🚀 Sora launches, Google’s quantum leap, Microsoft’s water-free tech
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, December 10. Today we are covering:
Google Unveils New Quantum Computer With Mind-Boggling Speed
Sustainable by design: Next-generation datacenters consume zero water for cooling
Hackers are exploiting a flaw in popular file-transfer tools to launch mass hacks, again
Let’s dive in
Sora is here
OpenAI
Sora Turbo, a faster version of OpenAI's video generation model, is now available at Sora.com for ChatGPT Plus and Pro users. It supports video generation up to 1080p resolution, offering up to 50 videos at 480p per month on the Plus plan, with higher usage limits and longer durations on the Pro plan.
The platform includes advanced features such as a storyboard tool for precise frame-by-frame prompts, video aspect ratio customization (widescreen, vertical, square), and the ability to blend, extend, or generate entirely new videos using text, images, or video inputs. A community feed highlights featured and recent creations.
Sora prioritizes safety and transparency through built-in safeguards, including visible watermarks by default, C2PA metadata for content verification, and strict moderation policies against deepfakes and harmful content. Limited access to likeness uploads is in place, with plans for broader availability as safety protocols improve.
𝕏: aditya (@model_mechanic) is a legend and visionary in the field, and runs a very special team. - Sam Altman (@sama)
Google Unveils New Quantum Computer With Mind-Boggling Speed
By Jane Lanhee Lee via Bloomberg
Google unveiled a quantum computer powered by its new Willow chip, capable of solving problems in five minutes that would take supercomputers 10 septillion years.
The Willow chip overcomes key error correction challenges, achieving speeds exponentially faster than Google’s previous quantum computing milestone from five years ago.
Despite its unprecedented power, Google’s next hurdle is finding real-world applications for its quantum computing capabilities.
𝕏: Google's new quantum computer can solve in five minutes a problem that would take supercomputers around 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 years - Stephanie Link (@Stephanie_Link)
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Sustainable by design: Next-generation datacenters consume zero water for cooling
By Steve Solomon via Microsoft
Microsoft has introduced a next-generation datacenter design using zero-water cooling through closed-loop liquid cooling systems, eliminating the need for water evaporation and saving over 125 million liters of water annually per datacenter.
The company’s Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) has improved by 39% since 2021, with current datacenters averaging 0.30 L/kWh due to innovations like reclaimed water use and expanded temperature ranges for cooling.
Pilot projects in Phoenix, Arizona and Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin will begin testing zero-water evaporated designs in 2026, with broader deployment expected by late 2027.
𝕏: AI depends on water—and so do we. Proud that Microsoft's new datacenters will consume zero water for cooling, meaning each one will avoid using 125 million liters of water every year. Thanks to the teams paving the way for a more sustainable future. - Mustafa Suleyman (@mustafasuleyman)
By Issie Lapowsky via Rest of World
WhatsApp has evolved from a simple messaging app into a global business platform, enabling transactions from pottery sales to banking and insurance services, with 2 billion daily users across 180 countries.
Meta is expanding WhatsApp’s business features through AI-powered tools, click-to-message ads, and paid APIs, generating billions in revenue while pushing toward its goal of onboarding "every business in the world" to the platform.
Despite privacy concerns over data usage and AI-driven marketing, WhatsApp maintains its end-to-end encryption and plans further monetization while balancing simplicity and business expansion.
𝕏: WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app, with 2 bln daily users who send 100 bln messages every day in 60 languages across 180 countries. - rinachandran (@rinachandran)
Hackers are exploiting a flaw in popular file-transfer tools to launch mass hacks, again
By Carly Page via TechCrunch
Hackers are actively exploiting a high-risk vulnerability (CVE-2024-50623) in Cleo’s file transfer tools, including LexiCom, VLTransfer, and Harmony, allowing for remote code execution, according to cybersecurity firm Huntress.
Despite Cleo’s October patch, Huntress reported that the fix is ineffective, with at least 10 businesses compromised since December 3, affecting sectors like logistics, food supply, and consumer products.
Huntress urges Cleo customers to move internet-exposed systems behind firewalls as no updated patch has been released; the attack’s scale remains unclear, with hackers observed performing post-exploitation activity.
𝕏: Hackers are exploiting another vulnerability in a popular file transfer tool to launch mass hacks. Huntress says hackers have used the Cleo flaw to target at least 10 businesses - and says it has observed “post-exploitation activity” - Carly Page (@CarlyPage_)
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