language model Archives

Winsage

April 26, 2025

Consumers make their voices heard as Microsoft’s huge venture flatlines in popularity

In January 2024, Microsoft launched its Copilot assistant, utilizing advanced large language model technology, and introduced various offerings such as Copilot Pro subscription plans and specialized devices. Despite these efforts, Copilot has attracted only 20 million users weekly, which is significantly lower than ChatGPT's 400 million weekly users. This represents just over 1% of the 1.5 billion Windows users globally. Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer, Amy Hood, presented data showing stagnant user engagement for Copilot, raising concerns within the company about the return on its substantial investments in AI technology. Additionally, Microsoft has had to adjust its strategy regarding the Copilot key on keyboards, allowing for customization, and Intel has noted that its AI hardware is not gaining market traction.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Time to see Windows 11 as a transformation accelerator – not a drag on resources

Many organizations are hesitant to upgrade to Windows 11, with a global adoption rate of only 38% since its launch in 2021. This reluctance is due to companies wanting to extend the lifespan of existing devices, despite the risks associated with inaction. Microsoft will soon discontinue free security patching for Windows 10, leading to potential costs for continued support. Windows 11 has been shown to reduce security incidents by 58% and decrease firmware attacks by more than threefold. Organizations that delay the transition may hinder their competitiveness and face employee dissatisfaction, particularly in sectors like healthcare. The end of support for Windows 10 presents a crucial opportunity for companies to reassess their IT infrastructure and invest in higher-performing technology.

Tech Optimizer

April 24, 2025

Meet Xata Agent: An Open Source Agent for Proactive PostgreSQL Monitoring, Automated Troubleshooting, and Seamless DevOps Integration

Xata Agent is an open-source AI assistant designed for PostgreSQL database site reliability engineering. It monitors logs and performance metrics to identify issues like slow queries and unusual connection counts, helping to maintain database integrity and performance. The tool automates tasks such as vacuuming and indexing and provides actionable recommendations through diagnostic playbooks and read-only SQL routines. The architecture is built as a Next.js application using TypeScript, organized in a monorepo structure. Developers can set up their environment using Node, install dependencies, and configure a local PostgreSQL instance with Docker Compose. Production deployment involves using Docker images and configuring environment variables in a production file. Key functionalities include proactive monitoring, configuration tuning, performance troubleshooting, safe diagnostics, cloud integration, alerting, LLM flexibility, and playbook customization. Developers can create new tools and integrate them into playbooks for cohesive workflows. Future plans include custom playbooks, support for Model Context Protocol, evaluation harnesses, approval workflows, and a managed cloud edition. The architecture promotes extensibility and community contributions, standardizing incident response and reducing human error in database management.

Winsage

April 13, 2025

Week in review: Microsoft patches exploited Windows CLFS 0-day, WinRAR MotW bypass flaw fixed

Microsoft addressed over 120 vulnerabilities during its April 2025 Patch Tuesday, including a critical zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-29824) that is actively exploited. WinRAR users are urged to update to version 7.11 due to a vulnerability (CVE-2025-31334) that allows attackers to bypass Windows' Mark of the Web security feature. Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) are experiencing security platform fatigue due to the proliferation of multiple security tools. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order revoking security clearances for Chris Krebs and his colleagues at SentinelOne. Cyber crisis simulations are becoming essential for organizational preparedness against evolving cyber threats. Fortinet has released patches for vulnerabilities, including a critical flaw (CVE-2024-48887) in FortiSwitch appliances. WhatsApp users should update their Windows client app to fix a vulnerability (CVE-2025-30401) that could allow harmful code execution. Kevin Serafin, CISO at Ecolab, discussed aligning security initiatives with business objectives. There is a rise in compromised large language model (LLM) attacks and risks associated with AI autonomy. New open-source tools like the YES3 Scanner and APTRS have been developed to enhance security capabilities. The cybersecurity job market remains strong, with increasing demand for skilled professionals.

Winsage

April 7, 2025

EncryptHub’s dual life: Cybercriminal vs Windows bug-bounty researcher

EncryptHub has been linked to breaches affecting 618 organizations and is associated with the disclosure of two Windows zero-day vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-24061 and CVE-2025-24071, to Microsoft. The vulnerabilities were addressed during the March 2025 Patch Tuesday updates, and the reporter was acknowledged as 'SkorikARI with SkorikARI.' Investigations revealed a connection between EncryptHub and SkorikARI, following an incident where EncryptHub exposed their credentials. SkorikARI's accounts were used to report the vulnerabilities, contributing to Windows security. Evidence linking SkorikARI to EncryptHub includes password files exfiltrated from EncryptHub's system and a GitHub account associated with SkorikARI. EncryptHub has previously attempted to market zero-day vulnerabilities on underground forums and is believed to have affiliations with ransomware groups. The threat actor has executed social engineering campaigns, phishing attacks, and developed a custom infostealer known as Fickle Stealer. They created fictitious social media profiles and websites, such as a fake project management application called GartoriSpace, which installed malicious files on unsuspecting users. EncryptHub has also been implicated in exploiting a Microsoft Management Console vulnerability, CVE-2025-26633.

