By Siôn Geschwindt Swedish electric plane startup Heart Aerospace is relocating its headquarters from Gothenburg to Los Angeles in a move it says will “bolster product development.”  The company will lay off all of its 75 employees in Sweden, company spokesperson Christina Zander told TNW. “Recruitment in the US is ongoing,” she added.   Founded in 2018, Heart Aerospace is building a hybrid-electric 30-passenger airliner called the ES-30. The first working prototype of the plane, X1, is scheduled to take to the skies later this year.   Tobias Bengtsdahl, a partner at VC firm Antler, told TNW that Heart’s move to the US should serve…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

Zoho on Wednesday announced the addition of 10 AI-centric services and features within Zoho Creator, the company’s low code application development platform, that it said are part of its pledge to invest only in “AI capabilities that drive real-time, practical and secure benefits to business users.”

The expanded offerings include CoCreator, the firm’s new AI “development partner” powered by Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, that it said in a release “facilitates faster, simpler and more intelligent app building with the use of voice and written prompts, process flows and business specification documents.”

New features also include the ability to transform unstructured data from different file types and databases into customized applications, aided by what the company described as “advanced AI-based data prep capabilities that remove inconsistencies and bring logical structure to detail.”

Source:: Computer World

President Donald J. Trump recently signed an executive order to bring AI into K–12 education to boost literacy around the technology and create a new White House task force to lead the effort.

The task force plans to form public-private partnerships with AI experts to develop online resources for K-12 AI literacy and critical thinking and will seek industry commitments and federal funding to support the effort; the goal is to ensure resources are available for K-12 instruction within 180 days. As part of the plan, the US Secretary of Education must within 90 days issue guidance on using federal grants to support AI in education and find ways to use existing research programs to help states boost student success.

Some, however, say the executive order on AI in education doesn’t go far enough.

“AI education has to start even earlier than kindergarten!” Karen Panetta, a fellow with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), wrote via email when asked about Trump’s order. “Why? Because children need to be aware of the influences of things that are and are not real.” (IEEE is a global professional organization that advances technology through standards development and education.)

Children will encounter realistic but fake AI-generated content, so it should be an imperative teach them early to question what they see and ask trusted adults for help, according to Panetta.

Heather Barnhart, an education curriculum lead and fellow at the SANS Institute, agreed that AI training is critical, arguing that predators can leverage the technology to create images young children crave.

“That sentence is disturbing, but true,” Barnhart said. “Yes, AI has guardrails. However, it’s open source and can be taught how to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). AI can also be used in the art of sex extortion. Here, children and teenagers are targeted in financial extortion with the creation of AI generated images of themselves. Out of fear, the kids resort to trying to pay the ransom or worse, harming themselves.”

Parents and teachers should talk to children about AI early and often, and those conversations should be age-appropriate and based on a child’s maturity, she said. Teaching kids to recognize suspicious behavior — both online and offline— is as important as teaching them about physical safety. Giving a child a device exposes them to potential dangers, often from strangers who appear to be peers or friends, Barnhart said.

“Bottom line, we can’t fear technology,” she said. “We cannot keep our children from technology. We need to learn how to communicate with them about online safety so that their world is not impacted when a threat comes their way. The more you talk to your kids and the more open you are to what they are doing and living — and what they are looking at online — the safer your family will be.”

Panetta said AI will increase phishing and online threats unless the US begins digital and AI education from the moment kids use devices. Just as word processors became standard in schools, AI tools will soon be essential in education and work.

Every school has students using tablets in the classroom and at home, Panetta pointed out, allowing students to use standard software programs such as word processors, animation software, drawing programs and instant access via the internet to relevant curated learning videos.

Panetta said using AI to help develop customized learning approaches is key. For example, “autistic children can greatly benefit from having AI that knows how to read their facial expressions to gauge their interest or emotions in response to educational materials. This helps develop AI that is more in tune with the needs of different abled children,” she said.

Trump’s executive order calls for educators, industry leaders, and employers to collaborate to create programs that equip students with essential AI skills across all learning paths. And it calls for a strong framework that integrates early exposure, teacher training, and workforce development to help foster innovation and critical thinking.

The order just “makes sense,” according to Emily DeJeu, an assistant professor of Business Management Communication at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business.

Noting China’s recent announcement of a major AI-focused educational overhaul, “this move seems intended to keep American students competitive in a fast-changing global landscape,” DeJeu said. “There’s also historical precedent for it: the 1983 federal report A Nation at Risk called for integrating computer science into high school curricula, sparking decades of STEM-focused education reforms.

“Building AI literacy could benefit students much like past efforts to build digital literacy,” she said.

However, DeJeu added, educators must be cautious because research shows AI can hinder critical thinking, increase plagiarism, and lead to learning loss. Students may rely on AI to do challenging work, gaining polished results without true understanding — risking a generation that uses AI well but lacks deep knowledge and critical skills.

Panetta also advised a cautious approach in light of AI’s tendency to hallucinate and spew erroneous information and expose sensitive information.

“We need to guarantee that standards are in place for both security and privacy,” Panetta said. “The best educational product that unintentionally shares your child’s image or private information will ultimately do more harm than good. At IEEE, our AI and security experts around the globe are leading the efforts to create these safeguards and standards.”

