The ransomware campaign relies on basic social engineering and stretches across multiple regions, including the US, Europe, Middle East, and elsewhere.

Cursor hopes to continue offering third-party AI models after it's acquired by SpaceX, testing the relationships between frontier AI labs.

The Information: Memo: Microsoft is merging the consumer and enterprise versions of its Copilot chatbots into a single app featuring coding tools and AI agents dubbed AutoPilot  —  Microsoft is merging its consumer and enterprise Copilot apps and cutting unwanted features to ‘earn the right to exist’ in the eyes …

The days of the lone software engineer may soon be history. Maskot/Getty Images Software engineers are asking themselves why they're suddenly on the chopping block in the AI age. Famed engineer Kent Beck said it's not just because AI can do some of their work. It's because "we're kind of assholes, sometimes," he said. Software engineers are among the most prized talent at any tech company, so why are they suddenly one of the most vulnerable species of the AI boom? On a recent episode of "The Pragmatic Engineer," famed software engineer Kent Beck gave a pretty blunt answer: "We're kind of assholes, sometimes." Software engineers, no matter their level of technical expertise, tend to lack some of the softer skills that are prized in the workplace, he said. "We don't necessarily have good emotional regulation skills. We don't have natural empathy," he said. "We're oftentimes more direct than other people can easily handle." Those, at least, are some of the more "hideous" qualities of a typical software engineer, he said. As AI changes everything, those softer skills can now make or break a technical career. As AI writes more code, companies are asking engineers to review, direct, and manage AI-generated work rather than produce every line themselves. Vibecoding is now a commonplace practice in the software industry, enabling seasoned coders to build prototypes more quickly and non-coders to turn their ideas into pilots. It is also blurring the line between engineering and product work. Anthropic's head of growth, Amol Avasare, told Business Insider that engineers using tools like Claude Code are seeing their productivity increase by two to three times, putting new pressure on product managers and designers. That all means companies are now often asking software engineers to take on more product management tasks, which require more interaction with human colleagues. For smaller projects, he said, Anthropic is already asking engineers to act as "mini PMs," taking responsibility not just for the code but also for stakeholder coordination and cross-functional work. The rise of that hybrid "product engineer" role suggests that the most valuable engineers may be the ones who can pair technical chops with product judgment and people skills. Kent described the need for programmers to learn people skills as a "cosmic practical joke." He said when you get started coding, you are told that all you need to do is learn everything about this computer, and you'll be fine. "And then oops sorry there's this whole human side and your ability to affect change in the world is gated by your ability to communicate and empathize." Read the original article on Business Insider

