Tech Updates

Microsoft's Bing search engine has successfully gained market share from Google, partly due to AI, while the company also clarifies its "Xbox on PC" branding. Separately, Google and Nvidia are in talks to invest billions in Israeli company VAST Data at a potential $30 billion valuation. Reports on Israel's quantum computing progress are mixed; while one article suggests the country is lagging, another highlights a significant breakthrough by Israeli company Quantum Art, which has stabilized 200 qubits. In other product news, DJI is launching its Amflow e-bike in the United States.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/b1mllfdwxe

https://www.theverge.com/microsoft/716564/microsoft-xbox-pc-xbox-on-pc-branding-changes

https://www.theverge.com/news/715696/dji-amflow-us-price-mtb-avinox

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/byn00m500vex

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rjk27x9wxe

https://www.theverge.com/analysis/717167/bing-market-share-growth-google-ai

Subliminal Learning: language models transmit behavioral traits via hidden signals in data

https://arxiv.org/html/2507.14805v1

Palo Alto Networks' CEO Nir Zuk has reportedly made a $25 billion acquisition offer, though a contrasting viewpoint suggests that relying on a single cybersecurity vendor can increase vulnerability. Other major tech companies are also in the news: Apple's CEO Tim Cook says the company is open to AI acquisitions, Google lost an antitrust appeal and must make sweeping changes to its Play Store, and Microsoft has caught Russian hackers targeting foreign embassies.

In platform and developer news, Reddit is shifting its strategy to become a search engine. A recent survey shows that while developer usage of AI coding tools is on the rise, their trust in these tools is declining.

In funding news, several tech companies have raised significant capital. Noma Security, a cybersecurity firm, raised $100 million to secure AI agents. Carbyne raised $100 million for its AI system for emergency call centers, and the entrepreneurs from the company Argon have raised $15 million for a new cybersecurity venture.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sj00vyappxe
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hjnigcvdlg
https://www.theverge.com/news/716790/apple-earnings-q3-2025-ai-tim-cook
https://www.theverge.com/news/717095/reddit-q2-2025-earnings-search-engine
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/07/microsoft-catches-russian-hackers-targeting-foreign-embassies
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/07/developer-survey-shows-trust-in-ai-coding-tools-is-falling-as-usage-rises
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/google-loses-app-store-antitrust-appeal-must-make-sweeping-changes-to-play-store
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rksaytodge
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/r19c5cdvge
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/s1o1dtdvgl

Meta has surpassed its quarterly forecasts, causing its stock to jump, while CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly had a billion-dollar offer rejected by a top AI talent. Meanwhile, Apple is slowing down in the Chinese market due to the "Trump effect." In other tech giant news, a Google tool was allegedly misused to erase a tech CEO's past from search results, and YouTube is now allowing creators to use more profanity in monetized videos. Elon Musk's Boring Company plans to construct a tunnel under Nashville. In startup funding, the Israeli cybersecurity firm Legion Security has raised $30 million, and Nir Zuk is leading a funding round for Barix Health, a developer of a portable hyperbaric chamber.

• https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hyanvilpel
• https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rkclol8pee
• https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hjl46evwgx
• https://www.theverge.com/news/716004/elon-musk-boring-company-nashville-loop-tunnel
• https://www.theverge.com/news/715658/youtube-swearing-profanity-f-bombs-monetization
• https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/google-tool-misused-to-scrub-tech-ceos-shady-past-from-search
• https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/bkr82awpel
• https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rjhzkuwdxe

Microsoft reported a record quarter with strong earnings driven by its cloud and AI divisions, alongside growth in its Windows and Xbox segments. Meta continues to pursue its AI and superintelligence ambitions. In other company news, Adobe has released beta versions of Premiere Pro and After Effects for Windows on Arm, while the CEO of Palo Alto is considering the next acquisition after the deal for CyberArk. Several funding rounds were announced: AI company Anthropic is in talks to raise capital at a $170 billion valuation, Loomion raised $40 million, Israeli electric aircraft maker AIR secured $23 million, and quantum computing firm Classiq raised over $10 million. A recent report also found that only one-third of Americans have ever used AI for work.

