AI browser Opera Neon gains new tools and Gemini 3 and Nano Banana support
Opera has released a major update for Opera Neon, the experimental agentic browser it launched two months ago. The update adds a new one minute mode to the Opera Deep Research Agent (ODRA), introduces Google’s Gemini 3 Pro and Nano Banana Pro models, and lets users choose which AI model to use in conversations. It also expands Neon’s agentic features to support tasks inside Google Docs.
Neon is designed for testing AI features and exploring agentic browsing, where AI tools don’t just answer queries but can also complete multi step tasks.
How LLMs could revolutionize ad blocking
Ad blocking software has traditionally relied on filter lists. These need time consuming and regular maintenance in order to keep them up to date and effective.
There have been previous attempts to update ad blocking using machine learning, but new research from AdGuard looks at the potential to use large language models (LLMs) to improve the way it works.
Online shoppers warned of QR code phishing scam
With Black Friday on the horizon and peak holiday shopping underway people are expecting deliveries. When shoppers are tracking multiple orders at once they are far more willing to trust a parcel that arrives unexpectedly and a new quishing scam is looking to exploit that.
If scammers have your name and address from previous data breaches, scraped social media posts or public directories, they cab easily make a fake parcel look authentic. Adding a QR code makes people think it’s related to tracking or returns so they’re likely to scan it without thinking.
Microsoft is working to simplify updating apps in Windows 11
A hatred of having to use the Microsoft Store to update many Windows 11 apps is far from being a unique experience. Thankfully, it looks as though Microsoft is working to make some improvements in this area to help alleviate some of the annoyance.
The latest Insider builds of Windows 11 have been found to include an "app updates" page in the Settings app. This, assuming it becomes a mainstream feature, will make life a lot easier for Windows 11 users.
Microsoft releases PowerToys v0.96.1 with a nice surprise for Windows 10 users
The question we ask every time there is a new PowerToys release is whether or not there are any new modules or options to play with. With the release of PowerToys v0.96.1 being a very minor update in terms of version number, there is a nice surprise in store.
Sadly, if you are hoping for a brand new module, you are going to have to wait a little longer. We know of several utilities that are in the pipeline, but they are not ready yet. What we do see in this small update, however, is a nice surprise for Windows 10 users – the return of the Image Resizer tool.
Microsoft is pulling Copilot from WhatsApp to comply with Meta policies
In a few short weeks, Microsoft is removing its Copilot chatbot from WhatsApp. The company says that while it has helped millions of people, the removal comes because of a change to Meta’s platform policies.
As of January 15, WhatsApp is purging all LLM chatbots from the platform, so Microsoft has little choice in the matter. The company stresses that Copilot itself is living on in plenty of other places, and has some helpful information for those who will be affected by the change.
Americans fear losing control of AI more than losing their jobs, study shows
New research suggests Americans are more worried about who controls AI, and how it’s governed, rather than about losing their jobs to it. A study from Cybernews and nexos.ai tracked search interest across 2025 and found people spent far more time looking up questions about regulation, privacy and data use than employment fears, even after a year of tech layoffs.
The study looked at five types of AI concerns from January to October. Control and regulation came out on top with the highest average score. Data and privacy followed close behind. Job loss ranked last, showing that most people aren’t as focused on employment as headlines often suggest.
Waze gets a massive new feature for Android Auto users
It is something of a curiosity that in-car navigation experiences vary from much between iPhone and Android, even when using the same apps. A good example is Waze which, despite being owned by Google, has an extra feature for CarPlay users when compared to Android Auto.
But this is changing. Users of Waze in conjunction with Android Auto will soon be gaining a “second screen” option, just like their CarPlay friends. So what does this mean?
Collabora Office is an open source desktop suite for Windows, macOS and Linux
The UK open source developer behind Collabora Online (COOL) has launched Collabora Office, an offline version of its browser-based alternative to Google Docs and Microsoft 365 that is used by schools, public bodies and businesses.
The idea is to give people the same clean, tabbed interface they know from the browser version, but running directly on their device with no cloud required.
Spotify has a price increase planned for early 2026
In the age of digital subscriptions in which we find ourselves, price increases have become par for the course. Spotify is no different to other companies in this regard, and the arrival of a new year seems to be as good a reason as any to hoik up monthly fees.
At the moment there is no official word from Spotify itself, but a price increase is certainly due, and a report by the Financial Times suggests that it is just around the corner.
The invisible attack that could be stealing your payment details while you shop
Experts from NordVPN are warning about a rise in ‘invisible’ attacks that can steal payment details on legitimate eCommerce sites.
Known as e-skimming this involves malicious JavaScript code being injected into legitimate eCommerce sites to steal customers’ payment data during checkout. This is the online equivalent of physical skimming devices found on ATMs or gas pumps.
Warner Music and Suno agree new partnership but what does this mean for AI generated music?
Warner Music Group and Suno have agreed a partnership that aims to set out how licensed AI generated music should work across creation, revenue, and artist control. The deal also ends the previous legal action between the two companies, which had centered on how Suno's AI systems were trained on commercial recordings.
Warner Music says the agreement gives it a way to support new technology while protecting artists and songwriters. It argues that licensed models, clear revenue paths, and opt in controls for voice, name, and likeness are essential if AI is going to sit alongside traditional music work. Suno, which has grown quickly over the past year, says the arrangement will let it develop new features and improve how people make and share music on its platform. It will also stop it being sued out of existence, as well.
KEV catalog missing 88 percent of exploits
New research from Miggo Security suggests that CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog now reflects only a small slice of real-world exploit risk in open source, and it raises questions about how the industry should be using KEV going forward.
Using open source code speeds innovation but expands the attack surface with every imported library and dependency. The result is a growing catalog of vulnerabilities, each one a potential entry point for attackers.
Tor is switching to the Counter Galois Onion encryption algorithm
Tor (The Onion Router) is switching its encryption algorithm to help boost security and privacy. The change is being introduced to protect users against certain types of attack, and sees the browser adopting a new “research-backed new design” called Counter Galois Onion.
The algorithm that is being updated is the one used to encrypt user data as it travel across a circuit via multiple relays. In making the switch, Tor concedes that its previous encryption design “looks funny”, hence the need to replace it.
Bridging the gap between legacy systems and AI [Q&A]
Many companies are still heavily reliant on legacy systems, which can lead to high maintenance costs, limited flexibility, and increased security risks. All of which can hold back AI integration.
We spoke to Jorge Lopez, CEO of Jalasoft, about the critical role legacy systems play in today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape and how organizations can modernize strategically without disrupting core operations.



