I will give you a collection of news, starting with one that just happened.
Apple has acquired artificial intelligence (AI) startup DarwinAI and added its staff to its AI division. The deal, whose value was not disclosed, aims to enhance Apple’s generative AI capabilities. Alexander Wong, an AI researcher from DarwinAI, has joined Apple as a director in its AI group. DarwinAI specializes in AI technology for inspecting components during the manufacturing process.
Microsoft Teams will merge into a single unified app for work and personal use, allowing users to switch between different accounts and access. The new Teams app will be available for testing via the latest Windows 11 Insider build and will roll out in preview mode for commercial users in April, with an official launch later this year. The unified app will eliminate the need for separate personal and work/school apps, providing a more streamlined experience.
Azure now offers free egress for customers leaving Azure and transferring their data out via the internet to switch to another cloud provider or on-premises data center. The first 100GB/month of egressed data is already free for all customers, and steps are provided to claim credit for egressing more than 100GB/month. The exemption on data transfer fees also aligns with the European Data Act and is accessible to all Azure customers globally.
Blackpoint Cyber has launched the Blackpoint Community Protection Program (BCPP), offering free licenses and 24/7 monitoring by the Blackpoint Security Operations Centre (SOC) to Managed Service Providers (MSPs). The program aims to help MSPs secure their internal environments and expand their businesses. In addition to BCPP, Blackpoint offers a range of solutions under the ‘See Clearly’ campaign, including Dark Web Monitoring, Threat Assessment Summary, Blackpoint University, and Pooled Pricing to aid MSPs in protecting clients and growing their businesses.
Why do we care?
This is a collection I didn’t want to miss this week.
Apple’s in AI, even if we don’t see it yet. Just keep that in mind.
Microsoft’s egress change puts them on par with the other providers now and with EU law, but let’s note that this is only on contract termination. The cloud providers aren’t doing us a favor here.
Finally, I’ll comment that Blackpoint seems to be chasing Huntress here. Huntress’ Community Watch program sounds somewhat similar. I’m no product reviewer so that I won’t comment there; I’m just observing the context of the move.