Dakarda AI Newsletter · 24 June 2026
Wednesday Edition
Blacklists, Billions and Glasses for $299
In the last 48 hours, the AI world has experienced a real earthquake – from geopolitical escalation to groundbreaking deals and products. I've tracked five key events for you that define the direction this technology is heading.
Intro · Alex
It was a week in which politics, money and innovation collided with the force of a tsunami. China blacklists 56 American companies, Getty Images signs a historic deal with OpenAI, and Meta challenges the smart glasses market with a price that can't be ignored. In this edition, you'll find an analysis of each of these events – not just dry facts, but practical takeaways. We'll look at what the talent exodus from DeepMind means, what changes the European Union is preparing for the AI Act, and why the vulnerability in Beats headphones is more than just a technical detail. Ready for a dose of knowledge?
What's worth knowing
China blacklists 56 US companies – escalation of AI war
China has announced a blacklist of 56 US companies – 46 were placed on a ban from government procurement, and 10 on an export control list. The response to the earlier Pentagon blacklist means the trade and technology war is entering a phase of two-way AI blockade that could disrupt supply chains of components and licenses.
Getty Images signs deal with OpenAI – shares jump 145%
Getty Images has entered into a licensing agreement with OpenAI to provide stock photos for ChatGPT. Users will be able to generate and use licensed Getty images directly in conversations. This is the first major licensing deal for visual content that solves the legal problem of training models on illegally scraped images.
Meta debuts its own smart glasses for $299
Meta, in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica, has launched the 'Meta Glasses' line – smart glasses with a built-in Meta AI assistant, open speakers, and 8 hours of battery life. The $299 price (vs Snap Specs at $2195) drastically lowers the entry barrier for AI wearables, potentially accelerating mass adoption.
Talent exodus from Google DeepMind – Shazeer to OpenAI, Jumper to Anthropic
Noam Shazeer (co-lead of Gemini) left for OpenAI, and John Jumper (2024 Nobel laureate for AlphaFold) moves to Anthropic. Alphabet's market value has fallen by about $270 billion. This is a strategic blow to Google and a signal that the war for top AI talent is still ongoing.
European Parliament approves Digital Omnibus – changes to AI Act
The European Parliament has adopted a package of amendments to the AI Act, shifting the main compliance deadlines for high-risk systems from August 2026 to December 2027. A key addition is a ban on AI for generating non-consensual sexual content (so-called nudifier apps). Companies gain an additional 16 months to adapt.
From the tech world
Apple patches serious vulnerability in Beats Studio Buds headphones
Apple has patched vulnerability CVE-2025-20701 in Beats Studio Buds headphones, which allowed a person within Bluetooth range to eavesdrop on conversations through the microphone without pairing. This is a rare case of a headphone vulnerability enabling active eavesdropping from a distance. Make sure firmware has been updated to version 1B211.
CISA warns of critical vulnerability in Joomla JCE
Vulnerability CVE-2026-48907 (CVSS 10.0) in the JCE content editor for Joomla allows an unauthenticated attacker to upload a webshell and obtain a persistent backdoor. CISA has confirmed active exploitation in attacks. Required reading for Joomla admins.
Tip of the day
How to check your Beats headphones firmware version
To check if your Beats Studio Buds are safe, open the 'Settings' app on your iPhone, go to 'Bluetooth', find your headphones and tap the 'i' icon next to the name. The firmware version should be displayed in the 'About' section. If the version is older than 1B211, place the headphones in their case, connect them to power, and bring your iPhone close to the case. The update should install automatically within a few minutes.
Reading list
EU AI Act: What's new in the Digital Omnibus?
Detailed analysis of changes to the AI Act – deadline shifts, ban on nudifier apps, and practical implications for companies.
Meta Glasses for $299 – what we know?
First impressions and specifications of the new Meta glasses – from live translation to battery life.
War for talent, blacklists and smart glasses for 299 dollars – all in 48 hours. AI is no longer just a technology, it's becoming geopolitics.
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