Technologies
Why You Should Care About OpenAI’s New $200 Million Defense Department Deal
ChatGPT maker OpenAI inked a new deal with the US government. Here’s what their plans for AI in government could mean for you.

The US Department of Defense has awarded ChatGPT maker OpenAI a $200 million contract to develop «prototype frontier AI capabilities,» the government and company announced on Monday.
The deal is through the Defense Department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence office and is expected to be completed in one year. OpenAI said in its statement that its AI could help the department perform tasks ranging from «transform[ing] its administrative operations … to streamlining how they look at program and acquisition data, to supporting proactive cyber defense.»
That’s a broad list, from automating bureaucratic processes to potentially letting OpenAI’s tech play a major role in the digital systems that safeguard every American’s personal information. It could be just the first step in a more widespread adoption by government agencies.
The contract is a pilot program and the first partnership in the new OpenAI for Government initiative, through which the company aims to put its AI tools in the hands of «public servants across the United States.» Through the initiative, OpenAI says it’s offering access to AI «models within secure and compliant environments» and also, on a limited basis, new custom AI models for national security for federal, state and local governments.
This isn’t OpenAI’s first time dipping its toes into government operations. In January, the company launched ChatGPT Gov, a new pathway for government employees to access OpenAI’s models while still following the necessary security protocols. It also has partnerships with US National Labs, the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, the National Institutes of Health and the Treasury Department. Those will all be folded into OpenAI for Government.
This deal also builds on OpenAI’s other security work. Late last year, the company announced a partnership with Anduril, a defense contractor with a focus on AI and robotics/drones. Anduril’s statement explicitly points out OpenAI’s potential to «improve the nation’s defense systems that protect US and allied military personnel from attacks by unmanned drones and other aerial devices.» (Anduril also recently announced a new deal with Meta for VR/AR tech for the US Army.)
Many essential questions around AI, like those involving privacy and safety, are still unanswered. That takes on even greater significance as generative AI gets adopted in government operations that may involve things like sensitive personal information, legal status or law enforcement activity. That could put to the test OpenAI’s policies, which specify that its AI shouldn’t be used to compromise the privacy of real people, including to «create or expand facial recognition databases without consent» and «conduct real-time remote biometric identification in public spaces for law enforcement purposes.»
It’s not surprising to see OpenAI cozy up to the US government. Since its original ChatGPT model spurred the generative AI rush starting in late 2022, governments here and abroad have struggled with how to implement and regulate the new tech. It’s affected every branch of the US government. There hasn’t been any substantial federal regulation around AI — to the contrary, President Trump’s «big beautiful bill» on government spending making its way through Congress would prevent states from regulating AI themselves.
Some government departments, like the US Copyright Office, have laid out some guidelines for AI. Meanwhile in the courts, publishers and artists have filed lawsuits against AI companies alleging copyright infringement and misuse of training material. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
Technologies
Adobe’s New iOS and Android AI Apps Let You Use Google’s Veo 3, Runway and More
The Firefly AI mobile apps come with a few free credits for you to experiment with the AI image and video generators.
Adobe’s Firefly AI is now available as mobile apps for iPhones and Androids, the company announced on Tuesday. These apps are free to download and let you use Firefly to create AI images and videos on the go. Plus, the app comes with a few free generative credits for you to experiment with Adobe’s AI.
Adobe is also expanding its roster of third-party AI partners to include six new models from Ideogram, Pika, Luma and Runway. Google’s latest AI models are also joining the lineup, including the internet-famous Veo 3 AI video generation model with native audio capabilities and the Imagen 4 text-to-image model support. Finally, its moodboarding AI program, Firefly Boards, is generally available today after months in beta.
Here’s everything you need to know about Adobe’s newest batch of Firefly AI updates. For more, check out our favorite AI image generators and what to know about AI video models.
Firefly AI for iOS and Android users
Adobe’s Firefly mobile apps will let you access its AI image and video capabilities from your phone. A mobile app felt like the next natural step, since Adobe saw that mobile web usage of Firefly noticeably increased after Adobe’s Firefly video capability launched in early 2025.
Not every Firefly feature will be available at launch, but for now, we know that these features will be included: text-to-image, text- and image-to-video, generative fill, and generative expand. You can download the app now from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The app is free to download, but you’ll need a Firefly-inclusive Adobe plan to really use the app. In the hopes that you’ll sign up for a full plan, Adobe gives you 12 free generation Firefly credits (10 for images, two for videos, which doesn’t shake out to many of each). So you can use those to see if Firefly is a good fit for you.
Firefly plans start at $10 per month for 2,000 credits (about 20 videos), increasing in price and generation credits from there. Depending on your Adobe plan, you may already have access to Firefly credits, so double-check that first.
