Sum of Parts Waechter Architecture and Jeanne Feldkamp’s modernist and Brutalist mash-up, Trilogy House By Kelly Pau • April 10, 2025 • (Pablo Enriquez) SHARE Arising from a concrete garage, Trilogy House’s rectilinear massing, triple-pane glazing, and vertical wood batten feel nearly commercial next to the traditional residential homes in Portland’s Alameda neighborhood. But it is a home for Jeanne Feldkamp and her husband Dan Diephouse. The duo are cofounders of Corollary Wines in Willamette Valley. Feldkamp is also the founder of the Portland-based interior design firm Heirloom Modern. She came to Waechter Architecture with a plot of land and a dream of a forever home. The collaboration brought forth a unique vision, devised into three distinct experiences. While Trilogy House may appear distinct from its neighbors, one of the driving factors of its design was a connection to the community. “Most of the houses on the street are built on a berm, and the garage is built into the hill,” said Ben Waechter, founder of Waechter Architecture. Thus, the architects did something similar with cast-in-place concrete. As Waechter explained, “Similar to the other houses, we built a garage into the berm, but we also built a house into the berm, and then we re-bermed it so that it felt like it was kind of carved into the ground.” Read more about Trilogy House on aninteriormag.com. OregonPortland

Tech How thieves use new credit card numbers before you receive them Why charges can appear on a new card before it arrives and how to respond Published April 10, 2025 10:00am EDT close Consumers are putting money on credit cards, can't pay it off H Squared Research's Hitha Herzog says consumers have been financing their lives on "Your World." Imagine receiving a notification about suspicious charges on a credit card you haven’t even received yet. How could that happen? While it sounds surprising and unsettling, it's increasingly common due to the rise of digital credit card fraud. Criminals no longer need physical cards to make unauthorized transactions, thanks to methods such as data breaches, phishing schemes and card-not-present fraud. Here's how these schemes work and what steps you should take immediately to protect yourself.STAY PROTECTED & INFORMED! GET SECURITY ALERTS & EXPERT TECH TIPS – SIGN UP FOR KURT’S ‘THE CYBERGUY REPORT’ NOW Illustration of a crook stealing credit card info (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How it happensEven if a new credit card hasn’t arrived yet, it may already be vulnerable. In many cases, the issue isn’t about the card being physically stolen but about someone gaining access to your information digitally. Criminals can exploit online account features, mobile wallets or leaked personal data to start using your card before you’ve even opened the envelope. Below are some of the most common ways this type of fraud happens.1. Account takeover or accessIf a scammer already has access to your account, either through stolen login credentials, a hacked email or malware, they can view the newly issued card number in the online dashboard or mobile app. Many credit card companies now allow instant access to digital card numbers for use in Apple Pay, Google Wallet or online purchases. This means that as soon as a new card is issued, it may be visible digitally before the physical card is even shipped. If a fraudster has access to your account, they can add the number to a digital wallet and begin spending before the envelope ever hits your mailbox.2. Digital wallet hijackSome card issuers allow you to add your credit card to mobile wallets instantly, even before the physical card arrives. While this feature is convenient, it can also expose you to specific security risks tied to mobile wallet activation. Criminals may exploit this process by using stolen personal information to bypass security checks and add your card to their own Apple Pay or Google Wallet accounts. They might pose as you to request a new card, intercept or reroute the digital activation process, or even start making fraudulent purchases immediately. This type of fraud can be hard to detect, especially if you're not expecting a new card or if unauthorized charges blend in with legitimate transactions. Illustration of someone using their digital wallet (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)3. Phishing or data breachesAnother common scenario involves your personal information being compromised in a phishing attack or large-scale data breach. Thieves use this stolen data, such as your name, Social Security number, address and security question answers, to impersonate you and gain access to your account dashboard or reset login credentials. Once inside, they can retrieve new card details directly from the source or request a replacement card. Phishing scams often trick victims into revealing sensitive information through fake emails or websites, while data breaches expose vast amounts of personal data that criminals can exploit for fraudulent activities.4. Mail theftAlthough charges made before a new credit card is received are rarely due to mail theft, this type of traditional fraud still poses a risk. Criminals may intercept your mail to steal sensitive documents, including credit cards, which can then be used for unauthorized purchases. To reduce this risk, avoid leaving important mail unattended in your mailbox. Consider using Informed Delivery by USPS to track incoming mail or request that your credit card be delivered to a secure location, such as a P.O. box or directly to your bank branch.WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)? A person using their new credit card (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What to do immediatelyIf you find yourself in this situation where fraudulent charges appear on a card you haven’t received yet, take these steps right away.1. Change login credentials: Update all login information with your bank or credit card company, including:New passwordSecurity questionsPIN (if applicable)If your account is linked to an email address that may also be compromised, update the password for that email account as well. Many fraudsters gain access by first hacking your email, which can give them entry to password-reset links and sensitive notifications. