Tech News

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Development:

   • Meta is reportedly testing its first in-house chips for AI training, working with TSMC to reduce reliance on NVIDIA. 👉 reuters.com
   • OpenAI launched new Responses API and Agents SDK for building AI agents with web search, file search, and computer use capabilities. 👉 theverge.com
   • Manus AI partners with Alibaba's Qwen to integrate AI agent functions with AI models and computing platforms in China. 👉 reuters.com
   • Sam Altman shares that OpenAI trained a new AI model that is good at creative writing. 👉 x.com
   • A study found AI search engines often provide incorrect citations, with Grok 3 answering 94% of queries incorrectly. 👉 nytimes.com^$
   • Norm Ai, which develops AI agents focused on regulatory compliance, raised a $48M Series B led by Coatue. 👉 siliconangle.com
   • ServiceNow plans to acquire agentic AI company Moveworks for $2.85B. 👉 reuters.com

2. Vulnerability Exploits and Security Patches:

   • Microsoft's March 2025 Patch Tuesday addresses 57 flaws, including 7 zero-days. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A critical PHP remote code execution vulnerability is being mass exploited in new attacks targeting Windows systems. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Ballista botnet is exploiting a high-severity remote code execution flaw in TP-Link Archer AX-21 routers, infecting over 6,000 devices. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Apple has released emergency security updates to patch a zero-day bug in WebKit, exploited in "extremely sophisticated" attacks. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • CISA tagged critical Ivanti EPM flaws as actively exploited in attacks. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Moxa issued a fix for a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in PT switches. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • CISA added five actively exploited vulnerabilities in Advantive VeraCore and Ivanti EPM to KEV List. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • The Senate approves Gail Slater to head DOJ's antitrust division. 👉 nytimes.com^$

3. Malware and Cyberattack Campaigns:

   • North Korean Lazarus hackers infect hundreds via npm packages. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A clipboard hijacking operation named 'MassJacker' uses 778,000 cryptocurrency wallet addresses to steal cryptocurrency. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • X (formerly Twitter) was hit by a 'massive cyberattack' amid DDoS claims. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • SideWinder APT is targeting maritime, nuclear, and IT sectors across Asia, Middle East, and Africa. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Researchers exposed a new polymorphic attack that clones browser extensions to steal credentials. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Blind Eagle APT has been linked to campaigns targeting Colombian institutions and government entities. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Desert Dexter targets 900 victims using Facebook Ads and Telegram malware links to deliver AsyncRAT. 👉 thehackernews.com

4. Data Breaches and Fraud:

   • Student loan breach exposes 2.5 million records. 👉 threatpost.com
   • US govt says Americans lost a record $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • PowerSchool was previously hacked in August, months before a data breach in December. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • FTC will send $25.5 million to victims of tech support scams. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Cybercriminals are selling access to Chinese surveillance cameras. 👉 threatpost.com
   • Tokenomist said that 2024's largest unlocks brought $5.4B+ into circulation. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

5. Microsoft Product Updates:

   • Microsoft replacing Remote Desktop app with Windows App in May. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft released the KB5053606 cumulative update for Windows 10, which fixes broken SSH connections. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft has released Windows 11 KB5053598 & KB5053602 cumulative updates for versions 24H2 and 23H2 to fix security vulnerabilities and issues. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft shared guidance on the upcoming deprecation of Publisher, with support ending after October 2026. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

