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Group chats rule the world

28 Březen, 2025 - 20:56

How many group chats are you involved in? For me, it varies. Right now, there are only two — and both are of a more private nature.

Group chats are something that’s not really discussed much; they represent a newer technical form of communication that perhaps is better understood as a way of organizing oneself socially. As such, it has emerged sort of organically.

It has never been a “trend” to start group chats and there is really no major innovation behind it. Despite that, almost everyone now participates in various forms of group chats. It can be with family or friends, for parents in a school class, the football team, different groups or project teams at work, and so on. The simplicity of setting them up and the immediacy of communication has allowed group chat to impact our society at all levels.

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but it was, of course, brought to the fore by the news this week in the US of the “Signal Chat”, where Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, was accidentally invited to a Trump administration war chat. Goldberg suddenly found himself in a group chat with the US Secretary of Defense, the Vice President, the National Security Advisor, the head of the CIA and a number of others; the purpose of the group was to plan bombings of Houthi rebels in Yemen.

That a group chat, even on a secure service like Signal, was used for this purpose — and that a journalist happened to be invited to it — became a major scandal that has put some unusual pressure on the Trump administration.

But this is far from the first time a group chat has taken the form of a corridor of power. Remember the UK government’s Whatsapp groups during the COVID-19 pandemic? They came under intense scrutiny when the handling of the pandemic was later investigated. And in Sweden, there is the “Gingänget” in Alingsås, where top political parties vied for power in a secret group chat that was revealed by the Göteborgs-Posten newspaper, resulting in resignations.

Outside the world of politics, another example involved the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank two years ago. It turned out that the bank run was fueled by large group chats for startup entrepreneurs where panic started to spread and everyone suddenly withdrew their money at the same time.

Over the years, it has also been revealed several times that Swedish police officers have communicated in group chats on Whatsapp and just the other week Dagens Nyheter reported that there is apparently a group chat for Swedish billionaires used to share private flights with each other.

As I said, group chats are not a new phenomenon and similar ways of communicating digitally have been around since the internet went mainstream. For a while, mailing lists were popular and more tech-savvy people had chats on IRC. But since Slack, Teams, Whatsapp, Messenger and Signal made group chats more accessible, their use has become a real grassroots movement, organizing everything from everyday tasks to world politics.

Is this a problem? Yes, sometimes it is. The exercise of power without transparency is always problematic, and there’s a reason why democratic countries have laws requiring that important communications be documented and preserved. The latest “Signal Chat” is probably illegal for several reasons, at least on paper, and it would be in Sweden, too.

At the same time, it should be remembered that it is not the group chat technology itself that is the culprit here. Technology has just made it much easier to achieve what used to be done in other forums. In the same way that group chats between classmates have replaced phone chains, chatting with those in power is essentially a modern version of the old gentlemen’s clubs — now in your pocket. And technology or not, it is still possible for people in power to meet over lunch without any transparency.

However, group chat as a phenomenon remains interesting and I think that when future sociologists study how society and people’s social interaction and decision-making changed with digitalization, group chats will actually play a central role.

This column is taken from CS Weekly, a personalized newsletter with reading tips, link tips and analysis sent directly from the desk of Editor-in-Chief Marcus Jerräng. Would you like to receive the newsletter on Fridays? Sign up for a free subscription here.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Windows 11 Insider Previews: What’s in the latest build?

28 Březen, 2025 - 18:38

Windows 11 24H2 has been released, but behind the scenes, Microsoft is constantly working to improve the newest version of Windows. The company frequently rolls out public preview builds to members of its Windows Insider Program, allowing them to test out — and even help shape — upcoming features.

Skip to the builds

The Windows Insider program is divided into four channels:

The Canary Channel is where platform changes (such as major updates to the Windows kernel and new APIs) are previewed. These changes are not tied to a particular Windows release and may never ship at all. Little documentation is provided, and builds are likely to be very unstable. This channel is best for highly technical users.
The Dev Channel is where new features are introduced for initial testing, regardless of which Windows release they’ll eventually end up in. This channel is best for technical users and developers and builds in it may be unstable and buggy.
In the Beta Channel, you’ll get more polished features that will be deployed in the next major Windows release. This channel is best for early adopters, and Microsoft says your feedback in this channel will have the most impact.
The Release Preview Channel typically doesn’t see action until shortly before a new feature update is rolled out. It’s meant for final testing of an upcoming release and is best for those who want the most stable builds.

The Beta and Release Preview Channels also receive bug-fix builds for the currently shipping version of Windows 11. See “How to preview and deploy Windows 10 and 11 updates” for more details about the four channels and how to switch to a different channel.

Not everyone can participate in the Windows 11 Insider program, because the new operating system has more stringent system requirements than Windows 10. If your PC fails to meet the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 11, you cannot join the Windows 11 Insider Program. (See “How to check if your PC can run Windows 11.”)

Below you’ll find information about the Windows 11 preview builds that have been announced by Microsoft in the past six months. (For the Release Preview Channel, we cover builds released for the current version of Windows 11, not for earlier versions.) For each build, we’ve included the date of its release, which Insider channel it was released to, a summary of what’s in the build, and a link to Microsoft’s announcement about it.

Note: If you’re looking for information about updates being rolled out to all Windows 11 users, not previews for Windows Insiders, see “Windows 11: A guide to the updates.”

The latest Windows 11 Insider preview builds Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516

Release date: March 28, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

This build includes improved search tools for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs. When searching in File Explorer, the Windows search box on the taskbar, or in Settings, you can type plain-English searches without having to remember file names, exact words in file content, or settings names. In addition, those with AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs can find photos in the cloud by using plain-English searches.

Those who have turned on the toggle to receive changes as soon as they come out get a speech recap in Narrator which keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and access it for quick reference. They also get a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, they can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

They also receive a variety of bug fixes, including one in which File Explorer was very slow to close for some Insiders when closing it using the X button.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a bug fixed in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update didn’t render correctly and turned itself off.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653

Release date: March 28, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features being rolled out gradually, including a speech recap feature in Narrator that keeps track of what Narrator has spoken and lets you access it for quick reference. There are also a variety of changes and improvements, including one in which on Copilot+ PCs, users can now access Click to Do from the Start menu and can pin it to Start and the taskbar.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned a toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the taskbar icons weren’t increasing in size as they should when using your PC in a tablet posture.

Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as soon they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

There are 13 known issues in this build, including one in which after you do a PC reset under Settings > System > Recovery, your build version may incorrectly show as Build 26100 instead of Build 26120. This will not prevent you from getting future Beta Channel updates that will resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3653.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823

Release date: March 26, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows. It also includes new “top cards” under Settings > System > About. Top cards provide an easy way to view your PC’s key specifications—processor, RAM, storage, and GPU.

The build fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Settings could crash when interacting with Bluetooth & Devices > Cameras.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27823.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer was very slow to close via the X button.

Two bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which the toggle to get the latest updates as they are available via Settings > Windows Update did not render correctly and automatically turned itself off.

There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3585.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build the Dev Channel is jumping ahead to receive 26200 series builds. This means that once you install it, you cannot switch to the Beta Channel. If you are in the Dev Channel and want to switch to the Beta Channel, don’t install this build. Instead, pause updates in Windows Update, switch your channel to the Beta Channel and then un-pause updates.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624 (KB5053656)

Release date: March 24, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out several new features for Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, including natural-language search in Windows Search. Just describe what you’re looking for without having to remember specific file names, exact words in file content, or settings names.

In addition, the build includes the same set of improvements and bug fixes as a previous build, Build 26100.3613, such as Natural Language Commanding in voice access, available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3624.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818

Release date: March 19, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop sometimes froze when connecting.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27818.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613 (KB5053656)

Release date: March 18, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including Natural Language Commanding in voice access, which lets users speak commands naturally, using filler words and synonyms, rather than rigid, predefined commands. It is available initially on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.

Several bug fixes are also being rolled out gradually, including one in which the “see more” (…) menu in the File Explorer command bar opened in the wrong direction in some cases.

A variety of new bug fixes are being rolled out immediately, including one for a bug in which critical PowerShell modules required for device configuration were not executed under Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) policies.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3613.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576

Release date: March 17, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can use natural language commands during voice access, rather than having to remember specific voice commands.

The same group gets several bug fixes, including one addressing a bug for users in managed environments, in which your Windows Recall snapshots would get deleted after installing Build 26120.3380 and after each reboot on that build.

There are 16 known issues in this build, including one in which Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings, and another in which Recall is no longer able to save new snapshots or modify settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3576.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813

Release date: March 12, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update, in the words of Microsoft, “includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that improve the overall experience” of using Windows.

The build also fixes two bugs, one which the WDMAud system driver was causing some app crashes, and the other in which Settings > System > Display > Color Management did not always display the expected color profile list for the selected monitor.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27813.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380

Release date: March 10, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which File Explorer displays a new Recommended section that is displayed as a carousel with thumbnail previews. This includes content such as files you frequently use, have recently downloaded, or added to your File Explorer Gallery. Users with a work/school account (Entra ID) will have additional types of recommendations available with this update.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which windows.storage.dll led caused some apps to crash when files were opened in them.

There are 10 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3380.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808

Release date: March 7, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, a change is being rolled out in the way Task Manager calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. For backward compatibility, a new optional column called CPU Utility is available (hidden by default) on the Details tab showing the previous CPU value used on the Processes page.

The build also fixes a number of bugs, including one that caused the search window to go blank for some Insiders when searching from the taskbar, due to a background crash.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27808.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a new system tray icon on the taskbar, which lets you use emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji, etc. across all apps and surfaces in Windows in addition to using the Win + . keyboard shortcut. This new system tray icon can be changed by right-clicking on the icon to go to taskbar settings page.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a number of new bug fixes, including for a bug in which File Explorer Home crashed for some Insiders.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which File Explorer is very slow to close for some Insiders when closing using the X button. This may also affect the other title bar buttons.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.5015.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get two new features being gradually rolled out, including one in which Task Manager changes the way it calculates CPU utilization for the Processes, Performance, and Users pages. Task Manager will now use the standard metrics to display CPU workload consistently across all pages and aligning with industry standards and third-party tools. Also being added is the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug which some people experienced Remote Desktop freezes on login, or frequent disconnect.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in which Windows Recall is unable to automatically save snapshots, and the setting can’t be turned on in Settings.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3360.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802

Release date: February 28, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, new battery icons in Windows 11 communicate the battery status of your PC with a quick glance. Key changes include colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that was causing the login screen to crash when clicking the “sign-in options” link for some Insiders.

There are six known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27802.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291

Release date: February 21, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those with Copilot+ PCs can search photos saved in the cloud by using your own words to describe what you’re looking for in the Windows search box on the taskbar.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bugs fixed, including one in which switching languages crashed live captions if audio was playing or the microphone was enabled.

There are 11 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321 (KB5052093)

Release date: February 18, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can share files directly from a jump list on the taskbar, and another in which you can find out more information about a background image by hovering over the image or clicking the “Learn about this picture” icon.

A variety of bug fixes are also being gradually rolled out, including one in which when you enter a URL in the File Explorer address bar, it might not go to the location.

The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which Remote Desktop stopped working.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3321.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281

Release date: February 14, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates have the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS and Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click. In addition, when “Restore previous folder windows at logon” is enabled in File Explorer, you can now restore all the extra tabs that you previously had open in each File Explorer window.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which if you tried to reset your password from the login screen, it wouldn’t work due to an underlying crash. Another fix addresses a bug for users who have a Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PC, in which File Explorer search was unresponsive and required a reboot to start working.

There are 12 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots,” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3281.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788

Release date: February 5, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes the first in-box public preview of Windows MIDI Services, a complete rewrite of MIDI on Windows for musicians. Windows MIDI Services handles MIDI 2.0 and improves MIDI 1.0 implementation, with automatic translation between the two. It works on 64-bit operating systems on all supported processors, including Arm64.

The build also gradually rolls out the ability to resume working on OneDrive files from your phone (iOS or Android) on your Windows 11 PC with a single click.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one that prevented scanning apps from detecting a connected scanner.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27788.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870

Release date: February 3, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, IT administrators in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a new group policy called “Disable Widgets On Lock Screen,” which allows them to disable lock screen widgets without disabling widgets elsewhere on PCs they manage.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which the Start menu crashed for some Insiders when they interacted with the letters in the apps list.

Several bugs have been fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which PCs did not recognize that USB cameras were on after installing the January 2025 security update.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4870.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073

Release date: January 31, 2025

Released to: Dev and Beta Channels

In this build, those who have Copilot+ PCs get a new feature in Windows Search, in which you can use your own words to find photos stored and saved in the cloud by describing what they are, such as “European castles” or “summer picnics.” In addition to photos stored locally on your Copilot+ PC, photos from the cloud will now show up in the search results as well. Exact matches for your keywords within the text of your cloud files will show in the search results.

