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Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to deliver significant benefits to society. However, it could also pose risks. As a general-purpose technology, the same tools that advance scientific discovery could also be used to develop harmful weapons. Governing AI effectively requires balancing the widespread benefits with the need to prevent the most powerful AI from falling into the wrong hands. The good news is that there are viable strategies for achieving this. In the 20th century, nations established international institutions to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy while limiting the spread of nuclear weapons. This was achieved by controlling access to key materials, such as weapons-grade uranium and plutonium. The risks associated with nuclear technology have been managed through international organizations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Today, 32 countries operate nuclear power plants, generating 10% of the world's electricity, while only nine countries possess nuclear weapons. Countries can adopt a similar approach to AI regulation. They can control access to specialized chips, which are essential for training the most advanced AI models. Several prominent individuals and organizations, including the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, have advocated for an international governance framework for AI, mirroring the existing framework for nuclear technology. The most advanced AI systems rely on tens of thousands of specialized computer chips. These chips are housed in massive data centers where they process vast amounts of data for months to train the most capable AI models. These advanced chips are complex to manufacture, their supply chains are tightly controlled, and a large number of them are required to train AI models. Governments can establish a regulatory system that restricts access to large quantities of advanced chips to authorized computing providers and licenses trusted AI companies to access the computing power needed to train the most capable—and potentially most dangerous—AI models. This might seem like a challenging task. However, only a few nations are needed to implement this governance regime. The specialized computer chips used to train the most advanced AI models are concentrated in a limited number of locations. They rely on critical technology from three countries—Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.S. In some cases, a single company holds a monopoly over key aspects of the chip production supply chain. The Dutch company ASML is the world's sole producer of extreme ultraviolet lithography machines, which are essential for manufacturing the most cutting-edge chips. Governments are already taking steps to regulate these high-tech chips. The U.S., the Netherlands, and Japan have imposed export controls on their chip-making equipment, limiting their sale to China. The U.S. government has also restricted the sale of the most advanced chips—which are made using U.S. technology—to China. Additionally, the U.S. government has implemented requirements for cloud computing providers to identify their foreign customers and report when a foreign customer is training a large AI model that could be used for cyberattacks. Furthermore, the U.S. government has proposed—but not yet implemented—restrictions on the deployment of the most powerful trained AI models and their distribution. While some of these restrictions are driven by geopolitical competition with China, the same tools can be used to regulate chips and prevent adversarial nations, terrorists, or criminals from using the most powerful AI systems. The U.S. can collaborate with other nations to build upon this foundation and establish a framework for governing computing hardware across the entire lifecycle of an AI model: chip-making equipment, chips, data centers, AI model training, and the trained models resulting from this production cycle. Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.S. can play a leading role in creating a global governance framework that limits the sale of these specialized chips to countries with established regulatory regimes for governing computing hardware. This would involve tracking and accounting for chips, monitoring who is using them, and ensuring the safe and secure training and deployment of AI. However, global governance of computing hardware can do more than just prevent AI from falling into the wrong hands—it can empower innovators around the world by bridging the gap between accessibility and control. Due to the intense computing requirements for training the most advanced AI models, the industry is shifting towards an oligopoly. This concentration of power is detrimental to both society and business. Some AI companies have started to make their AI models open source. This is beneficial for scientific innovation and levels the playing field with Big Tech. But once an AI model is open source, anyone can modify it. This could lead to the removal of safeguards. Fortunately, the U.S. government has begun piloting initiatives to make powerful AI models accessible as a public good for academics, small businesses, and startups. These models could be made available through the national cloud, enabling trusted researchers and companies to use them without releasing them publicly on the internet, where they could be misused. Countries could even collaborate to create an international resource for global scientific cooperation on AI. Today, 23 nations participate in CERN, the international physics laboratory that operates the world's most advanced particle accelerator. Nations should consider establishing a similar international computing resource for AI, empowering scientists worldwide to collaborate on AI safety. AI holds immense potential. However, to harness AI's benefits, society must also manage its risks. By controlling the physical inputs to AI, nations can effectively govern AI and build a foundation for a safe and prosperous future. It's easier than many think.

Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty to impaired driving Friday, resolving the criminal case stemming from his June arrest in New York’s Hamptons. The boy band singer-turned-solo star and actor appeared in Sag Harbor Village Court to enter a new plea. The judge sentenced Timberlake to a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge, 25 hours of community service at the nonprofit of his choosing and required him to make a public safety announcement about the dangers of impaired driving. “I try to hold myself to a very high standard, and this was not that,” Timberlake told the news media and other onlookers outside the courthouse after the hearing. “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” he said. “There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There’s many travel apps. Still, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.” During the proceedings Timberlake remained standing throughout and gave a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions. He said he grew up in a small town and appreciated the kind of strain his arrest has made on Sag Harbor. He said he has had a lot of time to reflect on his actions. Timberlake said he is “grateful for the opportunity to move forward” and use his platform to hopefully help others make “better decisions.“ “I should’ve had better judgment,” he said to the judge. “ I understand the seriousness of this.” Judge Carl Irace expressed disappointment with the proposed plea deal put forward by prosecutors. He questioned the appropriateness of the public announcement Timberlake intended to make shortly after the court proceedings. He was concerned it did not give proper time for him to reflect on his actions for that reason, he said he was adding on community service requirements to the sentence. The pop star originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated and had his  during a hearing last month. Edward Burke Jr., Timberlake’s attorney, maintained outside the court after the hearing that his client only had one drink in two hours at the American Hotel. “Contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other peoples’ drinks, or warned in advance not to drive,” said Burke, adding that Timberlake was also polite and cooperative during his arrest. Burke said the lesser charge Timberlake pleaded to is “consistent with these facts.” Timberlake  in Sag Harbor, New York, a little after midnight on June 18 after police said he ran a stop sign in the village center, veered out of his lane and got out of his BMW smelling of alcohol. Police in court filings also said the 43-year-old Tennessee native’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and that he had “slowed speech,” was unsteady on his feet and performed poorly on all sobriety tests. Timberlake told the officer he had had one martini and was following some friends home, police said. Sag Harbor is a one-time whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s classic novel “Moby-Dick” that is nestled amid the Hamptons, an area of seaside communities around 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of New York City. Timberlake’s license suspension in New York likely affects his ability to drive in other states, a legal expert said this week. Refusing a Breathalyzer test, as Timberlake did during his arrest, triggers an automatic suspension of one’s license under New York state law, which should then be enforced in other states, according to Kenneth Gober, a managing partner at the law firm Lee, Gober & Reyna in Austin, Texas. “Most states participate in the interstate Driver’s License Compact, an agreement to share information about license suspensions and traffic violations,” he explained in an email. “If a license is suspended in one state it should be suspended in all states.” In practice, though, it can take a long time for such changes to be reflected across state lines, Gober acknowledged. The pop star also has the resources to easily arrange for a driver and doesn’t need a car to drive to do his job, he added. Timberlake’s agent and other representatives didn’t respond to emails seeking comment this week. The 10-time Grammy winner hasn’t publicly addressed the arrest but seemed to acknowledge it during a performance in Chicago just days later. “It’s been a tough week,” he  during the June 21 show at the United Center. “But you’re here, and I’m here. Nothing can change this moment right now.” Timberlake has been on tour for months in support of his latest album. He returns to the New York City area in the coming weeks with concerts in Newark, New Jersey; and Brooklyn.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronauts stranded in space said Friday it was difficult to watch their Boeing capsule return to Earth without them. This was their first public statement since the capsule that transported them to the International Space Station in June returned to Earth last week. The astronauts were left behind after NASA determined the capsule's recurring problems made it unsafe for them to return in. “That’s how it goes in this business,” said Williams, adding that “you have to turn the page and look at the next opportunity.” Wilmore and Williams are now fully integrated members of the space station crew, contributing to routine maintenance and experiments. They, along with seven other crew members, welcomed a Soyuz spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American earlier this week, temporarily increasing the station's population to 12, nearly a record. Transitioning to station life was “not that hard” since both had previous stints there, said Williams, who will soon assume the role of station commander. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space,” she said. The two Starliner test pilots — both retired Navy captains and veteran NASA astronauts — will remain at the orbiting laboratory until late February. They are waiting for a SpaceX capsule to bring them back. This spacecraft is scheduled to launch later this month with a reduced crew of two, leaving two empty seats for Wilmore and Williams on the return flight. The duo expressed their gratitude for the prayers and well wishes they received from people around the world. Wilmore mentioned he will miss out on family milestones, such as being present for his youngest daughter's final year of high school. Their Starliner capsule marked the inaugural Boeing spaceflight with astronauts. It faced a series of thruster failures and helium leaks before reaching the space station on June 6. It landed safely in the New Mexico desert earlier this month, but Boeing's future in NASA's commercial crew program remains uncertain. The space agency hired SpaceX and Boeing a decade ago as an orbital taxi service after the retirement of the space shuttles. SpaceX has been transporting astronauts since 2020. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

