Microsoft

The Dutch government is developing an alternative to Microsoft's software stack, built on NixOS, the reproducible Linux-based operating system. The project, associated with the DAWO community platform, aims to reduce dependence on proprietary vendors in public administration. The move fits a broader European push for digital sovereignty and open-source adoption in government IT.

Bill Gates said that reaching global cooperation on artificial intelligence is 'more difficult' than negotiating agreements over nuclear weapons. The billionaire Microsoft co-founder argued that AI development is driven by many competing companies and countries, making coordination on safety and oversight more complicated than past arms control efforts. His remarks add to an ongoing debate among tech leaders and governments about how to regulate rapidly advancing AI technology.

Bill Gates has added his voice to growing calls for safeguards on artificial intelligence, including new legislation to govern the technology. The move puts the Microsoft co-founder alongside other prominent tech figures urging governments to set rules as AI tools spread rapidly. The intervention adds weight to the debate over how regulators should balance innovation with risks from powerful AI systems.

The U.S. government's sanctions on the International Criminal Court in early 2025 had swift, far-reaching effects. The measures cut off the ICC's chief prosecutor's access to Microsoft services, including email, highlighting how deeply dependent international institutions are on American technology firms. Observers say the episode raises questions about digital sovereignty and the vulnerability of global justice bodies to unilateral US pressure.

Bill Gates, the billionaire cofounder of Microsoft, said developing artificial intelligence without regulation is 'completely irresponsible', warning that AI without restrictions could cause serious harm. His remarks come amid ongoing global debate over how governments should oversee rapidly advancing AI technology, with regulators, tech companies and public figures divided over the right balance between innovation and safety.

Bill Gates is calling on the US Congress to write artificial intelligence safeguards into law, arguing that lawmakers should establish rules for how the technology is developed and used. The appeal adds the Microsoft co-founder's voice to the growing debate in Washington over regulating AI, where legislators are weighing how to address risks without stifling innovation.

Bill Gates has set out his view of the main problems facing artificial intelligence, but an expert has pushed back on the remedies he proposes. The exchange highlights a growing debate over whether the Microsoft co-founder's approach to managing AI risks is the right one, with critics arguing his prescriptions may not match the scale of the challenges he identifies.

Microsoft has announced it is ending support for Internet Explorer mode in its Edge browser, retiring the compatibility feature that let businesses run legacy websites built for the old browser. The move pushes organisations still relying on IE-only applications to migrate to modern standards, and observers are weighing what it means for enterprises that have delayed upgrading their systems.

Microsoft is reportedly planning a large expansion of its data center footprint to support growing demand for Azure cloud and AI services. The key question among investors and analysts is whether Azure's growth will generate enough revenue to justify the enormous capital expenditure required for the buildout, as cloud rivals also ramp up AI infrastructure spending.

Microsoft has moved GitHub's coding engine into the office application that workers already use daily, tying its developer tools directly into mainstream productivity software. The move signals Microsoft's push to bring automated coding assistance beyond developers to everyday business users, reinforcing its position in workplace AI tools.

Microsoft announced expanded Azure transparency reporting, new Surface devices and its own custom AI chips, strengthening its cloud and hardware lineup. The company is positioning the chips to reduce reliance on outside suppliers and to lower costs for AI workloads running across its data centres. Coverage focuses on how the moves fit Microsoft's broader push into artificial intelligence infrastructure alongside rivals such as Amazon, Google and Nvidia.

Microsoft has stopped using the Copilot+ branding on its newest laptops, with a Surface corporate vice president confirming the new devices meet the hardware requirements but will not carry the controversial label. The move marks a retreat from the AI-focused marketing push Microsoft introduced for its Windows PCs, though the company says the machines still meet the technical criteria.

Bill Gates has indicated he sees himself as well positioned to persuade Donald Trump of the case for regulating artificial intelligence. The remarks, reported by Gizmodo, place the Microsoft co-founder in the role of intermediary between the tech industry and the incoming administration on AI policy, a topic drawing attention given debates over how far government oversight of AI should go.

Microsoft's Xbox is developing a new console in partnership with AMD, alongside plans for handheld devices and a VR headset. The announcement signals a broad hardware expansion for the brand, with AMD supplying chip technology across the lineup. Details on release dates and specifications have not yet been shared, leaving gamers speculating about what the multi-device strategy means for the next console generation.

Bill Gates has said he avoids one particular use of artificial intelligence, according to NBC News. The billionaire Microsoft co-founder has been a prominent voice on AI's promise and risks, so his personal choices about how he does or does not use the technology attract attention. The report does not add further detail beyond his comment about steering clear of that specific application.

Microsoft's expanded Copilot rollout has drawn attention from retail investors to cloud and AI stocks. A Yahoo Finance piece lists three such stocks individual investors are watching following the announcement. The news highlights continued retail interest in artificial intelligence and cloud computing names tied to Microsoft's growing AI ecosystem.

Microsoft has removed the Copilot+ branding from its newest Surface laptops, even though a company vice president confirmed the devices still meet the Copilot+ hardware requirements. The move is seen as a retreat from a label that drew criticism over AI feature confusion, with new machines described simply as Surface devices rather than Copilot+ PCs.

After the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor lost access to Microsoft services under US sanctions, the Netherlands is moving forward with DAWO, a sovereign workplace for public authorities built on NixOS. The system uses open source code, replaces GitHub with Forgejo, and is designed to connect with openDesk. A pilot is underway in municipalities, with officials citing stability and digital independence from US providers.

A Hacker News post titled 'Microsoft killed FoxPro in 2007. Anyway, here's FoxPro revived' is drawing attention to foxscript.org, an apparent community effort to revive FoxPro, the database programming language and tool Microsoft discontinued. Commenters appear to be engaging with the nostalgia and technical merit of resurrecting a legacy development tool long after its official end of life. Details about who is behind the project and what exactly has been rebuilt are not clear from the post itself.

Visual Studio Code, Microsoft's free open-source code editor, is trending on GitHub today. The repository's posts offer little detail beyond the project itself, so it is not clear from the available evidence what specifically is driving the surge in attention. VS Code remains one of the most widely used development tools worldwide, so spikes in its repository activity often follow releases, notable updates, or renewed developer discussion, but the exact cause here cannot be confirmed from the posts.

The iPhone 13 and 14 'Duo' cases and Microsoft's Surface Duo share a name despite being unrelated products: Apple's is a foldable accessory style for its phones, while Microsoft's is a dual-screen Android tablet-phone. Tech commentators are highlighting the naming overlap and comparing the two very different takes on mobile design.

Leaked specifications for the chips expected to power Sony's PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console have surfaced online. The leak suggests details about the future console hardware have emerged well before either company has announced its next machine, fueling speculation among gamers and industry watchers about performance and timing.