Digital twins, AI security flaws, Google photo realism, Amazon last-mile, Anthropic AI...

Computer World explores the rapid expansion of digital twin technology, highlighting its transformative applications in personalized medicine and business efficiency, such as individualized diabetes care and workforce automation research conducted by MIT and Oak Ridge. However, the technology faces skepticism: a recent First Insight study found that nearly 70% of US shoppers distrust brands that use digital twins instead of genuine customer feedback, while Meta’s attempts to integrate AI-driven digital twins into social platforms resulted in negative user backlash, forcing the company to scale back these features. The article cautions that, while digital twins offer powerful simulation capabilities, their use in representing real people remains fraught with trust and reputational risks. Computer World

TechSpot reports a critical vulnerability in the widely used React JS framework, described by researchers as a "perfect" exploit—both easy to trigger and capable of causing severe damage to web and private cloud infrastructure. The flaw has an almost 100% exploitation likelihood, putting a vast number of web servers at risk and prompting urgent calls for rapid patching and mitigation by developers worldwide. TechSpot

The Verge reveals that Google's latest visual AI model, Nano Banana Pro, can generate images nearly indistinguishable from real smartphone photos. The hyper-realistic results blur the line between authentic and synthetic imagery, raising both excitement and concerns about the potential for AI-generated fakes to proliferate online. The article notes that subtle clues remain for the discerning eye, but the technology’s leap in realism could soon challenge even experts’ ability to tell real from fake. The Verge

According to TechSpot, sources indicate that Amazon is preparing to end its longstanding reliance on the US Postal Service (USPS) for last-mile deliveries, a move that would redirect over $6 billion in annual revenue away from USPS. This transition could reshape logistics in the US, further consolidating Amazon’s control over its supply chain. However, The Information adds that Amazon officially denies plans to end its USPS contract, confirming only that negotiations are ongoing while emphasizing their own expanding delivery network. TechSpot The Information

TechSpot highlights a massive spyware campaign tied to the China-based ShadyPanda hacking group. Researchers uncovered that several popular Chrome and Edge browser extensions were weaponized with malicious code, compromising over 4 million devices. The attack underscores the growing risks associated with browser extension ecosystems and the urgent need for improved vetting and user vigilance. TechSpot

The Register reports that major OEMs are preparing for significant price hikes—up to 15% for servers and 5% for PCs—due to DRAM and NAND memory shortages. Industry insiders attribute the spike in component costs to the AI boom, with TechSpot noting that companies like Transcend, SanDisk, and Samsung are all experiencing supply constraints. This supply crunch is poised to impact hardware buyers across enterprise and consumer segments in early 2026. The Register Tom's Hardware

The Register announces the release of Proxmox Datacenter Manager, an open-source, software-defined datacenter solution aimed at providing a robust alternative to VMware. The platform enables centralized management of virtual machines across multiple sites or clusters, positioning Proxmox as a compelling private cloud platform for organizations seeking open, flexible IT infrastructure. The Register

XDA Developers reviews Google’s new Antigravity IDE, describing it as an "agentic development platform" tailored for the emerging agent-first era. The platform distinguishes itself from established tools like Microsoft’s VS Code by integrating AI-powered development assistance, marking Google’s most ambitious foray into developer environments to date. XDA Developers

The Verge reports that Microsoft is rolling back its diversity and inclusion efforts, including the discontinuation of its annual diversity report and stripping diversity from companywide core performance priorities. The move follows a Trump administration executive order targeting DEI programs, signaling a potential industry-wide shift as regulatory and political pressures mount. The Verge

IEEE Spectrum features insights from leading AI researcher Melanie Mitchell, who argues that the current benchmarks for evaluating AI cognition are inadequate. Drawing from developmental psychology, she advocates for more rigorous, creative, and skeptical methodologies—akin to those used in studying babies and animals—to truly assess AI’s capabilities. Mitchell warns that progress toward AGI (artificial general intelligence) is hard to measure with poorly defined or easily gamed tests, calling for a scientific culture that values replication and alternative explanations. IEEE Spectrum

Tech Radar reports on the discovery of a massive lithium-rich clay deposit in the McDermitt Caldera supervolcano. This find could potentially supply the battery and tech industry for decades, representing a multi-trillion-dollar resource. However, its location within a supervolcano poses unique extraction and environmental challenges, sparking debate about the feasibility and risks involved. Tech Radar