(To get this story in your inbox, subscribe to the TIME CO2 Leadership Report newsletter .) When President Biden took office in 2021, before any new regulations or landmark climate legislation were passed, it was clear that his presidency had already made strides in addressing climate change simply by sending a signal to the marketplace that fossil fuels are not the future. This signal stemmed from policy plans, campaign promises, and ultimately, an executive order signed within his first few days in office, urging government officials to prioritize climate change in their policymaking. Almost immediately, companies responded, adjusting their strategic plans to reflect the prospect of a more climate-friendly approach from Washington. The current election cycle has seen a limited number of climate campaign promises or platforms. In fact, some of the most extensive discussion on climate and energy unfolded during a few minutes in Tuesday's presidential debate. Despite lacking detail, this discussion provided a valuable opportunity to assess the potential direction of climate policy and, to some extent, the market. It's worth starting with Vice President Kamala Harris. In 2019, she ran as a progressive with bold climate commitments—including a proposal for $10 trillion in climate spending and support for the Green New Deal policy platform. Consequently, even some of the climate activists who held reservations about Biden were prepared to rally behind her, hoping she would pursue ambitious new environmental initiatives. In this week's debate, she offered little new regarding climate. Instead, she emphasized continuity, highlighting the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—the most significant climate legislation in the country's history—and advocating for continued investments in clean technology manufacturing. "We have invested in clean energy to the point that we are opening up factories around the world," she said. In other words, she positioned herself as the climate continuity candidate rather than a champion for an expanded policy agenda. Continuity may not be a captivating campaign slogan, but it would nonetheless facilitate the deployment of clean technologies. The Biden Administration has spent two years establishing the framework for implementing the IRA, including the creation of programs that investors and developers now rely on. The assurance of these rules remaining in place can help stabilize the market. This doesn't necessarily imply that she wouldn't offer anything new on climate if she were to become president. For instance, certain policy revisions could be beneficial for optimizing the IRA's implementation.     She also pledged to invest in diverse energy sources, stating that "we have got to invest in diverse sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil." This statement disappointed climate activists who would prefer to see her adopt an aggressive stance toward the oil industry. However, it also offers some reassurance to energy experts that she doesn't intend to disrupt oil markets while the world navigates this transition.   Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, provided even less clarity regarding his climate plans. In fact, he avoided discussing climate change when prompted, instead seizing the opportunity to outline his plans to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. "What they have given to China is unbelievable," he said. "We’ll put tariffs on those cars so they can’t come into our country.” This response is revealing. The Biden Administration is currently attempting to strike a delicate balance, aiming to incentivize the creation of a domestic clean energy supply chain for the long term while relying on Chinese imports in the short term. Trump's agenda would disrupt this balance, altering supply chains, capital investments, and strategic planning. Overall, this would leave domestic clean technology deployment in a precarious position, with products crucial to the transition absent from the U.S. market   The climate discussion in the debate offered merely a snapshot, touching upon the surface of relevant climate questions. However, it's evident that Harris can be viewed as a voice for continuity, while Trump appears to be a candidate eager to dismantle the country's climate and clean energy ambitions. Before any laws are signed or regulations are implemented, businesses will respond to these signals.  

China is set to raise the retirement age for the first time since 1978, a move expected to help stabilize the shrinking workforce and support the economy. The nation’s top lawmakers have approved a plan to gradually increase the retirement age, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. Over the next 15 years, China will raise the retirement age for men to 63 from 60 and for women to 58, according to the report. This change will go into effect on January 1, 2025. This approval follows a July announcement by the ruling Communist Party that the retirement age will be increased in a “voluntary, flexible manner.” By allowing more people to work for longer, the government hopes to address the challenges posed by an aging population, which is impacting the world’s second-largest economy, although it risks increasing public dissatisfaction amidst an economic slowdown. Discussions about this plan earlier this week sparked widespread anger on social media, with many users expressing concern about a sluggish job market. Some also pointed out the prevalence of discrimination against older job seekers, an issue the government vowed to address last month. China's retirement age is among the lowest globally despite a significant increase in life expectancy. Since the 1970s, the retirement threshold for white-collar workers has been maintained at 60 for men and between 50 and 55 for women. Previous attempts to raise the retirement age, such as in 2008, failed to gain legislative approval. A larger tax base and delayed access to benefits will help alleviate the pressure on the government to fund pensions as the population rapidly ages, with the birth rate last year. People aged 65 and older are expected to constitute 30% of the population by around 2035, up from 14.2% in 2021, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday. Bloomberg Economics’ Eric Zhu stated that this move will be beneficial for the country in the long run but could negatively impact sentiment at a time when reviving economic growth is crucial. “It could exacerbate an already acute problem of as older workers stay in their jobs longer,” Zhu wrote in a report this week, citing the increase of the jobless rate for those aged 16-24 to to 17.1% in July.