The build also includes changes being gradually rolled out for all Windows 11 PCs. Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see a Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator. The feature will show some existing cards relevant to enterprise-managed PCs like “Recommended settings” and “Bluetooth devices,” as well as two new enterprise-specific device info and accessibility preferences cards. For commercial customers who also use their Microsoft account on their managed PC, there will also be a new accounts card indicating the presence of both work/school and Microsoft account types.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which minimized File Explorer windows might not have rendered correctly when restored.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the display of some games appeared oversaturated when you used Auto HDR.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” message while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3073.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783

Release date: January 29, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

In this update, users signed into Windows with a Microsoft account will be able to view files that have been shared with the account, such as email, Teams chat, etc., in File Explorer. Commercial customers signed in with a Microsoft Entra ID account will also be able to view files that they have shared with others. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the ‘Shared’ tab item.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which taskbar preview windows sometimes didn’t display when hovering over open apps in the taskbar.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27783.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805

Release date: January 24, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a change to Snap in Windows 11 in which inline messaging will now appear when you accidentally invoke the Snap Bar when dragging an app to the top middle of your desktop or Snap Flyout when hovering over the Minimize or Maximize button of an app. This is designed to provide guidance on snapping app windows and educating users on the keyboard shortcuts for quickly snapping app windows in the future.

This group also gets new keyboard shortcuts in Narrator scan mode for quickly jumping to list items and to the beginning or end of large elements such as tables or lists. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4805.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000

Release date: January 24, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get new battery icons, including colored icons to indicate charging states, simplified overlays that don’t block the progress bar, and an option to turn on battery percentage. The same group also gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in File Explorer in which you sometimes would be unable to navigate by entering a path in the address bar. These changes are gradually rolling out.

There are 18 known issues in this build, including one in the Recall feature in which some users may see a message to “Make sure Recall is saving snapshots” while the Settings page for Recall shows saving snapshots is enabled. Reboot your device to resolve this issue.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3000.)

Windows 11 Build 26100.3025 (KB5050094)

Release date: January 21, 2025

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which an icon will appear in the system tray when you use an app that supports Windows Studio Effects. This only occurs on a device that has a neural processing unit (NPU). Select the icon to open the Studio Effects page in Quick Settings.

The update also improves the previews that show when your cursor hovers over apps on the taskbar. In addition, the Windows Mobile Hotspot now supports 6 GHz connections. This new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers.

A variety of bug fixes are also being rolled out, including for a bug in which the Snipping Tool screenshots were distorted when you used two or more monitors that have different display scaling.

The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you will now have a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.3025.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800

Release date: January 17, 2025

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a standard Windows 11 taskbar after restoring from a backup via the Windows Setup experience (OOBE) on a new Windows PC. You can still find your apps in the Start menu and Search, and you can pin apps to your taskbar. In addition, the build starts the rollout of the Settings home page for commercial customers on PCs managed by an IT administrator.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one bug fix, which includes increased support for text scaling in File Explorer, File Open/Save dialogs, and copy dialogs.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which the Home page of Settings may crash. If you are impacted by this, you should still be able to open specific Settings pages directly by searching for them from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4800.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774

Release date: January 16, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of tweaks that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of Windows 11. In addition, the Administrator protection can now be enabled from Windows Security settings under the Account Protection tab, which allows users to enable the feature without requiring help from IT admins.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which accent colored window borders were not displayed when enabled, shadows around windows were not displaying when enabled, and window launching (and other) animations were not showing.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which Insiders joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into the PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27774.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768

Release date: January 9, 2025

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of general changes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which File Explorer sometimes lost focus on the search box while typing.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27768.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660

Release date: January 3, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get labels added to previously unlabeled actions on File Explorer’s context menu such as cut, copy, paste, rename, share, and delete.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes for issues that impacted File Explorer’s performance and reliability.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4660.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766

Release date: January 3, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of Windows 11. It also fixes several bugs, including one in which some Insiders experienced frequent explorer.exe crashes after they clean-installed or reset their PC.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27766.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702

Release date: December 13, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new advanced camera options page. To see it, navigate to a camera under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Cameras and click the edit button for advanced camera options. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which when pointer trails were enabled, the mouse cursor became invisible with a black box behind it.

One bug is fixed for everyone in the Dev Channel, in which if you rolled back from Build 26120.2510 to an earlier build, you would see a “Your organization used App Control for Business to block this app” dialog when attempting to use or install certain third-party apps on your PC due to an incorrect policy being enforced.

There are seven known issues in this build, including one in which Click to Do sometimes doesn’t highlight any info on screen if there is no content on a connected external monitor in extended mode.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2702.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655

Release date: December 13, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will be able to see visual previews of links or web content they share using the Windows share window. Note that the new feature may not yet be available to everyone because it is being gradually rolled out.

The build also fixes one bug, in which window previews weren’t showing when hovering over certain open apps in the taskbar, for those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4655.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764

Release date: December 11, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, when right-clicking on apps pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will be shown for apps that have them, such as PowerPoint. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which File Explorer might hang when browsing a folder with lots of media in it, and another in which some HDDs were being incorrectly listed as SSD on the Task Manager Performance page.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27764.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580

Release date: December 6, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get several improvements to File Explorer, including one in which if you launch File Explorer folders from outside of File Explorer (for example, from an app or from the desktop), by default they now open in a new tab if you have an existing File Explorer window open. Note that these features are being gradually rolled out, so may not be immediately available.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a single bug fix, in which Pinyin IME users may unexpectedly switch the IME from Chinese to English when switching between windows.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets four bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows stopped responding when you used an Internet Printing Protocol (IPP) USB printer.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4580.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758

Release date: December 4, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces a new advanced camera options page in Settings that includes a multi-app camera setting and a basic camera setting, the latter intended as a last resort when your camera is not functioning correctly. The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that could have caused Settings to crash when you selected your default audio device.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27758.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415

Release date: November 22, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

This build, for those who have Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, introduces the first preview of the Recall feature that constantly takes screenshots of what you do while you work so you easily find files, web pages, and more. In addition to searching, you can use a timeline to scroll back to what you were doing on your PC at a specific day and time.

Click to Do is also included. It lets you take AI-powered actions on the screenshots taken by Recall, such as erasing objects from them, performing a visual Bing search on them, copying them, sharing them, and more.

In addition, those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features will soon get new Windows Hello features that have already been rolled out to the Beta and Cana ry Channels.

Those who have the toggle turned on to immediately get new features and other changes get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which explorer.exe sometimes crashed when interacting with app icons.

Click to Do has eight known issues, including one in which there a delay before snapshots first appear in the timeline.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2415.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

Release date: November 22, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can resume working on OneDrive files from a phone (iOS and Android) on a Windows 11 PC with a single click. Users will also be able to right-click and share local files under the Recommended section of the Start menu. Note that these changes will roll out gradually.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including one for a bug in which you sometimes could not navigate by entering a path in the address bar.

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754

Release date: November 20, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build revamps Windows Hello in several ways, primarily to make authentication easier. Among the changes is a redesign of using passkeys for more secure and faster authentication. Users can now switch between authentication options and select passkey/devices more intuitively. Beyond that, if you hold Shift and Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar, you will launch that item as admin.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one that caused RAW images taken in portrait mode to unexpectedly display in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27754.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510

Release date: November 15, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can share files directly from right-click jump lists on the taskbar in supported apps such as Notepad. Note that this feature will roll out gradually.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a fix for a single bug, in which you might have unexpectedly seen a message saying “You’re offline. Widgets are unavailable.”

Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4510.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448

Release date: November 14, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gets a wide variety of new features, including one in which when you right-click apps that you have pinned to the Start menu, jump lists will appear for apps that have jump lists. There is also a new section for touchscreen edge gestures. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Touch. There, you can choose if you would like to turn off the left or right screen edge touch gesture. These features are being gradually rolled out.

There are also a variety of bugs that have been fixed, including one in which the Task Manager’s Users page could have caused Task Manager to stop responding when you used the keyboard.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2448.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749

Release date: November 13, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build adds a new shortcut “Narrator key + Ctrl + X” to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. You can use this shortcut in conjunction with “Narrator key + X,” which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud, to review and copy what Narrator spoke.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which Task Manager showed a 0 count for apps and processes, and another in which a blank entry in Settings > Privacy would cause Settings to crash if you clicked it.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27749.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222

Release date: November 8, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can hold Shift + Ctrl when clicking on a jump list item in the Start menu or taskbar to launch that item as admin. This feature is being gradually rolled out.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for an issue in which windows unexpectedly moved around after waking from sleep if you had multiple monitors. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which Narrator crashes on launch if you use one of the natural voices, and another in which your desktop background may show big black areas with multiple monitors.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2222.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445

Release date: November 8, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, Insiders in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available have a New Folder option in the context menu when right-clicking locations in the navigation pane. Note that this change will be gradually rolled out.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also have a variety of bugs fixed, including one in which performing a search unexpectedly triggered the search happening repeatedly. Note that these fixes will be gradually rolled out.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4445.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744

Release date: November 6, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build includes a major feature update to Prism, Microsoft’s emulator for Windows on Arm, that will make it possible for more 64-bit x86 (x64) applications to run under emulation. This new support in Prism is already in limited use in the retail version of Windows 11 24H2, where it enables the ability to run Adobe Premiere Pro 25 on Arm. Starting with this build, the support is being opened to any x64 application under emulation. You may find that some games or creative apps that were blocked due to CPU requirements before will now be able to run using Prism.

Note that only x64 applications can use these new CPU features. If you have a 32-bit app or a 64-bit app that uses a 32-bit helper to detect CPU feature support, that app won’t detect the new features in Prism.

The build also fixes several bugs, including one in which certain apps did not detect a scanner, although one was connected.

There are three known issues in this build, including one in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you may lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometric sign-in your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27744.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213

Release date: November 4, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will have the IME toolbar hidden when apps are in full-screen mode for those who have the IME toolbar enabled and type in Chinese or Japanese. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a variety of bug fixes, including for one in which RAW images taken in portrait mode unexpectedly displayed in landscape mode thumbnails in File Explorer. Note that this is being gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug that caused Task Manager to show a 0 count for apps and processes.

There is one known issue in this build, in which the desktop background sometimes may not show correctly with multiple monitors (showing big black areas).

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2213.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440

Release date: November 1, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a revamped Windows Hello that adheres to contemporary Windows visual design standards. The update also has a small set of general improvements. Note that all these changes will be gradually rolled out.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get a single bug fix, for a bug that caused touch keyboard crashes and the IME candidate window not to appear for some Insiders.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4440.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435

Release date: October 25, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can launch an item on the Start menu or taskbar as an admin by holding Ctrl + Shift when clicking. Note that this feature will be gradually rolled out.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which the X button to close an app window from the taskbar wasn’t working for some Insiders. This fix will be gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key again, after that feature was turned off in Build 22635.4291. Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for one in which the PIN reset did not work when you selected the “I forgot my PIN’ link on the credentials screen in Windows Hello for Business.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4435.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200

Release date: October 25, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can access Windows Studio Effects in Quick Settings from the system tray of the taskbar. Windows Studio Effects delivers AI-based camera and audio enhancements on devices equipped with a neural processing unit (NPU). Note that this feature is being gradually rolled out.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bugs fixed, including one in which if you clicked or tapped on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may have broken. This fix is being gradually rolled out.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which you could not view some parts of the UI when you ran certain apps.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which there is an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu apps list.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2200.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371

Release date: October 18, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available can now use the new Narrator key + Ctrl + X shortcut to copy what Narrator last spoke to clipboard. It follows the pattern of using Narrator key + X, which repeats the last spoken phrase out loud.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several fixes for several bugs, including one in which Narrator would slow down after 15 minutes of continuous use with a single application.

An update for the Snipping Tool (version 11.2409.23.0 and newer) is also being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels. It introduces a new “Copy as table” feature.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4371.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130

Release date: October 18, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several new features, including one in which “All apps” is now just “All” on the Start menu.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including for a bug in which clipboard history did not display items you had copied.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2130.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729

Release date: October 17, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build adds the ability to configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements to keep customers safe.

The build also fixes a variety of bugs, including one in which the screen went black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

There are five known issues in this build, including one in which some Insiders with PCs that have older NVIDIA GPUs (like the GTX 970, Quadro K620, etc.) are experiencing some issues where their displays appear stuck at a black screen and unresponsive or seeing their GPUs showing errors in Device Manager and not working correctly.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27729.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367

Release date: October 11, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft claims improves the overall experience of running Windows. They also now have the ability to share directly to apps that support sharing in Windows when right-clicking on local files in File Explorer or the desktop.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get several bug fixes, including for one in which some Insiders saw an unexpected amount of spacing between items in the Start menu All Apps list.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4367.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122

Release date: October 11, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general fixes that Microsoft says improve the overall experience of running Windows. The Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates also get one bug fix, for a bug that caused the screen to go black for a few seconds for some people when using Alt + Tab.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bugs fixed, including one in which some Insiders saw error 0x800f0825 when trying to install the latest Dev Channel builds.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.2122.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152

Release date: October 10, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which you can stop the suggestions to turn off notifications from certain apps. Select the ellipses (…) in the notification and turn it off. You can also go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn it off from there.

The build also immediately rolls out a change in which you can configure the Copilot key on the keyboard. The build also immediately fixes a number of bugs, including one in which you could not sign in to your account from the web because the screen stopped responding.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.2152.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723

Release date: October 9, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces several minor changes and features, including one in which you can share local files directly from within the search results shown in the search box on the taskbar.

There are five known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which if you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel, or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC. You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27723.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930

Release date: October 4, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and one bug fix, for a bug in which the boot menu wasn’t displaying correctly for some Insiders with dual-boot devices.

