New York has become the second state to pass a major AI safety law, following California. The RAISE Act mandates safety disclosures from large AI developers and creates a new state office for oversight, but it faces immediate political and legal challenges.
Google’s Gemini AI is reportedly getting new features that could turn it into a central hub for everything from reading books to managing your account. This push suggests Google is serious about making Gemini your primary digital assistant.
Google has placed Aakash Woodward, a 42-year-old executive who started as an intern in 2009, at the center of its AI fight. He now runs the critical Gemini app while also heading Google Labs, as the company rushes to keep pace with rivals like OpenAI ahead of 2026.
The Chrome and Chromium browsers are making significant strides for Linux users. Native printing support via the XDG portal is being added, and proper HDR color management for Wayland is now under review.
Starbucks has named Amazon grocery technology leader Anand Varadarajan as its new Chief Technology Officer. He starts on January 19, 2025, reporting directly to CEO Brian Niccol. The move is a key part of the “Back to Starbucks” turnaround effort launched last September.
Mastercard is partnering with fintech startup MoneyHash to offer a unified payment solution for merchants in emerging markets. The deal aims to tackle notoriously high payment failure and fraud rates by streamlining complex integrations.
Microsoft Teams is experiencing a widespread outage, with users reporting delayed messages and other service issues. This is the latest in a string of disruptions for Microsoft’s services this year.
Microsoft is rolling out a new Windows 11 Insider build that reworks the voice typing interface. The update removes a distracting full-screen overlay, integrating status directly into the touch keyboard. It’s a small change that could make a big difference for tablet and touch users.
Microsoft is prepping Windows Insiders for a new era of AI agents that will live on the taskbar. The first to arrive is the Researcher agent from Microsoft 365 Copilot, with a new framework to support more in the future. This is part of a substantial final 2025 preview build that also updates File E
WatchGuard is scrambling after confirming attackers are actively exploiting a critical new firewall vulnerability. The flaw allows complete remote takeover of vulnerable Firebox devices. This is the latest in a string of similar high-severity attacks.
