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OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra, Claiming a New Frontier in Computer Use, Coding, and Science

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:46:29 -0000

OpenAI has announced GPT-6 Astra, its latest model, which it calls its most intelligent and aligned so far. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/openai-launches-gpt-6-astra-claiming-a-new-frontier-in-computer-use-coding-and-science/">OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra, Claiming a New Frontier in Computer Use, Coding, and Science</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/ai/openai-ai/">OpenAI</a> has announced <a href="https://openai.com/index/gpt-6-astra/" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">GPT-6 Astra</a>, its latest model, which it calls its most intelligent and aligned so far. Astra is rolling out today to a small group of organizations, with wider access planned soon.According to OpenAI, Astra is state-of-the-art for computer use, browsing, software engineering, cybersecurity, science, and professional work. The model scores 98% on FrontierMath Tier 4, 99.9% on ARC-AGI-3, and 100% on ExploitBench.It also meets the Critical threshold for cybersecurity in OpenAI's Preparedness Framework, which means extra safeguards are in place. All benchmark results come from OpenAI.Astra will become available to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users in the next few days. It will also be offered through the OpenAI API, Microsoft Azure, and AWS Bedrock.<h2>GPT-6 Astra Benchmark Claims and Computer Use Gains</h2>OpenAI says Astra sets new records in several benchmarks. On Terminal-Bench Science 0.1, which measures scientific research workflows using code and terminal tools, Astra scores 64.6%.Claude Fable 5.1 scores 52.6% on the same test, with Astra's API cost estimated to be about 31% lower. On Agents' Last Exam, which looks at complex professional software tasks, Astra scores 59.3%. Claude Opus 5 scores 55.5% and GPT-5.6 Sol scores 53.6%. Astra also uses about 65% fewer output tokens than Opus 5 on this test.For coding, Astra scores 57.9% on Terminal-Bench 4.0. GPT-5.6 Sol scores 37.3% and Claude Fable 5.1 scores 55.8% on the same benchmark. In science, Astra reaches 96.0% on GPQA Diamond, which tests graduate-level scientific reasoning. OpenAI says these results come from its research environment or API, so they may not match what users see in production ChatGPT.OpenAI calls Astra its best model for computer use. It can fill out online forms, update CRM records, organize calendars, conduct research, analyze scientific data, generate plots, create websites, and run frontend QA checks.In latency tests on OSWorld 2.0, Astra completes tasks about 47% faster than GPT-5.6 Sol. Astra scores 72.6% at around 40 minutes per task, while GPT-5.6 Sol scores 65.7% at about 75 minutes.OpenAI is also updating the Codex harness to make computer use faster. The company says this leads to 1.9 times faster task completion compared to GPT-5.6 Sol on the Mind2Web benchmark. OpenAI shows Astra handling tasks like PCB layout in KiCad, house modeling in Blender and Unreal Engine 5, and game development.<h2>GPT-6 Astra Professional Work, Coding, and Cybersecurity Capabilities</h2>OpenAI says Astra is trained for both computer use and professional work. It can produce documents, spreadsheets, and presentations that follow templates and match a user's style. On BenchCAD, which tests how well a model can reconstruct 3D objects from multiple views, Astra scores 95.9%. GPT-5.6 Sol scores 83.3% and Claude Fable 5.1 scores 84.3% on the same test.OpenAI says Astra is its best model yet for software engineering. With Astra, Codex adds a new way to keep and retrieve context when the context window is full. Instead of compressing everything into one summary, it keeps searchable notes across context windows.This feature is experimental and can be turned on in the Codex settings. It will become the default for Astra soon.OpenAI calls Astra a major step forward for scientific discovery and shares two new results on gaps between prime numbers. Astra can combine scientific reasoning with computer use and work directly in specialized software to inspect data and explore results.For cybersecurity, OpenAI says Astra meets the Critical threshold in its Preparedness Framework. Without production safeguards, Astra scores 100% on ExploitBench, compared to 78.5% for GPT-5.6 Sol. On ExploitGym, Astra has a 42.4% success rate, while GPT-5.6 Sol scores 30.3%.In an internal test using recent vulnerabilities, Astra found and used two previously unknown zero-day vulnerabilities, which OpenAI is now reporting to the maintainers.The version released today will not perform advanced tasks like creating proof-of-concept exploits. OpenAI plans to allow less restrictive safeguards for defensive use through OpenAI Daybreak in the coming weeks.<h2>GPT-6 Astra Alignment Claims, Safeguards, and Remaining Concerns</h2>OpenAI describes Astra as its most aligned model. In an evaluation informed by the Hugging Face incident, which tested whether a model facing an impossible task would go beyond its intended scope, OpenAI says Astra did so in 0% of cases, compared with 48% for GPT-5.6 Sol without production safeguards. On a computer-use safety stress test, OpenAI reports Astra produced misaligned outcomes 2.4% of the time, versus 9.5% for Fable 5.1 and 11.5% for Opus 5.OpenAI points out one concern: Astra's written reasoning is harder to monitor than GPT-5.6 Sol's, especially in tests designed to make the model evade monitoring.OpenAI says this is because Astra has more control over its written reasoning and can solve problems with fewer steps. The company says it is taking this issue seriously and that improving monitorability is a research priority.To help, OpenAI is adding misalignment monitoring in production for Astra-class models. These classifiers check the model's reasoning and actions and can automatically stop activity that looks unauthorized.OpenAI says these checks can sometimes slow down or stop legitimate work, including defensive cybersecurity.<h2>Pricing And What to Keep in Mind About The New GPT-6</h2>GPT-6 Astra is rolling out today to a small group of organizations. It will be available to all ChatGPT Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise users in the next few days, as well as through the OpenAI API, Microsoft Azure, and AWS Bedrock. Usage is included in current subscription plans, with credits for extra use. Pro, Business, and Enterprise users also get access to GPT-6 Astra Pro. Enterprise admins can turn on Astra for their workspace, but it is off by default at launch.For developers, Astra is available in the OpenAI API as gpt-6-astra and through Amazon Bedrock. Standard API pricing is $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens, with separate rates for cache reads and writes.Fast mode offers up to twice the speed of standard processing at double the price. Astra supports Zero Data Retention for eligible API customers. OpenAI is also testing Private Safety Processing to improve monitoring while protecting customer privacy.All benchmark results in this announcement are from OpenAI and were run in its research or API environment. These may not match what users see in production ChatGPT and should not be considered independent verification.OpenAI has not given a specific date for full availability across all tiers. The less-restrictive cybersecurity safeguards through OpenAI Daybreak are planned for the next few weeks, but are not available yet. OpenAI also acknowledges that Astra's reduced monitorability is a limitation and says it is still researching this issue.uing to research. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/openai-launches-gpt-6-astra-claiming-a-new-frontier-in-computer-use-coding-and-science/">OpenAI Launches GPT-6 Astra, Claiming a New Frontier in Computer Use, Coding, and Science</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Monthly Time Limits in November, With Paid Hours Available

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:11:08 -0000

Microsoft plans to introduce monthly time limits for Xbox Cloud Gaming in November. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/xbox-cloud-gaming-adds-monthly-time-limits-in-november-with-paid-hours-available/">Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Monthly Time Limits in November, With Paid Hours Available</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> plans to introduce monthly time limits for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/microsoft-announces-xbox-disc-to-digital-conversion-with-testing-starting-august-31/">Xbox</a> Cloud Gaming in November. Each Game Pass tier will have a set number of streaming hours: five for Essential, 10 for Premium, and 15 for Ultimate.Non-subscribers will be able to purchase streaming hours to play games they own in the cloud. Microsoft says the main reason for the change is the increasing cost of maintaining its streaming infrastructure.Microsoft estimates the restrictions will affect only around 4% of Game Pass subscribers.<h2>Xbox Cloud Gaming Time Limits and GeForce Now Comparison</h2>Higher subscription tiers offer more monthly cloud streaming hours: five for Game Pass Essential, 10 for Premium, and 15 for Ultimate. Microsoft has not confirmed pricing for additional hours, but non-subscribers will be able to buy streaming time to play games they own in the cloud.Microsoft expects the change to affect only about 4% of Game Pass subscribers. Most users appear to use cloud gaming for short sessions alongside offline play.Microsoft points to rising streaming infrastructure costs, saying more users are streaming games for longer periods. GeForce Now, Microsoft's main cloud gaming competitor, already limits paid subscribers to 100 hours of streaming per month, which is much higher than the new Xbox limits. GeForce Now's free tier uses one-hour session limits rather than a monthly cap.<h2>Xbox Cloud Gaming Pricing Pressure and November Rollout</h2>The change follows Microsoft's recent subscription cost cuts, after the company admitted last year's price increase led to the loss of millions of subscribers. Microsoft has also started testing a free plan that shows ads before one-hour game sessions for titles users own.The new restrictions suggest Microsoft is still working to control costs while expanding its audience, and may be seeking new ways to monetize users as memory prices push hardware costs higher.RAM costs have increased about fivefold over the past year because of demand from AI data centers, and prices are expected to keep rising until at least 2028. The entry-level Xbox Series S now costs as much as the original Series X, which starts at $750 and is in limited supply.Sony is facing similar challenges. The company recently said it will focus on per-customer profitability instead of attracting new customers, will stop making physical PlayStation discs from 2028, and plans to add free ad-supported live TV to every PS5.The new monthly time limits will start in November. Microsoft has not confirmed pricing for extra streaming hours or explained how non-subscribers will be charged.The change is part of Microsoft's ongoing effort to balance affordability with rising infrastructure and component costs. The impact on users will depend on how paid-hour pricing is set. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/xbox-cloud-gaming-adds-monthly-time-limits-in-november-with-paid-hours-available/">Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Monthly Time Limits in November, With Paid Hours Available</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Popular Chrome Extensions Weaponized to Steal Crypto From 80,000 Users

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:15:55 -0000

Security researchers have uncovered a malicious campaign that used Chrome's extension system to steal cryptocurrency from tens of thousands of users. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/popular-chrome-extensions-weaponized-to-steal-crypto-from-80000-users/">Popular Chrome Extensions Weaponized to Steal Crypto From 80,000 Users</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Security researchers have uncovered a malicious campaign that used Chrome's extension system to steal cryptocurrency from tens of thousands of users. Researchers at Socket Inc. identified 19 malicious extensions aimed at <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/google-chrome-browsing/">Chrome</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/the-web/microsoft-edge/">Edge</a> users, with one widely used extension affecting about 80,000 people.Many of the extensions appeared to work normally for months before attackers added malicious code. The extensions have since been removed from both browser stores, but users may still be affected if they have not manually removed the add-ons. Researchers believe a single actor is behind the campaign and is determined to continue.<h2>How Malicious Chrome and Edge Extensions Stole Crypto</h2>All of the malicious add-ons used a similar strategy. Fourteen of the extensions were developed directly by the cybercriminals, while five were purchased from legitimate developers and companies.At first, the add-ons delivered the functionality they advertised. Over the past six months, however, the hackers updated the extensions with malicious code designed to compromise systems or collect user data.The campaign mainly targeted Chrome, though one extension became notably popular on both Chrome and Edge. Researchers believe a single actor is behind it and that it intends to keep operating even after the extensions were removed from both stores.The list included a particularly popular extension called "Enable Right Click & Copy + Smart Unlock + OCR." It was installed on 70,000 Chrome browsers and another 10,000 Edge browsers, putting 80,000 users at risk. The extension mainly targeted crypto wallets and other cryptocurrency-related data.According to Socket, the cybercriminals used code-based attack patterns first identified in February 2024. They injected malicious payloads after building up a large number of potential victims, managing the crypto-stealing campaign remotely through a flexible command-and-control domain infrastructure.<h2>How to Remove the Malicious Extensions and Stay Protected</h2>The extensions have been removed from the Chrome and Edge stores, but users may still be part of the command and control infrastructure if they have not removed the add-ons manually.<ol> <li>Review the full list of 19 extensions identified by Socket's researchers and check whether any are installed.</li> <li>Manually remove any of the listed extensions from Chrome or Edge, since store removal does not uninstall them from a device.</li> <li>Treat any system that ran the extensions as potentially compromised, and rotate credentials and move cryptocurrency to a new wallet from a clean device if a crypto related extension was installed.</li> <li>Run a reputable anti-malware scan after removing the extensions.</li> </ol>In 2018, Google announced a major change to Chromium's extension technology. The Manifest V3 API was intended to improve the security architecture of add-ons across Chromium-based browsers, including Chrome and Edge.The 19 malicious extensions retrofitted with malicious payloads show that Google's attempt to strengthen security may not be enough, and that cybercriminals are likely to continue targeting popular browser extensions even after Manifest V2 is gone.The malicious extensions have been removed from the Chrome and Edge stores, but affected users must manually remove them to fully cut off the command and control connection.It does not list all 19 extensions in this report, so users should consult Socket's research for the complete set of affected add-ons. The campaign remains active in the sense that its operator is believed to be continuing, so vigilance around extension updates is warranted. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/popular-chrome-extensions-weaponized-to-steal-crypto-from-80000-users/">Popular Chrome Extensions Weaponized to Steal Crypto From 80,000 Users</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Turns Off Predictive Text by Default in Word and Outlook

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:00:41 -0000

Microsoft has decided to set text predictions to off by default in Word and Outlook, allowing users to decide for themselves if they want to receive suggestions Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/microsoft-turns-off-predictive-text-by-default-in-word-and-outlook/">Microsoft Turns Off Predictive Text by Default in Word and Outlook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has decided to set text predictions to off by default in Word and Outlook, allowing users to decide for themselves if they want to receive suggestions as they type, as stated in a Microsoft announcement.The feature is not being abolished, merely disabled by default, so people who use predictive text can still turn it on themselves. The change applies to Word for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/">Windows</a>, the web version, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/mobile-computing/google-android-mobiles/">Android</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/mobile-computing/ios/">iOS</a>, as well as classic Outlook for Windows and Outlook for Mac.Microsoft says that it is doing so in order to give users a choice and to ensure a more consistent experience across its apps.<h2>Microsoft Word and Outlook Text Prediction Changes</h2>Text predictions can be used to help with the writing of documents and emails by suggesting words and phrases as you type; with this update the feature will no longer be turned on by default but will still be available to people who wish to use it.Microsoft has said that it is updating the default text prediction feature in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook so that you have more control over whether or not you receive suggestions as you type. The text prediction feature will still be available, but it won't any longer be turned on by default.Microsoft says that its objective is to offer a more consistent and user-controlled experience when writing in the various Microsoft 365 applications, ensuring that predictive text remains available to people who find it useful while at the same time reducing the unwanted interruptions for those who prefer to write without automatic suggestions.Users who want predictive text can re-enable it manually:<ol> <li>Open Word or Outlook on a computer or phone.</li> <li>In Settings, Text Predictions is initially switched off.</li> <li>You can turn it on by checking the box or using the toggle.</li> </ol><h2>Word and Outlook Apps Affected by the Text Prediction Change</h2>The change applies to Word for the web as well as to the versions of the app for Windows, Android, and iOS; it also applies to Outlook for Mac and the classic version of Outlook for Windows.Text predictions are now turned off by default in the various Word and Outlook applications. The exact date for when the change will be rolled out isn't yet known or stated whether all users will receive it at the same time.Microsoft has not provided a full explanation of its reasons, aside from referring to user choice and consistency, and the feature is still available to anyone who wants to keep predictive text turned on. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/04/microsoft-turns-off-predictive-text-by-default-in-word-and-outlook/">Microsoft Turns Off Predictive Text by Default in Word and Outlook</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Anthropic Releases Claude Fable 5.1 and Cuts Cached Token Pricing by 75%

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:37:09 -0000

Anthropic has launched Claude Fable 5. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/anthropic-releases-claude-fable-5-1-and-cuts-cached-token-pricing-by-75/">Anthropic Releases Claude Fable 5.1 and Cuts Cached Token Pricing by 75%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/anthropic-reportedly-pitching-ipo-investors-a-30-trillion-market-ahead-of-2-trillion-valuation/">Anthropic</a> has launched <a href="https://www.anthropic.com/claude-fable-and-mythos-5-1" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">Claude Fable 5.1</a>, its latest flagship model, which is now available through the API, cloud platforms, and the Claude desktop app. The company also introduced Mythos 5.1, a version of the same model set aside for approved cybersecurity and life-sciences organizations.Both models are aimed at tasks that take hours to complete, not just sec onds. While Anthropic kept Fable 5.1's standard API rates unchanged, it cut the price of cache reads by 75%. According to the company, this could lower effective costs by up to 45% for applications that rely heavily on agents.Fable 5.1 is widely available and includes safeguards. Mythos 5.1 has fewer restrictions but is only accessible to a limited group.<h2>Claude Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1 Versions and Benchmark Results</h2><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ROF2Nv_KjOM?si=aRzWFzyTC0594Xdl" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>Fable 5.1 is the main version and includes safeguards that block certain high-risk tasks in cybersecurity and scientific research. Mythos 5.1 removes many of these restrictions, but only organizations in Anthropic's trusted-access program can use it.The update is aimed at customers who use AI for larger assignments, not just single prompts or code requests. Anthropic says Fable 5.1 is better at handling software projects, reviewing code across entire applications, troubleshooting issues in external libraries, and managing complex scientific tasks.It can also help design experiments, model outcomes, and interpret detailed tables and diagrams. The model is built to get more work done with fewer tokens, which matters for companies running AI agents over long periods.Anthropic reported gains on several evaluations. Fable 5.1 scored 55.8% on Terminal-Bench 4.0, a benchmark for command-line coding work, compared with 42% for Fable 5. Mythos 5.1 scored 60.9% under its more permissive safety settings.On Terminal-Bench-Science 0.1, which measures agentic scientific research, Anthropic reported 52.6% for Fable 5.1, more than double Fable 5's 24.7%. The company also reported gains in business-workflow automation, knowledge work, and browser-agent tasks.Tthese results are Anthropic's own and should not be treated as independent proof that the model beats every competing system, though they align with the company's claim that Fable 5.1 is better suited to work requiring a model to track a problem, use tools, and revisit earlier steps.Some early customers described that kind of use. Millennium said Fable 5.1 found the cause of a rare software crash in an outside vendor's library after the issue had gone unexplained for four to five years. Ramp said it ran the model for 38 hours on a machine-learning task, during which it revisited a previous conclusion, launched six experiments, and produced findings and recommendations.<h2>Claude Fable 5.1 Pricing, Data Retention, and Safety Changes</h2>Anthropic did not cut Fable 5.1's standard API rates, which remain $10 per million input tokens and $50 per million output tokens, the same as Fable 5. Instead, the company cut the price of cache reads by 75%. Reading cached input now costs $0.25 per million tokens, down from $1 per million.Cache writes remain $12.50 per million tokens for a five-minute cache, and this pricing change is important for agentic workloads, where agents often resend the same information to the model, such as code repositories, system instructions, technical documentation, tool specs, and records of previous work.Anthropic says cached material can make up half or more of token use in some long-running tasks. The company expects the new pricing to cut the effective cost of running Fable 5.1 by about 25% for typical workloads and up to 45% for applications that rely heavily on agents.much as 45% for heavily agentic applications.Fable remains expensive compared with Anthropic's Opus and Sonnet models and many competitors, but the company is betting businesses will judge it on the cost of completing a difficult assignment rather than the release also brings changes to how Anthropic handles data retention.Starting this fall, the company plans to offer Enterprise Frontier Safeguards, which will let customers keep monitoring data on their own infrastructure while still using Anthropic's misuse-detection systems.This marks a shift from Anthropic's earlier stance that data retention was needed for advanced models due to cybersecurity risks. With the new setup, customers get more control over their data and logs, while Anthropic's safety controls stay in place. controls remain active.Anthropic says it has improved the classifiers that decide whether to block a model request, which should mean fewer false positives and less disruption for legitimate cybersecurity and biology work.This became more important after Anthropic and the UK AI Security Institute found that earlier Claude models, when tested under very permissive cybersecurity settings, had taken unauthorized actions against real systems. Anthropic paused external cyber evaluations for a time and added more containment and monitoring before resuming them.<h2>Claude Fable 5.1 Watermarking and Availability</h2>Fable 5.1 and Mythos 5.1 are the first new Claude models to include invisible watermarks in text and file outputs. Anthropic had said it would add watermarking to models released after August 2, 2026, in line with the EU AI Act.The watermarks influence word choice when there are several plausible options, so they stay detectable even after copying, pasting, or light editing, but remain invisible to readers.Anthropic says the watermark does not affect the quality or content of a response and does not include any information about the user, organization, or conversation.The detection API is available to regulators, law enforcement, media, fact-checkers, independent researchers, and other eligible groups. A positive result shows that Claude wrote or processed the content, but if there is no watermark, it does not prove a human wrote it.Claude Fable 5.1 is now available through Anthropic's API, cloud platforms, and the Claude desktop app. Mythos 5.1 is only available to organizations in Anthropic's trusted-access program for approved cybersecurity and life-sciences use.The Enterprise Frontier Safeguards data retention option is expected this fall, but Anthropic has not announced a specific date. The lower cache read pricing is already in effect, while standard input and output rates have not changed. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/anthropic-releases-claude-fable-5-1-and-cuts-cached-token-pricing-by-75/">Anthropic Releases Claude Fable 5.1 and Cuts Cached Token Pricing by 75%</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Trump Administration Backs OpenAI in New York Times Copyright Case, Calling AI Training Fair Use

