As a result of the agreement with Ubisoft, Microsoft believes its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard presents a substantially different transaction under U.K. law than the transaction Microsoft submitted for the CMA’s consideration in 2022, Microsoft President Brad Smith, via blog post.
Ubisoft will compensate Microsoft
for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payment and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism, including an option that
supports pricing based on usage, Microsoft President Brad Smith, via blog post.
Ubisoft shared the news as well.
With a single subscription to Ubisoft+ Multi Access, players will soon be able to play their favorite Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard games across multiple platforms including PC, Xbox consoles and Amazon Luna, and on the PlayStation platform through Ubisoft+ Classics, Ubisoft's Daniel O'Connor, via blog post.
The CMA will take a look at the restructured deal and make a decision by Oct.
18, Engadget reports.
.
The CMA will take a look at the restructured deal and make a decision by Oct.
18, Engadget reports.
.
This is not a green light.
We will carefully and objectively assess the details of the restructured deal and its impact on competition, including in light of third-party comments, Sarah Cardell, CMS chief executive, via statement.
Our goal has not changed — any future decision on this new deal will ensure that the growing cloud gaming market continues to benefit from open and effective competition driving innovation and choice, Sarah Cardell, CMS chief executive, via statement
Indian Cyber Coordination Centre and Microsoft collaborate to block over 1,000 Skype accounts linked to cyber fraud by fraudsters posing as police or government.. IndiaTimes
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.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
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
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Apple Sends iPhone Users in 92 Countries , a Spyware Attack Warning.
The message was sent on
April 10, Engadget reports. .
Apple detected that you are being targeted
by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying
to remotely compromise the iPhone
associated with your Apple ID -xxx-, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
This attack is likely targeting
you specifically because of
who you are or what you do. , Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Although it's never possible to achieve
absolute certainty when detecting such
attacks, Apple has high confidence in
this warning — please take it seriously, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Internal information and investigations are used by the tech giant to pinpoint attacks. .
However, Apple couldn't provide any more information about the mercenary spyware attacks because it might "help attackers avoid future detection," Engadget reports. .
Apple has sent this type of message
to customers in the past.
Since 2021, people in over 150 countries
have gotten similar warnings.
Last October, journalists and politicians located in India were among those
who received such a message
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
All iOS Users Can Now , Log In to X With a Passkey.
While U.S. iOS users were given the option
to use passkeys back in January, .
global iOS users are now able to do the
same on the social media platform.
The login alternative is considered to be
safer than passwords, Engadget reports.
That's because passkeys aren't susceptible
to phishing and other schemes.
In order to use passkeys on X, open the
iOS app, click "Your account," and then
go to "Settings and privacy.".
Next, navigate to "Security and account access"
and then "Additional password protection.".
Passkeys can be found under
"Additional password protection.".
It is not clear if X intends to make the same option available for Android users, Engadget reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
LinkedIn Is Developing , In-App Games.
Networking is about to become more entertaining, Engadget reports. .
The jobs-focused social media platform will soon offer its users puzzle-based games.
The jobs-focused social media platform will soon offer its users puzzle-based games.
Nima Owji, an app researcher, posted screenshots of some of the upcoming games.
LinkedIn also confirmed the development
of the games to TechCrunch.
We’re playing with adding puzzle-based
games within the LinkedIn experience to
unlock a bit of fun, deepen relationships,
and hopefully spark the opportunity
for conversations. Stay tuned for more!, LinkedIn spokesperson, to TechCrunch.
Upcoming titles include
'Queens,' 'Inference' and 'Crossclimb.'.
Companies will reportedly be ranked in the games based on how their employees score.
A release date has yet to be announced.
It's also not clear whether only
paid subscribers will have access to the
games or if free users can play as well. .
It's also not clear whether only
paid subscribers will have access to the
games or if free users can play as well.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published