2025-09-10 Briefing - alobbs.com

Today’s tech news highlights include Oracle’s stock soaring 27% on a strong cloud outlook with $455 billion in future contracts, Google Cloud’s AI-driven backlog forecasted to reach $53 billion by 2027, and Microsoft’s nearly $20 billion AI infrastructure deal with Nebius. Additionally, Apple announced the thinnest iPhone Air and new Health features, while supply chain attacks on npm and security lapses at the US DoD raised concerns.

▶️ Internet Infrastructure

Oracle Shares Surge 27% on Strong Cloud Growth and $455 Billion Future Contracts

Oracle’s stock surged 27% after hours on September 9, 2025, amid a robust cloud outlook, with $455 billion in future contracts and a 55% YoY increase in cloud revenue, aiming for $144 billion by 2030.

Oracle’s stock surged 27% in after-hours trading on September 9, 2025, driven by a strong cloud business outlook.
The company’s remaining performance obligation increased to $455 billion, up 359% year-over-year, with four multi-billion-dollar contracts signed in Q1.
Future contract revenue is projected to reach $455 billion, approximately four times Google Cloud’s $106 billion; total cloud infrastructure revenue rose 55% YoY to $3.3 billion, with an expected $18 billion between June 2025 and May 2026, and a target of $144 billion by 2030.

ICE Continues Use of Cell-Site Simulators Amid Civil Rights Concerns

ICE uses Stingray cell-site simulators for location tracking, purchasing nearly $1 million in mobile units and maintaining a $4.4 million contract, despite civil liberties concerns.

ICE used cell-site simulators (Stingrays) in Utah to track a suspect, with warrants issued for approximate 30-block area and later for precise location.
Despite criticism from civil rights groups, ICE continues deploying Stingrays, purchasing nearly $1 million in mobile “cell site simulator vehicles” in May 2025 and maintaining a $4.4 million contract with Harris Corporation.
ICE’s surveillance tools are part of broader efforts, including a $12 million AI system called Sherlock by C3 AI, which has yet to demonstrate significant investigative benefits after three years.

Google Cloud Backlog Poised to Hit $53B Revenue by 2027 Driven by AI

Google Cloud’s $106 billion backlog, driven by AI demand, positions it to reach $53 billion in revenue by 2027, with AI infrastructure, storage, and monetization strategies fueling growth.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian reports $106 billion in unfulfilled contracts, with over 50% expected to convert to revenue within two years.
In Q2 2025, Google Cloud generated $13.6 billion, a 32% increase year-over-year; projected to add approximately $53 billion in revenue by 2027.
Kurian emphasizes AI as a primary growth driver, with Google Cloud leveraging optimized AI training/inference systems, high-bandwidth optical networking, and proprietary AI models.

Microsoft Signs $19.4 Billion AI Infrastructure Deal with Nebius Group

Microsoft’s nearly $20 billion AI infrastructure deal with Nebius Group, owned by ex-Yandex cofounder Arkady Volozh, involves GPU capacity from a New Jersey data center, with deployment planned through 2026 and options to expand capacity.

Microsoft signed a deal valued up to $19.4 billion with Netherlands-based Nebius Group, formerly Yandex N.V., for access to GPU infrastructure over five years.
Nebius will deliver dedicated capacity from its New Jersey data center, with services deployed in several tranches during 2025-2026; total contract value expected to be approximately $17.4 billion through 2031.
The agreement includes an option for Microsoft to acquire additional capacity, potentially increasing the total contract value to about $19.4 billion, as detailed in Nebius’s Form 6-K.

The US Department of Defense left stream keys for social media livestreams publicly accessible on DVIDS, exposing accounts to hijacking; issue has now been resolved with new keys.

US Department of Defense exposed stream keys for social media accounts on its DVIDS website until this week
Keys allowed unauthorized livestreams on Facebook, YouTube, and X; example includes 2018 Twitter stream key for Cyber Command
Security flaw has been fixed; new stream keys implemented, old cached info no longer accessible

Oracle’s Q1 Profits Flat but Stock Soars on RPO Growth and Big Cloud Deals

Oracle’s Q1 FY2026 profits remained flat at $2.93 billion, but a surge in stock price driven by $455 billion in RPOs and multi-billion-dollar deals positions Larry Ellison to overtake Elon Musk as the world’s richest person.

