Microsoft owes $29 billion in back taxes says US government

Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion Investment in Leading UAE Technology Firm

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 “was developed in close consultation with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”. In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft said the deal “was developed in close consultation with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”. 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.

US Government Emails With Microsoft Were Stolen by Russian Hackers

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

NYC’s AI Chatbot Has Been Telling Businesses to Break the Law

NYC’s 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. They’re 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. It’s clear they have no intention of doing what’s responsible, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor and director of the Center for Responsible AI at New York University, via statement. There’s a different level of trust that’s 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 city’s 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 it’s done. Only those who are fearful sit down and say, ‘Oh, it is not working the way we want, now we have to run away from it all together.’ I don’t 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.

OpenAI and Microsoft Make Plans for $100 Billion Data Center

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

China-Based Hackers Hit With Sanctions and Indictments Over Cyber Attacks

China-Based Hackers , Hit With Sanctions and Indictments , Over Cyber Attacks. ABC reports that the United States has sanctioned hackers based in China over alleged attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, a state-sponsored front company has provided cover for multiple cyber attacks on U.S. infrastructure. . Sanctions by the U.S. and the United Kingdom have targeted representatives of Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology Company Ltd. (Wuhan XRZ). The U.S. Treasury Department alleges that Wuhan XRZ acts as a China-based Ministry of State Security (MSS) front company. . ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy. . ABC reports that the allegations include malicious cyber operations that include the 2020 spear phishing operation against the U.S. Naval Academy. . On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations. On March 25, the U.S. Justice Department indicted seven individuals on charges stemming from their alleged involvement with these malicious operations. The Justice Department will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public, silence the dissidents who are protected by American laws, or steal from American businesses, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC. This case serves as a reminder of the ends to which the Chinese government is willing to go to target and intimidate its critics, including launching malicious cyber operations aimed at threatening the national security of the United States and our allies, Merrick Garland, Attorney General statement, via ABC. ABC reports that court documents show that the hackers targeted politicians and other prominent officials with "tracking links.". The Conspirators used this method to enable more direct and sophisticated targeting of recipients' home routers and other electronic devices, including those of high-ranking U.S. government officials and politicians and election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC. The Conspirators used this method to enable more direct and sophisticated targeting of recipients' home routers and other electronic devices, including those of high-ranking U.S. government officials and politicians and election campaign staff from both major U.S. political parties, Court documents, via ABC

IRS Says Deadline Approaching For Over $1 Billion in 2020 Tax Refunds

IRS Says Deadline Approaching , For Over $1 Billion , in 2020 Tax Refunds. NBC reports that the Internal Revenue Service has alerted anyone who didn't file a tax return at the height of the pandemic that they may be eligible for a refund. According to the IRS, over $1 billion in unclaimed refunds for 2020 are waiting to be claimed. . Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. taxpayers got an extension on the normal three-year filing window. . The new due date is now May 17, 2024, meaning the last chance for taxpayers to claim their 2020 refund is looming. . There’s money remaining on the table for hundreds of thousands of people who haven’t filed 2020 tax returns, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. There’s money remaining on the table for hundreds of thousands of people who haven’t filed 2020 tax returns, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. We want taxpayers to claim these refunds, but time is running out for people who may have overlooked or forgotten about these refunds. There’s a May 17 deadline to file these returns so taxpayers should start soon to make sure they don’t miss out, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. According to IRS estimates, , the median refund , for 2020 was $932. . People faced extremely unusual situations during the pandemic, which may have led some people to forget about a potential refund on their 2020 tax returns, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. People may have just overlooked these, including students, part-time workers and others. Some people may not realize they may be owed a refund. We encourage people to review their files and start gathering records now, so they don’t run the risk of missing the May deadline, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. People may have just overlooked these, including students, part-time workers and others. Some people may not realize they may be owed a refund. We encourage people to review their files and start gathering records now, so they don’t run the risk of missing the May deadline, Danny Werfel, IRS Commissioner, via NBC. NBC reports that the IRS noted that 2020 tax refunds could be withheld if the taxpayer also failed to file returns in 2021 or 2022