Microsoft plans to invest $2.1 billion for AI expansion and development in Spain, according to Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. This investment follows OpenAI's recent Sora launch and solidifies Spain's positioning as a pioneer in AI. Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister, expressed gratitude to Microsoft's president and highlighted the tech firm's confidence in the Spanish economy and its roadmap for an inclusive and secure digital transformation. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to pioneer AI development with its new Sora launch and AI-meets-crypto project, Worldcoin.

The ASEAN Foundation has partnered with technology giant Microsoft to launch the AI Teach program, aimed at promoting artificial intelligence education in Southeast Asia. The program will provide fluent artificial intelligence training for 6,200 educators in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the region, while also working to reform the TVET system. The main goal of the program is to improve the artificial intelligence skills of the workforce, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia, and to improve employment prospects and educational opportunities for 400,000 people in these two countries. In addition, the program will introduce participants to the career essentials of Microsoft and LinkedIn in generating artificial intelligence learning paths. "By promoting innovation and providing practical artificial intelligence skills, we aim to make a significant contribution to ASEAN's economic and technological growth," said Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation in a statement.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is visiting India on February 7 and 8 to focus on the potential of artificial intelligence (AI). The visit highlights Microsoft's commitment to using technology to create new opportunities in India, which is becoming a hub for AI innovation. Microsoft sees India as a vibrant ecosystem for developers and start-ups, with the potential to influence both domestic and global markets. Nadella's visit follows discussions on AI during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit in 2023, where Nadella and other tech leaders engaged in conversations on AI.

Microsoft will lay off 1,900 employees from Activision Blizzard and Xbox, accounting for approximately 8% of the workforce. This is the largest layoff in the technology and gaming industries in recent times.

The era of Windows Mixed Reality has come to an end. In the updated list of deprecated Windows features, Microsoft has added Windows Mixed Reality, as well as the Mixed Reality Portal app and Windows Mixed Reality for Steam VR. Microsoft has stated that Windows Mixed Reality "has been deprecated and will be removed in a future Windows release." Microsoft first introduced Windows Mixed Reality in 2017 as part of its competition with virtual reality competitors such as HTC and Oculus (now owned by Meta). (The Verge)

Microsoft researchers have discovered a series of cyber attacks where OAuth applications are used to automatically conduct phishing attacks, disrupt company emails, and secretly mine cryptocurrency. The hackers' targets are accounts that lack strong authentication mechanisms. They create new OAuth applications with high permissions through hijacked accounts, allowing malware to access systems without the user's knowledge.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated on December 8th local time that it is collecting information from stakeholders to determine whether the collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI poses a threat to market competition in the UK, where Google's artificial intelligence research laboratory Deepmind is located.<br>In response, a spokesperson for OpenAI stated that Microsoft's non-voting board observer seat did not provide them with management authority or control over OpenAI's operations.

Microsoft announced that it will invest in the artificial intelligence infrastructure in the UK. Over the next three years, Microsoft will invest £2.5 billion (approximately $3.2 billion) to expand its next-generation AI data center infrastructure, bringing more than 20,000 state-of-the-art GPUs to the UK by 2026. Microsoft will also invest in a wide range of artificial intelligence talent and education projects, as well as strong artificial intelligence security and protection measures.

Leaked documents show that Microsoft is planning to add encrypted wallets to Xbox, which will allow players to securely trade assets across different platforms. Microsoft's goals in their annual report also align with this, as they are currently seeking to acquire Activision Blizzard and Savage Game Studios in the mobile sector. This indicates that Microsoft is serious about expanding its gaming business, and blockchain can play a role.

Odaily Star Daily News Microsoft said that if Sam Altman wants to return to OpenAI, he needs to solve the governance issues that led to the existing OpenAI board of directors dismissing Altman. According to sources, Microsoft is considering changes that may include requiring OpenAI to expand the size of its board of directors and increase the experience level required for members. Microsoft is also considering whether to try to add an executive to the OpenAI board of directors. (Bloomberg) Earlier, according to The Verge, multiple sources revealed that the deal for Sam Altman to join Microsoft has not yet been finalized. If other board members who fired him resign, Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman are still willing to return to OpenAI. Altman, Brockman, and OpenAI investors are still working to find a dignified way for the board to step down.