Anthropic's AI model Claude Sonnet 5 disproved the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture on the 21st (local time), according to CoinDesk. Anthropic researcher and Harvard fellow mathematician Levente Alpoge posted on X (formerly Twitter) that "the Jacobian conjecture is false," sharing the specific counterexample found by Claude Sonnet 5. CoinDesk analyzed that this development represents a negative factor for Bitcoin, as AI breakthroughs may redirect investment capital away from cryptocurrency toward the AI industry. The Jacobian conjecture, proposed in 1939, had remained unproven for 87 years and was included in mathematician Stephen Smale's list of major unsolved problems of the 20th century—finding a single counterexample is sufficient to disprove a mathematical proposition.
CoinDesk stated that "this event is not simply math news, but demonstrates the possibility that investment capital will flow more strongly into the AI industry with each step up in AI capability." The outlet noted that Bitcoin has moved in tandem with AI-related stocks in recent months rather than on its own fundamentals, and projected that "as AI achieves new breakthroughs, investors will seek to allocate capital to the AI industry over cryptocurrency."
Intel Restructures Data Center Division
Semiconductor manufacturer Intel is planning to restructure its data center division, Business Insider reported on the 21st (local time). An Intel spokesperson told the outlet that the move is "part of efforts to become a more focused and efficient company." Intel stated it is reorganizing to ensure the data center group has the right roles and skills for long-term success.
One source familiar with the matter said "this change will not affect the data center group's products and roadmap" and "will help streamline business operations." Intel cut at least 15% of factory staff—more than 5,000 employees—across four US states last year.
US Computer Science Enrollment Declines for First Time in 20 Years
US university computer science major enrollment declined for the first time since the explosive spread of generative AI ChatGPT, according to research findings reported by Business Insider on the 21st (local time). Stanford University Hoover Institution economist Jacob Reiter stated that computer science major enrollment rates decreased for the first time in 20 years during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Reiter analyzed data from over 50 million courses offered at 1,019 US universities since 1996, finding that decades of computer science enrollment growth reversed for the first time in 2025-2026. He assessed that "the most prominent recent change is that the increasing proportion of computer science majors slowed and then turned to decline," calling it "an event that halted sustained and unusually rapid growth over approximately 20 years."
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) data supported this trend. According to the organization, undergraduate students majoring in computer and information sciences and support services at four-year institutions totaled 606,100 in fall 2025, down 8.1% from the previous year (659,700). However, this figure remains higher than 574,333 in 2022, suggesting the recent decline may represent an adjustment following years of sharp increases.
Reiter explained that several factors may have contributed to the decline, including the possibility that generative AI changed how students learn, shifts in student expectations about the economic value of computer science skills, labor market changes partly influenced by AI adoption, technology sector employment weakness unrelated to AI, and other student demand changes. He emphasized that "current data alone cannot distinguish which factors had an impact" and "these results should be interpreted as evidence showing the phenomenon, not as an estimate of the causal relationship between ChatGPT or AI exposure and student demand."
Substack Partners with Pangram for AI Detection Tool
Global newsletter and media platform Substack recently introduced an AI detection tool in partnership with AI detection startup Pangram, stating that "the internet is being polluted with low-quality AI-generated content (AI slop)." The platform is also considering a feature that would allow readers to completely blind AI-generated posts from their feeds in the future.
Substack CEO Chris Best emphasized that "we are not opposed to using AI for work assistance itself," but added "however, we cannot sit idly by and watch our app become degraded like other social media platforms filled with AI-generated posts." Business Insider reported on the 22nd (local time) that as AI rapidly permeates daily life and industry, the "AI-Free" label is emerging as a new premium business model.
The outlet diagnosed that "if AI swallowing the world is inevitable, the fact that something is 'Made by Humans' itself will become a powerful selling point." While global big tech companies are accelerating to embed AI into all services, consumer fatigue and resistance are growing proportionally. Examples include community backlash against AI data center establishment and the lukewarm fan response when independent film studio A24 attempted to collaborate with Google DeepMind.
Sony Ends Physical PlayStation Game Discs in January 2028
Sony announced it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 and release all new titles as digital-only, CNBC reported on the 21st (local time). While this decision may lead to cost savings and increased revenue for the company, analysts pointed out that consumers will lose the practice of exchanging, lending, reselling, or truly owning games.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter stated that "Sony may save some costs with this move, but it is clear that consumers with narrowed choices will ultimately pay the price." Morningstar equity research director Kazunori Ito assessed it as "a truly ironic development," noting that Sony mocked Xbox in 2013 by showing how easy it was to share PlayStation discs, and now over a decade later, Sony itself is becoming the target of such criticism.
Sony's move is expected to directly impact the used game market. According to DataIntelo, the global used game market reached $7.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2034. Pachter explained that "historically, at least one-third of games were traded as used" and "games sold as used also provided gamers who sold them with cash to purchase new games." He added that "physical game retail is doomed to collapse."
OpenAI and Anthropic Increase Q2 Lobbying Spending by 23%
OpenAI and Anthropic spent $3.17 million on federal government lobbying activities in Q2 this year, a 23% increase from the previous quarter, CNBC reported on the 21st (local time). OpenAI spent $1.2 million from April to June, up 18% from Q1, while Anthropic spent $1.97 million, up 26%. Both companies increased federal lobbying spending to all-time highs.
Both companies also significantly increased lobbying spending compared to the same period last year. Anthropic more than doubled its spending, and OpenAI's spending nearly doubled. Meta spent $5.99 million on lobbying in Q2, the most among Magnificent Seven companies, but spending decreased 15% from Q1.
Meanwhile, major defense contractors reduced lobbying spending compared to the previous quarter. The eight major defense contractors reduced lobbying spending by more than 3%. According to the General Services Administration's (GSA) top 100 defense contractors report, the top eight publicly traded defense contractors by fiscal year 2024 Department of Defense contract size spent $19.68 million on federal lobbying activities in Q2, down 3.3% from Q1's $20.36 million.
Lockheed Martin recorded the highest spending at $4.18 million, followed by RTX at $3.86 million and General Dynamics at $3.42 million. RTX cut $600,000, showing the largest decrease among defense contractors examined by CNBC compared to Q1. Huntington Ingalls, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon also recorded double-digit percentage declines.
FAQ
What mathematical problem did Claude Sonnet 5 solve on the 21st?
Claude Sonnet 5 found a counterexample disproving the Jacobian conjecture, an 87-year-old unsolved mathematical problem proposed in 1939. Anthropic researcher Levente Alpoge announced on X that "the Jacobian conjecture is false" and shared the specific counterexample discovered by the AI model.
Why did US computer science enrollment decline in 2025-2026?
Stanford economist Jacob Reiter stated that computer science major enrollment decreased for the first time in 20 years during the 2025-2026 academic year. NSCRC data showed undergraduate enrollment in computer and information sciences at four-year institutions fell 8.1% to 606,100 in fall 2025 from 659,700 the previous year. Reiter cited multiple possible factors including generative AI changing learning methods, shifts in student expectations about economic value, and labor market changes.
When will Sony stop producing physical PlayStation game discs?
Sony announced it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 and release all new titles as digital-only, according to CNBC reporting on the 21st (local time). Analysts noted this decision will impact the used game market, which DataIntelo projects will reach $13.8 billion by 2034.
