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☆ Russian state-backed hackers accessed Microsoft’s core software systems, company says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Russian state-backed hackers gained access to some of Microsoft’s core software systems in a hack first disclosed in January, the company said Friday, revealing a more extensive and serious intrusion into Microsoft’s systems than previously known. Hackers with access to source code can use it for follow-on attacks on other systems. Microsoft first revealed the breach in January, days before another Big Tech company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, said the same hackers had breached its cloud-based email systems. The hacking group was behind the infamous breach of several US agency email systems using software made by US contractor SolarWinds, which was revealed in 2020. US officials have attributed the hacking group to Russia’s foreign intelligence service.

Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, US Securities and Exchange Commission, Big Tech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Kremlin, SolarWinds, Homeland Security, SEC Locations: Russian, Russia

☆ Microsoft AI employee warns FTC the company’s Copilot Designer AI tool is prone to creating harmful images
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Shane Jones, a Microsoft principal software engineering lead, claimed that the company’s AI text-to-image generator Copilot Designer has “systemic issues” that cause it to frequently produce potentially offensive or inappropriate images, including sexualized images of women. He said he spent months testing Microsoft’s tool — as well as OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, the technology that Microsoft’s Copilot Designer is built on — and attempted to raise concerns internally before he alerted the FTC. He said he found more than 200 examples of “concerning images” created by Copilot Designer. Jones’ letter comes amid growing concerns that AI image generators — which are increasingly capable of producing convincing, photorealistic images — can cause harm by spreading offensive or misleading images. In his letter to Microsoft’s board of directors, Jones called on the company to take similar action.

Persons: Shane Jones, Jones, ” Jones, Lina Khan, “, OpenAI’s DALL, Microsoft “, OpenAI, Jones ’, Taylor Swift, Gemini, Bob Ferguson Organizations: New, New York CNN, Microsoft, US Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Copilot, Google, Washington, US, Commerce, Science, Transportation Locations: New York, United States, White

☆ The fate of OpenAI hangs in the balance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That has only reinforced the impression that OpenAI’s boardroom drama could take an unexpected turn at any moment. First came the board’s sudden promotion of OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, as Altman’s replacement on Friday — made in the same breath as Altman’s firing. Whether Altman is working for Microsoft or OpenAI won’t change the ultimate result, Nadella argued to Swisher, which is that Microsoft benefits from his work. Much is still unclear about the board’s exact reasons for firing Altman. OpenAI’s newest interim CEO, Emmett Shear, has denied that the firing was due to any “specific” disagreement on AI safety.

Persons: that’s, Sam Altman, Monday, Altman, Satya Nadella, ” Nadella, Kara Swisher, we’re, That’s, Mira Murati, —, Murati, Altman’s, Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI, Nadella, Swisher, Marc Benioff, Emmett Shear, it’s, I’ve, ”, Charlie Warzel Organizations: CNN, Microsoft, Microsoft’s Locations: Silicon Valley

☆ How Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Kept the ‘Best Bromance in Tech’ Alive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Karen Weise | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just two weeks ago, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella stood onstage next to OpenAI’s Sam Altman at the start-up’s conference in a former concert hall in San Francisco. Both wore black jeans, Mr. Altman in an army-green shirt and Mr. Nadella in navy casual. “We love you guys!” Mr. Nadella said as he turned to Mr. Altman. “Awwww,” Mr. Altman responded. And what could have been an embarrassing moment for Mr. Nadella and his company has turned into a display of corporate muscle flexing that has stunned industry insiders.

Persons: Satya Nadella, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Altman, Nadella, “, Mr, OpenAI Organizations: Microsoft Locations: San Francisco, OpenAI

☆ Microsoft Has Game With or Without Activision
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Microsoft’s $75 billion deal to buy Activision was rejected by the U.K.’s antitrust watchdog. Photo: pau barrena/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesMicrosoft will be just fine without Activision Blizzard , though its cloud gaming ambitions might not be. The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority rejected Microsoft’s $75 billion deal to buy Activision on Wednesday morning. The agency, which is the country’s main antitrust watchdog, ruled that the deal would ultimately harm the nascent market for cloud-based videogame services by giving the owner of the Xbox platform control over Activision’s popular game franchises such as “Call of Duty.” In its statement, the CMA said Microsoft “would find it commercially beneficial to make Activision’s games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service,” thus stifling future competition.

☆ Video gamers sue Microsoft in US court to stop Activision takeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Microsoft Corp was hit on Tuesday in US court with a private consumer lawsuit claiming the technology company’s $69 billion bid to purchase “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard Inc will unlawfully squelch competition in the video game industry. The private lawsuit also seeks an order blocking Microsoft from acquiring Activision. It was filed on behalf of 10 video game players in California, New Mexico and New Jersey. The proposed acquisition would give Microsoft “far-outsized market power in the video game industry,” the complaint alleged, “with the ability to foreclose rivals, limit output, reduce consumer choice, raise prices, and further inhibit competition.”A representative for Microsoft did not immediately comment on Tuesday. The FTC previously said it sued to stop “Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio.” The agency said the merger would harm competition among rival gaming platforms from Nintendo Co Ltd and Sony Group Corp.

☆ FTC looks to block Microsoft's blockbuster acquisition of Activision Blizzard
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, challenging one of the largest tech acquisitions in history. “We have been committed since Day One to addressing competition concerns, including by offering earlier this week proposed concessions to the FTC. Microsoft’s proposed deal would give it control over key video game franchises, including “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and more. But the FTC complaint marks the first attempt by an antitrust regulator to block the deal outright. The list included a promise, which would cover the proposed Activision deal, not to give preferential treatment to its own published games on digital marketplaces it runs.

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