Source:: Computer World

By Adarsh Verma Look, if you’re not using Razer Gold yet, we need to talk. It’s 2025, and if…
The post Still Not Using Razer Gold? Let’s Fix That appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By Siôn Geschwindt Dutch neobank Bunq today launched a crypto trading service for over 300 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The service launches today and is available to Bunq users in the Netherlands, France, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Belgium. It’s offered via Kraken, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.   Bunq plans to “gradually expand” the offering to the rest of the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and the US.  “Our users across the world have long waited for a simple, safe, and straightforward way to invest in digital assets,” said Ali Niknam, the bank’s founder and CEO.  Niknam — who will reveal…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

Yesterday, we looked at how tariffs might well make connected accessories more expensive and leave existing devices less secure as the companies that made them exit the market.

Today, we discover why these accessories need to be protected and find out they can already be attacked. If nothing else, it should encourage any consumer or enterprise user relying on connected accessories to take the time to verify that all of them are truly secure.

Those that are not should be removed from use – and from your network.

All the forgotten endpoints

Wired tells us that Oligo security researchers have discovered flaws in Apple’s AirPlay system that could allow hackers to gain access to your Wi-Fi network to infect AirPlay-enabled smart home accessories.

That’s a danger, given how infrequently smart accessory manufacturers actually publish security updates for those devices — and it will likely get worse in the future as accessory developers exit the market when tariffs make business unprofitable.

Given that some connected device users have spent a great deal of money on their systems, it’s unrealistic to expect they will swiftly give up their accessories. That means those potentially very vulnerable endpoints will remain in use for some time to come.

The problem Oligo found

The problem Oligo identified consists of bugs in Apple’s AirPlay SDK that hackers can exploit to gain access to smart gadgets, including speakers, receivers, set-top boxes, televisions and other network devices that connect using AirPlay. That could mean, for example, using your device’s microphone to listen in on your conversations.

The good thing is that this isn’t a remote attack; attackers need to gain access to your Wi-Fi network first, which is more of a problem when it comes to shared public Wi-Fi networks than at home. 

The researchers shared their findings with Apple, which has patched the vulnerability on its own devices and issued an updated developer SDK. But third-party firms haven’t yet said anything about their plans to adopt the code. “Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch — or they will never be patched,” said Oligo’s CTO, Gal Elbaz.

Sweet home accessory, never been patched

It’s a fact that some third-party accessories might never be patched, which should make anyone with connected home or workplace smart accessories pay attention. That cavalier attitude is a problem waiting to happen, turning a seemingly benign little smart plug into a potential Trojan Horse hackers and other attackers can use to subvert the security of your home or business. 

While this particular exploit might have been identified and mitigated against, there will be others, and in the absence of timely security updates for connected devices, let’s just say one day more connected access endpoints will be exploited.

Some might already have been compromised.

What can you do to protect yourself? 

Assuming you make sure to install software updates as they appear, the next step is to monitor the devices you use. That means making a list of them, determine when they were made, and figure out whether the accessory manufacturer still supports them. If they do, it also means ensuring your device is running the latest available software updates. 

What about devices that are no longer supported? It’s a judgment call, but if security is a priority, it makes sense to cease use of orphaned devices — security in the home or in the workplace is only ever as good as the weakest link. Devices that are not being kept up to date pose a risk to other devices on your network and the data they contain.

When it comes to installing new smart devices, I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir in saying there is a need to verify that any you do choose ship with solid software support. If they don’t have that, install a solution that does.

Finally, given that accessory makers will be seeking to build subscription businesses, it might make sense for them to combine together to create an app that verifies and updates deployed smart devices to flag any potential weaknesses and ensure the best possible security.

You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky,  LinkedIn, Mastodon, and MeWe. 

Source:: Computer World

By Deepti Pathak HP has introduced a new series of AI-based laptops in India, aimed at professionals and general…
The post New HP EliteBook, ProBook, and OmniBook Models Launched in India appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

It’s no secret that IT workers can easily get burned out. They often have too much to do and feel stressed trying to keep up with technology that’s always changing. The meteoric growth of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, in business has only exacerbated the problem, with tech workers feeling pressure to learn relevant skills and even fearing they’ll be replaced by bots.

Another factor contributing to IT burnout is the rise of remote and hybrid work since the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020. The continuous demands of hybrid work environments aggravate worker stress, often leading to a blurring of personal and professional boundaries, said Manu Sood, SVP of technology at AvidXchange.

When employees feel burned out, they may disengage from their jobs, resulting in a loss of productivity, creativity, and innovation. Managers should be on the alert for behavioral changes that indicate employee disengagement, such as turning off cameras in virtual meetings, minimal participation in those meetings, limited sharing of ideas, and opting out of in-person collaboration, said Forrester analyst Fiona Mark.

“The biggest one I see is that if the group behavior changes from being a group that shares and connects and challenges each other… to a group that becomes more about consensus but without that challenge, you’re starting to see a pullback from caring about the outcomes [of their work],” she said.

There are steps IT managers can take to remedy this situation — or ideally stave it off before it ever gets that far. Follow these techniques to keep your workforce motivated and eager to use AI to enhance their work.

