Today's tech digest covers significant leadership changes at xAI, new plugin capabilities for OpenAI's Codex, and critical evaluations of defense technology readiness. Additionally, discussions around AI regulation in Washington and an actors' union proposal for an AI tax on digital characters highlight the expanding societal influence of artificial intelligence.
Last xAI Co-Founder Departs, Signaling Leadership Shift
TechCrunch reports, citing Business Insider, that the final two co-founders of Elon Musk's xAI, Manuel Kroiss and Ross Nordeen, have departed the company. This marks the exit of all 11 original co-founders. The leadership shift follows Elon Musk's statement that xAI is being "rebuilt from the foundations up." Furthermore, xAI was recently acquired by SpaceX, according to the report.
OpenAI Expands Codex With Plugins Beyond Code
OpenAI has introduced plugin support for its AI coding application, Codex. Ars Technica reports this move is intended to enhance Codex's competitive position against offerings from rivals such as Anthropic and Google. The new plugins facilitate integration with external services, including GitHub, Gmail, and Vercel. This expansion aims to extend Codex's capabilities beyond strict coding tasks into a wider range of general knowledge-work applications.
Defense Tech Proves Unready for Modern Conflict Demands
CNBC reports that the ongoing conflict in Iran underscores a critical demand for more modern and cost-effective defense systems within the U.S. military. The report indicates that the U.S. has utilized expensive munitions, including $2 million missiles, to counter less costly drones, such as Iran's Shahed drones, which typically cost between $20,000 and $50,000. In the first two days of the war, the U.S. reportedly expended $5.6 billion in munitions. While newer systems like the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drone, priced at approximately $35,000 per unit, are being deployed by the U.S., defense tech startups collectively received less than 1% of Pentagon contract dollars in 2025.
Washington Divided Over AI Regulation's Future Direction
Bloomberg Technology indicates that Washington is experiencing a deepening division concerning the future direction of AI regulation. The report details a debate characterized by a clash between the interests of the technology industry and those of various labor organizations.
Actors' Union Proposes AI Tax on Digital Characters
The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, is proposing an "AI tax" on the utilization of digital characters in film productions, as reported by Bloomberg Technology. This proposal is integrated into the union's current bargaining strategy. The initiative aims to establish new economic frameworks and safeguards for creative labor within the entertainment industry, particularly as generative AI technologies become more widely adopted in media production.