Adobe’s six new AI models from Google, Runway and more
Adobe’s also adding new outside AI creative models to its offerings, including image and video models from Ideogram, Pika, Luma and Runway. You might recognize the name Runway from its deal with Lionsgate to create models for the entertainment giant. Ideogram, Pika and Luma are all other well-known AI creative services. Google’s Veo 3 AI video generator is also joining, bringing its first-of-its-kind synchronized AI audio capabilities, along with the latest generation of Google’s AI image model.
This is the second batch of third-party models that Adobe has added to its platform. Earlier this spring, Adobe partnered with OpenAI, Google and Black Forest (creator of Flux) to bring the companies’ AI models to Adobe. What’s unique about this is that all third-party models have to agree to Adobe’s AI policy, which prevents all the companies from training on customers’ content — even if the individual companies don’t have that policy on their own, it’s standardized across all models offered through Adobe. This is also true for the new models added today. For AI-wary professional creators who make up the majority of Adobe users, that’s a bit of good news.
You’ll need a paid Firefly plan to access outside models; otherwise, you’ll just have access to the Adobe models. Here are all the AI models available through Adobe:
- Adobe Firefly Image 3
- Adobe Firefly Image 4
- Adobe Firefly Image Ultra
- Flux 1.1 Pro
- Flux 1 Kontext
- Google’s Imagen 3
- OpenAI’s image generation model
- (new) Ideogram 3
- (new) Google’s Imagen 4
- (new) Runway’s Gen-4 Image
For video, you can use:
- Adobe Firefly Video
- Google Veo 2
- (new) Google Veo 3
- (new) Luma AI Ray 2
- (new) Pika’s text-to-video generator
Adobe’s own Firefly AI models are trained on a combination of Adobe Stock and other licensed content. You can learn more in Adobe’s AI guidelines and approach to AI.
AI moodboarding gets a boost
Other Adobe updates include the general release of its moodboarding program, Firefly Boards, which has been in beta since April. Moodboarding is a practice that lets you cluster together different elements, like colors and shapes, to evoke specific moods and aesthetics. It’s a good initial step for planning content and campaigns.
You can use the infinite canvas to brainstorm and plan content. You can generate images and videos in Boards using Adobe and non-Adobe models; the setups are very similar to generating in the regular Firefly window. Boards are collaborative, so you can edit with multiple people. A new one-click arrange button can help you organize and visualize your files more easily, a much-requested feature that came out of the beta.
Firefly boards are synced up with your Adobe account. So you can select a photo in a Board, open it in Photoshop and edit it. Those changes will then be synced up with your Firefly Board in less than a minute, so you can always see the latest version of your file without needing to be limited to editing in Boards.
For more, check out Premiere Pro’s first generative AI feature and the best Photoshop AI tools.
Technologies
I Ordered a Switch 2 From Verizon. It Didn’t Go Well
Commentary: I was supposed to get the Switch 2 on June 6. It didn’t show up on that day — or any day — and Verizon never gave me an update. But the story has a happy ending. Sort of, anyway.
Back on June 5, the Switch 2‘s launch day, I wrote about Belkin’s new accessories for Nintendo’s latest game console. I noted I hadn’t tried the Belkin accessories yet with my Switch 2; I ordered my console from Verizon, and it wasn’t scheduled to arrive until the following day.
My Switch 2 didn’t arrive on June 6. Or the day after. Or a week later. Or ever.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened: Verizon, a company that you don’t typically associate with selling game consoles, allowed more people to order the Switch 2 than it had in stock.
I checked in on what seemed like an apt Reddit thread entitled, «So I ordered my Switch 2 from Verizon… and it’s still not here,» which confirmed my suspicions. One of the commenters reported that he’d spoken to a customer service rep and was informed that not only was the device backordered, but there was no word as to when delayed orders would be fulfilled. The commenter also learned that Verizon had farmed out its Switch 2 sales to a third party, which made it more difficult to cancel your order.
Read more: CNET’s Switch 2 restock tracker
As days turned into weeks and I heard nothing from Verizon, and my «track order» page continued to list my Switch 2 as «scheduled to arrive June 6,» I started calling Verizon customer service every couple of days to see if anybody had any updates. The reps I spoke to were sincere in their efforts to help me and wished they could provide more clarity. But all they could tell me was that the console remained backordered.
Truth be told, I wasn’t terribly upset about the situation because I wasn’t all that eager to buy a Switch 2 in the first place; I was a little annoyed my credit card had been charged, however. Like a few people I know, I ended up ordering the Switch 2 partially because the opportunity to buy one popped up without me making a serious effort to get one — I wasn’t going to follow CNET’s Nintendo Switch 2 Stock Tracker and dash off to a retailer like Best Buy or Target the moment a new shipment arrived in store.