Listen to employee concerns and support their well-being

To keep technology workers engaged during rapid technology advancements, IT managers should prioritize open communication with employees, along with recognition, training, and career development, said IDC analyst Ritu Jyoti. Encouraging dialogue through check-ins and feedback sessions helps employees feel heard and boosts morale, she said.

“I think the number one thing that IT managers have to do is to encourage open communication — basically, foster an environment where team members feel comfortable in sharing their concerns,” she said.

IT managers should check in with employees before burnout becomes a serious issue, noted Forrester’s Mark. To make sure employees feel heard, it’s important to do more listening to their concerns than prescribing fixes, she said.

“The number one thing that IT managers have to do is to encourage open communication.” — Ritu Jyoti, IDC

Tech leaders should actively promote and enforce clear work-life boundaries for their teams, said AvidXchange’s Sood. That includes encouraging employees to take time off to recharge, which is essential to ensure their long-term productivity and well-being.

“I personally encourage my teams to take regular breaks, take time off to recharge, not continue to bank their personal time off but actually use their PTO for resting and recharging,” she said. “We also provide mental health resources through programs like employee assistance programs and … employee-led meetup groups that encourage employees to connect with each other to regularly focus on their well-being and mental health.”

Present AI as not just a challenge but an opportunity

AI’s ability to bring big changes can seem overwhelming, especially when employees worry that it might replace their jobs. But there are ways IT leaders can help their teams see AI as an opportunity, not just a challenge.

Daniela LaCelle, head of IT delivery at insurance company Unum, said it’s important to present AI as a tool that helps and supports people, not something that takes their place. Burnout is a concern in fast-paced tech environments, she said, but AI can help alleviate this issue by automating repetitive tasks.

LaCelle stressed that seeing AI as an enabler rather than a threat shifts the focus toward opportunities rather than fears. This shift allows teams to focus on strategic and creative work, which encourages greater engagement while easing employees’ fears about job security.

Nimrod Partush, VP data science at exposure management software vendor CYE, concurred.

“We view AI as a powerful enhancement tool that allows our team to accomplish far more, rather than as a replacement for human talent,” he said. “The idea of reducing personnel hasn’t come up. If anything, AI amplifies the value of great team members. Those who contribute meaningfully are indispensable, and with AI, they can bring even greater value to the team.”

Instead of issuing a top-down directive, IT managers should involve employees in AI integration, said Forrester’s Mark. By emphasizing that adopting AI is a team effort and a learning process, IT leaders can ease employee fears and ensure everyone works together toward the organization’s goals.

“So when you think about that, it’s, ‘How can we use AI to make the work that you do easier for you so that you can be more productive and more valuable?’” she said.

Keyur Ajmera, CIO at recruiting software maker iCIMS, said it’s important to show employees clear examples of how AI can be used and the benefits it brings. One of the strategies he uses to keep his team interested and involved is gamification: challenging them to solve problems using AI tools.

For example, one problem Ajmera wanted his team to solve was improving how they use generative AI for creating images, specifically through effective prompt engineering. To do this, Ajmera introduced an internal gamification challenge asking team members to “act like AI co-pilots” and generate the best possible image that addressed a specific problem (capturing aspects A, B, and C).

He noted that this approach, which has been particularly successful, got everyone involved, boosted curiosity about AI, and made learning fun by celebrating the best results.

Foster (and make time for) learning and development

With technology, especially AI, changing so quickly, it’s crucial for employees to keep learning and developing new skills, said Vishal Gupta, CTO and CIO at Lexmark. To that end, the company, which offers printing and imaging products and services, has invested in several upskilling initiatives.

“We’ve partnered with North Carolina State [University] on our AI Academy, and we’ve gotten 100 people trained as data scientists,” he said. “We also offer an AI foundations course and a technology rotation program to give people a variety of skills.”

Upskilling and reskilling employees helps them embrace emerging technologies like AI, said Unum’s LaCelle. When IT managers equip workers to adapt to new technologies, their fear of these new tools decreases and their engagement naturally improves, she said.

“In my experience, burnout only happens when we stop learning and stop striving to see over the next hill.” — Prasad Sankaran, Cognizant

Indeed, Prasad Sankaran, EVP, software and platform engineering at IT services provider Cognizant, said continuous learning is the key to keeping his staff motivated and engaged.

“Cognizant’s culture of continuous learning keeps our associates fired up and ready for the next challenge,” he said. “In my experience, burnout only happens when we stop learning and stop striving to see over the next hill. This is why I prioritize continuous learning across my team.”

The company’s Synapse program, launched in 2023, focuses on helping employees boost their skills and stay engaged, Sankaran said. The goal of the program is to train one million people, and so far, it has helped more than 195,000 employees learn advanced genAI skills.

“For example, multi-agent, multimodal AI technology is emerging as a powerful lever to accelerate autonomous AI adoption,” he said. “We continuously invest in skilling our workforce so they are equipped with the skills, including AI, blockchain, cloud, data, Internet of Things, modern engineering, and more, to deliver innovations for our clients.”

Sankaran said Cognizant has also introduced differentiated career tracks, such as full stack engineer, site reliability engineer, software development engineer in test, distinguished architect, and domain architect, to provide an opportunity for teams to pursue their interests.

