Microsoft brings Copilot back from the dead after accidentally nuking it


Copilot remains a divisive addition to Windows, so there was a mixture of jubilation and despair when Microsoft released updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11 that had the unintended side effect of deleting the AI-powered digital assistant.
At the time, Microsoft acknowledged the accidental deletion and unpinning of the app and suggested Copilot fans manually download and reinstall the app while it worked on a proper fix. Now the company says it has things sorted out -- to the delight or chagrin of those affected.
How startups are redefining conflict


Conflict, like everything else these days, is now shaped by technology. The old model -- industrial-scale production, multi-decade procurement cycles, and the primacy of sheer manpower -- is fading. In its place something faster, leaner and more precise is emerging. Small teams with energy, ambition and good ideas now do in months what legacy contractors once did in years. In Ukraine, for example, drones built by startups and programmed by engineers barely out of university, are destroying tanks worth millions of dollars. The battlefield is changing. And with it, so is the balance of power.
A modern conflict, then, is not won by the biggest army. It’s won by those who can see first, move first, and strike first. This is the reality that some countries in some regions have been slow to grasp. I am a German citizen with friends in the force who have witnessed this first-hand. Their systems are bureaucratic, their procurement cycles sluggish. In a world where technology evolves in real time, they cannot keep pace. And after decades of peace, they haven’t felt motivated to do so.
Google Pixel 9a crushes Apple iPhone 16e with smarter AI and a better price


After many leaks, Google’s Pixel 9a is finally here! For anyone not locked into Apple’s ecosystem, it’s looking like the smarter choice over the iPhone 16e. At just $499, it packs AI-powered features, a pro-level camera system, and the powerful Google Tensor G4 chip -- all at a lower price than Apple’s so-called budget offering.
The Pixel 9a isn’t just another mid-range phone -- it’s got some legit flagship-level perks. Its 6.3-inch Actua display is the brightest ever on an A-series phone, hitting 2700 nits, while the 120Hz refresh rate makes for smoother scrolling than the iPhone 16e’s 60Hz screen. Google’s color choices -- Peony, Iris, Porcelain, and Obsidian -- also bring more fun and variety compared to Apple’s standard options.
Google announces new healthcare tools and features, including advice from people with the same symptoms as you


When illness strikes, many people turn to 'Doctor Google' for health advice. While this can be helpful in many cases, searching for symptoms can also throw up some terrifying potential 'diagnoses', but AI has been used to try to avoid providing either fearmongering suggestions or unhelpful advice.
Google is aware that it is often a first port of call for people trying to work out what condition they may have and how to best approach treatment, and the company has announced numerous improvements and new feature to make its offerings more helpful and trustworthy -- as well as starting to provide suggestions from non-medical experts.
Seamless cloud migration: Building an AI-optimized future


Implementing cloud services with AI technologies, such as Microsoft Copilot, is fundamental for IT providers seeking to offer advanced solutions. However, with greater dependence on AI-generated tools to foster innovation and productivity in organizations, the necessity of enabling cloud environments to host these sophisticated capabilities has become paramount.
Their successful integration, however, comes at the expense of having additional investments in computing power, data analytics, and intelligent security solutions that shield sensitive information from unauthorized access. Many companies first need to accomplish a cloud migration to improve the security posture of the infrastructure before implementing AI.
Like it or not, Google Assistant is being replaced by AI-powered Gemini on millions of devices


Google Assistant is being consigned to history. Almost a decade after it first launched, Google’s voice-activated digital assistant will be replaced by Gemini, Google’s updated AI-powered assistant.
If you’re an existing user of Google Assistant, you will no doubt have noticed the offer of switching to Gemini. While this has been, and remains for now, an optional switch, soon there will be no choice -- it will be Gemini all the way.
Working with AI: When should humans be 'in the loop' or 'over the loop'?


It’s a fact that over 80 percent of AI projects fail. Not because of AI’s potential, but because businesses prioritize minor use cases over real transformation. Automated insights and meeting summaries may be impressive, but AI only drives impact when seamlessly integrated into workflows, turning insights into action.
Deploying AI successfully isn’t simple, and organizations are complex. Effective AI deployment requires a clear framework for human oversight. AI should usually enhance human decision-making, providing targeted, explainable, and interactive insights. But in some cases -- especially when decisions are time-sensitive or involve vast amounts of data -- humans cannot oversee every output in real time. This raises a key question: when should humans be ‘in the loop,’ actively making decisions, and when should they be ‘over the loop,’ overseeing AI without direct intervention? Getting this balance right is crucial for both AI’s effectiveness and its responsible use.
Beyond DeepSeek: 3 critical questions for the future of AI


