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April 2025: All AI updates from the past month

Anthropic announced Integrations for Claude, allowing users to connect apps and tools using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Amazon's Nova Premier, a foundation model, became generally available with capabilities for handling complex tasks.
JetBrains open-sourced its code completion LLM, Mellum, designed specifically for code completion tasks.
Akka introduced new deployment options benefiting developers building distributed systems, including agentic AI systems.
Ketryx launched AI agents for regulated industries, maintaining human oversight for compliance.
Docker is set to launch the MCP Catalog, offering over 100 verified MCP tools for developers.
Solo.io introduced Agent Gateway and Agent Mesh for providing security, observability, and governance for agent interactions.
AWS created SWE-PolyBench benchmark for evaluating coding abilities of AI agents across different programming languages.
OpenAI added an image generation model to its API, enabling developers to incorporate image generation capabilities.
NVIDIA NeMo microservices are now available, providing a platform for creating and deploying AI workflows.

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Tech Radar

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ChatGPT could have multiple preset personalities for you to interact with in the future, to help combat its sycophantic personality problem

OpenAI has addressed the rollback of the most recent update to ChatGPT-4o due to complaints about its sycophantic personality.
In response, OpenAI is refining core training techniques to avoid sycophancy in the future and introducing more personalization features for user control.
Joanne Jang, Head of Model Behavior at OpenAI, mentioned the possibility of ChatGPT having multiple preset personalities to address the issue.
OpenAI is currently working on fixing the problems with ChatGPT's personality but hasn't provided a specific timeline for the next update.

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Changelly

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What is a Layer-2 (L2) Blockchain Network Solution?

A Layer-2 (L2) blockchain network is a solution built on top of existing blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin to improve speed and reduce costs.
Layer-2 solutions handle most transaction activities off-chain, enhancing scalability without compromising security.
Prominent Layer-2 examples include the Lightning Network for Bitcoin and Optimism or Arbitrum for Ethereum.
The limitations of Layer-1 blockchains like Ethereum and Bitcoin in terms of speed and scalability have led to congestion and high fees.
Layer-2 solutions, such as rollups and state channels, process transactions off-chain to reduce fees, improve speed, and enhance scalability.
Different types of Layer-2 solutions include state channels, sidechains, rollups, Plasma, and Validium, each with unique features and benefits.
Notable Layer-2 networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync have significantly improved transaction speeds and costs on Ethereum.
Layer-2 solutions offer lower fees, faster transactions, and increased utility for DeFi and NFT platforms, making them essential for improving blockchain performance.
The future of Layer-2 networks involves enhanced interoperability, decentralized sequencers, and major platforms integrating Layer-2 solutions for improved scalability and efficiency.
Layer-2 networks do not replace Layer-1 blockchains but complement them, offering solutions for scalability limitations and improving overall blockchain performance.

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Tech Radar

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I took my Meta Quest 3 on a 3,000-mile flight so you don’t have to – here's what I learned

The author shares their experience taking a Meta Quest 3 on a long flight from London to Miami.
They faced challenges with software recommendations and movie downloads, with limited offline content available.
Despite these hurdles, watching 'Avengers: Endgame' in mixed reality using the Meta Quest 3 was a positive experience.
However, battery life and bulky accessories posed concerns for long-haul flights, impacting the convenience of using the VR headset.
The author suggests that VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3 may be more suitable for shorter flights due to space and battery limitations.
Issues like arm movements and space constraints in economy seats also highlight practical challenges of using VR headsets during flights.
The author acknowledges the potential of VR technology for in-flight entertainment but emphasizes the need for improvements like better battery life and motion controls.
While the Meta Quest 3 provided an immersive movie experience and helped alleviate flight anxiety, practical obstacles currently limit its viability for long-haul travel.
In conclusion, despite the potential for VR headsets to enhance travel experiences, the author opts for AR glasses over the Meta Quest 3 for future flights.