“With the right skills, exciting work, and knowledge, the potential of what’s possible is what gets us out of bed each day, and it keeps us going and keeps us motivated,” he added.

David Curtis, CTO at supply chain management firm RobobAI, said that keeping IT teams engaged requires a balance of ongoing skill-building, staying aligned with fast-changing business goals, and creating a culture that encourages innovation. If people don’t have a chance to explore and try new things, they won’t be as interested in their work, he added.

But achieving this balance can be difficult when IT teams are under pressure to meet the immediate demands of the business. As such, Curtis allocates time for his team to learn new technologies, improve their skills, or work on creative projects to keep things fresh and prevent them from getting stuck in a routine.

“Recognizing the time constraints many IT teams face, we allocate ‘experimental’ time in their schedules, empowering them to learn and explore AI technologies with the support of the broader business,” he said.

Emphasize IT teams as business partners

Maintaining high levels of engagement among the technology workforce requires ongoing effort, said Lexmark’s Gupta. One way the company keeps its technology staff motivated and engaged is to ensure they feel connected to the company’s primary goal, which is prioritizing the needs and successes of its customers.

“First, we actively involve IT teams in customer advisory boards and customer engagement initiatives, allowing them to hear firsthand how their innovations translate into real-world solutions for our clients and also to hear the challenges that our customers are facing,” he said. “Second, we provide opportunities for IT staff to rotate through different roles, including those with direct customer interaction, broadening their understanding of customer needs.”

Finally, Gupta said, Lexmark celebrates and recognizes big wins internally throughout the company. Tech employees are lauded for their achievements to show that what they do ends up making a difference. This in turns inspires others to better tie their own work to Lexmark’s goals, he added.

Gupta also noted that Lexmark’s IT teams are now experiencing a “pull” from the business side, where the board, management team, and employees are coming to IT with ideas and requests to try AI and other new technologies. This is a shift from the typical “push” scenario, where IT has to promote the technology to the business side.

“This is a great opportunity for IT teams to become true business partners, and instead of trying to always advocate for technology, actually experience the pull effect and co-create a real transformation of the business,” he said.

Support personal growth and recognize achievements

Gupta wasn’t the only IT leader who said recognition is a great way to keep tech workers motivated and engaged. Whether through public acknowledgment, rewards, or additional time off, showing appreciation for staffers’ work builds loyalty and a positive work environment.

AvidXchange’s Sood, for example, rewards her staff who work extra hours with compensatory time off, letting them know that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Growth happens when you apply what you learn in ways that create real impact.” — Eric Stavola, Visual Edge IT

Eric Stavola, VP, managed services sales and special programs at IT service provider Visual Edge IT, noted that people are typically motivated by financial reward, recognition, and personal growth. “With engineers, believe it or not, personal growth and recognition are very important,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, the finances are also important, but typically that comes off the board once they’re hired.”

Personal growth isn’t about stacking up certifications or chasing the next title, Stavola said. It’s about becoming more valuable, period.

“Whether you’re an engineer, a manager, or a CIO, growth happens when you apply what you learn in ways that create real impact,” he said. “I’ve seen too many tech professionals fall into the trap of ‘more knowledge equals more success.’ But knowledge without application is useless. What really moves the needle? Connecting technical expertise to business outcomes, learning to solve bigger problems, and owning challenges outside your job description. That’s what makes you indispensable.”

Understanding that engineers value personal growth and recognition as much as financial rewards, Stavola prioritizes these aspects to keep employees motivated. The key to real growth is intentional, structured development — not just hoping your team figures it out, he said.

Stavola said his approach involves:

Tactical learning that sticks: “I build micro-courses and hands-on training that cut through the noise and focus on real-world application,” he said. “No generic theory — just practical skills you can use immediately to solve real problems.”

Coaching over managing: A manager assigns tasks. A coach develops people. “I focus on creating feedback-driven performance environments, where learning is constant, and improvement is expected,” Stavola said.

Recognition as a daily habit, not an annual event: The best work in IT often goes unnoticed because success means nothing breaks. “That’s why I focus on recognizing strategic wins, not just visible results,” he said. “Small acknowledgments — a quick message, a shoutout in a meeting, or time invested in mentorship — are often more impactful than a formal award.”

Creating learning environments that allow failure: Growth requires safe spaces to test and refine skills. “I build sandbox environments and real-world training scenarios where people can experiment, make mistakes, and improve without risk to the business,” Stavola said.

Clear career playbooks: Nobody wants to guess their next move. “I use structured frameworks like runbooks and career pathing tools to make success repeatable and measurable,” he said. “That way, career progression isn’t just luck — it’s a process.”

Expanding identity beyond the tech role: Too many tech professionals box themselves into being “the IT guy.” Stavola said he pushes people to develop business acumen, problem-solving skills, and cross-functional collaboration so they’re seen as strategic assets, not just technical resources.

“Personal growth happens when people are challenged, equipped, and recognized,” Stavola said. “And recognition isn’t just about giving credit — it’s about showing people their work matters in ways that inspire them to push further.”

Practice all of the above

Bottom line: IT leaders need to create a supportive environment where workers can keep learning, advance their careers, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By offering training, involving them in exciting AI projects, encouraging their personal growth, and showing that their work is appreciated, IT managers can keep their teams motivated and ready for the future.

