• Microsoft is the latest tech giant to raise prices due to the memory shortage; Xbox prices will go up $100-$150 on August 1.
• It said memory and storage prices have increased by “more than 2.5x” and it expects “another doubling by the fall of 2027.”
• The news follows Apple raising MacBook and iPad prices by as much as $300 on Thursday.

Shoppers got a double whammy of bad news on Thursday as Microsoft announced yet another round of Xbox price hikes hours after Apple boosted prices.

Taken together, the price increases — which both companies say are due to spiking memory and storage costs — are set to make holiday shopping significantly more expensive. For gamers, it makes gaming increasingly feel like a luxury hobby.

Microsoft’s popular Xbox game consoles are set to increase by $100-$150 on August 1. The 512 GB models will go up by $100, and the 1 TB versions will increase by $150. The Xbox with the highest available storage configuration of 2 TB will be discontinued entirely.

“Last October, we increased XBOX console price by $20-$70 in the U.S. We hoped another price increase would not be necessary, and we have spent the last several months working with suppliers on options,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “Unfortunately, console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027.”

The new price hikes will apply worldwide.

This is the third time Microsoft has raised prices on its latest Xbox generation, following increases in May and October 2025. The Xbox Series X is now $250 to $300 more expensive than it was when it launched in 2020.

The memory shortage has impacted a broad range of consumer electronics companies, many of which have raised prices in the last 8 months.

Microsoft’s chief rivals in the gaming wars, PlayStation and Nintendo, have both previously announced price increases for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, respectively.

Computers, which also rely on memory and storage chips, have also become more costly to produce, and Apple followed many of its peers in boosting MacBook and iMac prices, along with the iPad, Apple TV, HomePod, and Vision Pro, on Thursday — by as much as $300.

“The entire consumer electronics industry is struggling with the current components crisis, but the effects are particularly hard on consoles,” Microsoft said. “Unlike phones, computers, speakers, and other consumer devices, consoles are typically not sold at a profit, but instead for less than they cost to make.”

In its blog post announcing the coming price hikes, Microsoft shared details on programs it said “make XBOX consoles more accessible,” such as buy-now-pay-later and interest-free financing services, along with efforts to make previously used game consoles available via retailers to purchase.

• Ford says AI and automation helped its quality turnaround, but they were not enough on their own.
• Execs told reporters they hired or brought back 350 technical specialists to catch defects earlier.
• The overhaul helped Ford top JD Power after years of quality problems and expensive recalls.

Ford staged a quality comeback. The automaker credits part of the turnaround to pairing AI with something more old-school: veteran engineers.

Executives at Ford told reporters this week that the company had hired, promoted, or brought back about 350 experienced technical specialists as part of a sweeping effort to fix vehicle-quality problems. Those engineering veterans have helped mentor younger staff, lead design reviews, and improve the AI and automated quality tools Ford uses to catch defects before vehicles reach customers, they said.

They also offered a striking admission: AI and automation were not enough on their own.

“Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it’s only as good as information you use to train it,” Charles Poon, Ford’s vice president of vehicle hardware engineering, said. “Mistakenly, we thought that by just introducing artificial intelligence and ingesting the design requirements that we had, that would produce a high-quality product.”

Poon said Ford had not done enough in prior years to preserve the knowledge of its most experienced engineers, some of whom left the company before their expertise was fully integrated into Ford’s systems. He said quality problems often showed up at the boundaries between teams, where design, manufacturing, software, and hardware collide.

Quality win, recall hangover

The comments came as Ford celebrated a major milestone.

Consumer data analytics firm JD Power named Ford the top mass-market brand in its latest initial-quality study, trailing only Porsche and Genesis overall, according to the study released Thursday. Ford narrowly beat Lexus, which has long been one of the strongest performers in the rankings.

That’s a big turnaround. Just three years ago, Ford ranked 15th out of 25 major automakers in the same study.

For years, Ford has faced headwinds on its product quality. In 2025, Ford issued 152 recalls, nearly doubling the previous record set by General Motors in 2014 with 77 safety bulletins.

As of Thursday, Ford had issued 51 recalls this year, according to the NHTSA’s dashboard. That’s still more than double Chrysler, the next-closest automaker, which had issued 19.

Ford executives said many of the continued recall issues are tied to vehicles and platforms designed between 2013 and 2020, calling recalls a “lagging indicator.” They framed the JD Power win as proof that a new approach is taking hold, and said internal data shows “clear improvement” in newer vehicles.

Still, the initial-quality study measures problems in new vehicles, not long-term durability, making it an early signal rather than a full verdict on whether Ford has solved its recall problem.

Ford says it changed how it catches problems

Ford launched its quality reset in 2023.

In that time, Kumar Galhotra, Ford’s COO, said the company has more than doubled its technical specialist population. Those specialists now lead mandatory design reviews and look for failure points before parts ever reach the plant floor.

“They hunt for failure points before a part ever reaches the plant floor,” he said.

The company also created an industrial system team to bring engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain closer together. Before that approach, Galhotra said Ford had previously relied too heavily on a “find and fix” approach — identifying problems after they appeared and trying to resolve them quickly.

Now, Ford says it is trying to prevent problems before they happen.

Ford previously told Business Insider that it had developed two bespoke AI-enhanced scanning tools that helped validate that cars were properly assembled before rolling off the lot. The tools, called AiTriz and MAIVs, both debuted in 2024.

While Ford has previously said the tools are helping improve product quality, the company did not say whether the 350 specialists worked directly on them.

• REI faced backlash after an Instagram ad featured a bike with two sets of handlebars.
• REI said the ad was generated by Meta’s AI ad tool.
• Meta has said its AI creative tools for ads are used by millions of advertisers.

A recent Instagram ad from outdoor retailer REI Co-op drew backlash after some users noticed that the bike in the image seemed to have a unique feature: two sets of handlebars.

“REI using AI slop now. So much for caring about the environment,” read a Reddit post over the weekend about the ad that received hundreds of upvotes.

Turns out the image was the result of AI adjustments, with REI pointing to an AI tool from Meta, Instagram’s parent company.

“Meta auto-enrolled us in an AI personalization tool that produced an inaccurate and inappropriate alteration of a vendor-provided image in some of our ads,” an REI spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. “While a two-handled bike might be interesting, it is not something you will find in our assortment.”

The image, which promoted a bike from the brand Van Rysel, showed a woman in a park standing beside the oddly shaped bike.

Van Rysel North America confirmed to Business Insider that the original image supplied to REI came from a Van Rysel photo shoot featuring cyclist Amity Rockwell, adding, “Any later alterations were not made by Van Rysel.”

Meta declined to comment when reached by Business Insider.

The company’s terms for its generative AI ad tools state that AI-generated ad outputs may be “inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, offensive, and/or inappropriate” and that advertisers are responsible for evaluating them before use.

The REI spokesperson said the company unenrolled from the Meta tool, adding, “This does not align with our values or how we manage our brand. Product accuracy and our vendor relationships matter. We apologize for the confusion this caused.”

REI is not the first advertiser to report unexpected results from Meta’s AI ad tools. As Business Insider previously reported, several advertisers said Meta’s AI tool had also generated bizarre or nonsensical ads for their products, and that some settings, like “test new creative features” and “automatic adjustments,” had automatically been toggled to “on.”

A Meta spokesperson at the time said advertisers who use full image generation “have the opportunity to review the generated images before running their ad.” They also said millions of advertisers had found their AI ad creative tools valuable and that the tools improved their ad performance.