Author: Carter

I recently had the chance to experiment with new AI-driven analytical tools, including Microsoft Fabric’s data agent. I’d like to share my experience, clarify what a data agent is, and explain how it differs from a typical AI agent. So, here’s how I define a data agent: A data agent is a report you can have a conversation with. For those of us working in analytics, this could finally make two long-standing hopes come true: #1: Analysts spend significantly less time creating visualizations.#2: Self-service insights become more accessible to business users. Let me go into more detail on each of…

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Mauricio Salatino (Ecosystem Engineer at Dash0), Mario Fahlandt (Customer Delivery Architect at Kubermatic), and Brandt Keller (OSS Maintainer at Defense Unicorns) The 2026 CNCF TOC cohort stands out for a notable reason: three of the newly elected members — Brandt, former TAG Security lead; Mario, former TAG Operational Resilience lead; and Mauricio Salatino, former TAG Developer Experience co-chair — all transitioned directly from TAG leadership roles. This isn’t accidental. With TAG nominations currently open, we felt it was the perfect time to pull back the curtain and share what the journey from TAG leadership…

Jack Wallen/ZDNETKey points from ZDNETAurora Linux is a fixed, unchangeable Linux distribution accessible to everyone.This version comes equipped with GPU drivers, practical default settings, and robust security features.You can install Aurora for free.There are many reasons to consider using an unchangeable Linux distribution. Such systems are highly secure since certain critical folders are set to read-only mode, preventing any changes from being made, which significantly enhances security.While this might seem difficult to handle, you may be pleased to find that these types of distributions are still simple to operate. You can continue installing and running any applications you need (using…

Analog Devices Inc. | Sponsor (Image courtesy of Analog Devices Inc.) Building a humanoid robot ranks among the most challenging tasks in modern robotics. On its own, such a system must coordinate movement, maintain balance, interpret visual input, and respond rapidly—all through an intricate network of joints, sensors, and data processors. The stakes rise even higher when the robot shares its workspace with people. For humans, most of these actions feel effortless. We instinctively sense our center of gravity and shift it when running, jumping, or sidestepping an obstacle. We absorb enormous volumes of sound and sight at once, in…

# Introduction Python offers an extensive collection of libraries designed for managing data at scale. As datasets expand into gigabytes and beyond, conventional tools like pandas quickly reach their boundaries. When handling billions of rows, executing distributed machine learning workflows, or processing live event streams, purpose-built libraries become essential. This article explores tools that address: Datasets too large to fit in a single machine’s RAM Spreading computations across multiple cores or entire clusters Live and streaming data processing Seamless connections to cloud storage and data warehouses Deployable production data pipelines Let’s take a closer look at each one. # 1.…

Key Points MiniCPM5-1B achieves an average score of 42.57 across agentic and reasoning tests, surpassing the closest 1B-class rival, which scored 35.61. The model comes ready to support MCP and native tool invocation, allowing local agent operations on everyday devices with no need for an internet connection. During testing, the model displayed solid conversational ability but generated a made-up chain-of-thought answer and stumbled on a straightforward logic puzzle. MiniCPM5-1B is a one-billion-parameter model released by OpenBMB, and it’s the newest addition to the MiniCPM lineup designed for on-device use. It natively supports tool calling and the Model Context Protocol (MCP),…

A cyber-espionage group traced to Iran, known as MuddyWater, has been connected to a fresh wave of attacks that impacted a minimum of nine organizations spanning nine nations across four continents during the opening quarter of 2026. The campaign struck targets in industrial and electronics manufacturing, education and government agencies, financial services, and professional consulting, according to the Threat Hunter Team at Symantec and Carbon Black. Among those compromised was a prominent South Korean electronics manufacturer, where the intruders remained active on its network for an entire week in February 2026. Also identified as victims of this wide-ranging spying operation…

# Introduction There’s a satisfying feeling that comes from watching your machine learning model’s loss drop steadily during training—until suddenly, your validation accuracy stalls or the loss shoots up, and you have no idea why. When this happens, most people throw more logging into the mix or start fiddling with hyperparameters, crossing their fingers that something improves. What many practitioners overlook at this stage is getting genuine insight into the internal mechanics of the model as it trains. Visual debugging tools are incredibly valuable at exactly this moment. This article explores three key areas: what specific aspects of training to…

Federal agencies are being urged to adopt a more risk-driven strategy when recording cybersecurity data. Under updated guidance, agency chief information security officers must now submit revised logging plans to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), with emphasis on two key areas: continuous event monitoring (CEM) and threat hunting, investigation, response, and forensics (THIRF). The updated directive, issued by OMB Director Russ Vought, overturns prior logging mandates and introduces streamlined expectations designed to reduce bureaucratic overhead and control costs. “In 2021, OMB released Memorandum M-21-31—aimed at strengthening the federal government’s ability…

By Marc Kavinsky, Lead Editor at IoT Business News.GlobalPlatform has unveiled Pavona, an open-source chip technology package designed to help hardware engineers incorporate security foundations and next-generation encryption capabilities into both simple and complex connected systems.For internet-connected devices expected to function reliably for many years, their security features are typically determined during the initial chip design phase—long before manufacturers begin addressing device activation or ongoing management.Recognizing this reality, GlobalPlatform introduced Pavona, a collaboratively managed open-source chip technology framework that bundles verified security components, a system assembly toolkit, and sample complete system designs. The solution targets diverse hardware applications ranging from…