Microsoft has updated the Windows Insider Program with a new channel system, allowing users to select which features to test. The latest Windows 11 preview builds include enhanced network reliability, better Task Manager visibility for NPU usage and various quality improvements. Notable updates are Build 26100.8728, which improves Wi-Fi and VPN connectivity, and Build 28000.2333, which introduces new widget settings and Netlogon enhancements.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego have partnered with Google to repurpose old Pixel smartphones into a low-cost data center, highlighting the higher single-core performance of smartphone processors compared with multicore servers. The project involves stripping phones to their motherboards, installing a Linux distribution and using Kubernetes for orchestration. A 20-phone cluster can support applications for a class of 75 students.

IT procurement teams are being advised to plan strategically in the face of hardware price volatility and supply delays. Experts recommend mapping out technology road maps for the next two to four years, reviewing and potentially staggering hardware refresh cycles, and considering alternative vendors -- including flexible options like GPU-as-a-service. Adjusting hardware specifications to match actual needs and keeping all purchasing options open can help organizations control costs and adapt to rapid changes in both technology and market availability.

The US government has restricted access to Anthropic's latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, due to national security concerns about their potential misuse by foreign nationals. This move follows Anthropic's research showing that adversaries are using its AI to create malicious code and automate cyberattacks.

CloudDefense AI CEO Anshu Bansal says the "Ouroboros Effect" is in play, in which AI models train on insecure AI-generated code, which creates a feedback loop that then standardizes security flaws. This phenomenon can lead to issues such as slopsquatting, normalized vulnerabilities and diminished human expertise. To mitigate risks, Anshu recommends organizations maintain expert-vetted datasets, adopt zero-trust policies and involve human expertise in code reviews.

Rowan University and Nebius have partnered to develop an AI workforce in New Jersey, with a focus on training students and workers for careers in AI, data centers and cloud computing. The initiative, which includes online and in-person courses, comes as Nebius builds a 2.6-million-square-foot data center in Cumberland County.

Google has pledged $50 million to train more than 300,000 US workers for skilled trades, partnering with 14 labor unions and four trade associations. The initiative, spanning over 20 states, will address workforce demand driven by infrastructure projects and advanced technology systems.