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.2. Use strong antivirus software: If spyware or a keylogger has been installed on your device, it can continue to steal sensitive data, such as passwords and personal information, even after you change your credentials. To protect yourself, install strong antivirus software on all your devices. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.3. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA): Add MFA to all accounts tied to your financial information. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step (e.g., a code sent to your phone) before accessing sensitive accounts.GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE4. Use an identity theft protection service: Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.5. Invest in personal data removal services: Consider using a personal data removal service to reduce your online exposure. These services continuously monitor and remove your sensitive information from data brokers and websites that could be exploited by criminals. This lowers the chances of your data being used in phishing scams or other fraudulent activities. While no service promises to remove all your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.6. Ask your credit card company to investigate: Contact your credit card provider directly and request a full investigation. Ask if there was any suspicious account activity, such as a login from a new device, before the fraudulent charges occurred. They may be able to trace when and how your account was accessed. Most card issuers will reverse fraudulent charges and can reissue a new card with a different number.7. Notify law enforcement: File a report with the Federal Trade Commission. If necessary, a police report should also be filed to document the fraud. This can be helpful for disputing charges and clearing your record. Kurt's key takeawaysSo, we've uncovered how those sneaky credit card charges can surface even before you've held the card in your hands. It's a reflection of the increasingly digital world we live in, where our personal information can be vulnerable in surprising ways. Remember, use strong antivirus software and consider a personal data removal service to minimize your online footprint. If you find yourself in this situation, act fast by changing your passwords, enabling multifactor authentication and reporting the issue to your card company.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPWhat's the most unexpected way your personal info has been compromised, and what steps did you take to recover? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

chanpipat - stock.adobe.com News Mattel taps into Google Cloud to accelerate product innovation in response to customer feedback Barbie doll manufacturer Mattel reveals how leaning on Google Cloud has enabled it to respond to customer feedback quicker and speed up its product development processes By Caroline Donnelly, Senior Editor, UK Published: 10 Apr 2025 14:47 Global toy manufacturer Mattel has revealed details of how its technology tie-up with Google Cloud is allowing the firm to respond to customer feedback in real time and accelerate its product innovation and development processes. During the opening keynote of the Google Cloud Next partner and customer conference in Las Vegas, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz opened up about how the company is tapping into the public cloud platform’s data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to enhance what he described as “one of the most iconic product portfolios in the world”. “At Mattel, our mission is to create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. This year, we’re celebrating 80 years, and … Mattel today is a global brand management company, home to one of the most iconic portfolios in the world,” said Kreiz. Specfically, Mattel is using Google Cloud’s data analytics capabilities to analyse customer feedback from a diverse array of sources in real time, and this has allowed it to reduce its data-processing time for this information from a month to a minute, it claimed. “Our partnership with Google Cloud has helped us synthesise millions of points of consumer feedback from phone calls and emails to online reviews and social media comments, delivering insights and opportunities to deepen our relationship with Mattel fans,” said Kreiz, during the Google Cloud Next keynote. “Before partnering with Google Cloud, teams identified patterns manually. Now we can analyse sentiment and consumer preferences in real time. [Now] we can instantly identify key issues and trends, improving both efficiency and innovation.” The insights gleaned from its customer data has allowed Mattel to dig deeper into who its audience is so that it can cater to the distinct needs and wants of its customer base, which has generated customer loyalty benefits. With Google Cloud’s assistance it is now possible for the company to differentiate between parents buying toys for their children to adults who might be interested in buying its brands from a toy collectors’ perspective and adjust its offerings to them accordingly, for example. The company has also drawn on Google Cloud’s capabilities to automate the analysis of its customer reviews so improvements can be swiftly made to its flagship products. Including, as name-checked during the keynote by Kreiz, its Barbie Dreamhouse and the Fisher Price interactive Kick and Play Piano product for toddlers. “These are two of our top-selling global products that have been made even better through data-driven insights. We see Google Cloud as a true partner in bringing the magic of play to life for every Mattel fan,” he added. This year’s Google Cloud Next conference has, as in previous years, seen the public cloud giant shine a light on the various ways its technologies are enabling AI-focused digital transformation projects to proceed in a variety of industries, with a slew of new product enhancements announced in support of this.  