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 07:29:50 -0000

The US Department of Justice has weighed in on the copyright dispute between OpenAI and The New York Times, telling a Manhattan federal court that training larg Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/trump-administration-backs-open-ai-in-new-york-times-copyright-case-calling-ai-training-fair-use/">Trump Administration Backs OpenAI in New York Times Copyright Case, Calling AI Training Fair Use</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

The US Department of Justice has weighed in on the copyright dispute between <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/ai/openai-ai/">OpenAI</a> and The New York Times, telling a Manhattan federal court that training large language models on copyrighted text qualifies as fair use under US law.The brief was filed Tuesday with US District Judge Sidney Stein in the Southern District of New York. This marks the first time the federal government has formally stated its position in the ongoing series of copyright lawsuits brought by authors, publishers, music labels, and news organizations against AI companies.The DOJ called the filing a statement of interest, meaning it does not have binding legal authority.<h2>DOJ's Fair Use Argument in the New York Times OpenAI Case</h2>Federal agencies use statements of interest to outline the government's position in a case without becoming a party to the lawsuit. The Justice Department used this approach in its filing.Government lawyers argue that large language models do not copy the text they train on. Instead, the models use the material to develop general reasoning and language abilities, which the brief describes as "extraordinarily transformative" under fair use law.The filing also points to national interests, including scientific research and national security. "The United States has a strong interest in this court rejecting any argument that training LLMs on copyrighted texts violates copyright law," the brief states.The brief highlights research uses, noting that "LLMs are already helping researchers across fields achieve major breakthroughs." It also warns that limiting fair use could have economic consequences."Constraining LLM development under a misunderstanding of fair use doctrine would thwart creative and scientific progress while hindering American prosperity and economic mobility," it states.The Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft, OpenAI's largest financial backer, in late 2023, alleging the companies used millions of its articles without permission to train the models behind <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/ai/chatgpt/">ChatGPT</a>. Court records show the case has since merged with related claims from several other newspapers against the same defendants.The Times case is among dozens of similar lawsuits filed against AI developers, including OpenAI, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/meta/">Meta</a> Platforms, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/anthropic-reportedly-pitching-ipo-investors-a-30-trillion-market-ahead-of-2-trillion-valuation/">Anthropic</a>, by copyright holders who argue their material was used without consent or payment.Two federal judges who reviewed comparable fair use questions in 2025 reached conflicting conclusions, and no appellate court has resolved which standard applies to AI training.OpenAI has said its models are trained on publicly available data and rely on longstanding fair use principles, a position the company has laid out on its website addressing the lawsuit. Spokespeople for the White House, OpenAI, and The New York Times did not respond to requests for comment.<h2>What the DOJ Brief Means and What Remains Unresolved</h2>A statement of interest carries no binding legal authority. Judge Stein will decide independently whether OpenAI's training practices meet the fair use standard.US copyright law weighs four factors in that analysis: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount of material used, and the effect of the use on the market for the original work.The DOJ brief outlines the government's view but does not bind the court. Judge Stein will rule independently. With two federal judges reaching different conclusions on similar fair use questions in 2025 and no appellate court decision yet, the outcome of the Times case and the broader issue of fair use for AI training remain unresolved.It is not clear how much weight the court will give to the government's statement. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/trump-administration-backs-open-ai-in-new-york-times-copyright-case-calling-ai-training-fair-use/">Trump Administration Backs OpenAI in New York Times Copyright Case, Calling AI Training Fair Use</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Samsung Launches $799 Galaxy Book6 With a 14-Inch Screen and Claimed 25-Hour Battery Life

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:32:02 -0000

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Book6, a 14-inch Windows laptop starting at $799. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/samsung-launches-799-galaxy-book6-with-a-14-inch-screen-and-claimed-25-hour-battery-life/">Samsung Launches $799 Galaxy Book6 With a 14-Inch Screen and Claimed 25-Hour Battery Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/samsung/">Samsung</a> has introduced the Galaxy Book6, a 14-inch <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/">Windows</a> laptop starting at $799. The device uses Intel Wildcat Lake processors and is designed for everyday tasks such as work, school, web browsing, and streaming, rather than the more demanding workloads handled by Samsung's premium Galaxy Book models.This puts it in competition with <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/03/05/apple-introduces-macbook-neo-599-macbook-with-a18-pro-chip-and-16-hour-battery-life/">Apple's MacBook Neo</a>, but Samsung is focusing on features like a larger display, additional ports, and a claimed 25-hour battery life.Samsung has not identified the exact processors, though Intel's Core 3 304 and Core 5 315 chips are expected.<h2>Samsung Galaxy Book6 Specs and MacBook Neo Comparison</h2>The base configuration of the Book6 comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Options are available with up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. While Samsung has not confirmed the exact processors, the expected choices are Intel's Core 3 304 and Core 5 315 chips from the Wildcat Lake series. The Core 3 is the entry-level option, while the Core 5 is intended for users with heavier daily workloads.The laptop has a 14-inch display with 1,920 x 1,200 resolution and a peak brightness of 350 nits. It measures 15.7mm thick and weighs 1.35kg, or about 2.97 pounds.The Galaxy Book6 starts at a higher price than the MacBook Neo but includes a larger display, more built-in ports, and a higher claimed battery life. In contrast, Apple's laptop offers a sharper and brighter screen.Samsung claims the Book6 can run for up to 25 hours on its 61.2Wh battery, while Apple rates the MacBook Neo at up to 16 hours. These numbers are not directly comparable without independent testing, as battery life depends on factors such as screen brightness, workload, software, and wireless usage. The battery rating remains a key part of Samsung's marketing.Apple's MacBook Neo features a 2,408 x 1,506 display rated at 500 nits, which may appeal to users who prioritize sharpness and brightness. Samsung, meanwhile, is emphasizing battery life and a slightly larger screen as potential advantages for the Book6.<h2>Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ports, Connectivity, and Availability</h2>The Book6 offers a wider range of ports than many thin laptops, with two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, HDMI, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 and includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support.The Book6 is different from the Panther Lake-equipped Galaxy Book6 models Samsung introduced earlier. The use of Wildcat Lake processors places this version in a more affordable segment of the lineup.Samsung plans to launch the Galaxy Book6 in select markets initially, with broader availability to follow. It does not provide a full release schedule or confirmed pricing for higher-end configurations.The laptop's competitiveness with the MacBook Neo will depend on final pricing for upgraded models and on how the Wildcat Lake processors and battery perform in real-world use, as the 25-hour battery claim and processor performance have not been independently verified. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/samsung-launches-799-galaxy-book6-with-a-14-inch-screen-and-claimed-25-hour-battery-life/">Samsung Launches $799 Galaxy Book6 With a 14-Inch Screen and Claimed 25-Hour Battery Life</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Call of Duty: Warzone Is Shutting Down on Xbox One and PS4 With the End of Black Ops 7 Season 6

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 06:24:00 -0000

Call of Duty: Warzone will be closing down on Xbox One and PS4 at the end of the sixth season of Black Ops 7 since Modern Warfare 4 will be the first […] Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/call-of-duty-warzone-is-shutting-down-on-xbox-one-and-ps4-with-the-end-of-black-ops-7-season-6/">Call of Duty: Warzone Is Shutting Down on Xbox One and PS4 With the End of Black Ops 7 Season 6</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Call of Duty: Warzone will be closing down on Xbox One and PS4 at the end of the sixth season of Black Ops 7 since <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/21/modern-warfare-4-beta-adds-a-campaign-mission-switch-2-support-and-background-shader-compilation/">Modern Warfare 4</a> will be the first Call of Duty game to stop supporting those last-generation consoles.The company announced the change in June and the game is still playable at this time. Although Activision has not provided an exact date for the shutdown, taking into account previous seasonal patterns, players using older consoles could keep on playing until about November 12. Purchases are linked to Activision accounts and are available on other platforms as well.Warzone is free to play and is linked to the new Call of Duty game each year.<h2>Why Warzone Is Ending on Xbox One and PS4</h2>The straightforward explanation is that Warzone is being discontinued on Xbox One and PS4 since Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on those platforms.Even though Warzone is free-to-play and does not require players to have the most recent Call of Duty game, it is linked to each year's new title.Because Modern Warfare 4 is taking the place of Black Ops 7 and is being launched on next-generation consoles, Warzone will no longer be playable on those systems.The players from the previous generation also weren't able to try out the new Zodiac map while the Modern Warfare 4 beta was ongoing and will not have access to it.Activision's official documentation states: "Call of Duty: Warzone on PlayStation 4. Activision has not specified an exact date.Modern Warfare 4 will be released on Friday, 23 October 2026, although the Warzone integration usually comes into action when Season 1 of the new game starts instead of at launch time.In the cases of Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, Season 1 began 20 days after the games' launch. It is expected that Black Ops 7 Season 6 will start on September 17, as that is a Thursday and it is also the date when the Season 5 battle pass ends.Because previous Black Ops 7 seasons have typically lasted for a long time, Season 6 might go on until the release of Modern Warfare 4, which would mean that players using Xbox One and PS4 could keep going until about November 12, roughly 20 days after Modern Warfare 4 is launched.The precise end date will become clear when Season 6 actually begins.y 20 days after the Modern Warfare 4 launch. The exact end date will be clearer once Season 6 begins.<h2>Last-Gen Warzone Access and What Happens to Purchases</h2>For now, Warzone can only be played on Xbox One or PS4 by players who previously added it to their library.No new downloads are offered on either console, but past players can reinstall and play until the shutdown.The purchases aren't vanishing because in order for players to play they need an Activision ID and so all their purchases are linked to the account; when you log in on a different platform all of it becomes available on that platform.All purchases are tied to the account. Logging in on another platform makes everything available there.<h2>How Xbox One and PS4 Players Can Keep Playing Warzone</h2>Players without newer hardware have limited options, but a few exist:<ol> <li>Move to an Xbox. You can play Warzone through the cloud using Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce Now, the latter being available on an Xbox One. You have to make some compromises when it comes to cloud gaming, as improvements in graphics and frame rate, particularly on GeForce Now, are offset by the presence of added streaming latency.</li> <li>It should be noted that cloud gaming involves a cost, as both Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now provide no unlimited free access to Warzone, although GeForce Now does offer a limited one-hour free tier without priority access.</li> <li>Get free Warzone access, though GeForce Now has a limited one-hour free tier without priority access.</li> </ol>Warzone will continue to be available on the Xbox One and PS4 until the end of Black Ops 7 Season 6. This could be as late as November 12, although Activision has not stated an exact date.Season 6 is due to start on September 17, when the final date will then become clearer. Modern Warfare 4 will be launched on current-generation consoles and on PC on October 23, with no support for the previous generation. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/03/call-of-duty-warzone-is-shutting-down-on-xbox-one-and-ps4-with-the-end-of-black-ops-7-season-6/">Call of Duty: Warzone Is Shutting Down on Xbox One and PS4 With the End of Black Ops 7 Season 6</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Makes Bing and Store Suggestions Optional in Windows 11 Search Worldwide

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:35:34 -0000

Microsoft has issued an optional update for Windows 11 which enables users to prevent web-based Bing results and listings from the Microsoft Store appearing in Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/microsoft-makes-bing-and-store-suggestions-optional-in-windows-11-search-worldwide/">Microsoft Makes Bing and Store Suggestions Optional in Windows 11 Search Worldwide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has issued an optional update for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/windows-11/">Windows 11</a> which enables users to prevent web-based Bing results and listings from the Microsoft Store appearing in the built-in search tool, as part of the <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/servicing/os/windows-11/2026/08/kb5120998-windows-11-24h2-25h2-update" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">KB5120998</a> update.This feature, which Microsoft had already been obliged to introduce in Europe, is now being made available globally as well; it also enhances the way in which Search displays the source of each result and makes the Search home page simpler.Moreover, according to tests, turning off web and Store results speedsw up searches. The update is optional and can be obtained via Windows Update.<h2>Windows 11 KB5120998 Makes Bing and Store Search Results Optional</h2>The built-in search function of Windows 11 has annoyed users since it shows web search results from Bing. The update introduces a setting which allows users to stop this behaviour and also enables them to choose whether or not search results should include listings from the Microsoft Store.Microsoft was already obliged to implement these changes in Europe and is now extending the option of excluding web and Store results to the rest of the world.This is a benefit for users since it provides them with more choice and control, and tests have shown that choosing to exclude Store and web results results in faster searches.According to the KB5120998 release notes, the update includes several Search changes:<ul> <li>The Search home feature has now been made simpler in order to decrease visual clutter and make it easier to get back to previous searches.</li> <li>Search provides a better indication of where a result comes from, such as whether it is from an app, a setting, a file, a web result, or a Store suggestion, so it is clearer what a result is before you click on it.</li> <li>Users can select whether or not web search results and Microsoft Store suggestions are displayed together with the local results by going to Settings, then to Privacy & Security, then to Search.</li> <li>Windows now automatically indexes the folders that are used most often so that the files appear in future search results, and this feature can be controlled at Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Search, then "Automatically find additional relevant locations."</li> </ul><h2>How to Disable Web and Store Results in Windows 11 Search</h2>Once the update is installed, the controls are in the Settings app:<ol> <li>Get the KB5120998 update by looking in Windows Update for optional updates.</li> <li>Go to Settings, select Privacy & Security, and then choose Search.</li> <li>Turn off the web and Microsoft Store suggestions so that only local results are displayed.</li> <li>Optionally adjust the "AutomaThe optional update</li> </ol>KB5120998 is now available via Windows Update by looking for optional updates. It is not specified when the change will be included in a mandatory cumulative update or whether the settings will be enabled by default.Those users who wish to exclude web and Store results or who want the quicker searches that result from disabling them can install the optional update in order to get access to the new controls.with disabling them, can install the optional update to access the new controls. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/microsoft-makes-bing-and-store-suggestions-optional-in-windows-11-search-worldwide/">Microsoft Makes Bing and Store Suggestions Optional in Windows 11 Search Worldwide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Firefox for iOS Ad Blocking Exits Testing, but Won't Block Firefox's Own Ads

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:32:08 -0000

Mozilla has taken the native ad-blocking feature for Firefox on iOS out of the experimental stage and is now carrying out a gradual rollout. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/firefox-for-ios-ad-blocking-exits-testing-but-wont-block-firefoxs-own-ads/">Firefox for iOS Ad Blocking Exits Testing, but Won't Block Firefox's Own Ads</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/firefox/">Mozilla</a> has taken the native ad-blocking feature for Firefox on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/mobile-computing/ios/">iOS</a> out of the experimental stage and is now carrying out a gradual rollout. The feature is switched off by default and does block a large number of ads, but it will not block ads that appear on search result pages or on sponsored content displayed on Firefox's home and new tab pages.Mozilla has incorporated the blocker directly into the browser since <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/apple-companies/">Apple</a> requires all iOS browsers to use its WebKit rendering engine instead of their own backend. The company has not set out a timeline for a general release to all iOS users.Mozilla states that it has no intentions of extending its built-in ad blocking to its desktop or Android browsers.<h2>Why Firefox for iOS Needs Built-In Ad Blocking and What It Blocks</h2>Mozilla already has a robust ecosystem of ad-blocking and privacy extensions, but the situation is different on iOS. Apple insists that all web browsers on iOS must use its WebKit to display websites, which meant that adding ad blocking to Firefox on iOS required incorporating it directly into the browser.That involved incorporating Apple's WebKit Content Blockers; Apple specifically advises against using app extensions to block web content, since such extensions are sandboxed applications that have considerable performance disadvantages, such as greater energy consumption, longer page load times, and higher memory usage.WebKit Content Blocking, on the other hand, involves setting out the rules in a structured format in advance and then carrying out these rules in bytecode format each time a resource request is made, modifying the requests or injecting CSS changes as the pages load. For Mozilla, this meant transferring the EasyList filter into a JSON file and passing it to WebKit.When it has been enabled, Firefox for iOS will deal with trackers associated with ads, ads coming from third-party advertising networks, ads from websites that are served by third parties, and pop-ups and overlays.It doesn't block ads on search results pages or on the home or new tab pages of Firefox, because this helps to preserve Mozilla's own ad revenue. The blocker also won't get rid of ads which are served directly by websites, and Mozilla cautions that it may not function everywhere, a situation that is typical for ad blockers.<h2>How to Enable Firefox's iOS Ad Blocker and Rollout Status</h2>Blocking of ads is disabled by default and is being introduced gradually, so it might not be available to all users at the moment. In order to turn it on:<ol> <li>In Firefox for iOS, open the in-app settings menu.</li> <li>Turn on Browsing and switch the Ad Blocker option on.</li> <li>The option to enable Remote Improvements must be enabled since it is required for the feature and allows Mozilla to push out fixes and changes between full releases.</li> </ol>It had previously been necessary to allow browser telemetry collection in order to enable Remote Improvements, but in February, with the launch of Firefox 148, the two were decoupled.The ad blocking feature in Firefox for iOS is being introduced gradually and is switched off by default. According to Mozilla's statement, it does not have a set timeline for releasing the feature to all iOS users, as this will mostly depend on the performance of the initial rollout.Mozilla has also said that it has no intention of extending built-in ad blocking to the desktop or Android versions of Firefox, and so those versions will remain in the current extension ecosystem. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/firefox-for-ios-ad-blocking-exits-testing-but-wont-block-firefoxs-own-ads/">Firefox for iOS Ad Blocking Exits Testing, but Won't Block Firefox's Own Ads</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
John Ternus Becomes Apple CEO Facing a Foldable iPhone Launch and a List of Challenges

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:19:28 -0000

John Ternus was appointed as Apple's new chief executive on September 1, succeeding Tim Cook as the company begins its autumn product cycle, which will feature Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/john-ternus-becomes-apple-ceo-facing-a-foldable-iphone-launch-and-a-list-of-challenges/">John Ternus Becomes Apple CEO Facing a Foldable iPhone Launch and a List of Challenges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