“For me, keeping tech workers engaged requires a holistic approach,” said Unum’s LaCelle. “We focus on creating opportunities for continuous learning, growth, meaningful work. We emphasize mentorship, career progressions, really fostering a sense of community within our organization. And lastly, clear communications around goals and celebrating achievements, both individual and collective, really helps keep engagement high.”

Source:: Computer World

By Adarsh Verma Ah, parenting in 2025. Once, the biggest fear was your kid ordering 12 pizzas by accident….
The post Why Parents Prefer Xbox Gift Cards Over Credit Cards for Their Kids’ Gaming Purchases appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By Siôn Geschwindt The European Space Agency (ESA) has blasted its Biomass satellite into space aboard a Vega-C rocket. The launch took place at 11:15 (CEST) today from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.  Now in orbit, the first-of-its-kind satellite will deploy a radar antenna that looks like a giant space umbrella. Developed by US defence contractor L3 Harris, the antenna is so intricate that it will take nine days to unfold in orbit. The umbrella’s job is to direct radar pulses from a P-band radar instrument mounted on the satellite’s body down to the forests below. This type of radar uses long…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

The massive power outage that is impacting much of Spain and Portugal, and that left parts of France without electricity, is remarkable both for its speed and also its reach, an industry analyst said Monday.

The outage began around 12:30 p.m. central European time (8:30 a.m. eastern daylight saving time (EDT)), and as of 5:30 p.m. EDT, according to the BBC live feed, “some electricity supplies are being restored, both in Spain and Portugal. But the disruption continues to be massive.” In France, parts of the country’s Basque region were also affected for part of the day, but power there has since been restored.

John Annand, practice lead at Info-Tech Research Group, said from what he has seen online so far, at this time, “both [Spanish power distributor] Red Eléctrica de España and REN [the entity responsible for maintaining Portugal’s electrical grid] have said that the failure happened at the 400 kV backbone that ties the Iberian grid to the rest of continental Europe.”

There is, he said, “some speculation that the cause may have been an ‘extremely rare atmospheric phenomenon’ or a fire on a French transmission line, but it seems officials have also not ruled out anything cyber so far. This is interesting, because the first two potential causes are physical, and the third one is digital. Our modern grids today live in both realms … and are very vulnerable in both.”

“For tech leaders, the lesson isn’t the exotic cause, but the cascade that follows it,” Annand said. “Europe has been shifting towards weather-dependent renewables, and its grid is moving away from the comforting spin of gigantic turbines.”

Now, he said, “it has to lean harder on software, SCADA links, and inverter controls. These systems are definitely improving, but the will to fund those upgrades typically spikes only after a high-visibility failure, like the one we’re seeing now.”

While enterprises may not be able to harden a transmission backbone, Annand said that “they can close their own resilience gaps and take on responsible business continuity planning. With greater and greater demand (because of things like AI), there’s less slack in the national/international systems to provide redundancy in the event of an outage.”

He added, “if an IT leader can’t trust their vendor (even their power vendor), then it’s up to them to ensure they take steps to close their own resilience gaps. They can check that their generators have enough fuel for more than a day, that their cloud architectures can fail over to outside regions, and that their telecom providers offer extended battery or satellite back-up for last-mile links.”

“The gap between national infrastructure incidents and corporate downtime is just one flicker of the lights,” Annand said, “and the time to patch that gap is before the next rare event, not after.”

With files from Computerworld Spain.

Source:: Computer World

By now, most online users are probably tired of all the notifications asking whether to allow or block cookies when browsing the web.

Since 2022, the Brave browser has offered built-in blocking of these notifications, but the feature does not display some sites correctly. Brave’s solution to the problem is Cookiecrumbler, a new extension that uses AI to block the notifications without affecting page display.

Cookiecrumbler is based on open-source code, and since the blocking is done via Brave’s servers, there should be no danger to privacy, Bleeping Computer reports.

Cookiecrumbler will eventually be integrated into Brave, but if users want to test the extension now, it’s available for free from Github.

Source:: Computer World

By Adarsh Verma Narrative-driven games aren’t new, but what they’re doing now is. We’ve gone way past “games can…
The post How Video Games Are Redefining Modern Storytelling appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By Siôn Geschwindt German defence tech startup ARX Robotics has secured €31mn to ramp up production of its autonomous battlefield robots, which look like mini tanks — minus the guns.  ARX — backed by NATO’s Innovation Fund — will also use the fresh capital to advance its operating system, Mithras OS. The software is designed to modernise existing military vehicles through AI, sensor systems, and autonomous driving capabilities. The company estimates it can retrofit 50,000 NATO vehicles with the tech. The co-founder and CEO of ARX, Marc Wietfeld — who will speak at TNW Conference and the Assembly in June — wants his…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Hisan Kidwai Inspired by the super-popular anime series Demon Slayer, Project Slayers is an action RPG game where…
The post Project Slayers Codes (April 2025) appeared first on Fossbytes.

