Chinese hackers breached US govt email accounts: Microsoft

Chinese hackers, referred to as Storm-0558 by Microsoft, breached the email accounts of several US government agencies. The hackers primarily targeted government agencies in Western Europe and engaged in espionage, data theft, and credential access. While the targets were not identified, the US State Department confirmed detecting anomalous activity and taking immediate steps to secure their systems. The incident remains under investigation, and the full extent of the breach is being assessed.

Bill Gates to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he will announce a US$50 million donation to support Chinese efforts against malaria and tuberculosis. Gates is among several Western business leaders visiting China since its Covid controls were relaxed.

Microsoft expands AI access to public

Microsoft has opened public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs, despite concerns over dangerous technology. The AI-enhanced Bing and Edge services can now work with images, as well as text, with the intention to add video. The move comes amid concerns over the potential for fraud and deep-fake videos, and just months after experts urged a pause in the development of powerful AI systems. However, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi said the company’s AI principles include working to prevent the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content.

US regulator targets AI ahead of White House confab

US regulators warn about the risks of artificial intelligence ahead of a White House meeting with tech companies. The lack of rules has given Silicon Valley the freedom to put out new products rapidly, raising concerns that AI technologies will wreak havoc on society before the government can catch up. The risks from AI include it being used to “turbocharge” fraud with voice clones, deep-fake videos, and convincing written messages.

Google launches ChatGPT rival in US and UK

Google has invited people in the US and UK to test its AI chatbot, Bard, which can churn out essays, poems or computing code on command. CEO Sundar Pichai said the chatbot had been tested with 80,000 Google employees, and would now be tested with the public as a “first step” before going out to more countries in other languages. Unlike Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, Bard can “access and process information from the real world through Google Search and keep my response consistent with search results”, the bot said.

Tech rivals chase ChatGPT as AI race ramps up

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — Chasing Microsoft, global tech giants have rolled out…

Users say Microsoft’s Bing chatbot gets defensive and testy

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES — Microsoft’s fledgling Bing chatbot can go off…

Google chatbot blunders as AI battle with Microsoft heats up

PARIS, FRANCE — Google on Wednesday announced a slew of features powered…

Microsoft to cut staff again: reports

SAN FRANCISCO, UNITED STATES — Microsoft is readying to cut more positions…