Microsoft starts canceling Claude Code licenses - The Verge

- Windows 11 is getting a macOS-like speed boost. Microsoft is currently testing a new speed boost feature in Windows 11 that is designed to improve app launch times and make things like the Start menu feel more responsive. “Low Latency Profile” will ramp up CPU frequencies in short bursts to improve the speed of menus, flyouts, apps, and more. It’s very similar to what Linux and macOS do, but that hasn’t stopped some from claiming Microsoft is simply cheating to speed up its operating system. In response, Scott Hanselman, vice president of technical staff for CoreAI, GitHub, and Windows, defended Microsoft’s speed boost changes, pointing out that “your smartphone already does this” and Microsoft isn’t cheating. “Apple does this and y’all love it,” said Hanselman.

- Microsoft’s Israel chief is leaving amid investigation allegations. Microsoft quietly announced last week that its Israel general manager, Alon Haimovich, is stepping down at the end of the month after four years. Israeli newspaper Globes now reports that Haimovich is leaving amid an internal investigation into Microsoft Israel’s work with the Israel Ministry of Defense. Microsoft blocked the Israeli military from some cloud and AI services last year after The Guardian revealed its services were being used for mass surveillance of Palestinians.

- Forza Horizon 6 has been leaked and cracked a week before its release. Playground Games is getting ready to launch the next installment of its Forza Horizon series next week, and it has somehow leaked onto the internet early. Downloads of Forza Horizon 6 appeared online earlier this week, complete with a crack to make the game run locally. There was speculation that the game leaked due to an unencrypted version being available on Steam, but Playground Games says the leak had nothing to do with a “pre-load issue.” It’s still not clear how the game was leaked so early.

- Microsoft was worried OpenAI would run off to Amazon and ‘shit-talk’ Azure. The ongoing Musk v. Altman trial is already providing some rare insights into the communications between Microsoft’s top executives and OpenAI during the early days of their partnership. In January 2018, ahead of Microsoft’s first big OpenAI investment, Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott was worried about not investing in OpenAI. “I guess the other thing to think about here is the PR downside of us not funding them, and having them storm off to Amazon in a huff and shit-talk us and Azure on the way out,” said Scott. That never quite happened, but OpenAI did tell its employees last month that its deal with Microsoft had “also limited our ability to meet enterprises where they are — for many that’s [Amazon] Bedrock.” Microsoft’s renegotiated deal with OpenAI allows the AI startup to bring its models, Codex, and other tools to AWS — Microsoft’s biggest cloud rival.

- Did Microsoft just tease a new Xbox UI? Last week we got a closer look at the “consistent” Xbox UI that Microsoft is promising across handhelds, consoles, and cloud gaming. It first appeared during an Xbox keynote at the Game Developers Conference in March, but thanks to a new video from Microsoft we can now clearly see where it differs from the existing Xbox UI. The Xbox console homescreen is slightly different, with the user profile in the top right and three ad slots along the bottom instead of the usual four. The Xbox PC app also looks a lot more like the new Xbox Cloud Gaming interface. This image could just be a mockup, but it still speaks to Microsoft’s ambition to improve the Xbox UI across multiple devices.

- Microsoft to share more about Xbox Project Helix later this year. We first heard the next-gen Xbox codename earlier this year, and Microsoft is now promising more details about Project Helix “ later this year.” I’d be surprised if we hear anything significant about Project Helix during the Xbox showcase next month, though. The “later this year” promise may well coincide with VP of next gen Jason Ronald ’s previous comments about “rolling out new ways to play” classic Xbox games.