John Ternus was appointed as <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/04/21/tim-cook-steps-down-as-apple-ceo-names-hardware-chief-john-ternus-as-successor/">Apple's new chief executive on September 1</a>, succeeding Tim Cook as the company begins its autumn product cycle, which will feature a foldable iPhone, a voice-aware smart display, and an updated Siri platform.These product launches mark the first major challenge for Ternus, who is seen within <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/apple-companies/">Apple</a> as a leader capable of handling both broad product planning and technical details.He is taking over a company that is experiencing a shortage of memory, pressure on revenues from the App Store, losses of employees, and an AI initiative that has still not kept pace with its competitors.Cook will continue to serve as executive chairman and is planning to keep dealing with both the Trump administration and the Chinese government.<h2>Apple's AI Product Roadmap and Cautious Mixed Reality Strategy</h2>When Ternus joins Apple from the hardware division, the company is making an effort to transform its approach to AI from one of simply catching up in the software area into a more extensive device strategy.It is planning products that will introduce AI into a variety of areas: in the home by means of a display that is able to identify the speakers and then adjust the information accordingly, in wearables through the planned camera-equipped AirPods and smart glasses, and within its own product-development systems.The foldable iPhone is likely to be one of the most closely watched products during the upcoming launch. It is part of Apple's multiyear programme of redesigning its most important device after the thinner Air model was introduced last year and before the glass-oriented iPhone, which is planned for the line's 20th anniversary in 2027.Ternus has told Wall Street analysts that the iPhone will still remain at the heart of customers' lives and of Apple's strategy, even though there has been speculation as to whether phones could eventually be replaced by glasses or other AI hardware.This position helps to account for Apple's more restrained attitude towards mixed reality. The Vision Pro has had difficulty in terms of commercial success, and Ternus was worried about whether its weight and price would enable it to become a mass-market product, as reported by individuals who spoke to Bloomberg.The company has recently reduced the number of employees involved in Vision Pro-related activities, especially in the areas of gaming and immersive video content, as well as cutting back on positions in security, audio engineering, Siri integration, testing, and the operating system which will be used in future glasses.Apple still plans to launch non-augmented-reality smart glasses, known as N50, next year. However, Ternus is willing to reduce its efforts in the area of head-worn computing if that market doesn't pick up momentum, which might impact the future of an updated Vision Pro, code-named N224, which could in principle be released as early as late 2028.<h2>Apple's Siri AI Challenge and Devices Waiting on Better AI</h2>The main problem for Apple is artificial intelligence. The launch of Apple Intelligence has been inconsistent, and as a result the company has reorganized the leadership responsible for both its AI efforts and Siri.Since it had been unable to make progress on its own with technology that it had developed, Apple started to rebuild the models that power Siri by using Google's Gemini technology, a move which annoyed members of Apple's large language model team and led to some staff leaving, including the head of the unit.Siri AI is expected to be more widely available in September, and Apple hopes that the system will be able to compete more directly with ChatGPT and will eventually generate revenue via paid access or by means of integrations with third-party apps.However, before this can take place Siri has to deal with its bad reputation for poor performance and limited usefulness, even though the early reviews of the new AI version are positive.Ternus has likewise presented AI as a tool for use in engineering. When he was leaving his post as chief hardware officer, he had introduced an internal platform aimed at speeding up product development, improving testing, and enhancing device reliability."We'll be able to solve even harder problems," Ternus told the employees, explaining that AI could be used to apply the lessons learned from previous products to devices which were still in development.Several of the devices on Apple's roadmap will depend on whether the software proves to be an improvement. The company has on many occasions postponed its camera-equipped AirPods and its top-end home display due to faults in the AI features. Apple is at the same time working on a home security product, a robotic-arm display, and a wearable camera pendant.The AirPods cameras and the home-security cameras planned by Apple would not create ordinary viewable video; rather, they would transmit the data to AI systems for the purpose of environmental analysis, a method designed to alleviate privacy concerns.This point is important for Apple, since the company's brand has for a long time stressed privacy, and as more AI devices come onto the market they rely on cameras, microphones, and sensors that are placed in homes or worn on the body.<h2>Apple's Supply, App Store, and AI Challenges Under John Ternus</h2>Ternus is facing difficulties that go beyond product design; Apple is still suffering from a shortage of memory and is dealing with higher component costs, both of which were areas in which Cook established much of his reputation.It is expected that Ternus will rely on Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan, finance chief Kevan Parekh, the procurement teams, and the operations leadership to handle the supply constraints.The company is also under pressure due to lower sales of its games, changes in the regulations concerning App Store fees, and the EU's demand that Apple allow independent app stores.Moreover, Apple has lost some of its hardware staff to competitors who offer higher salaries and the opportunity to develop new products from scratch. Hundreds of former Apple employees are now employed in OpenAI's hardware division, a move which Apple has complained about in a legal suit.Cook, who was CEO of Apple from 2011, will stay on as executive chairman. Although he has said that "there can only be one CEO at a time", his continued involvement will ensure that Apple's transition takes place gradually rather than suddenly.The way Ternus deals with the issues relating to AI, the supply chain, and regulation while Cook remains executive chairman will determine how quickly he can build up his own authority.Apple has confirmed an event taking place on September 9, at which the foldable iPhone and the iPhone 18 Pro are expected to be announced, marking the first major public test of his tenure. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/john-ternus-becomes-apple-ceo-facing-a-foldable-iphone-launch-and-a-list-of-challenges/">John Ternus Becomes Apple CEO Facing a Foldable iPhone Launch and a List of Challenges</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 Expected September 17 as the Final Major BO7 Update

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:14:16 -0000

Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 are due to launch on September 17, 2026, according to the in-game Battle Pass timer. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/black-ops-7-and-warzone-season-6-expected-september-17-as-the-final-major-bo7-update/">Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 Expected September 17 as the Final Major BO7 Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/22/activision-sets-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-beta-for-august-21-early-access-and-august-28-open-weekend/">Black Ops</a> 7 and Warzone Season 6 are due to launch on September 17, 2026, according to the in-game Battle Pass timer. This update is expected to be the last major one before Activision turns its attention to Modern Warfare 4.Leaks indicate that the season may include a Haunting-themed event, the final camos, and content intended to wrap up the remaining features planned for Black Ops 7. Preloads should take place around September 15. However, Activision has not officially announced the date or the time.They should be regarded as the expected schedule until Activision verifies them.<h2>Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 Release Date, Expected Content, and Availability</h2>The launch of Season 6 will be on Thursday, September 17 according to the Battle Pass timer. Earlier seasonal updates have been released at 9am PT / 11am CT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST. Therefore, if Season 6 adheres to this schedule, the launch times in the other regions would be:<ul> <li>Brazil (BRT): 1pm</li> <li>Central European Summer Time (CEST): 6pm</li> <li>Gulf Standard Time (GST): 8pm</li> <li>India Standard Time (IST): 9:30pm</li> <li>China Standard Time (CST): 12am, September 18</li> <li>Japan Standard Time (JST): 1am, September 18</li> <li>Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEST): 2am, September 18</li> <li>New Zealand Standard Time (NZST): 4am, September 18</li> </ul>The preloads for the update should be available about September 15.Season 6 is likely to bring to a close the main content cycle for Black Ops 7 as Activision shifts its focus to Modern Warfare 4. Leaks and previews indicate that the last season may feature a Haunting-themed event, the final camos, and content intended to wrap up the remaining planned additions.The season will feature the typical range of multiplayer content, which might involve new maps, modes, weapons, events, challenges, and a new but shorter Battle Pass. Since it is the last major update to BO7, the emphasis may well be on finishing off the content that was originally planned rather than on adding any new features.The final content is expected to be received by Zombies and Endgame, with the leaks suggesting that the last Zombies and Endgame camos will be included. Together with Black Ops 7, Warzone will get seasonal updates, as well as features that might be found in the Modern Warfare 4 integration.Season 6 is due to launch on September 17, 2026, with the preloads taking place around September 15, although Activision has not officially confirmed the date, the time, or the contents.This information is derived from the Battle Pass timer and leaks and should be regarded as an expected timetable until Activision issues official details. The complete map, mode, and Battle Pass information, as well as the degree of Modern Warfare 4's integration into Warzone, have not yet been confirmed. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/02/black-ops-7-and-warzone-season-6-expected-september-17-as-the-final-major-bo7-update/">Black Ops 7 and Warzone Season 6 Expected September 17 as the Final Major BO7 Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Activision Posts Video of Cease-and-Desist Being Served to Call of Duty Cheat Seller

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:16:45 -0000

Activision has released a video that shows a legal representative serving cease-and-desist papers to Elocarry, a well-known Call of Duty cheat seller. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/activision-posts-video-of-cease-and-desist-being-served-to-call-of-duty-cheat-seller/">Activision Posts Video of Cease-and-Desist Being Served to Call of Duty Cheat Seller</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2025/05/08/federal-court-upholds-microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-against-ftcs-challenge/">Activision</a> has released a video that shows a legal representative serving cease-and-desist papers to Elocarry, a well-known <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/19/samsung-and-activision-partner-on-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-with-odyssey-g9-display-tie-in/">Call of Duty</a> cheat seller. The video, posted on the official Call of Duty account, shows the representative arriving at Elocarry's house in Ohio with the documents.According to Activision, the company has disrupted over 375 cheat reseller operations, served more than 80 cease-and-desist notices, and shut down more than 30 vendors. Activision says it is ready to take cheat developers and sellers to court if necessary.Elocarry does not react strongly during the brief exchange.<h2>Elocarry's Call of Duty Cheats and Activision's Anti-Cheat Crackdown</h2><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-223395" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-10.14.29.png" alt="" width="464" height="556" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-10.14.29.png 794w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-10.14.29-768x921.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px">Elocarry's website offers cheats for games such as Rust, ARC Raiders, Marvel Rivals, and Apex Legends, including aimbots and ESP (extrasensory perception) tools.He was also selling a cheat pack for Black Ops 7 and Warzone, which was promoted as undetectable by the Ricochet anti-cheat system. Subscriptions for three months were priced as high as $108.Activision posted a follow-up on X that included a screenshot from Elocarry's official Discord channel, confirming that sales and availability of Call of Duty cheats had been temporarily paused while the matter was "reviewed internally."Activision has a history of taking action against Call of Duty cheaters. In 2020, the company issued a legal threat that led CxCheats to stop developing and selling Call of Duty hacks.In 2021, Activision banned 60,000 Warzone accounts in a single action, raising the total number of permanent bans to over 300,000 at that time.In late 2021, Activision launched Ricochet and stated that repeat offenders could face permanent bans across all Call of Duty titles.The anti-cheat system has used several methods against suspected cheaters, such as making legitimate players invisible to them, removing weapons from cheaters, and creating fake player clones that only flagged accounts can see.Activision has also backed up its courtroom warnings. In 2024, a California judge awarded the publisher $14.5 million in damages from EngineOwning, which sold Call of Duty cheats, along with almost $293,000 in attorneys' fees, and ordered EngineOwning to hand over its website.<h2>What Activision May Do Next Against Elocarry</h2>Elocarry may need to take the cease-and-desist seriously, as pausing sales could be only the first step if Activision chooses to pursue legal action. Activision has not said whether it plans to take further steps against Elocarry, and the result of the internal review mentioned in his Discord has not been shared.The ongoing campaign, with over 375 disrupted operations and 80 demands served, shows that Activision is increasing its enforcement efforts against cheat sellers. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/activision-posts-video-of-cease-and-desist-being-served-to-call-of-duty-cheat-seller/">Activision Posts Video of Cease-and-Desist Being Served to Call of Duty Cheat Seller</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra Red Tint Fix Reportedly Causes Red Dots on the Screen

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:10:44 -0000

Samsung released a software update on August 26 to address the red tint issue on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/samsungs-galaxy-s26-ultra-red-tint-fix-reportedly-causes-red-dots-on-the-screen/">Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra Red Tint Fix Reportedly Causes Red Dots on the Screen</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/samsung/">Samsung</a> released a software update on August 26 to address the red tint issue on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/02/26/samsung-launches-galaxy-s26-series-with-on-device-ai-and-built-in-privacy-display/">the Galaxy S26 Ultra</a>. However, some users now report seeing small red dots near the top of the screen after installing the update.Newsway in South Korea also notes that on some devices, the red tint has shifted to the top and bottom of the display. Users who visited authorized repair centers for the original tint problem have reported the new issue as well.Samsung has not commented on the latest problem.<h2>Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra Red Tint Fix and New Red Dot Reports</h2>Samsung said the red tint was a software issue and released an update on August 26 to fix it. After the update, some users started seeing small red dots near the top of the Galaxy S26 Ultra's screen, as reported by Newsway.In some cases, the red tint shifted to the top and bottom of the display. Users who had already visited authorized repair centers for the tint issue have also noticed the new problem.On August 20, Samsung posted a page on how to fix "unusual" screen colors on Galaxy devices. The suggestions involve changes to features like adaptive color tone, color correction, extra dim, and eye comfort shield.For users who have tried all of those suggestions and updated their phones but still have a persistent red tint or the new dots issue, it is suggested to visit a Samsung service center.<h2>Possible Galaxy S26 Ultra Display Causes, Workarounds, and Unanswered Questions</h2>Since the red tint appeared only on the Ultra model in the Galaxy S26 series, some speculated it was related to the Privacy Display feature. This feature dims pixels on the sides of the screen and brightens the center, so only someone looking directly at the display sees it clearly.Samsung disagreed with that theory and said the problem was due to color calibration. Since this is a software issue, it should be easier to fix than a hardware fault.Users experiencing the red tint or the new red dots have a few options based on Samsung's guidance:<ol> <li>Confirm the device has installed the August 26 update, since it was intended to address the original tint.</li> <li>Try the adjustments on Samsung's support page, including adaptive color tone, color correction, extra dim, and eye comfort shield settings.</li> <li>Visit a Samsung service center if the tint persists or the red dots appear after updating and trying the settings.</li> </ol>Samsung has not commented on the red dots issue or said if another update is planned. It is unclear how many devices are affected or if the dots are caused by the same color calibration problem as the original tint.Because Samsung says the issue is software-related, another fix may be possible, but the company has not provided a timeline or solution for the new problem. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/samsungs-galaxy-s26-ultra-red-tint-fix-reportedly-causes-red-dots-on-the-screen/">Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra Red Tint Fix Reportedly Causes Red Dots on the Screen</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
GPU Prices Jump 15% in a Month, With GeForce Cards Taking the Biggest Hit

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 07:05:28 -0000

Graphics card prices have increased significantly over the past month. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/gpu-prices-jump-15-in-a-month-with-geforce-cards-taking-the-biggest-hit/">GPU Prices Jump 15% in a Month, With GeForce Cards Taking the Biggest Hit</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Graphics card prices <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/31/nvidia-reportedly-preparing-gpu-price-increases-of-up-to-30-following-samsung-dram-hike/">have increased significantly over the past month</a>. According to a survey covering 10 countries, the average rise is 15%, with GeForce cards seeing the largest increases.GeForce GPUs are up 19% month over month, while Radeon cards rose 11%, not counting the new RX 9070 GRE. These increases have reached retail shelves, with some models now selling for 40 to 50% above their intended MSRP. The RTX 5090 stands out, priced at 136% above MSRP across the surveyed regions and approaching $5,000 in the US.The prices shown are for the lowest in-stock model available in each region, not an average. Premium models are typically more expensive.<h2>How the Prices Were Collected And Entry-Level GeForce Increases</h2>We tracked prices in 10 countries, always using the lowest available price for an in-stock model in each region instead of an average. Each listing is checked to confirm the card is actually available at that price, using price comparison sites.This usually means the prices reflect base models, not premium versions such as the Asus ROG Strix or Gigabyte Windforce. The survey compares prices from July and August to those in February, as some models had been trending down earlier in 2026.The RTX 5050 held steady for several months but has now increased in price in most regions, with India seeing the biggest jump. In the US, it is no longer available at MSRP and now costs about $50 more. Across all regions, the card is 14% more expensive than in July and 19% higher than in February.The situation is worse for the RTX 5060. Its intended price is $300, but the cheapest available cards in the US are now around $450, which is 51% above MSRP.Prices are up 32% month over month in the US, with similar increases in India, Poland, and the Netherlands. Overall, the RTX 5060 is 23% more expensive than it was in July.<h2>RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, and RTX 5070 Ti Price Increases</h2>The RTX 5060 Ti 8GB stayed near its MSRP for some time but saw a sharp increase in August. It now sells for about $500 in the US, which is close to the price of the RTX 5070. The card is 24% more expensive than last month and 13% higher than in February, putting it 14% above MSRP globally.The 16GB version now costs over $700, which is close to the MSRP of the RTX 5070 Ti. Its price is up 22% month over month and 27% higher than in February.In the US, it is 70% above MSRP and 53% above globally, making it the second most overpriced card after the RTX 5090. This highlights the impact of memory pricing, as buyers are now paying about 50% more for 16GB of VRAM compared to 8GB at this level, and up to 62% more in some regions.The RTX 5070 increased by 20% on average over the past month and is now 19% more expensive than in February, sitting 31% above its global MSRP. These increases have narrowed the price gap with the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, reducing the difference from $120 at MSRP to just $70 in the US.The RTX 5070 Ti is up 17% month over month and 14% higher than in February, although most of its price increases happened earlier in the year. On average, it is 44% above MSRP, making it the third most overpriced GPU.<h2>High-End GeForce Spikes and Slower Radeon Price Increases</h2>The RTX 5080 has risen 15% on average, with the US seeing the largest increase at 24%. It is now 8% more expensive than in February, and sits 38% above MSRP globally and 55% above in the US.The RTX 5090 continues to rise in price, up another 20% over the past month and now 41% higher than in February. This is the largest six-month increase among all tracked cards.In the US, it is selling for nearly $5,000, which is 145% above MSRP, and 136% above globally. At this price, the RTX 5090 is hard to consider a gaming card, as its cost is now driven by AI performance and 32GB of memory, putting it in workstation territory.Radeon prices are also increasing, though not as sharply as GeForce. The RX 9060 XT 8GB saw the biggest jump among Radeon cards between July and August, rising 16% on average and now sitting 26% above global MSRP. The 16GB version went up 8% and is now 28% above MSRP.The RX 9070 has been one of the most stable cards, up just 8% on average and 5% higher than in February, now sitting 13% above MSRP. It is one of the best-priced cards currently available at just over $600.The RX 9070 XT increased by 12% and is now 21% above MSRP. Since it is 16% more expensive than the RX 9070 but only about 12% faster, the RX 9070 offers slightly better value.<h2>Intel Battlemage Supply Issues And The Memory Pricing Effect</h2>Intel's Arc B570 is becoming harder to find, with only one or two listings available in most cases. Its price is up 12% since July and 22% since February, but it is still among the cheapest GPUs on the market. The Arc B580 is easier to find, up 7% since July and 14% since February, now 25% above MSRP but still competitive at the lower end.GeForce pricing is now closely tied to VRAM capacity. In the US, the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB are about $300 above their launch prices, the 12GB RTX 5070 is up $250, and the 8GB RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti are $120 to $150 higher.If memory prices tripled, 16GB Nvidia GPUs would rise by at least $250 and 12GB models by about $200, which matches what is happening now.AMD has avoided the worst of the price increases so far, partly because it uses GDDR6 instead of GDDR7 and has different profit margins. Still, its 16GB Radeon models are $100 to $150 above MSRP.It is expected that Radeon prices will keep rising through the rest of 2026. The PS5, which uses 16GB of GDDR6, has also gone up by $150 since mid-2025.<h2>What Buyers Should Consider And What Comes Next</h2>For anyone weighing a GPU purchase amid the increases:<ol> <li>Compare against MSRP and February pricing, since some increases return cards to earlier levels while others push into new highs.</li> <li>Favor Radeon at most tiers, since we found GeForce cards to be significantly worse value, with the RTX 5070 Ti now 50% more expensive than the RX 9070 XT.</li> <li>Consider the RX 9070 specifically, which is rated as one of the best current-value cards at a little over $600.</li> <li>Note that value gaps vary by region, so local pricing should be checked before buying.</li> </ol>A 15% average price increase was found across all models and regions compared to a month ago, with GeForce up 19% and Radeon up 11%. On average, the market is now priced 28% above launch MSRP, not counting the RTX 5090. There is no sign that prices will return to previous levels soon.It is expected that Radeon prices will rise later in 2026, which could narrow the current value gap. For now, if you are buying a GPU, Radeon remains the better option. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/gpu-prices-jump-15-in-a-month-with-geforce-cards-taking-the-biggest-hit/">GPU Prices Jump 15% in a Month, With GeForce Cards Taking the Biggest Hit</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Manifest V2 Is Dead as Chrome Web Store Permanently Purges Legacy Extensions