Oracle’s Q1 FY2026 profits were flat at $2.93 billion, with lower EPS compared to the previous year
Stock surged nearly 30% after hours due to anticipated future earnings, with $455 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPOs)
RPO backlog increased 359% to $455 billion; Oracle expects cloud revenue to grow from $18 billion in 2025 to $144 billion by 2031
Oracle signed four multi-billion-dollar contracts in Q1, boosting demand for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and expanding RPO
Oracle’s multi-cloud database revenue grew 1,529% in Q1; plans to add 37 datacenters to three hyperscaler partners, totaling 71
Oracle’s current projects on OCI are expected to generate significant revenue growth, with potential additional government and private sector deals
Oracle’s net worth is estimated at around $300 billion, positioning Larry Ellison to potentially surpass Elon Musk as the world’s richest person

▶️ Open Source

Supply Chain Attack on npm Infects 23 Packages, Exposing JavaScript Ecosystem Risks

A supply chain attack on npm compromised 23 packages, including popular utilities, after a developer was phished, leading to widespread disruption and minimal financial theft, exposing JavaScript ecosystem fragility.

During a two-hour window on Monday, malware-infected npm packages were downloaded in 10% of cloud environments, according to Wiz researchers.
The attack expanded from 18 infected Qix packages to include five additional compromised DuckDB and coveops/abi packages, as of Tuesday, per JFrog.
The attack was initiated after developer Josh Junon was phished, leading to a backdoor in popular npm packages like debug and chalk, with about two billion weekly downloads.
Despite the potential for large-scale theft, attackers only stole approximately $925 in cryptocurrency, indicating a focus on disruption rather than profit.
The attack underscores the fragility of the JavaScript ecosystem, where many packages depend on single-maintainer utilities, increasing attack vectors.
Wiz warns organizations to assume malicious versions of popular packages remain available and may be automatically included in development pipelines.
The incident caused significant industry disruption, with malicious code present in at least 10% of cloud assets, and highlights the ease of exploiting supply chain vulnerabilities through phishing and credential theft.

▶️ Management and Leadership

Airbnb CEO: Hospitality Jobs Likely Safe from AI Disruption for 5-10 Years

Brian Chesky states that hospitality and service jobs are likely to remain human-driven for the next decade, as Airbnb expands into experiences and services to support workers displaced by AI.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky believes hospitality and service jobs are relatively safe from AI disruption for the next 5-10 years
Chesky emphasizes the importance of human interaction in experiences like wine tasting and personalized greetings
He envisions displaced AI workers expanding into Airbnb’s growing services arm, including private chefs, massages, and photography

Hidden Costs of $1 AI Deals Threaten Government Adoption of OpenAI and Anthropic

Sid Ghatak warns that $1-a-year AI deals from OpenAI and Anthropic could entail high hidden costs for training, inference, and data infrastructure, impacting government AI adoption.

Former Biden AI advisor Sid Ghatak warns that $1 AI deals with OpenAI and Anthropic may incur hidden costs, including training and inference expenses.
Government may need additional investments for data consolidation and infrastructure beyond the nominal $1 fee.
OpenAI received a $200 million Defense Department contract in June for AI tools in national security applications.

Microsoft to Enforce Three-Day In-Office Work Starting February 2026

Microsoft will require employees to work in offices at least three days weekly, beginning February 2026 in phases, to enhance collaboration amid AI-driven innovation and competitive workforce strategies.

Microsoft mandates employees work from offices at least three days a week, starting with Seattle-area employees within 50 miles of offices in February 2026.
The policy will roll out in three phases: Puget Sound in February, other US offices, then international locations; exact start dates are pending.
Employees can request exceptions by September 19; details on exception procedures are not specified.

Robinhood is launching Robinhood Social, a platform for sharing trades, trending content, and publicly reported trades from hedge funds and politicians, with a beta rollout in Q1 2026.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev announced the development of Robinhood Social, a social media platform for sharing and tracking trades, at the 2025 Hood Summit.
The platform will feature a “for you” page with trending and interest-based trade recommendations, publicly reported trades from hedge funds and politicians, and performance metrics of post authors.
A beta version will launch to approximately 10,000 users in the first quarter of 2026, with a broader release pending.

