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If 2025 was the year that confirmed the vibe of AI, 2026 will be the year that the technology becomes commercially available. The focus is already shifting from building ever-larger language models to the more difficult task of enabling AI. In practice, it involves deploying smaller models in the right places, embedding intelligence into physical devices, and designing systems that integrate cleanly into human workflows. Experts TechCrunch spoke to said 2026 will be a year of transformation, from aggressive scaling to exploring new architectures, from flashy demos to targeted deployments, and from agents promising autonomy to agents that actually extend…
Threat actors known as Transparent Tribe are believed to have launched new attacks targeting government, academic, and strategic organizations in India using remote access Trojans (RATs) that allow them to take permanent control over compromised hosts. “The campaign uses deceptive delivery techniques, including weaponized Windows shortcut (LNK) files that disguise as legitimate PDF documents and embed full PDF content to avoid user suspicion,” CYFIRMA said in a technical report. Transparent Tribe, also known as APT36, is a hacker group known for launching cyber espionage operations against organizations in India. The state-sponsored adversary, believed to be of Indian origin, has been…
Strict mathematical limits are placed on the supposed “creativity” of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a study published Nov. 11 in the Journal of Creative Behavior.David Cropley, Professor of Engineering Innovation at the University of South Australia and sole author of the study, found that the limits of AI’s capabilities lie between the amateur and professional levels of humans, meaning that AI will never surpass the creativity of the most talented human artists.But Cropley’s findings did little to allay fears that AI will wipe out creative sectors of the economy. Experts continue to debate the creative potential of AI, and…
KAIST scientists have developed a breakthrough treatment that turns the body’s own immune cells (macrophages) into targeted cancer-fighting cells directly inside tumors. This innovative approach has the potential to overcome long-standing challenges in the treatment of solid tumors, where dense tissue and immunosuppression have limited the effectiveness of traditional immunotherapies. This therapy mobilizes the immune system from within by reprogramming macrophages already present around tumors, providing a faster, more efficient, and potentially more powerful method of attacking cancer. Overcoming the barrier of solid cancer Solid tumors, such as gastric, lung, and liver cancers, create a highly suppressive environment that prevents…
Clicks Technology, a company known for making physical keyboards for smartphones, is launching two new devices ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. In addition to a new $79 sliding keyboard for smart devices, the company also announced its first smartphone, the Communicator. This is a smartphone with a physical keyboard designed to be carried around as a second device. Yes, it looks a lot like a BlackBerry. (Hurry up, someone please tell famous blackberry hoarder Kim Kardashian.) The $499 smartphone is described as “purpose-built” for people who carry two phones, one for work and one…
Attack Surface Management (ASM) tools promise to reduce risk. What they provide is usually more information. As security teams deploy ASM, their asset inventory increases, alerts start flowing, and dashboards fill up. There are visible activities and measurable outcomes. But when leaders ask a simple question, “Will this reduce incidents?” the answer is often unclear. This gap between effort and results is at the heart of the ROI problem in attack surface management, especially when ROI is primarily measured by asset count rather than risk reduction. promise and proof Most ASM programs are built on the rational idea that you…
A major new government-commissioned analysis has revealed that UK researchers can achieve better results, greater global influence and more lasting impact when supported by international collaboration through the Horizon Europe programme. The report, commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), examines how the UK’s participation in the EU’s flagship research programs has shaped outcomes across science, health, technology and agriculture. We conclude that support from Horizon-style programs significantly increases the likelihood that ambitious research ideas will be fully realized, rather than being scaled back or abandoned altogether. Lord Vallance, UK Science Secretary, explained: “Better type 1 diabetes…
New scientific research reveals hidden dangers in firefighters’ equipment that remain long after the blaze is extinguished. Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine identified the presence of cancer-related “permanent chemicals” in all protective equipment they tested, including respirators designed to provide clean air. The findings raise urgent questions about the risks of long-term PFAS exposure within fire departments and highlight practical new ways for departments to identify contamination before it becomes a permanent health threat. Silent threats hidden in protective gear Firefighter gear is designed to withstand extreme heat and toxic fumes, but new research shows…
January 2, 2026Ravi LakshmananCloud security/email security Cybersecurity researchers have detailed a phishing campaign in which attackers exploited Google Cloud’s application integration services to distribute emails that masqueraded as legitimate messages generated by Google. According to Check Point, this activity leverages the trust associated with Google Cloud infrastructure to send messages from a legitimate email address (‘noreply-application-integration@google’).[.]com”), it has a better chance of bypassing traditional email security filters and reaching users’ inboxes. “This email mimics routine corporate notifications, such as voicemail alerts or requests to access files or permissions, and appears normal and trustworthy to the recipient,” the cybersecurity firm said.…
Indian agritech company Arya.ag, which provides storage facilities close to farms and financing services to hundreds of thousands of farmers, has attracted investor interest and remains profitable even as global crop prices continue to fall in volatile commodity markets. The company said investor interest was embodied in the latest all-stock Series D round with GEF Capital Partners, totaling $81 million, of which more than 70% was primary capital and the remainder was secondary equity sales. Agricultural product prices are falling worldwide. The World Bank warned that risks from extreme weather events, input costs, trade disruptions and shifts in biofuels policies…