Phishing, a deceptive cyberattack method, is leading Microsoft to implement rigorous email filtering queries. Recently, a new URL detection rule in Exchange Online has falsely classified legitimate emails as phishing due to heightened sensitivity. This has caused significant communication delays for organizations. Microsoft acknowledges that “some users'” emails are mistakenly quarantined and is working on unblocking them. IT administrators are urged to prepare contingency plans as the resolution timeline remains unclear.
Microsoft is updating Secure Boot certificates to address emerging security vulnerabilities. PCs purchased in the last year will automatically benefit from these refreshed certificates, enhancing their defenses against threats. The update aims to prevent exploitation through malicious software that targets system boot processes. As cybersecurity expert Joe Smith noted, "Strengthening these certificates is vital for maintaining device integrity and user trust." This proactive step underlines Microsoft's commitment to robust security measures for its users.
Discord's recent partnership with k-ID for age verification has raised privacy concerns among users following a breach that saw 70,000 IDs exposed. Critics comment on k-ID’s unclear privacy policies, which suggest potential third-party access. While k-ID emphasizes that no personal data leaves users' devices, a spokesperson confirmed only age verification results are transmitted. Discord expects to lose users over this change, yet it plans to enhance user privacy through ongoing security audits and exploring new age verification methods.
YouTube told a Los Angeles jury it is an entertainment platform, not addictive social media, in a landmark US trial against tech giants. Alongside Meta, YouTube faces allegations that its design harmed a 20-year-old plaintiff who began using the platform at age six. The defense argued she was not addicted and said content quality—not engineered addiction—drives engagement. The case, viewed as a bellwether, could influence hundreds of similar lawsuits accusing social media firms of causing depression and other mental health harms in young users.
Bengaluru's Sarvam AI is disrupting the AI landscape with its advanced models, Sarvam Vision and Bulbul V3, which reportedly eclipse major players like Google Gemini and ChatGPT. Pratyush Kumar highlighted that the state-space-based vision model features 3 billion parameters and excels in digitization tasks for 22 Indian languages. Sarvam Vision achieved an impressive 93.28% accuracy on OmniDocBench v1.5, showcasing India's potential in sovereign AI development tailored to local needs.
Co-founders Tony Wu and Jimmy Ba have resigned from xAI, leaving the company with only six of its original 12 co-founders. The departures follow internal tensions over performance demands as Elon Musk seeks to enhance AI capabilities to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic. Musk's SpaceX plans to acquire xAI, aiming to establish a $1.25 trillion company and launch data centers in space later this year, intensifying industry rivalry.
China launches the world's first robot combat league (UKRL) with a significant prize purse of $1.44 million, aimed at enhancing public awareness of humanoid robots. The competition will include the advanced T800 humanoid, engineered for agility with aviation-grade aluminum and a robust multi-modal sensing system. Analyst Pan Helin emphasizes that this initiative is essential for overcoming technological challenges, while former SenseTime dean Tian Feng highlights its potential to inspire youth in robotics and advanced technologies.
OpenAI begins testing advertisements in the U.S. for its Free and $8/month Go subscription tiers, excluding paid plans like Plus and Business. CEO Sam Altman assures users that ads won’t influence AI responses or compromise privacy, stating, “Ads do not influence the answers ChatGPT gives you.” Critics worry about user experience, especially after a backlash last year. Users will have transparency and control over ads, which won’t appear for those under 18 or around sensitive topics.
Alphabet's annual SEC filing highlights risks from AI potentially threatening its $200 billion advertising business, which comprises nearly 80% of its revenue. As it raises debt to invest in AI infrastructure, the paradox emerges; Google must fund advancements that could ultimately disrupt its core business model. This unusual strategy reflects greater industry uncertainties as competitors like Microsoft and OpenAI advance in AI search capabilities, forcing Google into a precarious position.
Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi revealed that AI agents now create 80% of databases on the company’s platform, marking a significant shift in enterprise operations. This transformation extends across traditional sectors like healthcare and finance, not just tech. Following a $5 billion funding round, Databricks is poised for aggressive growth in AI infrastructure, as these agents handle complex production tasks previously done by data engineers, fundamentally reshaping data management dynamics in business.