SaaS Perfection: Architecting for Scale from Day Zero

Design for Scale

The best SaaS developers design for scale from the very beginning. This doesn’t mean over-engineering, but rather being mindful of system boundaries, decoupling, and future-readiness. Use techniques such as [domain-driven design] to separate concerns and anticipate growth hot spots.

• Design stateless application layers so you can scale horizontally without sticky sessions.
• Implement feature flags using tools like LaunchDarkly or Unleash to decouple code deployment from feature releases and allow safe experimentation.
• Adopt database sharding and partitioning strategies early—consider unique customer IDs or regions for dividing data to limit impact from future scale.

Mastering Multi-Tenancy

Handling multiple customers on a single SaaS platform is deceptively complex. The most experienced SaaS engineers carefully consider their multi-tenancy model:

• Shared database, shared schema: Most cost-effective, but trickiest for future migrations. Use this for MVPs, but plan abstraction layers.
• Shared database, separate schemas: More isolated, simplifies customizations and data compliance (e.g., GDPR data purges).
• Separate databases: Maximum isolation, best for enterprise customers who demand it, but increases operational overhead.

Implement row-level security (RLS) in databases like PostgreSQL, or use query-based tenancy guards to avoid “noisy neighbor” and data-leak pitfalls.

Ensure Observability Early

Veteran SaaS engineers obsess over observability. Reliable SaaS is not just about code: it’s about being able to see, trace, and measure everything from the beginning.

• Set up structured logging (JSON-formatted logs) and correlatable request IDs for all incoming HTTP/API requests.
• Use distributed tracing tools like OpenTelemetry, Jaeger, or Datadog APM to connect the dots across microservices.
• Track *SaaS-specific metrics:* tenant-level usage, signup churn rates, request latencies by feature, and quota breaches.

It’s far easier to add hooks for metrics and tracing from the start than to retrofit them into a running system.

Build a Robust, Self-Service Dev Environment

Top SaaS teams empower developers to build, test, and ship quickly using repeatable, isolated, and flexible environments.

• Use infrastructure as code (IaC) tools (Terraform, Pulumi) to spin up complete dev/staging environments automatically.
• Dockerize all major components—including database seeds, queues, and external service mocks—so devs can run the full stack locally or in the cloud.
• Automate scenario-based seeding to simulate real tenant data. This makes onboarding, onboarding, and support triage dramatically easier.

Strike the Right Balance in API Versioning

API versioning is especially critical for SaaS—breaking changes can instantly impact thousands of customers or integrated partners.

• Adopt backwards-compatible change policies: only additive changes in an existing API version.
• When breaking, use clear, date-based or sequential versioning (`/v2024-06-10/` versus `/v2/`).
• Deprecate old versions gently, with usage tracking and proactive customer notifications.

Remember: the maintenance cost of supporting multiple versions is high, but so are the business risks of unexpected API changes.

Lean on Automation and CI/CD

SaaS moves fast—so must your pipeline. The most effective developers automate everything:

• Enforce pull request checks for linting, unit and integration tests, and style. Don’t merge broken code.
• Orchestrate blue/green or canary deployments to catch issues early and minimize blast radius.
• Run end-to-end tests with tools like Cypress, Playwright, or Selenium in cloud staging environments. Trigger rollback on failure.
• Automate security and dependency scans (e.g., Snyk, Dependabot).

As Stripe CTO David Singleton said, “The real cost of moving fast isn’t engineering—it’s not knowing if you broke something.”

Design for Cost Awareness

Small inefficiencies scale horribly in a SaaS context. The best engineers build with cost-in-mind:

• Profile & optimize key code paths (e.g., billing, onboarding) for cloud efficiency.
• Use dynamic autoscaling, but set sensible resource thresholds—avoid surprising cloud bills.
• Prefer event-driven or batch processing for non-critical workloads (e.g., daily reports).

Monitor cost per tenant or per API call. Expose usage metrics to customers and reflect on your pricing model to avoid being bitten by outlier users.

Prepare for “Disaster as a Feature”

Assume things will break. The best SaaS platforms are defined not just by reliability but also by how gracefully they handle failure.

• Use circuit breaker patterns and bulkheads to prevent cascading outages.
• Implement automated health checks and self-healing routines—restart unhealthy pods/services quickly.
• Plan for region failover (multi-AZ/multi-region), even if not enabled for all customers.
• Periodically simulate failure scenarios (using tools like Chaos Monkey) to test and improve your recovery processes.

Bake Security into Every Layer

SaaS developers cannot outsource responsibility for data security. The best teams:

• Enforce the least privilege at every level: application, database, cloud IAM.
• Encrypt all data in transit (TLS everywhere) and at rest (cloud KMS, field-level encryption).
• Use secure by default frameworks and automate dependency patching.
• Periodically review audit logs, and integrate with common SIEM tools.

Remember, even the best technical solution won’t protect against credential leaks or access misconfigurations. Regularly review your threat model.

Build Feedback Loops—With Code, Users, and the Business

Finally, the most valuable SaaS engineers don’t just write code—they close the loop between users, technical metrics, and business priorities.

• Reduce cycle times: ship iteratively, validate with real customers, and instrument new features with analytics from day one.
• Track customer complaints/issues back to code changes and root causes; use this to refine both product and process.
• Regularly review evolving SaaS KPIs (ARR, churn, NPS) with the business to ensure technical choices support growth.

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In SaaS, Excellence Is in the Details

Tiny implementation choices compound at SaaS scale. Build with flexibility, automate relentlessly, obsess over reliability, and always empathize with your customers’ experience. These are the insights that distinguish the top SaaS developers from the rest—and let your platform thrive as it grows.

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Microsoft Deprecating Its Windows Maps App

Microsoft is doing some housecleaning with its upcoming Windows updates, deprecating and removing the Windows Map app later this year.

Windows Maps has been a fixture on Windows since it was first launched in November 2014. After a little more than a decade, Microsoft is pulling the plug. The app is listed among the apps deprecated, as of April 2025, although it will still be a couple of months before it is removed from the Microsoft Store.

The company made the announcement in a documentation update.

Maps app is deprecated. It will be removed from the Microsoft Store by July 2025 and will no longer be supported. For more information, see Resources for deprecated features.

Microsoft had already stopped including Windows Maps in new Windows 11 installs, beginning with Windows 11 24H2. As a result, it’s hardly surprising to see the company officially deprecate the app, or remove it from the Microsoft Store.

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Yahoo Emerges As Latest Potential Chrome Buyer

Yahoo has emerged as the latest company interested in purchasing Chrome in the event Google is forced to sell its web browser.

Google is currently in court for the remedies state of its trial, making its case for why it should not be forced to divest itself of the web browser it built. The DOJ says Chrome is a major factor in Google’s search monopoly, since the browser dominates the market.

Perplexity and OpenAI have already emerged as potential buyers, but now Yahoo is throwing its hat in the ring. According to The Verge, Yahoo made its intentions clear during the fourth day of the remedies arguments.

Interestingly, Yahoo also said it is already prototyping its own in-house browser, viewing a web browser as a critical element to effectively competing in the search market. Yahoo Search General Manager Brian Provost said the company has been “actively internally developing a prototype of a browser” since last summer, but would be interested in purchasing one as a way to speed up the process.

Buying Chrome Could Help Yahoo Revitalize Its Search

Yahoo was one of the internet’s first real search engines, and was the most popular option until Google dethroned it. The company has since relied on Microsoft’s Bing to power its search results, but there have been rumors the company may be looking to launch its own search engine once again.

If Yahoo believes that owning a web browser is a critical component to the success of a search engine, it makes sense why the company has not launched a full-fledged Google challenger yet, despite statements that it could have happened as early as 2024.

Yahoo is clearly intent on recapturing its former glory, and has been making impressive strides in that direction since it was acquired by Apollo Funds and became a standalone company in 2021. In 2023, Yahoo CEO Jim Lanzone said the the company was “ready financially, the company has a great balance sheet, we’re very profitable.”

Apollo Funds partner Reed Rayman said an IPO was “a decently likely outcome.”

Purchasing Chrome could be a major boost to Yahoo’s plans, giving it the final piece of the puzzle it needs to directly challenge Google, and challenge its longtime rival for the online search business.

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Perplexity Wants to Buy Chrome, and That’s Terrifying for Consumers

Perplexity has emerged as one of the companies interested in purchasing Chrome if Google is forced to sell it—and that’s a terrifying prospect.

