governance

AppWizard
January 27, 2026
Microsoft showcased a comprehensive update to its education platform at BETT 2026, integrating AI tools like Copilot into Microsoft 365, Teams for Education, Learning Accelerators, and Minecraft Education. The new Teach module allows educators to create lesson plans aligned with standards from over 35 countries, generate rubrics, and modify reading levels. Minecraft Education lesson plan creation using Copilot is set to enter preview in February 2026. Microsoft introduced a Study and Learn agent for students, designed to support independent learning through tailored interactive activities, with a preview scheduled for January 2026. The program emphasizes AI literacy through Minecraft Education, helping students recognize AI in tools, understand algorithms, and develop critical evaluation skills. Learning Accelerators will expand with a new Microsoft 365 LTI for LMS integration, allowing full integration of Microsoft 365 apps and Copilot into learning management systems by Spring 2026. Microsoft also addressed AI misuse concerns, introducing assignment-level controls for educators to define acceptable AI usage, with previews scheduled for February 2026.
Tech Optimizer
January 27, 2026
EnterpriseDB (EDB) has released a publication titled "Building a Data and AI Platform with PostgreSQL," authored by experts in PostgreSQL and data platforms. The book aims to guide executives and architects in transitioning generative and agentic AI into production-ready platforms. Research from EDB shows that while 95% of organizations plan to establish AI platforms in the next three years, only 35% currently use PostgreSQL for complex workloads, with just 13% achieving success at scale. The book emphasizes the importance of foundational platform design for successful AI deployment and offers a framework for establishing a platform mindset, identifying necessary architecture and governance, and mitigating data challenges. It has received endorsements from industry leaders, highlighting its practical guidance for moving AI from pilot projects to production. The book is available for purchase and will be distributed at the NVIDIA GTC 2026 conference.
AppWizard
January 22, 2026
Minecraft is a widely used digital environment that has remained relevant for over a decade, characterized by freedom, creativity, and user-driven exploration. It began as a sandbox game with simple mechanics, allowing players to build, mine, and survive in a block-based world. Over time, it evolved into an open-ended platform where players can design cities, recreate landmarks, and invent new game modes through modifications and community creations. The game fosters creativity by allowing infinite variation in construction, encouraging players to engage in architectural design, engineering, art, and storytelling without rigid goals. It has become a powerful educational tool, enabling experiential learning across various subjects and promoting collaboration, spatial reasoning, and critical thinking among students. Minecraft also cultivates digital literacy and technical skills, teaching basic programming concepts and systems thinking. Its multiplayer environments facilitate global collaboration, forming online communities that develop social norms and creative cultures. The game serves as a canvas for cultural expression, allowing players to recreate real-world elements and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Additionally, Minecraft supports digital storytelling through various media forms, appealing to multiple generations and maintaining engagement through regular updates and community contributions. It nurtures a diverse ecosystem of creators and educators, generating economic activity through custom content and educational programs. Players experience psychological benefits such as stress reduction and a sense of agency, while social interactions foster friendship and empathy. However, Minecraft faces challenges related to moderation and safety, necessitating community oversight and guidance. Its emphasis on user agency and creativity provides insights into the future of virtual worlds, influencing education, design, and digital culture.
Winsage
January 19, 2026
IT administrators can now uninstall the Microsoft Copilot app from managed Windows devices under specific conditions. This option is available only for devices running an Insider Preview of Windows 11 and is designed for Enterprise, Pro, and Education editions. The Group Policy named RemoveMicrosoftCopilotApp allows this uninstallation, but it requires that the Microsoft 365 Copilot and the Microsoft Copilot app are installed, the app must not have been user-installed, and it must remain unopened for 28 days. The policy aims to prevent accidental removals and ensure organizations consider the app's deprecation thoughtfully. For unmanaged PCs, users can hide the Copilot button and disable it in Startup Apps to minimize its presence, but a straightforward uninstallation method is not yet available.
AppWizard
January 2, 2026
The Epic Games Store is offering two free games, Total War: Three Kingdoms and Wildgate, as part of its Holiday Giveaway, available for PC gamers to claim until January 8. Total War: Three Kingdoms, released in 2019, focuses on ancient China and combines diplomacy and warfare, while Wildgate is a multiplayer shooter set in a futuristic environment with customizable spaceships. The holiday promotion will end soon, with regular weekly giveaways resuming on January 8 with Bloons TD 6.
Tech Optimizer
December 25, 2025
Snowflake Postgres, a fully managed Postgres solution, is now available for public preview, integrating Postgres into the Snowflake ecosystem. It enhances the Snowflake AI data platform, allowing users to utilize data for AI, machine learning, and analytics applications while offering simplified management, robust security, and comprehensive governance. The solution includes enhanced data management tools, advanced security protocols, governance features for compliance and data integrity, and support for various operational workloads.
Winsage
December 18, 2025
Microsoft's Smart App Control feature in Windows 11 is designed to evaluate and block potentially harmful applications by cross-referencing them against a database of known safe software. Initially, it required a clean installation to enable or disable, which hindered its adoption. Recent updates have removed this requirement, allowing users to toggle the feature on or off directly through the Windows Security app without a system reset. This change addresses user complaints and enhances usability, particularly for developers and IT professionals managing multiple devices. The feature employs artificial intelligence for real-time decisions on app safety and integrates with other Microsoft security tools. Feedback from the tech community has been positive, highlighting the update as a significant improvement in balancing security and user flexibility.
Tech Optimizer
December 16, 2025
EnterpriseDB has introduced new features for EDB Postgres AI for WarehousePG, including per-core pricing and real-time data streaming. WarehousePG is an open-source PostgreSQL data warehouse derived from the Greenplum Database project, part of the EDB Postgres AI platform launched in May 2024. The enhancements include: - Real-time streaming data capabilities for immediate access to data for AI applications. - A predictable per-core pricing model to help manage AI development costs. - Improved data observability and sovereignty features with flexible deployment options across cloud and on-premises environments. These updates aim to address financial pressures associated with AI development, as enterprises increasingly invest in AI technologies. The per-core pricing model stabilizes costs compared to consumption-based models, while the data streaming capabilities support modern AI workflows. The update also includes an AI-ready architecture, flexible deployment options, and data governance features.
Tech Optimizer
December 16, 2025
EnterpriseDB (EDB) has made advancements in its offerings, particularly with EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) for WarehousePG, focusing on petabyte-scale analytics and real-time streaming capabilities. A unified platform is gaining traction, with 42% of enterprises adopting such solutions and 35% standardizing on Postgres. Companies using AI in warehouse operations report ROI up to five times higher. EDB PG AI offers deploy-anywhere flexibility, predictable economic models, and potential cost savings of up to 62% compared to leading cloud data warehouses. It also allows for rapid migrations, including a zero-migration binary swap for Greenplum workloads. EDB is committed to open source, managing WarehousePG as an Apache 2.0-licensed project. Key features include a per-core pricing model, hybrid deployment capabilities, AI-ready architecture, unified analytics, and improved observability and governance. Customers like MNTN and Euronext FX have benefited from EDB's solutions, achieving stability and control over their data management. Kyobo Book Centre has transitioned to EDB PG AI to regain predictable costs and compliance control. The latest enhancements in EDB PG AI's Q4 release include no-code visibility tools for automated storage optimization and proactive security recommendations. EDB is also publishing a guide on building data and AI platforms with PostgreSQL.
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