It's raining AI, and won't stop!

Tokyo experienced an unusual downpour with 35 consecutive days of rain in September, the longest in 129 years. Over 25 inches of precipitation fell, causing flooding and three typhoons. The newsletter had a three-week hiatus due to Katey Creel's departure as Tech Editor and a new replacement starting. In the meantime, significant AI developments took place, including an Anthropic researcher warning of potential doom by the decade's end, leading to a slowdown in frontier development.

Tech leaders met at a White House summit with mixed opinions on self-regulation. AI-powered products like ChatGPT and Claude faced restrictions in Hong Kong, while Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot gained traction. AI agents, such as Meta's Muse, are gaining popularity in Japan. The talent shortage is a major bottleneck for the industry, with many professionals already recruited by industry giants.

South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister sees AI as basic infrastructure and has invested heavily in AI initiatives.