Source:: Fossbytes

By Andrea Hak In the global race to become the next big tech hotspot, many countries pour billions into nurturing homegrown talent, courting VCs, and crafting startup-friendly policies. While some struggle to gain momentum, others seem to leap forward—fast. So, what sets apart these rapid risers? What’s the secret to ecosystem transformation? Look no further than Bulgaria—a country that’s quietly but confidently building one of Europe’s most exciting tech stories. The key ingredients For years, Bulgaria has been a magnet for global tech firms thanks to its flat 10% tax rate, highly skilled workforce, and cost efficiency. Industry giants like SAP, Microsoft, Oracle,…This story continues at The Next Web

Source:: The Next Web

By Blair Marnell Ian McDiarmid still has trouble wrapping his head around Star Wars Episode IX’s familial revelations about the Emperor.

Source:: Digital Trends

The European Union (EU) AI Act may seem like a done deal, but stakeholders are still drafting the code of practice that will lay out rules for general-purpose AI (GPAI) models, including those with systemic risk.

Now, though, as that drafting process approaches its deadline, US President Donald Trump is reportedly pressuring European regulators to scrap the rulebook. The US administration and other critics claim that it stifles innovation, is burdensome, and extends the bounds of the AI law, essentially creating new, unnecessary rules.

The US government’s Mission to the EU recently reached out to the European Commission and several European governments to oppose its adoption in its current form, Bloomberg reports.

“Big tech, and now government officials, argue that the draft AI rulebook layers on extra obligations, including third party model testing and full training data disclosure, that go beyond what is in the legally binding AI Act’s text, and furthermore, would be very challenging to implement at scale,” explained Thomas Randall, director of AI market research at Info-Tech Research Group.

Onus is shifting from vendor to enterprise

On its web page describing the initiative, the European Commission said, “the code should represent a central tool for providers to demonstrate compliance with the AI Act, incorporating state-of-the-art practices.”

The code is voluntary, but the goal is to help providers prepare to satisfy the EU AI Act’s regulations around transparency, copyright, and risk mitigation. It is being drafted by a diverse group of general-purpose AI model providers, industry organizations, copyright holders, civil society representatives, members of academia, and independent experts, overseen by the European AI Office.

The deadline for its completion is the end of April. The final version is set to be presented to EU representatives for approval in May, and will go into effect in August, one year after the AI Act came into force. It will have teeth; Randall pointed out that non-compliance could draw fines of up to 7% of global revenue, or heavier scrutiny by regulators, once it takes effect.

But whether or not Brussels, the de facto capital of the EU, relaxes or enforces the current draft, the weight of ‘responsible AI’ is already shifting from vendors to the customer organizations deploying the technology, he noted.

“Any organization conducting business in Europe needs to have its own AI risk playbooks, including privacy impact checks, provenance logs, or red-team testing, to avoid contractual, regulatory, and reputational damages,” Randall advised.

He added that if Brussels did water down its AI code, it wouldn’t just be handing companies a free pass, “it would be handing over the steering wheel.”

Clear, well-defined rules can at least mark where the guardrails sit, he noted. Strip those out, and every firm, from a garage startup to a global enterprise, will have to chart its own course on privacy, copyright, and model safety. While some will race ahead, others will likely have to tap the brakes because the liability would “sit squarely on their desks.”

“Either way, CIOs need to treat responsible AI controls as core infrastructure, not a side project,” said Randall.

A lighter touch regulatory landscape

If other countries were to follow the current US administration’s approach to AI legislation, the result would likely be a lighter touch regulatory landscape with reduced federal oversight, noted Bill Wong, AI research fellow at Info-Tech Research Group.

He pointed out that in January, the US administration issued Executive Order 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence.” Right after that, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated its guidance for scientists working with the US Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI). Further, references to “AI safety,” “responsible AI,” and “AI fairness” were removed; instead, a new emphasis was placed on “reducing ideological bias to enable human flourishing and economic competitiveness.”

Wong said: “In effect, the updated guidance appears to encourage partners to align with the executive order’s deregulatory stance.”

Source:: Computer World

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We’re all talking to fake people now, but most people don’t realize that interacting with AI is a subtle and powerful skill that can and should be learned.

The first step in developing this skill set is to acknowledge to yourself what kind of AI you’re talking to and why you’re talking to it.

AI voice interfaces are powerful because our brains are hardwired for human speech. Even babies’ brains are tuned to voices before they can talk, picking up language patterns early on. This built-in conversational skill helped our ancestors survive and connect, making language one of our most essential and deeply rooted abilities.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t think more clearly about how to talk when we speak to AI. After all, we already speak differently to other people in different situations. For example, we talk one way to our colleagues at work and a different way to our spouses.

Yet people still talk to AI like it’s a person, which it’s not; like it can understand, which it cannot; and like it has feelings, pride, or the ability to take offense, which it doesn’t.

The two main categories of talking AI

It’s helpful to break the world of talking AI (both spoken and written) into two categories:

Fantasy role playing, which we use for entertainment.

Tools, which we use for some productive end, either to learn information or to get a service to do something useful for us.

Let’s start with role-playing AI.

AI for pretending

You may have heard of a site and app called Status AI, which is often described as a social network where everyone else on the network is an AI agent.

A better way to think about it is that it’s a fantasy role-playing game in which the user can pretend to be a popular online influencer.

Status AI is a virtual world that simulates social media platforms. Launched as a digital playground, it lets people create online personas and join fan communities built around shared interests. It “feels” like a social network, but every interaction—likes, replies, even heated debates—comes from artificial intelligence programmed to act like real users, celebrities, or fictional characters.