As well as retail, Computer Weekly reported earlier this week on how Google Cloud’s AI technology is being used by firms in the highly regulated legal sector to automate repetitive processes and assist with more complex casework tasks. Read more about cloud use within the retail sector The owner of the B&Q and Screwfix brands has enlisted the help of Google Cloud to overhaul its digital proposition for customers. The retail market is no slouch when it comes to adopting cloud technologies, but competitive concerns appear to be influencing the cloud-buying decisions of some. In The Current Issue: Interview: The role of IT innovation at Royal Ballet and Opera ‘Bankenstein’ and a cold calculation means banking crashes will continue Download Current Issue Atlassian Summit 25: Rovo AI teammate + a ‘curated set’ of apps & agents  – CW Developer Network Making America great, but at what cost? – Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog View All Blogs

The iOS 18.4 update may not be huge but it's made a big difference in my iPhone. Here's how.

Bringing together key stakeholders to discuss, deliberate, aid in progressing AI and the law is ... More vitally important.getty In today’s column, I highlight a recent event that serves as a continuation of my ongoing coverage of the latest in AI & Law. Loyal readers know that I persistently aim to dive into the latest innovations in both the law as applied to AI, and the use of AI as applied to the law, including advances in AI that aid in performing legal reasoning tasks. On April 9, 2025, an important conference took place at Stanford University that entwined the famous Stanford Law School (SLS) CodeX, the global law firm DLA Piper, and the United Nations (UN) AI for Good platform. This was an inaugural Law Track Conference examining and mindfully analyzing the transformative power of AI in law and justice. Let’s talk about it. This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here). About The Conference Taking place on a sunny day in Stanford, California, this seminal event provided an enriching forum for top-notch legal minds and AI luminaries to come together and discuss the future direction of AI and the law. A wide range of topics explored regulatory and legal ramifications underlying the advancement of AI. Those aware of the significance of Responsible AI well know that we must be vigilant in trying to keep AI on a proper ethical and legal path, meanwhile balancing the desire to push stridently ahead with state-of-the-art AI developments (see my coverage at the link here). This conference was hosted by CodeX (the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics), in conjunction with the multinational law firm DLA Piper. Their joint focus was on the UN AI for Good platform, which I’ve discussed previously in my column. For example, I closely examined the UN’s overarching approach to applying AI to the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), see the link here. Etc. In a moment, I will briefly walk you through the major topics that were lively discussed during the all-day event. To see more details about the event, take a look at the official conference website at the link here. A video recording was made of the conference and the video might end up being posted at the conference website or the main CodeX site (see the link here). CodeX Is Tops In AI & Law In case you are unfamiliar with the AI & Law domain, CodeX is famously known as a keystone leader in the AI and law field. As per the summary description on the CodeX website (see the link here): “At CodeX, researchers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and technologists work side-by-side to advance the frontier of legal technology, bringing new levels of legal efficiency, transparency, and access to legal systems around the world. CodeX’s emphasis is on the research and development of computational law (complaw) --- the branch of legal informatics concerned with the mechanization of legal reasoning.” Roland Vogl is the Executive Director of CodeX and the Executive Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology. Megan Ma is the Associate Director of CodeX and the Associate Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science, and Technology. Michael Genesereth is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Associate Professor, by courtesy, of Law Research Director, at CodeX. An integral unit within the Stanford Law School, CodeX taps into the incredible resources of SLS and Stanford University as a whole. The Stanford Law School (SLS) at Stanford University is a longstanding law school that was established in 1893 and ranks as No. 1 (tie) in the recently posted 2025 U.S. News & World Report listing of best law schools. SLS is uniquely positioned in Silicon Valley: “At SLS, we are driven by a passion for new ideas and a commitment to transformative solutions. True to our roots in Silicon Valley and our Stanford heritage, we focus on the future — not the past. Experimentation, exploration, and the translation of new knowledge into entrepreneurial solutions: All are in our DNA. So is interdisciplinary learning, pioneered at Stanford” (per the SLS official website, at the link here). Partnering With DLA Piper For this event, Codex teamed up with DLA Piper. DLA Piper is a prominent multinational law firm with offices in over 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa. According to a recently posted news piece on Law.com (March 31, 2025), DLA Piper has surpassed $4B in revenue and is nearing a count of 5,000 lawyers. 