New York has enacted a new law requiring major AI developers to be more transparent about safety. However, the financial penalties for violations were significantly reduced from the original proposal. The move follows similar legislation in California.
Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 that shows AI agent progress directly on the taskbar. It starts with the Researcher agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot, letting users track long tasks without keeping the app open.
The channel saw major strategic plays this week. Google Cloud previewed a partner program overhaul for 2026, while Red Hat and Cyderes made acquisitions to boost AI safety and identity security. CrowdStrike and a Redpanda-Akamai alliance rounded out the big news.
Instacart is paying a $60 million settlement to the FTC over allegations of false advertising. The agency says the company misled customers on delivery fees, free trials, and its satisfaction guarantee. This is a big deal for the entire gig economy.
TikTok and ByteDance have signed binding agreements to form a new U.S. joint venture, averting a ban. The deal, set to close on Jan. 22, gives Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX significant control, with Oracle becoming the “trusted security partner.”
In an industry obsessed with more content, a standout developer’s key advice is to cut, not add. Sandfall Interactive, creator of the acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, told Phantom Blade Zero’s director that their focus for the final stretch is deletion and polish. It’s a refreshing take in an
Sam Altman says OpenAI has entered emergency “code red” mode several times in 2024. The triggers were the launches of Google’s Gemini 3 and China’s DeepSeek models, which forced rapid product shifts.
Gmail’s convenience comes with privacy trade-offs, as it collects data on when and how you open emails. You can fight back by enabling a key setting that blocks hidden tracking pixels. A few more adjustments can significantly reduce your data exposure.
Starting with a simple Home Assistant setup, the author expanded his homelab using Proxmox virtualization to run TrueNAS, Jellyfin, and a suite of self-hosted apps. The project, documented in August 2024, shows how a single, quiet computer can replace cloud services and run an entire home’s digital
Meta is rolling out a new “conversation focus” feature for its AI glasses. The software update amplifies a conversation partner’s voice in loud settings like restaurants or public transit.