It’s a place to experiment, see how it feels to be someone else, and interact with digital versions of celebrities in ways that aren’t possible on real social media. The feedback is instant, the engagement is constant, and the experience, though fake, is basically a game rather than a social network.

Another basket of role-playing AI comes from Meta, which has launched AI-powered accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp that let users interact with digital personas — some based on real celebrities like Tom Brady and Paris Hilton, others entirely fictional. These AI accounts are clearly labeled as such, but (thanks to AI) can chat, post, and respond like real people. Meta also offers tools for influencers to use AI agents to reply to fans and manage posts, mimicking their style. These features are live in the US, with plans to expand, and are part of Meta’s push to automate and personalize social media.

Because these tools aim to provide make-believe engagements, it’s reasonable for users to pretend like they’re interacting with real people.

These Meta tools attempt to cash in on the wider and older phenomenon of virtual online influencers. These are digital characters created by companies or artists, but they have social media accounts and appear to post just like any influencer. The best-known example is Lil Miquela, launched in 2016 by the Los Angeles startup Brud, which has amassed 2.5 million Instagram followers. Another is Shudu, created in 2017 by British photographer Cameron-James Wilson, presented as the world’s first digital supermodel. These characters often partner with big brands.

A post by one of the major virtual influencer accounts can get hundreds or thousands of likes and comments. The content of these comments ranges from admiration for their style and beauty to debates about their digital nature. Presumably, many people think they’re commenting to real people, but most probably engage with a role-playing mindset.

By 2023, there were hundreds of these virtual influencers worldwide, including Imma from Japan and Noonoouri from Germany. They’re especially popular in fashion and beauty, but some, like FN Meka, have even released music. The trend is growing fast, with the global virtual influencer market estimated at over $4 billion by 2024.

AI for knowledge and productivity

We’re all familiar with LLM-based chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Meta AI, Mistral, and Perplexity.

The public may be even more familiar with non-LLM assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, Bixby, and Cortana, which have been around much longer.

I’ve noticed that most people make two general mistakes when interacting with these chatbots or assistants.

The first is that they interact with them as if they’re people (or role-playing bots). And the second is that they don’t use special tactics to get better answers.

People often treat AI chatbots like humans, adding “please,” “thank you,” and even apologies. But the AI doesn’t care, remember, and is not significantly affected by these niceties. Some people even say “hi” or “how are you?” before asking their real questions. They also sometimes ask for permission, like “Can you tell me…” or “Would you mind…” which adds no value. Some even sign off with “goodbye” or “thanks for your help,” but the AI doesn’t notice or care.

Politeness to AI wastes time — and money! A year ago, Wharton professor Ethan Mollick pointed out that people using “please” and “thank you” in AI prompts add extra tokens, which increases the compute power needed by the LLM chatbot companies. This concept resurfaced on April 16 of this year, when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman replied to another user on X, saying (perhaps exaggerating) that polite words in prompts have cost OpenAI “tens of millions of dollars.”

“But wait a second, Mike,” you say. “I heard that saying ‘please’ to AI chatbots gets you better results.” And that’s true — sort of. Several studies and user experiments have found that AI chatbots can give more helpful, detailed answers when users phrase requests politely or add “please” and “thank you.” This happens because the AI models, trained on vast amounts of human conversation, tend to interpret polite language as a cue for more thoughtful responses.

But prompt engineering experts say that clear, specific prompts — such as giving context or stating exactly what you want — consistently produce much better results than politeness.

In other words, politeness is a tactic for people who aren’t very good at prompting AI chatbots.

The best way to get top-quality answers from AI chatbots is to be specific and direct in your request. Always say exactly what you want, using clear details and context.

Another powerful tactic is something called “role prompting” — tell the chatbot to act as a world-class expert, such as, “You are a leading cybersecurity analyst,” before asking a question about cybersecurity. This method, proven in studies like Sander Schulhoff’s 2025 review of over 1,500 prompt engineering papers, leads to more accurate and relevant answers because it tells the chatbot to favor content in the training data produced by experts, rather than just lumping the expert opinion in with the uneducated viewpoints.

Also: Give background if it matters, like the audience or purpose.

(And don’t forget to fact-check responses. AI chatbots often lie and hallucinate.)

It’s time to up your AI chatbot game. Unless you’re into using AI for fantasy role playing, stop being polite. Instead, use prompt engineering best practices for better results.

