PandaSoftX

Latest Tech Updates & Insights

Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex Faces Major Setbacks Amid Law Enforcement Action

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex Faces Major Setbacks Amid Law Enforcement Action

It’s been a rough week for the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. The company saw its wallets holding $28 million in funds blocked by stablecoin issuer Tether. On the same day, a law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Secret Service resulted in the seizure of Garantex’s official websites, causing the company to suspend all services, including cryptocurrency withdrawals. The situation escalated on Friday when the U.S. Justice Department charged two of Garantex’s administrators, Aleksej Besciokov and Aleksandr Mira Serda, accusing them of enabling money laundering for cybercriminals and terrorists. The U.S. prosecutors also froze over $26 million in Tether and Bitcoin associated with the exchange, explaining the blocking of Garantex’s wallets. In response, Garantex published an announcement on its official Telegram channel offering a potential solution for its customers’ blocked assets. The company is inviting users with a positive account balance to attend face-to-face meetings at its Moscow office, a move that raises concerns due to the high risks involved, including potential exposure to the Russian government and the international sanctions on the company. While the exact number of Garantex’s customers remains unclear, the exchange has processed more than $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since 2019, suggesting a significant user base. However, the company’s ability to refund customers is uncertain given its current legal and operational troubles. As of now, Garantex has not responded to any requests for comment on the situation.

Sola Raises $30 Million to Simplify Cybersecurity with Customizable Low/No-Code Platform

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

Sola Raises $30 Million to Simplify Cybersecurity with Customizable Low/No-Code Platform

Sola, an Israeli startup, is emerging from stealth with $30 million in seed funding to revolutionize the way enterprises approach cybersecurity. The company has developed a low/no-code platform that enables users to design their own cybersecurity apps, tailored to their specific workloads and security needs. The platform also integrates with existing tools and applications. Sola’s goal is to democratize cybersecurity, making it easier and more affordable for businesses to address their security challenges without relying on expensive, complex commercial solutions. The platform allows users to set goals or ask questions in natural language, pulling in data from various sources to create custom security apps. Founded by cybersecurity veterans Guy Flechter and Ron Peled, Sola offers a simpler solution to the traditional options of expensive commercial tools or building solutions from open-source components. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with minimal technical expertise required. With pre-written apps for environments like AWS, GitHub, and Okta, Sola aims to streamline security services and reduce costs. Investors, including S Capital and Mike Moritz, are backing the startup as it capitalizes on advancements in AI and big data management to create a more accessible approach to cybersecurity. Sola’s innovative platform taps into the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and aims to make security simpler and more intuitive, much like what Stripe has done for payments and Canva has done for design.

Hunters International Ransomware Group Leaks Stolen Data from Tata Technologies

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

Hunters International Ransomware Group Leaks Stolen Data from Tata Technologies

The ransomware group known as Hunters International has published data that it claims to have stolen from Tata Technologies, just over a month after the Indian company confirmed it was the victim of a ransomware attack. The leaked data, shared on the gang’s dark web leak site, includes sensitive personal information about some current and former employees, along with confidential corporate documents such as purchase orders and contracts with clients in India and the United States. The data set reportedly contains over 730,000 documents, including Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and PDFs, and amounts to around 1.4 terabytes in total. Tata Technologies had previously confirmed a ransomware attack in late January, which led to some IT assets being compromised, although it stated that client services remained unaffected. It remains unclear whether the leaked data is directly tied to the earlier attack, as Tata Technologies has yet to respond to inquiries from TechCrunch regarding the incident. Founded in 1989 as part of Tata Motors, Tata Technologies became a separate company in 1994 and is now a subsidiary of the Tata Group. The company offers product engineering and R&D services across the automotive and aerospace sectors in over 27 countries, employing more than 12,500 people. Hunters International, which emerged in late 2023, is a relatively new ransomware-as-a-service group. It leases its infrastructure to affiliate hackers who carry out ransomware attacks and takes a portion of the ransom payments. The group has been linked to the Hive ransomware gang, which law enforcement largely disrupted in 2023. Interestingly, the Hive group had previously leaked data from a separate Tata Group company, Tata Power, after a breach in 2022.

