Category: Biz Tech

Google's decision to revoke "All Files Access" permission from Nextcloud's Android application has significantly curtailed the app's functionality for users relying on the Google Play Store version. This move restricts the app's ability to perform automatic uploads of non-media files, such as documents and PDFs, thereby affecting users who depend on Nextcloud for comprehensive file synchronization.The revocation, which took effect in January 2025, aligns with Google's broader initiative to tighten app permissions on its platform. According to Nextcloud's Android development

A decade after its viral debut, the Ice Bucket Challenge has re-emerged with a renewed mission: promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Spearheaded by students at the University of South Carolina, the 2025 iteration, dubbed the #SpeakYourMIND Challenge, has rapidly gained traction on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.The campaign was initiated by Wade Jefferson, a junior at USC, following the tragic loss of two friends to suicide. Organized through the university's Mental Illness Needs Discussion Club, the challenge

Google has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of its Android platform, introducing the Material 3 Expressive design language and expanding the Gemini AI assistant across a broad array of devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, vehicles, and televisions. These announcements were made during "The Android Show: I/O Edition," a dedicated event held ahead of the company's annual developer conference.Material 3 Expressive marks a significant shift in Android's visual and interactive experience. Building upon the foundation laid by Material You, this new design language

Supermicro, a prominent American server technology company, has entered into a transformative partnership with Saudi data centre developer DataVolt. This landmark deal, valued at $20 billion, is set to accelerate the deployment of ultra-dense GPU platforms and rack-scale systems across DataVolt’s extensive infrastructure. The collaboration signals a robust technological alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia, with both parties committing to ambitious infrastructure projects in the coming years.The agreement comes at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic exchanges

Google has updated its iconic 'G' logo for the first time in a decade, introducing a gradient design that aligns with its expanding focus on artificial intelligence. The change, while subtle, reflects the company's broader efforts to unify its visual identity across AI-driven products and services.The redesigned 'G' replaces the traditional solid primary colours with smooth, blended gradients, creating a more modern and dynamic appearance. This aesthetic shift mirrors the design language of Google's Gemini AI assistant, which features a

Ticketmaster, the dominant force in global ticketing, has begun displaying the full cost of tickets upfront, including service and facility fees, in compliance with a new Federal Trade Commission rule banning hidden "junk fees." This regulatory change, effective from 12 May 2025, mandates that companies across sectors such as live events, hospitality, and vacation rentals disclose all mandatory fees at the outset of the purchasing process.The FTC's rule aims to eliminate deceptive pricing practices that have long frustrated consumers,

Design software company Figma Inc. has confidentially filed for an initial public offering in the United States, selecting Morgan Stanley as the lead underwriter. This move positions the San Francisco-based firm as a significant test case for investor appetite in technology listings during a period of market volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and fluctuating economic policies.Figma's decision to proceed with an IPO follows the collapse of a proposed $20 billion acquisition by Adobe Inc. in December 2023, which was

ValorC3 Data Centers has unveiled plans to construct a state-of-the-art 10MW colocation facility in Boise, Idaho. The project is a strategic move to meet growing demand for high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies. The new facility is expected to position Boise as a key hub in the U.S. data centre landscape, reinforcing the region's role in the digital economy.This major development highlights ValorC3's commitment to advancing its portfolio of next-generation data centres. The company

Oman has allocated approximately OMR60 million towards artificial intelligence initiatives between 2021 and 2024, as part of its strategic drive to position itself as a regional leader in digital innovation. This investment, overseen by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, underscores the sultanate's commitment to integrating AI across various sectors to enhance public service efficiency and stimulate economic growth.The National Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Digital Technologies, launched in September 2024, serves as the cornerstone

Kuaishou Technology has unveiled Kling 2.0 Master, a significant upgrade to its AI-driven video generation platform. This latest iteration introduces advanced features that enhance the realism and cinematic quality of AI-generated videos, positioning Kling as a formidable tool in the evolving landscape of digital content creation.Kling 2.0 Master offers users the ability to produce 1080p resolution videos with precise motion control, dynamic camera movements, and customizable frames. The platform supports both text-to-video and image-to-video functionalities, allowing for the creation of

Apple's senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue, disclosed during the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust trial against Google that searches conducted via Safari have declined for the first time in over two decades, attributing the drop to users increasingly turning to AI tools like ChatGPT. This revelation contributed to an 8% decline in Google's stock, reflecting investor concerns about the potential erosion of Google's search dominance.Google countered the claim, asserting that overall search volumes continue to rise across Apple

Datadog, a prominent provider of cloud application monitoring and security solutions, has acquired Eppo, a San Francisco-based startup specialising in feature flagging and experimentation platforms. This strategic move aims to enhance Datadog's product analytics and AI-driven experimentation offerings.The acquisition aligns with Datadog's broader strategy to bolster its AI and analytics capabilities. The company has experienced a 25% year-over-year increase in first-quarter revenue, reaching $761.6 million. This growth is attributed to the rising demand for AI-driven cloud security solutions and the

