A coordinated malware operation has been infecting users through seemingly legitimate browser extensions for seven years. Dubbed DarkSpectre, it impacted over 8.8 million Chrome, Edge, and Firefox users in campaigns like “The Zoom Stealer.”
According to Forbes, the central story of work in 2026 is a growing emotional misalignment. People are caught between old career assumptions and an AI-driven future they can’t yet see, leading to widespread ambiguity and exhaustion, not mass displacement.
China’s official manufacturing index rose to 50.1 in December, just barely crossing into expansion territory for the first time since April. The bounce is attributed to holiday orders and a slight easing of trade tensions, but underlying weaknesses remain stark.
In a major power play, asset manager Brookfield is starting its own cloud company called Radiant. The move is tied to a massive new $10 billion AI infrastructure fund and aims to lease chips directly to AI developers from its own data centers.
Taiwanese brokers will stop accepting buy orders for shares and ETFs linked to Chinese military companies. The move impacts stocks on the US sanctions list. It comes as President Xi Jinping declares China is set to meet its 2025 economic targets, with growth expected around 5%.
The cyber insurance market is sending mixed signals. While premiums are dropping, insurers are slapping on more exclusions and demanding proof of strong security. Getting a payout is becoming its own battle.
A McDonald’s AI Christmas ad sparked outrage, becoming a flashpoint for a broader backlash. With billions being spent and serious ethical questions unanswered, is the AI revolution in trouble before it even really starts?
It was a chaotic midday session on Wall Street. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical shares cratered over 40% after a key drug trial failure, while falling gold and silver prices dragged mining stocks like Newmont down more than 5%. Meanwhile, Nvidia dipped nearly 2% after its record $20 billion acquisition.
Samsung’s next affordable 5G phone, the Galaxy A07 5G, has appeared in a Google Play Console listing. It shows specs like 8GB of RAM and Android 16, with a design similar to the 4G model.
OpenAI is offering over half a million dollars for a new “head of preparedness” role focused on mitigating AI dangers. The job comes as companies cite AI-related reputational risks 46% more often than last year. CEO Sam Altman says it will be a “stressful” job diving into the deep end immediately.
