The popular AI framework Virtuals Protocol will host an in-person meet-up in Hong Kong on Friday, January 17.

On May 4, an AI community user going by "X Freeze" posted that mainstream AI models—including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini—have demonstrated "less alignment with conservative stances" on issues like gender, immigration, and crime, prompting questions about potential systemic biases in their value orientations. The post argues that as AI capabilities advance rapidly, the "value alignment" process may be shaped by training data and design mechanisms, resulting in a tendency toward consistency on certain public issues. This has sparked discussions in the community about "training data bias" and "model design orientation." To date, major AI development organizations typically state that their model training aims to improve information accuracy and security, and reduce bias via diverse data and evaluation mechanisms—but debate over AI value neutrality persists.

May 4—AI agent tool OpenClaw rolled out version 2026.5.3 today, with updates focused on refining file transfer, real-time task control, and plugin system security. The update adds the **Node Pairing File Transfer** feature, enabling direct file transfers between multiple nodes—with default access denied and a 16MB transfer cap to boost security. It also introduces the `/steer` command for real-time intervention in active agents (without pausing ongoing tasks) and the `/side` command for quick sidebar queries, so users don’t disrupt their main task flow. For its plugin ecosystem, OpenClaw has tightened up installation and update workflows: it now supports official npm packages, a ClawHub fallback, and dependency status checks—plus improved vulnerability patching and error recovery. Multi-platform communication channels (WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram, Slack, etc.) have also been optimized for transmission stability and status feedback. The dev team noted this release centers on cu

On May 4, decentralized exchange platform Aster announced the settlement of its sixth airdrop phase, with a total of 620,608.16 $ASTER tokens distributed. Of that amount, 310,304.08 tokens have been permanently burned, while another 310,304.08 have been transferred to the Aster Treasury contract. Per the project’s plan, the 50% instant claim window opened at 12:00 UTC on May 4 and will close at 12:00 UTC on June 4. Users may claim their corresponding airdrop assets during this period. The official announcement noted that all related burn and distribution transactions are recorded on-chain, enabling public verification.

May 4 (Yonhap) — North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pushed back against recent accusations of involvement in international hacking incidents on Thursday, calling the claims “false information driven by political motives” and a “ridiculous smear” on the country’s reputation. A ministry spokesperson accused the U.S. of hyping the so-called “North Korean cyber threat” via government agencies, media outlets, and think tanks to spread misinformation globally. The U.S. aims to weaponize cybersecurity issues to interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs and violate their sovereignty, the spokesperson said, adding Pyongyang strongly opposes the moves and will take necessary measures to safeguard its national interests. North Korea has previously been linked to several high-profile cyberattacks. On April 18, DeFi project Kelp DAO was hacked, resulting in an estimated $290 million loss. Some experts have suggested the incident may be tied to the Lazarus Group, a hacker collectiv

May 4 — Sources report the U.S. military’s Strait of Hormuz escort operation is set to launch within hours. President Trump previously unveiled “Project Freedom,” which aims to ensure safe passage for stranded vessels and restore order to Gulf shipping lanes. Still, the shipping industry is largely taking a cautious stance amid a lack of specific operational details. Multiple shipowners and ship management officials have pointed out gaps: no clear mine-sweeping support, anti-aircraft missile defense, or attack response protocols. Though the Joint Warship Information Center has confirmed an “Enhanced Security Zone” is established, specific escort procedures have not been released. Meanwhile, regional security risks are escalating. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an oil tanker was targeted by unidentified ordnance near Fujairah; earlier incidents involved bulk carriers being harassed by small boats in Iranian waters. Figures show 37 maritime security incidents have be