Microsoft Exchange & Skype Servers Go Subscription-Only

Microsoft has officially launched subscription-only versions of its on-premises Exchange Server and Skype for Business Server, thereby ending the era of year-numbered releases and perpetual licences. A Long-Anticipated Transition Becomes Reality After months of preparation and close calls with support deadlines, Microsoft has made its Subscription Edition (SE) versions of Exchange Server and Skype for…

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Voice Calling Comes To WhatsApp Business Accounts

WhatsApp will soon let large businesses make and receive voice calls directly through the platform, as Meta expands its commercial communications offering with AI-driven tools and centralised marketing features. Live Voice Calls Now Coming to the WhatsApp Business API Until now, only small businesses on WhatsApp could speak to customers using voice messages or voice…

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AI Agents Failing (40% Cancellations Predicted)

New research has found that 70 per cent of AI agents struggle to complete standard office tasks successfully, while Gartner warns that over 40 per cent of current agentic AI projects will be scrapped by the end of 2027. What Are ‘AI Agents’ And Why Are They Struggling? AI agents are software systems that use…

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Spotify AI ‘Band’ Sparks Labelling Debate

In this Tech Insight, we look at how the sudden rise of a (possibly AI-generated) band on Spotify has reignited the debate over whether music streaming platforms should clearly label artificially created songs. An Indie Rock Hit, But Who Made It? The Velvet Sundown appeared suddenly in June 2025 and has since attracted more than…

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Copywriting Danish People Against Deepfakes

The Danish government is planning a major legal shift to let people claim copyright over their own body, facial features, and voice, in what it says is the first European attempt to systematically tackle the threat posed by deepfakes. A Legal Response to a Rapidly Growing Threat Deepfakes, which are highly realistic synthetic media generated…

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Pollinger’s Productivity : July 2025

Meta Adds AI Video-Editing to Meta AI, Website and Edits App Meta has begun rolling out a powerful new AI video editing tool across the Meta AI app, meta.ai website, and the standalone Edits app. This feature allows users to transform short video clips (up to 10 seconds) using over 50 preset editing prompts –…

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Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs As AI Soars

Microsoft is laying off nearly 4 per cent of its global workforce as it pours billions into artificial intelligence infrastructure, triggering fresh questions over priorities and pressure points at one of the world’s biggest tech firms. A Costly AI Pivot Brings Organisational Shake-Up The US tech giant confirmed this week that around 9,000 jobs (i.e.…

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Google’s Veo 3 Now Generates AI Audio (For Its AI Videos)

Google has launched Veo 3 (its most advanced video-generation AI yet) and for the first time, it can also create synced sound effects, ambient noise, and even dialogue to accompany the visuals. From Silent Clips to Fully-Sounded Scenes Announced at Google I/O 2025, the company’s annual developer conference, Veo 3 marks a significant leap in…

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Microsoft’s Enterprise Agreement Shake-Up Hits Resellers

Microsoft’s decision to bypass long-standing partners in its Enterprise Agreement (EA) renewals is sending financial shockwaves through the global IT channel, with UK-based Bytes Technology Group among the first major casualties. Reshaping the Channel For years, Microsoft relied on a network of accredited Large Service Providers (LSPs) to handle the sale and renewal of its…

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Block Or Charge AI Bots Accessing Your Website

A new system from Cloudflare gives millions of websites the power to block AI bots from scraping their content without permission and could soon let them charge for access via a new pay-per-crawl model. AI Crawlers A Problem for Publishers and Creators In recent years, the rapid growth of AI tools has sparked a battle…

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