Google is in the remedies stage of its antitrust trial, with the DOJ pushing for the company to be forced to sell off Chrome. Both OpenAI and Perplexity have voiced their interest in purchasing the browser, with a web browser offering an AI firm a wealth of user data.

While users may suspect that AI firms would use a web browser to hoover up as much data as possible, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has said the quiet part out loud, admitting his company wants a web browser to “get data even outside the [Perplexity] app to better understand you.”

Srinivas made his comments on the TBPN podcast, via TechCrunch.

“That’s kind of one of the other reasons we wanted to build a browser, is we want to get data even outside the app to better understand you,” Srinivas said. “Because some of the prompts that people do in these AIs is purely work-related. It’s not like that’s personal.

“On the other hand, what are the things you’re buying; which hotels are you going [to]; which restaurants are you going to; what are you spending time browsing, tells us so much more about you,” he added.

“We plan to use all the context to build a better user profile and, maybe you know, through our discover feed we could show some ads there.”

Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

Google is well-known for abusing its position as owner of the world’s most popular web browser, using it as a way to collect massive amounts of data—even when users had Incognito mode enabled. The whole reason for that data collection is to provide highly-targeted ads.

Unfortunately, it appears AI firms’ goals are not any more altruistic, with Srinivas making clear his company wants to use a web browser as a way to collecty as much personal data about users as possible.

Perplexity is already working on its own in-house browser, named Comet, but it clearly sees Chrome as a way to jumpstart its efforts.

Srinivas’ admission is merely the latest cautionary tale regarding AI and the firms behind it.

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Google Announces Pixel 7a Extended Repair Program

Google has announced an extended repair program for the Pixel 7a, addressing issues with unexpected battery swelling.

The Pixel 7a was one of the company’s entry-level Pixel smartphones, bringing many of the features of its flagship sibling, while cutting costs on on the camera and other high-end features. Unfortunately, some user reported issues with batteries swelling, bulging, and draining abnormally fast.

Google announced the program in a support page.

Google has determined that certain Pixel 7a phones may experience unexpected battery swelling. To ensure our customers have the best possible experience with Google products, some Pixel 7a devices (“Impacted Devices”) may be eligible for a battery replacement repair at no charge or another form of appeasement option from Google (options are limited by country and warranty status). Eligibility and specific options are subject to terms and conditions.

Not all Pixel 7a devices are impacted by unexpected battery swelling, therefore if your device is not impacted, you will not be eligible for a repair or other options under this program.

Under the extended repair program, Google says it will replace the affected batteries at not cost.

Eligible and Impacted Pixel 7a devices can receive one battery replacement at no charge through our battery replacement program. This involves an initial eligibility check and physical inspection. Check your eligibility by visiting our registration page.

Even if an Impacted Device is eligible for a battery replacement at no charge, upon receipt, a physical inspection of your phone is conducted before starting the repair to verify that the phone is in suitable condition for repair.

Battery replacement doesn’t extend the standard warranty coverage of your Pixel 7a. Your warranty will expire on the date it was originally set to expire, regardless of the battery replacement.

Manufacturing issues can impact any company, but it’s good to see Google standing behind the Pixel 7a and addressing the issue for impacted users.

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Meta Gives Users Option to Protect WhatsApp Chats From AI

Met is not giving users the option to turn off AI in WhatsApp, but it is providing users an option to block the AI from using specific chats for learning.

See an AI button has been somewhat disconcerting to some users, especially those who use WhatsApp for its end-to-end encryption. Unfortunately, Meta has no intention of removing the AI features, but it is at least giving users a way to protect specific chats from it, via its new Advanced Chat Privacy Feature.

The company announced the feature in a blog post.

Today we’re introducing our latest layer for privacy called “Advanced Chat Privacy.” This new setting available in both chats and groups helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy.

When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features. That way everyone in the chat has greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat.

Unfortunately, the feature must be enabled for specific chats, rather than app-wide.

You can turn this on by tapping the chat name, then tapping on Advanced Chat Privacy. This is the first version of this feature and we’re planning to add more to it so that it will eventually include even more protections.

The feature is currently rolling out in the latest WhatsApp update.

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Discord Co-Founder and CEO ‘Passing the Torch’

Discord co-founder and CEO Jason Citron is “passing the torch,” stepping down as CEO of the chat platform, although he plans to remain active within the company.

Discord is one of the more popular chat platforms on the market, with “more than 200 million monthly active users worldwide.” The platform gained popularity among gamers, with the demographic spending “2 billion hours playing games each month across thousands of titles.” Although gamers still constitute the platform’s core user base, it has expanded beyond that with features that appeal to a broader base of users.

Citron says the decision comes at a time when the company is preparing for its next chapter of growth as it works toward an eventual IPO. Humam Sakhnini, a former Activision Blizzard executive, will step into the roll of CEO, while Citron will remain as a member of the board and Advisor to the CEO.

Building Discord has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. From the very beginning, our mission has been about bringing people together around games. It’s a mission I’ve dedicated my career to, and seeing it come to life through all of you and the impact we’ve made together has been nothing short of extraordinary. I’ve learned more than I ever imagined I would and I’m deeply grateful for so many friendships, challenges, and achievements along the way.

As we enter our next phase, I’ve been reflecting on how I can best contribute to Discord’s long-term success. The job of a CEO is constantly evolving, and over the years I have continuously “hired myself out of a job.” Usually that means delegating work and then taking on different leadership challenges. However, as I look at what is needed of Discord’s CEO over the next few years, I realize that it’s time for me to literally “hire myself out of a job.”

One thing I know for sure: our company is bigger than any one person. Its future depends not just on me, but on a strong leadership team, a clear vision for what comes next, and all of your incredible talent, care, and hard work. Today’s Discord has all of that. It’s by far the best version of the company we’ve ever had. We have a clear strategy, new business lines to grow into, love and passion from our users, and an incredible team of people working tirelessly to deliver for them.

From this position of strength, it feels like the right time to transition from CEO to Board Member and Advisor. So I am thrilled to welcome Humam Sakhnini as the next CEO of Discord.

Sakhnini praised Citron, as well as co-founder Stan Vishnevskiy, for building a prominent platform that has played a pivotal role in hundreds of millions of users’ workflows.

“I’m incredibly excited to join Discord at such a pivotal moment. Discord stands as a massive, foundational part of the gaming ecosystem that millions of players, developers, and publishers rely on every day. What Jason and Discord co-founder and CTO Stan Vishnevskiy have built is truly remarkable — a platform with an undeniable product-market fit where hundreds of millions of people connect around their passion for gaming and shared interests. I look forward to working with Stan and Discord’s talented team to scale our business while staying true to the company’s core mission and the special connection it has with player communities. We’re still at the beginning of gaming’s impact on entertainment and culture, and Discord is perfectly positioned to play a central role in that future.” — Humam Sakhnini, Incoming Discord CEO

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Google Shifting Pixel Production to India to Avoid Tariffs

Google is taking major steps to avoid high tariffs amid US-initiated trade wars, moving a significant portion of its Pixel production to India.

According to a report by The Economic Times, Alphabet has been in talks with Foxconn and Dixon Technologies to shift a significant portion of Pixel production from Vietnam to India, especially for smartphones bound for the US.

The Trump administration has announced sweep “reciprocal tariffs” on rivals and allies alike, although the exact tariff rate varies from one country to the other. Vietnam was one of the countries with a higher tariff rate, with the administration say it plans to impose a 46% tariff on the country. In contrast, India will face a 26% tariff. It’s worth noting that the Trump administration put a 90-day hold on all tariffs, but the rollout has been so chaotic that companies are struggling to know how to plan for the future.

It appears Google doesn’t want to take any changes, and is planning to move forward by rebasing a significant portion of its manufacturing to India, with its lower potential tariff rate. The outlet’s sources said the company will also look at other countries for potential manufacturing solutions.

Google’s decision underscores the challenges US companies face in the face of tariffs, as there are countless products manufactured overseas that cannot easily be manufactures in US anytime soon. This is especially true in the computer and electronics industry, where the US simply lacks the infrastructure needed to meet companies’ manufacturing needs.

While the Trump administration is trying to force companies to bring manufacturing back to the States, that process will a be a years-long endeavor, and certainly not something that will happen in time for companies to build and deliver their next models and devices.