2024 was their eighth consecutive year of revenue growth. Profit margins of 27% were attributed to efficiencies gained via AI and other new technologies, along with the sharing of resources across their global offices. For more details about DLA Piper, see their website at the link here. UN AI For Good The UN AI for Good program or platform was established in 2017. Besides extensively pursuing best practices and insightful research on the use of AI for good, such as implementing the United Nations SDGs, vital reports and analyses are developed and globally made available to the public at large. Perhaps their most visible activity is their annual summit. Coming up this year on July 8 – 11, 2025, the annual event is a huge showcase and gathering that draws attention and attendance from throughout the world. Taking place with over 40 UN Sister Agencies, the summit is in Geneva, Switzerland, and is co-convened with the government of Switzerland. For details about the upcoming July 2025 UN AI for Good summit, see the link here. The April 2025 Law Track Conference Now that you have been brought up to speed on the overall context, let’s quickly cover selected highlights of the April 9, 2025, inaugural Law Track Conference that took place at the Stanford University campus. The welcoming message was delivered by Danny Tobey, DLA Piper, setting the stage for the rest of the event. The closing remarks by John Gibson, DLA Piper, emphasized crucial points made throughout the day and encouraged attendees to further pursue the many notable topics covered. There were five major segments underpinning the event: (1) Responsible AI Governance and Use (2) AI Safety and Risk Mitigation (3) AI in Hiring and the Future of Work (4) Standards Sharing and International Cooperation on AI Governance (5) AI for Social Good and Use Cases Each segment consisted of a moderated panel. Panelists had been carefully chosen and the moderators ensured lively debates took place. Attendees were able to directly ask questions of the panels. Nicely, attendees also had direct access to panelists after each segment and were able to garner individual discussions. Some conferences seem to rush the panelists off the stage, and they disappear without a chance for attendees to engage in one-on-one dialogues. Thankfully, the design for this conference tended to encourage personal interaction with panelists. Bravo. Let’s next take a look at each of the five segments. (1) Responsible AI Governance and Use As noted in the official program guide, this segment entailed “Ethical considerations surrounding the development, deployment, and regulation of AI technologies; exploring the frameworks for responsible AI, addressing issues such as algorithmic bias, fairness, transparency, and accountability. “ Moderator: Ashley Carr, DLA Piper Panelists: Bogdana Rakova, Ashley Carr, Diane Homolak, Kim van Sparrentak For my coverage of Responsible AI governance including frameworks and regulatory matters, see the link here. (2) AI Safety and Risk Mitigation Per the program guide, this segment covered: “Security challenges posed by AI systems, including vulnerabilities, adversarial attacks, and the need for robust defense mechanisms; use of red teaming exercises to showcase the effectiveness of proactive security measures in identifying and mitigating potential threats.” Moderator: Sam Tyner-Monroe, DLA Piper Panelists: Kathy Baxter, Dan Hendrycks, Christina Q. Knight, Shreya Rajpal, Sam Tyner-Monroe For my coverage of AI safety and security, see the link here. (3) AI in Hiring and the Future of Work The program guide aptly depicted this segment as follows: “Exploring AI that seeks to accomplish bias-free talent searches, especially relevant when most companies will be required to identify talent without ever meeting face-to-face for the foreseeable future. Exploring the evolving relationship between AI technologies and the workforce, discussing potential disruptions, job displacement, considerations on responsibilities related to professional conduct, and opportunities for upskilling.” Panelists: Samuel Dahan, Veena Dubal, Zev Eigen, Neil Sahota For my coverage of AI in the hiring and firing process, along with managing a human workforce, see the link here. (4) Standards Sharing and International Cooperation on AI Governance As indicated in the program guide, this segment examined: “Focus on the need for global collaboration and governance frameworks to address the cross-border implications of AI development and deployment, including regulatory considerations like the Executive Order and EU AI Act. Present the key differences and highlights, contrasting the U.S. and EU approaches to AI risk management. Discussions may revolve around data sharing and interoperability standards.” Panelists: Marci Harris, Nathaniel Persily, Tony Samp, Dina Waked, Heng Wang For my coverage of global collaboration and international and national AI regulations, see the link here. (5) AI for Social Good and Use Cases The program guide made these points about this segment: “Highlighting the positive impact of AI on addressing societal challenges, such as access to justice, healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and poverty alleviation; share case studies and initiatives showcasing AI applications for social good can be presented to inspire collaboration and innovation in this space. “ Moderators: Margaret Hagan, Stanford Law School; Lisa Dewey, DLA Piper Panelists: Arghya Bhattacharya, Lisa Dewey, Margaret Hagan, Beth Henderson, Maya Markovich, Sateesh Nori For my coverage of AI for social good, see the link here. Importance Of This Inaugural Conference Bringing together stakeholders to thoughtfully examine and make progress on these AI for Good considerations is a much-needed endeavor. Face-to-face discussions are the best way to break down barriers and get open dialogue to occur. I’ve discussed previously that there is too much polarization seeping into the AI realm. Just as polarization seems to have invaded all walks of life, the same is happening in the AI field. It is unfortunately all too easy to take a one-sided view on these complex topics. The beauty of an event like this is that panelists and attendees were brought together in one place at one time to carry on good-faith debates and dialogue. It was refreshing to witness some who have been especially dogmatic sing a more open-minded tune when directly and with apt composure addressing multiple sides to these complicated matters. Hats off and congrats go to CodeX, DLA Piper, and the UN AI for Good in recognizing the crucial nature of addressing specifically the law and AI domain as its own special track. There is no doubt that the topic of AI & Law will continue to expand and reach all elements of where AI is headed. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this inaugural Law Track Conference will become an annual event. There is a lot of work still to be done and it will be playing out year after year. No simple solutions are waiting around for us. Rest assured that many challenges and dynamic opportunities are on the exciting roadway ahead.

There's been a lot of discussion recently on how AI applications are evolving but based on many of the announcements that Google made at the Cloud Next event in Las Vegas, it seems increasingly clear that hybrid is where many of these developments are headed. To be clear, Google made an enormously and impressively broad range of announcements at Cloud Next and not a single press release specifically mentioned Hybrid AI. However, when you take a step back and analyze how several of the pieces fit together and look ahead to where the trends the company is driving appear to be going, the concept of GenAI-powered applications (and agents) that leverage a combination of the public cloud, enterprise private clouds and even smart devices-that is, Hybrid AI-appear inevitable. A few highlights first. On the cloud infrastructure front, Google made several big debuts at Cloud Next, most of which focus on the increasing range of computer architecture options coming to customers of GCP. Most notably, the company took the wraps off their 7th generation TPU processor, codenamed Ironwood, its in-house designed alternative to GPUs and the first to be specifically designed for inferencing workloads. In addition to 10x improvements in raw performance versus previous generations, what's impressive about the latest versions is the extent of high-speed chip-to-chip connectivity options that Google will be offering between them. // Related Stories Taking a page from the Nvidia NVLink book, Google's latest AI Hypercomputer architecture lets up to 9,216 of these Gen 7 TPUs be interconnected into a single compute pod, providing plenty of bandwidth for even the largest of the new chain-of-thought based reasoning models starting to become available. In fact, Google claimed that maxing out a system could deliver up to 42.5 exaflops, more than 24x the computer power of today's fastest supercomputer. ADK framework showing how you can build multi-agent systems Another big theme from the Cloud Next keynote was around agents, including the tools to build them, to connect them to one another, and to integrate them more easily with a variety of LLMs. Building on the company's previous Agentspace announcement - which allows enterprise employees to use Google's multi-modal search capabilities across enterprise data and build their own agents in a low code/no code manner-Google also debuted a new Agent Development Kit for developers as part of its Vertex AI platform. Even more importantly, the company announced its Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol, which is an effort to standardize the means by which different agents can "talk" to each other and share information. A2A builds upon and is compatible with Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP) which was introduced last year and is quickly gaining traction in the AI world. In fact, it's Google's strong MCP support across a range of products that it introduced here at Cloud Next that really led to the hybrid AI conclusions I made earlier. MCP offers a standardized way for models to connect to a variety of different data sources – instead of having to deal with proprietary APIs – and provides a standardized means by which models can expose the various functions they're able to perform on these data sets. In the process, this means that MCP both solves some big challenges in creating AI-powered applications that can tap into local data resources and opens up a world of intriguing possibilities for creating distributed AI applications that can tap into data sources, other models and other computing infrastructure across different physical locations. It's this capability