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AI voice interfaces arepowerful because our brains are hardwired for human speech. Even babies’ brainsare tuned to voices before they can talk, picking up language patterns earlyon. This built-in conversational skill helped our ancestors survive and connect,making language one of our most essential and deeply rooted abilities.But that doesn’t mean we can’tthink more clearly about how to talk when we speak to AI. After all, we alreadyspeak differently to other people in different situations. For example, we talkone way to our colleagues at work and a different way to our spouses. Yet people still talk to AIlike it’s a person, which it’s not; like it can understand, which it cannot;and like it has feelings, pride, or the ability to take offense, which itdoesn’t. The two main categories oftalking AIIt’s helpful to break theworld of talking AI (both spoken and written) into two categories: >1.    Fantasy role playing, which we use forentertainment. >2.    Tools, which we use for some productive end,either to learn information or to get a service to do something useful for us. Let’s start with role-playingAI. id=”ai-for-pretending”>AI for pretending>You may have heard of a siteand app called Status AI, which is oftendescribed as a social network where everyone else on the network is an AIagent. A better way to think about itis that it’s a fantasy role-playing game in which the user can pretend to be apopular online >influencer. Status AI is a virtual worldthat simulates social media platforms. Launched as a digital playground, itlets people create online personas and join fan communities built around sharedinterests. It “feels” like a social network, but every interaction—likes,replies, even heated debates—comes from artificial intelligence programmed toact like real users, celebrities, or fictional characters.It’s a place to experiment,see how it feels to be someone else, and interact with digital versions ofcelebrities in ways that aren’t possible on real social media. The feedback isinstant, the engagement is constant, and the experience, though fake, isbasically a game rather than a social network. Another basket of role-playingAI comes from Meta, which has launchedAI-powered accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp that let usersinteract with digital personas — some based on real celebrities like Tom Bradyand Paris Hilton, others entirely fictional. These AI accounts are clearlylabeled as such, but (thanks to AI) can chat, post, and respond like realpeople. Meta also offers tools for influencers to use AI agents to reply tofans and manage posts, mimicking their style. These features are live in theUS, with plans to expand, and are part of Meta’s push to automate andpersonalize social media.Because these tools aim toprovide make-believe engagements, it’s reasonable for users to pretend likethey’re interacting with real people. These Meta tools attempt tocash in on the wider and older phenomenon of virtual online influencers. Theseare digital characters created by companies or artists, but they have socialmedia accounts and appear to post just like any influencer. The best-knownexample is Lil Miquela, launched in 2016 by the Los Angeles startup Brud, whichhas amassed 2.5 million Instagram followers. Another is Shudu, created in 2017by British photographer Cameron-James Wilson, presented as the world’s firstdigital supermodel. These characters often partner with big brands. A post by one of the majorvirtual influencer accounts can get hundreds or thousands of likes andcomments. The content of these comments ranges from admiration for their styleand beauty to debates about their digital nature. Presumably, many people thinkthey’re commenting to real people, but most probably engage with a role-playingmindset. By 2023, there were hundredsof these virtual influencers worldwide, including Imma from Japan and Noonoourifrom Germany. They’re especially popular in fashion and beauty, but some, likeFN Meka, have even released music. The trend is growing fast, with the globalvirtual influencer market estimated at over $4 billion by 2024. id=”ai-for-knowledge-and-productivity”>AI for knowledge and productivity>We’re all familiar withLLM-based chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Meta AI, Mistral, andPerplexity. The public may be even morefamiliar with non-LLM assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, Bixby, andCortana, which have been around much longer.I’ve noticed that most peoplemake two general mistakes when interacting with these chatbots or assistants.The first is that theyinteract with them as if they’re people (or role-playing bots). And the secondis that they don’t use special tactics to get better answers. People often treat AI chatbotslike humans, adding “please,” “thank you,” and evenapologies. But the AI doesn’t care, remember, and is not significantly affectedby these niceties. Some people even say “hi” or “how areyou?” before asking their real questions. They also sometimes ask forpermission, like “Can you tell me…” or “Would you mind…”which adds no value. Some even sign off with “goodbye” or“thanks for your help,” but the AI doesn’t notice or care. Politeness to AI wastes time —and money! A year ago, Wharton professor Ethan Mollick pointed out that peopleusing “please” and “thank you” in AI prompts add extratokens, which increases the compute power needed by the LLM chatbot companies.This concept resurfaced on April 16 of this year, when OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanreplied to anotheruser on X, confirming that polite words in prompts have cost OpenAI “tens of millions ofdollars.” “But wait a second,Mike,” you say. “I heard that saying ‘please’ to AI chatbots gets youbetter results.” And that’s true — sort of. Several studies and userexperiments have found that AI chatbots can give more helpful, detailed answerswhen users phrase requests politely or add “please” and “thankyou.” This happens because the AI models, trained on vast amounts of humanconversation, tend to interpret polite language as a cue for more thoughtfulresponses.But prompt engineering expertssay that clear, specific prompts — such as giving context or stating exactlywhat you want — consistently produce much better results than politeness. In other words, politeness isa tactic for people who aren’t very good at prompting AI chatbots. The best way to gettop-quality answers from AI chatbots is to be specific and direct in yourrequest. Always say exactly what you want, using clear details and context. Another powerful tactic issomething called “role prompting” — tell the chatbot to act as aworld-class expert, such as, “You are a leading cybersecurityanalyst,” before asking a question about cybersecurity. This method,proven in studies like SanderSchulhoff’s 2025 review of over 1,500 prompt engineering papers, leads tomore accurate and relevant answers because it tells the chatbot to favorcontent in the training data produced by experts, rather than just lumping theexpert opinion in with the uneducated viewpoints. Also: Give background if itmatters, like the audience or purpose. (And don’t forget tofact-check responses. AI chatbots often lie and hallucinate.)It’s time to up your AI chatbot game.Unless you’re into using AI for fantasy role playing, stop being polite.Instead, use prompt engineering best practices for better results.

Source:: Computer World