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In a lengthy essay on Gates Notes, Bill Gates outlined ideas to cushion AI's disruption of the labor market, including taxing companies that replace workers with automation and formally designating certain jobs as off-limits to AI. He also voiced qualified support for the 'Pacing The Frontier' open letter calling for a slowdown in AI development, while doubting such restraint could hold long-term.
In a lengthy new blog post and media interviews, Bill Gates has shifted from AI optimism to alarm, warning that the technology could become either the greatest equalizer or the worst source of inequality in history. He told Semafor he's shocked others aren't as worried as he is, arguing AI's breadth means virtually no job will be untouched.
Researchers have identified a subscription-based phishing toolkit called NovaCookies that uses adversary-in-the-middle techniques to intercept live Microsoft 365 login sessions. Rather than just harvesting usernames and passwords, the kit captures session cookies, letting attackers bypass multi-factor authentication and take over accounts directly. It is being sold as a service for roughly $320 a month, making advanced phishing capability accessible to less-skilled criminals.
Microsoft has officially introduced a disc-to-digital feature that lets Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners convert physical game discs into digital copies by inserting the disc and launching the title. The feature rolls out to Xbox Insiders on August 31, supporting thousands of titles at launch, and unlocks digital perks like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming access.
A leaked spreadsheet obtained by Business Insider compiled self-reported salary data from about 600 Microsoft employees, revealing wide pay ranges by job level. Entry-level engineers reported base pay between $111,000 and $155,500, while senior levels reached up to $245,000 in base salary, and principal or director roles topped out around $280,000 with bonuses as high as $110,000.
Threat intelligence firm Defused reports that hackers are actively probing SharePoint servers by combining two vulnerabilities: an authentication bypass in JWT token validation (CVE-2026-55040) and a Business Connectivity Services flaw (CVE-2026-63520) that enables remote code execution. Proof-of-concept code for both bugs was published publicly in August by researchers at Rapid7 and VulnCheck, and Defused says it has already observed the bypass being exploited alongside admin enumeration on honeypots, though no successful code execution has been confirmed yet.
Microsoft has confirmed a new Xbox feature that converts physical disc games into digital entitlements tied to the disc itself, allowing ownership to transfer between accounts if the disc changes hands. The feature begins testing with Xbox Insiders on August 31st before a wider rollout, and supports thousands of titles at launch with more to follow as publishers opt in.
Microsoft is expanding its Xbox 25th anniversary celebration beyond the translucent green Series X console with a matching accessory collection. Third-party partners Razer, 8BitDo, Backbone, PowerA, and GameSir are releasing limited-edition peripherals like mice, keyboards, earbuds, controller docks, and mobile controllers, mostly in the same translucent green theme, available now for pre-order at a price premium over standard versions.
Microsoft has set an $899 price for its special-edition translucent green Xbox marking the console's 25th anniversary, with preorders opening August 27th and a November 13th launch. The unit is essentially an Xbox Series X with 1TB storage, individually laser-etched and numbered, bundled with a matching 'OG Green' controller and a full download of Halo: Campaign Evolved. A separate matching controller is also available to preorder now for $79, launching October 20th.
Microsoft has begun testing a feature in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26340.9233 that lets users control camera, microphone, and precise location access separately for each desktop application. Previously, these permissions were governed by a single device-wide toggle covering all desktop apps at once. The new controls are accessible via Settings > Privacy & security, with individual switches for each app.
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has published a roughly 6,000-word essay declaring deep concern about artificial intelligence's societal impact, marking a sharp shift from his earlier optimistic stance. He argues the AI transition will be uniquely turbulent compared to past technological shifts and warns society is not adequately preparing for its consequences, while stopping short of offering concrete new solutions.
Ikea has partnered with Microsoft to release Yxstaby, a nine-item collection of gaming-themed furniture marking 25 years of Xbox. The lineup includes a TV stand, laptop stand, side table, lounge chair and toolbox, alongside standout pieces like a tilting stool shaped like a thumbstick, an X-shaped cushion, a decorative platter and a mirrored display box, all designed with neutral Scandinavian tones accented by Xbox's signature green.