News and Updates:

• Disney / OpenAI / Sora- Disney will invest $1B in OpenAI, license characters for Sora videos, stream curated content on Disney+, and embrace generative AI amid Hollywood copyright concerns debates.
• Louisiana Social Media Law Blocked- Federal judge blocks Louisiana’s social media age-verification law, ruling it vague and unconstitutional, burdening anonymous speech and access, courts’ trend favoring platforms over child-protection efforts.
• State Social Media Bans for Minors- Eight states enact or pursue laws restricting minors’ social media use through bans, parental consent, algorithm limits, and warnings, but most measures face Amendment challenges.
• Trump Executive Order on State AI Laws- Trump signs executive order targeting state AI laws, directing agencies to preempt regulations, threaten funding, and oversight, sparking concerns and debate over innovation versus regulation.

News and Updates:

• Google Maps Parking Upgrade- Google Maps now automatically saves your parking location and adds custom car icons, but the hands-free feature is currently limited to iPhones, not Android.
• Restaurant Reservation Data Tracking- AI-powered reservation apps like OpenTable quietly build detailed diner profiles from spending, orders, and habits, raising privacy concerns despite opt-out options and personalization benefits.
• Windows 10 Security Risks Post-Support- Windows 10 no longer receives security patches, making PCs vulnerable; users must upgrade, pay for limited extended updates, or rely heavily on third-party security tools.
• PornHub Premium Data Extortion- Hackers linked to ShinyHunters are extorting PornHub after stealing historical Premium user activity data, exposing sensitive viewing histories despite no compromise of payment information.
• Microsoft’s Threat Actor Naming System- Microsoft classifies cyber threat actors using weather-themed names, grouping them by nation-state, financial motive, influence operations, or emerging threats for clearer security attribution.
• PayPal Applies for Banking Charter- PayPal seeks its own banking charter to expand small-business lending, offer insured deposits, and reduce reliance on partners amid broader U.S. financial deregulation.
• Ford Reboots F-150 Lightning as EREV- Ford ends F-150 Lightning production, planning a 700-mile extended-range electric reboot while investing heavily in battery storage and shifting aggressively toward hybrids.

• Working for IBM in the 1960’s & 70’s
• Solving problems with computers of the day
• Trying to speed up the compute time, removing the “19” from the date thus creating the Y2K problem that no one at the time thought would ever exist