6. Business and Financial News:

   • Google is in final talks to acquire AdHawk Microsystems, a maker of eye-tracking tech, for $115M. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • India's Airtel signs deal with SpaceX to launch Starlink in the country, pending regulatory approval. 👉 reuters.com
   • The Financial Times names Chief Commercial Officer Jon Slade as CEO, replacing John Ridding on July 1. 👉 mediagazer.com
   • Lego is building an in-house video game development team after 2024 revenue rose 13% YoY to ~$10B. 👉 t.co
   • Delivery Hero says Uber has terminated its $950M deal to acquire Foodpanda in Taiwan after Taiwan's FTC blocked the deal. 👉 reuters.com
   • Dexterity, maker of industrial robots, raised $95M at a $1.65B valuation. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Neobank Zolve, which offers services for those moving to the US, raised a $51M Series B and $200M in debt. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Coinbase registers with India's FIU and plans to roll out its retail trading platform in India later in 2025. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • The Information reports Anthropic's annualized revenue grew from $1B at the end of 2024 to $1.4B in early March; Manus uses tools including Claude 3.7 Sonnet to power its agent. 👉 theinformation.com
   • VC investors with “locked” tokens are working with market makers to hedge their positions. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Mesh raised an $82M Series B, settled mostly in PayPal's PYUSD stablecoin and led by Paradigm, to expand its stablecoin-based payments settlement network. 👉 coindesk.com
   • The US's largest pension fund has classified more than $3 billion of holdings in oil drillers, coal miners, and other major greenhouse gas producers as climate-friendly investments. 👉 financialpost.com
   • California Passes Bill Imposing Massive Fines for Not Labeling AI-Generated Content. 👉 reuters.com
   • Sam Altman says OpenAI trained an AI model that is good at creative writing and shares a short story it wrote; he's “not sure yet how/when it will get released.” 👉 x.com
   • The Wall Street Journal reports that Snowflake is in talks with Google and others for an AI deal. 👉 tipranks.com

7. Apple Product Reviews:

   • Reviews for the Apple MacBook Air M4 are out, highlighting its speed, thin design, excellent keyboard and touchpad, and long battery life. 👉 engadget.com
   • Apple Mac Studio review highlights M3 Ultra's performance, silent operation, and ports, but mentions the lack of user-upgradeable memory or SSD. 👉 tomshardware.com
   • Digital Trends notes that Apple Mac Studio (2025) is pure, if confusing, performance magic. 👉 digitaltrends.com

8. Social Media Updates:

   • TikTok rolls out a new "wind down" reminder for users under 16 after 10PM with calming music, along with parental controls. 👉 theverge.com
   • The Financial Times reports Meituan, Ele.me, and other Chinese food delivery companies plan to offer social security benefits to riders. 👉 t.co
   • Bluesky now lets users upload videos that are up to 3 minutes long. 👉 techcrunch.com

9. Workplace and Productivity Trends:

   • The average American workday now concludes at 4:39 p.m., 36 minutes earlier than two years ago, with a 2% increase in productivity. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Vodafone warns UK staff to work onsite at least eight days a month or face disciplinary action. 👉 theregister.com
   • Zoho Projects Plus aims to combine collaborative intelligence and simplified hybrid work management. 👉 techmeme.com

10. PDF Data Extraction Challenges:

    • Businesses, governments, and researchers continue to struggle with extracting usable data from PDF files despite AI advances. 👉 arstechnica.com

11. Firefox Update Required:

    • A critical root certificate expiring on March 14, 2025, will disable extensions and potentially break DRM-dependent streaming services for Firefox users. 👉 betanews.com

12. Airlines:

    • Southwest Airlines is ending its free checked bags policy for many passengers starting May 28. 👉 cbsnews.com

13. Environmental Concerns:

    • Nearly every country on Earth has dirtier air than doctors recommend breathing, according to a report. 👉 theguardian.com

14. Autonomous Vehicles:

    • An Amazon-backed self-driving taxi failed to meet vehicle safety standards due to lacking basics like a brake pedal and rearview mirrors. 👉 washingtonpost.com
    • Waymo expands its operating area around Silicon Valley to a 27 square-mile region. 👉 theverge.com

15. Smartwatch Market Trends:

    • Global smartwatch shipments fell 7% YoY in 2024, marking the market's first-ever decline. 👉 counterpointresearch.com

16. AI's impact on traditional media:

    • Columbia Journalism Review shares study that most AI search engines are wrong at citing news articles. 👉 nytimes.com^$

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