Everyone in the Dev Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, increasing security and privacy.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, please try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1930.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300

Release date: October 4, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see “All” instead of “All apps” on the Start menu. In addition, Windows Search runs IFilters in the Less Privileged App Containers (LPACs). LPACs are like app containers, but they deny even more permissions by default. The intent is that a process running in a LPAC has access only to the resources needed by it. This helps to minimize the potential damage that can be caused by a compromised process by limiting its access to sensitive system components and data.

Two bugs are fixed for those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible, including one in which items in the navigation pane became very spread out for some people.

There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4300.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718

Release date: October 2, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build introduces a number of minor new changes and features. You can now drag apps from the Pinned section of the Start menu and pin them to the taskbar. For laptops on battery, a notification will pop up asking you to plug in your laptop if the battery level reaches 20% while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.”

Several bugs have been fixed, including one in which the emoji panel closed when you tried to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji, and another in which the Widgets icon sometimes unexpectedly displayed twice in the taskbar.

There are three known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which If you are joining the Canary Channel from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose Windows Hello pin and biometrics to sign into your PC; you’ll see error 0xd0000225 and an error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking “Set up my PIN.”

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27718.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912

Release date: September 30, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who’ve turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates get a small set of general improvements and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows. In addition, Windows Mobile Hotspot has been enhanced to support 6GHz connections. The new band requires chips that support the feature and updated drivers; not all chips that support 6GHz Wi-Fi in general will support the 6GHz mobile hotspot.

Those in the Dev Channel who agreed to receive the latest updates also get several bug fixes, including one in which Task Manager’s Settings page might have a white background when it should not.

There is one known issue in this build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1912.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291

Release date: September 30, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned on the toggle to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available get an updated Task Manager design in which the Disconnect and Logoff dialogs in Task Manager now support dark mode and text scaling. They also get several bug fixes, including one in which explorer.exe crashed sporadically when using ALT + Tab in recent builds.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including one in which Work Folders files failed to sync when Defender for Endpoint was on.

There are two known issues in the build, including one in which live captions will crash if you try to use them.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4291)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876

Release date: September 23, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

This build, for those using Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a number of new features, including one in which when your device’s battery power is running low, a pop-up window will appear that asks you to plug in your device. This occurs when the battery level reaches 20% and while Energy Saver is set to “Always On.

Several bug fixes are being immediately rolled out, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might have occurred when you closed that window.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1876.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247

Release date: September 23, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel

In this update for users on Windows 11 22H2 and 23H2, a variety of features are being rolled out slowly, including one in which the “Sign out” option is now on the account manager when you open the Start menu. To change to a different user, select the ellipses (…). A list of other users appears to make it easier to switch.

The update also fixes several bugs, including one in which Microsoft Edge sometimes stopped responding when you used IE mode.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4247 and 22631.4247.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225

Release date: September 20, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will get the ability to share content to an Android device from the context menu in File Explorer and on the desktop. To use this feature, the Phone Link app must be installed and configured on your PC.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get a fix for a bug in which the emoji panel didn’t work properly.

Everyone in the Beta Channel can now configure the Copilot key. You can choose to have the Copilot key launch an app that is MSIX packaged and signed, thus indicating the app meets security and privacy requirements.

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which some Insiders experienced a bug check when closing Notepad.

There is one known issue in the build, in which if you click or tap on a letter on the Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4225.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843

Release date: September 20, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature, in which File Explorer provides you with quick access to files that have been shared with you. If you are signed into Windows with your Microsoft account or Entra ID account, you will be able to view files that have been shared with your account, such as email, Teams chat, etc. You can access this feature by launching File Explorer Home and clicking on the Shared tab.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get several bug fixes, including one in which when pressing Windows key + E, a screen reader might unexpectedly say a pane had focus, or focus may not be set within File Explorer at all.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including one in which could result in the Widgets icon unexpectedly displaying in the taskbar twice sometimes.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1843.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145

Release date: August 30, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see several new features, including one in which the Sign out option is immediately visible in the new account manager on the Start menu. There’s also a list of signed in users under the three-dot icon so it’s faster to switch accounts. The mouse and touchscreen controls have more options, and hotspots now appear on the desktop when users right-click the Windows Spotlight icon. The changes are being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed when interacting with archive files. These fixes are being rolled out gradually

Everyone in the Beta Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

There is one known issue in the build: if you click or tap on a letter on Start menu’s All apps list, the All apps list may break. If you encounter this issue, try rebooting or restarting explorer.exe to fix it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4145.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695

Release date: August 30, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

In this build, Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS) has been improved with a new ability to recover encrypted passwords from Active Directory (AD) backup media even when there are zero AD domain controllers running.

A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Ctrl + F would sometimes not start a search in File Explore, and another in which the colors in the Performance section of Task Manager weren’t displayed correctly in dark mode.

There are two known issues in this build, including one for those using Copilot+ PCs, in which If you are joining the Canary Channel on a new Copilot+ PC from the Dev Channel, Release Preview Channel or retail, you will lose your Windows Hello PIN and biometrics to sign into your PC with error 0xd0000225 and error message “Something went wrong, and your PIN isn’t available.” You should be able to re-create your PIN by clicking Set up my PIN.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27695.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082

Release date: August 26, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as they are available will see the media controls at the lower bottom center of the Lock screen when media is being played. There is also now an option to turn off the suggestions to disable notifications from certain apps. These features are being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates as soon as possible get fixes for several bugs, including one in which explorer.exe crashed for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar. These fixes are being rolled out gradually.

Everyone in the beta channel gets one bug fix, in which the [NetJoinLegacyAccountReuse] registry key has been removed.

There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash when interacting with archive files.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4082.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 23H2 and 22H2)

Starting with this update, a variety of features will be rolled out slowly, including one that lets you share content to your Android device from the Windows Share window. To do this, you must pair your Android device to your Windows PC. Use the Link to Windows app on your Android device and Phone Link on your PC.

A number of bugs are being fixed, including one in which when a combo box has input focus, a memory leak might occur when you close that window.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Builds 22621.4108 and 22631.4108.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22610.1586

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Release Preview Channel (Windows 11 24H2)

This build, for those with Windows 11 version 24H2, gradually rolls out a new feature in which when you right-click a tab in File Explorer, you have the choice to duplicate it.

A wide variety of bug fixes are being gradually rolled out, including for a bug in which memory leak occurred when you interacted with archive folders and another in which File Explorer stopped responding when you browsed within it.

Three bug fixes have been immediately released to everyone, including one in which a deadlock occurred in the domain controller (DC) when it started up in the DNS client.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26100.1586.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will find that a feature introduced in Build 22635.3930 that showed a Studio Effects icon in the system tray when using any application with a Studio Effects-enabled camera has temporarily been disabled. It will be re-enabled in a future build.

Those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a variety of bug fixes, including for a bug in which Voice Access commands weren’t working for non-English supported languages.

A wide variety of bugs are fixed for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which Windows Backup sometimes failed in devices with an Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) system partition (ESP).

There are two known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one in which explorer.exe crashes when interacting with archive files.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4076.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542

Release date: August 19, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a new feature that adds first letter navigation support to the taskbar. When keyboard focus is set to the taskbar (WIN + T), you can press a letter, and it will jump to the open or pinned app whose name starts with that letter. The feature is being gradually rolled out so isn’t yet available to everyone.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for three bugs, including one in which the emoji panel closed when trying to switch to the kaomoji and symbols sections, or after selecting an emoji.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets a number of bug fixes, including for a bug in which adding languages or optional features might fail with error 0x800f081f.

There are two known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1542.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686

Release date: August 15, 2024

Released to: Canary Channel

This build includes the new Windows Sandbox Client Preview that is now updated via the Microsoft Store. It introduces runtime clipboard redirection, audio/video input control, and the ability to share folders with the host at runtime. You can access these via the new “…” icon at the upper right on the app. This preview also includes a very early version of command line support. (Commands may change over time.) You can use the wsb.exe –help command for more information.

The build also includes optimizations to improve battery life and a detach virtual hard disk (VHD/VHDx) button in Settings that makes it simpler to detach your VHD/VHDx as needed.

A number of bugs have been fixed, including one in which Dev Drive VHDs weren’t automatically remounting when the underlying volume was dismounted and brought back online, and one in the Windows Security app where if you browsed the networks under Firewall & Network protection, it showed a broken glyph (a rectangle) next to the network name rather than a network icon.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27686.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350

Release date: August 9, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates can more easily share content to an Android device from Windows share window. The feature requires you to pair your Android device to your Windows PC using the Link to Windows app on Android and Phone Link on your PC. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix that addresses an issue in which graphs on the Performance page in Task Manager did not show the correct colors when using dark mode again. The fix is being rolled out gradually.

Everyone in the Dev Channel gets several bug fixes, including for a bug in which Windows Sandbox failed to launch with error 0x80370106.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1350.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010

Release date: August 9, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, many of those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates will see the simplified system tray with shortened date/time change that began rolling out with Build 22635.3930. The feature is being rolled out gradually.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get fixes for two bugs, one in which the dropdown at the top of the GPU section of Performance wasn’t showing in dark mode when dark mode was enabled, and the other in which if you pressed the Shift key when you right-clicked on an app icon on the taskbar, it opened another instance of the app rather than opening the expected menu.

There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4010.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340

Release date: August 5, 2024

Released to: Dev Channel

In this build, those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get improvements for spelling and corrections in voice access, including the ability to dictate characters at a faster speed and have more editing flexibility with selection, deletion, and text navigation commands.

Those in the Dev Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a fix for a bug in which items under “Let desktop apps access your location” section in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location had visibly flickered although there were no changes displayed.

There are four known issues in this build, including one in which navigating between different pages in Task Manager may crash it.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.1340.)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005

Release date: August 2, 2024

Released to: Beta Channel

In this build, those in the Beta Channel who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get a small set of general tweaks and fixes that Microsoft says improves the overall experience of running Windows.

Those who have turned the toggle on to receive the latest updates get one fix for a bug that caused sporadic explorer.exe crashes for some Insiders.

There are three known issues for everyone in the Beta Channel, including one that causes explorer.exe to crash for some Insiders when closing apps from the taskbar.

(Get more info about Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4005.)

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

This may be the most private and secure cloud-based AI solution around

28 Březen, 2025 - 18:33

What if you could build a business-specific generative AI (genAI) solution that was hosted in the cloud? What if that cloud used the most energy-efficient systems in the world? And what if those services were also all running on the world’s most secure computing platform, the Mac?

Wonder no more, because MacStadium and webAI just made this real.

We’ve talked about both companies before. MacStadium is a force to be reckoned with and offered the first major deployment of hosted Apple-as-a-service cloud solutions; webAI, meanwhile, has created quite a stir with its offering, which runs quite happily on a MacBook Air – and runs even better when hosted in the cloud. The two companies together now offer a service that lets you install and use webAI models on MacStadium-hosted racks of Macs. This delivers quite a lot to business users: it means they can run their own, self-trained genAI models to support their own unique business goals on Macs in the cloud, making those models available across their company as a hosted solution.

This beats other hosted approaches, as the service remains business-unique, protected by Mac security, and boosted by the lower energy costs Macs require. In other words, the combined solution should help businesses maintain their own data privacy and security policies by being hosted on a highly secure set of platforms. This isn’t for every company, of course — many will want to create their own Mac-based clusters. But the service does mean that companies of any size can now reasonably deploy and manage a bank of Macs to support their business with AI.

Et tu, Apple?

To my mind it also hints at a highly plausible future for Apple’s own server-based solution, Private Cloud Compute. It’s a reasonable next step to imagine Apple’s protected solutions offering up AI-as-a-service to enterprise customers, all protected by a low-energy, high-security promise. Even if Apple never does commence competing in the hosted cloud infra space, you now have the alliance between MacStadium and webAI.

“This collaboration with webAI represents a significant milestone in the evolution of AI for the enterprise,” MacStadium CEO Ken Tacelli said in a statement. “By combining our macOS cloud expertise with webAI’s interconnected model approach, we’re creating a platform that will fundamentally change how organizations develop and deploy advanced AI systems on Apple silicon.”

There are some significant advantages to what’s on offer — for example, the system supports up to 20,000 concurrent API requests per minute. In addition, the way webAI has been architected means you get an up to 30% reduction in model size with minimal loss of accuracy. It also makes it possible for enterprise customers to host and operate the world’s largest AI models natively on Apple Silicon.

That’s really important when you consider just how much more energy efficient Macs are at this level and should help cut a big chunk out of the environmental running costs of AI. That’s a good thing, not just in terms of the dollar per kWh, but also in terms of the wider impact of energy consumption. The service also makes use of AI inferencing, which helps reduce model size without undermining accuracy.

More affordable than Nvidia?

Cost is a positive force in these deployments. webAI co-founder and CEO David Stout told server-focused site, The New Stack, that on a cost-per-token basis, these Mac clusters are more affordable to run than Nvidia GPUs. “It’s more private than any other solution,” he said.

Working with MacStadium, Stout claims that the system should be seen as one of “the most secure systems for private processing off-site. And it’s going to be an AI-native solution, not something that we retrofitted to fit AI into the story.”

What this means to most businesses, of course, is that they can deploy powerful, cloud-hosted AI models on the world’s most secure platform at an affordable cost, which should enable even smaller business to securely deploy, and provision hosted AI solutions in order to compete. And all with a Mac.

