📜 AI Code Time Bomb | 🇪🇺 Microsoft Woos Brussels | 🌊 Deep-Sea Mining Showdown

Good news: your coffee’s still warm; better news: Link & Load just dropped. Today we tease:

• LLM-written code that could booby-trap the whole software supply chain.

• Microsoft’s sudden crush on Brussels (flowers not included).

• A startup that promises to shrink your AI cloud bill—and just snagged a mega-check.

• The US Social Security Administration’s cringey new AI training video.

• Why a plan to vacuum metals off the deep-sea floor is kicking up more than silt.

🚀 Today in Tech

AI-Generated Code: A Supply-Chain Time Bomb?
Source: https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/ai-generated-code-could-be-a-disaster-for-the-software-supply-chain-heres-why/

TL;DR: Ars Technica warns that devs leaning on chatbots are copy-pasting bugs (and sometimes malware) straight into open-source repos, multiplying attack surfaces faster than you can type npm install.

Microsoft Plays Teacher’s Pet to EU Regulators
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsofts-brad-smith-says-company-respects-european-laws-amid-us-criticism-2025-04-30/

TL;DR: President Brad Smith says Redmond “respects” the EU’s tough new tech laws—subtly shading Washington’s grumbles—while hinting at smoother Copilot roll-outs across Europe. Translation: please don’t fine us.

Cast AI Hauls in $108 Million to Slash Cloud Bills
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/30/cast-ai-raises-108m-to-get-the-max-out-of-ai-kubernetes-and-other-workloads/

TL;DR: Miami-based Cast AI snagged a nine-figure Series C to automate cost-optimization for Kubernetes clusters so your CFO can finally unclench. Expansion into Asia-Pac is next.

SSA’s Chatbot Training Video Gets an F
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/social-security-ai-training-video/

TL;DR: Wired found the Social Security Administration telling staff to trust an AI chatbot with sensitive data—then admitting “maybe don’t.” Dad joke: The bot claims it’s never wrong—just like Dad when he insists he’s “resting his eyes,” not napping.

Deep-Sea Mining Meets Deep Trouble
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/658493/battery-critical-minerals-deep-sea-mining-the-metals-company-permit-donald-trump

TL;DR: The Verge reports a Canadian firm is asking the Trump administration to green-light nodule mining miles under the Pacific. Critics say the ocean isn’t a vending machine for EV batteries. Expect lawsuits that drag longer than a submarine cable.

🎲 Link Grab-Bag

• Source: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/04/intel-says-its-rolling-out-laptop-gpu-drivers-with-10-to-25-better-performance/ — Intel claims new Arc laptop drivers boost fps up to 25%; gamers cautiously update.

• Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/29/source-of-data-are-electric-cars-vulnerable-to-cyber-spies-and-hackers — Guardian asks if your EV is basically a rolling spy cam for hackers.

• Source: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43815523 — Hacker News “What are you working on?” thread showcases an SDF-based open-source CAD tool.

• Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/elon-musks-xai-holdings-talks-raise-20-billion-investors-bloomberg-news-reports-2025-04-26/ — Reuters: Musk’s xAI seeks another $20 B, because apparently rockets aren’t expensive enough.

• Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/29/a16z-backs-uk-startup-dex-to-scale-ai-talent-agent-and-recruitment-matchmaker/ — TechCrunch: a16z bets on Dex’s “AI talent agent” to pick your next co-worker.

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Stay curious, stay caffeinated—see you tomorrow with more silicon-flavored headlines. ✨