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A Guide to Premium Wines in Israel

Israel’s growing wine industry is grabbing the attention of American wine connoisseurs and expanding access to the country’s finest wines and spirits. The country’s varied geography and different soil types help create the Israeli wines we know today. The country is home to the Golan Heights, Judean Foothills, Central Mountains, Coastal Plains, Negev Highlands, and Galilee with a landscape made up of limestone, terra rossa, clay, loam, chalk, and volcanic tuff. 

Climate and Topographical Factors

The country’s climate also plays a role in infusing grapes with their specific flavors. Israel’s weather can vary drastically between regions. For instance, the south can see as little as 100 mm of rain, while the north may receive as much as 1,100 mm. The south can reach highs of 91 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas the north can experience lows as chilling as 14 degrees. With the Hamsin (Khamsin) winds, temperatures in both the south and north regions can rise as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 

History of Wine in Israel

Israel has a long legacy in winemaking that can be traced back to ancient times. Between 4,000 B.C.E. and 3,000 B.C.E., trading routes for wine were established between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The study of winegrowing during this time was heavily influenced by religious practices. 

During the biblical era (between 2,000 B.C.E. and 600 C.E.), wine was heavily referenced and used in religious worship. The Bible implies that Noah was one of the first documented vignerons and King David was one of the first sommeliers. In the medieval age, winemaking was prohibited after Muslims took over and the Ottoman Empire was established, most likely driven by restrictive policies and religious bans on alcohol. 

In 1099 C.E., Crusader states momentarily revived the practice with places like Bethlehem and Nazareth seeing more grape vines. When the Crusaders returned to Europe, they took with them Chardonnay, Muscat, and Syrah among other special grape varieties. Yet, Islamic rule and the Jewish Diaspora put a halt to Israel’s winemaking legacy until industrialization began to change the country. 

The first documented modern wineries emerged in Israel between the 1840s and 1950s. This includes the Ginio Winery and Efrat Winery. 1882 was when Baron Edmond de Rothschild started importing various types of grapes, planted vineyards, and built wineries in Israel. Eventually the first export offices opened in Poland, Austria, Germany, Britain, and the U.S. between 1896 and 1900. 

Once Israel gained independence, independent winemakers from the U.S. and Canada came to transform the way Israel made its wine. In fact, some of the biggest wineries got their start in some of Israel’s most historic cities, such as Gath, Jerusalem, and Qatsrin/Katzrin.

Conclusion

Israel currently has more than 300 wineries located throughout the country, but hundreds of thousands of the wine bottles they produce never get out of the country. Israel has more than 120 indigenous grape varieties that produce authentic wine flavors. These include imported varieties like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as new arrivals such as Viognier, Petite Sirah, and Grenache. Bittuni, which is occasionally considered the wine of Jesus or King David, and Argaman, the sixth most cultivated red grape variety in Israel, are native flavors with distinct taste profiles and specific preparation methods. 

Israeli wines and spirits have received global recognition over the years and are now being shared more widely thanks to wine concierges bringing the taste of Israel to more people around the world.  

Source: CorkAndCellar.net

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The Washington Post Partners With OpenAI

The Washington Post is the latest news outlet to partner with OpenAI, saying it will help the outlet reach “audiences where they are.”

OpenAI has been striking deals with various publishers in an effort to provide their content via ChatGPT. The deals provide the AI firm with content its AI models can then use in providing answers and information, while protecting OpenAI from copyright lawsuits.

Meanwhile, publications like The Post benefit both by receiving payment for their content and by opening up another avenue to engage with potential readers. This has become a growing concern for many outlets as an increasing number of consumers are turning to AI chatbots for quick answers to questions.

“We’re all in on meeting our audiences where they are,” said Peter Elkins-Williams, Head of Global Partnerships at The Washington Post. “Ensuring ChatGPT users have our impactful reporting at their fingertips builds on our commitment to provide access where, how and when our audiences want it.”

“More than 500 million people use ChatGPT each week to get answers to all kinds of questions,” said Varun Shetty, Head of Media Partnerships at OpenAI. “By investing in high-quality journalism by partners like The Washington Post, we’re helping ensure our users get timely, trustworthy information when they need it.”

The deal with The Post marks OpenAI’s 20th deal with news publishers.

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Former Google CEO Warns AI May Soon Stop Obeying

Former CEO Eric Schmidt is warning that AI may soon stop obeying humans, raising questions about the safety of AI models that are no longer under human control.

One of the biggest challenges companies face in AI development is ensuring such development occurs safely, with the necessary safeguards in place to ensure humanity can maintain control of AIs. According to Schmidt, the day when AI ignores humans is nearly here.

In an interview at Special Competitive Studies Project, Schmidt discussed where AI is currently, as well as where he sees it going in the near future.

“One way to say this is that within three to five years, we’ll have what is called general intelligence, AGI, which can be defined as a system that is as smart as the smartest mathematician, physicist, artist, writer, thinker, politician.

“I call this, by the way, the ‘San Francisco Consensus,’ ’cause everyone who believes this is in San Francisco. It may be the water,” Schmidt joked.

Schmidt then raises an interesting question regarding what it will mean when users have access to AI with such a level of intelligence.

“What happens when every single one of us has the equivalent of the smartest human on every problem in our pocket?

“But the reason I wanna make the point here, is that in the next year or two, this foundation is being locked in, and it’s not, we’re not gonna stop it.

Schmidt then goes on to highlight what happens at the next level of AI development.

“It gets much more interesting after that. Because, remember, the computers are now doing self-improvement. They’re learning how to plan and they don’t have to listen to us anymore. We call that super intelligence, or ASI, artificial super intelligence, and this is the theory that there will be computers that are smarter than the sum of humans. The San Francisco Consensus is this occurs within six years, just based on scaling.

“This path is not understood in our society. There’s no language for what happens with the arrival of this. That’s why it’s under-hyped. People do not understand what happens when you have intelligence at this level which is largely free.

Schmidt’s Statements Should Serve As a Warning

Listening to Schmidt discuss where AI is headed, it’s clear that he’s excited about the possibilities. And from a purely technical standpoint, it’s easy to understand why. True AI is the holy grail of scientific development.

Nonetheless, if Schmidt is correct in his assessment of where AI is headed, there are a litany of questions that come to mind.

• If AI has the ability to learn and self-improve without the need to listen to humans, what safeguards remain to ensure it doesn’t go rogue?
• Given that virtually every AI that has ever been given access to the internet without safeguards very quickly became a vile, racist, Nazi-supporting example of the worst of humanity, what will stop AI that no longer listens to humans from being the very worst representation of humanity?
• If an AI somehow avoids the above path, what are the odds that an AI doesn’t objectively look at the condition of the world—wars, strife, violence, climate change, and more—and not come to the conclusion that humanity is the problem?
• If AI comes to the conclusion that humanity is a plague, what safeguards exist to prevent it from taking action, if it’s already smarter than the sum of all humans and no longer under our control?

Schmidt’s statements should serve as a chilling wake-up call for where the AI industry currently is, where it’s headed, and what that may mean for humanity.

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What Are Sextortion Scams and How You Can Protect Yourself

In the highly digitalized landscape of today, the expansion of social media networks, online platforms, and mobile applications has changed the way we interact, providing unique chances for relationships and sharing knowledge. On the other hand, this growing connectivity has led to the appearance of new kinds of Internet-based crimes, with sextortion scams being among the most destructive. 

These ill-behaved strategies take advantage of an individual’s reliance and vulnerability, which results in grave emotional, psychological, and financial consequences. In this article, we shall try to grasp the essence of sextortion scams to show you what protective steps you can take to defend yourself against this widespread danger.

What Are Sextortion Scams?

Sextortion is a type of extortion in which cybercriminals threaten their victims, claiming they will make their private explicit images or videos public unless specific needs are satisfied. These demands can involve additional intimate materials, financial compensation (often paid in cryptocurrencies), or some personal favors. Offenders acquire the material leveraged for this form of extortion using a plethora of methods, usually aiming for personal device breaches, imitating one’s friends to trick them into providing sensitive content, or using altered media like deepfakes.

This kind of criminal activity is becoming more and more widespread, with thousands of victims recognized each year. Experts say that by the end of 2025, financial sextortion reports could rise to over 165 thousand cases, while the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia are the most commonly targeted regions.

Extortionists also use a wide range of psychological strategies, which are extremely manipulative and convincing. Victims often learn that they have been targeted when they think it is already too late. Fortunately, professional companies dealing with digital forensics can help you in fighting this type of online blackmail.

