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Report: OpenAI’s ex-CTO, Mira Murati, has recruited OpenAI co-founder John Schulman

OpenAI co-founder John Schulman, who left AI company Anthropic earlier this week after a mere five months, is reportedly joining former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s secretive new startup, per Fortune. It’s not clear what Schulman’s role there will be. Fortune wasn’t able to learn that information, and Murati has been tight-lipped about the venture since…

Orgs demand action to mitigate AI’s environmental harm

A group of more than 100 organizations has published an open letter calling on the AI industry and regulators to mitigate the tech’s harmful environmental impacts just days before leading industry CEOs, heads of state, academics, and nonprofits descend on Paris for a major AI conference. The letter, which bears the signatures of prominent advocacy…

Government agency removes spoon emoji from work platform amid protests

According to a New York Times report, on Thursday, the U.S. government’s General Services Administration (GSA) removed the spoon emoji as an option that users of its videoconferencing platform can select to express themselves. The move comes a day after workers embraced the digital cutlery to protest the Trump administration’s “Fork in the Road” resignation…

DOJ disbands foreign influence task force, limits scope of FARA prosecutions 

One of the first acts taken by Pam Bondi after being sworn in as attorney general was to disband an FBI task force  that countered the influence of adversarial foreign governments on American politics. In a memo issued Wednesday, Bondi wrote that the Department of Justice would be shifting resources in its National Security Division,…

Video: Twenty Years Of Nerds That Care With James Rocker

James Rocker, founder and CEO of Long Island, NY-Based managed service provider Nerds That Care, says he still hears from marketing experts fascinated by his company’s name even after being in operation for 20 years. On this latest episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV, Rocker explains how he drew inspiration from the name and brand…

Early Meta employee sues for sexual harassment, gender discrimination  

One of Meta’s earliest employees is suing the company for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation, according to a lawsuit filed this week in the state of Washington. Kelly Stonelake, who spent 15 years at the company and rose to the rank of director, alleges in the lawsuit she faced a cycle of gender-based discrimination…

OpenAI now reveals more of its o3-mini model’s thought process

In response to pressure from rivals including Chinese AI company DeepSeek, OpenAI is changing the way its newest AI model, o3-mini, communicates its step-by-step “thought” process. On Thursday, OpenAI announced that free and paid users of ChatGPT, the company’s AI-powered chatbot platform, will see an updated “chain of thought” that shows more of the model’s…

BTS #45 – Understanding Firmware Vulnerabilities in Network Appliances

In this episode, Paul, Vlad, and Chase discuss the security challenges associated with Palo Alto devices and network appliances. They explore the vulnerabilities present in these devices, the importance of best practices in device management, and the need for automatic updates. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of firmware vulnerabilities and the necessity for compensating…

Pour one out for Cruise and why autonomous vehicle test miles dropped 50%

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! We knew this day was coming: Cruise is dead — at least as a robotaxi company. General Motors completed its acquisition of GM Cruise Holdings LLC; Cruise is…

Tinder will try AI-powered matching as dating app continues to lose users

Tinder hopes to reverse its ongoing decline in active users by turning to AI. In the coming quarter, the Match-owned dating app will roll out new AI-powered features for discovery and matching. The addition aims to offer fatigued singles an alternative to the “swipe” that defined the dating app in its earlier days and influenced…

Experts Flag Security, Privacy Risks in DeepSeek AI App

New mobile apps from the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek have remained among the top three “free” downloads for Apple and Google devices since their debut on Jan. 25, 2025. But experts caution that many of DeepSeek’s design choices — such as using hard-coded encryption keys, and sending unencrypted user and device data to…

Snap CEO helps launch LA wildfire recovery program

Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Miguel Santana, the chief executive of the California Community Foundation, are launching a program focused on helping residents in Altadena and Pacific Palisades rebuild on their own terms after last month’s wildfires. The California Community Foundation, Snap, Spiegel, and Snap CTO Bobby Murphy are committing $10 million in funding to staff…

Google is adding digital watermarks to images edited with Magic Editor AI

Google on Thursday announced that effective this week, it will begin adding a digital watermark to images in Photos that are edited with generative AI. The watermark applies specifically to images that are altered using the Reimagine feature found in Magic Editor on Pixel 9 devices. Announced in 2024, Reimagine utilizes generative AI to alter…

Snapchat+ subscribers can now create custom AI-generated stickers

In a bid to boost its subscription service and attract more paying users, Snapchat is rolling out additional features for Snapchat+ subscribers, including allowing Snapchat+ subscribers to create AI-generated stickers in chats. The social media company and is also adding the option to send self-destructing Snaps. Snapchat+ subscribers in the U.S. can now create and…