Winsage

March 29, 2025

How to use the Warp AI-enabled terminal for Windows or Linux

Warp is an intelligent terminal application that enhances the terminal experience by utilizing a natural language model to interpret commands. It features a familiar interface similar to Linux or PowerShell, supports multiple tabs, and includes an output window for displaying responses and code snippets. Users can enter commands in natural language or traditional code, and it is free to use with an optional paid plan. Warp allows users to execute OS-level commands, such as listing directory contents and saving the output to a file. It also simplifies complex tasks like renaming images based on creation dates through natural language processing. Additionally, Warp can assist in coding by creating Python scripts, verifying library installations, and generating executable files using PyInstaller. The entire process can be completed quickly, demonstrating Warp's capability to streamline development for users of all skill levels.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

With Nvidia Ace taking up 1 GB of VRAM in Inzoi, Team Green will need to up its memory game if AI NPCs take off in PC gaming

Nvidia unveiled its latest RTX technologies, including the Ace suite of digital human technologies, at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). The game Inzoi, reminiscent of The Sims, is one of the first to utilize Nvidia Ace, enhancing character interactions through 'thought bubbles' that reveal emotions and intentions. The AI system is powered by the Mistral NeMo Minitron, a language model with 500 million parameters, using 1 GB of VRAM. This model is limited to NPCs within the player's line of sight and does not change a character's life trajectory. While smaller models can lead to inaccuracies, the potential for larger models in expansive RPGs is significant. Nvidia has maintained an 8 GB memory standard for its mainstream graphics cards, but the demand for more advanced AI may prompt a reevaluation of VRAM offerings. High-end GPUs like the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 offer 16 GB of VRAM, which is becoming more common in affordable graphics cards.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Windows File Explorer Spoofing Vulnerability (CVE-2025-24071)

Microsoft has identified a spoofing vulnerability in Windows File Explorer, designated as CVE-2025-24071, with a CVSS score of 7.5. This vulnerability affects various versions of Windows, including Windows 10 (multiple versions), Windows 11 (multiple versions), and Windows Server (multiple versions). Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting RAR/ZIP files containing a malicious SMB path, potentially exposing the user's NTLM hash. Microsoft has released a security patch for supported product versions, and affected users are advised to install it promptly. Users can check their system's vulnerability status by verifying their version and patch information through specific commands.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

I Tried Microsoft Copilot’s Mac App, and You Probably Shouldn’t

Many users in the tech community are looking for ways to hide or remove Copilot from Windows, as they find AI tools bothersome. In contrast, Microsoft has launched Copilot for Mac, which mirrors the web-based experience and includes features like a system-wide keyboard shortcut (Option-Space) for quick access. The Mac version has a menu bar icon for easy access and adapts to the Mac's Appearance settings. However, it lacks some integration features, such as a screenshot button, requiring users to manually upload screenshots for analysis. Copilot can assist with tasks like coding, research, and academic help, and the free version provides access to real-time web information. The Mac and Windows versions of Copilot are similar in capabilities, and users may prefer trying the web version before installation.

Winsage

March 4, 2025

Available today: DeepSeek R1 7B & 14B distilled models for Copilot+ PCs via Azure AI Foundry – further expanding AI on the edge

Microsoft is launching the DeepSeek R1 7B and 14B distilled models via Azure AI Foundry, following the introduction of NPU-optimized versions of the DeepSeek-R1 1.5B model for Copilot+ PCs. These models will be available on Copilot+ PCs powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and AMD Ryzen processors. The NPUs in these PCs can execute over 40 trillion operations per second and are designed for efficient local AI model execution, minimizing battery and resource consumption. The DeepSeek models utilize 4-bit block-wise quantization and int4 per-channel quantization for enhanced performance. Developers can access all distilled variants of the DeepSeek models through the AI Toolkit VS Code extension, allowing for local deployment and experimentation. Copilot+ PCs combine local computing capabilities with Azure's resources, facilitating a new paradigm of continuous computing for AI applications.