ServiceNow has struck a significant deal, acquiring AI firm Moveworks for $2.85 billion in cash and stock, marking its largest-ever acquisition. This move comes as companies are increasingly investing in generative AI to streamline operations. ServiceNow, which is based in Santa Clara, California, US, plans to integrate Moveworks’ AI technology into its own platform, further enhancing its IT operations offerings.
Moveworks, known for its AI solutions that help resolve employee issues through chat, has a strong customer base, including companies like Broadcom, Palo Alto Networks, and Pinterest. The deal will bring more than 500 employees from Moveworks into ServiceNow, with no layoffs anticipated.
Despite the deal’s size, ServiceNow does not expect regulatory challenges to hinder the transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Following the announcement, ServiceNow’s shares saw a 7% dip. Moveworks had previously raised $315 million, reaching a valuation of $2.1 billion before this acquisition.
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A new electronic health file system is launching on Tuesday in a preliminary form, aiming to provide doctors with an easier, safer, and more reliable way to access Greek patients’ medical histories.
The platform, expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, will store comprehensive records for every patient with a social security number (AMKA).
Once completed, the system will compile detailed medical histories, including hospital admissions, surgeries, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, vaccinations, allergies, and treatment protocols.
Upgrade like this one will significantly streamline healthcare access for both doctors and patients.
The enhanced MyHealth app will eliminate the need for patients to carry test results or verbally summarise their medical history.
It is particularly expected to benefit people with disabilities, as the entire process of claiming benefits will be handled electronically, removing the need for in-person evaluations by specialist committees.
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New York State has taken legal action against Allstate, accusing its National General unit of mishandling customer data security and failing to report a breach that exposed sensitive information.
The state’s Attorney General, Letitia James, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan, claiming that the breaches, which occurred in 2020 and 2021, resulted in hackers accessing the driver’s license numbers of over 360,000 people.
According to the lawsuit, National General did not notify affected drivers or state agencies about the first breach, which occurred between August and November 2020.
The second, larger breach, was discovered three months later in January 2021. James alleges that National General violated the state’s Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act by failing to protect customer information adequately.
In response, Allstate defended its actions, stating that it had resolved the issue years ago, secured its systems, and offered free credit monitoring to affected consumers.
The lawsuit seeks civil fines of $5,000 per violation, in addition to other remedies. This legal action follows similar penalties imposed on other US companies for data security lapses, including fines for Geico and Travelers.
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NHS is investigating allegations that a software flaw at private medical services company Medefer left patient data vulnerable to hacking.
The flaw, discovered in November, affected Medefer’s internal patient record system in the UK, which handles 1,500 NHS referrals monthly.
A software engineer who found the issue believes the vulnerability may have existed for six years, but Medefer denies this claim, stating no data has been compromised.
The engineer discovered that unprotected application programming interfaces (APIs) could have allowed outsiders to access sensitive patient information.
While Medefer has insisted that there is no evidence of any breach, they have commissioned an external security agency to review their systems. The agency confirmed that no breach was found, and the company asserts that the flaw was fixed within 48 hours of being discovered.
Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the potential risks posed by the flaw, emphasising that a proper investigation should have been conducted immediately.
Medefer reported the issue to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), both of which found no further action necessary. However, experts suggest that a more thorough response could have been beneficial given the sensitive nature of the data involved.
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US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that his administration is actively negotiating with four parties interested in purchasing TikTok, the immensely popular Chinese-owned social media platform.
Trump’s comments come amid continued uncertainty about TikTok’s future in the US, following security concerns that prompted legislation mandating its sale or facing a ban.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed optimism about the potential deal, suggesting all four prospective buyers offered strong options.
Though Trump did not disclose specifics about the parties involved, recent reports indicate significant interest, notably from prominent businessman Frank McCourt, former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Analysts estimate TikTok’s value could reach up to $50 billion, making it one of the most lucrative tech deals in recent years.
President Trump subsequently delayed enforcement of the law by signing an executive order granting a 75-day extension, providing additional time to facilitate a sale.
So far, neither TikTok nor ByteDance have publicly commented on Trump’s latest statements or the ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, the app’s tens of millions of American users continue to watch closely, hoping their favourite platform survives the political and economic storm surrounding it.