https://www.theverge.com/news/716523/meta-q2-earnings-superintelligence-ai-mark-zzuckerberg
https://arstechnica.com/ai/2025/07/so-far-only-one-third-of-americans-have-ever-used-ai-for-work
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/h1tq1kdweg
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/rknyg00dpxe
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hy11nfddwex
https://www.theverge.com/news/715769/adobe-windows-on-arm-premiere-pro-after-effects-beta-release
https://www.theverge.com/news/716191/microsoft-q4-2025-earnings-revenue-profits-windows-xbox-gaming-surface
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sjcy2awdge
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/r1ku5lwpeg
https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hjcrmvddgl

Microsoft is getting ready for GPT-5 with a new Copilot smart mode | The Vergehttps://www.theverge.com/notepad-microsoft-newsletter/715849/microsoft-copilot-smart-mode-testing-notepad

Apple released iOS 18.6 and macOS 15.6 as part of its final updates for the current generation of operating systems. Microsoft is updating the Windows 11 Task Manager to make its performance data more sensible. Google has enhanced its AI tools; NotebookLM can now create AI-narrated slideshows, and its Search AI Mode can analyze uploaded images, such as homework problems. OpenAI launched a new AI study mode in ChatGPT that helps users learn instead of just providing direct answers. Adobe introduced a new AI feature in Photoshop, making it significantly easier to add and blend objects into photos. Alibaba revealed smart AI glasses with features like augmented reality, real-time translation, and QR code payments. In funding news, cybersecurity company Seal Security raised $13 million, and BlinkOps raised $50 million to develop smart security agents. Teramount secured $41 million to advance its work in AI optics.

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/s1nhjmupll

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/bkjofmlwxl

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/apple-releases-ios-18-6-macos-15-6-and-other-updates-as-current-gen-winds-down

https://www.theverge.com/news/715493/openai-chatgpt-ai-study-mode-answer

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/07/revamped-task-manager-second-monitor-notifications-coming-soon-to-windows-11

https://www.theverge.com/news/715283/google-notebooklm-video-overviews-studio-ai

https://www.theverge.com/news/715218/google-ai-mode-image-upload-canvas-update-students

https://www.theverge.com/news/715073/adobe-photoshop-ai-harmonize-composite-editing-feature

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/sjpx00lupgl

https://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hy4kotvwxg

Google's CEO states that AI is positively impacting the entire business, and the company is rethinking search results with a new AI-curated "Web Guide." In other AI news, Netflix admitted to using generative AI to cut costs on a major sci-fi show, Slack says its AI can now understand company-specific jargon, and a new study has reportedly upended the field of AI safety. Apple has launched a $20 subscription service to protect multiple devices. WhatsApp is dropping its native Windows app in favor of an uglier web version. Spotify's new audiobook plans are criticized for being too short to finish long books, and TikTok is putting the spotlight on songwriters.https://www.theverge.com/news/709863/netflix-generative-ai-the-eternauthttps://www.theverge.com/news/711972/apple-applecare-one-subscription-multiple-deviceshttps://www.theverge.com/news/712638/alphabet-google-earnings-q2-2025-ceo-sundar-pichai-aihttps://www.theverge.com/news/710509/whatsapp-windows-app-web-wrapper-changeshttps://www.theverge.com/news/709693/spotify-audiobook-15-hour-add-onhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/711975/a-new-study-just-upended-ai-safetyhttps://www.theverge.com/news/713351/google-ai-search-results-web-guide-labs-beta-testhttps://www.calcalist.co.il/calcalistech/article/hjj00kiauglhttps://www.theverge.com/news/708820/slack-ai-message-context-canvas-writing-assistanthttps://www.theverge.com/news/708611/tiktok-songwriter-features-music-tab

Challenging – a blog of thoughts and insights for thinking people

https://koretigar.com/post/68888b4374420865420b2e38

Subliminal Learning: Language Models Transmit Behavioral Traits via Hidden Signals in Data

https://alignment.anthropic.com/2025/subliminal-learning