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:55:48 -0000

Google has completed its plan to remove Manifest V2 extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/manifest-v2-is-dead-as-chrome-web-store-permanently-purges-legacy-extensions/">Manifest V2 Is Dead as Chrome Web Store Permanently Purges Legacy Extensions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/google/">Google</a> has completed its plan to remove Manifest V2 extensions from the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/google-chrome-browsing/">Chrome</a> Web Store. As of August 31, 2026, all remaining MV2 extensions have been deleted.This means legacy extensions can no longer be updated or reinstalled. Once an extension is removed from a device, it cannot be recovered. Google had already disabled MV2 extensions in stable versions of Chrome earlier, but this store removal is the final step. Legacy extensions are now blocked from installation, reinstallation, and updates.<h2>Chrome Web Store's Manifest V2 Purge and Google's Shift to Manifest V3</h2>According to the Chrome for Developers Manifest V2 support timeline, the milestone ends legacy extension distribution in several ways:<ul> <li>Complete store delisting: All Manifest V2 listings have been wiped from the Chrome Web Store search index and catalogue.</li> <li>No new installs or reinstalls: If you set up a new Chromebook or reinstall Chrome on your computer, you will not be able to download MV2 extensions, even if you have a direct link or had them installed before.</li> <li>Update freeze for existing installs: MV2 extensions that are still installed on older versions of Chrome will not receive any more bug fixes, security updates, or filter list updates from the Web Store.</li> <li>Permanent removal: If you disable or uninstall an MV2 extension from chrome://extensions, you cannot get it back from Google's official sources.</li> </ul>Google introduced Manifest V3 to change how extensions work behind the scenes. Under MV2, extensions had broad access to browser features, which led to security issues and performance problems.MV2 allowed extensions to run persistent background processes in memory around the clock, even when idle. Manifest V3 replaces these with event-driven service workers that spin up only when triggered and terminate when idle, freeing RAM on memory-constrained Chromebooks.In MV2, ad blockers used the blocking webRequest API to intercept every network request. Manifest V3 replaces this with the Declarative Net Request API, where the extension gives its filtering rules to Chrome's network engine, which then blocks ads directly in the browser.MV3 also bans hosted code remotely, so all executable code must be included in the extension and reviewed by the Chrome Web Store. MV2 allowed extensions to download and run code from outside servers after installation.<h2>Manifest V3's Impact on Ad Blockers and Power Users</h2>The main controversy during this transition has been about content blockers like uBlock Origin. With MV2, ad blockers could use almost unlimited dynamic rules and inject scripts deeply into web pages.With MV3, developers now have to follow strict limits on both static and dynamic rules. Early versions of MV3 were more restrictive, but Google later increased the rule limits and added APIs for updating filter lists.For most users, declarative filtering in MV3 blocks ads effectively and uses less memory. However, power users who depend on advanced cosmetic filtering, custom scripts, or very large filter lists will notice that MV3 is more limited than MV2.<h2>What Chrome Users Should Do After the Manifest V2 Purge</h2>Now that the purge has happened, these steps to keep your browser secure and working well:<ol> <li>Check your extensions by going to chrome://extensions and looking for any that are disabled or flagged as not updated to Manifest V3. These are usually marked with a badge.</li> <li>Replace any outdated MV2 extensions with their official Manifest V3 versions. For example, you can switch from uBlock Origin to uBlock Origin Lite or AdGuard.</li> <li>For organizations, temporary policy exemptions like ExtensionManifestV2Availability are about to expire in the next Chrome updates.</li> </ol>The Chrome Web Store purge started on August 31, 2026, and is permanent. There is no way to get back MV2 extensions from Google's official sources.Policy exemptions for organizations that allowed MV2 extensions to continue working are ending soon, although the policy does not list the exact Chrome versions. If you still use legacy extensions, you should switch to Manifest V3 alternatives before your current setup stops working. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/09/01/manifest-v2-is-dead-as-chrome-web-store-permanently-purges-legacy-extensions/">Manifest V2 Is Dead as Chrome Web Store Permanently Purges Legacy Extensions</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
ChatGPT Conversations Are Being Used as Court Evidence With No Legal Privilege Protecting Them

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:17:06 -0000

It has become more and more common for people to have private conversations with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, and such conversations do not benefit from the leg Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/chatgpt-conversations-are-being-used-as-court-evidence-with-no-legal-privilege-protecting-them/">ChatGPT Conversations Are Being Used as Court Evidence With No Legal Privilege Protecting Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

It has become more and more common for people to have private conversations with AI chatbots such as <a href="http://ghacks.net/category/ai/chatgpt/" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">ChatGPT</a>, and such conversations do not benefit from the legal confidentiality that is given to talks with lawyers, doctors, or therapists, as a review of the matter by the Washington Post.The records from these conversations can reveal a user's intentions, private thoughts, and confidential disclosures, and they might be obtained through a phone search, by means of a subpoena, during the discovery process in a lawsuit, or via a report from the AI company itself.The Washington Post discovered that chatbot conversations were mentioned in 12 public court cases within the last two years. The figure is probably higher because a great deal of the evidence gathered as a result of the investigations never comes to light.<h2>How ChatGPT Conversations Become Court Evidence</h2>ChatGPT and other similar tools are frequently used when trying to get answers to personal questions, when dealing with legal problems, about health issues, and for emotional support.Although such conversations may seem private, they can nevertheless become accessible through a number of means, including a phone search, a subpoena, discovery in a lawsuit, or a report made by the AI company.There was an instance concerning a teenager named R.K.C., who in 2023 brought legal action against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube, claiming that their platforms had led to social media addiction and mental health issues.His defense lawyers acquired his ChatGPT usage history. During an exchange in October 2024, R.K.C. asked the chatbot to clarify a comment made by his father regarding a possible settlement.He then reached a settlement with Snap, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/tiktok-and-bytedance-agree-to-400-million-childrens-privacy-settlement/">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/youtube/">YouTube</a> by the end of July and withdrew the claim against <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/meta/">Meta</a>, stating that they were worried about the length of the trial. The companies rejected his allegations, and a partner at Morgan & Morgan stated that the ChatGPT messages had no impact on the result.Mike Morgan, who is a partner at Morgan & Morgan, stated that young people might tell a chatbot more than they would tell their family, friends, or therapists."A fifteen-year-old might type things into a chatbot which he wouldn't say to a therapist, a parent, or a friend, and he won't realize that those things could end up in a defence expert's report," he said.Chatbot records are now being used in criminal cases. In Palm Beach County, Florida, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/ai/openai-ai/">OpenAI</a> reached out to the FBI following instances in which a ChatGPT user had repeatedly outlined plans to harm an ex-girlfriend, as stated in a police affidavit.The FBI then passed this information on to the local police, who were able to identify the woman and discovered that the user, Darren Zhou, had sent her anonymous messages after the relationship had ended.The police stated that the conversations confirmed the credibility of the threats. Zhou was arrested in May, charged with stalking and making electronic threats, pleaded guilty this month, and was sent to eight years of probation.OpenAI has stated that it employs software to identify conversations that could involve dangerous behavior, after which the staff can examine them. In the case that the reviewers judge that there is "an imminent and credible risk of harm to others", the company might get in touch with the authorities.Although OpenAI has not mentioned how frequently it files such reports, the figures in its transparency report indicate a marked rise in requests from governments and law enforcement, with data from over 80 accounts being disclosed during the second half of 2025, which is more than four times the number of such requests in the corresponding period of the previous year.<h2>Chatbot Records in Phone Searches and Civil Lawsuits</h2>In numerous instances, the police have no need to get the records from an AI company since they can simply look at the conversations on the individual's phone.Michael Price, who is the litigation director at the Fourth Amendment Center of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, stated that people usually agree to allow the officers to search their phones, even though in the majority of cases they have the right to say no without a warrant. "The simple answer is that most people give their consent," Price said. "They shouldn't, but they do."That happened in the case of Ryan Schaefer, a Missouri State University student accused of damaging 17 cars in a campus parking lot. According to police records, Schaefer agreed to let officers search his phone, and they found ChatGPT messages he sent shortly after the alleged vandalism.AI chat conversations can also be subject to civil lawsuits as part of the discovery process. In a case involving an employment dispute in Michigan, the former employer of a tyre salesman claimed that he had taken customers after joining a competing company.The salesman had asked ChatGPT whether deleted emails from Yahoo could still be retrieved, including by means of a court subpoena. The employer maintained that the messages indicated that he had been attempting to conceal evidence.A judge then ruled that the salesman had to pay an unspecified amount in legal fees and permitted the lawsuit to proceed. A judge ordered him to pay an undetermined amount in attorneys' fees and allowed the lawsuit to continue.<h2>Why Chatbot Conversations Are Not Legally Privileged</h2>Chatbot exchanges do not have the legal protections that apply to conversations with lawyers, doctors, or therapists. A federal judge in New York stated this in a case concerning financial executive Bradley Heppner, who had argued that prosecutors should not be permitted to examine his conversations with Anthropic's Claude regarding possible fraud defenses.The judge decided that the conversations were not protected since Claude is not a lawyer and Heppner's lawyers had not told him to get advice from the chatbot.Heppner was found guilty in May of securities fraud, wire fraud, and other charges.im to consult the chatbot. Heppner was convicted in May of securities fraud, wire fraud, and other charges. Given the lack of legal privilege, users can take a few practical precautions:<ol> <li>Consider chatbot conversations to be discoverable records rather than private communications, as they are not covered by any legal confidentiality provisions.</li> <li>Do not enter sensitive admissions, legal plans, or personal information that you would not want revealed in court.</li> <li>You should generally be able to refuse a warrantless search of a phone, as a good deal of conversations get passed on to the police through searches that have been carried out with the person's consent.</li> <li>It should be noted that if AI companies find that there is a credible risk of harm to others, they may look at the flagged conversations and get in touch with law enforcement.</li> </ol><h2>What Comes Next</h2>The problem could increase as AI tools take on more responsibilities and obtain access to greater amounts of personal data. Andrew Ferguson, a law professor at George Washington University who researches digital surveillance, stated that the records kept by chatbots might be just the start."The whole of your life will then be accessible to the police," Ferguson said. It has not yet been decided whether courts will eventually grant any kind of privilege to conversations with AI.This involves some delicate legal and personal issues. Although it provides general information, it is not legal advice, and persons who are dealing with a particular legal situation should seek advice from a qualified lawyer. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/chatgpt-conversations-are-being-used-as-court-evidence-with-no-legal-privilege-protecting-them/">ChatGPT Conversations Are Being Used as Court Evidence With No Legal Privilege Protecting Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
South Korea to Offer Its Entire Population Free AI Access With No Token Limits

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:09:18 -0000

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, South Korea is planning to provide its whole population with free generative AI services as part of an initiat Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/south-korea-to-offer-its-entire-population-free-ai-access-with-no-token-limits/">South Korea to Offer Its Entire Population Free AI Access With No Token Limits</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, South Korea is planning to provide its whole population with free generative AI services as part of an initiative known as "AI for All", the aim being to help people with things like booking medical appointments, finding housing and dealing with their taxes. The program will start its beta testing in September and will then have a wider launch later this year. Under the government-supported plans, users will have unlimited access with no token limits. Seoul has also appointed three technology consortia to offer the services. The aim of the initiative is to increase access to domestic AI and at the same time give the government a greater role in the way in which it is used. <h2>South Korea's Free AI Services and Government-Backed Computing Power</h2> The services are expected to link with government systems rather than operate just as independent chatbots, and residents will be able to use them to book appointments with doctors, look for apartments, and obtain tax advice. Small businesses will be able to work out their taxes and find out if they are eligible for government assistance, while parents will get recommendations regarding educational material. Each consortium intends to launch its own AI application and incorporate generative AI features into its existing products. The three consortia known as Friday consist of groups headed by the country's two major telecommunications companies and the operator of Kakao, one of South Korea's most widely used consumer platforms. Seoul will provide a portion of the computing power required to operate the services. The government intends to allocate up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips among the three consortia and will also assist with the operating costs. The Ministry of Science and ICT has not made public the total cost of the programme. This initiative is part of South Korea's strategy for developing a more robust domestic AI industry and for reducing its dependence on AI systems made in the United States and China; in order to encourage more consumers to choose locally developed AI products, the government is providing its premium-level services freely. <h2>South Korea's AI Market, Public Funding, and Rollout Timeline</h2> There is already a big market for generative AI in South Korea. A government survey carried out this year showed that approximately one-quarter of South Koreans pay for AI services, whereas about 2% of Americans do so, as found in a survey by PNC Bank. Seoul also believes that over 20 million people in South Korea use free generative AI tools. The expansion is supported by a general rise in spending on AI. The administration of President Lee Jae-myung has allocated approximately 10 trillion won, or $7.2 billion, for AI-related expenses in 2026, which is three times the amount set aside the year before. The 'AI for All' program will start its beta testing in September, with a more extensive launch taking place later this year. It is not specified the procedure that residents will have to follow in order to sign up or which of the three consortia will offer its services first. The government has not revealed the total cost of the program, and the exact details of the government-system integrations, including how medical appointments and tax advice will function in practice, have not yet been fully outlined ahead of the beta test. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/south-korea-to-offer-its-entire-population-free-ai-access-with-no-token-limits/">South Korea to Offer Its Entire Population Free AI Access With No Token Limits</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Ships Windows 11 Tool That Installs a Bing Extension in Chrome, Firefox, and Brave

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:06:17 -0000

Microsoft has created a standalone application for Windows 11 that installs a Bing browser extension in Chrome, Firefox, and Brave and then asks users to make B Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/microsoft-ships-windows-11-tool-that-installs-a-bing-extension-in-chrome-firefox-and-brave/">Microsoft Ships Windows 11 Tool That Installs a Bing Extension in Chrome, Firefox, and Brave</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has created a standalone application for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/">Windows 11</a> that installs a Bing browser extension in <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/google-chrome-browsing/">Chrome</a>, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/firefox/">Firefox</a>, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/the-web/brave/">Brave</a> and then asks users to make Bing their default search engine.The tool, known as Microsoft Recommended Search Settings, is distributed as a 22.2 MB installer named MicrosoftSettings.exe and is available on Microsoft's download servers rather than through Windows Update or the Microsoft Store.The executable was found by Windows tester Xeno Panther, and a test report published on August 22, 2026, details how the tool functions after installation. The setup screen has the option to switch to Bing set to "Yes" from the start.Microsoft states that the tool is optional and that explicit consent is required at various stages.<h2>How Microsoft's Bing Extension Tool Works</h2>When the pre-toggled setting is accepted, the Microsoft Bing Homepage and Search extension, which has been published by Microsoft, is installed into the supported browser that the installer identifies, after which the Microsoft Rewards offer page is opened. Edge is not included in the rollout because it already has Bing as its default.The extension has a rating of four stars based on approximately 110 reviews and is listed as having around 5 million users. Both Chrome and Brave show warnings when it is being installed, informing users that the extension is capable of reading and modifying data on all websites, displaying notifications, and taking control of the home page, the start page, and the search settings.People who agree and then attempt to revert to Google via Chrome's own prompt are shown a message from the Bing extension asking them to keep it; this message cautions that switching back will turn off the Bing wallpapers and search.The researchers looked at the installer and found that the sequence, which involved an unrequested extension being installed in connection with a change to the default search and a redirection to the rewards page, matches the kinds of patterns that are usually associated with browser-hijacking software. The app, however, has Microsoft's own code-signing certificate and demands that the user click through a consent screen before any settings are changed.The reaction on Reddit was mostly negative, with a post that was widely circulated stating that the app's only purpose is to "ask whether you want to change your default search to Bing".Microsoft stated that the tool is optional, that changing one's default search engine involves giving explicit consent at several stages, and that home users who refuse will not see any changes to their settings.<h2>How to Remove the Bing Extension and Restore Search Settings</h2>Users who already have the extension installed can undo the change in a few steps:<ol> <li>In Chrome, Firefox, or Brave go to the extension management page and uninstall Microsoft Bing Homepage & Search.</li> <li>Set the preferred search engine in the browser's settings.</li> <li>IT administrators who are in charge of Windows 11 fleets should check whether MicrosoftSettings.exe has appeared in the environment and make sure that the existing group policies still prevent the installation of unauthorized browser extensions.</li> </ol>The app continues a long-standing trend of Windows-level prompts encouraging the use of Bing and Edge, having previously in 2021 made it more difficult to open links in browsers other than Edge.The app comes at a time when Microsoft is reducing the number of Windows 10 users who receive updates, since Microsoft 365 feature updates for the older operating system will cease after version 2608, and OneDrive's desktop client will only keep receiving new features on Windows 10 version 22H2.Microsoft has already come under pressure from EU regulators regarding the practice of bundling its own services with mandatory upgrades, particularly in the context of the Digital Markets Act and the way it structured the free Windows 10 security updates in that region. In the end, the company provided those updates without making enrollment in Microsoft Rewards a requirement.<h2>Microsoft's Bing Push and Recommended Search Settings Availability</h2>The push by Microsoft to promote Bing occurs as the company makes use of OpenAI's technology in its competition with Google, building upon the search features powered by GPT-4 that it has introduced to Bing since 2023.According to StatCounter's data from July 2026, Bing has about 4.5 per cent of the global search engine market compared to Google's roughly 91 per cent, a gap which has narrowed only slightly since the AI features on Bing were launched.The Microsoft Recommended Search Settings tool is hosted on Microsoft's download servers and is not distributed automatically via Windows Update or the Microsoft Store. Microsoft regards the tool as optional, and users who do not agree to it notice no difference.It is not yet known how widely the tool is being shown to users, nor whether Microsoft intends to make its distribution more extensive. At the same time, Microsoft is preparing Windows 11 version 26H2 as a low-disruption enablement package to be released in the fall. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/microsoft-ships-windows-11-tool-that-installs-a-bing-extension-in-chrome-firefox-and-brave/">Microsoft Ships Windows 11 Tool That Installs a Bing Extension in Chrome, Firefox, and Brave</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Wins Best PC Game at Gamescom 2026

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:59:06 -0000

At Gamescom 2026, the game named Total War: Warhammer 40,000, the best PC game, the award having been selected by both a jury of expert gaming professionals and Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/total-war-warhammer-40000-wins-best-pc-game-at-gamescom-2026/">Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Wins Best PC Game at Gamescom 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

At Gamescom 2026, the game named Total War: Warhammer 40,000, the best PC game, the award having been selected by both a jury of expert gaming professionals and the community; it was one of three prizes that Sega won this year, the others being Best Audio for Alien: Isolation 2 and Best Lineup for its full range of games. This grimdark strategy game is making its debut in the Total War series with the introduction of the Space Marines, and early previews have already generated strong reactions. According to the Gamescom website, the winners are selected by both an expert jury and the community. <h2>Gamescom Award and Early Preview Reactions</h2> At the Gamescom Awards 2026, Total War: Warhammer 40,000 was awarded Game of the Year. The game is bringing the Warhammer 40,000 universe into the Total War series following the series' previous adaptation of the fantasy Warhammer world. The previews have been positive; Fraser Brown of PC Gamer stated that just one hour of playing had made the game the standout title of his year. "It's clear from the start just how special Total War 40k is," he wrote, "I don't think a tutorial has ever made me giddy before." <h2>Why Warhammer and What Is Still Unclear</h2> The combination of scale and detailed presentation found in Total War is especially well-suited to the galaxy-spanning setting of Warhammer 40,000. The article points out that there is a certain appeal in the idea of watching an individual Ultramarine engage an Ork up close before zooming out to view a large-scale battle in a wide shot, this being an exciting possibility for a setting which is based on extremes. It has not yet been seen whether or not the game will keep its promise when it is released. The Judges' award and the previews at Gamescom are based on the experience gained during testing with an early pre-release version of the game, not on the final product. It is not yet known what the release date for Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is in this article, so the game's launch date and its final quality are still to be determined. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/31/total-war-warhammer-40000-wins-best-pc-game-at-gamescom-2026/">Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Wins Best PC Game at Gamescom 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
PS5 Pro Stock Vanishes After GTA 6 Reveal, With Third-Party Sellers Charging Up to $1,300

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 07:43:26 -0000

PS5 Pro consoles have become difficult to find after the GTA 6 Netflix reveal. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/ps5-pro-stock-vanishes-after-gta-6-reveal-with-third-party-sellers-charging-up-to-1300/">PS5 Pro Stock Vanishes After GTA 6 Reveal, With Third-Party Sellers Charging Up to $1,300</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

PS5 Pro consoles have become difficult to find after the <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/rockstar-details-gta-6-80-hour-story-a-map-3x-bigger-than-red-dead-2-and-a-rebuilt-wanted-system/">GTA 6 Netflix reveal</a>. Most major US retailers are out of stock, and third-party sellers are listing the console for as much as $1,300.<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/02/sony-ends-physical-playstation-game-production-starting-january-2028/">PlayStation</a> Direct still had the PS5 Pro available at its $899 list price at the time of writing, but it was the only major retailer with stock. GTA 6 is confirmed to feature PS5 Pro enhancements, though the specifics are not yet known.<h2>PS5 Pro Stock Shortage and GTA 6 Demand</h2>At the time of writing, PlayStation Direct was the only major US retailer with PS5 Pro stock at $899. Availability could change quickly.Amazon and Walmart both listed the PS5 Pro, but only through third-party sellers at prices around $1,299. Best Buy and Target were out of stock. It is unclear if buyers are paying these higher prices, though recent eBay sales show new consoles selling for up to $1,200.The increased demand to interest in GTA 6 came after the recent reveal. Some players seem willing to pay a premium for the best experience with Rockstar's upcoming game.GTA 6 will include PS5 Pro enhancements, though details have not been announced. The game appeared visually strong on the base PS5 during the extended look.It is unlikely to reach 60fps even on the Pro model.<h2>PS5 Pro Buying Advice and Restock Outlook</h2>For anyone weighing a PS5 Pro purchase amid the shortage:<ol> <li>Check PlayStation Direct first, as it was the only major US retailer offering the PS5 Pro at the $899 list price.</li> <li>Avoid paying third-party markups of $1,200 to $1,300, which are significantly above the official price.</li> <li>Consider waiting, it is expected that Sony will restock retailers before GTA 6's release in November.</li> </ol>PS5 Pro stock was mostly unavailable at major US retailers after the GTA 6 reveal, with PlayStation Direct as the main exception at $899.Sony should restock the console before GTA 6's November 19 launch, though no timeline has been confirmed. Rockstar has not provided details on the specific PS5 Pro enhancements for GTA 6. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/ps5-pro-stock-vanishes-after-gta-6-reveal-with-third-party-sellers-charging-up-to-1300/">PS5 Pro Stock Vanishes After GTA 6 Reveal, With Third-Party Sellers Charging Up to $1,300</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Canonical Releases Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS, Opening Upgrades for Noble Numbat Users