that makes MCP so intriguing-and it's likely a big reason support for the nascent standard is growing so rapidly. Google made the potential impact of MCP much more real by announcing it is now also allowing organizations to bring Gemini models, Agentspace and other AI tools into their private cloud/on-prem datacenter environments via the Google Distributed Cloud in the third quarter of this year. This is a hugely important development because it means that companies building apps with Google Cloud-based tools can use them across many different environments. So, for example, it would be possible for an organization to tap into the essentially unlimited resources of Google's public cloud infrastructure to run certain functions with certain models and data sets stored there, while running other functions on different models that access data behind the firewall within their private cloud or datacenter environments. This solves the data gravity problem that many organizations have been struggling with as they start to think about tapping into the powerful capabilities of today's most advanced LLMs because it essentially allows them to have the best of both worlds. It gives them massive cloud-based compute with data stored in the public cloud and local compute with the large and often most valuable proprietary data sets that many organizations still keep (or may want to repatriate) within their own environments. Plus, it's even possible to extend the distributed nature of the computing environment to PCs and smartphones, particularly as the availability of devices with more powerful AI acceleration capabilities increases. While this last step likely won't happen overnight, it will become a critical capability as companies look to reduce the electricity demands and costs of their AI applications down the road. Speaking of on-device capabilities, Google also announced several enhancements to their Workspace productivity offering at this year's Cloud Next. New AI-powered features include automation-focused Workflows, audio features in Docs and more. These build on many previous AI-powered functions that Google brought into Workspace earlier this year, including no-cost access to the most advanced version of the Gemini model, new data analysis functions in Sheets, document analysis and summarization across all the Workspace applications and more. As with previous Cloud Next events, there were many more announcements that Google discussed across areas such as databases, code creation tools, the Firebase agent creation studio, Cloud WAN private network access, security improvements and much more. It's a bit overwhelming to make sense of it all, to be honest, but it just shows how tremendously fast cloud-based offerings continue to expand, particularly with the integration of the even faster moving AI foundation model developments. Ultimately, though, it's clear that Google is using its long history of AI developments as well as the recent advancements it's made with Gemini models and other AI tools as a clear differentiator for Google Cloud. In the process, they're continuing to position themselves in a unique way not only for current applications but also for hybrid AI applications down the road. Bob O'Donnell is the founder and chief analyst of TECHnalysis Research, LLC a technology consulting firm that provides strategic consulting and market research services to the technology industry and professional financial community. You can follow him on X @bobodtech

Bluetooth connections tend to have a somewhat limited range, often topping out around 33 feet. MediaTek has just announced the Dimensity 9400 Plus, a brand-new chipset that promises to blow that number out of the park and support distances up to 10 kilometers (about 6.2 miles). The original Dimensity 9400 could deliver distances of 1.5 kilometers, so this is a huge jump — but it’s not quite as clear-cut as it sounds. The estimated distance is for phone-to-phone direct Bluetooth connections, which means your wireless earbuds won’t suddenly gain a huge bump in quality over distance. The key phrasing is found on MediaTek’s website: “The Dimensity 9400+ extends phone-to-phone Bluetooth connections up to 10km when in line-of-sight, increasing over 6.6X further than the Dimensity 9400. These ultra-long reach direct connections don’t require cellular mobile services, saving data, and improving privacy.” Recommended Videos If line-of-sight is a requirement, then your actual Bluetooth connective distance might see a slight increase, but nowhere near 10 kilometers. That would require something like an airport runway. The actual real-world use cases are somewhat limited, but any increase in connective distance is always a perk. Plus, it could open the door to some interesting AirDrop pranks. Screenshot Image used with permission by copyright holder On top of better Bluetooth, the Dimesnity 9400 Plus also comes with upgrades to its CPU, AI performance, and more. It has a 12-core GPU for nearly PC-level gaming visuals, improved HDR video, and much more. It also supports speeds up to 3.73GHz, larger Wi-Fi ranges, and Wi-Fi 7. Related Now bear in mind, this is just an SoC. Companies will need to choose to use it for users to see any of the benefits, but the fact that the technology exists — and is such a huge leap forward — is promising. The Dimensity 9400 Plus looks like a serious competitor to the more popular Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it could be a major boon to the next generation of smartphones. Editors’ Recommendations

Generative AI is going to reinvent virtually every customer experience and enable entirely new ones that have only been dreamed about, Amazon.com Chief Executive Andy Jassy said.