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Kategorie: Hacking & Security

OpenAI, Google AI data centers are under stress after new genAI model launches

28 Březen, 2025 - 17:20

New generative AI (genAI) models introduced this week by Google and OpenAI have put the companies’ data centers under stress — and both companies are trying to catch up to demand.

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman on Thursday tweeted that his company was temporarily restricting the use of GPUs after overwhelming demand for its image generation service on ChatGPT.

The move came one day after OpenAI introduced the 4o image-generation tool. “It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT. But our GPUs are melting,” Altman wrote in a post on X.

OpenAI primarily relies on Nvidia GPUs to power its ChatGPT service, and in the past has run into issues with its AI infrastructure being overwhelmed. Altman said OpenAI would introduce rate limits — which limits the use of AI creation on GPUs — until the system becomes more efficient.

Similarly, Google also is dealing with a surge in demand for its Gemini 2.5 AI model, which rolled out Tuesday.

“We are seeing a huge amount of demand for Gemini 2.5 Pro right now and are laser focused on getting higher rate limits into the hands of developers ASAP,” Logan Kilpatrick, product lead for Google’s AI Studio developer tools, said in a post on X.

Google has built its AI infrastructure on its homegrown TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) — custom-built chips tuned to run Gemini. The TPUs are different from GPUs, which can run a wide range of AI, graphics and scientific applications.

The problems with surging demand are a reminder for enterprises to secure stable computing capacity to prevent AI downtimes, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research. “The shift to images, video, agents…, it’s going to drive the demand for more AI compute resources for the foreseeable future,” he said.

OpenAI and Google are widely used by individuals and enterprises. Typically, it takes time for the hardware to catch up to efficiently operate new AI software, and unintended interruptions can affect productivity of companies, analysts said.

OpenAI has always had capacity issues when new models are launched, said Dylan Patel, founder of semiconductor consulting firm SemiAnalysis. “The demand for AI is insatiable,” Patel said.

OpenAI’s image creation tool is more compute intensive than text creation, and it also demands more computing power from GPUs, said Bob O’Donnell, principal analyst at Technalysis. “That’s just classic system overload,” he said.

Nvidia’s GPUs consume massive amounts of power and can throttle down performance if overloaded or overheated. GPUs also operate at lower temperatures, which affects performance.

CentML, which provides AI services on Nvidia GPUs, has experienced significant spikes in demand, particularly when supporting new models, said Gennady Pekhimenko, CEO of the Toronto-based company.

The company saw a spike in sign-ups within the first few days after it started serving DeepSeek, which was released earlier this year.

CentML has plans in place that guarantee uptimes, reserved instances, and guaranteed outputs, all of which are part of its service-level agreements.

There are many things OpenAI could do to catch up with demand, including reducing the size of the model or optimizing code, said Pekhimenko, who is also an associate professor for computer science at the University of Toronto.

For some commercial use cases, the large language models (LLMs) used by OpenAI and Google Gemini may be too heavy; smaller or open-source language models that require fewer computing resources and cost less might be enough, Pekhimenko said.

Enterprises can also buy genAI computing capacity from different companies, which provides protection against downtime from industry behemoths, Pekhimenko said.

CentML also provides options to get compute capacity from majr cloud vendors. But there’s no lack of computing capacity, unlike the previous years, when GPU shortages hobbled AI scaling, Pekhimenko said.

Altman’s evocative take on GPUs “burning” may have been a way to promote the new image-generation models. “Probably [OpenAI] also liked to generate a little bit more hype around it. So, they tried to frame it this way,” Pekhimenko said.

Major cloud providers are investing billions in new data centers to keep up with the growing demand. US President Donald J. Trump recently touted a private-sector investment of $500 billion to build out the AI infrastructure from companies including OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle.

But the release of the DeepSeek model from China proved AI could be done at a more reasonable cost with software optimizations. It undercut the notion that more hardware is always needed to scale AI.

Recent reports indicated that OpenAI may be looking to build its own data centers, as Microsoft pulls out of data center projects in the US and Europe. That indicates a potential oversupply of AI computing capacity.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Worldwide spending on genAI to surge by hundreds of billions of dollars

28 Březen, 2025 - 16:28

CIOs should prepare for a 76.4% rise in global generative AI (genAI) spending this year, driven by improved foundational models and growing demand, according to a Gartner research report released today.

Organizations are expected to spend $644 billion worldwide on genAI projects despite high failure rates among early projects, the lion’s share of which will be on services.

GenAI services are expected to grow 162% this year after jumping 177% last year. GenAI software, which grew 255% in 2024, will only grow by 93% this year. Perhaps the biggest shift, however, is in genAI devices, which are predicted to rise 99.5% this year after soaring 845% last year.

The percentage of spending on genAI in various markets is leveling off because the adoption rate has increased. But, the overall amount being spent is notable. For example, organizations and consumers are expected to spend nearly $400 billion this year on genAI devices (PCs, smartphones and IoT devices) and $180 billion on servers.

Even as spending rises, expectations for the technology are dropping due to high failure rates in early tests and dissatisfaction with results, according to John-David Lovelock, distinguished vice president analyst at Gartner

Still, model providers are investing billions to improve size, performance, and reliability; that paradox will continue through 2025 and 2026, Lovelock said.

Gartner Research

CIOs are expected to prioritize commercial genAI solutions over custom development, focusing on proven, off-the-shelf offerings for more reliable results and business value in 2025, Gartner said.

“Despite model improvements, CIOs will reduce proof-of-concept and self-development efforts, focusing instead on genAI features from existing software providers,” Lovelock said.

GenAI spending is poised for significant growth across all core markets and submarkets, including IT services, software, devices and servers. In fact, “GenAI will have a transformative impact across all aspects of IT spending markets,” suggesting a future where AI technologies become increasingly integral to business operations and consumer products.

Consumer AI device spending

GenAI spending this year will be driven largely by the integration of AI capabilities into hardware, such as servers, smartphones and PCs, with 80% of genAI spending going towards hardware, Gartner said.

“The market’s growth trajectory is heavily influenced by the increasing prevalence of AI-enabled devices, which are expected to comprise almost the entire consumer device market by 2028,” said Lovelock. “However, consumers are not chasing these features. As the manufacturers embed AI as a standard feature in consumer devices, consumers will be forced to purchase them.”

In fact, for organizations, AI PCs could solve key issues organizations face when using cloud and data center AI instances, including cost, security, and privacy concerns, according to a study released this month by IDC Research.

This year is expected to be the year of the AI PC, according to Forrester Research. It defines an AI PC as one that has an embedded AI processor and algorithms specifically designed to improve the experience of AI workloads across the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), and neural processing unit, or NPU. (NPUs allow the PCs to run AI algorithms at lightning-fast speeds by offloading specific functions.)

The percentage of AI PCs in use is expected to grow from just 5% in 2023 to 94% by 2028, IDC said. The research firm surveyed 670 IT decision-makers from large companies in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan to explore their views on AI PCs. The November survey found that 97% of respondents plan to deploy AI to more employees in the future.

“This reflects a broader trend toward democratizing AI capabilities, ensuring that teams across functions and levels can benefit from its transformative potential,” said Tom Mainelli, IDC’s group vice president for device and consumer research. “As AI tools become more accessible and tailored to specific job functions, they will further enhance productivity, collaboration, and innovation across industries.”

Gartner Research projects PC shipments will grow by 7.7% in 2025. The biggest driver will be due, not the arrival of not AI PCs, but to the need by many companies and users to refresh their hardware and move toward Windows 11. (Windows 10 hits its end-of-support date this October.)

“Our assumption is that [AI PCs] will not drive shipment growth, meaning that most end users won’t replace their PCs because they want to have the AI. They will happen to select [an AI PC] if they will replace their PCs for specific reasons — e.g., OS upgrade, aging PCs, or a new school or job, and most importantly, the price is right for them,” Gartner analyst Mika Kitagawa said in an earlier statement.

For example, Windows 11 has several genAI features built in, and Apple has been slowly rolling out “Apple Intelligence” features for its hardware.

Nvidia chips, particularly the company’s GPUs, are already widely used in PCs. They’re popular for gaming, graphic design, video editing, and machine learning applications. Its GeForce series is especially well-known among gamers, while the Quadro and Tesla series are often used in professional and scientific computing. Many PC builders and gamers choose Nvidia processors for their performance and advanced features such as ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics.

Nvidia isn’t the only manufacturer trying to get into the AI PC game. Samsung Electronics has started mass production of its most powerful SSD for AI PCs — the PM9E1. Intel earlier this year announced its line of “Ultra” chips, which are also aimed at genAI PC operations. And Lenovo just introduced its “Smarter AI” line of tools that include agents and AI assistants across a number of devices. Finally, AMD has touted new CPUs offering greater processing power tailored for AI operations.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Inside the war between genAI and the internet

28 Březen, 2025 - 11:00

Generative AI (genAI) companies are starting to do real damage to the internet.

One of the internet’s main purposes is to serve as a global network for free and open communication and information exchange between scientists, academics, and the public and to be an uncensorable place for the expression of free speech.

(One of the most dangerous threats to the internet is recent bipartisan support for repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which, if actually repealed, would seriously harm free speech online. That’s an issue you can read about on the EFF website.)

The purest expression of the internet’s purpose is the world of Open Access (OA) websites. These are sites that provide free and unrestricted access to scholarly information such as research articles, books, data, and educational resources. Open Access allows users to get content without technical barriers. It provides legal permissions for reading, downloading, copying, distributing, and reusing content with proper attribution. And it’s part of the broader Open Science movement.

But now, OA sites are under attack. AI bots, or AI crawlers, constantly scanning for data to add to training data sets for genAI chatbots and related services, are overwhelming OA websites and others, straining resources and leading to outages.

Of course, there are many different kinds of bots, which collectively generate more traffic on the internet than humans. DesignRush says that bots now account for 80% of all web visits.

Bot types include search engine bots, SEO and analytics bots, social media bots, malicious bots, and web scraping bots.

But AI crawlers are by far the fastest-growing kind of bot. According to DesignRush, the crawlers from one company — OpenAI’s GPT bots — now account for about 13% of all web traffic and make hundreds of millions of requests per month.

Their mission is to take data and essentially replace the original source. For example, instead of using Google to find scientific articles on a subject, the AI crawlers seek to take those articles and present a new “article” for the user cobbled together from many articles and many sites, incentivizing the user to ignore the source sites and get their information from the chatbots.

To oversimplify the problem, harvesting more data from OA sites makes chatbots faster and more convenient to use. However, the harvesting itself makes the OA sites slower and harder to use.

While much digital ink has been spilled decrying the taking of content, it’s also important to know that the chatbot companies are overwhelming many of the sites they’re copying content from, much like a daily DDOS attack.

Different kinds of bots affect different types of websites indifferent ways, but they can have a huge impact on OA sites.

Fighting back

Cloudflare is now deliberately poisoning large language model (LLM) training data, fighting back against the AI companies that are taking data from websites without permission. (The company offers content delivery networks, cybersecurity, DDoS mitigation, and web performance optimization.)

Here’s the problem Cloudflare is trying to solve: Companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity have been accused of harvesting data from websites, ignoring robots.txt files on the sites (originally designed to tell search engines which files were off-limits for indexing), and taking data anyway. In addition to these big names, all kinds of smaller, less legitimate companies are capturing data without permission from the rightful owners.

Cloudflare’s solution is a feature available to all customers called “AI Labyrinth.” The program redirects incoming bots to its own special-purpose websites, which are filled with huge quantities of factually accurate but irrelevant (irrelevant to the target website) AI-generated information.

In addition to wasting the time of the companies in control of the bots, AI Labyrinth is also a honeypot, enabling Cloudflare to add those companies to a blacklist.

The idea is somewhat similar to the “Nightshade” project from the University of Chicago; it was designed to protect artists’ work by poisoning image data. The project enabled digital image artists to download Nightshade for free and convert the pixels of their artwork in a way that made people see the same image but AI models to completely misread what the pictures looked like.

One way to stop AI crawlers is via good old-fashioned robots.txt files, but as noted, they can and often do ignore those. That’s prompted many to call for penalties such as infringement lawsuits, for doing so.

Another approach is to use a Web Application Firewall (WAF), which can block unwanted traffic, including AI crawlers, while allowing legitimate users to access a site. By configuring the WAF to recognize and block specific AI bot signatures, websites can theoretically protect their content. More advanced AI crawlers might evade detection by mimicking legitimate traffic or using rotating IP addresses. Protecting against this is time-consuming, forcing the frequent updating of rules and IP reputation lists — another burden for the source sites.

Rate limiting is also used to prevent excessive data retrieval by AI bots. This involves setting limits on the number of requests a single IP can make within a certain timeframe, which helps reduce server load and data misuse risks.

Advanced bot management solutions are becoming more popular, too. These tools use machine learning and behavioral analysis to identify and block unwanted AI bots, offering more comprehensive protection than traditional methods.

Lastly, advocacy and policy changes are being developed to make sure content creators have more control over how their work is used.

In the meantime, something needs to be done about the impact of AI crawlers on OA websites, which offer some of the best sources of information on the internet both to people and to LLM-based chatbots.

While the legality or acceptability of simply taking content is argued online, in the courts and in government, we can’t let those same companies essentially sabotage, attack, and crush the same sites they’re taking from while the debate rages on.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

6 advanced Gboard tricks for smarter Android typing

28 Březen, 2025 - 10:45

QWERTY, QWERTY, QWERTY. QWERTY.

