Google Tells DOJ That Forcing a Chrome Sale Would Harm National Security

by  Ryan Whitwam

Google tries an old argument with a new Justice Department.

Google is no stranger to antitrust scrutiny, but the walls may be closing in. As the next phase of Google's search trial nears, the company's lawyers have reportedly met with representatives from the US Department of Justice in hopes of heading off a breakup. Google is reportedly pushing the argument that forcing it to spin off parts of the business and limit certain investments would constitute a national security threat.

Google's antitrust situation got much worse this past August when it lost the long-running case targeting its search business. With Google branded yet again as a monopolist, the DOJ asked for stiff penalties, seeking to have US District Judge Amit Mehta force Google to sell its popular Chrome browser and end payments for search engine placement with other firms.

According to Bloomberg, Google met with the DOJ team last week to make the case for a lighter regulatory touch. Specifically, Google has stepped up its claims that forcing it to spin-off Chrome and limit AI investments could harm US national security, as well as security at the user level.

 Read full story at arsTechnica…

How GIS Data Can Transform Government Operations

by  Amazon Web Services, Esri

Spatial infrastructure allows governments to take their geospatial data out of silos and optimize it for practical use.

Spatial infrastructure enhances traditional GIS by incorporating modern tools, such as cloud computing platforms, to seamlessly integrate with the IT technologies and systems governments use every day.

Comprehensive spatial infrastructure includes modern, location-based software that encompasses industry best practices, aligns with an organization's existing governance and IT policies, and evolves as operational needs change.

Spatial infrastructure typically integrates GIS with core systems, such as permitting, asset management and customer relationship management systems. The technology has widespread applicability across government functions, including data collection and management, general mapping, analytics, and mobile and field use.

 Read full story at GovTech…

Training and Partnerships Will Strengthen the State and Local Cyber Workforce

by  Max Shuftan

Expanded training opportunities and academic partnerships can help shorthanded agencies attract cyber talent.

While organizations across sectors have made strides in recent years to address cybersecurity workforce shortages, there are still hundreds of thousands of jobs left unfilled. The latest available data shows that nearly 700,000 cybersecurity jobs remain open in the United States, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

And while this challenge is felt in both the public and private sectors, state and local governments face unique challenges in building and retaining their cyber staff. State and local agencies must deal with all of the same obstacles as the private sector in addition to a bevy of other challenges unique to their mission in the public sector, including hiring speed, antiquated requirements and lower pay.

The need to fill more state and local cyber positions has come under even more pressure as public sector attacks have increased over the past few years. According to the Center for Internet Security's latest publicly available data, malware attacks against state and local agencies increased 148% in the first eight months of 2023, while ransomware incidents increased 51%. The center also reported a 313% rise in endpoint security services incidents, such as data breaches, unauthorized access and insider threats.

 Read full story at StateTech…

Alibaba Says Its New AI Model Rivals DeepSeeks' R-1, OpenAI's o1

by  Paul Barker

The one caveat: “Comparing these models is like comparing the performance of different teams at NASCAR,” says analyst.

Alibaba Cloud … launched QwQ-32B, a compact reasoning model built on its latest large language model (LLM), Qwen2.5-32b, one it says delivers performance comparable to other large cutting edge models, including Chinese rival DeepSeek and OpenAI's o1, with only 32 billion parameters.

According to a release from Alibaba, “the performance of QwQ-32B highlights the power of reinforcement learning (RL), the core technique behind the model, when applied to a robust foundation model like Qwen2.5-32B, which is pre-trained on extensive world knowledge. By leveraging continuous RL scaling, QwQ-32B demonstrates significant improvements in mathematical reasoning and coding proficiency.”

AWS defines RL as “a machine learning technique that trains software to make decisions to achieve the most optimal results and mimics the trial-and-error learning process that humans use to achieve their goals. Software actions that work towards your goal are reinforced, while actions that detract from the goal are ignored.”

 Read full story at InfoWorld…

How to Upgrade to Windows 11 for Free (Even if Your PC Is Unsupported)

by  Lance Whitney

Whether or not your Windows 10 computer is eligible for a Windows 11 upgrade, there are a few ways to jump to Microsoft's newer OS without paying for it.

Ready to try Windows 11? With Microsoft due to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, you'll have to jump to Windows 11 if you want to use a version of the OS that still gets feature updates and security patches. If your Windows 10 computer meets all the necessary requirements for an upgrade, there are a number of ways you can get the newer operating system for free.

If your PC doesn't officially support Win 11, there still may be a way to avoid having to shell out money for a whole new machine. You can sneak past the update requirements with a third-party utility called Rufus. Read on to discover the method that works best for you.

Check for Compatibility

Microsoft has strict Windows 11 upgrade requirements. To qualify, your computer needs Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 support, Secure Boot enabled in the BIOS, and a supported processor model. The TPM restriction is especially onerous since it puts many older Windows 10 PCs out of the running. Thankfully, Microsoft's PC Health Check tool makes it easy to know if your PC is compatible.

