A recent social media uproar regarding AI's potential risks has prompted major U.S. companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to collaborate on safety measures. This comes after a researcher suggested a significant chance of AI posing existential threats.
Despite these discussions, President Trump criticized the call for a slowdown in AI advancements, arguing that it could benefit U.S. adversaries, particularly China.
Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pipeline due to attacks, is expected to increase financial burdens, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating an additional $2-3 billion in costs for each month of continued fighting.
In the financial markets, equity futures remained stable ahead of a crucial Federal Reserve interest rate decision, while the 10-year Treasury yield reached its highest level since 2007, driven by rising oil prices and expectations of an interest rate hike