Apple Watch Series 11 Debuts with Hypertension Detection and 5G

Apple unveiled the Series 11 Apple Watch with hypertension detection, Sleep Score, 5G, and enhanced durability, supporting faster connectivity and 24-hour battery life, launching September 19 at $399.

Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 11 on September 9, 2025, featuring hypertension detection, Sleep Score, 5G connectivity, and improved scratch resistance.
The Series 11 uses the same S10 chip as Series 10, with 24-hour battery life and fast charging (8 hours in 15 minutes).
Hypertension detection analyzes blood vessel response via optical heart sensor over 30 days; Sleep Score assesses sleep quality based on duration, consistency, wake-ups, and sleep stages.

AI Security Reviews in Claude Code Face Limitations and Risks

AI security reviews in Claude Code can detect some vulnerabilities but may miss advanced exploits and introduce new risks through code execution, requiring rigorous human oversight.

Anthropic introduced automated security reviews in Claude Code in August 2025, aiming to prevent insecure code from reaching production.
Checkmarx tested Claude Code’s /security-review command, successfully identifying simple vulnerabilities like XSS and authorization bypass but missing a remote code execution via pandas.
Researchers found that Claude Code can be fooled by crafted code, such as a “sanitize” function that appears safe but executes unsafe processes, and that the review process involves executing test cases, which can introduce new risks.
The system warns users to only use it with trusted code due to prompt injection risks and potential mistakes, highlighting that AI security reviews are susceptible to suggestion and misjudgment.
Recommendations include restricting AI access to production environments, requiring human confirmation for risky actions, and securing endpoints to mitigate risks from malicious code.

Atlassian to Discontinue Data Center Products by 2026 Amid Migration Challenges

Atlassian will end sales of datacenter products by March 2026, shifting fully to cloud, with increased costs and migration challenges for many customers, especially US government users.

Atlassian will discontinue its datacenter products, including Jira, Confluence, and Bamboo, with sales ending March 30, 2026, licenses expiring by March 28, 2029
Only Bitbucket will remain available via a hybrid license option; migration tools are available for organizations with fewer than 1000 users
The company plans to add FedRAMP moderate and high impact environments, with a FedRAMP authorized government cloud and Atlassian Isolated Cloud offerings
Migration costs may increase by approximately 28% on average for customers moving from datacenter to cloud, except for those with fewer than 10,000 users who might save money
Customers with legacy systems cite migration difficulties and rising costs as reasons for dissatisfaction; some face compliance issues, especially US government users requiring FedRAMP
The timeline for datacenter end of life: sales cease March 30, 2026; licenses end March 30, 2028; all licenses expire March 28, 2029

Microsoft removed HLT instruction from Windows 95 to prevent hardware bricking

Microsoft removed the HLT power-saving instruction from Windows 95 to prevent system bricking, citing risks from unmanageable hardware incompatibilities and uncertain device susceptibility.

Windows 95 included an HLT instruction for power saving, but Microsoft removed it due to device bricking risks.
The HLT instruction causes the CPU to shut down until the next hardware interrupt, reducing power consumption, especially for laptops.
Microsoft avoided implementing device-specific workarounds because of uncertainty about the prevalence of affected hardware, fearing widespread system bricking.

HMD Launches European-Designed Secure 5G Smartphone Ivalo XE

HMD Global’s HMD Secure division introduces the European-manufactured Android smartphone Ivalo XE, based on Qualcomm’s Dragonwing Q-6690 SoC, with advanced security features for government and security-critical clients.

HMD Global launches HMD Secure division targeting European governments, emergency services, and defense sectors, with first device expected in Q1 2026
The Android-based HMD Ivalo XE is claimed to be one of the few 5G smartphones designed, developed, and manufactured in Europe, utilizing European vetted manufacturing and supply chain
The device is based on Qualcomm’s Dragonwing Q-6690 SoC, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, 5G, RFID, and includes security features such as intrusion detection, dual encryption, secure boot, fingerprint reader, and screen stealth mode

Microsoft Implements Mandatory In-Office Policy for Staff Near Redmond

Microsoft enforces a three-day minimum weekly in-office requirement for staff within 50 miles of Redmond, starting February 2025, with broader rollout across US and globally, emphasizing collaboration over headcount reduction.