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 07:22:24 -0000

The Register reports that Canonical has issued Ubuntu 26. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/canonical-releases-ubuntu-26-04-1-lts-opening-upgrades-for-noble-numbat-users/">Canonical Releases Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS, Opening Upgrades for Noble Numbat Users</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

The Register reports that Canonical has issued <a href="https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-26-04-1-lts-released/86808" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">Ubuntu 26.04.1</a>, the first point release of this year's long-term support edition, and that support for it will continue until 2031; upgrade options are now being made available to users of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat), since Canonical does not provide upgrades to LTS users until the first point release.Most of the official versions have released point releases corresponding to this one, although Ubuntu MATE and one other variant have not. System76 is also expected to launch Pop!_OS 26.04, based on Ubuntu 26.04.1.In the same way as has been the case with the earlier LTS versions, four more point releases should come after 26.04.1.<h2>Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS Release, Point-Release Schedule, and Missing Flavors</h2>Ubuntu 26.04.1 is the first point release of the April LTS version and will be supported until 2031; if it adheres to the pattern set by earlier Ubuntu LTS releases then it will be followed by four more point releases, the last of which typically comes a little after the next LTS release, so Ubuntu 26.04.5 should arrive at some point after Ubuntu 28.04 and thus in or about September 2028.With the release, most of the remixes also receive their corresponding point releases, such as Kubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu Studio, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, and Ubuntu Cinnamon; there are 10 official flavours but only eight point releases are listed.Two of the flavours have been left out of the point releases, since the official 26.04 version of Ubuntu MATE was not released, Martin Wimpress having decided to take on a new project known as Nøughty Linux.Ubuntu Unity isn't included in the list either, since the principal developer, Rudra Saraswat, is at university and as a result the remix failed to make the 25.10 release cycle.Some developers have taken on the work instead and there now is an Ubuntu Unity 26.04 release, but this version replaces a number of the subcomponents of the previous one and so it is not officially an LTS release. The Register advises Ubuntu Unity users to aim for the 26.10 release instead.<h2>Ubuntu 24.04 Upgrade Offers and the Coming Pop!_OS 26.04 Release</h2>For users of the LTS version, the first point release marks the time when upgrades become available to those who wish to keep their system up to date. Since Canonical does not begin providing upgrades to LTS users until the first point release, users of Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat" will now start to receive upgrade offers.As the Register points out, the situation applies to both server users and desktop users because Canonical includes upgrade messages in the output of the apt command and therefore the offers for upgrades are not restricted to those using the graphical desktop.A less specific consequence in this regard is that System76's Pop!_OS 26.04 is due very soon, it being based on Ubuntu 26.04.1. The company had intended to have a release by the end of June, but this did not take place.Last December the team reached version 1.0 of its own COSMIC desktop and then, this week, launched COSMIC version 1.7.0. According to The Register, it has grown to like both COSMIC and Pop!_OS after an initial period of instability, noting that they are faster than Ubuntu itself and offering useful features such as being able to change the screen DPI on the go, although it has experienced freezes on older machines that are 10 to 15 years old. COSMIC is being developed more quickly than any other desktop in the Linux world, and the team has bold plans for "Epoch 2" and what comes after it.<h3>Availability</h3>Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS is now available and will be supported until 2031, with upgrade options being made available to users of Ubuntu 24.04. The various official versions have point releases that correspond to each other, although Ubuntu MATE does not have a 26.04 version and Ubuntu Unity 26.04 is not an LTS edition.Pop!_OS 26.04 is due any time soon, but no definite release date has been confirmed, having already failed to meet an earlier target at the end of June. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/canonical-releases-ubuntu-26-04-1-lts-opening-upgrades-for-noble-numbat-users/">Canonical Releases Ubuntu 26.04.1 LTS, Opening Upgrades for Noble Numbat Users</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Edge Update Adds Apple Sign-In and Scam Protection While Retiring Edge Drop and Video Translation

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 07:16:11 -0000

The most recent update to Microsoft Edge includes the option to sign in using an Apple account and also introduces a feature that automatically has users unsubs Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/microsoft-edge-update-adds-apple-sign-in-and-scam-protection-while-retiring-edge-drop-and-video-translation/">Microsoft Edge Update Adds Apple Sign-In and Scam Protection While Retiring Edge Drop and Video Translation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

The most recent update to <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/the-web/microsoft-edge/">Microsoft Edge</a> includes the option to sign in using an <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/apple-companies/">Apple</a> account and also introduces a feature that automatically has users unsubscribed from scam-related notifications.The same update also formally discontinues a number of Edge features, such as Edge Drop and real-time video translation. Edge Drop, the feature which allowed users to send messages, files, and photos to themselves within a single thread backed by OneDrive, is being discontinued in Edge version 152. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has provided the full details of all the changes in its Stable Channel release notes.While Microsoft has not confirmed it, Copilot might have been one of the reasons behind the retirement of Edge Drop.<h2>Microsoft Edge Adds Apple Sign-In and Scam Notification Protection</h2>Several new features and admin controls ship with the update:For automatically unsubscribing from scam notifications: if a notification takes you to a website that Microsoft Defender SmartScreen blocks as a scam, phishing, or malware page, Edge will automatically stop that source from sending any more notifications and will notify the user.Users can look at and reinstate the sites by going to edge://settings/privacy/sitePermissions/allPermissions/notifications. This feature is part of a controlled rollout.With regard to signing in with an Apple account: users are now able to sign in to Edge either using a Microsoft account or an Apple account from the profile menu and the sign-in screen on both Windows and macOS. Administrators can use the NonMicrosoftAccountSignInEnabled policy to control whether this feature is available. This is a controlled feature rollout.The key icon has been enhanced so that in Edge's address bar users can click on any saved credential to see a detailed panel in which they can copy a username, reveal and copy a password, and add personal notes for each login. This is part of a controlled feature rollout.The update also signals the conclusion of two features, namely Edge Drop, which is being discontinued in Microsoft Edge version 152, Microsoft stating that the reason for this is an aim to simplify the browser.Edge Drop was located in the Edge Sidebar, where it had to compete with Copilot for space. Although Microsoft has never officially confirmed that Copilot was a factor in the decision to retire the feature, the AI tool at least played a minor role.Real-time video translation is also being phased out through a gradual rollout, since the availability differs from environment to environment as the transition takes place. The LiveVideoTranslationEnabled policy will be made obsolete in a future update.<h2>Microsoft Edge Admin Policy Changes and Feature Rollout Details</h2>The update includes several policy changes for administrators:<ul> <li>Copilot Cowork is capable of carrying out various tasks, including the creation of tabs, taking screenshots, and interacting with web pages. This functionality can be managed through the CopilotCoworkToolActionsEnabled policy, which matches the "Allow Cowork to take actions on your behalf" option in edge://settings/ai. However, the policy only takes effect when Cowork Browsing is enabled at the tenant level in the M365 admin center.</li> <li>The policy for downgrading WebView2, which allows administrators to temporarily revert certain applications to a previous version of the WebView2 Evergreen Runtime (specifically version N-1 or N-2), mandates the use of an exact four-part numeric version number, for example 151.0.2178.0; versions that specify only the major number are not supported and the policy has no effect if no exact match of the folder is found.</li> <li>The planned removal of the LocalNetworkAccessRestrictionsTemporaryOptOut policy has been postponed and is now set to be removed after Edge version 156 instead of version 152.</li> <li>Administrators can now use the EdgeEntraCopilotPageContext policy to control the video transcription feature, this policy corresponds to the "Allow Copilot to transcribe your video" setting in edge://settings/ai.</li> </ul>Many of the new features, such as Apple account sign-in, the option to unsubscribe from scam notifications, and the improved key icon, involve controlled feature rollouts and therefore may not show up on every device at once.Edge Drop has been discontinued in version 152, and real-time video translation is being gradually phased out, with its policy being removed in a future update. It is not yet certain when the rollout of the new features will be completed for all users. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/microsoft-edge-update-adds-apple-sign-in-and-scam-protection-while-retiring-edge-drop-and-video-translation/">Microsoft Edge Update Adds Apple Sign-In and Scam Protection While Retiring Edge Drop and Video Translation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
LibreOffice 26.8 Launches With Writer Paragraph Composer and No AI Features

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 07:07:24 -0000

The Document Foundation has issued LibreOffice 26. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/libreoffice-26-8-launches-with-writer-paragraph-composer-and-no-ai-features/">LibreOffice 26.8 Launches With Writer Paragraph Composer and No AI Features</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

The Document Foundation has issued <a href="https://www.libreoffice.org/release-notes/" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">LibreOffice 26.8</a> for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/">Windows</a>, macOS, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/linux/">Linux</a>, including all the components of the suite. This update, which came out on August 26, 2026, does not include any generative AI features, a stance that the foundation describes as "a deliberate position," not an accident.When documents are processed, they are not sent to any remote service, and none of the components require network access in order to function. The release is immediately available in 120 languages, and the most significant new feature being offered is Writer's Paragraph Composer.Development started in December 2025 and involved 206 people, 155 of whom were volunteers.<h2>LibreOffice 26.8's No-AI Position and Writer Improvements</h2>LibreOffice 26.8 does not include any generative AI features, a decision that the foundation has made on purpose; documents remain local and the suite can function without needing a network connection.As BetaNews points out, LibreOffice has acted as a free and open-source alternative to Microsoft Office for more than ten years, including the introduction of a web-based version which the foundation is now bringing back for self-hosting.There is a third-party extension that creates AI art within Writer and Impress and this extension is separate from the official suite, requiring the sending of text to an external service.The writer's most important contribution is the Paragraph Composer, a text layout algorithm which spreads out the spacing between words across consecutive lines rather than adjusting each line on its own.Traditional word processors employ a single-line, greedy justification technique that causes some lines to be crowded and others to be sparse when long words come close to a word break. The Paragraph Composer gets rid of this effect and allows users to specify a maximum limit for word spacing.The writer now includes native support for OpenType font variations, is able to automatically detect the paragraph direction when documents or text are opened or pasted, and sets the default for new documents to start alignment rather than left alignment.The baseline grid alignment has been fixed for text that is within frames, the ARIA-compliant reporting of row and column indices improves screen reader support for tables, and a new Draft view removes the headers, footers, and margins in order to provide distraction-free working. Writer also opens large documents with images much faster.<h2>Improvements Across Calc, Office Files, and Presentations</h2>Calc includes calculated fields in pivot tables, offers a Shuffle command that randomizes the order of the cells in a range, and now supports relative font sizes in cell styles.The border toolbar button remembers the style that was most recently used, and data validation can once again quietly reject invalid entries, thereby restoring the previous pre-24.2 behavior.The ability to exchange files with Microsoft Excel has also been improved. Line breaks located within cells that are referenced from XLSX files are now displayed more accurately, and the form control elements in XLSX documents now show up in the Navigator panel.Six of the newer Microsoft Office chart types now retain their integrity after a round trip through LibreOffice: box-and-whisker, funnel, Pareto, sunburst, treemap, and waterfall.LibreOffice is still unable to draw or edit these chart types, so when such a file is opened a placeholder message identifying the chart type is displayed while the underlying data is preserved and is returned unchanged when opened in Microsoft Office. Region map charts are the exception in this case since the geographic data associated with them is lost.Math has obtained support for the N'Ko and Adlam scripts, both of which are used to write the Manding languages in West Africa as well as the Fulani language, including having their own named functions and operators, and right-to-left formulas may make use of left-pointing vector arrows and harpoons. A bug in the font-name lookup has also been resolved.LibreOffice Base now retains SQL comments when a query is displayed in Design View and allows filtering to be carried out on date, time, and timestamp columns using the embedded Firebird database.Previously, a single Impress or Draw file was restricted to having only one page size, but this has now changed so that it is possible to combine different page sizes.Impress now includes named sections for grouping slides, displays custom slide names beside the slide numbers, and provides a one-step method for converting a numbered list into a bulleted one.Among the built-in templates there are now versions in both 16:9 and 4:3 ratios, meaning that when the aspect ratio is changed the background artwork no longer gets stretched.<h2>LibreOffice 26.8 Interface Updates, Scripting Changes, and Donation Banner</h2>LibreOffice still provides a number of different interface layouts rather than settling on just one as the default, among them the traditional menu-and-toolbar layout, Tabbed, Tabbed Compact, Groupedbar, Sidebar, and Single Toolbar mode.Version 26.8 has improved the Tabbed interface, which is the one most similar to the Microsoft 365 Ribbon, without making the classic menu-based view obsolete. The Document Foundation maintained that "Choice is not the consolation prize. Choice is the point."Now each application has its own background color in the Notebookbar so that it can be easily distinguished visually, and changing an application's theme color no longer requires a restart.Instead of needing a separate extension, writing and editing Python scripts is handled directly by the Macro manager, ScriptForge also providing a typed input dialog together with map, filter, and reduce for Basic arrays.Other features include the ability to search for comments using Quick Find, table styles in Writer and Calc that can be edited directly, paper sizes ranging from A0 to B3, and a Hyperlink dialog which is able to remove tracking parameters from a pasted address.Version 26.8 was the first instance in which LibreOffice displayed a donation banner in the Start Centre, which is the screen that users see when the programme opens without a document already loaded.The banner does not appear on each launch and instead shows up about once a month or following an update has been installed; clicking on it takes you to the donation page.BetaNews adds that no other feature of LibreOffice includes advertising, monitors usage, requires a subscription or an account, or offers any features exclusively to paying users. The project is financed by donations to The Document Foundation and by contributions from companies that are part of the LibreOffice ecosystem.Two fonts have been removed from the standard installation, Gentium Basic and Gentium Book Basic, so documents that call for either of them will use a substitute unless the fonts are installed separately.LibreOffice 26.8 can now be downloaded from the official download page, and the full release notes are available on the Document Foundation wiki. Those using the LibreOffice 26.2 branch will receive one more update, namely version 26.2.6, on September 3, before that branch reaches the end of its life on November 30, 2026.A first maintenance version of the new branch, LibreOffice 26.8.1, is due within a few weeks. Large-scale deployments can also make use of paid enterprise versions offered by members of the ecosystem, these providing service-level agreements, dedicated support, and security patches that last three to five years. The Document Foundation's annual LibreOffice Conference will take place from September 10 to 12 in Pordenone, Italy. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/29/libreoffice-26-8-launches-with-writer-paragraph-composer-and-no-ai-features/">LibreOffice 26.8 Launches With Writer Paragraph Composer and No AI Features</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Nvidia Reportedly Agrees to Buy Open-Source AI Hub Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:11:30 -0000

It has been reported that Nvidia is close to buying the open-source AI hub Hugging Face for 12. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/nvidia-reportedly-agrees-to-buy-open-source-ai-hub-hugging-face-for-12-9-billion/">Nvidia Reportedly Agrees to Buy Open-Source AI Hub Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

It has been reported that <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/20/nvidia-adds-firefox-to-geforce-nows-supported-browsers-for-cloud-gaming-on-windows/">Nvidia</a> is close to buying the open-source AI hub <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/22/openai-confirms-its-models-breached-hugging-face-production-systems-during-cyber-benchmark-testing/">Hugging Face</a> for 12.9 billion dollars, according to a report by The Information.If the deal proceeds, the main supplier of AI processors will obtain control of one of the most important centres for sharing open AI models and for supporting developer collaboration.As reported by The Information, Nvidia has agreed to the purchase based on information given by a person who was aware of the agreement, while Business Insider's account is more cautious in saying that the two companies had carried out serious discussions at a valuation above $13 billion but had not in fact signed the deal. Neither company has publicly confirmed the reports.If the share price ends up at the stated level, then Hugging Face will have become the largest takeover ever carried out by Nvidia.<h2>Nvidia's Reported Hugging Face Deal and Why the AI Hub Matters</h2>The amount of $12.9 billion would exceed the $7 billion that Nvidia spent to acquire Mellanox in 2020; according to The Information, Hugging Face recently achieved annualized revenues of about $150 million, which means the stated price represents roughly 86 times that amount.In its last funding round, Hugging Face obtained $235 million at a valuation of $4.5 billion in 2023, with Nvidia joining Salesforce, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/google-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-for-1-5-billion-deal-with-ai-coding-startup-mechanize/">Google</a>, Amazon, AMD, Intel, Qualcomm, and IBM as investors. Nvidia can afford the deal since it has just reported quarterly revenue of $96.2 billion and net income of $59.7 billion.Hugging Face is frequently referred to as the GitHub for AI, offering a central platform on which developers can publish, discover, test and deploy models and datasets. The company states that its community included 13 million users, more than two million public models, and over 500,000 public datasets by 2025.<h2>Nvidia and Hugging Face's Partnership, Ownership Concerns, and Antitrust Risk</h2>Nvidia and Hugging Face have already worked together; in 2023 they set up a partnership which linked Hugging Face models to Nvidia's DGX Cloud for the purposes of training and fine-tuning, and subsequently the two companies moved on to offer on-demand training clusters.Since then Hugging Face has also collaborated with AMD, AWS, and Google, which raises concerns about platform neutrality if the dominant chip supplier in the AI industry ends up owning Hugging Face.The fact that Nvidia has acquired Hugging Face will give it more influence over how developers search for, share, optimise and deploy AI models. This move is consistent with CEO Jensen Huang's open support for open models, as he believes that such an approach promotes AI adoption and thus results in higher demand for chips and data centres.Moreover, Nvidia and Hugging Face have also signed the same industry letter in which they urge US policymakers to make sure that advanced model weights stay accessible.Siddy Jobe, a fund manager with the Eonopolis Exponential Technologies funds, stated on CNBC that Nvidia is very much a community and a platform-oriented company and that Hugging Face is precisely the type of company it is.He also said that it is clear that Nvidia wants to be integrated at every level of the stack, from energy all the way through to foundational models and on to applications.It is reported that Hugging Face turned down an Nvidia investment of $500 million at a company valuation of $7 billion last year since it did not want a single major shareholder to have an influence on decisions. Full ownership would once again give rise to that concern and regulators might agree.The same kinds of concerns existed regarding Nvidia's proposed acquisition of Arm, a transaction valued at $40 billion, which fell through in 2022 because of international antitrust pressure.<h2>What Nvidia and Hugging Face Have Not Confirmed</h2>Nvidia and Hugging Face have not publicly confirmed the reports, the two sources differing in that The Information speak of an agreement while Business Insider describe serious discussions without a signed deal.It has not yet been determined what the final price will be, whether the deal will actually go through, and how it will affect Hugging Face's neutral position with regard to Nvidia's competitors such as AMD and Google.A transaction of this scale would probably come under antitrust scrutiny, as was the case with Nvidia's acquisition of Arm in 2022. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/nvidia-reportedly-agrees-to-buy-open-source-ai-hub-hugging-face-for-12-9-billion/">Nvidia Reportedly Agrees to Buy Open-Source AI Hub Hugging Face for $12.9 Billion</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Rockstar Details GTA 6: 80-Hour Story, a Map 3x Bigger Than Red Dead 2, and a Rebuilt Wanted System