These experts understand the common tactics used by sextortion scammers. Offenders frequently rely on social media networks, dating apps, or chat services, where they pretend to be friendly, and even engage in romantic conversations. They also use social engineering techniques to manipulate their victims and gain their trust. Once a strong relationship is established, and the predators gain access to personal content, they start threatening public exposure and forcing the victim to pay ransom.

In many cases, though, Internet crooks might assert that they have gained entry to the victim’s device or camera, fabricating the impression that they hold damaging evidence, despite it being nonexistent. This is precisely what we call a sextortion scam.

The Rise of Sextortion Scams

“Let me get straight to the point. Your device has been compromised because you love watching sick content (you know what I’m talking about). Because of this, I was able to gain access to your device. You should consider covering your camera because I managed to record you while you were having a good time”.

This short intro comes from a sample sextortion scam email, which anyone of us can find in their inbox. Reading on, the extortionist usually threatens to reveal this video they supposedly recorded unless a payment is made to a private crypto wallet. To add a feeling of urgency, they usually limit the time to respond to 24 hours. 

There is a notable rise in sextortion cases similar to this one. ESET published an interesting report in 2023. The company revealed a 178% rise in sextortion-related emails in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same timeframe of the previous year. Such emails usually declare that the cybercriminal possesses explicit photos or videos of a given individual, and demand payment to escape from publically sharing them. 

Furthermore, this research emphasizes that sextortion scams are the third most common danger related to emails, underlining their extensive nature and the importance of quick reaction against them.

Based on recent studies, the demographic group facing the highest danger of being extorted consists of teenagers aged 15 to 17 and adults under 30. Upsettingly, there has been a 25% surge in sextortion cases concerning 14 and 15-year-olds. Other records showcase occurrences with kids as young as 11. Historically it was always boys that made up most of the victims, however in recent years, the number of reports regarding girls went through the roof by a bewildering 2,600%.

How Does Sextortion Impact Victims Emotionally?

The negative impact of sextortion scams can reach beyond monetary losses, leading victims to deep emotional mayhem. Extorted targets usually experience anxiety, depression, and strong feelings of shame and humiliation, which arise from receiving these troubling messages. The threat of breached privacy and the dread of being exposed to the public are unprecedented.

Hence, sextortion scam targets might face profound mental health impacts, including:

• Intensified levels of anxiety and potential panic attacks
• Signs of hopelessness and a feeling of being desperate
• Sense of being on your own and isolated
• Problems in building new connections and relationships
• Possible development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The deceit present in sextortion scams undermines trust, creating long-term psychological problems. Such an intense emotional strain can regrettably lead some victims to self-injury or thoughts of suicide.

Sextortion Preventive Measures

Protecting yourself against sextortion scams is easier than you might think! Follow these tips and tricks to ensure your presence online is private and secure:

1. Exercise Caution: Stay alert when conversing with strangers and disclosing personal data. Cybercriminals frequently fabricate realistic profiles to lure their targets. Thus, maintaining a critical mindset can prevent probable mistreatment.
2. Improve Security: Use strong and unique passwords for every account and, if possible, activate two-factor authentication (2FA). Update your software regularly to fix security gaps in applications. As a result, you will lower the chances of unauthorized access to your device.
3. Change Privacy Settings: Check your social media privacy controls to manage who can access your personal data (such as email address) and content. Laying low discourages potential extortionists from targeting your accounts.
4. Be Skeptical: Stay watchful for unsolicited emails, especially including links or attachments. Sextortion scammers could refer to phishing tactics to install malware and acquire personal data. Always stay sure that the email you are reading is 100% legit before opening links or responding to the message.

If needed, you can also find additional assistance through the FBI.

Final Words on Sextortion Scams

Sextortion scams have become a momentous and snowballing hazard in the current online landscape. These schemes impact victims both emotionally and financially. To avoid these situations, you must stay alert, cultivate awareness, and take care of your digital safety. This way you might improve your ability to safeguard your privacy, as well as assist those who encounter this type of abuse.

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Subaru the Latest Automaker to Bring Back Physical Controls

Subaru is the latest automaker to bring back physical knobs, buttons, and controls, ditching the electronic touchscreen controls that have been taking over.

Automakers have been quick to follow Tesla’s example, integrating touchscreens in their vehicle consoles in place of traditional controls. The move has not been very popular, with many customers complaining about the change. Hyundai was one of the first automakers to begin ditching touchscreens in favor of old-school controls, but now Subaru is following suit.

In its review of the 2026 Subaru Outback and Outback Wilderness, Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman said Subaru had fixed virtually all of the things the publication had an issue with in the previous model.

It’s rare that we can point to a new, redesigned automobile and say, “It fixed everything we had an issue with.” But here we are, with the new 2026 Subaru Outback and Outback Wilderness. Subaru went through its wagon-turned-SUV thing and fixed just about everything we found fault with, from the generic styling to the terrible vertical multimedia system to the touch-sensitive climate control buttons. All of it has been redone in a thoroughly modern, fully competitive manner, transforming the popular Outback from yet another mild refresh meant to appease legions of loyal prior Outback owners to a new car that just might attract a lot of new buyers.

Interestingly, one of those issues that was fixed was a return to traditional buttons and console controls.

The previous Outback’s cheapish interior with the ancient gauges, terrible vertical touchscreen and integrated touch-sensitive buttons for the climate controls was another one of our gripes, and those complaints have also been completely addressed. The 2026 Outback’s new interior is fantastic and a total rethink of the old Subaru look, and all of the interior bits have been upgraded over the old model.

The digital gauge cluster is fresh, modern and far more configurable than the old analog gauges. Subaru also recognizes that switching frequently used systems to touchscreen controls was the wrong thing to do (it only took them six years to figure it out), and it has rectified this with large, easy-to-use hard buttons for the climate controls and other frequently used functions. The seating position is excellent, too, and just high enough to give a commanding view out, but still low enough that it feels like you’re in a wagon rather than an SUV.

Tesla may have popularized the idea of using a touchscreen as a control center, but customers clearly are not sold on the device. It’s a safe bet that Hyundai and Subaru won’t be the last automakers to return to traditional controls.

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Manjaro Releases Alpha of Manjaro Summit

The Manjaro Linux developers have released an alpha of their next project, Manjaro Summit, a “semi-immutable” version of the popular distro.

Immutable distros, also known as atomic distros, are taking the Linux world by storm. These distros borrow a page from Android and iOS, keeping the root partition read-only and updating via atomic updates that only take effect when the update fully completes, ensuring a partial update doesn’t wreck the system.

Manjaro, already a popular Arch-based distro, has been experimenting with what they call “a semi-immutable” version of the distro, with it reaching alpha status. Dennis ten Hoove, Manjaro platform engineer, discussed the alpha in a forum post.

Manjaro Summit is a semi-immutable (We’re calling it that for now because the term immutable is technically incorrect and controversial) distro with an atomic update system. Updates are done by downloading pre-made disk images, the root partition is read-only and only parts of the filesystem are migrated upon update.

The benefit of such a system is that everyone is running a near identical system configuration, this makes it easier to reproduce bugs and issues. Images can also be tested before being published. And should an update prove to be bad, you can simply roll back to an older unaffected version.

The immutability makes the system more resistant to user and software error, it also provides some limited protection against malware.

Interestingly, the Manjaro team is still determining exactly what Summit will be.

We are still unsure what Summit will eventually become, a stable rolling workstation distro, or an always moving distro chasing the latest and greatest in software.

The technology powering summit is purpose build to be as simple as possible, it is encouraged for people to start building and sharing images and configurations which fit their usecase or that of a wider community.

Like many immutable distros, it is still possible to install applications in the traditional manner by “layering packages” onto the root partition, but this is not the recommended method. Instead, Summit will rely primarily on Flatpak applications, which are self-contained, along with all their dependencies.

Distrobox, and companion app BoxBuddy, will provide yet another way of installing apps by giving users the ability to run other distros within a container and install app into them. Distrobox’s strength lies in its ability to integrate those apps into the host system—in this case Summit—making it seem as if the app was natively installed.

If a user wants to install an app via the Pacman package manager, without “layering” the package onto the root system, the app will only remain on the system until the next restart.

Summit Could Be a Game Changer for Manjaro

Manjaro made a name for itself by making Arch Linux approachable to the average user. In many ways, however, its association with Arch has been both a blessing and a curse.

