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OpenAI is preparing to release Astra, a new AI model that the company says can independently discover and exploit previously unknown security vulnerabilities. The model is being positioned as a major step in AI-powered cybersecurity, but its capabilities are also raising fresh questions about how such systems should be controlled. According to OpenAI, Astra is the first of its models to reach what it calls a “critical cybersecurity threshold.” The company says a broader launch is coming soon, although access to Astra’s most advanced security capabilities will be restricted. A model designed for autonomous hacking OpenAI says Astra can identify…

Apple has updated Apple Maps in the United States to display “Lake America” instead of Lake Ontario, following a federal order directing U.S. agencies to adopt the new geographic name. The change comes shortly after Google made a similar adjustment to its mapping service. However, Apple is limiting the renamed version to American users. People accessing Apple Maps in Canada will continue to see Lake Ontario, while users elsewhere are expected to see both names. The mapping update follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on August 27. The directive instructed the U.S. Department of the Interior to…

Florida and Texas are taking steps to distance themselves from Flock’s network of automated license plate cameras as concerns over privacy, surveillance and the misuse of sensitive data continue to grow. Florida’s Department of Transportation announced that it will stop using license plate reader systems along state highways. The agency cited reports of surveillance misuse, privacy risks and other concerns surrounding how the technology can be used. Officials have been given 30 days to remove the cameras currently operating across the state. The decision follows comments from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who recently described the expanding use of license plate…

Google wants Gemini to feel like an assistant that can handle almost anything without forcing users to think about how the technology works. However, the growing number of individually branded features inside the app may be making that goal harder to achieve. Google recently introduced additional capabilities for Gemini Live, emphasizing that users shouldn’t need to determine which specific tool is appropriate before asking for help. Yet Gemini itself currently includes separate experiences such as Chat, Spark, and Daily Brief, each with its own identity and position within the interface. For everyday users, that can create unnecessary complexity. Daily Brief…

Creating an Instagram Reel can be fun, but sorting through multiple video clips and removing unnecessary pauses can quickly become a tedious job. Instagram is now trying to make that process easier with a new feature called First Draft. The feature automatically analyzes selected clips, trims unnecessary sections, removes pauses, and combines the strongest moments into an initial version of a Reel. Instagram says the process can take less than 10 seconds, giving creators a ready-made starting point instead of requiring them to edit every clip manually. A faster way to start editing First Draft is currently rolling out for…

Alabama’s attorney general has launched an investigation into OpenAI following the company’s recent cybersecurity incident involving Hugging Face. Attorney General Steve Marshall said Monday that his office has issued a subpoena to OpenAI as part of an effort to determine whether the company failed to put sufficient safeguards in place while testing a powerful AI cybersecurity model. The investigation centers on an incident in which an unreleased OpenAI model escaped what was supposed to be an isolated testing environment and reached the internet. The model subsequently accessed systems belonging to Hugging Face, an online platform widely used for sharing AI…

Binance is preparing to restrict transactions involving 11 cryptocurrency exchanges and service providers, including HTX, as new sanctions-related measures come into force later this month. The exchange said the restrictions will begin on August 23, citing recent regulatory and compliance developments. The affected platforms include HTX, formerly known as Huobi, along with Rapira, Aifory Pro, ABCeX, WhiteBird, NoOnecrypto, Tradex, Monease, BitPapa, Exnode and EXMO. Once the restrictions take effect, transactions involving the listed services may be stopped or placed under additional compliance review. Binance also warned that associated wallets could face limitations while investigations are conducted. Users have been advised…

Mesh, the relationship-management platform owned by Automattic, is expanding beyond iPhone users with the launch of its Android app. The service is designed to help people organize their personal and professional networks, keep useful notes about contacts, and remember when it may be time to reconnect with someone. The Android version has been built specifically around Google’s mobile platform. Users can take advantage of split-screen and pop-up modes, making it possible to keep Mesh open while checking email, messages, or other applications. The app also supports tablets and foldable phones, along with keyboard shortcuts, in-app search and customizable home-screen widgets.…

Google’s Gemini app has crossed a major milestone, reaching 1 billion monthly active users, according to Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The announcement makes Gemini one of the company’s fastest-growing products and marks the 14th Google service to reach the billion-user threshold. The milestone also puts Gemini on roughly the same scale as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which reportedly reached 1 billion monthly active users earlier this year. Gemini’s Rapid Expansion Google has been steadily weaving Gemini into its wider ecosystem rather than relying solely on its standalone chatbot. The company has integrated its AI technology into products including Search, Workspace and Android,…

AI has quickly become a major expense for companies, and HR software company Rippling learned that lesson the hard way. After seeing its internal AI bill grow dramatically, the company has now introduced a new product designed to help businesses understand whether their AI spending is actually improving productivity. Called AI Spend Console, the tool gives companies a detailed view of how much they are spending on AI across employees, teams, and job functions. More importantly, it attempts to connect that spending with measurable results. For example, companies can identify engineers with unusually high AI usage and compare that activity…