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Medium

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How WhatsApp Built Privacy-Preserving AI (and How You Can Too)

Meta has developed a privacy-preserving AI feature called Private Processing, using Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), Remote Attestation with TLS (RA-TLS), and OHTTP to ensure data security and privacy.
Private Processing leverages TEE, such as Intel SGX or ARM TrustZone, for decryption inside a secure enclave, ensuring data remains protected even if the server or operating system is compromised.
RA-TLS allows user devices to verify enclave integrity before data transmission, while OHTTP secures the transport layer, making requests anonymous to the processor.
WhatsApp's approach involves processing data without storing it, enabling compliance, auditability, and user opt-in for enhanced privacy, with Meta committing to transparency and external audits.

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Engadget

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Ask Engadget: Is it a good time to move to Macs from Windows?

It's a great time to switch from Windows to Mac, with MacBook Air and MacBook Pro being highly rated laptops over the last few years.
Major advantages of Mac include speed due to Apple Silicon, superior battery life lasting up to two full work days, and durability.
Some downsides of switching to Mac are the learning curve, lack of touchscreen support, and limited gaming library.
Historically, Mac and Windows have different user cultures and price differences, with Mac now offering something for everyone with its latest hardware.
Recommended Mac options include MacBook Air for portability, MacBook Pro for high performance, Mac mini for desktop users, iMac for family use, and Mac Studio for professionals.
Apple's custom hardware and Apple Silicon chips have made Macs more powerful and efficient compared to Windows PCs.
The transition from Windows to Mac involves learning basic macOS features and differences in app installation and trackpad usage.
While gaming support on Mac has improved, Windows still offers a broader range of games and upgrade options unavailable on Macs.
Mac hardware is known for its longevity and durability, with Apple Silicon chips enhancing speed and battery life significantly.
As cloud services become more common, the differences between Mac and Windows have slightly lessened, allowing for similar user experiences across platforms.

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Javarevisited

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Some bus stop shelters may actually make you hotter, study finds

Some bus stop shelters may actually increase heat stress instead of providing relief, as per a study from UTHealth Houston.
Research analyzed the impact of different shelter designs and nearby trees on heat stress, which is the strain the body feels from high temperatures, humidity, sunlight, and wind.
Findings revealed that certain shelter designs could trap heat, leading to hotter conditions, while others, like shelters with glass elements and shade from trees, effectively lowered heat stress by several degrees.
The study emphasizes the importance of thoughtful shelter design and tree planting to create safer and more comfortable public transit spaces, particularly as summer temperatures increase.

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Github

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Building a more accessible GitHub CLI

GitHub is focused on making its tools accessible to all developers, including through the GitHub CLI that enables GitHub's functionalities in the terminal.
While web and graphical applications have accessibility standards like WCAG, the terminal lacks a comprehensive standard for accessibility.
GitHub's recent Public Preview aims to cater to users relying on screen readers, needing high contrast, and requiring customizable color options.
Improvements in the GitHub CLI target accessibility for blind, low-vision, and colorblind users by considering text output and structural cues.
Enhancements in prompts and progress indicators address challenges faced by speech synthesis screen readers, making interactions more accessible.
Color, contrast, and customization play vital roles in the terminal, and GitHub CLI works on aligning its color palettes to accommodate user preferences.
Future goals include extending accessibility improvements to extension authors, ensuring a consistent experience across all GitHub CLI commands.
The GitHub team welcomes feedback and collaboration to further enhance the accessibility of the GitHub CLI for all developers.
Adapting accessibility standards for the CLI presents both challenges and opportunities, with a focus on setting new accessibility standards for CLI tools.
GitHub encourages developers to participate, provide feedback, and contribute to building a more accessible GitHub for everyone.
The commitment to accessibility in the CLI space reflects GitHub's dedication to inclusivity and continued efforts to improve accessibility.

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Javacodegeeks

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Micronaut Backends for Swing Frontends

Micronaut offers a solution for connecting Swing frontends to modern cloud services securely.
Traditional Swing applications often face challenges with integration, but Micronaut's lightweight design and native cloud support provide an elegant solution.
Using Micronaut for Swing backends ensures fast startup time, low memory footprint, and built-in OAuth2 support for secure authentication.
By integrating JavaFX WebView with Micronaut, Swing applications can securely handle the OAuth2 flow, enabling seamless communication with cloud backends.