Oh — hi there! Sorry for the slightly nonsensical greeting. I’ve been thinking a lot about keyboards this week, y’see, and how that trusty ol’ QWERTY surface has evolved in our lives.

Also, saying “QWERTY” over and over again is surprisingly fun to do. Go ahead and try it. I’ll wait.

Back? Cool. So, about that QWERTY contemplation: ‘Twas a time not so long ago that our QWERTY interactions on the mobile-tech front revolved almost entirely around actual physical keys. (Drooooooid, anyone?) Then, even when we started relying on on-screen QWERTY surfaces, we were hunting and pecking and doing an awful lot of correcting.

I remember when Google bought out a now-forgotten promising Android keyboard project called BlindType. BlindType’s entire premise was that it was smart enough to figure out what you were trying to type, even when your fingers didn’t hit all the right letters.

The concept seemed downright revolutionary at the time — which is funny now, of course, ’cause that feels like such a common and expected feature in the land o’ Android keyboards. But my goodness, have we come a long way.

These days, you can absolutely type like a clumsy caribou and still see your thoughts come out mostly the way you’d intended. You can seamlessly switch between tapping and swiping, too, and you can even speak what you want to write with surprisingly decent reliability (…most of the time).

But when it comes to Google’s Gboard keyboard, your options for intelligent text input don’t end there. In addition to its many useful shortcuts and shape-shifting form choices, Gboard has some out-of-sight options for advanced text interactions that’ll save you time and make your days significantly easier.

They aren’t things you’ll use all the time, in place of the now-standard sloppy-tappin’, wild-swipin’, and hopeful-speaking methods. Rather, they’re specific tools you’ll use alongside those other Android text input options — like smart supplements for the especially enlightened among us.

Check ’em out for yourself and see which of these Gboard goodies are either new to you or maybe just gems you’ve gotten out of the habit of using.

[Psst: Love shortcuts? My free Android Shortcut Supercourse will teach you tons of time-saving tricks for your phone. Get your first lesson this instant!]

Gboard Android trick #1: The on-demand scan

First up is a super-handy way to import text from the real world and then use it as a starting point for whatever it is you’re typing.

It’s all too easy to overlook or forget, but Gboard has a simple built-in trick for snagging text from a monitor, document, or anything else around you and then importing it directly into your current text field.

Just find the icon that looks like a document with arrows on its corners — either in Gboard’s top row or in the menu of options that comes up when you tap the four-square menu button in the keyboard’s upper-left corner. (And remember: You can always change what’s in that Gboard top row by touching and dragging any icons in that full menu area and placing ’em in whatever position you want.)

Tap that bad boy, point your phone at the text in question — and hey, how ’bout that?!

Scanned words, in a text field and ready — with precisely three taps in Google’s Gboard Android keyboard.

JR Raphael, IDG

You’ve got words from the real world right in front of you — ready to write around or edit as you see fit.

Gboard Android trick #2: Undo (whew!)

While we’re thinking about that bar at the top of your Google-scented Android keyboard, give your future self a gift that keeps giving by digging up the recently added Gboard Undo button.

The button does exactly what you’d expect: With a single swift tap, it empowers you to undo any keyboard-related action you’ve taken — be it an accidental backspace, an errant overwriting, or even just the unintentional typing of an unflattering sentence.

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JR Raphael, Foundry

All you’ve gotta do is uncover that Undo option — then shift it into a prominent position for easy ongoing access. Just open up that main Gboard menu once more, by tapping the four-square button in the keyboard’s upper-left corner, then look for the newly present Undo button within the screen that comes up.

Undo? We do! (Woohoo.)

JR Raphael, Foundry

Press and hold your finger onto that button, then drag it up into one of the primary spots in the keyboard’s upper row.

It’ll then always be there and ready, one tap away — whenever the need arises.

Gboard Android trick #3: Write right

Few mere mortals realize it, but in addition to tapping, swiping, and talking, you can also enter text into any field on Android with some good old-fashioned handwriting on your fancy phone screen.

It’s an interesting option to keep in mind for moments when you feel like your own scribbly scrawling might be more efficient than any other text input method.

This one takes a little more legwork to get going the first time, but once you do that, it’ll never be more than a quick tap away:

First, head into Gboard’s settings by tapping the four-square menu icon in the keyboard’s upper-left corner and then tapping the gear-shaped Settings option in the full Gboard menu.
Select “Languages” followed by the Add Keyboard button. Type “English (US)” (or whatever language you prefer), then make sure “Handwriting” is active and highlighted at the top of the screen.
Tap the Done button to apply the changes.

Now, make your way to any open text field to pull up Gboard, and you should be able to either press and hold the space bar or hit the newly present globe icon next to it to toggle between the standard keyboard setup and your snazzy new handwriting recognition system.

And once you’ve got that handwriting canvas open, all that’s left is to write, write, write away and watch Google’s virtual genie translate your illegible squiggles into regular text almost instantly.

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JR Raphael, IDG

As you can see above, it works even if your handwriting resembles the harried scrawls of a clumsy caribou. (No offense intended to my caribou comrades.)

Gboard Android trick #4: Quick clips

One of my all-time favorite Gboard tricks is the keyboard’s intelligent integration of the Android system clipboard — and some incredibly helpful tricks that come along with that.

Look for the clipboard-shaped icon either in the keyboard’s top row or within the main Gboard menu to get started. The first time you tap it, you might have to activate the system (via the toggle in the upper-right corner of its interface) and also grant Gboard permission to access your system clipboard. You may also need to mosey back into the Gboard settings to find the “Clipboard” section and enable all the options there to get every piece of the puzzle up and running.

Once you do, though, good golly, is this thing amazing. It’ll automatically show every snippet of text and any images you’ve copied recently, for one-tap inserting into whatever text field you’re working in — and it’ll show your recently captured screenshots for the same purpose, too.

Gboard’s clipboard integration makes it easy to find anything you’ve copied and insert it anywhere.

JR Raphael, IDG

Perhaps most useful of all, though, is the Gboard clipboard’s capability to store commonly used items and then make ’em readily available for you to insert anytime, anywhere. You could use that for email addresses, physical addresses, Unicode symbols, snippets of code, or even just phrases you find yourself typing out often in Very Important Work-Related Emails™.

Whatever the case may be, just copy the item in question once, then pull up the Gboard clipboard and press and hold your finger onto the thing you copied. Tap the “Pin” option that pops up, and poof: That text (or image) will be permanently stored in the bottom area of your Gboard clipboard for easy retrieval whenever you need it.

Pinned items in the Gboard clipboard are like your own on-demand scratchpad for easy inserting anywhere.

JR Raphael, IDG

As an extra bonus, Gboard also now syncs your pinned clipboard data and continues to make any pinned items available on any Android device where you sign in.

Gboard Android trick #5: Your personal editor

When you’re banging out a Very Important Business Email And/Or Document™ on your phone, it’s all too easy to mix up a word or inadvertently accept an errant autocorrect. We’ve all been there — and all had the same ducking reaction — right?

You may not always have a second set of human (or even caribou) eyes to look over your words whilst composing on the go, but Gboard’s recently added proofreading feature can at least give you some second layer of assurance before you hit that daunting Send button.

To find it, tap the four-square menu icon in Gboard’s upper-left corner and look for the Proofread button — with an “A” and a checkmark on it.

Tap that bad boy and tap it good, and in a split second, Gboard will analyze whatever text you’ve entered and offer up suggestions to improve it.

Need a quick confirmation that your text makes sense? Gboard’s proofreading feature’s got your back.

JR Raphael, IDG

Not bad, Gboard. Not bad. You is clearly the one who is gooder at typings today.

Gboard Android trick #6: The translation station

Last but not least in our text input improvement list is a serious time-saver and communication-booster, and that’s the Gboard Android app’s built-in translation engine.

Hit that four-square menu icon in your keyboard’s upper-left corner once more, find the Translate button, and tap it — then select whatever languages you want and type directly into the Gboard translate box.

Gboard will translate your text in real-time and insert the result, in whatever language you selected, directly into whatever text field you had selected.

Any language, anytime, with Gboard’s on-demand translation system.

JR Raphael, IDG

Pas mal, eh?

Keep all these advanced input tricks in mind, and you’ll be flyin’ around your phone’s keyboard like a total typing pro — with or without a caribou at your side.

Get six full days of advanced Android knowledge with my free Android Shortcut Supercourse. You’ll learn tons of time-saving tricks for your phone!

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Researchers claim their protocol can create truly random numbers on a current quantum computer

28 Březen, 2025 - 02:51

A team that included researchers at a US bank says it has created a protocol that can generate certified truly random numbers, opening the possibility that current generation quantum computers can be used for secure applications in finance, cryptography, cybersecurity, and privacy.

However, an industry analyst is cautious.

“The JPMorgan team’s findings are interesting, but won’t be applicable in the near term for most CSOs, unless they are responsible for high security environments,” said Sandy Carielli, a principal analyst at Forrester Research.

“Quantum random number generation has been around for a while,” she pointed out, “and some CSOs may already be using products in that area. The certification could be a nice extra for highly regulated environments.”

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

With the rise of genAI, it’s time to follow Apple’s Security Recommendations

27 Březen, 2025 - 22:21

Apple’s Safari browser has a really useful password management feature, which is now also available as a standalone app called Passwords. If you’ve ever taken a look at it, you may have seen a section called Security Recommendations where you’ll find a collection of all the accounts and passwords that might have been compromised.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to take those collections seriously, because generative AI (genAI) adoption means the scale and nature of the threats posed by purloined passwords and broken IDs is about to grow far greater. That’s because, armed with stolen emails and passwords, criminals will find it relatively easy to throw those credentials at the most popular online services.

If they know you, they know, you

They do this already, of course. If you have a known email address and password you still use that is now being sold on the dark web (for about $10 a collection), it’s a no brainer for attackers to try it out on a range of different services. Sometimes they may get lucky.

Augmented efficiency just means that using genAI, those same attackers can plough through more of these credentials even more swiftly, enabling them to trundle through huge collections of stolen accounts and passwords fast. Stolen credentials were the big attack vector last year, according to Verizon, and were used in around 80% of exploits.

There are around 15 billion compromised credentials available online.

The vast majority of these are useless, which means credential stuffing attacks might not generate much of a success rate. When they do succeed, most victim learn from the experience and secure everything pretty quickly, meaning a very small number of that 15 billion are truly vulnerable. All the same, from time to time they get lucky. And getting lucky now and then is what makes that part of the account login exploitation industry tick.

Money in the middle

These attacks generate millions of dollars of losses every year. With billions on the planet, there’s probably another fool coming in a minute or two, and you don’t want it to be you. That’s why you should spend a little time and audit Apple’s Security Recommendations regularly, as you don’t want a service you use that happens to have its hooks on your personal, payment, health, or other valuable data to be abused.

That’s true for everyone, but for enterprise users there’s a dual challenge. We all know that employees (including business owners) are and will always be the biggest security weakness in the system. The phishing industry has evolved to exploit this.

But that tendency is equally threatening when it comes to account IDs, and together poses a double-whammy threat once empowered by AI. How many company-related accounts have slipped and to what extent do these two vulnerabilities work together?

If someone at Iworkatthisbusiness.com foolishly used their work email and complex work password to secure their access to trivialbuthackedwebsite.com, how long might it be until someone figures that out and sees if they can use this data to crack your corporate systems?

Phisherman’s blues

These attacks don’t even need to be that smart; they can simply be used to analyze personal patterns to help craft super-effective phishing attacks against specific targets. Really sophisticated attackers could turn to a little agentic AI to gather any available social media data on entities they designate as ripe for attack, helping them create really effective phishing emails — Spear AI, as it may one day be recognized.

Artificial intelligence will help with all of this. It’s really good at identifying patterns in disparate data sets, and analyzing the data that’s already been exfiltrated into the world will be a relatively trivial task — it all just comes down to the questions the machines are asked to answer. They can even use identified patterns in passwords to predict likely password patterns based on user data for brute force attacks. I could go on.

Passwords are not the only fruit, of course.

If you are wise you’ll be using 2FA security and/or Passkeys on all your most important websites, and certainly to protect any with access to your financial details or payment information.

Along with different forms of biometric ID, the industry is shifting to adopt more resilient access control systems — though, of course, subverting those systems is just a new challenge in the cat-and-mouse security game. Only recently, we learned of a new AI attack designed to compromise Google Chrome’s Password Manager, and there will be more attacks of this kind. That’s even before you consider the significance of attacks made against enterprise AI in their own right.

Death to security complacency

The main takeaway is this: You should act on the warnings given to you by Apple’s Security Recommendations tool. You should avoid re-using passwords, no matter where it is. You should use a Password Manager and other forms of security, such as 2FA, and you should very much beware if you receive an email from a trusted source that contains a link to something that sounds like it was made for you; chances are, it was.

Most of all, I want you to check the credentials that have been leaked, change them, close accounts, and delete payment information from any service you don’t intend to use again. As a person or enterprise, you certainly need to build a response plan for what to do if an account is compromised, or suspected to be compromised; security training even for your most experienced employees is almost certainly going to be of value. Most of all, never, ever use one of these passwords.

Alternatively, ignore Safari’s friendly warning and leave yourself open to having your genuine account credentials being sold online for up to $45 a time.

