It’s time for Bits & Bytes…
… where we bring you news, innovations, and thought-provoking insights from AI, IT, and beyond. In this week’s newsletter we’re looking at:
- Google unleashes Gemini AI across its entire ecosystem
- IRS avoids urgent tech upgrades
- Cyberattack exposes sensitive patient data
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
🗞️ Google Drenches Devices in Gemini AI
At the Made by Google event, the tech giant cannonballed right into the AI waters, splashing Gemini AI into every nook and cranny of its new Pixel 9 lineup and pretty much everything else. The show started a bit rocky, with Gemini hilariously stumbling over simple prompts before finally pulling it together to write emails and build playlists. They also announced a new AI-powered weather app that only shows the weather information you want to see – almost like every other weather app.
And it doesn’t end there. Nope, Google decided that sprinkling AI magic on your photos and making your voice assistant chattier than ever still wasn’t enough. So, they went all-in and stuffed Gemini AI into their entire smart home lineup too. Now your Nest thermostat, Pixel Watch, and even Pixel Buds have a new best friend who’s always ready to chime in. Honestly, the Pixel Watch sounds like the Apple Watch and the Pixel Buds sounds like AirPods. I guess we wait and see how they’re different?
TL;DR
- Google packed Gemini AI into the entire Pixel 9 lineup and all its smart home devices.
- Gemini had some performance anxiety.
- Google crammed Gemini into everything, from weather apps to Nest thermostats.
TECH HEADLINES FROM ACROSS THE WEB
💰️ Do Nothing, Hope for the Best
The IRS has decided that replacing its 346 legacy systems can wait—maybe forever—after closing the office specifically tasked with that job. According to the Treasury Inspector General, the IRS’s approach is about as organized as a tax season panic, with no solid plan in place to retire these ancient systems. Looks like the IRS is content to keep rolling the dice with their aging tech, because who needs modernization when you have chaos?
😵💫 Cybercrook Gets 40 Months
Georgy Kavzharadze, aka TeRorPP, thought he could make a quick buck by selling over 300,000 stolen logins on the dark web, but now he’s landed a 40-month all-expenses-paid stay in a U.S. prison. His “clients” used these credentials to pull off $1.2 million in fraud, proving that crime does pay—just not for long. With Slilpp taken down and his Bitcoin stash gone, Georgy’s only marketplace now is the prison commissary.
🏥️️️ Ransomware Hits Kootenai Health
Kootenai Health just announced that over 464,000 patients’ personal data was stolen by the 3AM ransomware gang and leaked online, including everything from Social Security numbers to medical diagnoses. The hospital is offering identity protection services, but let’s be real—credit monitoring isn’t going to un-ring the bell when your entire health history is floating around the dark web.
TECH FOR GOOD
When storms hit and the power goes out, losing your internet connection can feel like adding insult to injury. But thanks to carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, staying online is still within reach. These companies have rolled out mobile hot spots and backup power solutions, like battery-powered cell sites and generators, to keep your devices connected even when the lights are out. Plus, with reduced speeds kicking in only after you’ve used up your data allowance, you can still text, browse, and check in on loved ones without missing a beat. It’s a smart way to stay connected and informed, no matter what the storm brings your way—because being online shouldn’t stop when the power does.