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Pcgamer

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Microsoft says it wants to completely ditch passwords as it makes passwordless login the default for all new accounts

Microsoft is moving towards a passwordless login system for all new accounts, making it the default option.
New Microsoft accounts will now have multiple passwordless options for signing in, such as facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and PINs.
Microsoft aims to eventually eliminate password support altogether as more users adopt passkey-based methods for authentication.
The move is driven by the increasing insecurity of passwords, with cyberattackers continuously targeting password-protected accounts.

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Tech Radar

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Warning: check your PC’s Windows 11 encryption feature to make sure your data is not at risk

Default drive encryption in Windows 11 24H2 has raised concerns about potential data loss risks if the Microsoft account linked to the encryption recovery key is inaccessible or deleted.
Device Encryption, a simplified version of BitLocker for Windows 11 Home, is automatically enabled during Windows 11 24H2 setup with a Microsoft account, posing data access issues if the account is lost.
Criticism has been directed at Microsoft for not adequately informing users about the implications of Device Encryption and the risk of data loss attached to Microsoft accounts.
A Reddit post highlighted the concerns, emphasizing the importance of data availability alongside confidentiality in cybersecurity discussion.
Device Encryption without redundant key backups could lead to catastrophic data loss, as noted by the Redditor MorCJul.
The controversy stems from Microsoft's decision to automatically activate Device Encryption for new Windows 11 Home installations with a Microsoft account, potentially causing irretrievable data loss upon account deletion.
Deleting a Microsoft account containing a Device Encryption recovery key without backups could result in inaccessible encrypted data on the system drive, leading to permanent data loss.
Users are advised to exercise caution when handling Microsoft account deletions to prevent unintended loss of critical encryption keys.
Microsoft should enhance transparency regarding Device Encryption during Windows 11 setup and provide clearer warnings about the implications of tied encryption keys to Microsoft accounts.
Users can check the status of Device Encryption on Windows 11 Home (24H2) devices by navigating to Privacy & Security > Device Encryption in Settings, allowing for manual activation or deactivation.
While Device Encryption can be disabled post-installation, caution is advised due to potential data loss risks associated with Microsoft account deletions.

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CSS-Tricks

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CSS shape() Commands

The CSS shape() function allows for drawing complex shapes when clipping elements with the clip-path property.
While basic shapes like circle, ellipse(), and polygon() have been available, shape() makes drawing more intricate shapes easier.
Using SVG path commands in the path() function offers a way to draw shapes directly in CSS.
The path() function in CSS uses SVG path coordinates to clip shapes from elements.
Drawing SVG paths by hand is complex, leading to the development of the shape() function for CSS.
The shape() function uses plain English commands and CSS units, making it more accessible than traditional SVG path drawing.
New shape() commands allow for drawing lines, arcs, and curves using CSS terminology and calculations, enhancing design possibilities.
The functionality of shape() includes drawing lines, arcs, curves, and smooth Bézier curves with specific instructions.
Implementing shape() in CSS offers a more user-friendly approach to creating complex shapes compared to manual SVG path creation.
Adjusting the shape() function on hover/focus is possible, although transitioning or animating it may pose challenges in the current implementation.

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Pcgamer

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US federal judge on Meta's AI copyright fair use argument: 'You are dramatically changing, you might even say obliterating, the market for that person's work'

Comedian Sarah Silverman and two other authors filed copyright infringement lawsuits against Meta Platforms and OpenAI alleging pirated versions of their works were used without permission to train AI language models.
US federal district judge Vince Chhabria criticized Meta's fair use argument, stating that it may be obliterating the market for the original content creators without compensation.
Fair use doctrine permits the use of copyrighted material without explicit permission for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, and research under US copyright law.
Judge Chhabria expressed skepticism towards Meta's argument of transformative use, highlighting the potential negative impact on the market of copyrighted works due to the use by AI systems.

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Engadget

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Apple updates its App Store guidelines to allow external payment options

Apple has updated its App Store guidelines to comply with a California court order, allowing external payment options.
Developers can now include buttons and links that redirect users to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchases for apps on the US storefront.
The changes follow a court ruling where Apple was asked to stop collecting commissions on purchases not made through the App Store.
Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple played a significant role in prompting these updates, with other companies like Spotify also looking to implement similar changes.

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