I previously worked at Dollar Tree, and I still enjoy shopping there for daily essentials, party supplies, and more. Dina Richards I'm a former Dollar Tree employee, and I still love buying certain items from the budget retailer. Dollar Tree is my go-to place for essentials like cotton balls, bleach, and dog waste bags. I exclusively get my greeting cards and gift bags at Dollar Tree — the chain has a great variety. Even though I no longer work at Dollar Tree, I still shop there all the time. The discount retailer can be great for those of us trying to live a budget-friendly life, since most items are $1.25 each. Not everything at the chain is a great value, in my opinion, but I've found some excellent products over the years. Here are a few Dollar Tree finds I swear by and still purchase often. Air-fryer liners come in handy. Dina Richards Cleaning an air-fryer basket can be a real hassle, so these Surefresh liners feel like a necessity in my kitchen. They help catch pesky crumbs that might otherwise fall deep into the appliance and burn. A pack of 20 liners only costs me $1.25. The plastic cups with sip lids are perfect for iced coffee. Dina Richards I love starting my mornings with iced coffee, but after a long day at work, I dislike cleaning reusable cups that have been sitting out for hours. So, I pay a little extra to put my drinks in disposable 20-ounce plastic cups that come with lids designed for sipping with or without a straw. I used to spend $25 on 100-packs of similar cups elsewhere until I realized Dollar Tree's bag of six for $1.25 was a better value. The price per cup is a few cents lower, and I don't need to worry about storing so many cups at once in my home. Dollar Tree is still the only place I'll buy greeting cards. Dina Richards I've seen drugstores and stationery stores charge $5 or more for greeting cards. Dollar Tree offers a wide variety of them that are two for $1. There are options for virtually every occasion, from birthdays to graduations, and lots of them are from Hallmark. The selection is also updated seasonally. All in all, I like saving money on a card so I have more to spend on a gift. Disposable plates and platters are perfect for parties. Dina Richards Dollar Tree is my go-to destination for affordable party supplies, especially when I need serving plates, platters, and bowls. I've used these for chips, dips, finger foods, and appetizers — and I love not having to wash a huge pile of dishes once the party's over. The chain also sells disposable utensils, such as forks, spoons, ladles, and tongs, to make serving even easier. I grab a car air freshener almost every time I go to Dollar Tree. Dina Richards Everyone loves a nice-smelling car, and I appreciate that my local Dollar Tree has so many scents and styles of fresheners available for $1.25 a pop. I've seen hanging tree-shaped fresheners, vent clips, and even scented diffusers that fit in cupholders, in scents ranging from fruity to clean to musky. It's easy for me to switch up my car's scent whenever I want without spending a fortune. If you have a dog, you may want to grab some waste bags. Dina Richards Dollar Tree carries a wide variety of dog-waste bags in different designs, colors, and sizes. These compact rolls are perfect for stashing in your bag, pocket, or car. Each pack typically has four rolls of 15 bags, plenty to last dozens of walks. Plus, Dollar Tree usually also sells bag carriers and holders that clip onto backpacks or leashes. That way, you'll never forget to bring bags on your walk. Everyday essentials, like cotton swabs, balls, and pads, are easy to pick up from Dollar Tree. Dina Richards I use cotton swabs, balls, and pads for a wide range of purposes, like removing makeup, treating minor cuts, and cleaning small surfaces. For me, grabbing a pack of each at Dollar Tree whenever I run out feels like a no-brainer. The quality has impressed me, and the prices are generally lower than those I've seen at nearby drugstores. I always head to Dollar Tree when I need to pack up a present. Dina Richards To me, it feels wasteful to spend too much on gift bags — they're usually used once and then tossed. Fortunately, Dollar Tree stocks $1.25 bags in various sizes and designs for just about every occasion. Some of the smaller bags come in value packs of two or three, making them even more cost-effective. I find it's affordable to stock up on bleach at Dollar Tree. Dina Richards For many households, including my own, bleach is a cleaning essential. It's just $1.25 a gallon here — a few bucks cheaper than what I've seen at other stores. If you can find it and use it frequently, definitely grab a few bottles. It used to fly off the shelves when I worked at Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree was not involved in the sourcing or writing of this story. The views contained within represent the author's personal views. This story was originally published on June 12, 2025, and most recently updated on July 2, 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider

A former software manager claims Wisk rushed software testing ahead of a crucial 2025 flight test.

New US rules would legalize quiet supersonic flights without the sonic boom.

Autodesk is making a $350 million investment in training and tools to help people learn how to use artificial intelligence, said Dara Treseder, the company's chief marketing officer, in an interview at the 2026 Cannes Lions Festival. Treseder cited insights gleaned from the company's recent AI jobs report. "It showed that while 82% of people are very comfortable using LLMs in their daily lives, only a third of people are comfortable using AI in their job," she said. In the report, respondents said they fear AI might not work properly or will make humans irrelevant. "That education is so key, not only to give people the skills and the talent," she said, "but to change the mindset." Read the original article on Business Insider

Laura Ness Owens, chief marketing officer at Bobcat, a manufacturer of compact construction and landscaping machines, said that she wants to meet customers where they are searching for information. Previously, the customer journey could start with search and the company's website, she said. "Today, many customers are going right to the large-language-models and saying, 'I want the right loader for me, to do this type of work', so they are skipping much of that research stage that we were able to guide." Owens says that product reviews, earned media, and dealer reviews factor into those LLM results. "You have to understand that the good, the bad, and the ugly are out there," she said. "It's pushed us to really focus greater on that customer experience." Read the original article on Business Insider

U.S. startups announced sizable funding rounds at a steady clip during a truncated holiday week, with energy and AI leading the way. Houston-based energy startup Joulent secured the biggest round, a $1.75 billion strategic financing.

<p>I saw Geoffrey Litt speak at <a href="https://www.ai.engineer/worldsfair/2026">AIE</a> yesterday, and one framing he used particularly resonated with me:</p> <p><strong>Understand to participate</strong></p> <p>Geoffrey was talking about the challenge of collaborating with coding agents as they construct increasingly large and sophisticated changes, and the need to avoid taking on <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/cognitive-debt/">cognitive debt</a> as your understanding drifts from how the code actually works.</p> <p>His argument is that you need to understand the code to a depth that enables you to participate further with the model:</p> <blockquote> <p>You can learn what the agent is doing to make sure you can be an active participant in the creative process. [...]</p> <p>You need a rich set of concepts in your mind to think creatively and fluently about how to move something forward. If you're lacking that fluency, your ability to participate in the project is meaningfully limited.</p> </blockquote> <p>The AIE talks are all recorded - all 300+ of them! - and should be trickling out over the next three weeks. Geoffrey's is one that I recommend catching on YouTube.</p> <p>Geoffrey also published <a href="https://twitter.com/geoffreylitt/status/2072522251300409556">a thread version of his talk</a> on Twitter.</p> <p>Tags: <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/geoffrey-litt">geoffrey-litt</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/coding-agents">coding-agents</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/cognitive-debt">cognitive-debt</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/generative-ai">generative-ai</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/ai">ai</a>, <a href="https://simonwillison.net/tags/llms">llms</a></p>

Companies are starting to see the potential of AI in their businesses. Today, 60%...

