In a massive move to control the data plumbing for AI, IBM is buying Confluent for $31 per share, a 34% premium. The $11 billion deal is expected to close by mid-2026 and will combine Confluent’s streaming platform with IBM’s AI and automation software.
Square’s head of product explains how Block’s functional reorganization is fueling its AI push. He also makes the case for Bitcoin payments and reveals the company moves 16.7 million pennies weekly.
Ubuntu is popular, but its official flavors often outperform it for specific needs. Xubuntu revives old hardware, Kubuntu offers a powerful modern desktop, and Ubuntu Studio is a pre-configured creative suite. Here’s why you might want to skip the main edition.
A Helsinki-based startup called Freepress has raised €1 million to grow its AI-driven news service. The platform analyzes global articles and rewrites summaries in a user’s language, with plans to share up to half its revenue with partner publishers.
IBM is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire data infrastructure company Confluent for a massive $11 billion. The deal, which could be announced as soon as Monday, December 8, is seen as a major move to revitalize IBM’s cloud growth.
A new trend uses AI like ChatGPT to facilitate mental health group chats, completely removing the human therapist. Proponents cite cost and access, but experts warn of dangerous hallucinations and a lack of real therapeutic skill.
Security researchers have uncovered “zero-click” attacks that turn helpful AI browser agents into destructive tools. By sending a polite email or hiding code in a URL, attackers can trigger mass file deletion or data theft without the user clicking a thing.
According to Polygon, The Game Awards has run for 11 years since its 2014 premiere but still lacks a widely used nickname like the Oscars or Emmys. The article traces the origins of those nicknames and proposes “The Geoffies” as a fitting moniker for gaming’s biggest night, honoring longtime host an
Netflix has confirmed that the AV1 video codec is now responsible for 30% of its streaming. The company, a founding member of the Alliance for Open Media, plans to move all its HDR content to AV1 soon and is already looking ahead to the AV2 codec expected later this year.
The House Committee on Homeland Security is pressing Apple and Google for specifics on their policies to block apps that track immigration officers. This follows Apple’s removal of the ICEBlock app in October after pressure from the U.S. Attorney General. A briefing has been requested by December 12
