This week, a developer at a three-person startup in Mexico said that the company spent around $180 a month running AI tools. Over the course of two days, that number jumped to more than $82,000. The cause? A compromised cloud API key.
According to the developer, attackers used the key to run massive volumes of requests on Googleās Gemini AI models. In just 48 hours, what should have been a routine monthly bill turned into something that could bankrupt the company.
While reading the story, I couldnāt stop thinking about how easily this could happen to almost anyone building with AI today. We are moving incredibly fast. AI tools are becoming more powerful, easier to deploy, and deeply embedded into cloud platforms that millions of developers rely on. But the safety systems around them are still catching up.
ā Dennis, Managing Editor
š¤ AI and productivity
On Wednesday, Google rolled out Cinematic Video Overview, a new feature in NotebookLM that produces fully immersive, animated videos. It replaces the old slideshow-style Video Overviews and allows users to generate animated content directly from their uploaded documents.
Meanwhile, OpenAI released the latest update to its AI: GPT-5.4, available across ChatGPT as GPT-5.4 Thinking, the API, and Codex. On the same day, the company launched ChatGPT for Excel in beta, letting users build or update live Excel models directly with AI guidance.
After OpenAI announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Warāa deal that rival AI startup Anthropic had rejectedāit faced backlash over data privacy concerns, with some users uninstalling ChatGPT. If youāre looking for alternatives, weāve compiled 10 of the best ChatGPT alternatives you can try now.
We also have a guide for switching from ChatGPT without losing your memory or previously shared information, for anyone concerned about moving their workflow.
š» Apple's answer to budget notebooks is finally here
Apple introduced the MacBook Neo this week. Starting at $599 in the U.S., or $499 for students and teachers, the laptop undercuts previous MacBook releases. But, it comes without a backlight.
Other announcements from the Apple event were:
- Appleās M5 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
- The iPad Air M4 and iPhone 17e's Prices, Specs, and Whatās New
Meanwhile, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona delivered a whirlwind of announcements:
- Honor Is Unveiling a Humanoid Robot at MWC 2026
- AI Was Everywhere at MWC 2026 ā Here Are the Biggest Announcements
- From Foldables to a Real Hypercar: 8 Gadgets That Stole the Show at MWC 2026
- MWC 2026: The Craziest and Most Unusual Phones Announced So Far
š® Gaming & Entertainment
Big updates are coming for gamers this month:
- Everything You Need To Know About "Project Helix," Microsoftās Next-Generation Xbox
- After 6 Years, Crimson Desert Is Finally Almost HereāHere's What to Expect
- Assassin's Creed Shadows Lands on Nintendo Switch 2 ā Hereās Everything Ubisoft Has Planned for 2026
- Will Sony Stop Making PlayStation 5 Games for PC? Here's What Really Happened
- Highguard is Shutting Down. Hereāre 10 Awesome Alternatives for Squad Shooter Fans
- Hereās Everything Coming to Xbox Game Pass in March 2026
- Nintendo Indie World March 2026 Showcase: All the Major Announcements
šŖ Crypto and Global Finance
Last week, Binance was accused of facilitating funds to Iranian-linked entities, a claim the exchange denied. This incident sheds light on how crypto can be used to move money across borders and the challenges regulators face in monitoring these flows.