Mar 12, 2025

Bloomberg

Apple’s Upcoming OS Updates Set to Introduce the Biggest Design Overhaul in Years

Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil its most significant design changes in years with the next set of major updates for its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. According to Bloomberg, the new updates — iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 — are expected to refresh the look and feel of Apple's platforms, offering a modernized user interface and new design elements. The overhaul will include updates to icons, menus, apps, windows, and system buttons. Apple aims to simplify navigation and improve user control across its devices. These changes will be loosely based on visionOS, the operating system designed for the Apple VisionPro VR headset, which features circular icons and translucent panels for navigation. The revamp is being led by Apple’s VP of human interface design, Alan Dye, and is expected to be one of the main focuses for Apple’s software and UI teams. The company is set to showcase iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2025, where further details will be revealed.

Apple’s Smart Home Hub Launch Delayed Due to Siri Challenges

Mar 12, 2025

Bloomberg

Apple’s Smart Home Hub Launch Delayed Due to Siri Challenges

Apple announced this week that the release of its upgraded, more personalized version of Siri has been delayed. The company cited challenges in delivering the new Siri features, which are an integral part of the Apple Intelligence suite. As a result, the launch of these features, initially expected this year, will now take longer than originally planned and is expected to roll out in the coming year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the delay of the new Siri features has also affected the launch of Apple's much-anticipated smart home hub. The device, which was initially slated for release in March 2025, will now be postponed. The smart home hub, which is said to feature a six-inch touchscreen mounted on the wall, is designed to serve as a control center for smart home devices, and will also allow video calls, with much of its functionality controlled by voice commands via Siri. Despite the delay, Apple has reportedly begun an internal testing program, allowing its employees to take the device home for feedback and testing. The company aims to refine its Siri technology and ensure a seamless integration with the smart home hub before its official launch.

ServiceNow to Acquire Moveworks for $2.85 Billion to Enhance AI Capabilities

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

ServiceNow to Acquire Moveworks for $2.85 Billion to Enhance AI Capabilities

ServiceNow announced on Monday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Moveworks, a leader in AI-powered enterprise automation tools, for $2.85 billion. The deal, which will be a combination of cash and stock, is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Moveworks, valued at $2.1 billion as of June 2021, offers AI tools that automate a wide range of enterprise functions, including IT support, HR, finance, and facilities management. With notable clients such as Unilever, Instacart, Siemens, and Toyota, Moveworks has expanded its product suite to cater to various lines of business, building a robust customer base. Amit Zavery, president and COO of ServiceNow, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition, stating that Moveworks’ AI-driven platform, combined with ServiceNow’s AI-powered workflow automation, will supercharge enterprise-wide AI adoption. This acquisition represents a significant leap in transforming business processes using AI. Founded in 2016, Moveworks was created by Bhavin Shah, Vaibhav Nivargi, Varun Singh, and Jiang Chen, who brought expertise from companies like LinkedIn, Meta, Yahoo, Google, and Airbnb. Moveworks has raised over $300 million in funding and currently employs more than 500 people. The acquisition also aligns with ServiceNow’s broader AI strategy, following its January purchase of AI-native platform Cuein. The company reported substantial growth in its AI solutions, reaching nearly 1,000 AI customers by December 2024. The deal marks a major step in ServiceNow’s efforts to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies into its platform.

Dexterity Robotics Raises $95 Million, Valued at $1.65 Billion

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

Dexterity Robotics Raises $95 Million, Valued at $1.65 Billion

Dexterity, a robotics startup focused on AI-driven machines with human-like precision, has successfully raised $95 million in its latest funding round, bringing its post-money valuation to $1.65 billion. The funding round, supported by prominent investors like Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sumitomo Corp., underscores the growing demand for AI-powered robotics, especially in industries like logistics and warehousing. The company’s robots are designed to perform repetitive, labor-intensive, and even hazardous tasks in warehouses and factories. These robots are capable of automating tasks like sorting parcels and loading boxes, serving major clients such as FedEx and UPS. Dexterity’s robots are powered by specialized AI models tailored to specific tasks, enabling greater efficiency and flexibility in operations. This new round of funding brings Dexterity's total capital raised to nearly $300 million. The surge of investment into robotics and AI also mirrors the interests of major tech companies such as Meta and Apple, which are reportedly exploring humanoid robots powered by AI. Dexterity’s innovative approach and the backing of prominent investors reflect the growing potential and demand for AI-based solutions in the automation space.