Ford goes protectionist as EV losses top $5B

Ford CEO Jim Farley has a question about President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China: Why stop there? Farley said in a conference call Wednesday that Trump’s selective approach “doesn’t make sense.” “Why are we having this conversation while Hyundai-Kia is importing 600,000 units in the U.S. with no incremental…

Police arrest teenager suspected of hacking NATO and numerous Spanish institutions

Spain‘s National Police, in a joint operation with the Civil Guard, has arrested an 18-year-old suspected of being the hacker going by aliases including “Natohub,” and known for hacking the computer services of private companies and Spanish institutions such as the Civil Guard, the Ministry of Defense, the National Mint, and the Ministry of Education,…

Fintech Ramp lands Eagles’ Saquon Barkley as investor and Super Bowl commercial star

Philadelphia Eagles’ star running back Saquon Barkley has not only become an investor in fintech startup Ramp, he is also the star of the company’s first Super Bowl commercial. Interestingly, it was Barkley who reached out to Ramp about investing, not the other way around as is so often the case with celebrity endorsements.  Barkley…

EU details which systems fall within AI Act’s scope

The European Union has published guidance on what constitutes an AI system under its new AI Act. The risk-based framework for regulating applications of artificial intelligence came into force last summer — with the first compliance deadline (on banned use cases) kicking in last weekend. Determining whether a particular software system falls within the act’s…

Mark Zuckerberg’s charity insists its not abandoning its DEI efforts

Mark Zuckerberg’s charity has told its employees it will remain committed to DEI even as Meta eliminates its DEI programs, The Guardian reports.  Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), founded and co-led by Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, reassured its employees after many began expressing concerns about recent changes at Meta as the company scales back…

GitHub Copilot brings mockups to life by generating code from images

GitHub has announced a slew of updates for Copilot, while also giving a glimpse into a more agentic future for its AI-powered pair programmer. Among the notable updates includes a feature called Vision for Copilot, which allows users to attach a screenshot, photo, or diagram to a chat, with Copilot generating the interface, code, and…

RPLY is a new AI assistant that responds to missed texts

A new Mac app called RPLY launches today, designed to help texters achieve “inbox zero” on iMessage.  Targeting those who often forget to reply and leave their friends on delivered for days, RPLY utilizes AI to identify missed texts and suggests responses to prevent users from unintentionally ghosting. The AI assistant can automatically respond to…

Keyboard maker suspends U.S. shipments over Trump tariffs on Chinese goods

The mechanical keyboard maker Qwertykeys announced Wednesday that it has suspended all U.S. product shipments owing to new tariffs levied by the Trump administration. The Guangdong-based outfit cites a February 1 announcement of 10% tariffs on imported Chinese goods as the motivating factor. “This new policy replaces all previous tariff exemptions, including the exemption for…

Flashes, a photo-sharing app for Bluesky, opens beta

Flashes, an Instagram alternative built on top of the Bluesky social network, is now opening its doors to beta testers. Announced just weeks ago, the app offers people a means of exiting Meta’s social networking empire for a more open alternative, while also attracting new users who may not have been interested in using Bluesky’s…

Cyber security training for executives: Why and how to build it

Building effective cyber security training for executives is no longer just an option—it’s a business necessity. In today’s rapid information sharing world, executive cyber awareness is The post Cyber security training for executives: Why and how to build it appeared first on Security Boulevard.

Tinder revamps ‘Explore’ page to connect people with similar dating intentions 

Dating app giant Tinder updated its Explore page to give users access to new categories, “Non-Monogamy,” “Serious Dater,” “Short-Term Fun,” “Long-Term Partner,” and “New Friends,”  the company announced on Thursday.  These new categories are designed to help users find compatible matches by grouping profiles according to dating intentions. The “Serious Dater” option focuses on users…

OpenAI co-founder John Schulman leaves Anthropic after just five months

OpenAI co-founder and prominent AI researcher John Schulman has left Anthropic after five months, according to multiple reports. Credited as one of the leading architects of ChatGPT, Schulman left OpenAI last August for its direct competitor, Anthropic. He posted about the decision on X, saying it stemmed from a desire to deepen his focus on AI alignment…

DEF CON 32 – How We Built Our REDACTED THING This Year

Our sincere appreciation to DEF CON, and the Authors/Presenters for publishing their erudite DEF CON 32 content. Originating from the conference’s events located at the Las Vegas Convention Center; and via the organizations YouTube channel. Permalink The post DEF CON 32 – How We Built Our REDACTED THING This Year appeared first on Security Boulevard.