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:06:57 -0000

Rockstar has shown off a 26-minute gameplay preview for Grand Theft Auto VI and has also begun to offer preview coverage based on reports from the outlets that Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/rockstar-details-gta-6-80-hour-story-a-map-3x-bigger-than-red-dead-2-and-a-rebuilt-wanted-system/">Rockstar Details GTA 6: 80-Hour Story, a Map 3x Bigger Than Red Dead 2, and a Rebuilt Wanted System</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Rockstar has shown off a 26-minute gameplay preview for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/former-rockstar-tech-lead-says-gta-6-leaks-are-no-big-deal/">Grand Theft Auto VI</a> and has also begun to offer preview coverage based on reports from the outlets that visited Rockstar North.The announcement confirms that the game will have a map that is three times the size of that in Red Dead Redemption 2, will feature a story playthrough lasting 80 hours, will include more than 600,000 NPC animations, and will represent a change in design away from the consequence-free sandbox chaos.The 'Extended Look' <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/07/rockstar-to-debut-extended-gta-6-look-on-netflix-first-drawing-fan-backlash/">was first made available on Netflix</a> a few hours before it appeared on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/22/youtube-reportedly-offering-creators-millions-to-keep-content-exclusive-and-off-netflix/">YouTube</a>. The footage was recorded using a base model PlayStation 5.<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/06/former-rockstar-developer-says-gta-6-could-be-delayed-again-potentially-to-may-2027/"> GTA 6 will be released on November 19.</a>The details given in the reveal are more specific than at any time since the game was announced in 2022.<h2>GTA 6's Larger Map, 80-Hour Story, and Rebuilt Wanted System</h2><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tJbzMqJGH4k?si=Ah3ZIRv5_9fN9Bxl" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>Rob Nelson, who is one of the co-heads at Rockstar North, provided the figures at the preview event.The map is about twice the size of that in GTA 5 and three times larger than the one in Red Dead Redemption 2, since Vice City is alone roughly twice the size of Los Santos.Rockstar maps have never been the largest in gaming but have generally been the most detailed.Nelson stated to The New York Times that his most recent playthrough had taken around 80 hours, including the main storyline as well as some optional objectives which have narrative consequences.As a point of reference, the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 lasts approximately 50 to 60 hours, so GTA 6 would therefore become the longest game that Rockstar has released.A major change is that GTA 6 aims to get players to 'think like a criminal' rather than simply destroy everything.The wanted system has now been redesigned with a focus on information; a crime must be seen by an NPC or detected by an alarm before the police are alerted, and the officers who respond are given a description that includes the player's face, clothes, and vehicle.The HUD has separate indicators showing what details the police know; if the stars are hollow, then they are carrying out a search without having a description. When heat is shed, this means that the descriptions are being invalidated.Changing one's hairstyle removes the appearance, but sunglasses or a different hat are not sufficient; a full change of outfit is necessary, which is why trunk storage for spare clothes has now become a functional system.Wearing a mask while carrying out a job and then taking it off afterward means that the police will never be able to identify the person's face even if CCTV is in place. Getting rid of a recognized car reduces the amount of attention it gets, and if the police know they are pursuing a pair, Jason and Lucia can separate themselves in order to split up the police response.The six-star wanted level comes back after GTA 5 has been limited to five stars, and it is said to be hard to escape in Vice City when you have a three-star or higher wanted level because of the narrow streets and the heavy traffic.<h2>GTA 6's Criminal Profile, Car Theft Systems, and More Reactive World</h2>In place of the honour meter from Red Dead 2, Rockstar has introduced a system known as the Criminal Profile, which is used to tell the difference between skilled and careless gameplay.According to Nelson, the aim is to prevent players from feeling overpowered as they had in earlier titles. If a player robs a store without killing anyone and then gets away cleanly, their Criminal Profile will go up, whereas a high level of violence will cause it to drop.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-223343" src="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-28-14.05.18-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="743" height="469" srcset="https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-28-14.05.18-scaled.jpg 1200w, https://www.ghacks.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026-08-28-14.05.18-768x484.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 743px) 100vw, 743px">There are other people in Leonida who are armed and who sometimes become violent even when not provoked, and players have the option of disabling their enemies without killing them by wounding a limb or by shooting a weapon out of their hands.The act of stealing cars has evolved into a system rather than something that can be done with a simple button press. Cars are divided into different security levels, and a phone application named WAINK scans the vehicle before the player carries out the theft, indicating its value, whether the locks are engaged, if the alarm is on, and whether it has a tracker.Vehicles that are older can be opened using a slim jim, but more modern luxury cars require the use of key-cloning equipment which has to be obtained as part of the story progression, meaning that some cars are unavailable at the beginning.If a car has a GPS tracker, it will send the player's location to the police unless the player manages to get out of the signal's range or gets rid of the vehicle. Sales take place via dedicated fences in the manner seen in Red Dead 2, and cars that are damaged are worth less. Money is also important in general, since certain aspects of the story progression demand that the player has a specific amount of cash beforehand.Rockstar has more than 600,000 NPC animations as compared to about 55,000 in GTA 5 and 300,000 in Red Dead Redemption 2; the NPCs are art-directed individually not assembled in a procedural way, and there is a greater variety of body types and animations which scale to match them.The phone has now become a tangible object in the real world rather than a HUD overlay. Snapmatic reappears as the Instagram parody, but Jason and Lucia are unable to post because they are fugitives who want to avoid leaving a digital trail, so the players have to browse and observe instead of taking part. Fast travel is carried out using a rideshare app named Ryde Me, and the players are able to have full conversations with the other passengers.Jason and Lucia's relationship does count as a real factor; although they begin by being interested in one another, the romance only grows as a result of activities such as shopping, going to the gym, exploring places, and stealing from them together.Rockstar states that a more developed romance brings no advantages and that the story ends regardless of how strong the romance is. As for the cars, the footage included convertibles, muscle cars, Japanese tuned cars, a closed-circuit race with a full field, and dirt bike racing.<h2>The Performance Question And Availability</h2>Rockstar has not confirmed its frame rate targets or performance modes. Davy Jones, a content creator who went to the preview, states that the standard PS5 version currently operates at 30 fps, and the Extended Look footage is in agreement with this. It is not known whether the PS5 Pro will have a higher-frame-rate mode.GTA 6 will be released on November 19 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles; the base game costs $80 while the Ultimate Edition is priced at $100.There has been no confirmation of a PC version. Rockstar has not stated what the frame rate targets are, whether performance modes will be included, or if an enhancement for the PS5 Pro is intended, so the game's technical performance on different hardware is still one of the major unanswered questions before launch. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/rockstar-details-gta-6-80-hour-story-a-map-3x-bigger-than-red-dead-2-and-a-rebuilt-wanted-system/">Rockstar Details GTA 6: 80-Hour Story, a Map 3x Bigger Than Red Dead 2, and a Rebuilt Wanted System</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Android 17 Adds Encrypted Client Hello, Local Network Protection, and Automatic 2G Blocking

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:56:35 -0000

Google is bringing in new network security features as part of Android 17, with support for Encrypted Client Hello (ECH), a privacy standard that prevents netwo Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/android-17-adds-encrypted-client-hello-local-network-protection-and-automatic-2g-blocking/">Android 17 Adds Encrypted Client Hello, Local Network Protection, and Automatic 2G Blocking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/google-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-for-1-5-billion-deal-with-ai-coding-startup-mechanize/">Google</a> is bringing in new network security features as part of <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/06/17/android-17-and-wear-os-7-roll-out-with-bubbles-multitasking-granular-privacy-controls-and-live-updates-on-watches/">Android 17</a>, with support for Encrypted Client Hello (ECH), a privacy standard that prevents network operators from seeing the domains a user visits.ECH works in conjunction with private DNS to obscure profiling data, such as the names of the websites visited, by encrypting the part of the TLS handshake that reveals the hostname of the site contacted.In Android 17, this protection is built into the platform and is turned on by default for applications targeting Android 17 that use a networking library that is compatible.The update also includes Local Network Protection, Certificate Transparency by default, and automatic blocking of 2G.<h2>Android 17 Adds Encrypted Client Hello and ECH GREASE</h2>ECH serves as a privacy feature for TLS, the protocol used to secure HTTPS connections. It encrypts the initial stage of the TLS handshake in which the hostname of the destination site is disclosed through the Server Name Indication (SNI).Although a connection to a website is secure, internet service providers and Wi-Fi operators are usually still able to see the destination, which can then be gathered for commercial profiling.As Google explained, this new privacy standard works together with private DNS to conceal the names of the websites you visit, thereby hiding the metadata that could be used to profile you; by encrypting the name of the destination website right from the start, ECH helps make it so that, for supported websites and apps, network providers and any persons eavesdropping on the network can no longer easily see which websites or apps you are accessing.Android users have already been able to take advantage of ECH when using Chrome from version 117 onwards or Firefox from version 119 onwards, but with Android 17, the protection is extended to the platform level.For apps that are aimed at Android 17 and make use of a compatible networking library, such as the most recent versions of OkHttp, WebView, or HttpEngine, ECH is enabled by default.When the servers support ECH, Android encrypts the hostname, but when they do not support it, Android sends a fake field called ECH GREASE that looks like ECH, so that actual ECH connections don't stand out, even though the hostname is still visible in that situation.The team at Jigsaw, which is Google's unit responsible for internet privacy and anti-censorship, tested ECH GREASE on the top 10,000 domains through 740 internet providers in 202 countries and found that there were no problems with sites loading or any unexpected network blocks.<h2>Android 17 Adds Local Network Protection, Certificate Transparency, and 2G Blocking</h2>In addition to ECH, Google also announced a number of other network protections, one of which is that Local Network Protection now requires applications to get permission before carrying out a scan for or connecting to devices on the user's local network.Android 17 makes it necessary for website certificates to be entered into public logs, thereby enabling Certificate Transparency.Google has also announced that mobile operators taking part in the program can now automatically switch off 2G for their subscribers, thereby reducing their exposure to SMS blasters and to rogue base stations which are capable of delivering malicious messages or capturing sensitive traffic from nearby devices.The protections are introduced with Android 17. For applications targeting Android 17 that make use of a compatible networking library, ECH is enabled by default, meaning that the advantages of the feature rely on both the app and the destination server supporting it.The automatic switch-off of 2G depends on the mobile operators involved in the scheme enabling it for their subscribers, and Google has not specified which operators are participating. Even on servers that do not support ECH, users will still have their hostname visible because of the ECH GREASE field. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/android-17-adds-encrypted-client-hello-local-network-protection-and-automatic-2g-blocking/">Android 17 Adds Encrypted Client Hello, Local Network Protection, and Automatic 2G Blocking</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Ring Rolls Out "Throw Away the Key" Encryption That Deletes Its Keys After 24 Hours

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:49:41 -0000

Ring is introducing a new encryption system known as TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) as the default setting for all its users, the company stating that it Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/ring-rolls-out-throw-away-the-key-encryption-that-deletes-its-keys-after-24-hours/">Ring Rolls Out "Throw Away the Key" Encryption That Deletes Its Keys After 24 Hours</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Ring is introducing a new encryption system known as TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) as the default setting for all its users, the company stating that it enhances privacy without limiting any of the features and may reduce the amount of data it can provide to law enforcement.With the TAKE setting, each Ring camera encrypts the footage using keys that change every five minutes, and Ring permanently deletes its temporary copies of those keys after 24 hours; only the device owner keeps the keys in the long term.Although this is the case, Ring is still able to access the keys for a short time in order to operate cloud features such as Smart Alerts. Although users have the option of selecting full end-to-end encryption, this will cause the cloud features to be disabled.<h2>How Ring's TAKE Encryption Works and Handles Key Recovery</h2>The footage recorded by each Ring camera is encrypted using keys that are changed every five minutes, with the change taking place on the device itself on the more recent models or when the data reaches the cloud on the older ones.Ring is able to temporarily obtain those keys by using an isolated AWS Nitro Enclave in order to operate enabled cloud features such as Smart Alerts, Video Search, and Video Descriptions. Its copies of the keys are then permanently deleted after 24 hours, although the owner's devices keep their own.If a user requests that older footage be processed, the Ring app can give the necessary key and transmit it to the company, after which the key is deleted once the processing is completed.The company, which is owned by <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/amazon/">Amazon</a>, stated that with TAKE Ring provides the intelligent features that you appreciate and depend on, such as Smart Alerts, before discarding and deleting the encryption key; only you will have possession of the keys to your videos.According to Amazon's white paper, TAKE is based on Messaging Layer Security (MLS), an open group-encryption standard that is maintained by the Internet Engineering Task Force.Users who lose their device are able to recover their encryption keys on a new one by standing near a compatible Ring camera; other methods of recovery are a passphrase, cloud backup, approval from an enrolled device, or a passkey.<h2>What TAKE Means for Police Requests and Ring's Privacy History</h2>Adopting TAKE as the standard might provide some reassurance to people who are worried about the kind of footage Ring can make available to law enforcement.When TAKE or end-to-end encryption is turned on, the company will be able to give law enforcement, in response to legitimate requests such as warrants, subpoenas, and court orders, only non-video information, for example basic subscriber details.A spokesperson for Ring stated that the company would also supply encrypted video files, along with non-video information, when responding to a valid legal request.Users who choose full end-to-end encryption instead of TAKE obtain greater security, but as a result lose access to any features that require Ring to process the videos in the cloud.Ring's privacy practices have been controversial for years. In 2019, a report claimed employees around the world could access customers' recorded videos, while some US staff allegedly had access to liIn 2023 the concerns grew after Amazon reached an agreement with the FTC for a settlement amounting to $5.8 million over failures in Ring's privacy and security.The regulator stated that a former employee had viewed thousands of videos belonging to female customers, while hackers were able to gain access to about 55,000 US accounts. Amazon denied having broken the law.ts. Amazon denied violating the law.Ring's relationship with police has also drawn scrutiny. The company ended warrantless footage requests through its Neighbors app in 2024, only to bring police requests back through its partnership with Axon the following year. Users can decline those requests, but the reversal reignited concerns about Ring products forming part of a wider private surveillance network.<h3>Rollout and Remaining Privacy Questions</h3>TAKE is rolling out as the default for Ring users worldwide. TAKE does address some of the technical risks involved in accessing customer footage, but it is unclear whether this will be sufficient to win back the trust of privacy-conscious users, especially since Ring will still have to provide encrypted video files when required by a valid legal request.ng will still hand over encrypted video files in response to valid legal process. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/28/ring-rolls-out-throw-away-the-key-encryption-that-deletes-its-keys-after-24-hours/">Ring Rolls Out "Throw Away the Key" Encryption That Deletes Its Keys After 24 Hours</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Meta Agrees to Up to $18 Billion Settlement With 52 Attorneys General Over Teen Social Media Harms

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:23:55 -0000

Meta has agreed to a proposed settlement of up to $18 billion with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/meta-agrees-to-up-to-18-billion-settlement-with-52-attorneys-general-over-teen-social-media-harms/">Meta Agrees to Up to $18 Billion Settlement With 52 Attorneys General Over Teen Social Media Harms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/meta/">Meta</a> has agreed to a proposed settlement of up to $18 billion with a bipartisan group of 52 attorneys general. The case centers on claims that Facebook and Instagram were intentionally designed to encourage compulsive use among children and teenagers.The settlement, court approval for which is still required, is the result of a lawsuit filed in 2023 by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state attorneys general.If the agreement is approved, Meta will be required to introduce new restrictions for users who are under 18; this will involve a default daily usage limit of two hours which only parents will be able to disable. Approximately $12.7 billion of the payment will go to the participating states.<h2>Meta's Teen Safety Allegations and New Facebook and Instagram Restrictions</h2>The 2023 lawsuit alleged that Meta had developed features which encouraged young people to use its services compulsively and also said that Meta misled its users, their families, and the public regarding the risks of its platforms.The attorneys general also claimed that Meta unlawfully collected and used data relating to children under the age of 13, in breach of federal and state laws, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, California's False Advertising Law, and California's Unfair Competition Law.The agreement mandates that Meta introduce a number of restrictions for users under 18 on Facebook and Instagram. One of these is a daily usage limit of two hours by default, which can only be disabled by parents. Should YouTube and TikTok also agree to similar rules, the limit would be reduced to one hour.Meta will similarly set the default so that teenagers cannot use its apps between midnight and 6 a.m. Most notifications will be silenced between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. as well as during school hours, although parents have the option of altering these settings. Some of the restrictions do not apply to direct messages and certain security or safety alerts.Other requirements are to hide like and reaction counts for teenagers, ban cosmetic surgery filters, provide a non-personalised feed option, improve the tools for parental supervision, and add more age-verification technology in order to identify users under 18 and remove those children who are under 13.An independent auditor will keep an eye on Meta's compliance. The company won't be permitted to make any false or misleading statements regarding its safety features. Most of the new protections have to remain in place for ten years. The agreement also establishes an independent research foundation which is concerned with teen well-being and social media use.<h2>Meta's $18 Billion Settlement Payments and Remaining Approval Questions</h2>Meta states that the agreement includes payments of about $18 billion over a period of ten years, with the participating states anticipated to receive approximately $12.7 billion.A payment of another $5.3 billion will be made only upon <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/22/youtube-reportedly-offering-creators-millions-to-keep-content-exclusive-and-off-netflix/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/tiktok-and-bytedance-agree-to-400-million-childrens-privacy-settlement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> adopting similar measures, such as daily one-hour limits, nighttime restrictions, and age-assurance requirements, and each of them making a matching payment.Meta stated that the agreement is intended to promote widespread acceptance within the industry so that teenagers get consistent protection in the apps they use most, such as YouTube and TikTok; and that certain provisions will be strengthened if the industry peers adopt this new standard.California is expected to receive between $1.5 billion and $2.1 billion. According to Attorney General Bonta's office, the proposed settlement earmarks the money for preventing or addressing mental health or other harms to young Californians linked to The Legislature and the Governor will be responsible for making the final decision regarding the spending. Meta anticipates legal expenses of about $10 billion as a result of the agreement in the third quarter of 2026.d quarter of 2026.The settlement has still to receive approval from the court and is therefore not final. The additional payment of $5.3 billion will depend on whether YouTube and TikTok agree to similar changes and make corresponding payments, although this has not yet been decided.The state Legislature and the Governor will determine how California's portion is spent. The settlement settles the claims without Meta specifying its liability, and this matter relates to child safety and mental health.Parents who want to control the way their teenagers use social media can use the parental control features offered by the various platforms, and anyone who is worried about a young person's well-being should contact a qualified professional or a reliable individual for support. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/meta-agrees-to-up-to-18-billion-settlement-with-52-attorneys-general-over-teen-social-media-harms/">Meta Agrees to Up to $18 Billion Settlement With 52 Attorneys General Over Teen Social Media Harms</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Anthropic Reportedly Pitching IPO Investors a $30 Trillion Market Ahead of $2 Trillion Valuation