Microsoft mandates return-to-office (RTO) policy requiring staff within 50 miles of Redmond to attend at least three days per week, starting by end of February 2025.
Employees outside the immediate area are expected to follow the policy on an unspecified timeline; exemption requests are due by September 19, 2025.
The policy aims to enhance collaboration and customer service, explicitly stating it is not intended for headcount reduction, amid ongoing debates about remote work efficacy.

US Army invests $354M in Anduril and Rivet for advanced mixed-reality battlefield headsets

The US Army invests $354 million in Anduril and Rivet to develop new mixed-reality headsets with night vision and AI, aiming for better battlefield data integration and reduced health issues.

US Army awarded $159 million to Anduril and $195 million to Rivet for the SBMC program to develop mixed-reality headsets with night vision and AI capabilities
The program aims to provide helmet-mounted situational awareness and mission command data integration for squad-level soldiers, addressing siloed battlefield information
Previous efforts included the IVAS program, managed by Microsoft and Palantir, which faced delays and soldier health issues such as headaches and nausea; IVAS version 1.2 was tested last year
Anduril plans to develop new hardware with enhanced features, including night vision, leveraging lessons from IVAS; Rivet will contribute modular architecture and software integration without collaboration with Anduril
The Army seeks cost-effective solutions, avoiding reliance solely on Microsoft, with a focus on soldier input and avoiding legacy tech compromises

Gartner Warns AI Licensing Chaos Sparks Hidden Costs and Legal Risks

Gartner reports AI licensing is chaotic, with hidden costs, inconsistent pricing, and unclear legal terms, complicating buyer risk management and requiring scrutiny of vendor contracts and pricing models.

Gartner VP analyst Jo Liversidge describes AI software licensing as in “pandemonium,” with major vendors often omitting AI-specific terms or hiding costs.
Vendors’ contracts lack clarity on liability, responsible AI principles are rarely included (only 1%), and compliance with ISO 42001 is uncommon.
Inconsistent pricing models exist, including credit-based schemes, token pre-payments, and variable multipliers, often without clear cost monitoring tools.

SAP and Microsoft Release Critical Security Patches for NetWeaver and Windows

SAP’s September update patches four critical vulnerabilities in NetWeaver, including a CVSS 10 deserialization flaw, while Microsoft addressed two bugs and multiple security issues across Office, Defender, Hyper-V, RRAS, and high-performance computing.

SAP NetWeaver patch addresses four critical vulnerabilities, including CVSS 10 flaw in deserialization (CVE-2025-42944) allowing unauthenticated remote code execution.
SAP’s CVE-2025-42922 permits full system compromise via file uploads with a CVSS 9.9 score.
Microsoft fixed two bugs: CVE-2025-55234 (SMB relay and privilege escalation) and CVE-2024-21907 (Newtonsoft.Json prior to 13.0.1), with additional patches for CVE-2025-55232 affecting High Performance Compute and other critical issues.

▶️ Technology

Apple Launches Ultra-Thin iPhone Air with Titanium Build and Advanced Features

Apple unveiled the iPhone Air, measuring 5.6mm from titanium, with a 6.5-inch ProMotion display, A19 Pro chip, 48MP camera, and 2x faster C1X modem, emphasizing durability and advanced features.

Apple announced the iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone at 5.6mm, made from titanium for enhanced durability
Features include a 6.5-inch ProMotion display, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Fusion camera system, and new C1X cellular modem up to 2x faster than C1
Battery life is “all-day,” with eSIM-only worldwide, dual-capture video, Center Stage front camera, and new accessories like a MagSafe battery pack and translucent case

Apple Reveals iPhone 17 with Enhanced Display, Camera and A19 Chip

Apple announced the iPhone 17 with a 6.3-inch ProMotion display, A19 chip, upgraded cameras, and 3,000 nits brightness, maintaining $799 starting price and adding 256GB storage.

iPhone 17 announced with a 6.3-inch display, ProMotion high-refresh rate, and always-on mode, starting at $799 with 256GB storage
Powered by the new A19 chip, featuring a six-core CPU and 20% faster GPU than A18
Display brightness increased to 3,000 nits with anti-reflective coating; Ceramic Shield 2 enhances drop resistance
Front camera upgraded with a larger sensor, enabling landscape selfies and Center Stage; rear dual lenses include a 48MP ultra-wide sensor
Available in five colors: black, white, mist blue, sage, lavender

Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Pro with Largest Battery and Advanced Camera Features

Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with a cosmic orange color, unibody aluminum design, largest battery, 8x zoom, and advanced camera features, pre-ordering begins September 15.

