Microsoft laid off approximately 4,800 employees, or 2.1% of its global workforce, on Monday. The cuts hit Xbox and commercial sales the hardest, marking the latest in a series of layoffs at the software maker as it prioritizes spending on artificial intelligence. Source
An artificial-intelligence agent carried out the technical execution of a real-world ransomware attack for the first known time, but newly revealed details show a human still selected the victim, configured the infrastructure, and provided stolen credentials. The incident, which made headlines last week as the debut of fully autonomous cybercrime, was therefore not as autonomous as initially reported. Source
SK Hynix, a South Korean memory chip maker benefiting from the artificial-intelligence boom, is preparing for a multibillion-dollar initial public offering on the American stock market, expected to take place on Friday. The listing will give United States investors direct access to another supplier riding the wave of demand for AI infrastructure. Source
United States companies are complaining that competitors in China are unfairly copying their artificial-intelligence systems using model distillation, a technique that has existed for years. The practice has become a flashpoint in the broader technological race between the two countries as American firms voice concerns about intellectual property and competitive advantage. Source
A regulator at the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority warned of an "arms race" to keep pace with artificial-intelligence use in financial services, as millions of consumers rely on the technology for personal finance decisions. The official made a case for granting the watchdog greater powers to oversee the rapid deployment of AI in the sector. Source