FTC Files Complaint Against Microsoft , After Activision Layoffs.
FTC Files Complaint Against Microsoft , After Activision Layoffs.
On Jan.
30, Microsoft's gaming division laid off
1900 people, including at Activision Blizzard.
.
Now, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
has accused Microsoft of not upholding its promise
to let Activision operate independently after being
acquired for $69 billion, Engadget reports.
.
Now, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
has accused Microsoft of not upholding its promise
to let Activision operate independently after being
acquired for $69 billion, Engadget reports.
.
Microsoftâs recently-reported plan to
eliminate 1,900 jobs in its video game
division, including in its newly-acquired
Activision unit, contradicts the foregoing
representations it made to this Court, FTC, via complaint.
Specifically, Microsoft reportedly has stated
that the layoffs were part of an 'execution
plan' that would reduce 'areas of overlap'
between Microsoft and Activision, , FTC, via complaint.
... which is inconsistent with
Microsoftâs suggestion to this Court
that the two companies will operate
independently post-merger, FTC, via complaint.
Microsoft previously suggested that layoffs
wouldn't need to be made if its "vertical acquisition"
of Activision was approved because there would
be no job redundancies, Engadget reports.
.
Microsoft previously suggested that layoffs
wouldn't need to be made if its "vertical acquisition"
of Activision was approved because there would
be no job redundancies, Engadget reports.
.
The FTC has asked for a temporary acquisition
pause so that it can further investigate.
.
The agency has continually challenged the acquisition since it was approved by the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority last year.
If the FTC continues to push its antitrust concerns, it's possible that Microsoft could be forced to
divest Activision Blizzard, Engadget reports.
.
6,000 video game workers have already
been laid off across the industry this year.
Indian Cyber Coordination Centre and Microsoft collaborate to block over 1,000 Skype accounts linked to cyber fraud by fraudsters posing as police or government.. IndiaTimes
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The UAE's national security adviser,
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the
current chairman of G42's board of directors. .
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal âwas developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.â.
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal âwas developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.â.
G42, which runs data centers in the Middle East
and elsewhere, has built the world's leading
Arabic-language AI model, Jais. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
The deal will also look to bring digital infrastructure
to regions that G42 has already established
a presence, including the Middle East and Africa.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
Prior to Microsoft's investment, the company
reportedly faced allegations of spying for its
connection to a mobile phone app identified as spyware.
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government. .
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
US Government Emails With Microsoft , Were Stolen by Russian Hackers.
On April 11, American officials confirmed
that emails sent between Microsoft and
U.S. government agencies have been
stolen by Russian hackers, CNN reports. .
According to Eric Goldstein, a senior
official at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), .
those emails may have included login information like usernames and passwords.
At this time, we are not aware of any
agency production environments that
have experienced a compromise as
a result of a credential exposure. , Eric Goldstein, a senior official at the U.S. Cybersecurity
and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), via CNN.
Even though there is currently no evidence that the stolen credentials have been used to compromise federal computer systems, .
CISA described the occurrence as an "unacceptable risk to agencies.".
As a result, the agency released an "emergency directive" on April 11 ordering those potentially affected by the hack to bolster their defenses. .
The hack was first revealed by
Microsoft in January, but it has gotten more serious as new details continue to emerge.
CNN reports that the U.S. has
previously linked the hackers in question
to Russia's foreign intelligence service. .
A Microsoft spokesperson
issued a statement on April 11.
As we shared in our March 8 blog,
as we discover secrets in our
exfiltrated email, we are working
with our customers to help them
investigate and mitigate, Microsoft spokesperson, via CNN.
This includes working with CISA on
an emergency directive to provide
guidance to government agencies, Microsoft spokesperson, via CNN
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
NYCâs AI Chatbot Has Been , Telling Businesses to Break the Law.
New York City's AI chatbot was created to help small business owners, but it's been dispensing concerning advice, AP reports. .
For example, many small business owners have
been given inaccurate information about local policies or been encouraged to break the law.
However, the city is not removing
the chatbot from its official website.
Instead, it has provided a disclaimer stating that the chatbot may "occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased" information.
Critics say that the situation highlights
the dangers of AI being used by
governments without proper guardrails.
Theyâre rolling out software that
is unproven without oversight, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
Itâs clear they have no intention
of doing whatâs responsible, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
Thereâs a different level of trust thatâs
given to government. Public officials need
to consider what kind of damage they can
do if someone was to follow this advice
and get themselves in trouble, Jevin West, a professor at the University of Washington and
co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, via statement.