Superlogic raises $13.7M at a $200M valuation to help consumers use reward points toward cool ‘experiences’

Superlogic, a startup that helps give consumers a way to apply rewards points toward experiences, has raised $13.7 million at a $200 million valuation, the company tells TechCrunch exclusively. Lin Dai, CEO and co-founder of Miami-based Superlogic, said his company’s technology is designed to “enhance the value of rewards points” by giving consumers a broader…

Hugging Face platform continues to be plagued by vulnerable ‘pickles’

Researchers at ReversingLabs have identified at least two machine-learning models on Hugging Face, a popular platform for community AI development, that link to malicious web shells and managed to evade detection through the use of “pickling.” Pickle files are python-based modules that allow a developer to serialize and deserialize code. They’re commonly used by AI…

Spotify, Warner Music Group sign new deal to help deliver ‘further paid subscription tiers’

Spotify and Warner Music Group (WMG) have unveiled a new multi-year agreement that covers both recorded music and music publishing, the companies announced on Thursday. WMG owns labels behind popular artists like Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran. The companies said in a press release that “the new deal will help deliver new fan experiences,…

Fake Google Chrome Sites Distribute ValleyRAT Malware via DLL Hijacking

Bogus websites advertising Google Chrome have been used to distribute malicious installers for a remote access trojan called ValleyRAT. The malware, first detected in 2023, is attributed to a threat actor tracked as Silver Fox, with prior attack campaigns primarily targeting Chinese-speaking regions like Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Mainland China. “This actor has increasingly targeted…

OpenAI launches data residency in Europe

OpenAI on Thursday launched data residency in Europe, allowing European organizations to meet local data sovereignty requirements while using the AI company’s products. Data residency refers to the physical location of an organization’s data, as well as the local laws and policy requirements imposed on that data. Most tech giants and cloud providers offer European…

Fizz brings on TikTok alum to help build out its marketplace and recommendation engine

Fizz, the college social app, is looking for ways to enhance and expand its platform, and a recent new hire is poised to help drive these ambitions. The company has brought on David Vasquez, who previously served as TikTok’s head of creator monetization and a product lead for TikTok Shop, as Fizz’s new head of…

Lyft’s new AI customer assistant is powered by Anthropic’s Claude

Ride-hail giant Lyft has partnered with AI startup Anthropic to build an AI assistant that handles initial intake for customer service inquiries for both riders and drivers.  It’s the first phase of a broader collaboration between the two companies to use Anthropic’s services to research and test new Lyft products and build software internally. The…

Pendulum’s AI-driven platform helps enterprises better predict supply and demand

Supply chains have had a tumultuous few years, beginning in 2020, when COVID-19 upended legacy global supply chains. More recently, the “TikTok-ification” of retail has companies like Shein and Temu creating new products constantly as consumer demands change at the same rapid pace. Pendulum aims to help companies better plan for supply and demand in…

Thailand cuts power and internet to areas of Myanmar to disrupt scam gangs

Well, this is a different approach to the scam problem… The government of Thailand has cut the power supply to areas near its border with Myanmar that are known to host brutal scam compounds. These heavily-guarded fraud factories house armies of people, coerced into defrauding innocent people through bogus investment and romance-baiting scams. Read more…

Spy vs spy: Security agencies help secure the network edge

The national intelligence services of five countries have offered enterprises advice on beating spies at their own game in a series of documents intended to help them protect network edge devices and appliances such as firewalls, routers, VPN (virtual private networks) gateways, internet of things (IoT) devices, internet-facing servers, and internet-facing OT (operational technology) systems…

You can now use ChatGPT web search without logging in

In a move that could make OpenAI’s chatbot a more appealing option over incumbents such as Google, the company is now allowing anyone use ChatGPT web search without having to log in. While OpenAI had previously allowed users to ask ChatGPT questions without signing in, responses were restricted to the chatbot’s last training update. Then…

Malicious package found in the Go ecosystem

A malicious typosquat package has been found in the Go language ecosystem. The package, which contains a backdoor to enable remote code execution, was discovered by researchers at the application security company Socket. A February 3 Socket blog post states that the package impersonates the widely used Bolt database module. The BoltDB package is widely adopted in the Go ecosystem,…

IMI becomes the latest British engineering firm to be hacked

British engineering company IMI has disclosed a cybersecurity incident just days after rival firm Smiths reported it was targeted by hackers.  IMI, a Birmingham-based firm that designs and manufactures products for industrial automation, transport, and climate control, said in a filing with the London Stock Exchange on Thursday that it is “currently responding to a…