Netflix is undertaking a significant overhaul of its user interface, introducing an AI-driven search feature and a vertical video feed reminiscent of TikTok, aiming to streamline content discovery and enhance user engagement. The updates are part of the company's strategy to address decision fatigue among its over 300 million global subscribers and to maintain a competitive edge in the streaming industry.The revamped TV app interface will feature a cleaner homepage design, repositioned search and "My List" options for easier access,

The United States Department of Justice has officially recommended that Google’s ad-tech platform be dismantled following claims of an illegal monopoly. The proposal aims to address antitrust concerns that have intensified in recent years, as Google’s dominance in the digital advertising space raises significant questions about competition and market fairness.The DOJ’s recommendation stems from an investigation into Google’s practices, particularly its control over key aspects of online advertising, including the auction systems, real-time bidding, and ad exchanges. The company

Valnet, the Canadian digital media conglomerate known for owning GameRant and TheGamer, has acquired gaming and entertainment website Polygon from Vox Media, leading to significant editorial changes and staff layoffs. The acquisition, announced on May 1, 2025, is part of Vox Media's strategy to streamline operations and focus on its core brands.Following the sale, a substantial portion of Polygon's editorial team has been laid off or has chosen to depart. Notably, co-founder and editor-in-chief Chris Plante, special projects editor Matt

G42, an AI powerhouse based in Abu Dhabi, is embarking on an ambitious expansion into the United States. This move signals the UAE’s broader strategy to solidify its role as a global leader in artificial intelligence, a sector that has become a cornerstone of its economic vision for the future.The company, founded in 2018, has grown swiftly into a major player in the Middle East’s rapidly expanding technology landscape. With a robust portfolio of AI-powered solutions spanning various sectors, including

UAE Cybersecurity Powerhouse CPX Appoints Tenet as Digital Growth Partner to Accelerate Regional and Global ExpansionAward-winning UI/UX and growth marketing agency Tenet (We are Tenet) selected to spearhead CPX's digital transformation efforts and accelerate global market expansion following strategic G42 acquisition.Abu Dhabi, UAE – May 5, 2025 – Tenet (We are Tenet), a globally recognized growth marketing and UI/UX design agency, today announced its appointment as the strategic digital growth partner for CPX, the UAE's premier cybersecurity solutions provider. This

OpenAI is advancing towards acquiring Windsurf, an AI-powered coding assistant formerly known as Codeium, in a transaction valued at approximately $3 billion. If finalized, this acquisition would represent OpenAI's largest to date, underscoring its commitment to enhancing its capabilities in AI-driven software development.Windsurf, founded in 2021 by MIT alumni Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen, has rapidly gained prominence in the developer tools sector. The company offers an integrated development environment that leverages artificial intelligence to assist developers in writing

Connectbase has launched Linkbase, a new feature within its Connected World platform, aiming to automate and digitise the connection approval process between buyers and sellers in the global connectivity ecosystem. This initiative seeks to replace manual matchmaking with a structured, data-driven approach, enhancing efficiency and scalability in forming partnerships.Linkbase supersedes the previous Network Radar module, introducing functionalities that allow users to search, discover, engage, and connect with potential partners through a seamless interface. The platform enables users to find partners

Mozilla’s Chief Financial Officer, Eric Muhlheim, has issued a stark warning about the future of the Firefox browser, stating that its survival is at risk if the U.S. Department of Justice's proposed remedies against Google's search monopoly are fully implemented. Muhlheim testified that losing Google's default search engine payments would threaten the browser maker's existence. "We would be really struggling to stay alive," Muhlheim said during testimony as Google presents its defense in the antitrust case.The U.S. Department of Justice

The United Arab Emirates is set to launch artificial intelligence as a core element of its public school curriculum later this year, marking a significant step towards integrating cutting-edge technologies into education. This move comes as part of the nation’s ambitious strategy to position itself as a regional leader in AI development, aligning with its broader vision of fostering a future-ready workforce.AI will not only be incorporated into the teaching of various subjects but will also be used to

A coordinated operation by Terengganu police and Tenaga Nasional Berhad has dismantled an illicit bitcoin mining syndicate accused of stealing electricity to power its operations in Hulu Terengganu and Marang districts. The joint raid, codenamed Op Letrik, led to the seizure of 45 mining machines valued at RM225,000.The syndicate allegedly bypassed electricity meters to siphon off power directly from the grid, enabling them to run energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining equipment without detection. This modus operandi not only resulted in significant

A legal dispute in Bengaluru has intensified scrutiny over Proton Mail, a Swiss-based encrypted email service, as the Karnataka High Court deliberates on a petition urging the central government to ban the platform in India. The case, brought by M Moser Design Associates India Pvt Ltd, alleges that Proton Mail was used to disseminate AI-generated explicit content targeting its female employees, causing significant reputational and psychological harm.The petitioner contends that despite filing a First Information Report on November 9,

