US said to consider a breakup of Google to address search monopoly: NYT reports the Justice Department and state attorneys general are discussing various scenarios to remedy Google’s dominance in online search, including a breakup of the company.

Crypto PAC will spend $12M backing Republican in Ohio race that could flip Senate: Politico reports a crypto super PAC will also go on the air backing the Democratic Senate candidates Ruben Gallego in Arizona and Elisa Slotkin in Michigan.

A California bill to regulate AI causes alarm in Silicon Valley: California state senator Scott Wiener wants to stop the creation of dangerous AI. But critics say he is jumping the gun. NYT

AI as snake oil: Software billionaire Dan O’Dowd is launching a new offensive in the NYT and WSJ that paint AI technology as “snake oil” being peddled by high-powered grifters. O’Dowd’s latest ads are more derisive than alarmist. They argue that tech scions have “added trillions to their market caps by stoking Artificial Intelligence hype” but that the technologies themselves are flawed — and shouldn’t be trusted for use in critical infrastructure. See the ad here.

+ O’Dowd said he’s supportive of efforts to regulate the sector, including state Sen. Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 1047, but said there needs to be more done to mitigate what he sees as a lack of reliability in AI tools.

8.8 million of the PCs shipped in Q2 2024 were AI-capable. That's 14% of all PCs shipped globally. 

Fashionable AI eyewear has been having a moment lately, with Meta Platforms Inc.’s newest Ray-Ban smart glasses being the most prominent example. 

Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok-2 in race to catch ChatGPT: FT reports the latest chatbot ranks in top 5 models, according to independent benchmark sites, and will be available to X subscribers.

Deep-live-cam goes viral, allowing anyone to become a digital doppelganger: ARS Tech reports using one photo and free software, someone can impersonate your appearance in a video chat.

How ‘deepfake Elon Musk’ became the internet’s biggest scammer: An AI-powered version of Musk has appeared in thousands of inauthentic ads, contributing to billions in fraud. NYT

AI could ruin kids’ critical-thinking skills Jessica Grose

Google’s Gemini Live AI sounds so human, I almost forgot it was a bot Joanna Stern

Can the mobile wave help us navigate the AI wave? Tech experts from Wharton and Forrester look back on the advent of the iPhone, identifying key lessons that leaders today can apply to AI. K@W

Is now the right time to appoint a chief AI officer? The rapid advance of GenAI has been bewildering. No wonder many business leaders are considering whether they’d benefit from the guidance of a strategic-level expert in the field. Raconteur

Why AI risks are keeping board members up at night: Company directors are trying to get a handle on artificial intelligence as its use soars, bringing potential productivity gains—but also raising the prospect of employee blunders. WSJ

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc