Microsoft

Regional internet and cloud services took a major hit after several undersea cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting connectivity for Azure users in Asia and the Middle East. Starting September 6, users began noticing slower speeds and higher latency, especially for traffic routed through the Middle East.

In a groundbreaking discovery, Aim Labs has uncovered EchoLeak, a critical zero-click vulnerability that affects Microsoft 365 Copilot (M365 Copilot), Microsoft’s RAG-based AI-powered chatbot. This newly identified vulnerability is one of the most significant threats to the security of AI applications, as it enables attackers to automatically exfiltrate sensitive data from an organization’s internal environment without requiring any user interaction.

Microsoft plans workforce changes for its AI projects. Another layoff round is expected in July 2025, mainly impacting sales. This follows earlier cuts in mixed reality and Azure. The company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure. Satya Nadella says this is a strategic realignment. The tech sector sees similar shifts due to AI growth and market conditions.

Microsoft has announced that Skype, the iconic video-calling service that revolutionized global communication, will shut down in May 2025. Launched in 2003, Skype allowed millions of users to make free voice and video calls over the internet, connecting friends and families across the globe. However, after years of declining popularity and competition from newer apps, Microsoft has decided to focus on its newer platform, Microsoft Teams.

The tech industry is experiencing a wave of layoffs as companies restructure their workforce. Many big companies, including Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, have let go of thousands of employees. Reports suggest that over 71 tech companies have already cut around 7,000 jobs or are planning to do so in 2025. This shift highlights how AI and automation are changing the way businesses operate.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised significant concerns about competition in the cloud computing market, naming Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure as the dominant players. In a provisional report released Tuesday, the CMA highlighted the limited choices businesses face in the £9 billion ($11.18 billion) cloud services market, which is growing at over 30% annually.

In a show of support for President-elect Donald Trump, major tech companies including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Amazon have contributed $1 million each to his inauguration fund. This move signals an effort by Silicon Valley to build or maintain strong ties with the incoming administration, especially as discussions around AI policies, antitrust laws, and content moderation gain momentum.

Microsoft has announced plans to invest a whopping $80 billion in building data centers that can support artificial intelligence (AI) workloads during its fiscal year 2025. This significant investment reflects the company's commitment to enhancing its AI capabilities and infrastructure.