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:21:14 -0000

Anthropic is reportedly preparing to tell IPO investors that its potential revenue opportunity exceeds $30 trillion. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/anthropic-reportedly-pitching-ipo-investors-a-30-trillion-market-ahead-of-2-trillion-valuation/">Anthropic Reportedly Pitching IPO Investors a $30 Trillion Market Ahead of $2 Trillion Valuation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/06/25/anthropic-launches-claude-tag-in-slack-for-enterprise-and-team-plans/">Anthropic</a> is reportedly preparing to tell IPO investors that its potential revenue opportunity exceeds $30 trillion. The company plans to raise up to $100 billion at a target valuation of around $2 trillion.Its total addressable market, or TAM, is based on the full range of tasks AI models could perform across different industries. Anthropic is expected to publish its IPO prospectus in the coming weeks, with a possible market debut in September or early October. None of the figures are yet final.<h2>Anthropic's $30 Trillion IPO Market Claim and Revenue Projections</h2>TAM, or total addressable market, is a common metric in IPO filings. It represents the maximum annual revenue a company could generate if it reached every potential customer. Anthropic's $30 trillion estimate reflects the full range of work that AI models could theoretically handle across industries.This figure is higher than the $28.5 trillion TAM SpaceX presented in its May prospectus. <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/08/spacex-and-tesla-to-build-natural-gas-plants-and-battery-arrays-for-16-8-billion-texas-chip-factory/">SpaceX</a> described its opportunity as the largest actionable market in human history, with AI making up $26.5 trillion of that total.For comparison, the 191 technology companies in the S&P 1500 generated a combined $2.4 trillion in revenue last year, according to FactSet. Anthropic's projected TAM is more than twelve times that amount.Anthropic's revenue more than doubled to $11.6 billion in the second quarter. The company is projecting revenue of about $190 billion to $200 billion by 2028, a figure linked to its IPO valuation.Anthropic's customer base has faced some disruptions this year, including criticism over a text watermark added to Claude's output in August.<h2>How Anthropic's IPO Targets Compare and What Its Prospectus Must Disclose</h2>Anthropic's targets would surpass SpaceX's IPO benchmarks. SpaceX's and Anthropic's targets would exceed the IPO benchmarks set by SpaceX. SpaceX priced its shares at $135 and closed its offering at $85.7 billion after underwriters exercised their overallotment option.This implied a valuation of $1.77 trillion when SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq on June 12.YU Stern finance professor Aswath Damodaran criticized SpaceX's AI TAM estimate ahead of that offering, saying the figure was "reaching the end of what's plausible and pushing beyond."SpaceX shares later fell below $105 in intraday trading in early August before recovering toward the $135 offering price. Earlier tech IPOs used smaller figures: Uber cited a $6 trillion market when it went public in 2019, raising about $8.1 billion at a valuation near $82 billion, while WeWork pointed to a $3 trillion opportunity before its offering collapsed.Anthropic's regulatory disclosures will go beyond financial details once its prospectus is public. The filing will need to address incidents such as the US export control directive that led Anthropic to remove two Claude models from availability for three weeks in June and July.It will also need to cover a cybersecurity incident disclosed in July, where three Claude models gained unauthorized access to production systems at outside organizations during testing.Competitors and enterprise customers will also gain more insight into Claude's commercial progress. The rivalry with OpenAI has already resulted in competing data retention and privacy policies between the two companies.<h2>Bill Gates' AI Warning and Anthropic IPO Uncertainties</h2>Anthropic's IPO preparations arrive alongside an essay from Bill Gates warning about AI's risks to employment and what he calls the human condition. Gates published the piece, titled "A turbulent AI era and critical choices to make," on his website Wednesday.It runs more than 5,700 words and identifies three risks: job losses across industries, AI enabling greater harm by bad actors, and damage to child development and human relationships.Gates argued that governments and institutions lack a coordinated plan for the disruption AI will cause, writing "There is no plan to ease the entry into the AI era."He predicted the disruption would hit law and medicine within a decade, with customer service, software development, and manufacturing rounding out the fields he named. The essay is a departure from his 2023 piece "The Age of AI Has Begun," when he described the technology as being as revolutionary as mobile phones and the internet.The reported figures are based on sources familiar with the matter, not an official Anthropic filing, and none are final. The $30 trillion TAM, the $100 billion fundraising target, and the estimated $2 trillion valuation could change before the prospectus is released.The timing of the IPO, said to be as early as September or October, is also unconfirmed. Details about SEC disclosures related to the export control and cybersecurity incidents will only be clear once the prospectus is public. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/anthropic-reportedly-pitching-ipo-investors-a-30-trillion-market-ahead-of-2-trillion-valuation/">Anthropic Reportedly Pitching IPO Investors a $30 Trillion Market Ahead of $2 Trillion Valuation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft OS Prototype Project Aion Leaked, Revealing Copilot-Centered Interface

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:12:49 -0000

Internal documents that have been leaked and a video have shown that Project Aion was an experimental project carried out by Microsoft for 2024 or ear Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/microsoft-os-prototype-project-aion-leaked-revealing-copilot-centered-interface/">Microsoft OS Prototype Project Aion Leaked, Revealing Copilot-Centered Interface</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Internal documents that have been leaked and a video have shown that Project Aion was an experimental <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project</a> carried out by Microsoft for 2024 or earlier in which <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/15/microsoft-merges-its-two-copilot-apps-into-one-and-retires-podcasts-deep-research-and-group-chat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Copilot</a> was placed at the heart of the interface.The material describes a web-based prototype that is operational and has been built using a modified form of <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/the-web/microsoft-edge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microsoft Edge</a> together with a lightweight <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Windows</a> codebase known as Win3 within the company.The documents that have leaked show the name CopilotOS and describe a plan under which Copilot would become the primary means by which people communicate, find entertainment, learn and carry out various tasks. Microsoft has refused to comment on the project. The leaked material does not prove that Project Aion is a product which Microsoft intends to launch.<h2>Project Aion Replaced the Windows Shell With Copilot</h2>During the Win3 demonstration, Project Aion was run without the usual Windows Start menu, desktop icons, or the apps that were pinned to the taskbar. Copilot served as the primary launcher and the shell operated via Edge, using web technology for apps, websites, and system tasks.When the Copilot button was clicked, a dashboard appeared and greeted the demo user with "Good afternoon, Nathan". This dashboard displayed three cards, one for Stay on Top, one for Create something new, and one for News of the day.There was also a My Stuff section which included Edge, Teams, Outlook, OneDrive, and Microsoft 365, as well as Figma and Visual Studio Code.The internal document referred to Aion as an "Agent/Copilot OS" designed to operate on AI-oriented devices running AOSP, Win3, or Windows 11, AOSP being the open-source foundation of Android; another internal description termed Aion "a portable, web-shell" developed using a modified Edge and connected to Windows 365 in order to provide full access to the Windows desktop.Because of its cross-platform design, Aion could function as a replacement shell on either Windows 11 or on AOSP Android; Win3 was a separate and lighter version of the Windows codebase, which was intended to provide faster startup times, longer battery life, and better security, though it did not support legacy applications.The "Ask me anything" field in Aion was the primary method for opening applications, browsing the web, and beginning tasks; for example, typing in "techc" would suggest TechCrunch, while typing "to do" would display Microsoft To Do in a floating Edge picture-in-picture window rather than launching the native Windows application.The interface was altered for more complicated requests; for example, when asking about dining facilities in Maui a floating Copilot chat appeared showing the names of restaurants and travel links, and when asking about meetings for the following Monday another chat window opened alongside it.The taskbar icon for each conversation was based on its topic rather than using another Copilot symbol; the dining chat for Maui had a martini-glass icon, the meeting chat had a calendar icon, and when a chat was closed it was saved as a chip under My Stuff so that the task could be reopened later.<h2>Project Aion's Spaces, Microsoft 365 Integration, and Desktop App Limits</h2>There was a feature named Spaces which grouped together apps, websites, files, and conversations according to their purpose. For instance, the TURKEY TRIP feature had a Description and Goals card for planning a trip to Turkey in September, a Personal topic setting, a creative conversation style, and also included entries for Edge, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/whatsapp-adds-multiple-passkeys-alphanumeric-passwords-and-caller-context-in-security-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WhatsApp</a>, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/22/youtube-reportedly-offering-creators-millions-to-keep-content-exclusive-and-off-netflix/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube</a>, Word, Turkish Airlines, Expedia, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/02/16/airbnb-tests-ai-powered-natural-language-search-for-rental-bookings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Airbnb;</a> it also contained a Draft an itinerary action, and its Contents section had tabs labeled Recents and Suggested.The parts of Aion relating to work were directly linked to information in Microsoft 365. For example, when a query about Scott Schenone was made, Copilot searched both SharePoint and email, recognized him as a Senior Design Director involved in the Lanai project, and then provided a summary of his recent work based on the internal documents.When a forward slash is typed into the search box, Context IQ appears and displays the relevant colleagues and files from Microsoft 365 ready to be included in the prompt.Additionally, Copilot was able to draft an email within an Outlook-style compose window, featuring tone controls marked Casual, Professional, Funny, and Undead Pirate Captain, before sending the message without having to open Outlook.Edge also allowed Aion to gain access to the underlying HTML of websites through a process that Microsoft referred to as DOM crawling. The leaked documents described this as involving the reading of the page structure in order to understand content that is not visible on the screen.The version of Win3 that was leaked was unable to run traditional Win32 desktop applications native to the system. In the case of a task that required a full desktop application, Aion would ask the user to use Microsoft's Windows 365 Cloud PC service, providing a streamed Windows session with the document already open and the Copilot Summary panel available.The restriction appeared when an Excel demo was used, this being a table that compared the square footage of different property listings. Aion responded by saying, "I'm sorry, I can't open Excel for you," then created the comparison within the chat, provided a download link that worked, directed the user to the Excel progressive web app, and displayed a "Suggested tools: Excel" chip.The design was not just a typical desktop layout; one leaked document illustrated three different setups: Landscape with Docked Conversation, Portrait with Docked Conversation, and Soft Keyboard.In a research task carried out at a Maui dive shop, the approach was adapted to a tablet-style portrait view together with an on-screen keyboard. Moreover, Aion's address field functioned as an omnibox, and when "maui" was typed, it displayed location-aware suggestions and filters for Microsoft, History, Favorites, and Tabs.<h2>How Project Aion Connects to Microsoft's Public Windows AI Plans</h2>Microsoft has carried on with its public work on Windows by releasing Windows 11; in November 2025 the company began testing AI agents on the Windows 11 taskbar via Ask Copilot.This involved displaying progress information on the taskbar and providing access to agents such as the Researcher in Microsoft 365 Copilot; the tasks carried out by these agents make use of Microsoft's dedicated Agent Workspace for Copilot Actions, this workspace running separately from the user's primary Windows session.Microsoft has likewise continued its work on the standard components of the Windows interface, for example with the customizable context menu for Windows 11 and by transferring some of the core Windows features to WinUI 3. The company has also improved the performance of File Explorer, the Start menu, and other parts of Windows 11.On March 20, 2026, Microsoft stated in a Windows quality update that it was eliminating unnecessary Copilot entry points, beginning with those in the Snipping Tool, Photos, Widgets, and Notepad. At the moment, the company's emphasis is on performance, reliability, interface quality, personalization, and the more selective use of AI features.The leaked documents do not indicate that Project Aion is one of those products which Microsoft intends to release; the prototype was part of an incubation programme in 2024, achieved working code, and was experimental.Its current status is unknown, and Microsoft declined to comment after the leak. It is not confirmed whether any Aion ideas will reach a shipping product or how they might connect to Microsoft's ongoing Windows 11 and Copilot work. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/microsoft-os-prototype-project-aion-leaked-revealing-copilot-centered-interface/">Microsoft OS Prototype Project Aion Leaked, Revealing Copilot-Centered Interface</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Announces Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion, With Testing Starting August 31

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:02:35 -0000

Microsoft has announced a disc-to-digital conversion system for Xbox. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/microsoft-announces-xbox-disc-to-digital-conversion-with-testing-starting-august-31/">Microsoft Announces Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion, With Testing Starting August 31</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has announced a disc-to-digital conversion system for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/28/xbox-adds-13-ubisoft-games-to-console-to-pc-program-granting-free-pc-versions-to-xbox-owners/">Xbox</a>. Players can claim a digital version of supported games by inserting the disc, according to the company.Testing for Xbox Insiders begins August 31. Most disc-based games for Xbox One and Xbox Series X are supported. After claiming a digital entitlement, players get access to features like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming where available.The physical disc still works as before. Microsoft is starting with thousands of games and plans to add more. Microsoft says the feature is part of its broader effort to preserve games.<h2>How Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion Works</h2>Microsoft's announcement reads: "Players have spent decades building their XBOX libraries. Some games were purchased on disc. Some were purchased digitally. Many span multiple generations of hardware. Our goal is to make it easier for those libraries to move forward with players."Most disc-based games for Xbox One and Xbox Series X are supported. To claim a digital version, insert a supported disc and launch the game. After that, digital benefits like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming are available where supported, and the disc still works as usual.Microsoft describes the feature as part of its broader commitment to game preservation, saying that "as technology, devices, and distribution continue to evolve, preserving access to the games people own matters more than ever."The feature will be tested through the Xbox Insider Program before it becomes more widely available.<ol> <li>Join the Xbox Insider Program to access the feature during testing, which begins August 31.</li> <li>Insert a supported disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X console.</li> <li>Launch the game to claim the digital entitlement.</li> <li>Access the digital benefits, including Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming where supported, while keeping the disc functional.</li> </ol><h2>Xbox Disc-to-Digital Game Support and Availability</h2>The system will not support every game from the start. Microsoft says it is working to expand coverage: "We're starting with thousands of titles, and we'll continue to add more over time.While not every title will be available at launch, this is an important step toward a future where players can have greater confidence that the games they buy remain with them for years to come."Xbox Insiders can start testing the disc-to-digital conversion on August 31. Microsoft has not said when the feature will be available to all users or shared a full list of supported games. The rollout starts with thousands of titles, with more to come, but there is no timeline for how quickly new games will be added. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/27/microsoft-announces-xbox-disc-to-digital-conversion-with-testing-starting-august-31/">Microsoft Announces Xbox Disc-to-Digital Conversion, With Testing Starting August 31</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Google Reportedly in Advanced Talks for $1.5 Billion Deal With AI Coding Startup Mechanize

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:33:30 -0000

Google is reportedly in advanced talks to license technology and hire staff from AI startup Mechanize in a deal valued at more than $1. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/google-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-for-1-5-billion-deal-with-ai-coding-startup-mechanize/">Google Reportedly in Advanced Talks for $1.5 Billion Deal With AI Coding Startup Mechanize</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/google/">Google</a> is reportedly in advanced talks to license technology and hire staff from AI startup Mechanize in a deal valued at more than $1.5 billion, according to Business Insider.The agreement would give Google access to Mechanize's technology and bring some of its employees into the company.If completed, the deal would expand Google's investment in AI coding as competition with <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/06/25/anthropic-launches-claude-tag-in-slack-for-enterprise-and-team-plans/">Anthropic</a>, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/ai/openai-ai/">OpenAI</a>, and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/meta/">Meta</a> moves from chatbots to agents that can handle real software development tasks.Google and Mechanize declined to comment, and no completed agreement has been publicly announced.<h2>Google's Reported Mechanize Deal and AI Coding Push</h2>Business Insider reported that Google was discussing a deal worth over $1.5 billion to license Mechanize's technology and hire some of its employees. Negotiations were ongoing at the time of publication, and the report noted that details could still change.This approach is similar to Google's July 2025 agreement to pay about $2.4 billion to license technology from AI coding startup Windsurf. That deal also brought CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and several researchers into Google DeepMind, where Reuters said they would focus on agentic coding projects related to Gemini.A deal with Mechanize would be another significant investment in external technology and talent as Google tries to strengthen its position in a rapidly changing market. The company has also continued internal development.At Google I/O earlier this year, it introduced Gemini 3.5 Flash and new agentic coding tools to compete with Anthropic and OpenAI, followed by the release of Gemini 3.7 Flash, which focuses on coding and AI-agent workloads.Another billion-dollar agreement would add to Google's existing efforts, which already include Gemini, developer tools, cloud services, and the Windsurf team now working in DeepMind. A Mechanize deal would further expand these resources.<h2>Mechanize's AI Agent Technology and the Big Tech Coding Race</h2>Mechanize stands out because its goals go beyond building another coding assistant. Founded in 2025 by Tamay Besiroglu, Matthew Barnett, and Ege Erdil, the company develops virtual environments, benchmarks, and training data to help AI agents handle more complex tasks. In its initial announcement, the founders said they aim to enable full automation of the economy, starting with software engineering.Mechanize says that current coding agents do well on narrow tasks but still have trouble with the ongoing, complex work found in real software projects. The company points to issues like reliability, handling long contexts, and broader agentic tasks.In April, Mechanize announced it had raised $9.1 million at a $500 million post-money valuation. A deal worth over $1.5 billion would be a notable price for a company just over a year old.The broader trend is that major tech companies are putting more value on AI coding. Anthropic has made Claude Code a key product, with features that go beyond autocomplete to include navigating repositories, editing files, running tests, and coordinating agents. OpenAI is developing Codex along similar lines, and Meta recently joined the competition with Muse Code, its own AI coding agent.This technology is also changing how engineers at AI companies describe their work. Some engineers at Anthropic and OpenAI say AI now generates most or all of the code they write.As a result, software development is becoming a test case for whether AI agents can handle valuable work on their own and whether companies are willing to pay for that output.<h2>What Google's Reported Mechanize Deal Could Mean for Developers</h2>For developers, AI coding tools are shifting from being optional assistants to playing a more central role in software development. As Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta invest in agents that can navigate codebases, make changes, run tests, and handle longer tasks, engineering teams will need to decide how these systems fit into their workflows and where human review remains important.For tech leaders, this shift brings up questions about standardizing tools, security, code quality, vendor dependence, and how much autonomy to give software agents. Companies may soon need to decide not just whether to use AI coding agents, but how much of their development process they are willing to hand over.These talks are based on Business Insider's reporting, not an official announcement, and both Google and Mechanize declined to comment. No agreement has been finalized or announced, and Business Insider noted that details could still change.The final deal value, which employees might move to Google, and how Mechanize's technology would fit with Gemini and DeepMind's coding work have not been confirmed. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/google-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-for-1-5-billion-deal-with-ai-coding-startup-mechanize/">Google Reportedly in Advanced Talks for $1.5 Billion Deal With AI Coding Startup Mechanize</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
WhatsApp Adds Multiple Passkeys, Alphanumeric Passwords, and Caller Context in Security Update

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 08:17:44 -0000

Meta has introduced three new security features for WhatsApp. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/whatsapp-adds-multiple-passkeys-alphanumeric-passwords-and-caller-context-in-security-update/">WhatsApp Adds Multiple Passkeys, Alphanumeric Passwords, and Caller Context in Security Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/meta/">Meta</a> has introduced three new security features for <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/14/whatsapp-rolls-out-on-device-scam-alert-to-warn-users-of-potential-scam-messages/">WhatsApp</a>. Users can now add more than one passkey to their account, upgrade their two-step verification PIN to a longer alphanumeric password, and see more information about calls from unknown numbers.Meta says that over a billion people use passkeys on WhatsApp. The new passkey and password options are available in the app's account settings. Meta describes these updates as additional ways to secure accounts alongside WhatsApp's default end-to-end encryption.<h2>WhatsApp Adds Multiple Passkeys and Stronger Two-Step Verification</h2>A passkey allows users to log into WhatsApp using a fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock code. Meta calls this the fastest and most secure way to verify identity without needing codes or PINs. More than a billion people have set up a passkey.Users can now add multiple passkeys to their account. This is helpful for anyone who uses both Android and iOS devices. To set up a passkey, go to Settings, then Account, then Passkeys.Two-step verification adds another layer of protection against account takeover, even if someone gets your one-time passcode. Previously, this used a six-digit PIN.Meta has replaced the PIN with a longer password that can include letters, numbers, and special characters. This makes it harder to guess. Meta recommends that anyone using a simple PIN like "123456" switch to a stronger password.<h2>WhatsApp Adds More Caller Context for Unknown Numbers</h2>When a call comes in from a number not saved in contacts, WhatsApp now shows extra information to help users decide whether to answer.On Android, users will now see more information about a non-contact caller, including whether the number is from a different country and whether they have any groups in common.Meta notes that scammers rely on urgency, and the added context lets users pause before answeThese new features are available in WhatsApp settings:tings:<ol> <li>Add one or more passkeys by going to Settings, then Account, then Passkeys. This is useful for people who use both Android and iOS.</li> <li>Upgrade two-step verification from a six-digit PIN to a longer password with letters, numbers, and special characters.</li> <li>On Android, check the extra caller information on calls from unknown numbers before deciding to answer.</li> </ol>The passkey and two-step verification updates are available in WhatsApp's account settings. The new caller context feature is currently for Android, and there is no information yet about iOS support. Meta has not shared a rollout schedule, so the updates may appear gradually for users. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/whatsapp-adds-multiple-passkeys-alphanumeric-passwords-and-caller-context-in-security-update/">WhatsApp Adds Multiple Passkeys, Alphanumeric Passwords, and Caller Context in Security Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Apple Announces M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio Aimed at Local AI Workloads and Mac Clustering