Ransomware-Angriff auf Escada

Der Modehersteller Escada wird von einer Ransomware-Bande mit gestohlenen Daten erpresst. Indoor Vision – Shutterstock Die berüchtigte Ransomware-Bande Ransomhub hat kürzlich einen Hinweis auf einen Ransomware-Angriff bei dem Modehersteller Escada veröffentlicht. Demnach haben die Hacker dabei 473 Gigabyte an Unternehmensdaten erbeutet. Um welche Daten es sich genau handelt, ist bisher unklar. Die Hacker drohen damit,…

Shein gets more questions from EU about DSA compliance

After consumer protection scrutiny dialled up on fast-fashion giant Shein in the European Union on Wednesday, the bloc’s executive announced Thursday that it’s sent a fresh request for information (RFI) to the ecommerce platform under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a pan-EU online governance framework. The Commission oversees larger platforms’ compliance with a subset of…

Verizon Business Launches Solutions to Scale AI, Expand Partnerships

Verizon Business recently announced the launch of an integrated suite of solutions and products– called Verizon AI Connect– to enable businesses to deploy AI workloads at scale, along with expanding an AI-focused partnership with Vultr, a privately-held cloud infrastructure company, and others. Networks need to keep up with AI demand “We are seeing significant demand…

National MSP Integris on Driving Success Through Company Culture

Integris is a national MSP providing cloud, security, and other IT services to clients in industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and more. Recently, the company earned a spot in the top 50 on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2025 list in recognition of its company culture and overall employee satisfaction. Channel Insider spoke with Integris…

Pax8 Adds Foxit’s Innovative PDF and eSignature Solutions to its Cloud Marketplace

Pax8, the leading cloud commerce marketplace, has added new offerings to the Pax8 Marketplace from Foxit, a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services. With Foxit’s advanced document management technology now available in the marketplace, Pax8’s global network of partners can now access document management solutions that enable them to dramatically enhance…

Lazarus Group tricks job seekers on LinkedIn with crypto-stealer

North Korea-linked Lazarus Group is duping job seekers and professionals in an ongoing campaign that runs a LinkedIn recruiting scam to capture browser credentials, steal crypto wallet data, and launch persistence. According to a discovery made by BitDefender Labs, threat actors reach out with fake LinkedIn job offers to lure the victims into downloading and…

India’s Zomato to rebrand as Eternal

Indian food delivery group Zomato plans to rename itself as Eternal, a strategic shift as its quick commerce unit Blinkit becomes a significant driver of future growth. The Gurugram-based company, which joined India’s benchmark BSE Sensex in December, said on Tuesday the name change would better reflect its expanding business portfolio that includes quick commerce…

SparkCat Malware Uses OCR to Extract Crypto Wallet Recovery Phrases from Images

A new malware campaign dubbed SparkCat has leveraged a suit of bogus apps on both Apple’s and Google’s respective app stores to steal victims’ mnemonic phrases associated with cryptocurrency wallets.  The attacks leverage an optical character recognition (OCR) model to exfiltrate select images containing wallet recovery phrases from photo libraries to a command-and-control (C2) server,

The Evolving Role of PAM in Cybersecurity Leadership Agendas for 2025

Privileged Access Management (PAM) has emerged as a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies, shifting from a technical necessity to a critical pillar in leadership agendas. With the PAM market projected to reach $42.96 billion by 2037 (according to Research Nester), organizations invest heavily in PAM solutions. Why is PAM climbing the ranks of leadership priorities?…

North Korean APT Kimsuky Uses forceCopy Malware to Steal Browser-Stored Credentials

The North Korea-linked nation-state hacking group known as Kimsuky has been observed conducting spear-phishing attacks to deliver an information stealer malware named forceCopy, according to new findings from the AhnLab Security Intelligence Center (ASEC). The attacks commence with phishing emails containing a Windows shortcut (LNK) file that’s disguised as a Microsoft Office or PDF document.

First lab-grown meat treats go on sale in the UK — for dogs

Cultivated chicken doggie snacks have gone on sale at a U.K. pet food retailer, Pets at Home. The retailer also happens to be a major investor in Meatly, the startup producing the meat ingredient contained in dog food brand The Pack’s Chick Bites, as the slaughter-free, low carbon treats are billed. (Other ingredients in the…

Comstruct, a platform to digitize the construction industry, raises $13.5 million

When you think about platforms in the construction industry, chances are you’re thinking about concrete platforms designed to support steel beams and tall pillars. Munich-based startup Comstruct wants to design a different platform to digitize the construction industry — a software platform. And the startup is announcing a $12.5 million Series A round led by GV…

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