Apple announced iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max on September 9, 2025, with pre-orders starting Friday, launching September 19
iPhone 17 Pro features a cosmic orange color, unibody aluminum design, the largest battery in any iPhone, and an A19 Pro chip with vapor chamber thermal management
Camera upgrades include 18MP front with Center Stage, 48MP rear sensors, 4x (100mm) optical zoom (up from 5x), up to 8x (200mm) with Fusion camera, and digital zoom up to 48x; adds ProRes RAW and Genlock support
Storage options start at 256GB for Pro and 2TB for Pro Max; prices begin at $1099 for the Pro model
New Ceramic Shield 2 on front and back, improved button design, and compatibility with TechWoven and redesigned cases

Mistral AI Secures 1.7 Billion Euros in Series C to Advance Frontier AI

Mistral AI raised 1.7 billion euros in Series C funding led by ASML, valued at 11.7 billion euros, to accelerate AI research, develop frontier AI solutions, and support industrial innovation.

Mistral AI announced a Series C funding round of 1.7 billion euros at an 11.7 billion euro post-money valuation on September 9, 2025
The funding is led by ASML Holding NV, with participation from DST Global, Andreessen Horowitz, Bpifrance, General Catalyst, Index Ventures, Lightspeed, and NVIDIA
The investment aims to advance AI research, develop decentralized frontier AI solutions for complex engineering and industrial challenges, and support strategic industry applications

Claude.ai Introduces File Creation and Editing for Spreadsheets, PDFs, and More

Claude now enables creation and editing of files like spreadsheets, documents, and PDFs via Claude.ai, transforming it into an active collaborator with code execution capabilities for plan-specific projects.

Claude now supports creating and editing Excel spreadsheets, documents, PowerPoint decks, and PDFs directly via Claude.ai and desktop app.
File creation is available in preview for Max, Team, and Enterprise plans; Pro plan access will be available in upcoming weeks.
Users can generate files from instructions, uploaded data, or research, including data insights, financial models, project trackers, and cross-format conversions.
Claude operates in a private computer environment, enabling code execution and program running to produce files and analyses.
To enable, users must activate “Upgraded file creation and analysis” under Settings > Features > Experimental, then upload files or describe needs, guide Claude via chat, and download or save files.
The feature may pose data security risks; users should monitor chats closely and learn more.

Apple Unveils the Thinnest iPhone Air with Titanium Design and Pro Features

Apple’s iPhone Air introduces the thinnest iPhone at 5.6mm, with titanium design, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Fusion camera, Center Stage front camera, and all-day battery life.

Apple announced iPhone Air on September 9, 2025, featuring a titanium design, 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion up to 120Hz, and Ceramic Shield 2.
iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm, with a durable grade 5 titanium frame, 3x better scratch resistance, and 4x better back glass crack resistance.
Equipped with Apple’s latest chips — A19 Pro, N1, and C1X — delivering pro performance, enhanced GPU, AI capabilities, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, Thread, and industry-leading battery life with all-day usage.

OpenAI CFO Warns AI Disruption Will Transform SaaS Industry

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar warns AI will disrupt SaaS by enabling in-house software development, impacting demand, with companies adopting AI rapidly to stay competitive and reshape software creation.

OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar warns AI could disrupt the SaaS industry, emphasizing rapid adoption is critical to avoid being left behind.
AI coding tools enable companies to build custom software in-house, challenging traditional SaaS demand; stocks like Salesforce and HubSpot declined amid concerns.
Friar compares AI-driven software development to “fast fashion,” predicting it will transform the software value chain and reduce reliance on off-the-shelf solutions.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series Boosts On-Device AI with 45 TOPS NPUs

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Series processors incorporate NPUs delivering 45 TOPS, enabling on-device AI with performance surpassing Intel chips, supported by software optimizations like quantization and agentic model orchestration.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Series processors feature neural processing units (NPUs) capable of 45 TOPS performance for local AI inference.
Snapdragon X Series NPUs achieve up to 20% higher performance than Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chips, with a 16k MAC engine operating at approximately 1.4 GHz.
Hardware improvements, including integrated NPUs and vector transfer cache memory, enable AI workloads like large language models (LLMs) to run efficiently on laptops, reducing reliance on cloud processing.