Why not take the time to secure your accounts? The tools are right there in your browser. What are you waiting for?

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky, LinkedIn, and Mastodon.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

As big tech circles, UK government struggles to reap promised AI benefits

27 Březen, 2025 - 21:27

The UK government’s grand plan for AI in the public sector is struggling in the face of growing technological challenges, a report by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a bipartisan group of elected members of parliament, has found.

Many of these problems will be familiar to anyone who has tried to make AI work inside an organization: the dead hand of obsolete systems, poor quality data, and a chronic lack of skilled people to implement the technology.

But beyond these issues lies another problem that could prove just as difficult: the monopolistic power of tech vendors that control the AI technology the government so badly desires.

Coming only weeks after the Government Digital Service (GDS) was created to drive AI, the committee’s initial assessment in the AI in Government report is a sobering reality check.

For the birds

The committee’s report identifies several areas of concern, starting with poor-quality data “locked away in out-of-date legacy IT systems.” Of the 72 systems previously identified as being legacy barriers, 21 hadn’t even yet received remediation funding to overcome these problems, it found.

It also noted a lack of transparency in government data use in AI, which risked creating public mistrust and a future withdrawal by citizens of their consent for its use. Other problems included the perennial shortage of AI and digital skills, an issue mentioned by 70% of government bodies responding to a 2024 National Audit Office (NAO) survey.

Additionally, government departments were running AI test pilots in a siloed way, making it difficult to learn wider lessons, said the committee.

“The government has said it wants to mainline AI into the veins of the nation, but our report raises questions over whether the public sector is ready for such a procedure,” said committee chair, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

“Unfortunately, those familiar with our committee’s past scrutiny of the government’s frankly sclerotic digital architecture will know that any promises of sudden transformation are for the birds,” he added.

AI oligopoly

There’s a lot at stake here. AI is often talked up by the ministers as the key to overhauling the state, getting it to work more efficiently and cheaply. It’s a story that has become hugely important in many countries. If progress slows, that promise will be questioned.

In its report, the committee drew attention to the market power of a small band of AI companies. The tech industry has a tendency towards monopolies over time, it said, but with AI it was starting from this position, which might lead to technological lock-in and higher costs, hindering development in the long term.

According to the Open Cloud Coalition (OCC), a recently formed lobby group of smaller cloud providers backed by Google, the UK government’s struggles with AI mirror what happened with cloud deployment from the 2010s onwards, which included the lack of competition.

“This report shows that the dominance of a few large technology suppliers in the public procurement of AI risks stifling competition and innovation, while also hampering growth, exactly the same problems we’ve seen with cloud contracts,” commented Nicky Stewart, senior advisor to the OCC.

Cloud and AI are symbiotic, she noted, and the domination of one or both by a small group of mostly US tech companies risks building monopolies it might be difficult to escape from.

“Without reform, the government will remain over-reliant on a handful of major providers, limiting flexibility and access to innovative, leading edge technology, whilst locking taxpayers into expensive, restrictive agreements,” she said.

Sylvester Kaczmarek, CTO at OrbiSky Systems, a UK company specializing in integrating AI into aerospace applications, agreed that supplier dominance could stifle innovation, but remained just as skeptical of AI’s projected cost savings. Implementation was always where technologies proved themselves, he pointed out.

“Are savings over-sold? Most likely, in the short run,” said Kaczmarek. “There is a lot of groundwork to be laid before large-scale, reliable AI deployment can safely deliver meaningful savings. [governments need to] prioritize realistic roadmaps and more comprehensive value.”

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

US, other G7 nations, fall behind in global tech race, study finds

27 Březen, 2025 - 19:06

The “Group of 7” (G7) nations are falling behind in key tech economic indicators such as high-tech exports, the number of software developers, and AI-related patent filings, endangering their future competitiveness, according to new study by London-based workforce consultancy SThree and the Center for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).

In fact, not one G7 nation made it into the top 10 — a “clear warning sign” for the future, the study warned. (The G7 consists of the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union as a non-enumerated member.)

“Once the global epicenter for innovation, these countries are now facing stiff competition from emerging tech hubs,” said SThree CEO Timo Lehne. “The challenge is no longer simply about maintaining their position; it’s about ensuring they lead the charge in fostering innovation and nurturing the businesses that will drive the future of global technology.”

Without focusing on innovation and future industries, tech leadership by the G7 is no longer guaranteed, Lehne said.

Tech advances are reshaping the global economy, with industries such as AI, automation, and clean energy relying on a STEM-skilled workforce. As a result, countries investing in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and training will drive growth; those that don’t may fall behind, according to the report.

The G7 has already seen the effects of reduced competitiveness this year, with the US’s “Magnificent Seven” (Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, Alphabet, Meta, and Tesla) losing $1.5 trillion in market value since the start of 2025. The companies saw similar losses in just a few days last year as well.

According to SThree, the US has slipped several spots and is now behind the UK and Canada in tech competitiveness, while Singapore, Ireland, and Australia all secured top-10 spots based on STEM skills and training.

Asian countries occupied the top spots in the “Foundational Education Pillar,” with Singapore on top, followed by Japan and South Korea. Estonia was the top-scoring European nation at No. 4.

SThree and the Centre for Economics and Business Research

Singapore’s success can be attributed to its focus on services, R&D, and innovation, according to industry observers. The nation’s government has an Economic Development Board (EDB), which works to attract and grow industries, and it has shifted its focus from low-cost manufacturing to high-value sectors such as aerospace and semiconductors. It has also become a hub for digital technologies, with many companies relocating their headquarters from Hong Kong due to China’s influence over that territory, which it reclaimed in 1997.

Education and research institutes in Singapore focus on developing a skilled workforce in tech fields like AI, while companies benefit from funded research partnerships. Singapore has also nurtured a number of tech unicorns including Lazada, Grab, and Ninja Van, promotes fintech through annual events, and has easy work visa access.

The study didn’t include some large economies such as China, India or any African nation because of “a lack of data availability within those countries.” Yet, researchers noted that not including China “is arguably the biggest omission in this year’s index. From what we know, China’s STEM ecosystem is developing very quickly. It boasts 63 of the top 500 research institutions, it is increasingly seen as a research superpower that is competing with the likes of the United States and Europe, and is investing heavily in R&D3.”

Switzerland and Sweden got top marks for STEM skills, while Denmark passed Sweden for second place for Life Sciences, according to the study. Finland and the Republic of Korea saw improved scores on engineering skills, coming in first and second, respectively.

Although the UK and US refused to sign last month’s European Union AI agreement regulating the technology, each ranks 11th and 16th, respectively, for AI patents, with Korea, Japan, and Singapore at the top.

“The lack of competitiveness in the G7 was felt when US tech giants lost $1.13 trillion in market value, affecting companies like Germany’s Infineon and Japan’s SoftBank,” the study said, pointing to losses in 2024. “In overall tech rankings, Singapore, Ireland, and Australia lead in fostering tech innovation, surpassing all G7 nations.”

The importance of investing in STEM

Singapore has skyrocketed in tech innovation and exports for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is because STEM skills can boost critical thinking and problem-solving across any role.

Cebr and SThree used 26 indicators in areas like education, workforce integration, industry opportunities, and innovation to develop their index ranking 35 countries based on STEM skills. Success depends on collaboration between governments, businesses, and education to build a skilled STEM workforce.

A growing number of organizations are dropping traditional college degree requirements in favor of skills gained through alternative methods. Large companies, including Boeing, Walmart, and IBM, have signed on to varying skills-based employment projects, such as the Rework America Alliance, the Business Roundtable’s Multiple Pathways program, and the campaign to Tear the Paper Ceiling, pledging to implement skills-based practices, according to McKinsey & Co.

“So far, they’ve removed degree requirements from certain job postings and have worked with other organizations to help workers progress from lower- to higher-wage jobs,” McKinsey said in a November report.

Skills-based hiring helps companies find and attract a broader pool of candidates better suited to fill positions long term, and it opens up opportunities to non-traditional candidates, including women and minorities, according to McKinsey.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Qualcomm launches global antitrust offensive against Arm, accusing it of stifling competition

27 Březen, 2025 - 14:37

Qualcomm has launched a global antitrust offensive against Arm Holdings, accusing its longtime partner of anti-competitive practices in regulatory complaints filed across three continents. This escalating legal battle marks a significant shift in the relationship between two of the most influential players in the semiconductor industry.

The unprecedented legal offensive spans three continents, with Qualcomm filing complaints with the European Commission, US Federal Trade Commission, and Korea Fair Trade Commission, reported Bloomberg.

The dispute threatens to upend the global technology supply chain, potentially impacting billions of devices — from smartphones and laptops to AI-driven systems and data center infrastructure. At stake is the future of semiconductor intellectual property licensing, with potential ripple effects including increased costs for manufacturers and consumers, as well as heightened uncertainty across an industry that relies heavily on Arm’s processor designs.

A shifting semiconductor landscape

The dispute centers on Arm’s shift from an open licensing model — under which chipmakers like Qualcomm could develop custom processors based on Arm’s designs — to a more restrictive approach favoring its own chip products. Qualcomm argues that this move threatens competition in the semiconductor industry, which has relied on Arm’s technology for over two decades.

The chipmaker argues that Arm is undermining the competitive ecosystem it previously cultivated by pursuing its own chipmaking ambitions.

Arm has received the EU complaint and preparing to respond, the report added.

The report also said that Qualcomm met with US Federal Trade Commission officials in Washington earlier this year to discuss its concerns. The company has accused Arm of withholding critical technology that should be provided under existing license agreements.

Additionally, Qualcomm has raised similar concerns with South Korea’s antitrust regulator, the report added citing people familiar with the development.

The dispute emerges against the backdrop of Arm’s recent strategic pivot, including its controversial decision to design and sell server chips directly to Meta — a move that has already disrupted traditional industry dynamics.

As Arm continues to push forward with its strategic vision — including its direct chip design efforts — the stakes have never been higher in this high-stakes technological chess match.

“Arm remains focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations. Any allegation of anti-competitive conduct is nothing more than a desperate attempt by Qualcomm to detract from the merits and expand the parties’ ongoing commercial dispute for its own competitive benefit. Arm is confident that it will ultimately prevail in this dispute,” an Arm spokesperson said.

Qualcomm did not comment on the development.

Market dynamics and technological shifts

At the heart of the conflict lies Arm’s instruction set architecture — the fundamental code enabling software communication with processors. Qualcomm’s challenge extends beyond immediate commercial interests, potentially questioning the very mechanisms of technological licensing and intellectual property management in the semiconductor sector.

The complaints come as regulators worldwide scrutinize the evolving dynamics of the semiconductor market. Arm, which is majority-owned by Japan’s SoftBank, licenses its processor architecture to a vast ecosystem of chipmakers, including Apple and MediaTek.

However, under CEO Rene Haas, the company has moved toward offering more complete chip designs, competing directly with some of its own customers. That move signaled a dramatic shift from Arm’s traditional role as a neutral technology licensing company to a direct competitor in the semiconductor market.

This strategic repositioning has fundamentally altered the company’s relationship with long-standing partners like Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Apple.

However, both companies are maneuvering to capitalize on the expanding computing market, particularly in AI and high-performance computing. The smartphone chip market — previously a primary revenue source — has become increasingly saturated, pushing companies to seek new growth opportunities.

Arm’s response to the allegations has been robust and devoid of any wrongdoing. The company stated it remains “focused on enhancing innovation, promoting competition, and respecting contractual rights and obligations,” characterizing Qualcomm’s complaints as “a desperate attempt to detract from the merits” of their ongoing commercial dispute, the report added.

Potential industry ramifications

The ongoing legal and regulatory battles between Qualcomm and Arm highlight broader tensions in the semiconductor industry, particularly as companies position themselves to capitalize on growing demand for computing chips beyond smartphones. AI, data centers, and enterprise computing are emerging as key battlegrounds, with chipmakers vying for market dominance.

Both companies have a history of regulatory challenges. Qualcomm, which previously faced scrutiny over its own licensing practices, has largely prevailed in antitrust cases, including a high-profile appeal against the FTC. Meanwhile, Arm is under pressure to sustain growth following its failed acquisition by Nvidia in 2022 and its subsequent public listing.

With court-ordered mediation talks scheduled and multiple regulatory investigations underway, the technology industry will be watching closely. The outcome could significantly reshape the semiconductor landscape, influencing how chip design companies interact with their customers and compete in an increasingly complex market.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

DOGE staffer allegedly ran company providing services to hacking group

26 Březen, 2025 - 18:54

US Department of Government Efficiency tech advisor Edward Coristine previously ran a small infrastructure provider that offered services to a cybercriminal group, it has been alleged.

While in high school in 2022 the then-16-year-old DOGE senior advisor ran a company called DiamondCDN that supported a website used by a cybercriminal group named ‘EGodly’, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The connection between DiamondCDN and EGodly was established through digital records preserved by threat intelligence company DomainTools and online cybersecurity tool Any.Run, the Reuters report said.

It’s not clear that Coristine was aware of EGodly’s activity but in early 2023 the group thanked the company on Telegram for helping to keep its dataleak.fun website up and running:

“We extend our gratitude to our valued partners DiamondCDN for generously providing us with their amazing DDoS protection and caching systems, which allow us to securely host and safeguard our website,” read the message.