As it was, I was on Slickdeals.com on the morning of June 5 and saw a post about the Switch 2 being in stock at Verizon online, albeit only available to Verizon customers. I clicked the link and was slightly shocked to discover it was indeed in stock and that I was able to order it, with a confirmation email to prove it.
As soon as I placed the order, I had a tinge of buyer’s remorse. Not so much because my bill came to $500 after tax and an extra $13 for expedited shipping. But I thought that maybe if I was dropping $500 on this thing, it would have been a better idea to wait and spend an extra $50 on the Switch 2 plus Mario Kart World Bundle, which was sold out at Verizon when I placed my order for the standalone Switch 2. At least I’d get a discount on one of Nintendo’s absurdly priced new games for the Switch 2.
Arguably, the best deal right now for a Switch 2 is Costco’s Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle that also comes with a 12-month individual subscription to Nintendo Online, plus the Expansion Pack for $525, saving you $25 off the subscription. But you have to be a Costco member to get it — if it’s in stock.
But even with that touch of lingering regret, I didn’t cancel my order, though I did get my money back for the expedited shipping. However, when I spoke with a very nice customer service rep with an Australian accent a few days ago, I did start asking some questions about how hard it was going to be to cancel the order. She confirmed the process was a little tricky, but she’d be happy to cancel it. She’d need to «file a ticket,» and it might take three to five days before my order was actually canceled and my credit card credited. I told her thanks, but I was going to hold off on canceling for a few more days.
After I hung up with her, I thought, OK, I don’t really want to be a jerk about this, but I do work for CNET, and maybe it’s time to share my Switch 2 buying saga with a wider audience.
As a journalist, what you should do in a situation like this is reach out to a company media representative and inform them that you’re writing about how you’ve had a rather poor shopping experience with their company. So I did just that, explaining that I wasn’t too upset about the situation, but I was concerned about the lack of communication about the status of my order, which seemed to be stuck in a state of limbo. Also, judging from a couple of Reddit threads on the topic, others were in the same position. Did Verizon have any comment?
Initially, it appeared Verizon might give me a comment. But then it didn’t. However, I did get tipped off that the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle had just come back into stock and that no one had posted about it. I quickly fired up my computer and headed back to Verizon’s website, where, sure enough, it was in stock. Glutton for punishment that I am, I placed an order for it since the bundle was what I wanted in the first place.
I then called up Verizon customer service to cancel my initial order. The Reddit users’ comments proved accurate. I spent almost 30 minutes on the phone — most of it hold time — waiting for the service rep to jump through all the hoops to get my order canceled. At the end of the call, I got a cancellation confirmation number (the aforementioned «ticket») and was told that it would indeed take three to five days to process.
For my second order, I didn’t add expedited shipping, opting instead for the free two-day shipping. I got an email that confirmed my order, but when I went to track its status the next day, it still showed that my order was received but had yet to ship. I was sure I’d entered the doom loop again.
But lo and behold, a few hours later, I received an email saying my order had arrived. In the Verizon app, the status of my order had changed to «shipped.» When I got back home, I found a plain brown box with an expedited shipping label on it. My Switch 2 and a code for Mario Kart World were inside.
If you’re thinking someone made sure that order got to me pronto, you probably wouldn’t be wrong. But I won’t lie. Despite it costing what it did and my putting a lot more effort into getting it than I wanted to, there was a certain satisfaction in finally receiving it.
I do think it’s a lot better than the original Switch that I bought shortly after it launched. Or maybe I’m just trying to justify spending $544 on it. At least I can try out those Belkin accessories now.
Technologies
How to Fight Elden Ring Nightreign’s Everdark Sovereign Bosses
Nightreign’s new hard mode bosses are a true endgame challenge, but if you can beat them, the Sovereign Sigils are a powerful reward.
Everything you’ve learned about Limveld over the weeks since Elden Ring Nightreign’s launch has just been flipped on its head.
Developer FromSoftware previously announced that enhanced versions of the game’s bosses would feature in post-launch updates, but they were shadowdropped with little to no warning on Wednesday, with full details from publisher Bandai Namco.
These Everdark Sovereigns have certainly been eating their Wheaties, because they’re bigger, stronger and have wicked special moves that you’ll have to learn if you want to stand a chance against this new threat. But if you can conquer the next iterations of the Nightlord, you’ll earn a special currency that opens up an endgame shop filled with loot.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Everdark Sovereigns, ranging from what they are, how to take them on and what goodies you can earn if you’re skilled enough to take one of these bad boys out.
What are the Everdark Sovereigns?
If you’ve put the beat down on Elden Ring Nightreign’s roster of Nightlord aspects and come out the other side thinking they were too easy, the Everdark Sovereigns are designed with you in mind.