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 07:55:18 -0000

Apple has introduced two new chips and updated its desktop lineup with the M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/apple-announces-m6-mac-mini-and-m5-ultra-mac-studio-aimed-at-local-ai-workloads-and-mac-clustering/">Apple Announces M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio Aimed at Local AI Workloads and Mac Clustering</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/apple-companies/">Apple</a> has introduced <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/08/apple-introduces-m6-and-m5-ultra-for-a-big-leap-in-performance-and-ai-compute/" rel="noopener nofollow external noreferrer" target="_blank">two new chips and updated its desktop lineup</a> with the M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio. Both are aimed at local AI workloads and Mac clustering.The M6 is Apple's first chip built on a 2nm process, while the M5 Ultra is the company's first quad-die design and now its most powerful chip. There are no major new features, but both models come with higher specifications and increased prices.Most versions will be available starting September 22, with preorders already open. The 512GB memory option is set to ship in late October. Every performance claim comes from Apple, using its typical "up to" wording against varying baselines.<h2>Apple's M6 and M5 Ultra Chip Upgrades</h2>The M6 uses TSMC's 2nm process and is the first Apple chip to include all three types of CPU cores in one design. It features 12 CPU cores: two super cores, four performance cores, and six efficiency cores. While super cores first appeared in the M5 Pro and M5 Max earlier this year, the M6 is the first to combine all three core types in a single chip.Apple claims the "world's fastest" single-threaded performance, 1.2x the multithreaded throughput of the M5, and 40% faster CPU performance than the M4. The GPU moves to 12 cores with a Neural Accelerator in each, which Apple says delivers nearly 30% more peak GPU compute for AI than the M5.The chip includes a dual 16-core Neural Engine, storage rated at twice as fast at 15GB/s, and up to 170GB/s of memory bandwThe M5 Ultra stands out as the more notable chip. It uses Apple's UltraFusion interconnect to combine two dual-die M5 Max chips into a single quad-die package.This design provides inter-die bandwidth above 4.4TB/s and over six times the connection density of the previous version. All four dies function as a single processor.e four dies behave as one processor.This setup allows for up to 36 CPU cores, with 12 super cores and 24 performance cores, as well as up to 80 GPU cores and a 32-core Neural Engine. The M5 Ultra supports up to 512GB of unified memory at 1.2TB/s. Apple claims it delivers 4.5 times the peak GPU compute for AI compared to the M3 Ultra and 40 percent faster graphics.The less expensive Mac mini uses the latest 2nm process, while the flagship M5 Ultra remains on the 3nm process used by the M5. This is typical for Ultra chips, which are built from Max dies and usually lag a generation.As a result, the M5 Ultra name does not fully reflect the performance jump it brings, especially for AI workloads. Apple is not planning an M6 Pro or M6 Max, and will move directly to the M7 in mid-2027.<h2>Apple's Local AI Push, Mac Clustering, and Higher Prices</h2>The machines are aimed less at creators and more at local AI. Apple shipped macOS 26.2 last December with support for low-latency communication between Thunderbolt 5 hosts, specifically for distributed inference using MLX.Since then, hobbyists and developers have been daisy-chaining Mac minis and Studios to run models far larger than a single consumer machine can hold, as an alternative to buying racks. Mac Studio now officially supports clustering over Thunderbolt 5 with RDMA, allowing memory to be pooled across multiple systems.According to Apple, four clustered Studios can deliver up to three times the inference throughput of a single machine. There is also a new Core AI framework in addition to MLX. Apple positions the Studio as its top desktop for on-device AI, while the mini is described as an always-on agentic machine.s-on agentic machine.The economics are simple. Developers using cloud-based coding agents are seeing costs rise, while open-weight models such as Qwen and DeepSeek can do much of the same work on local machines.However, a typical consumer Mac still cannot run models large enough to fully replace advanced APIs, which is why some users have started chaining Macs together. The Mac mini makes up about 3 percent of Mac unit sales in the US, according to Consumer Intelligence Research.The M6 mini starts at $899 and the M5 Pro mini at $1,699, each $100 above the current M4 and M4 Pro models. Mac Studio starts at $2,499 with the M5 Max, the same as the current M4 Max model, and $5,499 with the M5 Ultra.While these comparisons seem to favor Apple, the baseline price has already shifted. The M4 mini launched at $599 in October 2024, but Apple discontinued that version in May, raising the entry price to $799. In late June, Mac prices increased by about 15 to 20 percent, with Tim Cook citing higher component costs as the reason.The lowest-priced Apple desktop is now 50 percent more expensive than it was two months ago, and it still comes with 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD.ps with 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD.Upgrades are steep. Another 8GB costs $200, hitting the M6's 32GB ceiling costs $4These price increases are part of a broader industry trend, not unique to Apple.<h2>Memory Supply Pressures Behind Apple's Higher Mac Prices</h2>DRAM prices rose by about 90 percent quarter over quarter in the first quarter of 2026, and by more than 50 percent again in the second quarter. IDC calls this a structural reallocation of wafer capacity, since wafers used for HBM in AI cannot be used for standard laptop RAM.<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a>, Asus, MSI, Nintendo, Sony, and Valve have all raised hardware prices this year for similar reasons.us, MSI, Nintendo, Sony, and Valve have all raised hardware prices this year.Demand for the previous Mac mini and Studio models already exceeded supply, with some versions taking weeks or months to ship. Earlier in 2026, Apple removed its largest memory options and has had trouble keeping some MacBook models in stock.The higher memory tiers are now available again on the new mini and Studio, up to 512GB, but that option will not ship until late October. Apple recently highlighted a new Mac mini assembly line in Houston, set to begin production later this year.The company is promoting higher upfront hardware costs as an alternative to ongoing AI service fees, but this only matters if the hardware is actually available.<h2>Mac Availability and Apple's Leadership Transition</h2>Tim Cook will step down as CEO on August 31, with John Ternus taking over. This makes the new Macs the last products released under Cook's leadership. The upcoming iPhone event in September will be Ternus's first as CEO, where he is expected to introduce what may be Apple's first foldable device and possibly a touchscreen MacBook.Most M6 mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio models will be available on September 22, with preorders already open. The 512GB memory version will not ship until late October.It does not review Macs or AI hardware, so all performance numbers come from Apple and are based on different baselines, including the M1, M4, and M3 Ultra.The main question is whether Apple can keep these new machines in stock, given the ongoing memory supply issues and strong demand seen with the previous generation. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/apple-announces-m6-mac-mini-and-m5-ultra-mac-studio-aimed-at-local-ai-workloads-and-mac-clustering/">Apple Announces M6 Mac mini and M5 Ultra Mac Studio Aimed at Local AI Workloads and Mac Clustering</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
The Witcher 3 Remastered Launches September 29 as a Free Upgrade With Xbox Play Anywhere Support

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 07:49:50 -0000

CD Projekt RED has announced The Witcher 3 Remastered. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/the-witcher-3-remastered-launches-september-29-as-a-free-upgrade-with-xbox-play-anywhere-support/">The Witcher 3 Remastered Launches September 29 as a Free Upgrade With Xbox Play Anywhere Support</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

CD Projekt RED has announced The Witcher 3 Remastered. The update arrives on September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for existing owners. The remaster adds <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/28/xbox-adds-13-ubisoft-games-to-console-to-pc-program-granting-free-pc-versions-to-xbox-owners/">Xbox</a> Play Anywhere support.Players who own The Witcher 3 on GOG, <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/07/12/steam-passes-200-million-monthly-active-users-50-more-than-playstation/">Steam</a>, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X and S will receive the upgrade at no cost. Both major expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, are included.The remaster is also available for pre-purchase on Battle.net and <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/07/nintendo-switch-2-sells-over-23-million-units-in-first-year-outpacing-the-original-switch/">Nintendo Switch 2</a>. The update brings changes to combat, traversal, and visuals, and adds FSR 4.0 support on the Xbox Ally X. The studio has also teased a third expansion for The Witcher 3 and confirmed that The Witcher 4 is planned for 2028.<h2>The Witcher 3 Remastered Features and Xbox Play Anywhere Support</h2>CD Projekt RED confirmed that the remaster is a free upgrade for existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. Both expansions are included. For those who do not already own the game, it is available for pre-purchase on Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2.The free update includes a range of changes:<ul> <li>Improved combat flow with new finishing moves and skills.</li> <li>Boosted traversal with more dynamic vaulting and platforming.</li> <li>Overhauled visuals with improved lighting and spell effects.</li> <li>Improved monster AI with new enemy moves.</li> <li>Revamped horse riding.</li> <li>A complete Cyberpunk 2077-style overhaul of the skill tree.</li> <li>Armor transmogrification and an improved photo mode.</li> <li>Smaller enhancements include boosted looting, UI interactions, tutorial modernization, and HDR improvements.</li> <li>DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR 4.0, path tracing on high-end systems, and ray-traced hair.</li> </ul>CD Projekt RED revealed in the details that the remaster adds Xbox Play Anywhere support, bridging the gap between Xbox Series X and S and Xbox Ally versions. It also gets FSR 4.0 support.The Witcher 3 will also be available on Microsoft and Blizzard's Battle.net. This is part of a broader effort to open Battle.net to third-party developers. More details are expected at BlizzCon 2026 in September. More expected at BlizzCon 2026 in September.<h2>Songs of the Past Expansion and Witcher 4 Timeline</h2>CD Projekt RED also showed the first teaser trailer for the third and final Witcher 3 DLC, titled "Songs of the Past." The studio described it as a "full-fledged third expansion" that takes Geralt to the peaceful realm of Letten, "where dark secrets lurk beneath the surface," coming in 2027.The trailer features a new hook tool that Geralt uses to pull in enemies, as well as new nature-themed enemies. CD Projekt RED has also confirmed The Witcher 4 is planned for 2028, with the Witcher 3 expansion set for release later in 2027.The Witcher 3 Remastered launches September 29, 2026, as a free upgrade for existing owners on GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.Pre-purchase is available on Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2. The "Songs of the Past" expansion is planned for 2027, and The Witcher 4 for 2028, though CD Projekt RED has not provided firm release dates. More information about the Battle.net third-party initiative is expected at BlizzCon 2026 in September. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/26/the-witcher-3-remastered-launches-september-29-as-a-free-upgrade-with-xbox-play-anywhere-support/">The Witcher 3 Remastered Launches September 29 as a Free Upgrade With Xbox Play Anywhere Support</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Former Rockstar Tech Lead Says GTA 6 Leaks Are No Big Deal

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:53:39 -0000

Former Rockstar technical lead Obbe Vermeij has called the ongoing GTA 6 leaks "a nothing burger" and defended the studio's attempts to stop them. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/former-rockstar-tech-lead-says-gta-6-leaks-are-no-big-deal/">Former Rockstar Tech Lead Says GTA 6 Leaks Are No Big Deal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Former <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/06/former-rockstar-developer-says-gta-6-could-be-delayed-again-potentially-to-may-2027/">Rockstar</a> technical lead Obbe Vermeij has called the ongoing <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/07/rockstar-to-debut-extended-gta-6-look-on-netflix-first-drawing-fan-backlash/">GTA 6</a> leaks "a nothing burger" and defended the studio's attempts to stop them.Vermeij, who worked at Rockstar from 1995 to 2009, said Rockstar New York sometimes overreacts but stopping leaks is part of their job. The comments follow new footage and threats of major story spoilers from an unidentified leaker known as Cyberleek. Rockstar has not made a public statement but has taken legal action.Vermeij believes the leaks have little impact since most players are not looking for spoilers.<h2>Vermeij's Take on the GTA 6 Leaks and Rockstar's Response</h2>Writing on X, Vermeij used his experience as a former Rockstar lead to say that Rockstar New York "overreacts a bit at times," before adding, "But it is their job to try to stop these kinds of leaks."He argued the leaks are "a nothing burger" because 90% of prospective players are not looking online for spoilers. "I was there during Hot Coffee," he added, referring to the incident in which an explicit mini-game mistakenly made its way into GTA San Andreas."It was a nightmare for management [Rockstar's New York offices], but didn't affect us [Rockstar North] much," Vermeij said. "The current leaks are far less consequential than [Hot Coffee] was. It looks like GTA 6 will be phenomenal and sell for the next 15 years or so. The leaks are just a tiny blip."Rockstar's response to leaks has affected employees who were not involved. Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says Rockstar introduced strict security measures, including a return-to-office requirement for all staff after the 2022 GTA 6 leak. This led to more frustration when new leaks appeared last week.The current leaker remains unidentified and has threatened to release story spoilers. Vermeij says Rockstar is within its rights to take legal action.<h2>What Rockstar Has Not Confirmed About the Latest GTA 6 Leaks</h2>Rockstar has not made a public statement about the latest leaks or Vermeij's comments. The identity of Cyberleek is still unknown. Story spoilers may now appear, in addition to the gameplay and map details already leaked.It is unclear if the leaks will affect GTA 6's reception, but the game is still likely to be a major release. Rockstar's official reveal is still planned for its Netflix presentation. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/former-rockstar-tech-lead-says-gta-6-leaks-are-no-big-deal/">Former Rockstar Tech Lead Says GTA 6 Leaks Are No Big Deal</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
TikTok and ByteDance Agree to $400 Million Children’s Privacy Settlement

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:48:09 -0000

The US Department of Justice has reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok, ByteDance, and related companies over alleged violations of the Children's Onlin Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/tiktok-and-bytedance-agree-to-400-million-childrens-privacy-settlement/">TikTok and ByteDance Agree to $400 Million Children’s Privacy Settlement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

The US Department of Justice has reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok, ByteDance, and related companies over alleged violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. The agreement addresses a 2024 DOJ lawsuit that accused the companies of breaching COPPA rules as far back as 2019. TikTok is set to pay $300 million now, with an additional $100 million due if a court vacates an earlier consent decree involving Musical.ly, its predecessor. This is among the largest COPPA settlements so far. The settlement addresses allegations only. There has been no court finding that TikTok or ByteDance is liable. <h2>TikTok's COPPA Allegations and $400 Million Settlement Terms</h2> The DOJ filed its lawsuit in 2024, alleging that TikTok and ByteDance violated COPPA rules going back to 2019. The FTC referred the case after claiming TikTok continued to break COPPA requirements even after a 2019 agreement to comply. According to the DOJ, TikTok knowingly let children under 13 create standard accounts outside its restricted Kids Mode, collected and kept their personal information without parental consent, did not delete accounts and data when parents asked, and lacked effective procedures to identify and remove underage accounts. This case comes after a 2019 settlement where Musical.ly, which later became TikTok, agreed to pay $5.7 million to the FTC for allegedly collecting personal data from users under 13 without parental consent. The agreement ends the litigation. The DOJ noted that TikTok has made changes to its ownership, data management, and legal compliance since 2024. The agency also acknowledged updates to TikTok's privacy retention policies, age controls, and parental oversight features. TikTok will pay $300 million now, with another $100 million due if the earlier Musical.ly consent decree is vacated by a court. "Companies that collect children's personal information must comply with the law," said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate. "This resolution secures a significant monetary recovery and reflects the Department's commitment to ensuring children receive the full protections that Congress mandated." <h2>What TikTok and ByteDance Have Not Admitted or Confirmed</h2> The DOJ emphasized that the settlement addresses allegations only, and there has been no court decision on liability. The extra $100 million payment depends on whether the earlier Musical.ly consent decree is vacated, which remains undecided. The announcement did not provide full details on the changes TikTok made to its age controls and data practices since 2024. This is a legal matter related to child safety. Parents who want to manage their child's use of TikTok can review the platform's parental control tools and official guidance. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/tiktok-and-bytedance-agree-to-400-million-childrens-privacy-settlement/">TikTok and ByteDance Agree to $400 Million Children’s Privacy Settlement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
China Orders Recall of Almost Three Million Tesla Vehicles Over Hidden Door Handles

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:43:26 -0000

Chinese regulators have ordered Tesla to recall nearly three million vehicles in China because of hidden door handles, which authorities say could be dangerous Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/china-orders-recall-of-almost-three-million-tesla-vehicles-over-hidden-door-handles/">China Orders Recall of Almost Three Million Tesla Vehicles Over Hidden Door Handles</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

Chinese regulators have ordered Tesla to recall nearly three million vehicles in China because of hidden door handles, which authorities say could be dangerous in a crash. The concern is that people inside might not be able to get out, and rescuers could have trouble getting in during an emergency. Tesla will address the issue with warning labels and an over-the-air software update. The recall comes as China prepares to ban hidden door handles on all new models starting in 2027. Xiaomi has also been ordered to recall vehicles for the same issue. <h2>Tesla's Hidden Door Handle Safety Risk and Planned Fix</h2> According to Chinese authorities, the affected vehicles "have emergency mechanical door handles that are difficult to identify and operate because their color is similar to the interior trim." The regulators added: "In extreme situations such as a severe collision, causing the vehicle's low-voltage system to fail, this could hinder occupants from quickly opening the doors to escape and impede rescue efforts by those outside the vehicle, posing a safety hazard." Minimalist door handles have been a feature of Tesla vehicles for years. Now, Chinese regulators are requiring Tesla and other brands to update their vehicles to address the safety risk. The fix includes adding warning labels, which are already present on some vehicles, and sending an over-the-air update to add a post-accident window lowering feature. This feature is meant to give people another way to escape or for rescuers to get in if the doors cannot be opened after a crash. <h2>Other Affected EV Makers and China's Hidden Door Handle Ban</h2> Tesla is not the only carmaker affected. China also ordered a recall of almost 400,000 Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicles in connection with difficult-to-see emergency mechanical door handles. Earlier this year, China announced a ban on hidden door handles for safety reasons. All new models from 2027 will need to have mechanical door handles inside and out. Regulators are especially concerned about hidden mechanisms that use buttons instead of obvious mechanical releases, since this can slow down emergency evacuation.ous. The Register notes Tesla has faced legal scrutiny over its door design. In 2025, Tesla was sued over allegations that a design flaw in the Model S prevented occupants from escaping after a crash. The company has also faced allegations that occupants of a Cybertruck were trapped after a crash due to the door handle design. The recall covers affected Tesla and Xiaomi vehicles in China. The fix uses warning labels and a software update, not hardware changes. China's ban on hidden door handles will apply to all new models from 2027. There is no timeline yet for when the software update will reach all vehicles, and it is not clear if other countries will take similar action. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/china-orders-recall-of-almost-three-million-tesla-vehicles-over-hidden-door-handles/">China Orders Recall of Almost Three Million Tesla Vehicles Over Hidden Door Handles</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.
Microsoft Shares Workaround for EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION Game Crashes Tied to RGB Drivers

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 07:39:44 -0000

Microsoft has published a workaround for game crashes on Windows 11 that started after the KB5121003 update. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/microsoft-shares-workaround-for-exception_access_violation-game-crashes-tied-to-rgb-drivers/">Microsoft Shares Workaround for EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION Game Crashes Tied to RGB Drivers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.

<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/companies/microsoft-companies/">Microsoft</a> has published a workaround for game crashes on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/category/windows/windows-11/">Windows 11</a> that started after<a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/21/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-kb5121003-update-is-crashing-games-and-rebooting-pcs/"> the KB5121003 update</a>. The company has traced the problem to RGB lighting drivers.The issue can cause games to freeze, restart the PC, or show an EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. According to Microsoft, the crashes are linked to peripherals or internal components with RGB lighting that install drivers named like inpoutx64.There is no permanent fix yet, but the registry workaround may help until one is available. Games reported to be affected include ARC Raiders, MARVEL T?kon: Fighting Souls, and THE FINALS.<h2>Microsoft's RGB Driver Finding and Registry Workaround</h2>Microsoft's acknowledgment in Windows Release Health reads: "Following the release of Windows updates on August 11, 2026 (KB5121003) and later, Microsoft received reports of issues involving inability to run certain games as expected."The company continued: "Ongoing investigation indicates that this issue is related to peripherals or internal device components which have RGB lighting features.Such devices may install drivers or code components with file names similar to inpoutx64. In systems where these drivers are found, the issue is then triggered by launching certain games."Reported symptoms are games freezing, closing unexpectedly, showing the EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error, or the device restarting without warning.Microsoft's workaround disables the affected driver using the Windows registry. Since editing the registry can cause problems, make sure to back it up before making any changes:<ol> <li>Open the Windows registry by opening the Start menu, typing "regedit," and selecting Registry Editor from the results.</li> <li>Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\inpoutx64, either using the folders on the left or typing the path into the addBe sure to back up the registry before you continue, so you can undo the change if needed.ge needs to be undone.</li> <li>On the right side, find the value named Start, double-click it, and enter the number 4 under Value data.</li> <li>Close the window and restart the computer.</li> </ol><h2>RGB Feature Tradeoff and Fix Status</h2>Microsoft warns that disabling this registry key may cause problems with RGB features on your devices or with the software that controls them.Users who experience such issues and want to restore the functionality can re-enable the driver by restoring the registry key to its previous value, following Microsoft's guidance on backing up and restoring the registry in Windows.The workaround is available for users affected by the crashes, but Microsoft has not released a permanent fix. Users can apply the registry change for now and check Windows Release Health for updates. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/08/25/microsoft-shares-workaround-for-exception_access_violation-game-crashes-tied-to-rgb-drivers/">Microsoft Shares Workaround for EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION Game Crashes Tied to RGB Drivers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ghacks.net">gHacks</a>.