Records seen by Reuters show this support ran from October 2022 to June 2023 and that users attempting to reach the dataleak.fun site would first have to pass a DiamondCDN anti-bot ‘security check.’

Breaking into law enforcement accounts

Crimes EGodly boasted it had carried out include cryptocurrency theft, phone number hijacking, and breaking into law enforcement email accounts, Reuters said. The group also circulated personal details of an FBI agent it believed was investigating it, and engaged in swatting, the practice of calling armed police to a target’s house on false pretenses as a form of intimidation.

This is not the first time Coristine’s past has been questioned. In February Bloomberg reported that he was fired in 2022 by cybersecurity company Path Network for allegedly “leaking proprietary information.” Separately, it has been reported that Coristine was associated with a Telegram/Discord cybercriminal social network called ‘The Com.’

However, for now, the allegations against him are just that — allegations. He has not commented on any of them.

None of this would hold wider significance if Coristine, now 19 years old, wasn’t one of DOGE’s super-nerds. His celebrity has also been bolstered by DOGE booster Elon Musk himself, who in February tweeted on X that “Big Balls is awesome,” a reference to his vulgar nickname in high school.

Meanwhile, Coristine has access as part of his job to some of the most confidential servers in the US government, including ones that normally require a high level of security clearance.

It’s a reminder that every job candidate should be carefully vetted, said cybersecurity expert Graham Cluley.

“When you hire someone for a job, you’re wise to take a look at what they’ve done in the past. It gives you an idea of both their achievements, as well as, potentially, anything they might have got up to which would help shine light on their judgement, their ethics, and how they might perform in the role,” Cluley said by email.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Google: Gemini 2.5 is the company’s ‘most intelligent AI model yet’

26 Březen, 2025 - 18:20

Google is beating the drum for Gemini 2.5, a new AI model that reportedly offers better performance than similar reasoning models from competitors such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Deepseek. Google calls it its “most intelligent AI model yet.”

According to a post on The Keyword blog, Gemini 2.5 can, among other things, analyze information, draw logical conclusions, take context into account, and make informed decisions. It can also interpret text, audio, images, video and code, which means it can be used to create apps and games, for example.

In the video below, a game is being created from a simple text prompt.

Gemini 2.5 can be tested using the Google AI Studio. The AI model is also available through the Gemini Advanced subscription service.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Signalgate: There’s an IT lesson here

26 Březen, 2025 - 17:34

You know how IT admins are always warning employees about best practices for security? They’re always mandating which apps to use, which to avoid and which devices can safely connect to corporate networks.

You know why they do that? To keep idiot workers from going rogue and endangering corporate data and secrets.

Case in point: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who’s under fire this week for — and it’s almost too stupid to be true, but it is — setting up a high-level chat using Signal for top National Security officials to discuss a military attack. And then somehow, some way, a journalist — Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the liberal publication The Atlantic — was invited to join the secretaries of State and Treasury, the director of the CIA, and the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, for the discussion.

Now, I like serious spy shows. Give me Gary Oldman as George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy to keep me on the edge of my seat. But I can’t watch those now, because the real world has gotten so stupid I can no longer suspend my disbelief.

I still have trouble believing what Hegseth and company did. So does Goldberg: “I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal, [the popular, secure messaging service] about imminent war plans. I also could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, up to and including the vice president.”

Believe it. Goldberg was added to the Houthi PC small group. The virtual group’s purpose was to talk about planning a military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg wasn’t asked if he wanted to be involved; he was just added. If there was a group administrator, he or she paid no attention whatsoever to what they were doing.

At first, Goldberg thought this might be some kind of elaborate joke. Who would add him, of all people, to such a group? Then the bombs, as discussed in the group, started falling on rebels in Yemen.

Goldberg asked, essentially, what in the world these officials thought they were doing.

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the National Security Council, replied: “This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.”

He went on: “The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.”

Oh, really?

What if, say, a spy were in the group instead of an editor and told the Houthi to aim what anti-air missiles they had in X direction at Y time? Or maybe move some school kids or hospital patients into the targeted areas so they could claim that the real terrorists were the Americans for killing helpless civilians.

For that matter, we know from Goldberg that some things were let slip in the conversation that could have compromised American intelligence agents (read, spies) in the Middle East. Do you know what happens to spies in the Middle East? They get a date with a 7.62mm bullet, if they’re lucky.

As Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), a Marine veteran, tweeted: “Hegseth is in so far over his head that he is a danger to this country and our men and women in uniform. Incompetence so severe that it could have gotten Americans killed.”

President Donald J. Trump said he knew nothing about what happened and downplayed it. Of course, The Atlantic then published more details of the chat, undermining Trump and what national security officials told Congress just yesterday. Oops.

Sure, Signal is a relatively secure, open-source encrypted messaging service, but it’s not approved for government use. It encrypts messages from end to end. That means only you and the people you’re sending messages to see decrypted messages. That is, of course, when it works perfectly.

But, you see, there’s this little problem. It doesn’t always work perfectly. Indeed, the National Security Agency (NSA) alerted its employees in February that Signal has vulnerabilities. The NSA also warned its employees not to send “anything compromising over any social media or Internet-based tool or application” and to not “establish connections with people you do not know.”

Someone should tell the people who are, theoretically, in charge of defending the United States about this.

On top of that, Google researchers have found that Russians have recently been attempting to compromise Signal accounts. I wonder who they might be targeting?

I use Signal myself. But, in no way, shape, or form should it ever be used for covert government work.

There is so much wrong with this, it’s impossible to overestimate how bad the whole incident looks. By sheer dumb luck, no Americans were hurt by this exercise in total operations security incompetence. We can’t count on always being so lucky.

But I bet we can count on certain government officials to ignore the experts on security and do whatever they want.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

The Apple rumor machine cranks into gear for iOS 19

26 Březen, 2025 - 17:10

WWDC event marketing intensifies, and as we head toward that event in a little over two months, it looks as if we’re being told to expect a new paint job (aka user interface change)s for iOS.

But will those tweaks really be enough to move the needle on flatlining iPhone sales?

Is Apple concerned in case these changes don’t impress? Is there any reason the big names in Apple rumor all jumped into this freshwater pool of speculation at more or less the same time, like synchronized swimmers?

Somewhere in the Apple Universe there must now be a place where all rumors go to die. There must also be at least one place where they all get created in the first place.

Across the universe

If you’ve been watching Apple over the last few years, you will have seen that the vast majority of its news announcements all seem to get leaked in advance, with a tiny minority of tales that never get officially teased but could still happen. I’ve not added it up, but I now think that the number of times any given Apple speculations are shown to be false can probably be measured on one hand. Even the rumors that don’t happen in one time frame turn true later.

The connection between speculation and fact seems so strong it’s hard not to think Apple is planting at least some of these rumors to seed speculation. Well, it’s that, or at some high-level point within Apple there is a civil war going on and rumor has become a weapon to undermine company leadership. Apple is made up of some of the most talented and competitive people on the planet.

Perhaps controlling click bait is just another string to the company bow?

It is also quite amusing that Apple has managed to carve out a global reputation for secrecy at the same time as leaking just about every step it takes. Can both things be true?

Words like rain

Speculation is such fun; however, this is what we’re currently being told to expect in iOS 19 – and, no, it’s not about AI.

Changes across the interface might include:

A more rounded aesthetic (no, I don’t know what that really means, either).
Glassy reflective surfaces.
An interface similar to visionOS for apps, buttons, and more.
A new interface for the Camera app — again, more in tune with visionOS.
A sense of what it looks like in existing tools, including the new Apple Sports and Invites apps.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously promised iOS 19 will be the “most significant upgrade” in years, and now says the latest crop of speculation misses key details and Apple has even more planned.

I certainly hope so. I imagine one surprise might be the addition of more Accessibility options, potentially including gesture and movement-based controls bought over to iOS from visionOS. We know these work on Apple’s headsets; can some also logically work on iPhones? Accessibility isn’t just about doing the right thing at Apple; again and again, the tools Apple provides there end up feeding into its products, too.

Change my world

It is also interesting how much of the work Apple did on visionOS is now feeding outwards across the company — Apple Intelligence is, after all, now run by the former leaders of Vision Pro development, and if the ideas they had around user interfaces are now to be deployed across the rest of the company’s products then this reflects the importance of spatial computing to Apple’s future.

However, if all Apple is promising does turn out to be some slight user interface changes, then 2025 may yet go down as a slightly fallow year. That’s going to hurt Apple financially, though it’s big enough to take a little headwind; it may still benefit it in the long term with more time to bring Apple Intelligence up to speed. A few months in calmer waters could also give Apple’s teams a little breathing space as they prepare the biggest iPhone redesign yet.

But no doubt we’ll know all about all of these announcements well before they are officially announced, thanks to the Apple speculation machine.

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Kategorie: Hacking & Security

No application can eliminate human error: Signal’s head defends the app

26 Březen, 2025 - 15:48

When the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeff Goldberg, was accidentally added to a Signal conversation, things took a surprising turn. The journalist could not initially believe the authenticity of the invitation, but the chat apparently involving high-ranking US politicians and government officials discussed specific targets for attacking Huti forces in Yemen — and a few hours later, airstrikes did indeed take place.

Due to the nature of the information exchanged, his doubts were raised both by the fact that top-secret plans were discussed using an app that is not designed to transmit classified data, and by the free-form statements of the politicians, including Vice President J.D. Vance. The messages even included emoticons, symbolizing the celebration of the operation carried out.

The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic reacted

Goldberg refrained from publishing details about specific targets and weaponry in his article about the chat, fearing that the safety of those involved would be compromised.

His description of the leaked news shows that Vice President JD Vance, one of the participants in the conversation, was critical of President Donald Trump’s decision to carry out the attacks, stressing that their effects could benefit Europe more than the United States.

The event instantly sparked a wave of discussion about security rules and possible violations of laws protecting classified information. Legal experts pointed out that transmitting secret data in this way could violate at least the Espionage Act, especially if the app’s configuration provides for automatic deletion of messages.

Trump, however, defended the use of Signal, explaining that access to secure devices and premises is not always possible at short notice.

Meredith Whittaker defends Signal app

Signal’s CEO, Meredith Whittaker, defended the app in an interview with Polish media, stressing that Signal maintains full end-to-end encryption and prioritizes user privacy.

She pointed out that while WhatsApp also uses encryption technologies designed by Signal, it does not protect metadata to the same extent and does not guarantee such a strict policy against collecting or sharing user information.

Whittaker at the same time pointed out that no application can eliminate human error. The accidental invitation of a journalist to a government chat room is precisely one example of a risk that cannot be excluded by technological measures alone.

(This story was originally published by Computerworld Poland.)

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Microsoft’s newest AI agents can detail how they reason

26 Březen, 2025 - 13:12

If you’re wondering how AI agents work, Microsoft’s new Copilot AI agents provide real-time answers on how data is being analyzed and sourced to reach results.

The Researcher and Analyst agents, announced on Tuesday, take a deeper look at data sources such as email, chat or databases within an organization to produce research reports, analyze strategies, or convert raw information into meaningful data.

[ Related: Agentic AI – Ongoing news and insights ]

In the process, the agents give users a bird’s eye-view on each step of how they’re thinking and analyzing data to formulate answers. The agents are integrated with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

The agents combine Microsoft tools with OpenAI’s newer models, which don’t answer questions right away, but can reason better. The models think deeper by generating additional tokens or drawing more information from outside sources before coming up with an answer.

The Researcher agent takes OpenAI’s reasoning models, checks the efficacy of the model, pokes around by pulling data from sources via Microsoft orchestrators and then builds up the level of confidence in the retrieval and results phases, according to information provided by Microsoft.

A demonstration video provided by Microsoft shows the Copilot chatbot interface publishing its “chain of thought” — for example, the step-by-step process of searching enterprise and domain data, identifying product lines, opportunities and more — with the ultimate output being the final document.

The approach is a major benefit for Microsoft since most models operate as a black box, said Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates.

Accountability and the ability to see how models are getting their results are important to assure users that the technology is safe, effective and not hallucinating, Gold said.

“Much of AI today is a ‘black hole’ when it comes to being able to figure out how it got to its results — most cite references, but not the logic on how they got to the end result,” Gold said. “Any transparency you can offer is about making users feel more comfortable.”

The Copilot Researcher agent can take a deeper look at internal data to develop business strategies or identify unexplored market opportunities — typical tasks by researchers. It provides highly technical research and strategy work that you’d expect to pay a highly skilled consultant, researcher, or analyst, a Microsoft spokeswoman said.

“Its ability to combine a user’s work data and web data means its responses are current, but also contextually relevant to every user’s personal needs,” the spokeswoman said.

For example, within the Researcher agent, a user can query the chatbot on exploring new business opportunities. In the process of analyzing data, the agent shares how the model is approaching the query. It will ask clarifying questions, publish a plan to reach an answer, show the data sources it is drawing information from, and explain how the data is collated, categorized, and analyzed.

The Analyst agent takes raw data and generates insights — typically the job of a data scientist. The tool is designed for workers using data to derive insights and make decisions without knowledge of advanced data analysis like Python coding, the spokeswoman said.

For example, the Analyst agent can take a spreadsheet with charts of unstructured data and share insights. Similar to the Researcher agent, the Analyst agent takes in a question via the Copilot interface, creates a plan to analyze the data, and determines the Python tools to generate insights. The agent shares its step-by-step process of how it is responding to the query and even shares the Python code used to generate the answer.

