Tech3 outletsover 3h
Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers have reached an agreement establishing AI privacy standards for schools. The deal requires Microsoft to protect student data and makes the company liable for any breaches. It also prohibits Microsoft from using school data to train its AI systems.
TechMeme·The Verge·Engadget
Tech5 outletsover 30h
The Seattle Times and Newsday have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the companies trained generative-AI models on their journalism without permission and by scraping articles while bypassing paywalls. The complaint claims this practice violates the EU’s general-purpose AI code, diverts traffic and advertising revenue from the newspapers, and risks hallucinations that misattribute false information. Microsoft’s financial support of the Seattle Times is also cited in the filings.
Engadget·The Next Web·TechMeme·TechCrunch·The Verge
Tech3 outlets
Microsoft has addressed the issue of LG monitors displaying unwanted McAfee advertisements on Windows systems, indicating that the company is working with LG to resolve the problem. Following pressure from Microsoft, LG has pledged to cease the placement of these ads on its monitors, ending the unsolicited promotional content.
Ars Technica·The Verge·Engadget
Tech3 outletsover 3h
Microsoft is cutting AI spending by replacing OpenAI and Anthropic models with its own MAI models in products such as Excel and Outlook. The move is part of a broader cost-cutting effort that includes other Silicon Valley firms. The shift aims to optimize AI resources and reduce overall AI expenses.
TechMeme·The Next Web·TechCrunch
Tech3 outletsover 28h
Major technology firms are advancing AI hardware, with Microsoft and NVIDIA collaborating on next-generation AI platforms, AMD releasing a Ryzen-based AI development kit, and DeepSeek beginning work on its own inference-focused AI chip. These efforts aim to broaden AI compute options and lessen dependence on existing GPU suppliers.
VentureBeat·Hacker News·TechMeme
Tech4 outletsover 9h
Microsoft has entered a 20-year agreement with Chevron to supply natural-gas power for a planned data center in West Texas. The partnership will create one of the largest gas-powered data-center projects in the United States, positioning the facility as a major component of the region’s emerging tech infrastructure.
TechMeme·The Next Web·Hacker News·TechCrunch
Tech3 outlets
Reid Hoffman, who has served on Microsoft’s board since 2017, will not stand for re-election at the company’s 2026 annual meeting and is departing the board. He is leaving to devote his efforts to Manus, an AI-driven drug-discovery startup, shifting into “founder mode.”
TechMeme·TechCrunch·The Next Web
Tech3 outlets
Microsoft has overhauled the design of Copilot within Microsoft 365, replacing the previous interface with a minimalist black-and-white, text-focused layout that presents a cleaner, more buttoned-up appearance. The update also includes performance improvements that speed up the service, aiming to deliver a more consistent user experience across the suite.
Engadget·The Verge·TechMeme
Tech3 outlets
Google, Microsoft, and xAI have agreed to give the U.S. government early access to their new AI models. The companies will allow government reviewers to examine the models before they are released to the public. This cooperation is intended to ensure the models meet regulatory and security standards.
Engadget·Hacker News·The Verge
Tech4 outlets
The U.S. Department of Defense has entered into agreements with Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services to supply artificial-intelligence tools for deployment on classified military networks. The contracts are intended to enable “lawful” use of the AI technologies within the Pentagon’s secure environments.
TechMeme·The Verge·Engadget·TechCrunch
Tech5 outlets
Microsoft and OpenAI have altered their exclusive partnership, ending the revenue-share arrangement and allowing OpenAI to sell its products on any cloud platform, including AWS and Google Cloud. The change also enables Amazon to make OpenAI’s models available through AWS, expanding the range of cloud services that can host OpenAI’s offerings.
TechMeme·Hacker News·TechCrunch·Ars Technica·VentureBeat
Tech3 outlets
Microsoft and OpenAI have eliminated the clause that would have given Microsoft intellectual-property rights up to the point OpenAI achieved artificial general intelligence, swapping it for a fixed-term arrangement. The previously touted “AGI” agreement is no longer in effect, and OpenAI has exited the exclusivity provisions that bound its partnership with Microsoft.
TechMeme·The Verge·Engadget
Tech3 outlets
Microsoft’s Copilot Terms of Use state that the service is for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied upon for important advice. The terms also warn users that they should not trust the model’s outputs unthinkingly. This disclaimer is repeated across multiple sources.
TechMeme·Hacker News·TechCrunch
Tech3 outletsover 21h
Microsoft’s newly appointed gaming chief, Asha Sharma, has pledged a “return of Xbox,” emphasizing a focus on player-centric experiences and new game categories. She vowed the platform will not be inundated with low-quality, “soulless” AI-generated content, stressing that any AI integration will be strategic and uphold quality standards. Additionally, longtime gaming leader Phil Spencer is set to depart the division.
The Verge·TechMeme·TechCrunch
Tech3 outletsover 6h
AMD indicates that Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox is slated for a 2027 release and that development is progressing well. The console will be built around a custom AMD semi-custom system-on-chip, with AMD prepared to support the launch. The announcement suggests a major upgrade for the upcoming Xbox platform.
The Verge·TechMeme·Engadget
Tech3 outletsover 2h
Microsoft reported second-quarter revenue of $81.3 billion, a 17 percent increase year over year, while its cloud segment grew 26 percent to $51.5 billion. Azure revenue rose 39 percent year over year, and the cloud-computing business slightly exceeded quarterly expectations. Overall, the company posted strong growth in its cloud services despite a decline in gaming revenue.
TechMeme·The Verge·TechCrunch
Tech3 outletsover 25h
Elon Musk is pursuing a $134 billion payout from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the companies have abandoned OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission. The lawsuit filings describe Microsoft’s decade-long relationship with OpenAI and reveal that a new subsidiary was planned during the period when Sam Altman was fired.
Ars Technica·Engadget·TechMeme
Tech3 outletsover 22h
Microsoft is set to add an ad-supported tier to Xbox Cloud Gaming, slated for launch in 2026. The free tier will give non-subscribers up to five hours of gameplay each month, limited to one-hour sessions that include preroll advertisements, and will allow streaming of games they own but not access to the full Xbox Cloud Gaming library.
TechMeme·Ars Technica·The Verge
Tech3 outletsover 33h
Microsoft’s recent Windows 11 update introduced a Secure Launch bug that prevented some PCs from shutting down or entering hibernation, and also disrupted remote-desktop logins. An emergency update was subsequently released to correct the issue and restore normal shutdown and remote-desktop functionality.
Hacker News·The Verge·Engadget