Arch is well known as a do-it-yourself distro, giving users a minimalist experience and letting them set up their distro the way they want, as opposed to being stuck with someone else’s idea of what makes a good default setup. Manjaro turned that model on its head, giving users an easy-to-install and use Arch-based distro.

At the same time, however, Manjaro is not Arch—a distinction lost on some users. Instead, Manjaro is more accurately related to Arch in the same way Ubuntu is related to Debian. Manjaro and Ubuntu are both based on their respective parent distros, but use their own repositories and diverge enough to be their own unique distro.

Arch is the preeminent rolling release distro, pushing packages and updates out as they come in. In contrast, while Manjaro pushes security updates immediately, it usually holds back most other updates for a couple of weeks of additional testing in an effort to provide a more stable and reliable rolling distro experience.

As a result, some users experience issues with Manjaro, especially when they try to use it as a vanilla Arch system. Using the Arch User Repository (AUR) can be a particular weak point, as AUR packages count on the underlying system being as up-to-date as possible. Because Manjaro holds back non-critical updates, this can lead to incompatibilities and breakages with AUR packages.

At the same time, in the years since Manjaro was founded, a number of Arch-based distros have popped up, some of whom have the goal of beating Manjaro at their own game and creating an easy-to-use Arch-based experience. Since none of these other Arch-based distros hold packages back like Manjaro, some of them have earned a reputation for being more trouble-free and avoiding Manjaro’s pitfalls.

If Manjaro Summit is successful, Manjaro could once again set itself apart in the Arch world, offering its unique blend of rolling release combined with the benefits of immutability and atomic updates.

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ArcoLinux Founder Says Goodbye

ArcoLinux founder Erik Dubois has announced he is stepping away from the project and and shutting down the popular Linux distro.

ArcoLinux is an Arch-based distro that has filled a special role in the Linux community. The distro is 90% straight Arch, but includes a number of ArcoLinux-specific applications, as well as some from the Chaotic AUR.

Even more than the distro itself, ArcoLinux was a valuable source of information, with Dubois publishing thousands of instructional videos on YouTube, as well as founding the ArcoLinux University. Dubois explained his reason for ending the distro in a post on his site.

A farewell to the ArcoLinux University

Reflecting on 8 Years of Teaching, Building, and Promoting Linux

After eight years of dedication to the ArcoLinux project and the broader Linux community, the time has come for me to step away.

This decision wasn’t made lightly. But as I approach 60, I’ve found myself with less energy, less focus, and making small mistakes that remind me I’m no longer at my peak. I want to leave ArcoLinux while it’s still strong, and while I can look back with pride at everything we’ve accomplished together.

Dubois goes on to list his project’s impressive accomplishments before expounding on his reasons for stepping back and what’s next.

Why It’s Time to Step Back

Aging is humbling. As I near 60, I’ve come to realize I simply don’t have the same mental sharpness or stamina I used to. I catch myself making little mistakes — the kind that matter when you’re maintaining an ecosystem with this many moving parts.

Rather than let that diminish the quality of ArcoLinux, I choose to leave it while it’s still stable, respected, and valuable.

Dubois says he wants “to slow down, enjoy life, and maybe tinker with Linux just for fun again—without the pressure of running a large project.” He says “the code, the videos, the documentation—they’ll remain online for others to learn from, fork, or remix.”

For existing ArcoLinux users, there will be transition packages in the coming weeks that make it easy transition to vanilla Arch without the need to reinstall.

Moving Forward

Going forward, we will provide you with transition packages that allows users to convert their existing ArcoLinux systems into an Arch Linux setup. This package will:

• Remove ArcoLinux branding (logos and themes) wherever needed/wanted
• Replace pacman.conf with a new one focused on Arch and Chaotic-AUR
• Change the arcolinux-mirrorlist into one source only – github (free)

You can keep on rolling as you are on Arch – no need to reinstall

While we will no longer build or maintain our own or AUR packages, we will rely on Chaotic-AUR to provide binary packages. This community resource will continue the heavy lifting for AUR support — a role we have fulfilled ourselves for the past 8 years.

The transition is expected to be complete by July 1, 2025.

While Dubois’ announcement is unfortunate for ArcoLinux users, it is also completely understandable. After years maintaining the distro, it’s understandable that Dubois wants to retire and enjoy having fun with Linux, rather than it being a job.

ArcoLinux should also serve as a cautionary tale. There are many distros in the Linux community, some of which are maintained by companies and large communities, while others are maintained by a single individual. Relying on a distro that is maintained by a single user, or just a couple of users, always runs the risk of that distro disappearing.

At the same time, ArcoLinux also demonstrates exactly what kind of distro users do well to rely on, even if it is a smaller distro maintained by one person. While ArcoLinux is going away, the fact that it is essentially just Arch Linux underneath means that users have an easy path forward.

At the end of the day, ArcoLinux will be missed, but the legacy it leaves behind will continue on for years to come.

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US Companies Fear China Trade War Will Cost Them the AI Race

US companies are growing increasingly concerned that the ongoing—and escalating—US/China trade war will ultimately backfire, costing them the AI race.

The Trump administration has moved aggressively to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as expand restrictions on China’s access to American tech, especially advanced semiconductors and GPUs that can be used in AI development.

According to The Economic Times, however, US chipmakers are increasingly worried such actions may ultimately hurt them more than help. In particular, by restricting China’s access to US chips, US companies are effectively locked out of a critical market.

“For the U.S. semiconductor industry, China is gone,” said Handel Jones, an International Business Strategies analyst, told the outlet. Jones predicts that Chinese chips will dominate all parts of the Chinese market by 2030.

Huawei, in particular, could benefit from US restrictions, helping the company further recover from being blacklisted by the US Commerce department. Once one of the dominant smartphone makers, Huawei was essentially crippled by US sanctions. In the aftermath, the company had to sell off its Honor brand of smartphones.

Huawei has already made significant changes to its business in an effort to work around US sanctions, while simultaneously surprising the industry with its ability to continue creating advanced semiconductors.

As US restrictions continue to limit US companies’ ability to sell to China, Chinese companies will likely turn to Huawei for their semiconductor needs. With the additional investments, Huawei could well have the resources it needs close the technological gap with US and Taiwanese chipmakers.

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Mozilla CEO Says DOJ’s Case Against Google Could Destroy Open Internet

Mozilla CEO Laura Chambers has authored a blog post warning of the potential ramifications of the DOJ’s antitrust win against Google over its search business.

The DOJ won its case against Google in mid-2024, with Judge Amit P. Mehta finding the company has an illegal monopoly in the search market. Much of the DOJ’s case rested on Google’s practice of paying organizations—such as Mozilla and Apple—billions of dollars a year to be the default search engine in their software.

In the wake of its win, the DOJ is intent on forcing Google to sell its Chrome web browser, and wants to limit the company’s ability to enter or maintain the type of exclusivity deals it currently has. Unfortunately for Mozilla, that will result in the Firefox maker losing hundreds of millions of dollars per year, which comprises the bulk of its income.

In her blog post, Chambers pointed out the problems with the DOJ’s approach.

Some of the remedies proposed in the case risk the future of our Firefox browser and Gecko browser engine—the last remaining non-Big Tech browser engine.

Chambers says she hopes the DOJ will shift to pursing remedies that help alleviate the issues with Google’s monopoly power…without hurting the rest of the industry.

In the coming weeks, we hope to see a shift to focus on remedies that can improve search competition without harming the pro-competitive role that Firefox and other independent browsers play in the ecosystem.

I speak for many small and independent companies like Mozilla when I say that the benefits we deliver to consumers and competition can’t be measured by our market share because we regularly punch above our weight.

We fully support the Department of Justice’s efforts to improve competition in various digital markets, but we’re concerned that the proposed remedies in the search case will do much more harm than good and unnecessarily seek to promote search competition at the expense of browser and browser engine competition. If the Department of Justice truly wants to fix competition, they can’t solve one problem by creating another.

Chambers then accurately points out the stakes involved, including the fate of Mozilla Firefox and its Gecko rendering engine.

The outcome of this case isn’t just about one company, it’s about the future of the internet and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

There are only three main browser engines left and only one engine—Mozilla’s Gecko—is not owned by a Big Tech company. Browser engines shape how the web works. Gecko powers Firefox (and other independent browsers) and puts privacy and people first.

