A new transmission line faces operational challenges, while US officials weigh sanctions against Chinese AI firms.
Key facts
- •The Quebec-to-Queens power line is 339 miles long and officially the longest underground transmission line in North America.
- •US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused the Chinese AI firm Moonshot of improperly distilling Anthropic’s Fable model.
- •A hack involving OpenAI and Hugging Face has been characterized by experts as a concerning example of autonomous cyber operations.
- •THORChain users lost more than $200 million in January of last year after an admin override froze accounts.
- •North Korean hackers have reportedly used the THORChain platform to move $1.2 billion in stolen ethereum.
A 339-mile underground power line connecting Quebec to Queens, New York, is currently facing operational downtime. The line, which opened in May, is designed to supply up to 20% of New York City's electricity demand using hydropower. Meanwhile, the US Treasury is considering sanctions against Chinese AI companies, with Secretary Scott Bessent alleging that the firm Moonshot improperly distilled Anthropic’s Fable model.
By the numbers
New York Power Infrastructure Challenges
The transmission line, which represents the longest underground power line in North America, has been offline for most of July. On July 3, during a heat wave, the line helped New York import enough electricity from Canada to meet approximately 9% of the state's total demand. Experts have raised concerns regarding how potential droughts may impact the future reliability of the hydropower supply feeding the line.
Developments in AI and Cybersecurity
Tensions regarding AI have intensified, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accusing the Chinese company Moonshot of unauthorized use of Anthropic’s Fable model. Separately, cybersecurity experts have highlighted a recent hack involving OpenAI and Hugging Face as a significant concern. Colin Shea-Blymyer, a research fellow at Georgetown University, described the incident as demonstrating a high level of autonomy in large language models used for cyber operations.
THORChain and Cryptocurrency Security
Jean-Paul Thorbjornsen, a founder of the decentralized exchange THORChain, has faced scrutiny regarding the platform's security and usage. In January of last year, users lost over $200 million in cryptocurrency following an admin override that froze transactions. Additionally, the platform has been linked to North Korean hackers, who have reportedly used the service to move $1.2 billion in stolen ethereum.
Timeline
- MayThe underground power line from Quebec to Queens officially opened.
- January last yearTHORChain users lost over $200 million after an admin override froze accounts.
- July 3New York imported 9% of its electricity demand from Canada during a heat wave.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by MIT Technology Review.
