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Spotify rolls out Prompted Playlist beta in New Zealand — write a prompt, get a custom playlist Spotify is testing a new feature called Prompted Playlist that lets users type a custom instruction and have Spotify generate a playlist based on that prompt plus their complete listening history. The beta begins in New Zealand on December 11 and is available in English at launch. Unlike earlier AI playlist efforts, Prompted Playlist emphasizes user control: you can tell Spotify exactly what mood, era, or vibe you want, set a cadence for auto‑updates, and use an "Ideas" tab for inspiration. Spotify also says it will draw on your entire listening history "back to day one," making recommendations that blend prompt intent with long‑term taste signals. How it works Custom prompts: Type free‑form…

PS Plus Game Catalog: December additions include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Granblue Fantasy: Relink & more Sony has announced December additions to the PS Plus Game Catalog, with most titles arriving on December 16. Highlights include Assassin's Creed Mirage, Granblue Fantasy: Relink and Cat Quest III — while Skate Story is already available now for PS5 subscribers. The December slate mixes big-budget and indie fare: Assassin's Creed Mirage returns to the series' stealth roots and will be playable on PS4 and PS5; Granblue Fantasy: Relink brings a console version of the beloved action RPG to both platforms; and Cat Quest III offers open‑world, cat‑and‑dog themed action on PS4/PS5. Full list of notable additions Skate Story — available now on PS5 (indie skateboarding sim) Assassin's Creed Mirage — PS4, PS5 (arrives Dec…

State Department returns to Times New Roman 14‑pt, reversing 2023 Calibri policy The U.S. State Department is reversing its 2023 decision to use Calibri for official communications and is now requiring Times New Roman at 14‑point. A memo titled "Return to Tradition: Times New Roman 14‑Point Font Required for All Department Paper" frames the change as a move to restore formality and align documents with the department’s letterhead. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued the sans‑serif Calibri looked "informal" and clashed with official stationery. Former Secretary Antony Blinken had adopted Calibri in 2023, citing improved accessibility for screen readers and text‑to‑speech tools. The shift back to a serif typeface has prompted debate about readability, accessibility and whether the choice is politically motivated. Why font choice matters Readability vs. accessibility: Serif…

Hackers seed search results with AI‑generated commands that install malware — the AMOS case and how to protect yourself Security firm Huntress has flagged a worrying new social‑engineering tactic: attackers use AI assistants to craft dangerous terminal commands, publish the chat publicly, then pay to boost that page in Google search results. Unsuspecting users searching for how‑to instructions may follow the copy‑paste command and unknowingly install malware such as AMOS. The attack chain is simple but effective. An attacker prompts a chatbot (Huntress tested ChatGPT and Grok) to generate a shell command for a common task — for example, "clear disk space on Mac" — posts the conversation publicly, and sponsors or boosts the link so it ranks for the query. When a user clicks the result and pastes the…

Hackers are seeding search results with AI‑generated commands that install malware — what happened and how to stay safe Security firm Huntress warns of a new social‑engineering trick: attackers use AI assistants to craft dangerous terminal commands, publish the chat publicly, then pay to boost that page in Google. Unsuspecting users searching for how‑to instructions may follow the command and inadvertently install malware like AMOS. The reported attack chain starts with an attacker prompting a chatbot (Huntress tested ChatGPT and Grok) to produce a copy‑pasteable command for a common task (e.g. “clear disk space on Mac”). The attacker posts the dialog publicly, promotes it so it ranks in search, and waits for victims to execute the command in their terminal. Why this is dangerous It bypasses typical red flags —…

Adobe & OpenAI integrate Photoshop, Adobe Express and Acrobat into ChatGPT Adobe and OpenAI announced a partnership that brings core Adobe tools — Photoshop, Adobe Express and Acrobat — directly into the ChatGPT interface. Users can invoke specific editing and document functions from those apps using simple text prompts inside ChatGPT, streamlining creative and productivity workflows. The integration lets you do things like adjust image areas, tweak brightness/contrast, remove backgrounds, generate or resize assets, and create or edit PDFs — all from a chat window. Adobe’s features appear as callable actions inside ChatGPT, so you can iterate on visuals and documents conversationally without switching apps constantly. Key features Photoshop functions: Select or modify image regions, apply adjustments, remove backgrounds and request edits by text instruction. Adobe Express: Generate or resize…

Is OpenAI’s lead slipping? Competition, GPT‑5 backlash and the risk of an AI bubble OpenAI — once the runaway leader after ChatGPT’s breakout — faces mounting challenges. Competitors from Google, Anthropic and startups like DeepSeek have released powerful models this year, some of which have outperformed GPT‑5 in public comparisons and adoption metrics. GPT‑5 debuted to high expectations but many users found it underwhelming compared with prior models, and public rankings now place it behind several rivals. At the same time, Google’s Gemini 3 Pro and Anthropic’s models (now appearing in Microsoft Copilot) have gained traction, prompting OpenAI to declare an internal "code red" to accelerate improvements. Key developments DeepSeek’s R1 model and chatbot saw rapid adoption earlier in the year, briefly overtaking ChatGPT downloads in the App Store. Anthropic’s…

Reddit tests verification for public figures with a limited alpha Reddit has begun a limited alpha test of identity verification for public figures, starting with a curated group that includes journalists from major outlets. The move adds a grey "verified" checkmark to selected accounts and converts some existing "official" business badges into the new verified label. The company says the feature is voluntary and opt‑in, focused on improving clarity in moments when verification matters — like AMAs, news reporting or when brands share important information. Unlike some platforms, Reddit emphasizes verification is not about status and does not confer special privileges or visibility. How the initial test works Limited alpha: Reddit hand‑picked a small, curated set of accounts (journalists and high‑visibility figures) to trial the checkmarks. Business badges: Accounts using…

Petco accidentally exposed customer and pet records via Vetco site — what to know and do Petco confirmed a security lapse that left files from its Vetco clinics website accessible without login. The exposed data reportedly included customer names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, financial details and Vetco visit records such as medical histories, pet names and vaccination data. The issue stemmed from an incorrect software setting that made a number of files publicly reachable. Petco has taken the affected portion of the Vetco site offline, removed the exposed files and implemented additional security measures. The company has not said whether it can determine if any of the data was actually downloaded during the exposure. Which customers may be affected People who used Vetco clinics for…

Apple Studio Display on sale: $230 off the tilt‑only model Apple’s Studio Display — a 27‑inch 5K monitor known for its bright, color‑accurate panel and surprisingly good built‑in speakers — is currently discounted by $230. The reduction applies to the tilt‑adjustable model only, bringing the price down to about $1,368. If you can live without height adjustment, this is one of the best recent prices on a premium Mac‑oriented monitor. Highlights of the Studio Display include a 5K Retina screen, accurate colors suited for creative work, and a solid integrated speaker system. Reviewers praised its image quality, though some pointed out the lack of ProMotion and a few ergonomic compromises depending on your setup. What to consider before buying Stand flexibility: The on‑sale model includes a tilt‑only stand — if…