Microsoft

Microsoft has started testing several enhancements for Windows 11, including a faster File Explorer and a more customizable context menu. These updates are contained within Windows 11 preview builds that are rolling out to Insiders this week.

Ruiyu Li is a research scientist at Meta specializing in AI and machine learning, earning over $250k. She advised aspiring professionals that gaining hands-on experience, such as interning or publishing research, is crucial for entering the field during competitive job markets. Her work focuses on large-scale recommendation systems and AI video generation.

Microsoft has confirmed that some users are experiencing service issues related to searching within Microsoft 365 applications. The outage affects multiple services, specifically including Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive.

Microsoft announced the removal of the Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) tool. This removal effort affects multiple versions, including Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. The action was taken because the WMIC tool is known to be used by cybercriminals.

Microsoft is developing a security patch to address the 'ShieldBreak' zero-day vulnerability. This vulnerability was disclosed last week by security researcher Nightmare Eclipse and has been assigned the identifier CVE-2026-69414.

A man charged with arranging the fatal ambush of Jared Bridegan, a Microsoft design manager, is headed to trial in Florida. The attack, which occurred in 2022, involved placing a tire in the road in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme. Mario Fernandez Saldana and Shanna Gardner are both charged with murder regarding the incident.

A man charged with arranging the fatal ambush of a Microsoft design manager is headed to trial. The murder trial is scheduled for Monday in Jacksonville, Florida.

Conscious unbossing describes senior professionals leaving management roles to return to hands-on work, a trend seen in tech where top individuals are paid like directors under the 'Super IC' label. The article suggests this shift is possible because AI has broken old career math that linked worth to headcount, allowing single workers to achieve tasks previously requiring large teams. This change is evidenced by reduced manager engagement and personal success examples.

The global economy is entering a new phase of artificial intelligence where success will depend on how economies translate technology into productivity, rather than just having powerful models. Southern Europe countries, including Greece, Portugal, and Italy, are working to become AI hubs by combining human capital with public and private infrastructure. Microsoft believes Greece is positioned as an innovation hub, supported by initiatives like GR for GRowth that aim to train people in digital skills.

The article analyzes how the data center industry has launched a PR campaign through North Carolina Connects to counter public skepticism regarding facility construction. This effort is run by The Data Center Coalition, which includes major corporations such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. The coalition promotes claims that data centers deliver significant economic benefits and pay their own energy costs.

The article argues that concerns about the U.S. dollar have made gold relevant to a value investor who previously considered it outside their framework because it lacks cash flows. The core concern is that the stability of the US's economy, democracy, and military are all declining, evidenced by high budget deficits and rising debt service costs.

Tech workers from companies including Amazon, Google, and Meta shared their biggest career regrets with Business Insider. Regrets ranged from not leaning into AI sooner to missing job opportunities or staying too long at one company. Mike Kostersitz highlighted his regret of remaining loyal to a company for 31 years before being laid off.

The user placed an online pre-order for a Gears of War E-Day collector's edition through Microsoft via Shopify. They received a confusing letter from FedEx indicating that payment had failed, which prompted them to question if Shopify uses FedEx and whether the notice is fraudulent due to prior hacking scams.

The expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure requires thousands of skilled trades workers, a labor demand that the United States currently struggles to meet. The article suggests that Switzerland's successful apprenticeship system, which provides clear pathways for hands-on technical careers, offers a model that could help address America's workforce shortages.

Threat actors are exploiting a newly disclosed Microsoft SharePoint vulnerability, CVE-2026-55040 (CVSS score: 9.1), after the release of a public proof-of-concept code. This critical flaw involves weak authentication and was patched by Microsoft during its July 2026 Patch Tuesday updates.

Nightmare Eclipse released a zero-day exploit called "ShieldBreak," which targets Microsoft Defender and grants SYSTEM privileges. The exploit was released following the August 2026 Patch Tuesday security updates issued by Microsoft.

Security researcher Chaotic Eclipse released a proof-of-concept (PoC) detailing ShieldBreak, a new Microsoft zero-day vulnerability. This weakness is rooted in Microsoft Defender for Windows and demonstrates a patch bypass capability. The exploit targets CVE-2026-50656, which has a CVSS score of 7.8 and is also known as RoguePlanet.

CISA confirmed that ransomware gangs have begun abusing a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint. This remote code execution flaw has been actively exploited since early July.

Researchers discovered a vulnerability where Windows Plug and Play can be abused to execute privileged installation components on fully updated Windows 11 machines, leading to SYSTEM access. This exploit path can also be triggered remotely over Remote Desktop if supported Plug and Play or low-level USB redirection is active.

The AI revolution has spurred a massive boom in data centers, with major providers such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon spending hundreds of billions of dollars to keep up with demand. Investors are advised that four key areas—semiconductor chips, real estate, energy, and cooling—offer entry points into this economy. The article highlights semiconductor equipment suppliers like Applied Materials and Lam Research, noting they provide critical exposure across the entire chipmaking ecosystem.

In Michigan's data center landscape, while Corunna has received no development proposals, Shiawassee County Community adopted regulations for prospective projects. Meanwhile, voters rejected rezoning efforts for a hyperscale data center in Augusta Charter Township, and Lowell City Council suspended water agreement discussions, impacting negotiations with Microsoft.

Analysts suggest that Elon Musk’s ambitious AI plans for SpaceX should be taken seriously, with Microsoft being a key factor. The content notes that if Musk is able to expand its compute capacity swiftly, Microsoft could be perfectly positioned to monetize this “one-in-a-generation opportunity.”

In Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, candidates Sherrod Brown and Jon Husted offer contrasting visions regarding data center development. Brown criticized Husted’s support of developer tax breaks, advocating instead that data centers pay their full electricity costs and process waste water safely. Conversely, Husted defends new developments, arguing they create construction jobs and broaden the tax base for rural communities.

Economist Torsten Slok warns that AI profits are currently funded by investors rather than earned from customers, citing a lopsided profit margin structure within the value chain. While silicon and equipment maintain high margins (41%), models and applications report negative operating margins (-59%). Slok warned that if financing slows, this disparity threatens the stability of the expanding industry.

Earning a post-high school degree remains crucial for moving from low to middle class, and in an AI economy, a quality college degree provides an enormous ROI that makes graduates 'AI-proof.' Corporate executives report needing soft skills like critical thinking, problem analysis, and working well with diverse coworkers. These foundational perspectives are what liberal arts colleges aim to cultivate.

Sean James, a distinguished engineer at Nvidia with extensive experience designing and building data centers at Microsoft, argues that modern AI data centers should become 'unremarkable' infrastructure, fading into the background like water mains or substations. He notes that current focus on data centers highlights their energy and water demands, contrasting sharply with past times when such engineering marvels remained invisible.

Replit CEO Amjad Masad argues that AI is making software engineering more imaginative and fun, despite widespread concerns about job displacement in the industry. He noted that adopting AI agents has shifted Replit's environment from intense keyboard work to a vibrant space focused on quick ideation. Consequently, Replit adapted its mission by utilizing processes like 'vibe coding,' allowing engineers to spend more time at the whiteboard.

Chevron is positioning itself as an AI leader in the energy sector through a massive deal called Project Kilby, supplying power to Microsoft's data centers in Reeves County, West Texas. This 20-year agreement provides 2.67 gigawatts of natural gas-fired power, utilizing Chevron's land and gas resources alongside equipment from vendors like GE Vernova and Caterpillar. The project signifies a platform for Chevron’s growth in servicing hyperscaler AI demands across various regions.

Asian shares were mostly lower, with South Korea’s Kospi dropping more than 4%, following declines for tech giants such as Alphabet and Microsoft. Oil prices remained stable near $79 a barrel amid uncertainty about the U.S. war with Iran. Wall Street indices fluctuated, with some big technology companies losing ground despite sharp gains in firms like The Walt Disney Co.

Asian shares experienced declines overall, led by South Korea's Kospi falling more than 4% and big tech stocks like SK Hynix losing significant ground. Market uncertainty persists due to the U.S. war with Iran, while investors await the monthly employment report for July. Meanwhile, oil prices fluctuated despite talks regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Bank of America spends over $250 million annually on GLP-1 weight loss drugs for employees, combining access with health coaching to reduce long-term healthcare costs. Microsoft reported $24.1 billion in AI revenue from OpenAI, which constitutes 70% of its AI business, despite diversification efforts. Vital Signals raised $15 million to launch a $399 cuffless blood pressure wearable, Signal Ring, entering a competitive market with unproven real-world reliability.

A macOS ClickFix operation using over 250 domains employs browser fingerprinting to selectively display malware lures to Mac users while evading detection by crawlers and sandboxes. Microsoft Threat Intelligence tracked this infrastructure after weeks of monitoring.

A UK-based scam involves renting temporary offices to advertise free Microsoft training, which is actually a front to pressure attendees into paying for a helpline service. Participants who pay receive a book and a test they fail, leading to course termination, while the training itself is freely available online.

Elon Musk outlined SpaceX's projected $1 trillion revenue by 2030, joked about data centers being easier to build than rockets, and highlighted Starlink's potential to provide global internet. He also mentioned AI advancements and envisioned Moon factories.

Tech companies are revisiting the concept of a 'super app' that consolidates multiple services into one platform, driven by AI advancements. While previous attempts in the US failed, companies like Microsoft and Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) are exploring new iterations, though challenges like market fragmentation remain.

Tech companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are developing AI-powered 'super apps' to consolidate multiple functions into a single platform. Google merged its AI Studio into its Gemini app, while Microsoft and OpenAI are integrating features into unified apps. The trend mirrors China's WeChat model and Elon Musk's X, aiming to create all-in-one services through AI advancements.

ValueLicensing and Alexander Wolfson are leading two separate but related UK lawsuits against Microsoft over alleged restrictions on pre-owned software licenses. The cases, before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, seek £270 million and £1.3-£3.5 billion in compensation, respectively, with upcoming case management conferences potentially linking the proceedings.

Morgan Stanley analyzed three potential AI futures: closed models, open models, and a hybrid outcome. In all scenarios, companies providing computing infrastructure for AI (e.g., cloud providers, chipmakers, and cybersecurity firms) are positioned to benefit, with specific winners like Nvidia, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft highlighted.

Arthur Mensch, CEO of Mistral, warned the French National Assembly that Europe must build its own AI infrastructure within two years to avoid dependency on U.S. technology. The U.S. temporarily restricted access to Anthropic's Mythos AI model, highlighting risks of foreign control over critical AI systems. Mistral is positioned as a potential European alternative but faces challenges in U.S. chip dependencies and competitiveness against leading global AI models.

Palantir is shifting profits from its European operations to the United States to minimize European tax payments, according to a report by the Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research. The report highlights stark profit margin differences between U.S. and European operations, with the U.S. business reporting significantly higher margins. Palantir claims its tax obligations are met in all jurisdictions.