 Read full story at PCMag…

Insight VC Explains the Biggest Mistake That Keeps Founders From Raising a Big Round

by  Julie Bort

Given how much money VCs are pouring into AI startups these days, it may seem like VCs have decided: If it's not AI, they won't write a big check.

Despite the massive investments in AI startups, venture capital (VC) dealmaking isn't solely focused on AI, according to Ryan Hinkle, a managing director at Insight Partners, a VC firm managing $90 billion. Insight has recently participated in major deals, like Databricks'$10 billion round and Alteryx's $4.4 billion take-private deal, showing its capacity for big investments across stages.

Non-AI companies, such as SaaS firms, can still secure funding, but their valuation multiples (relative to revenue) are lower than pre-2021 peaks—about 30% below 2019 levels. Hinkle calls this period the “great reset,” a healthy correction after inflated valuations. To maximize VC offers, he emphasized that startups need robust financial infrastructure over flashy AI branding. Growth-stage startups must move beyond simplistic metrics like annual recurring revenue (ARR) and provide detailed, transparent financial data—covering margins, customer retention, and the full “quote to cash” process.

… Though some VCs may still chase high-growth stories, Hinkle warned that neglecting financial governance will eventually catch up with founders, urging them to prioritize it early for better outcomes.

 Read full story at TechCrunch…

Facing Competition From Big Tech, States Dangle Incentives and Loosen Laws to Attract Power Plants

by  Associated Press

The spike in demand for electricity is being driven, in large part, by the artificial intelligence.

U.S. states are accelerating efforts to build new power plants to meet surging electricity demand driven by the artificial intelligence race, tech companies' data centers, and federal incentives to boost manufacturing. States are competing for new jobs and investments by offering financial incentives, dismantling regulatory barriers, and fast-tracking projects to ensure reliable power, avoid outages, and keep electric bills manageable.

Governors are pushing for quicker approvals, with some, like Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro, proposing new agencies and tax breaks to expedite construction, even considering exiting regional grid systems to act independently. States like Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, and Maryland are exploring nuclear and other power options, while Missouri and Kansas are revising decades-old laws to allow utilities to charge customers for plant construction before completion, sparking debates over cost burdens and environmental impacts.

Energy companies see opportunities for profit, but critics warn of risks shifting to ratepayers as states undo consumer protections in the rush to build. The competition is intensified by a fossil fuel-friendly federal administration easing regulations, though state regulators largely control power plant approvals. Concerns remain about balancing speed, cost, and reliability in this race to meet future energy needs.

 Read full story at Power Engineering…

Idaho Power Advances Grid Efficiency with Dynamic Line Rating & Drone Technology

by  T&D World Staff

This initiative is part of a partership with Pitch Aeronautics and as well as part of DOE's $8.4 million investment in Grid-Enhancing Technologies.

Idaho Power has partnered to launch a dynamic line rating (DLR) project funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This initiative is part of a partership with Pitch Aeronautics and as well as part of DOE's $8.4 million investment in Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs), When complete, this demonstration will be among the largest deployments of DLR in the United States.

In this project, Pitch Aeronautics is using its custom drone, Astria, to install WireWarrior, Pitch's combined weather and line sag sensor, on Idaho Power's transmission lines. Pitch's WireWeather software integrates this sensor data with weather stations and forecasts t' predict DLR, Ambient Adjusted Ratings (AAR), and emergency ratings. This project is unique for its focus on direct weather measurements and high-resolution wind modeling.

Project Highlights

• Funding: This $4M project is enabled by $2.1 million in Department of Energy funding, with parallel cost share by project partners.
• Technology Deployment: Installation of 35 WireWarrior sensors over three years, using Pitch Aeronautics' drone technology, Astria.
• Broader Impacts: Implementing DLR will provide a more accurate assessment of real-time and forecasted transmission capacity, optimizing grid e?ciency and improving reliability during contingency operations. Enhanced weather data can also support wild?re risk mitigation efforts.

 Read full story at T&D World…

Solutions for Grid Services

by  Donna Yates, Freelance Writer, Wesco

Both utilities and grid operators are looking for solutions to help them build the grid of the future.

Utilities are challenged to accommodate the growing demand for electricity while at the same time navigating the complexities of transforming the grid to support the integration of renewable energy resources. Both utilities and grid operators are looking for solutions to help them build the grid of the future.

A strategic supply chain solutions partner specializing in grid modernization is a valuable asset that can support utilities and provide a wide array of comprehensive services and solutions to augment capacity and bring new tools and skills to the table. This allows utilities to concentrate on their core business while outsourcing project management to an experienced team that can manage all elements in the commissioning of energy solutions, generation distribution, supply chain management and project execution.

 Read full story at UtilityDive…