American Express is now the official payments partner of the NFL. Tim Ellis, the chief marketing officer at the National Football League, joined Elizabeth Rutledge, chief marketing officer at American Express, to talk about why their new collaboration benefits both brands. The pair was interviewed at the 2026 Cannes Lions Festival. "Any time we look at a potential partnership, we always think, of course, of the fan first — is this going to be a meaningful addition to their enjoyment of the game?" said Ellis. "There's a lot of value that's going to come from this at both times. A fan who's also a member, the special experiences and things they will get as a part of this agreement, it's best in class." Rutledge said that 70% of Amex's US members are NFL fans. The alignment will help the NFL extend its international fan base, she said. "We have a global footprint, and we're so excited in partnership with Tim and the team to enable that expansion that I know the NFL is focused on, as are we." Read the original article on Business Insider

The Chinese startup behind GLM 5.2 released ZCode, an AI coding harness in competition with Cursor and GitHub Copilot. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Z.ai, the buzzy Chinese startup behind GLM 5.2, debuted a new AI coding tool to compete with Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor. ZCode connects to other frontier models and offers pricing tiers below those of its American competitors. "Competition and collaboration are what push all of us forward," ZCode head Zixuan Li wrote on X. Cursor has a new competitor from across the Pacific. The buzzy Chinese startup Z.ai released its AI coding tool this week. It's called ZCode, and is described as combining "the best AI agents with your existing tools so you can plan, code, review, and deploy without friction." Z.ai called ZCode the "official development environment" for its hot new open-source model, GLM 5.2. That model rattled Silicon Valley with its high context window and performance on certain tasks, such as cybersecurity. ZCode is a harness, one that connects to other models as well. That puts it in competition with products like Cursor and GitHub Copilot. The comparisons to American products seem inevitable. One user commented on the Z.ai announcement post: "Damn, so you guys just cloned Codex?" Compared to other AI coding tools, ZCode is relatively inexpensive. Its lite plan is on sale for $16.20 a month, while its max plan — 20x the lite plan — is $144 a month. For comparison, the cheapest Cursor individual plan is $20 a month, and the 20x ultra plan is $200 a month. On social media, users continue to compare the two products. "Wake up babe, open source Claude Code just dropped," one user wrote. Another wrote that Z.ai was "determined to catch up with its Western competitors and put them under pressure." For their part, competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Cursor haven't seemed to flinch. Z.ai lead Zixuan Li wrote on X that the tool stood "on the shoulders of an incredible open developer community." "Competition and collaboration are what push all of us forward," Li wrote. Read the original article on Business Insider

