Microsoft and IBM open-source MS-DOS 4.00 from 1986
It has taken 38 years, but the source code of MS-DOS version 4.00 has been made available by Microsoft and IBM. The rationale for this release was because former Microsoft CTO Ray Ozzie came across beta binaries on DOS floppy disks in his collection.
The release stemmed from a correspondence wit... Read more
Revenue from Microsoft and Google cloud services grows significantly
Microsoft and Google parent company Alphabet presented their quarterly figures recently. The results are positive in both cases, with cloud revenue being a particular strong point. Earnings from Azure and Google Cloud increased by 31 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
The most striking feat c... Read more
Microsoft introduces tiny AI model Phi-3 Mini
Microsoft today released the first version of a new series of super-small AI models: Phi-3 Mini. This so-called small language model (SLM) is small enough to easily run on a smartphone.
The introduction of Phi-3 Mini follows a few months after Phi-2, which already contained relatively few parame... Read more
Vulnerability in Windows Defender leads to data loss
Attacks on Windows Defender and Kaspersky EDR allow remote file deletion. Even after patches, hackers can still exploit these tools' vulnerabilities.
In a presentation at Black Hat Asia, security firm SafeBreach revealed that Windows Defender and Kaspersky EDR are vulnerable to remote-access att... Read more
Preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 now available
Microsoft has made available the commercial preview of Office LTSC 2024. This version is intended for a limited number of niche applications.
An LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) version of a Microsoft product is not intended for most organizations and not for regular end users. Suitable applic... Read more
Microsoft may be the only one with a real AI PC this summer
There has been talk of AI PCs for months. Both from software manufacturers such as Microsoft and Google, as well as chip and hardware vendors such as Intel, AMD, HP and Dell. Based on leaked system specifications, it appears that a Windows 11 AI feature called AI explorer, will only be available on... Read more
Microsoft’s VASA-1 model lets photos talk
Microsoft recently published a study in which the company presented the AI model VASA-1. This model uses portrait photos and associated audio files to show realistic "talking heads". This technology offers creative options, but carries serious risks.
The VASA-1 AI model is still in a research ph... Read more
French AI startup Mistral AI again looking for investors
French AI startup Mistral appears to have an unquenchable appetite for investor capital. The company is reportedly looking for hundreds of millions of euros, based on an assumed market valuation of over 4.6 billion euros.
The company sees such a valuation as feasible, partly because of the perf... Read more
Microsoft ends support for Office 2016 and 2019 in October next year
Microsoft will end support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 apps and servers on October 14, 2025. Anyone who continues to work with these versions of Office after this date risks security breaches, compliance issues and, as Microsoft states in a blog post, even reduced productivity.
However, the ... Read more
Deepmind CEO expects to spend more than $100 billion on AI
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google's AI subsidiary Deepmind, estimates that the company will spend more than $100 billion on AI, given enough time.
He was responding to questions from the audience at a TED conference in Vancouver, Canada. Someone asked about Google Deepmind's response to the announce... Read more