Cyber Experts Pinpoint What to Look Out for in 2026

by  David DiMolfetta

Expect significant innovations in AI-driven cyber tools and a closer convergence between cybersecurity and geopolitics, they said.

Summary

Looking ahead to 2026, David DiMolfetta doesn't expect a single big bang cyber event so much as a steady escalation in quiet, hard-to-spot campaigns. Instead of smashing through the front door, more attackers will simply walk in using valid credentials, abusing identity systems, and trusted AI agents.

These operations will be longer-running, linked to geopolitical tensions, and aimed at disrupting real-world services.

The core challenge for 2026 is reconciling innovation with end-to-end security, assuming identities will be targeted, and integrating threat intelligence and AI-driven detection into business models.

Organizations that incorporate security from day one and continuously monitor their systems will stay resilient, unlike those who add controls later and fall behind.

 Read full story at NextGov…

How Cities Are Using AI to Keep Drinking Water Safe

by  Ajay Sharma

An important federal deadline for identifying and replacing lead and copper service lines is less than two years away. New technology can help communities meet the LCRI mandates.

Summary

Yarmouth, Massachusetts, used statistical modeling to identify less than 0.66% of service lines likely containing lead or galvanized iron, saving time and resources. This approach helped the town meet the LCRI mandates and reallocate resources to areas of concern.

 Read full story at SmartCities Dive…

Seattle's First AI Officer Brings Private-Sector Expertise

by  GovTech Staff

Washington state's most populous city has tapped Lisa Qian as its inaugural city AI officer. Her experience is largely in the private sector, including data-focused leadership roles for LinkedIn and Airbnb.

Summary

Seattle has joined the growing ranks of cities prioritizing technology strategy by appointing Lisa Qian as its first chief AI officer (CAIO). Qian, who holds a PhD from Stanford, transitions from high-level private sector roles at LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Convoy to lead the city’s implementation of its September AI plan. She follows similar appointments in cities like Louisville and Denver—reflecting a national trend toward dedicated AI leadership in local government.

Working under CTO Rob Lloyd, Qian will oversee technical architecture, governance, and workforce training. Her mission centers on driving value through responsible AI use citywide. Qian expressed that this shift to public service is the “right next chapter,” leveraging over a decade of data science expertise to navigate the city’s technological future.

 Read full story at GovTech…

Best AI Chatbots in 2026: Complete Guide for Beginners

by Wahab

Understanding which chatbot suits specific needs requires examining their capabilities, limitations, and practical applications

Summary

The guide explores the current AI chatbot landscape, highlighting key players like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity AI.

Each chatbot has unique strengths and limitations, making them suitable for different use cases. The guide emphasizes the importance of understanding specific needs and capabilities when selecting an AI chatbot.

 Read full story at Matrix Digest…

GPS Is Vulnerable to Jamming—Here's How We Might Fix It

by  Sarah Scoles

GPS jamming has gotten cheap and easy, but there are potential solutions.

Summary

GPS technology has become the invisible spine of modern society, yet it remains alarmingly vulnerable. Recent incidents, such as a 2025 Widerøe flight in Norway nearly crashing due to Russian signal interference, highlight the dangers of jamming and spoofing. Originally a military tool, GPS now underpins everything from electrical grids to dating apps. However, inexpensive technology and geopolitical conflicts have led to near-constant disruptions in certain regions.

Government agencies and private companies like TrustPoint and Xona are now racing to develop resilient alternatives. These solutions include low-Earth orbit satellites and ground-based radio transmitters. Experts emphasize that while GPS is likely to remain ubiquitous because it is free, we must “armor up” with complementary systems to prevent catastrophic societal failures.

 Read full story at arsTechnica…

Here's Why Windows 11's Clipboard History Sometimes Misses Copied Items

by  Viktor Eriksson

Microsoft has an explanation— and it makes sense.

Summary

Microsoft has finally addressed a frustrating Windows 11 bug where the Clipboard History fails to record copied items. The company attributes this issue to the feature“s asynchronous design, which processes copy signals in the background. When users copy multiple items in rapid succession, the system may fail to register the first signal before the next arrives, causing data to be skipped.

Additionally, applications like Word and Excel utilize “delayed rendering,” which promises data rather than delivering it instantly. If these apps are bogged down, the transfer may exceed Windows‘ 30–second timeout threshold, resulting in an empty clipboard. Despite these technical hurdles — which are most prevalent when handling large data sets — Clipboard History remains an essential productivity tool for Windows users.

 Read full story at PCWorld…

2026 Power and Utilities Industry Outlook

by  Thomas L. Keefe, Kate Hardin & Jaya Nagdeo

Utilities are under pressure to meet the energy demands of the AI economy while maintaining affordability. Deloitte explores strategies that can help the industry transform faster and build resilience.

Summary

The outlook for the US power and utilities sector emphasizes addressing rising demand, reliability challenges, and AI-driven growth through multi-horizon strategies.

Amid projected retirements of 104 GW of coal and natural gas by 2030—partially offset by 209 GW of additions, with only 10% firm baseload—utilities are prioritizing near-term firm capacity via natural gas (19 GW planned by 2028), coal life extensions, nuclear uprates, and flexible operations. Mid-term efforts focus on long-duration storage mandates, 8–10-hour batteries, and enhanced demand response. Long-term, nuclear resurgence is supported by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s preservation of the 45U credit for existing plants and eligibility for advanced nuclear under 45Y/48E with domestic content rules, alongside the administration’s goal to quadruple capacity to 400 GW by 2050.

Hyperscale data centers, key demand drivers, are becoming grid partners via workload shifting, demand flexing (10%–30% of load), and fast-response capabilities, encouraged by regulatory requirements for cost-sharing and telemetry.

 Read full story at Deloitte…

DOE Orders 446–MW Colorado Coal Unit to Keep Running

by  Ethan Howland

It will cost about $21 million to run the Craig Unit 1 for 90 days, according to an estimate by Grid Strategies. The unit is offline and requires repairs, one of the plant's owners said.

Summary

The U.S. Department of Energy ordered the 446-MW Craig Unit 1 in Colorado to remain operational for 90 days, citing a potential energy emergency in the Rocky Mountain region.

Despite the order, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the unit's operator, argues that the retirement is necessary for economic and environmental reasons. The order will incur significant costs for Tri-State and its co-owners, potentially exceeding the value of the electricity generated.

 Read full story at UtilityDive…

New York Takes Two More Steps Toward Nuclear

by  Nuclear News Staff

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a collaboration on new nuclear development

Summary

In late 2025, New York advanced its nuclear energy ambitions on multiple fronts. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a strong proponent of new nuclear development, urged the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to pursue 1 GW of additional capacity.

On December 19, Hochul signed a collaboration agreement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to advance affordable, reliable, and clean nuclear power. Concurrently, NYPA and Ontario Power Generation inked a memorandum of understanding to share expertise on large-scale and small modular reactors, promote public education, and explore joint projects.

The state’s newly finalized 2025 New York State Energy Plan emphasizes an “all-of-the-above” strategy for reliability, affordability, and sustainability. It supports extending Zero Emission Credits for existing plants and accelerating new nuclear deployment. Projections forecast 2.2–3.3 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2040, exceeding the governor’s minimum 1 GW target.

 Read full story at Nuclear Newswire…