Apple Unveils Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Air with A19 Chip and Advanced Camera

Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 lineup, highlighting the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air with titanium frame, A19 chip, and advanced camera, available September 19 for $999.

Apple announced four iPhone 17 models: iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and 17 Air, at a media event on September 9, 2025
The iPhone 17 Air features a 5.6mm titanium frame, 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion 120Hz, and runs on the A19 chip, claimed as the fastest CPU in any smartphone
Starting at $999, the iPhone 17 Air is the thinnest iPhone ever, with enhanced durability, and includes a 48MP Fusion camera system, 2x optical telephoto, and all-day battery life

Gartner forecasts 369 million AI smartphones with NPUs by 2025

Gartner predicts 369 million AI smartphones with NPUs will ship in 2025, boosting unit sales and spending; nearly all premium models will feature NPUs, enabling local large language model processing.

Gartner forecasts 369 million smartphones with neural processing units (NPUs) will be shipped in 2025, generating $298 billion in end-user spending.
Almost all premium GenAI smartphones will include NPUs, with 41% of basic models expected to have NPUs by 2025.
The widespread use of NPUs will enable faster, more efficient running of large language models locally, prompting hardware upgrades for optimized AI experiences.

1.6 Million Gym Call Recordings Exposed in Unsecured AWS Database

A publicly accessible AWS database containing 1.6 million unencrypted MP3 recordings of gym customer calls, including PII and payment info from 2020-2025, was exposed, risking identity theft and voice spoofing.

1.6 million audio call recordings from HelloGym’s database exposed in an unencrypted, non-password protected AWS repository managed by HelloGym
Data included names, phone numbers, reasons for calls, payment and billing issues, collected between 2020 and 2025, stored as MP3 files
Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered the leak in late July, which remained accessible for a week; the database contained recordings from gyms including Anytime Fitness, Snap Fitness, UFC Gym, and others

Apple WatchOS 26 to Launch Hypertension Alerts and Sleep Score Features

Apple’s watchOS 26, launching September 15, 2025, adds hypertension notifications and Sleep Score to Watch Series 6+ and Ultra models, using optical sensors and health data analytics.

Apple will introduce hypertension notifications and Sleep Score features via watchOS 26 on September 15, 2025
Hypertension alerts analyze blood vessel response using optical heart sensor data over 30 days, pending FDA and regulator approval, available in 150+ countries
Sleep Score, utilizing heart rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and respiratory data, will be available on Watch Series 6 and later, Ultra models, and second-gen SE, with iPhone 11+ support

Apple Boosts iPhone Security with Memory Integrity Enforcement Against Spyware

Apple introduces Memory Integrity Enforcement in the iPhone 17 lineup, enhancing memory safety against spyware with EMTE-based protection, supporting A19 chips, and reducing attack surfaces with minimal CPU overhead.

Apple announces a security upgrade called Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) in the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air, targeting spyware exploits like Pegasus.
MIE provides always-on, comprehensive memory-safety protection covering kernel and over 70 userland processes, built on Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE) and supported by secure allocators and tag confidentiality.
The upgrade is part of a broader effort including chip design (A19 and A19 Pro), OS enhancements, and development tools, aiming to make spyware development more costly and reduce memory bugs, with minimal performance impact.

Apple Unveils the Ultra-Thin iPhone Air with ProMotion Display and A19 Chip

Apple unveiled the iPhone Air, a 5.6mm thin, lightweight smartphone with a ProMotion display, single camera, Ceramic Shield glass, and A19 Pro chip, emphasizing its slim profile and design.

Apple announced the iPhone Air on September 9, 2025, emphasizing its 5.6mm thin profile, lightweight design, and rounded edges reminiscent of previous models.
Features include a ProMotion display, single camera, Ceramic Shield 2 glass on both sides, and an A19 Pro chip.
The back panel has a frosted treatment and a camera “plateau” that reduces wobble, with fingerprints visible on demo units; durability and battery life claims remain unverified.

Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2025-09-10 Briefing

▶️ Internet Infrastructure

▶️ Open Source

▶️ Management and Leadership

▶️ Technology