Selected by Elinor Lipman, the author, most recently, of the novel “Every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

A Musky odor permeates Car safety experts at NHTSA, which regulates Tesla, axed by DOGE Tesla has a lot riding on the swift success of its so-called Full Self-Driving software. Stephen Morris, Paul Caruana Galizia, Kana Inagaki, and Chris Cook, Financial Times – Apr 10, 2025 9:46 am | 47 Credit: Kai Eckhardt/picture alliance via Getty Images Credit: Kai Eckhardt/picture alliance via Getty Images Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Job cuts at the US traffic safety regulator instigated by Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency disproportionately hit staff assessing self-driving risks, hampering oversight of technology on which the world’s richest man has staked the future of Tesla. Of roughly 30 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration workers dismissed in February as part of Musk’s campaign to shrink the federal workforce, many were in the “office of vehicle automation safety,” people familiar with the situation told the Financial Times. The cuts are part of mass firings by Doge that have affected at least 20,000 federal employees and raised widespread concern over potential conflicts of interest for Musk given many of the targeted agencies regulate or have contracts with his businesses. The NHTSA, which has been a thorn in Tesla’s side for years, has eight active investigations into the company after receiving—and publishing—more than 10,000 complaints from members of the public. Morale at the agency, which has ordered dozens of Tesla recalls and delayed the rollout of the group’s self-driving and driver-assistance software, has plunged following Doge’s opening salvo of job cuts, according to current and former NHTSA staff. “There is a clear conflict of interest in allowing someone with a business interest influence over appointments and policy at the agency regulating them,” said one former senior NHTSA figure, who was not among the Doge-led layoffs. Remaining agency employees are now warily watching the experience of other federal regulators that have crossed Musk’s companies. “Musk has attacked the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communications Commission to benefit SpaceX,” said another former top official at the regulator. “Why would he spare NHTSA?” Musk has repeatedly clashed with federal and state authorities. Last year he called for the FAA chief to resign and sharply criticized the FCC for revoking a 2022 deal for his satellite telecommunications company Starlink to provide rural broadband. The NHTSA said in a statement that safety remained its top priority and that it would enforce the law on any carmaker in line with its rules and investigations. “The agency’s investigations have been and will continue to be independent,” it added. Musk, Doge, and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The dismissals, instigated by email on Valentine’s Day, affected roughly 4 percent of the agency’s 800 staff and included employees who had been promised promotions as well as newly hired workers, according to seven people familiar with the matter. Staff working on vehicle automation safety were disproportionately affected, some of the people said, because the division was only formed in 2023 so comprised many newer hires still on probation. The email cited poor performance as a reason for the dismissals. However, one senior figure still at the NHTSA rejected the notion that this was the basis for the layoffs. Another said morale was low after “some huge talent losses.” Doge’s actions could hamper Tesla’s plans, according to one laid-off agency worker, who said the dismissals would “certainly weaken NHTSA’s ability to understand self-driving technologies.” “This is an office that should be on the cutting edge of how to handle AVs [autonomous vehicles] and figuring out what future rulemaking should look like,” said another former NHTSA employee. “It would be ironic if Doge slowed down Tesla.” The company has a lot riding on the swift success of its so-called Full Self-Driving software. Musk has promised customers and investors that Tesla will launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Austin, Texas, by June and start production of a fleet of autonomous “cybercabs” next year. To do so, Tesla needs an exemption from the NHTSA to operate a non-standard driverless vehicle on American roads because Musk’s cybercabs have neither pedals nor a steering wheel. “Letting Doge fire those in the autonomous division is sheer madness—we should be lobbying to add people to NHTSA,” said one manager at Tesla. They “need to be developing a national framework for AVs, otherwise Tesla doesn’t have a prayer for scale in FSD or robotaxis.” The