These foes are enhanced «hard mode» versions of the regular expedition bosses, and they add new moves and mechanics to the already challenging night three fights. Everdark Sovereign fights begin with the boss’s second phase before shifting into a new third phase, making them some of the deadliest enemies in Nightreign.
Each Everdark Sovereign expedition is available for a week, after which a new fight will become available.
The first Everdark Sovereign is Adel, the Gaping Jaw, and Everdark Sovereign versions of the Sentient Pest and Darkdrift Knight will rotate in and out over the coming weeks. Eventually, there’ll be an Everdark Sovereign variant of every Nightlord aspect, though there’s no word on if they’ll be ready after the first three hard mode bosses have rotated into the game.
How can you embark on an expedition to fight one of Nightreign’s new bosses?
You don’t have to jump through too many hoops to try to take on the Everdark Sovereigns, but they won’t all be accessible at the same time. These bosses are time-gated and are in the game for one week each.
So long as you’ve beaten the normal version of the currently available Everdark Sovereign, you’ll be able to access the special expedition during this time. A new expedition outlined in purple will appear at the bottom of the list, and embarking on the current Everdark Sovereign expedition is as simple as choosing this option and proceeding normally.
If you’ve beaten the easier, base game version of the current Everdark Sovereign and you don’t see the special expedition in your list of available options, make sure you have a functioning internet connection. You can take the Everdark Sovereigns on in solo mode (if you’re a masochist), but you’ll need to remain online and connected to the Elden Ring Nightreign servers to access this new content.
How can you beat these hard mode bosses?
If you want to beat an Everdark Sovereign, you’ll have to «get good.» There are no two ways about it: These bosses are much harder than their base game counterparts. They start in their second phase, have new third phases and special moves that hit like a truck.
With that being said, there are still ways you can even the odds after mastering the basics of Elden Ring Nightreign.
Many of the skills that you should learn to challenge base game bosses still apply to Everdark Sovereign expeditions. It’s more important than ever to set up a cohesive relic build that synergizes with your class’s play style. Buying chalices from the Jar Bazaar and farming Murk to buy up some more relics will help you create the right build for your favorite Nightfarer.
During your expeditions, you’ll obviously want to pick up weapons and shields that provide you with passive stats that pair well with your Nightfarer, as well as your general play style with the character. You should also be running the most optimized rune-earning route possible to get as close to level 15 as you can by the time you enter the third night.
Most importantly, you’ll want to pick up weapons that have status effects that the bosses are weak to. If the enhanced version of Adel is anything to go by, Everdark Sovereigns will move quickly and have short windows of vulnerability. Pick up a weapon that exploits their weakness to break down their poise and extend the amount of time you can whack at the boss.
High damage per second is a virtue. The quicker you can knock out a boss, the less time it has to defeat you and your friends. A war of attrition is an easy way to lose an expedition in Nightreign, so plan ahead before you ever face down the new Nightlord aspect.
What do you get for beating an Everdark Sovereign?
In addition to the normal expedition rewards, you’ll have a chance to earn new boss relics and a special currency called Sovereign Sigils.
The boss relics are incredibly powerful alterations to popular play styles. The first Everdark Sovereign, the Gaping Jaw, drops the Dark Night of the Baron relic. This relic improves the damage of critical hits twice over and makes you generate runes upon landing one of those crushing blows.
It seems as though Everdark Sovereign relics will be a powerful new way for Nightreign’s min-maxers to advance their build in a game where you don’t pick how your stats change past the character select screen.
Beating your first Everdark Sovereign unlocks a new merchant in the Roundtable Hold. The Collector Signboard is located on the beachy area just outside of the Jar Bazaar. It can be found in the southwest corner of the hub. This is where you’ll spend the currency you earn from beating the new bosses.
Spending Sovereign Sigils is a great way to grow your power between runs. They’re also the keys to unlocking quality-of-life features that many players have been clamoring for.
Sovereign Sigils can be spent to unlock a suite of new chalices that unlock more relic rites for your Nightfarers, as well as an improved version of the Scenic Flatstone that guarantees you purple-rarity relics. Nightfarer garb can also be purchased with Sovereign Sigils, but it’s the same wardrobe of skins purchasable with Murk, the other currency you earn from expeditions.
This currency can also be spent to choose specific Shifting Earth events for your next run, restore the Roundtable Hold to its appearance from before the defeat of the final Nightlord and change the appearance of the relic earned at the end of the Guardian’s remembrance questline.
Beating one of the Everdark Sovereigns for the first time will reward you with 25 Sovereign Sigils, while subsequent runs will earn you just 5 of the coveted new currency. The most expensive items in the shop — the skins that are worth 35,000 Murk — cost 20 Sovereign Sigils, so the earn rate of this currency is fairly generous so long as you can consistently beat these bosses.
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