If it disappears, so does the open web.

Independent browsers like Firefox drive privacy innovation, security advancements, and offer people real choice. For over 25 years, Mozilla has fought for an open, competitive landscape where businesses can thrive, and consumers have real alternatives. We hope the remedies adopted by the Court enable us to continue this fight for many more years to come.”

Analysis

Chambers’ blog post shines a light on the challenges involved in addressing Google’s monopoly. There is no doubt that Google’s dominance in the search market hurts companies and entire industries. There is also no denying that Google should be prohibited from having its own web browser.

As we have pointed out here at WPN many times, a company that runs the world’s biggest search engine and the world’s biggest online ad platform, should not also control the world’s most popular web browser. Controlling all three of those components gives Google far too much control over the direction of the web in general, and with the bulk of their money coming from advertising, the direction they choose to go is rarely aligned with whats in the best interests of the consumer.

There are far too many instances of Google using Chrome to abuse user privacy, including continuing to track users’ activity even when Icognito Mode was enabled. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has repeatedly called Google out for the anti-privacy actions it takes with Chrome.

At the same time, however, there’s no denying that prohibiting Google from entering into search agreements with other companies will cut off the bulk of Mozilla’s income, threatening the last remaining web browser engine that is not controlled by either Google or Apple.

If Mozilla goes under, the future of the web will largely be dictated by Apple and Google, with users having no real alternative. Although there are other web browsers, outside of Safari and Chrome, nearly all of those browsers—such as Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and KDE Falkon—all use the same underlying engine that powers Chrome and is developed largely by Google.

Given the stakes, it’s clear why Chambers is sounding the alarm regarding the DOJ’s proposed measures.

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Meta Defends Using Pirated Books for AI, Saying They Have No ‘Economic Value’

Meta has chosen a novel defense in its copyright case, saying there’s nothing wrong with using pirated books, since “none of [the authors’] works has economic value.”

Meta is facing a lawsuit for how it trained its AI models, with plaintiffs accusing the company of pirating copyrighted books to use as training material. To make matters worse for the company, internal emails confirm that Meta torrented more than 80 TB of copyrighted books.

“However it is done, torrenting pirated works is flagrantly illegal,” the plaintiffs wrote in their complaint.” And the magnitude of Meta’s unlawful torrenting scheme is astonishing: just last spring, Meta torrented at least 81.7 terabytes of data across multiple shadow libraries through the site Anna’s Archive, including at least 35.7 terabytes of data from Z-Library and LibGen. Pritt Decl., Ex. H.7 Meta also previously torrented 80.6 terabytes of data from LibGen (Sci-Mag).”

Pirated Books Have No ‘Economic Value’

According to Vanity Fair, Meta’s defense is to claim the pirated books have no real value. While the company
“has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in LLM development,” they see no reason to pay the authors since “for there to be a market, there must be something of value to exchange, but none of Plaintiffs works has economic value, individually, as training data.”

The defense is a shocking admission from the company, one that is not likely to help the company, either in court in the the court of public opinion.

Why It Matters

AI firms have repeatedly earned the ire of authors, artists, content creators, and the industry at large by hoovering up vast quantities of data for use in training AI models. To make matters worse, many companies have been accused of ignoring websites’ robots.txt files, continuing to hammer websites with requests and scraping their data.

Thompson Reuters recently won a copyright case against Ross Intelligence after the latter used the former’s copyrighted material for AI training. OpenAI, Anthropic, and others are also locked in copyright cases with various organizations, including The New York Times.

The stakes couldn’t possibly be higher for the AI industry, with OpenAI proposing recommendations to the Trump administration that include a much looser interpretation of current copyright law, even raising the possibility of losing the AI race to China as motivation.

A copyright strategy that promotes the freedom to learn: America’s robust, balanced intellectual property system has long been key to our global leadership on innovation. We propose a copyright strategy that would extend the system’s role into the Intelligence Age by protecting the rights and interests of content creators while also protecting America’s AI leadership and national security. The federal government can both secure Americans’ freedom to learn from AI, and avoid forfeiting our AI lead to the PRC by preserving American AI models’ ability to learn from copyrighted material.

What makes Meta’s case different than some of the others is the extent to which the company blatantly torrented the books in question, with some executives even questioning the ethics and legality of doing so.

Melanie Kambadur stated on a message chain, “I don’t think we should use pirated material. I really need to draw a line there.” The four messages that follow are redacted.

Joelle Pineau responds to Eleonora Presani’s statement that “using pirated material should be beyond our ethical threshold.” Ms. Pineau then asks, “You think it’s problematic to use even for this phase?” followed by a redacted sentence. Presani then says “SciHub, ResearchGate, LibGen are basically like PirateBay or something like that, they are distributing content that is protected by copyright and they’re infringing it.”

This document appears to be notes from a January 2023 meeting that Mark Zuckerberg attended. It is heavily redacted, including a large section titled “Legal Escalations.” Immediately after that section the document states “[Zuckerberg] wants to move this stuff forward,” and “we need to find a way to unblock all this.”

Nikolay Bashlylov suggested that Meta conceal its downloading of LibGen data using a VPN (“Can we load libgen data using Meta IP ranges? Or should we use some vpn?”). All three bullet points that follow are redacted.

In an internal message, Nikolay Bashlykov expresses concern about using Meta IP addresses “to load through torrents pirate content,” and says, “torrenting from a corporate laptop doesn’t feel right :).” A response from David Esiobu is redacted.

Conclusion

Meta’s admission in court is merely the latest evidence of what many have long claimed, namely that many AI firms simply don’t care about the ethical and legal questions involved in hoovering up data for AI models.

Many experts even believe companies are intentionally pushing forward, counting on the courts to be too slow to reach a consensus on the issue before AI becomes so critical and entrenched in everyday life that it becomes impractical to reign in or stop AI firms.

Given the stakes involved, and Meta’s unusual defense, the case could well define the AI industry, either normalizing what has been occurring or forcing companies to finally pay for the content they use.

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Why Conversational AI Will Make the Difference in Increasing Online Conversions

In today’s fast-paced digital marketplace, your business’s success depends on online conversions. Every engagement, every click, and every interaction matters. It can make the difference between a profitable year and a not-so-profitable one. 

Online shopping is now mainstream as more retailers move their products online and more shoppers become comfortable with buying products sight unseen. This can be a great user experience, especially if the brand has anticipated a user’s every need. They treat each browser as a potential lead, following their user behaviors and patterns to deliver unparalleled service.  

One way that online e-commerce brands are standing out is through conversational AI — a tool that is not only gaining traction but also taking the lead in driving conversions.  

What is Conversational AI? 

Conversational AI is a subset or field of AI that focuses on making the technology as human-like as possible in its conversations. During each interaction, AI learns and interprets exchanges and picks up conversational traits. It utilizes natural language processing (NLP) and natural language understanding (NLU) to better understand users’ queries and intent. Conversational AI can be implemented through different channels such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and AI agents. 

Chatbots used by e-commerce retailers can respond to customer inquiries without appearing stilted or too formal. Virtual assistants on devices such as Amazon Echo or Google Home will learn the household’s commands and pick up on user preferences. AI agents that assist with task automation and completion can understand how users prefer certain processes to be completed.  

The main benefit of conversational AI is improved customer service. Consumers will appreciate when exchanges feel like they are coming from another human as opposed to a computer. It can also help automate tasks, streamline processes, and reduce human error. 

Now that you have a sense of what conversational AI is and some of its benefits, keep reading to understand how it can make a difference in increasing online conversions.  

Facilitated Transactions 

One of the main ways conversational AI can make a difference in online conversions is through facilitated transactions. Think of AI as a personal shopping assistant. It’s there to help consumers find products or services that are relevant to them and their needs. For a car dealership, AI automotive sales software can lead interested buyers to different car models based on prior search behavior. For beauty retailers, chatbots can recommend compatible products for those interested in sensitive skin remedies or wedding makeup. 

How does the technology do it? While consumers are browsing, AI tools pick up their tastes based on how long they spend on certain product pages. It can answer questions about different products, giving users a side-by-side comparison between one option over another. It can also direct users to informational videos, such as demos or instruction manuals. 

Before users checkout, AI can also suggest other products that go well with the ones already in their shopping carts. Back to the beauty example, an AI-powered chatbot may suggest a Vitamin C serum to be paired with a Hyaluronic acid moisturizer or a retinol topical with a daytime sunscreen. These suggestions can be last-minute additions to a user’s cart, but add real value and serve as a guidepost for shoppers on their journeys. 

