Tech News

1. AI / Technology:

   • OpenAI ChatGPT ads: OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT free and Go tiers in the US, aiming to generate "low billions" in revenue while ensuring ads won't influence responses and user data remains private from advertisers. 👉 openai.com 👉 wsj.com^$ 👉 theverge.com
   • Google Chrome AI Skills: Google tests Gemini-powered AI "Skills" in Chrome, allowing AI to perform tasks automatically and potentially challenging competitors like Perplexity Comet or Edge's Copilot mode. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

2. Social Media / Platforms:

   • Threads surpasses X: Meta's Threads now has 141.5M daily active users (DAUs) on iOS and Android, surpassing Elon Musk’s X which has 125M DAUs, driven by Instagram promotions. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 forbes.com^$
   • AI in retail: Retailers like Lowe's, Kroger, and Papa Johns are using AI agents to assist shoppers, with tech firms like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft racing to integrate AI into retail operations. 👉 nytimes.com^$ 👉 wsj.com^$

3. Cybersecurity / Threats:

   • Critical Fortinet FortiSIEM flaw exploited: Hackers are actively exploiting a critical flaw in Fortinet's FortiSIEM, with public proof-of-concept code available. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Cisco AsyncOS zero-day patched: Cisco fixed a zero-day vulnerability in AsyncOS exploited since November, affecting Secure Email Gateway and Secure Email and Web Manager. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

4. Cryptocurrency / Blockchain:

   • 53% of crypto tokens dead: Over 53% of the 20.2M crypto tokens launched since 2021 are now inactive, with 7.7M failing in Q4 2025 due to speculative projects like memecoins. 👉 coindesk.com 👉 news.slashdot.org

5. Economy / Markets:

   • College degree job advantage fading: Young college graduates now face job-finding rates similar to those with only a high school degree, signaling a shift in employment dynamics. 👉 msn.com 👉 clevelandfed.org

6. Space / Astronomy:

   • NASA’s Pandora telescope launched: NASA's Pandora telescope, designed to study exoplanet atmospheres, was successfully deployed to address noise in transit measurements caused by starspots. 👉 science.nasa.gov 👉 livescience.com

7. Legislation / Policy:

   • EU open digital ecosystems: The European Commission opened a public call for evidence on open digital ecosystems, aiming to reduce reliance on non-EU tech and promote digital sovereignty. 👉 helpnetsecurity.com 👉 cybernews.com

8. Science / Research:

   • AI and brain similarities: Research at EPFL, MIT, and Georgia Tech found strong signal correlations between AI language models and the human brain's language network, suggesting AI's brain-like capabilities. 👉 foom.org

9. AI / Innovation:

   • Anthropic funding round: Sequoia Capital is investing in Anthropic, joining a $25B+ funding round led by GIC and Coatue, indicating confidence in AI's future. 👉 ft.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

10. Space / Satellites:

    • AST SpaceMobile’s direct-to-cell tech: AST SpaceMobile is developing a direct-to-cell technology using large satellites (BlueBirds) to deliver broadband coverage to standard mobile phones, aiming for global coverage with fewer satellites. 👉 fastcompany.com

11. Technology / Startups:

    • AI cloud startup RunPod: RunPod, an AI app hosting service, achieved a $120M annual revenue run rate, starting from a Reddit post. 👉 techcrunch.com

12. Cybersecurity / Vulnerabilities:

    • Microsoft Windows 11 bugs: Microsoft issued emergency updates for Windows 11 to fix shutdown and sign-in issues caused by recent updates, highlighting ongoing OS stability problems. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

13. Environment / Science:

    • Earth's atmosphere on the Moon: Research shows Earth's atmosphere has been supplying volatile gases like oxygen and nitrogen to the Moon's soil for billions of years, despite its magnetic field. 👉 cnn.com

14. Legal / Lawsuits:

    • Elon Musk sues OpenAI: Elon Musk seeks $79B-$134B in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging OpenAI defrauded him by abandoning its nonprofit roots. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 reuters.com

15. AI / Regulation:

    • AVERI nonprofit for AI audits: Former OpenAI policy chief Miles Brundage founded AVERI, a nonprofit advocating for independent safety audits of frontier AI models. 👉 fortune.com

16. Cybersecurity / Espionage:

    • China-linked APT exploits Sitecore zero-day: A China-linked APT group exploited a Sitecore zero-day to target critical infrastructure in North America. 👉 thehackernews.com

17. Cybersecurity / Malware:

    • GootLoader malware: GootLoader malware uses malformed ZIP archives to evade detection, exploiting Windows' default unarchiver. 👉 thehackernews.com

18. Cybersecurity / Extortion:

    • Black Basta ransomware leader added to INTERPOL’s Red Notice: The leader of the Black Basta ransomware group, Oleg Evgenievich Nefedov, has been added to INTERPOL’s Red Notice list. 👉 thehackernews.com

19. Cybersecurity / Vulnerabilities:

    • WordPress Modular DS plugin flaw: A critical flaw in the WordPress Modular DS plugin, affecting over 40,000 active installs, is being actively exploited to gain admin access. 👉 thehackernews.com

20. Cybersecurity / AI:

    • Reprompt attack on Microsoft Copilot: Researchers revealed a new attack method, Reprompt, allowing single-click data exfiltration from AI chatbots like Microsoft Copilot while bypassing enterprise security controls. 👉 thehackernews.com

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