Microsoft, which powers the chatbot, said it
is working with the city "to improve the service
and ensure the outputs are accurate and
grounded on the cityâs official documentation.".
On April 2, Mayor Eric Adams said that
letting users find issues with the chatbot is just part of sorting out the new technology.
Anyone that knows technology knows this
is how itâs done. Only those who are fearful
sit down and say, âOh, it is not working the
way we want, now we have to run away from
it all together.â I donât live that way, Mayor Eric Adams, via statement.
Julia Stoyanovich, a computer science professor and director of the Center for Responsible AI at New York University, referred to Adams' approach as "reckless and irresponsible," AP reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
OpenAI and Microsoft Make Plans , for $100 Billion Data Center.
According to The Information, the two companies are planning to build a data center that would house an AI supercomputer
called "Stargate," Reuters reports.
According to The Information, the two companies are planning to build a data center that would house an AI supercomputer
called "Stargate," Reuters reports.
The project, which could cost $100 billion or more, is reportedly set to launch in 2028.
The tentative cost is roughly 100 times
more expensive than some of the
biggest data centers that exist today. .
Demand for AI data centers has increased due to
the rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence technology, Reuters reports. .
This is because traditional data
centers aren't as capable of handling
the advanced tasks that AI requires. .
Several supercomputers
would be built across five phases.
"Stargate" would be launched in the fifth phase, while a smaller supercomputer would be launched
in the fourth phase, tentatively around 2026.
Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly
in the third phase currently.
We are always planning for
the next generation of infrastructure
innovations needed to continue
pushing the frontier of AI capability, Microsoft spokesperson, to Reuters .
The cost for the next two phases largely revolves around acquiring expensive AI chips.
In March, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said
that the newest "Blackwell" B200 AI chip
will cost between $30,000 and $40,000
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
FTC to Decide , Whether Noncompete Agreements , Should Be Banned.
After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports. .
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
Approximately one in five Americans, spanning minimum wage workers to CEOs, are subject to noncompete agreements, the FTC estimates. .
The Biden administration says that these types of agreements hurt workers by decreasing wages.
The White House also argues that these
agreements harm the U.S. economy because entrepreneurship isn't allowed to freely flourish. .
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan issued a statement when
the proposed ban was initially introduced.
The freedom to change jobs is
core to economic liberty and to
a competitive, thriving economy, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Noncompetes block workers from
freely switching jobs, depriving
them of higher wages and better
working conditions, and depriving
businesses of a talent pool that
they need to build and expand, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Businesses argue that noncompete agreements are essential for safeguarding investments and proprietary information.
Those businesses also question whether
the agency has the power "to regulate
such agreements," NPR reports. .
If the FTC votes to issue a final rule, enforcement wouldn't occur for 180 days,
and legal challenges would likely ensue.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Jon Stewart is saying that Apple asked him not to talk to the Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan on his former Apple show 'The Problem with Jon Stewart.' Khan, who became chair of the FTC in 2021, has made a name for herself for being an outspoken critic of the business practices of Big Tech companies like Amazon and Meta and has been praised by both Democrats and Republicans for her antitrust efforts. Khan was a guest on Monday's episode of Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show,' where Stewart made the revelation.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:47Published
Apple Sends iPhone Users in 92 Countries , a Spyware Attack Warning.
The message was sent on
April 10, Engadget reports. .
Apple detected that you are being targeted
by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying
to remotely compromise the iPhone
associated with your Apple ID -xxx-, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
This attack is likely targeting
you specifically because of
who you are or what you do. , Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Although it's never possible to achieve
absolute certainty when detecting such
attacks, Apple has high confidence in
this warning â please take it seriously, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Internal information and investigations are used by the tech giant to pinpoint attacks. .
However, Apple couldn't provide any more information about the mercenary spyware attacks because it might "help attackers avoid future detection," Engadget reports. .
Apple has sent this type of message
to customers in the past.
Since 2021, people in over 150 countries
have gotten similar warnings.
Last October, journalists and politicians located in India were among those
who received such a message
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
All iOS Users Can Now , Log In to X With a Passkey.
While U.S. iOS users were given the option
to use passkeys back in January, .
global iOS users are now able to do the
same on the social media platform.
The login alternative is considered to be
safer than passwords, Engadget reports.
That's because passkeys aren't susceptible
to phishing and other schemes.
In order to use passkeys on X, open the
iOS app, click "Your account," and then
go to "Settings and privacy.".
Next, navigate to "Security and account access"
and then "Additional password protection.".
Passkeys can be found under
"Additional password protection.".
It is not clear if X intends to make the same option available for Android users, Engadget reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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