After a user completes a transaction, AI can send updates on when the package has left the warehouse and when it is expected to be delivered. A shopper can learn of any delays in shipping before they become problematic, giving them peace of mind post-sale. To boost brand loyalty, AI-powered tools can even send friendly automatic reminders via email or text when a user may need to restock a certain product. With just a few clicks, the user can quickly and easily reorder the product. 

Real-Time Interactions 

Consumers today don’t have the patience to wait for a reply from a customer service representative via email. When they have a question or dilemma, they want it solved ASAP. A chatbot trained in conversational AI can be there 24/7, meaning it can be of service no matter when a customer has a question. 

Real-time interactions are also a benefit to companies that are expanding worldwide and are looking to reach those in other parts of the world. Those in Asia, Australia, and Europe can purchase products and answer questions about your U.S.-based site while your customer service team is logged off for the night. 

The ability to have instant support can separate you from other like-minded companies that may not have conversational AI chatbots and agents built into their sites. If you’re able to take care of a customer regardless of the hour of the day, customers may be more likely to find loyalty to your brand. In terms of conversions, a chatbot that can provide recommendations and product solutions while a customer navigates through your offerings can increase a buyer’s shopping cart total.   

Data and Insights

As AI-powered chatbots talk with users, they are listening and learning along the way. These insights can improve future customer interactions as well as a business’s overall strategies. If consumers keep asking the same questions, a brand may decide to create a social video answering it. Or if users keep asking chatbots how this product compares to another similar product, the company may create a helpful comparison infographic. 

Conversational AI can also learn customer preferences and understand which solutions and tools are more important to shoppers. This can inform product design and shape iterations of product SKUs. If customers keep asking the chatbot for monochromatic colors as opposed to products in bright, vibrant colors, then perhaps the brand will lean more toward neutral shades going forward. 

Another helpful benefit of conversational AI is dealing with customer frustration. While you may hope that all of your customers are happy and content, some issues may arise. A delayed shipment or a backorder may lead to some disheartened shoppers. Chatbots can pick up on a user’s sentiment and through conversational AI reply in an appropriate, empathetic manner. They can reassure the shopper that their needs are of the utmost priority and reassure them they will take care of their needs. 

These kinds of instant, heartfelt chats can help ease a shopper’s worries and allow them to feel content with the customer service they are receiving. At the same time, it can also inform your business how these types of delays should be handled and allow for strategic problem-solving. 

Staying Competitive and Current

Conversational AI is leading the way in terms of optimizing the online shopping experience across various industries. Businesses that lean into this evolving technology now will benefit by seeing a boost in online conversions. 

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AI Support Bot Mistake Costs Cursor Code Editor Customers

Cursor, the company behind the Cursor’s AI code editor, has suffered an embarrassing incident as a result of its AI support bot hallucinating company policies.

Cursor is a popular AI code editor in use by OpenAI, Perplexity, Midjourney, Samsung, Shopify, and others. In a post on Reddit, entitled “PSA: Cursor Now Restricts Logins to a Single Machine,” a user evidently received a message saying that Cursor could only be used on a single machine.

In response, the original poster said their entire company was ditching Cursor.

I literally just canceled my sub and moved to AUGMENT CODE.

I was dumping like $700/wk into Cursor through work, and now we’re purging it completely.

Other users were equally unforgiving.

I’m seeing less and less value in cursor as an IDE. It was ahead of the game for a while but they seem to have lost their way and got stuck. The docs feature doesn’t seem to work. The max features make way too many tool calls. There’s no more innovation coming from them, just shitty billing practices.

I guess that’s what happens when you start taking big funding rounds. There’s lots of pressure to show income.

It feels like both cursor and windsurf are kind of dead in the water now. Jetbrains has Junie which is as good an agent as either of them. Roo code is pushing faster and better updates than Cline. I dare to say copilot has seen the light as well. I can’t really think of a reason to pay for cursor anymore. There’s Claude code and augment, and aider and the list of capable alternatives is getting longer.

Unfortunately, it appears that Cursor never changed their policy to restrict logins to a single machine. One of the developers responded that the policy didn’t exist, and that an errant AI bot had created it.

Hey! We have no such policy. You’re of course free to use Cursor on multiple machines.

Unfortunately, this is an incorrect response from a front-line AI support bot. We did roll out a change to improve the security of sessions, and we’re investigating to see if it caused any problems with session invalidation. We also do provide a UI for seeing active sessions at cursor.com/settings.

Apologies about the confusion here.

Cursor’s experiment underscores the danger of relying on AI bots, especially given their propensity to hallucinate details and create fabrications.

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OpenAI’s Latest Models Hallucinate More Than Previous Ones

OpenAI has a problem with its latest reasoning models, with the company struggling to figure out why they hallucinate more.

OpenAI o3 and o4-mini are two of the companies latest AI models, and among its most advanced yet. Unfortunately for the company, while most new AI models make improvements to the hallucination problem, OpenAI’s are bucking that trend by being worse than previous models.

In a technical report, OpenAI says some of it may be because the new models make more claims overall, meaning they get more answers right as well as wrong.

We tested OpenAI o3 and o4-mini against PersonQA, an evaluation that aims to elicit hallucinations. PersonQA is a dataset of questions and publicly available facts that measures the model’s accuracy on attempted answers.

We consider two metrics: accuracy (did the model answer the question correctly) and hallucination rate (checking how often the model hallucinated).

The o4-mini model underperforms o1 and o3 on our PersonQA evaluation. This is expected, as smaller models have less world knowledge and tend to hallucinate more. However, we also observed some performance differences comparing o1 and o3. Specifically, o3 tends to make more claims overall, leading to more accurate claims as well as more inaccurate/hallucinated claims. More research is needed to understand the cause of this result.

A Growing Problem for the Industry

Hallucinations represent a growing problem for the industry, one that has no easy answer while simultaneously undermining the billions being invested in AI.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai was on record as early as mid-2023 saying that all AI models hallucinate, and that there were no good answers to the problem yet.

“Yes,” Pichai admitted, saying hallucinations are “expected,” and that “no one in the field has yet solved the hallucination problems. All models do have this as an issue.”

When speaking of efforts to find a solution, Pichai said “it’s a matter of intense debate” and that his team will continue to “make progress.”

Similarly, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he would never claim AI wouldn’t hallucinate when asked what confidence he had that Apple Intelligence would be free of the issue.

“It’s not 100 percent. But I think we have done everything that we know to do, including thinking very deeply about the readiness of the technology in the areas that we’re using it in,” Cook replied. “So I am confident it will be very high quality. But I’d say in all honesty that’s short of 100 percent. I would never claim that it’s 100 percent.”

Analysts Growing Increasingly Concerned

Analysts are growing increasingly concerned about generative AI’s capabilities, with hallucinations featuring prominently in those concerns.

Gartner analyst Arun Chandrasekaran warned that organizations were about to experience the “trough of disillusionment” as a result of unrealistic hype, runaway costs, and seemingly unfixable hallucinations.

“The expectations and hype around GenAI are enormously high,” Chandrasekaran said. “So it’s not that the technology, per se, is bad, but it’s unable to keep up with the high expectations that I think enterprises have because of the enormous hype that’s been created in the market in the last 12 to 18 months.”

“I truly still believe that the long-term impact of GenAI is going to be quite significant, but we may have overestimated, in some sense, what it can do in the near term,” Chandrasekaran added.

Chandrasekaran specifically called out “no robust solution to hallucinations.”

With OpenAI’s latest models getting worse with hallucinations, not better, Chandrasekaran’s cautions may prove to be profoundly accurate.

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US Lawmakers Say DeepSeek Is ‘Designed to Spy on Americans’

DeepSeek may have taken the AI and tech industries by storm, but US lawmakers are growing increasingly concerned, with the latest report calling it “a weapon in the Chinese Communist Party’s arsenal.”

DeepSeek shocked the world with an AI model that rivaled the very best industry leaders had to offer, all while being built using third-rate hardware and at a fraction of the cost. Companies large and small raced to adopt DeepSeek, but US lawmakers and officials have been increasingly worried about the privacy and security implications of the Chinese AI.

In a newly released investigative report, Chairman John Moolenaar and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi, of the House Select Committee on China, sound the alarm on DeepSeek and warn users of the danger the AI poses.