OpenAI Develops AI Model That Excels in Creative Writing

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

OpenAI Develops AI Model That Excels in Creative Writing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed on Tuesday that the company has trained a groundbreaking AI model capable of producing high-quality creative writing. The announcement, made on X (formerly Twitter), included a sample story generated by the AI in response to a metafictional prompt about AI and grief. Altman expressed his astonishment at the AI’s ability to capture the nuances of literary storytelling, stating, 'This is the first time I have been really struck by something written by AI; it got the vibe of metafiction so right.' However, he also noted that OpenAI has not yet decided on a release timeline for the model. Unlike its previous AI advancements, which have largely focused on structured tasks such as programming and mathematics, OpenAI’s latest development suggests a significant leap in the model’s language abilities. Historically, AI-generated writing has often struggled with depth, coherence, and creativity. This new breakthrough could indicate a major improvement in how AI understands and crafts narratives. While details about the model’s capabilities and potential applications remain scarce, OpenAI’s push into creative writing signals a new direction for AI in the arts. Whether this development will complement or compete with human writers remains an open question, but it undeniably marks a new milestone in AI-generated content.

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna Advocates for Global Trade, AI, and Quantum Computing at SXSW 2025

Mar 12, 2025

TechCrunch

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna Advocates for Global Trade, AI, and Quantum Computing at SXSW 2025

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna addressed key global economic and technological issues at SXSW 2025, emphasizing the importance of global trade, immigration policies, and AI’s evolving role in society. Despite growing concerns over protectionist policies in the U.S., Krishna asserted that embracing international trade and talent exchange would be crucial for economic growth. Drawing from historical economic theories, Krishna argued that increasing global trade by 10% could contribute to a 1% rise in local GDP, reinforcing the need for interconnected economies. He also stressed the importance of welcoming foreign talent into the U.S., advocating for policies that encourage international students and skilled workers to contribute to domestic innovation. On AI, Krishna offered a tempered view, disputing predictions that AI will soon write 90% of all code. Instead, he estimated that AI-assisted coding would account for around 20-30% of software development, making programmers more productive rather than replacing them entirely. This perspective contrasts with previous comments he made in 2023, when IBM announced plans to slow hiring in areas that AI could automate. Krishna also discussed the future of AI efficiency, highlighting emerging techniques like those developed by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, which could significantly reduce the energy consumption of AI models. However, he remained skeptical about AI achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), stating that while AI can process existing knowledge, it lacks the ability to generate groundbreaking new insights like human scientists. Instead, Krishna positioned quantum computing as the key to future scientific advancements, a stance aligning with IBM’s strategic investments in the field. His views stand in contrast to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s, who has suggested that superintelligent AI could revolutionize human progress within the next few years. The discussion at SXSW 2025 highlighted the ongoing debates surrounding AI’s future, global economic policies, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping the world’s next wave of innovation.

Meta Testing In-House AI Training Chips to Reduce Nvidia Dependency

Mar 12, 2025

Reuters

Meta Testing In-House AI Training Chips to Reduce Nvidia Dependency

Meta is reportedly testing an in-house chip designed specifically for training AI models, a strategic move aimed at reducing its dependence on external hardware manufacturers like Nvidia. According to a report from Reuters, the chip was developed in collaboration with Taiwan-based semiconductor giant TSMC. Currently, Meta is running a limited pilot deployment to assess the chip’s performance before deciding whether to scale production. While Meta has previously developed custom AI chips, they have only been used for running AI models rather than training them. Some of the company's past chip development projects were either canceled or scaled back due to underwhelming results. Despite its ongoing efforts in chip design, Meta anticipates spending around $65 billion on capital expenditures this year, with a large portion allocated to acquiring Nvidia GPUs. If the in-house chip project succeeds, it could significantly reduce costs for the company, providing a major competitive advantage in the AI space.