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AI Minister Backs Anthropic’s ‘Responsible’ Mythos Rollout as Regulation Tightens

  Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon will meet with Anthropic leaders in response to concerns about the company’s new AI model. Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister says Anthropic is taking a “responsible and safety‑first approach” with its newly announced Mythos model family — a comment that comes as governments worldwide race to regulate rapidly advancing AI systems. According to public statements, the minister highlighted Anthropic’s emphasis on model transparency, safety evaluations, and controlled deployment , noting that these practices align with Canada’s push for clearer AI accountability standards. While the remarks were not tied to any specific policy change, they signal growing government interest in how frontier AI models could affect everything from cybersecurity to labour markets. For markets, the reaction has been modest but notable. AI‑linked equities — particularly cloud providers and chipmakers — saw small early‑morning gains , reflecting inves...

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Walmart Opposes Adding Panic Buttons to Stores

 

Retail giant Walmart has taken a firm stance against implementing panic buttons in its stores. The New York State Senate recently passed legislation requiring major retail chains, including Walmart, to install panic buttons in easily accessible locations or provide wearable/mobile-phone-activated panic buttons for staff. However, Walmart’s top corporate affairs officer, Dan Bartlett, expressed concerns about false alarms triggered by panic buttons. He emphasized that most incidents turn out to be non-emergencies.

Walmart operates 4,700 stores nationwide, including 98 in New York state. The legislation now awaits New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s decision. If she takes no action within 10 days, the Retail Worker Safety Act will automatically become state law. The bill also mandates violence prevention and safety training for retailers with 10 or more employees.

While Walmart’s workforce is not unionized, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) has advocated for the bill to become law in New York. At Walmart’s recent annual meeting, some employee shareholders proposed an independent review of workplace safety policies, but the proposal was defeated.

In summary, Walmart’s opposition to panic buttons reflects concerns about practicality and false alarms, even as the debate continues over ensuring safety for retail workers.


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