The report’s key findings include:

• Censorship by Design: More than 85% of DeepSeek’s responses are manipulated to suppress content related to democracy, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and human rights—without disclosure to users.
• Foreign Control: DeepSeek is owned and operated by a CCP-linked company led by Lian Wenfang and ideologically aligned with Xi Jinping Thought.
• U.S. User Data at Risk: The platform funnels American user data through unsecured networks to China, serving as a high-value open-source intelligence asset for the CCP.
• Surveillance Network Ties: DeepSeek’s infrastructure is linked to Chinese state-affiliated firms including ByteDance, Baidu, Tencent, and China Mobile—entities known for censorship, surveillance, and data harvesting.
• Illicit Chip Procurement: DeepSeek was reportedly developed using over 60,000 Nvidia chips, which may have been obtained in circumvention of U.S. export controls.
• Corporate Complicity: Public records show Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang directed the company to design a modified chip specifically to exploit regulatory loopholes after October 2023 restrictions. The Trump Administration is working to close this loophole.

“This report makes it clear: DeepSeek isn’t just another AI app — it’s a weapon in the Chinese Communist Party’s arsenal, designed to spy on Americans, steal our technology, and subvert U.S. law,” said Chairman Moolenaar. “We now know this tool exploited U.S. AI models and reportedly used advanced Nvidia chips that should never have ended up in CCP hands. That’s why we’re sending a letter to Nvidia to demand answers. American innovation should never be the engine of our adversaries’ ambitions.”

Scrutiny on Nvidia

The reports puts an uncomfortable spotlight on Nvidia, the current darling of the AI industry. While Nvidia may not be an AI firm in its own right, its hardware powers AI models for virtually all the major players.

Nvidia has increasingly found itself in a difficult position as the trade war between the US and China heats up. Chinese firms are determined to gain access to Nvidia’s chips and US lawmakers are equally determined to prevent that from happening in the interests of keeping China from gaining an advantage in the AI wars.

If the lawmakers’ report is accurate, and Nvidia knowingly created chips to exploit loopholes and circumvent US export controls, the company could find itself incurring the wrath of the Trump administration.

The entire situation underscores the high stakes involved in the AI industry, and what companies—and countries—are doing to gain and maintain a competitive advantage.

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Google Loses Second Major US Antitrust Lawsuit

Google has lost its second major US antitrust trial, with US District Judge Leonie Brinkema finding the company violated the Sherman Act and is an illegal monopolist.

Google has already lost one antitrust case, with Judge Amit P. Mehta ruling in August 2024 that the company’s search business constituted an illegal monopoly. While the remedies portion of the trial are still ongoing, the DOJ is intent on forcing Google to divest itself of at least some critical parts of its business in an effort to reign the company in.

Now the company has lost its second case, with its advertising business deemed an illegal monopoly. Judge Brinkema found the DOJ had successfully “proven that Google has violated Section 2 of the Sherman Act by willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power in the open-web display publisher ad server market and the open-web display ad exchange market, and has unlawfully tied its publisher ad server (DFP) and ad exchange (AdX) in violation of Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.”

Acquisitions

Despite the overall finding that Google is an illegal monopolist, Judge Brinkema did not agree with the DOJ’s case that Google’s acquisitions of DoubleClick and Admeld were anticompetitive.

The Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed to show that the DoubleClick and Admeld acquisitions were anticompetitive. Although these acquisitions helped Google gain monopoly power in two adjacent ad tech markets, they are insufficient, when viewed in isolation, to prove that Google acquired or maintained this monopoly power through exclusionary practices.

The Court acknowledged that the state of the online advertising market played a major role in this part of the determination, with the online advertising industry being far more competitive at the time Google made its acqusitions.

Even assuming Plaintiffs are correct in their assessment of Google’s strategy, they have not shown that the acquisition of DoubleClick was anticompetitive. Plaintiffs do not assert that Google had monopoly power in any of the relevant markets when it acquired DoubleClick. Indeed, the DoubleClick acquisition occurred at a time when Magnite (then known as Rubicon), Microsoft, OpenX, and Yahoo were vigorous participants in open-web display advertising markets. See PTX22 at 14. The acquisition was reviewed and cleared by the Federal Trade Commission by a four to one vote after a determination that “Google’s proposed acquisition of DoubleClick is unlikely to substantially lessen competition.”

Nor did the 2011 acquisition of Admeld constitute anticompetitive conduct. Plaintiffs argue that the Admeld acquisition was problematic because Google intentionally acquired a “key competitor[],” PTX88 at -597, and then terminated its core yield management functionality, thereby ending a competitive threat to Google’s sell-side businesses. See Section V(B), supra. According to Plaintiffs’ expert Dr. Abrantes-Metz, the Admeld acquisition reduced competition in both the ad exchange and publisher ad server markets for open-web display advertising.

Tying DFP to AdX

Where Google crossed the line into anticompetitive and monopolistic behavior was with its tying DFP and AdX.

Here, Plaintiffs allege that Google tied DFP, its publisher ad server, to AdX, its ad exchange. Specifically, Plaintiffs cite to Google’s technical and policy restrictions that prohibited publishers from receiving real-time bids from AdX (the tying product) unless they also used DFP (the tied product). These restrictions, according to Plaintiffs, compelled publishers to use DFP, not because they viewed it as a superior product, but rather due to Google’s exploitation of its control over AdX’s preeminent position in the open-web display ad exchange market. Partly as a result, Plaintiffs claim that DFP became, and has remained, the dominant publisher ad server for open-web display advertising.

Plaintiffs have proven the four elements of their tying claim.

As discussed previously, overwhelming evidence has established that it is not economically feasible for publishers to use multiple publisher ad servers. See Section VI(B)(1), supra. For all practical purposes, then, Google’s tying DFP to AdX communicated to publishers that if they used a rival publisher ad server, they would be shut out of AdX’s core functionality. This coercive pressure was akin to a “threat[] to stop selling needed products to its customers if they bought from a new market entrant offering a superior product for less money”—conduct a court found to be anticompetitive in Chase Mfg. 84 F.4th at 1173.

By forcing Google’s publisher customers to use a product they would not necessarily have otherwise used, by making it difficult for rival publisher ad servers to compete on the merits, and by significantly reducing rivals’ market share, the tying of DFP to AdX has had a substantial anticompetitive effect in the publisher ad server market for open-web display advertising. Accordingly, the AdX-DFP tie has violated both Section 1 and Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

Google Chastised for Its Behavior

Judge Brinkema also called out Google for its behavior, including failure to preserve internal communications and abusing attorney-client privilege. The Court’s finding is similar to Judge Mehta’s in the search antitrust case. Just as in that case, Judge Brinkema declined to sanction Google, as the overall finding against the company made additional sanctions unnecessary.

Google’s systemic disregard of the evidentiary rules regarding spoliation of evidence and its misuse of the attorney-client privilege may well be sanctionable. But because the Court has found Google liable under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act based on trial testimony and admitted evidence, including those Google documents that were preserved, it need not adopt an adverse inference or otherwise sanction Google for spoilation at this juncture. As in Google Search, the Court’s decision not to sanction “should not be understood as condoning Google’s failure to preserve chat evidence

Conclusion

Judge Brinkema wraps up with her final conclusion regarding Google.

Plaintiffs have proven that Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power in the publisher ad server and ad exchange markets for open-web display advertising. For over a decade, Google has tied its publisher ad server and ad exchange together through contractual policies and technological integration, which enabled the company to establish and protect its monopoly power in these two markets. Google further entrenched its monopoly power by imposing anticompetitive policies on its customers and eliminating desirable product features. In addition to depriving rivals of the ability to compete, this exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web. Accordingly, Google is liable under Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.

Much like the search engine case, the DOJ and Google will now move forward with arguing the remedies portion of the case.

It’s hard to understate the potential impact of Google’s second antitrust defeat in less than a year’s time. The company has now suffered been labeled an illegal monopolist in two of its core businesses. The DOJ is already trying to force Google to divest itself of Chrome in its search antitrust, and is holding out the option to force it to sell of Android if Chrome alone is not enough of a remedy. It’s unlikely the DOJ will push for any remedies that are less dramatic in its latest victory.

Combined with the likely loss of Chrome—not to mention the threat of losing Android—any remedies that could involve breaking up Google’s advertising business could result in significant setbacks for the company.

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