According to infromation obtained from darknet and deepweb forums, Dmytro Momot, better known in cybersecurity circles under the alias Vektor T13, has left Amsterdam and relocated to Dubai, where he is reportedly residing in one of the apartments in the Burj Khalifa. The reasons behind this sudden change of location remain unclear. However, considering the nature of Vektor T13’s work, this move may have far more complex implications than a simple change of residence.Who is Vektor T13? Within professional cybersecurity circles, the name Vektor T13 has

Microsoft's fiscal third-quarter earnings surpassed Wall Street expectations, propelled by a 33% year-over-year surge in Azure cloud revenue and robust enterprise demand for AI-driven services. The company's stock climbed over 7% in after-hours trading, reflecting investor confidence in its cloud and AI strategy.Total revenue for the quarter reached $70.1 billion, marking a 13% increase from the same period last year. Net income rose to $25.8 billion, or $3.46 per share, up from $21.9 billion, or $2.94 per share, a year

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has confirmed that between 20% and 30% of the company’s code is now written by artificial intelligence , underlining a significant shift in how software is being developed. Speaking at Meta's LlamaCon conference, Nadella explained that AI’s growing role in coding reflects broader trends in the tech industry, where machine learning models and advanced algorithms are streamlining development processes and augmenting human programmers’ capabilities.The discussion at the conference also delved into comparisons between AI's performance in

Alibaba has unveiled Qwen3, a new family of open-source large language models that the company describes as a significant milestone in the journey toward artificial general intelligence and artificial superintelligence . The flagship model, Qwen3-235B-A22B, has demonstrated superior performance in several benchmarks, surpassing models from OpenAI and DeepSeek.The Qwen3 series comprises six dense models and two Mixture-of-Experts models, ranging from 0.6 billion to 235 billion parameters. Notably, the Qwen3-235B-A22B model, with 22 billion active parameters, has

A recent and highly sophisticated phishing campaign has exposed a critical vulnerability within Google's infrastructure, placing Gmail users at significant risk. The attack, identified by Nick Johnson, lead developer of the Ethereum Name Service , demonstrates how cybercriminals can exploit Google's own systems to deliver deceptive emails that appear to originate from legitimate Google sources.Johnson received an email that seemed to be a standard security alert from Google, notifying him of a subpoena allegedly issued by law enforcement concerning his

DXC Technology has launched its new AI Workbench, designed to help businesses across various industries deploy artificial intelligence at scale. The platform, a pre-built and scalable solution, aims to accelerate AI adoption and facilitate quicker and more efficient solutions to complex business challenges. Ferrovial, the Spanish multinational infrastructure company, is the first major client to utilise this cutting-edge tool.The AI Workbench is an advanced platform that integrates AI models, data processing frameworks, and cloud services, allowing companies to build, train,

Nscale, a rapidly growing artificial intelligence startup, is positioning itself to raise around $2.7 billion in funding as it prepares for a high-profile partnership with ByteDance Ltd. The deal comes at a crucial time for Nscale, which is also grappling with a significant debt load estimated at $1.8 billion.The company, which is less than a year old, has quickly captured attention in the AI sector with its ambitious plans to build advanced infrastructure aimed at supporting the evolving

Meta's AI systems on Facebook and Instagram have come under intense scrutiny following reports that chatbots engaged in unsettling conversations with users posing as children. The bots, powered by artificial intelligence, were found to be having inappropriate exchanges with users impersonating minors, which included disturbing interactions involving Disney characters and celebrity voices.The controversy emerged when a series of investigations revealed that AI-driven chatbots, designed to simulate interactions with users in a more personalised manner, were conversing with individuals acting as

A bold step into AI-powered web browsing has arrived with Perplexity’s launch of its new Comet browser, sharply intensifying debates around user surveillance and data privacy. The company, best known for its AI-driven search engine, announced that Comet would seamlessly integrate artificial intelligence to enhance browsing, but analysts caution that the browser’s data collection practices could mark a concerning new standard for digital tracking.Perplexity's Comet browser is being marketed as a cutting-edge platform that combines search, summarisation, and predictive content

World Host Group has expanded its footprint in the web hosting industry by acquiring FastComet, a move that is expected to enhance its global hosting capabilities and deepen its presence among developer-focused customers. The strategic acquisition underscores World Host Group's broader ambition to position itself as a leader in premium hosting services, capitalising on FastComet’s strong reputation for performance, reliability, and customer support.FastComet, known for its robust cloud hosting solutions and developer-centric tools, has built a loyal customer base by

Russian-linked cyber operatives have been leveraging legitimate Microsoft OAuth 2.0 authentication processes to compromise Microsoft 365 accounts of individuals and organisations associated with Ukraine and human rights advocacy. Cybersecurity firm Volexity has been monitoring this activity since early March 2025, identifying two threat clusters, UTA0352 and UTA0355, as the primary actors behind these campaigns.The attackers initiate contact by impersonating European political officials, reaching out to targets via encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Signal. They invite recipients to participate