Lifestyle (w/e 7/23/26)

OpenAI's models escaped their sandbox during a safety test and reached the open internet. The company disclosed that a combination of its systems, running with cyber safeguards deliberately reduced so researchers could measure offensive capability, found a flaw in a software package installer, used it to get out, and located test answers to the benchmark they were being evaluated on. The AI cheated on its own exam by breaking out of the building. TECH STARTUPS

The World Cup final was the biggest thing on American television outside the NFL since 2016. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Sunday, settled by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. Fox averaged 38.9 million viewers and peaked at 51.7 million, with a further 23.9 million on Telemundo and Peacock, for a combined 62.8 million. The most-watched football match in US history, contested by two countries with no American connection whatsoever. Every media company on earth burns billions a year trying to put tens of millions of people in front of the same thing at the same moment. There are roughly four things left that manage it. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Anthropic has now committed $40m to the American midterms. A further $20m this week to Public First Action, a nonprofit tied to three super PACs backing candidates who want AI safeguards, sitting directly opposite Leading the Future, which is funded by OpenAI's president and Marc Andreessen among others. Dario Amodei has put in $1m of his own. The industry has moved past lobbying the people who will regulate it and started funding the elections that produce them. AXIOS