Physics-based simulations can help identify which peptide antibiotics can kill a bacteria like E. coli, pictured here using electron microscopy. (Nurgul D / Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA By 2050, scientists estimate that antibiotic-resistant infections will be associated with more than eight million deaths around the world every year. These are bacterial infections that resist traditional antibiotics like penicillin. They can develop when you eat contaminated food, have an open wound or undergo surgery. E. coli is a good example, as several strains have become highly resistant to conventional antibiotics. They can also arrive as secondary infections, like pneumonia after a virus. Professor Alexander Fleming, who first discovered penicillin, in his laboratory at St Mary’s, Paddington, London (1943). (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY We need new antibiotics and designing them is difficult. It can take 10 years and more than one billion dollars to bring just one new drug to market. And 10 out of 13 new antibiotics developed since 2017 are already ineffective against at least one type of bacteria. A potential solution is to use generative AI models, guided by trained scientists, to come up with designs for never-before-seen molecules. Physics-based simulations, where a computer mimics the laws of reality, can then help us figure out whether they would make good drugs in a fast and cost-efficient way. The peptide haystack All methods need a starting point. “Develop a new drug” isn’t a specific enough prompt. If we were looking for a needle in a haystack, we would at least need to know which haystack to look in. One good haystack for drugs, especially antibiotics, is peptides. Peptides are short proteins that can perform many different functions in our bodies. For example, insulin, which is widely used to treat diabetes, is a naturally occurring peptide in the body. Vancomyin is another peptide and an important antibiotic that is created in nature as a defence mechanism by bacteria that live in the soil. Both occupy a place of honour on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. We can use AI and physics-based simulations together to design new peptides that will kill bacteria. A good AI model has two parts: one that can quickly dream up millions of new designs (the generator) and one that can recommend which design to simulate next (the recommender). This diagram shows the workflow scientists use when designing drugs with physics and AI. The recommender generates letters specifying the different amino acids that make up a peptide. Training the generator The recommender is a bit like the YouTube algorithm that suggests videos you might want to watch next. It’s useful, important and tricky to set up just right. In fact, our lab has recently published a research paper that examines a few different strategies for generators and recommenders. In our research, we tested what kinds of information are most useful to include when training the generator. While it’s possible to provide a generator with almost any available information about peptides, we showed it was better to give it just a tiny bit of very relevant information than a lot of semi-relevant information. Why might this be important? Because in many cases we only have a little bit of relevant information: only a few peptides out of the hundreds of thousands we know of have been experimentally tested, for example, for antimicrobial properties. We also tested different strategies for the recommender, and found a way to more accurately visualize the path that it takes through peptide search space. Why not just use the generator by itself? Well, like any AI-generated content, we have to validate it before trusting it. A deadly dance That’s where physics comes in! Peptides perform their functions by changing their shapes. For example, the unusual drug Ziconotide is a painkiller that works by physically “jamming” the proteins that send pain signals in the spine. Many peptide antibiotics, or “antimicrobial peptides,” have fluctuating shapes that depend on their proximity to the outside of a cell. Each copy of an antimicrobial peptide is a dancer in a choreography. One dance is performed near the cell of a mammal, while a different, deadlier dance is performed near the cell of a bacterium. This second dance can kill a microbe like E. coli by attacking and breaking apart the membrane. We can validate the molecules the AI recommends by peeking at the performance our peptide dancers put on near different kinds of membranes. Without effective antibiotics, routine procedures such as hip replacements and C-sections can become life-threatening. (Unsplash/Volodymyr Hryshchenko) Video game physics engine In physics-based simulations, we put many peptides near a simplified membrane, surround the whole system with a box of water and treat every atom as a soft sphere. Then, using something like a video game physics engine, we can watch how the atoms of the peptides and membrane dance as time goes on. Some people call this an “in silico” microscope, which allows us to zoom in and watch what happens at the molecular scale. With this molecular microscope in hand, we can validate generated peptides. If we see modelled peptides disturbing a simplified bacteria membrane, then we can say it is likely antimicrobial. If we see it disturbing a simplified red blood cell membrane, then we can say it is likely toxic. By doing this, we can pre-screen novel, never-before-seen peptides for non-toxic antimicrobial activity before wasting experimental effort. And we can also use the information we get from these simulations to improve our generators and our recommenders. That way, scientists can avoid the time-consuming process of identifying promising peptides, and devote their laboratory experiments to validating their clinical use and safety. This could mean more, cheaper drugs, exactly when we need them most. Rachael (Ré) A Mansbach receives funding from NSERC through the Discovery Grants Program (grant #RGPIN-2021-03470) and the Canada Research Chairs Program (grant number CRC-2020-00225), and from FRQNT through the local protein-focused research group PROTEO. They hold funding from Concordia University's School of Health. They consult with the local biotechnology firms 9Bio, Molecular Forecaster, and Modulari-T. Several of these consultations have been funded by the Mitacs program. Jyler Menard receives funding from an NSERC CGS-D scholarship, and Concordia University. He has volunteered with, and is a student member of, the protein-focused research group PROTEO. He also works for the biotechnology start-up 9Bio Therapeutics Inc.

Demand generation is a top priority for brands, said Gabrielle Wesley, CMO of Mars North America, who was interviewed during the 2026 Cannes Lions Festival. "It's important for marketers to stand up as demand-generation leaders," Wesley said. "We know our consumers better than anyone else, so we know what drives them. It's our responsibility to educate the rest of the organization on the consumers and give the consumers what they want." Wesley said she sees parallels between the pressures of the sports world and marketing. "The idea that we must really deliver in our jobs as soon as we step into the seat, it's a parallel to coaching," she said, adding that she's listening to how coaches inspire players to deliver their best performance. Read the original article on Business Insider

AI adoption is starting to translate into real-world returns. But as efforts accelerate,...

I have not seen anyone put out a date for a new rocket, and actually hit it.

Plex is pushing customers to newer features and more frequent payments.

Early reports indicate there may be another case, but spread is thought to be localized.