Hello, N2K’ers!

This week’s world famous News Haiku^TM competition challenges you to base a haiku on a new word or expression from Merriam Webster’s dictionary. 

Email me by Thursday at noon ET with your entry! *And of course, your submissions to this competition are subject to Cheddar’s terms of service. But you knew that already, didn’t you?*

Now let’s talk about today’s news you Need2Know, shall we?

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Trump Energy Dept. bans key climate change terms

• ChatGPT can now buy stuff for you

• $100k visas mean tech firms will hire more abroad

• Crops can now text farmers when they’re at risk

• AI firms hate California’s new AI transparency law

• New show alert: The Business of Defense

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▲ 0.41% ) $DJI ( ▲ 0.18% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.3% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

OpenAI, $SHOP ( ▼ 0.26% ) , Glossier, SKIMS, Spanx, $PAYO ( ▼ 3.82% ) , InnerPlant, $META ( ▼ 1.21% ) , $GOOGL ( ▼ 0.39% )  

Trump Energy Dept. bans key climate change terms

The U.S. Department of Energy has added critical terms like “climate change,” “emissions,” and “decarbonization” to a list of banned words. Staff should avoid these terms in documents, reports, and public communications, the DOE says.

It’s tricky because the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is tasked with investing in technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency. The language restrictions seemingly contradict its mission.

Instead of acknowledging the realities of global warming and its primary driver — fossil fuel emissions — the agency is instructed to sidestep these key concepts, including terms like “energy transition” and “sustainability.”

This development comes as the Trump administration doubles down on its skepticism of climate science. President Trump excoriated world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly for pursuing actions to confront rising emissions.

“I’ve been right about everything, and I’m telling you that if you don’t get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail,” he said last week.

Song of the day: Robert Plant, ‘Ticket Taker’

Performed by Robert Plant and his band Saving Grace on their new album of the same name, the track is a cover of The Low Anthem, a trio fom Providence, Rhode Island. It touches on themes of an approaching apocalypse and the weariness of those who do the work.  

ChatGPT can now buy stuff for you

OpenAI has rolled out Instant Checkout, a new feature allowing ChatGPT users in the U.S. to purchase items directly from conversations. Partnering initially with Etsy sellers, this seamless shopping experience is expected to expand soon to over a million Shopify merchants, including big brands like Glossier, SKIMS, and Spanx.

The process is simple: when users ask for product recommendations — like “best running shoes under $100” — ChatGPT will now display items with a “Buy” button. By tapping on it, users can confirm their shipping and payment details directly within the chat. OpenAI promises “no bias” in product recommendations, though sellers enabling Instant Checkout may get preference when ranking options for identical products. That sounds a bit like bias to me.

"This isn’t just about convenience — it’s about reshaping how we shop online,” OpenAI said in a press release presumably written by a robot. The company says the feature represents another step toward its goal of creating “AI agents” capable of handling complex tasks like shopping, setting appointments, and more.

More. The word “more” there has me thinking creatively, I must say. OpenAI’s AI tools will need significant access to your personal data, of course, which is fine because you probably stopped caring about privacy back in 2015.

Today on the ‘gram: More time to curate playlists

Post of the day: Taking the high road

Quote of the Day

$100k visas mean tech firms will hire more abroad

The new $100K H-1B visa requirements are going to mean more companies will hire in Vitenam, India, or in Latin America, said Payoneer CEO John Caplan, whose company conveniently handles global payments.

While he sees a "near-term probably really positive for US employment numbers," Caplan also expressed concerns about the long-term impact, stating it will "challenge our education system, challenge the innovation economy." He envisions a future where "we may see centers of innovation grow in Bogota or Ho Chi Minh City or in Mumbai," as talent might choose to stay closer to home rather than coming to the US for formative training.

Caplan also highlighted the resilience of entrepreneurs, particularly Payoneer's customers, in adapting to these changes. He said "my phone's been ringing off the hook from CEOs who are saying, actually, we need your solution to help us with globalizing our workforce because that's more, we're more resilient with a global workforce than having everybody in one geography and one time zone under, you, know, one political system."

He believes this shift towards global teams is "probably really good for entrepreneurs. Talent's global,” he said. “Capability's global. Brilliance is global. Payments are global."

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👎️ 

No.

Crops can now text farmers when they’re at risk

InnerPlant is revolutionizing agriculture with engineered crops that "signal when they're stressed, specifically by important stresses to farmers like fungal pressure or insects or if they don't have enough nitrogen,” said CEO Shely Aronov.

InnerPlant’s groundbreaking technology allows farmers to detect problems "weeks before the damage happens and the symptoms show up," providing crucial time to treat plants and boost yields.

Aronov explained, "we tap into the plant's molecular reaction to the stress, which starts within hours, and then we teach it how to signal optically when it's attacked." This optical signal offers an unprecedented early warning system.

The first commercial year in 2025 saw success in Nebraska, Illinois, and Iowa. A notable win was in Nebraska when a signal for white mold gave farmers "a three and a half week head start on that disease."

Farmers are notified via text messages, receiving alerts like "there is a fungal infection in your area. It's white mold. You should talk to your agronomist and figure out an action plan."

I just hope the crops sign off “love from Croppy, xoxo,” or the whole thing is doomed.

AI firms hate California’s new AI transparency law

California has taken a bold step in regulating AI with the introduction of the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, signed into law on Monday by Governor Gavin Newsom.

It requires the most advanced AI companies with annual revenues over $500 million to report safety protocols, disclose risks, and protect whistleblowers who identify significant dangers posed by their technologies. The law positions California as a leader in fostering responsible AI development while protecting consumers.

“This is a groundbreaking law that promotes both innovation and safety; the two are not mutually exclusive, even though they are often pitted against each other,” said State Senator Scott Wiener, the bill's author, talking to the New York Times. The regulation fills a significant gap in a rapidly evolving field as federal lawmakers remain deadlocked on comprehensive AI oversight.

While welcomed by advocates of accountability, tech giants like Meta, OpenAI, and Google voiced concerns, warning that patchwork state laws could burden companies. “It’s a slippery slope. Today it’s California, next month it’s New York, a few months down the road it’s Texas and so on,” said David Grossman, vice president of policy at the Consumer Technology Association, as if that were a bad thing.

Governor Newsom defended the initiative, saying, “This legislation strikes a balance... ensuring the growing AI industry continues to thrive.”

Poll of the day: Banned words

Poll of the day: Three Day Work Week

We asked: Do you think AI will bring you a three-day week with a four-day weekend?

You answered:

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, I think AI is going to give me more leisure time to enjoy. (92)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No. AI is going to destroy my job and leave me unemployed and frantic. (514)

606 Votes via @beehiiv polls

New show alert: The Business of Defense

The global defense industry represents a staggering $2.5 trillion market, with the United States alone investing nearly $1 trillion in its military capabilities. From company boardrooms to Pentagon briefings, the decisions made today are reshaping how nations protect themselves and project power.

On October 9 at 8 p.m. ET, wherever you watch Cheddar, we'll take you inside this high-stakes world. We'll meet the industry's most influential players, explore cutting-edge innovations in AI. We examine the next generation of smart tanks, ships, precision-guided missiles, and reveal the breakthrough technologies that are redefining modern warfare.