This year started with a shockwave for the tech world, and the AI community in particular. Launched by a relatively obscure Chinese startup, DeepSeek not only challenged the rules of the AI game by sending Nvidia's stock plummeting 17 percent in one day and becoming the most-downloaded app on the App Store and Play Store, but also showed the persisting security problems by accidentally exposing its database and leaking sensitive data including chat histories, API keys and backend operational details.
Success and failures aside, DeepSeek made the world realize how quickly and deeply a single AI model release can impact global events, and this raises three questions. First, how legitimate (and sustainable) are the massive AI investments in the West? Second, what risks and opportunities does open-source development pose? Finally, is it possible to balance growth and innovation with data privacy and security amidst a global AI race?
MTA uses Google Pixel smartphones and AI to detect subway track defects


The subway in NYC has received a huge upgrade, but it’s probably not at all what you’d expect. No, it is not coming in the form of new trains or renovations to stations (even though that would be great). Actually, the MTA is testing a system that effectively transforms Google Pixel Android smartphones into powerful diagnostic tools for tracking rail defects!
The project, called “TrackInspect,” attaches Google Pixel phones to subway cars. Then, by using the Android devices’ built-in microphones and motion sensors, it detects vibrations and sound patterns. These sounds can indicate areas of track that may need maintenance. How cool is that?
Five ways data platforms are underpinning the second cloud revolution


According to Gartner, over the next few years hybrid cloud will become the de facto approach for unlocking value from data. The projections are stark. Nine-in-ten organizations will adopt a hybrid cloud model by 2027, and end user spending globally on public cloud will grow by 21.4 percent this year alone, reaching more than $723 billion. Application services, system infrastructure services and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) will all see a boost in spending as well. By anyone’s money, these are huge numbers.
This second cloud revolution is being driven by data. When combined with analytics, data is a uniquely valuable asset for any business. If harnessed correctly, it can grow revenue, reduce costs, and entirely transform a business by opening up fresh market opportunities through the use of new technologies like GenAI.
Samsung 9100 PRO SSD delivers insane PCIe 5.0 speeds


If you thought solid state drive manufacturers were going to be slowing down their progress, you should think again. Today, Samsung unveils its 9100 PRO series, and it’s insanely fast. Using PCIe 5.0, it achieves up to 14,800 MB/s read and 13,400 MB/s write speeds! That’s twice as fast as its predecessor. So, yeah, this is a pretty big deal.
There are two variants of the SSD -- the standard 9100 PRO and a version with a heatsink for better cooling. Samsung has equipped these drives with a power-efficient 5nm controller, reducing energy use by nearly 50 percent. Impressively, random read/write speeds can hit 2,200K/2,600K IOPS.
How cloud security teams should think about AI


According to estimates from Goldman Sachs, generative AI (GenAI) will constitute 10-15 percent of cloud spending by 2030, or a forecasted $200-300 billion (USD). The public cloud serves as the perfect vessel for delivering AI-enabled applications quickly, cost-effectively, and at scale. For organizations looking to profit from AI’s potential, the path effectively travels through the cloud.
For cloud security teams on the ground, however, the impact of AI can seem complicated. Understanding the challenges it presents, and the key capabilities it enables, can help them work smarter and more effectively. This article explores the three ways cloud security teams should think about AI to enhance protections, improve efficiency, and address resource constraints.
Google I/O 2025 is set for May 20-21, 2025 -- here’s what to expect


Mark your calendars, fellow tech fans! Google I/O 2025 is happening on May 20-21 at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Can’t make it in person? No worries, you can join in the fun online at io.google -- registration is open now.
This is Google’s biggest bash for developers, where the search giant will show off all the cool new stuff in tech, software, and AI. The event will surely offer some big announcements -- think new gadgets and software updates. After that, there’s a whole bunch of workshops, sessions, and meet-ups for everyone to get hands-on and network.
Microsoft and Apple should take a long hard look at Elon Musk’s ‘Big Balls’


Elon Musk has a reputation for rewriting the rules, and his latest venture at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is no exception. He’s brought on a 19-year-old known as "Big Balls" to help overhaul how the government operates, causing quite the stir, not only because of the nickname, but because of his young age.
"Big Balls" isn't just a provocative moniker regarding large testicles, however. Actually, this name more likely embodies courage, bold decision-making, and a defiance against conventional challenges. These are the traits that fuel breakthroughs, and let's face it -- big tech could benefit from infusing some of that spirit into their operations.
The future is AI, zero trust, satellite, and network slicing


Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing how enterprises need to operate. Integrating cloud technology, robotics, mobile devices and IoT devices is essential to staying ahead in an increasingly competitive global market. To maximize the benefits of Industry 4.0, however, these technologies must always stay connected to a network.
This has become even more true as IT environments grow to massive scales and unprecedented digital dependencies drive business outcomes. In 2025, network downtime could carry a price tag with consequences we’ve never seen before. Therefore, as businesses look to cellular and/or hybrid approaches to enhance their wireless wide area networks (WWAN), they must depend on four things to create resilient connectivity -- artificial intelligence (AI), satellite, network slicing, and a renewed respect for zero-trust principles.
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