Microsoft has had a number of documented “misses” related to problematic generative AI (genAI) tools, such as Windows Recall, a Copilot feature that uses snapshots to log the history of activity on a PC, Gold said.

Giving users a sense of security is beneficial to getting users to try CoPilot, Gold said. “Think of it as having the safest car on the road when you go to select a new car for your family,” he said.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

Will Microsoft be laid low by the feds’ antitrust probe?

26 Březen, 2025 - 11:00

Microsoft is on top of the world right now, riding its AI dominance to become the world’s second-most valuable company, worth somewhere in the vicinity of $3 trillion, depending on the day’s stock price.

But that could easily change — and not because competitors have found a way to topple it as king of AI.

A federal antitrust investigation threatens to do to the company what was done to it 35 years ago by a US Justice Department suit that tumbled the company from its perch as the world’s top tech company. It also led to a lost decade in which Microsoft lagged in the technologies that would transform the world — the internet and the rise of mobile.

The current investigation was launched last year by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the leadership of Chair Lina Khan. Khan was ousted by President Donald J. Trump when he re-took office in January, and there’s been a great deal of speculation about whether his administration would kill the investigation or let it proceed.

That speculation ended this month, when new FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson asked the company for a boatload of information about its AI operations dating back to 2016, including detailed requests about its training models and how it acquires the data for them.

The investigation isn’t just about AI. It also covers Microsoft’s cloud operations, cybersecurity efforts, productivity software, Teams, licensing practices, and more. In other words, just about every important part of the company.

More details about the investigation

Although the investigation is a broad one, the most consequential parts focus on the cloud, AI, and the company’s productivity suite, Microsoft 365. It will probably dig deep into the way Microsoft uses its licensing practices to push or force businesses to use multiple Microsoft products.

Here’s how The New York Times describes it: “Of particular interest to the FTC is the way Microsoft bundles its cloud computing offerings with office and security products.”

The newspaper claims the investigation is looking at how Microsoft locks customers into using its cloud services “by changing the terms under which customers could use products like Office. If the customers wanted to use another cloud provider instead of Microsoft, they had to buy additional software licenses and effectively pay a penalty.”

That’s long been a complaint about the way the company does business. European Union regulators last summer charged that Microsoft broke antitrust laws by the way it bundles Teams into its Microsoft 365 productivity suite. Teams’ rivals like Zoom and Slack don’t have the ability to be bundled like that, the EU says, giving Microsoft an unfair advantage. Microsoft began offering some versions of the suite without Teams, but an EU statement about the suit says the EU “preliminarily finds that these changes are insufficient to address its concerns and that more changes to Microsoft’s conduct are necessary to restore competition.”

AI is a target, too

Microsoft’s AI business is also in the legal crosshairs, though very few details have come out about it. However, at least part of the probe will likely center on whether Microsoft’s close relationship with OpenAI violates antitrust laws by giving the company an unfair market dominance.

The investigation could also focus on whether Microsoft uses its licensing practices for Microsoft 365 and Copilot, its generative AI chatbot, in ways that violate antitrust laws. In a recent column, I wrote that Microsoft now forces customers of the consumer version of Microsoft 365 to pay an additional fee for Copilot — even if they don’t want it. In January, Microsoft bundled Copilot into the consumer version of Microsoft 365 and raised prices on the suite by $3 per month or $30 for the year. Consumers are given no choice — if they want Microsoft 365, they’ll have to pay for Copilot, whether they use it or not.

Microsoft also killed two useful features in all versions of Microsoft 365, for consumers as well as businesses, and did it in a way to force businesses to subscribe to Copilot. The features allowed users to do highly targeted searches from within the suite. Microsoft said people could instead use Copilot to do that kind of searching. (In fact, Copilot can’t match the features Microsoft killed.) But business and educational Microsoft 365 users don’t get Copilot bundled in, so they’ll have to pay an additional $30 per user per month if they want the search features, approximately doubling the cost of the Office suite.

Expect the feds to file suit

It’s almost certain the feds will file at least one suit against Microsoft by the FTC, the Justice Department, or maybe both. After all, federal lawsuits against Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta launched by the Biden administration have been continued under Trump. There’s no reason to expect he won’t target Microsoft as well.

There’s another reason the feds could hit Microsoft hard. Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming their relationship violates antitrust laws. He’s also spending billions to compete against them. Given that he’s essentially Trump’s co-president — as well as being Trump’s most important tech advisor — it’s pretty much a slam dunk that one more federal suit will be filed.

As one piece of evidence that suits are coming, the FTC weighed in on Musk’s side in his suit against the company and OpenAI, saying antitrust laws support his claims. In a wink-wink, nudge-nudge claim that no one believes, the agency says it’s not taking sides in the Musk lawsuit.

The upshot

Expect the investigations into Microsoft to culminate in one or more suits filed against the company. After that, it’s anyone’s guess what might happen. The government could ask that Microsoft be broken into pieces — perhaps lopping off its AI arm. It could even ask that the cloud as well as AI be turned into their own businesses. Or it could go a softer route by fining the company billions of dollars and forcing it to change its business practices.

Either way, hard times are likely ahead for Microsoft. The big question will be whether CEO Satya Nadella can weather the turbulence better than Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer did when the previous federal suit against the company laid it low for a decade.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

The secret to using generative AI effectively

26 Březen, 2025 - 11:00

Do you think generative AI (genAI) sucks? I did. The hype around everything genAI has been over the top and ridiculous for a while now. Especially at the start, most of the tools were flashy, but quickly fell apart if you tried to use them for any serious work purposes.

When ChatGPT started really growing in early 2023, I turned against it hard. It wasn’t just a potentially interesting research product. It was a bad concept getting shoved into everything.

Corporate layoffs driven by executives who loved the idea of replacing people with unreliable robots hurt a lot of workers. They hurt a lot of businesses, too. With the benefit of hindsight, we can now all agree: genAI, in its original incarnation, just wasn’t working.

At the end of 2023, I wrote about Microsoft’s then-new Copilot AI chatbot and summed it up as “a storyteller — a chaotic creative engine that’s been pressed into service as a buttoned-up virtual assistant, [with] the seams always showing.”

You’d probably use it wrong, as I noted at the time. Even if you used it right, it wasn’t all that great. It felt like using a smarter autocomplete.

Much has changed. At this point in 2025, gen AI tools can actually be useful — but only if you use them right. And after much experimentation and contemplation, I think I’ve found the secret.

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The power of your internal dialogue

So here it is: To get the best possible results from genAI, you must externalize your internal dialogue. Plain and simple, AI models work best when you give them more information and context.

It’s a shift from the way we’re accustomed to thinking about these sorts of interactions, but it isn’t without precedent. When Google itself first launched, people often wanted to type questions at it — to spell out long, winding sentences. That wasn’t how to use the search engine most effectively, though. Google search queries needed to be stripped to the minimum number of words.

GenAI is exactly the opposite. You need to give the AI as much detail as possible. If you start a new chat and type a single-sentence question, you’re not going to get a very deep or interesting response.

To put it simply: You shouldn’t be prompting genAI like it’s still 2023. You aren’t performing a web search. You aren’t asking a question.

Instead, you need to be thinking out loud. You need to iterate with a bit of back and forth. You need to provide a lot of detail, see what the system tells you — then pick out something that is interesting to you, drill down on that, and keep going.

You are co-discovering things, in a sense. GenAI is best thought of as a brainstorming partner. Did it miss something? Tell it — maybe you’re missing something and it can surface it for you. The more you do this, the better the responses will get.

It’s actually the easiest thing in the world. But it’s also one of the hardest mental shifts to make.

Let’s take a simple example: You’re trying to remember a word, and it’s on the tip of your tongue. You can’t quite remember it, but you can vaguely describe it. If you were using Google to find the word, you’d have to really think about how to craft the perfect search term.

In that same scenario, you could rely on AI with a somewhat rambling, conversational prompt like this:

“What’s the word for a soft kind of feeling you get — it’s warm, but a little cold. It’s sad, but that’s not quite right. You miss something, but you’re happy you miss it. It’s not melancholy, that’s wrong, that’s too sad. I don’t know. It reminds me of walking home from school on a sunny fall afternoon. The sun is setting and you know it will be winter soon, and you miss summer, and you know it’s over, but you’re happy it happened.”

And the genAI might respond: wistful. That’s your answer. More likely, the tool will return a list of possible words. It might not magically know you meant wistful right away — but you will know the moment you see the word within its suggestions.

This is admittedly an overwrought example. A shorter description of the word — “it’s kind of like this, and it’s kind of like that” — would also likely do the trick.

Ramble on

The best way to sum up this strategy is simple: You need to ramble.

Try this, as an experiment: Open up the ChatGPT app on your Android or iOS phone and tap the microphone button at the right side of the chat box. Make sure you’re using the microphone button and not the voice chat mode button, which does not let you do this properly.

(Amusingly enough, the ChatGPT Windows app doesn’t support this style of voice input, and Microsoft’s Copilot app doesn’t, either. This shows that the companies building this type of product don’t really understand how it’s best used. If you want to ramble with your voice, you’ll need to use your phone — or ramble by typing on your keyboard.)

This is the easiest way to get started with true stream-of-consciousness rambling.

Chris Hoffman, Foundry

After you tap the microphone button, ramble at your phone in a stream-of-consciousness style. Let’s say you want TV show recommendations. Ramble about the shows you like, what you think of them, what parts you like. Ramble about other things you like that might be relevant — or that might not seem relevant! Think out loud. Seriously — talk for a full minute or two. When you’re done, tap the microphone button once more. Your rambling will now be text in the box. Your “ums” and speech quirks will be in there, forming extra context about the way you were thinking. Do not bother reading it — if there are typos, the AI will figure it out. Click send. See what happens.

Just be prepared for the fact that ChatGPT (or other tools) won’t give you a single streamlined answer. It will riff off what you said and give you something to think about. You can then seize on what you think is interesting — when you read the response, you will be drawn to certain things. Drill down, ask questions, share your thoughts. Keep using the voice input if it helps. It’s convenient and helps you really get into a stream-of-consciousness rambling state.

Did the response you got fail to deliver what you needed? Tell it. Say you were disappointed because you were expecting something else. Say you’ve already watched all those shows and you didn’t like them. That is extra context. Keep drilling down.

You don’t have to use voice input, necessarily. But, if you’re typing, you need to type like you’re talking to yourself — with an inner dialogue, stream-of-consciousness style, as if you were speaking out loud. If you say something that isn’t quite right, don’t hit backspace. Keep going. Say: “That wasn’t quite right — I actually meant something more like this other thing.”

The beauty of back-and-forth

Let’s say you want to use genAI to brainstorm the perfect marketing tagline for a campaign. You’d start by rambling about your project, or maybe just speaking a shorter prompt. Ask for a bunch of rough ideas so you can start contemplating and take it from there.

But then, critically, you keep going. You say you like a few ideas in particular and want to go more in that direction. You get some more possibilities back. You keep going, on and on — “Well, I like the third one, but I think it needs more of [something], and the sixth one is all right but [something else].” Keep talking, postulating, refining, following paths of concepts to something that feels more right to you.

If the tool doesn’t seem to be on the right wavelength, don’t get frustrated and back out. Tell it: “No, you don’t understand. This is for a major clothing company. I need it to sound professional but also catch people’s eyes. That’s why your suggestions are all too much.”

In a similar way to how the long stream-of-consciousness ramble lays a lot of context to push genAI in a useful direction this back-and-forth lays a lot of context as groundwork. Your entire conversation until that point forms the scaffolding of the conversation and affects the future responses in the thread. As you keep adding onto and continuing the conversation, you can make it more attuned to what you’re looking for.

Crucially, genAI is not making decisions. You are making all the decisions. You are exercising the taste. You can push it in this or that direction to get ideas. If it lands on something you disagree with, you can push back: “No, that’s not right at all. We really got off track. How about…?”

Is this silly? Well, brainstorming doesn’t normally mean sitting in an empty room meditating while staring at paint drying. It often means searching Google, seeing what other people say, poking around for inspiration. This can be similar — but faster.

Maybe you still use Google for brainstorming sometimes — or go for a walk and be alone with your thoughts! That’s fine, too. GenAI is meant to be another tool in your toolbox. It isn’t meant to be the end-all answer.

The bigger AI picture

To be clear: I’m not here to sell you on the idea of embracing genAI. I’m here to tell you that companies peddling these tools right now are selling you the wrong thing. The way they talk about the technology is not how you should use it. It’s no wonder so many smart people are bouncing off it and being rightfully critical of what we’re being sold.

GenAI should not be a replacement for thinking. More than anything, it is a tool for exploring concepts and the connections between them. You can use it to write a better email. You can use it to put together a marketing plan. It will do things you don’t expect, and that’s the point.

Yes, it might hallucinate and make things up. (That’s why you need to keep your brain engaged.) You might want to just opt out. You might decided to keep plugging away looking for answers. Just remember: If you’re using genAI, try to use it to be more human, not less. That will help you write better emails — and accomplish much more beyond that.

Let’s stay in touch! Sign up for my free Windows Intelligence newsletter today. I’ll send you three new things to try each Friday.

Kategorie: Hacking & Security

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The secret to using generative AI effectively

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