Reddit has introduced new tools to help users follow community rules and track content performance, aiming to boost engagement on the platform. The update comes after a slowdown in user growth due to Google’s algorithm changes, though traffic from the search engine has since recovered.
Among the new features is a ‘rules check’ tool, currently being tested on smartphones, which helps users comply with subreddit guidelines. Additionally, a post-recovery option allows users to repost content in alternative subreddits if their original submission is removed. Reddit will also suggest subreddits based on post content and clarify posting requirements for specific communities.
The company has enhanced its post insights feature, offering detailed engagement metrics to help users refine their content. This follows Reddit’s December launch of Reddit Answers, an AI-powered search tool designed to provide curated summaries of community discussions, which is still in beta testing.
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The US House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Alphabet on Thursday, demanding information on its communications with the Biden administration regarding content moderation policies. The committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan, also requested similar communications with external companies and groups.
The subpoena specifically seeks details on discussions about restricting or banning content related to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, COVID-19, and other conservative topics. Republicans have accused Big Tech companies of suppressing conservative viewpoints, with the Federal Trade Commission warning that coordinating policies or misleading users could breach the law.
Last year, Meta Platforms acknowledged pressure from the Biden administration to censor content, but Alphabet has not publicly distanced itself from similar claims. A Google spokesperson stated the company will demonstrate its independent approach to policy enforcement.
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A former top National Security Agency official has warned that widespread federal job cuts could severely undermine US cybersecurity and national security.
Rob Joyce, former NSA director of cybersecurity, told a congressional committee that eliminating probationary employees would weaken the government’s ability to combat cyber threats, particularly those from China.
The remarks were made during a House Select Committee hearing on China‘s cyber operations targeting critical United States infrastructure and telecommunications.
More than 100,000 federal workers have left their jobs through early retirement or layoffs as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink government agencies, with support from billionaire advisor Elon Musk.
While national security roles were supposed to be exempt, some cybersecurity positions have still been affected.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has already cut over 130 positions, raising concerns about the government’s ability to protect critical systems.
The White House and NSA declined to comment on the impact of the job reductions.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed that the cuts are expected to save $50 million and that further reductions in ‘wasteful positions’ are being considered.
However, critics argue that the loss of skilled personnel in cybersecurity roles could leave the country more vulnerable to foreign threats.
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Google has reported receiving over 250 complaints globally about its AI software being used to create deepfake terrorist content, according to Australia’s eSafety Commission.
The tech giant also acknowledged dozens of user reports alleging that its AI program, Gemini, was being exploited to generate child abuse material. Under Australian law, companies must provide regular updates on their efforts to minimise harm or risk hefty fines.
The eSafety Commission described Google’s disclosure as a ‘world-first insight’ into how AI tools may be misused to produce harmful and illegal content.
Between April 2023 and February 2024, Google received 258 reports of suspected AI-generated extremist material and 86 related to child exploitation. However, the company did not specify how many of these reports were verified.
A Google spokesperson stated that the company strictly prohibits AI-generated content related to terrorism, child abuse, and other illegal activities.
While it uses automated detection to remove AI-generated child exploitation material, the same system is not applied to extremist content.
Meanwhile, the regulator has previously fined platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram for failing to meet reporting requirements, with both companies planning to appeal.
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Google has introduced an experimental version of its search engine that removes the traditional 10 blue links in favour of AI-generated summaries.
The new ‘AI Mode’ is available to subscribers of Google One AI Premium, a $19.99 per month plan, and can be accessed through a tab alongside existing options like Images and Maps.
Users will see a detailed AI summary with hyperlinks to cited sources, replacing standard search results with a search bar for follow-up questions.
AI Overviews, which provide summaries atop search results, are already available in over 100 countries, with advertisements integrated into them since last May. Google says the new AI-driven approach responds to demand from “power users” seeking more AI-generated responses.
As Google pushes deeper into AI-powered search, it faces competition from Microsoft-backed OpenAI, which introduced search capabilities to ChatGPT last October.
The shift has raised concerns among content creators, with edtech company Chegg suing Google in February, alleging that AI previews are reducing demand for original content and hurting publishers’ ability to compete.
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