NHTSA’s decision on the cybercab exemption and the future of its proposed AV STEP program to evaluate and oversee driverless and assisted cars will be closely watched considering the high stakes for Tesla. Current and former NHTSA officials have privately expressed concerns about Musk’s ambitious rollout plans and how he would wield his influence to ensure a speedy launch of the cybercab and unsupervised FSD on US roads. The government could “speed up the [AV STEP] application process and weaken it in some way so the safety case is less onerous to meet,” one person told the FT. The future of crash reporting is another area of concern for those at the agency, following reports that the Trump administration may seek to loosen or eliminate disclosure rules. After a spate of incidents, the NHTSA in 2021 introduced a standing general order that requires carmakers to report within 24 hours any serious accidents involving vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance or automated driving systems. Enforcing the order has been a vital tool for the agency to launch investigations into Tesla and other carmakers because there is no federal regulatory framework to govern cars not under human control. It was critical for a recall of 2 million Teslas in December 2023 for an update that would force drivers to pay attention when its autopilot assistance software was engaged. “Crash reporting is vital, the massive Tesla recall on autopilot could not have occurred without it. We got a huge amount of info on crashes and followed up with demands for more data and video,” said one person involved in the recall. “But everything seems to be fair game right now.” One person familiar with Musk’s thinking said the company felt unfairly penalized by the rules because its sensors and video recording are more advanced than rivals’ so it files more complete data. “Reporters see that we are reporting more incidents—many of which have nothing to do with autopilot—and have told the wrong story about our safety record,” the person said. “There is a healthy amount of frustration about that dynamic... the idea our bar for safety is lower is just wrong.” The NHTSA has shown no signs of backing down, overseeing three new recalls of Tesla vehicles since Trump took office, most recently ordering 46,000 Cybertrucks to be checked after discovering an exterior panel was prone to falling off because of faulty glue. Of its eight active investigations into Tesla vehicles, five concern Musk’s claims about the capabilities of the company’s Autopilot driver-assistance system and its FSD software—central promises of Tesla’s value proposition and the subject of thousands of consumer complaints. The agency has received an average of 20 per month on FSD since the software was launched, according to an FT analysis of more than 10,000 complaints. A sharp rise in complaints about so-called “phantom braking” at the start of 2022 triggered one of the investigations. In one, about a mid-October 2024 incident, a Tesla Model 3 in FSD suddenly stopped in front of a car that would have crashed into it had the Tesla driver not taken back control of the vehicle and accelerated. “Software is so far from being ready to be safely used,” the Model 3 driver said in the complaint. While multiple Tesla tech updates in the past two years have reduced complaints about braking glitches, other software issues persist. The FT analysis, which used artificial intelligence to categorize complaints, shows errors connected to driver-assist tools such as FSD and Autopilot still make up a large share of complaints made against the company in the past year. In February, the driver of a 2024 Cybertruck reported that FSD disengaged without warning, causing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate and nearly collide head-on with another car. The owner said they contacted Tesla service but the vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired. Former Apple executive Jonathan Morrison has been nominated by Trump as the NHTSA’s next administrator and must find a way to navigate the agency through the perceived conflicts of interest with Musk, without being accused of stifling AV innovation. “Elon has done a lot of really interesting things with tech that were thought to be impossible,” said one former top NHTSA official. “What concerns me is that Tesla is not known for taking a slow and methodical approach; they move fast and break things, and people are at risk because of that. There have been preventable deaths, so it’s an immediate concern for us.” © 2025 The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way. Stephen Morris, Paul Caruana Galizia, Kana Inagaki, and Chris Cook, Financial Times Stephen Morris, Paul Caruana Galizia, Kana Inagaki, and Chris Cook, Financial Times 47 Comments