AI news you can use — August 25, 2026
That "playable GTA VI demo" going around is actually malware
Criminals have set up fake websites dressed up as Rockstar Games and are advertising a downloadable Grand Theft Auto VI demo — a demo that does not exist — to trick fans into installing malware disguised as the game's setup file. Security researchers at Malwarebytes describe the file as an information stealer: once run, it hunts for the passwords, cookies and logged-in sessions saved in your web browser and sends them to the attackers. Because it can lift an active session, it can in some cases get into accounts even when they are protected by two-factor authentication. The real game is not due until 19 November 2026, and that long wait is exactly what the scam is preying on.
Why it matters: A stolen browser session can hand over your email, shopping and even banking logins in one go. Only download games and demos from official sources — the publisher's own site, or an established store like Steam, the App Store, PlayStation or Xbox — and treat any "leaked" or "early" build promoted through an ad, a video description or a message as bait. If you or someone in your household installed one of these files, change your important passwords from a different device and sign out of all sessions on your key accounts.
An AI-voice scam is phoning iPhone owners to fish for their passcodes
Researchers have detailed a phishing service that uses an AI voice agent to impersonate Apple support and coax people into handing over their iPhone passcode. The kit pulls a victim's contact details from a stolen phone's Lost Mode, then reaches out by call, text, email or WhatsApp posing as Apple; the AI voice asks the person to "confirm ownership" by reading out their passcode, then sends them to a fake Apple page to enter their password. With both, the attackers can unlock the device, wipe its protections and reset it for resale. The recorded calls have concentrated in a handful of countries so far, but the playbook — a convincing voice, urgency, and a request for the one number that unlocks everything — travels anywhere.
Why it matters: Apple never asks for your device passcode by phone, text or email, and no legitimate support line ever will. Your passcode and your Apple Account password are the keys to your photos, messages and payment methods — never read them aloud or type them into a page a caller sends you. If you get an unexpected "Apple support" contact, hang up, and if you want to check, reach Apple through the Support app or apple.com rather than any number or link they gave you. Turning on two-factor authentication for your Apple Account adds another lock.
WhatsApp adds passkeys and a stronger sign-in lock
WhatsApp is rolling out several account-security upgrades. You can now protect your account with a passkey — or several passkeys — which lets you sign in with your face or fingerprint instead of a code, and is far harder to steal because it never leaves your device. The app's two-step verification, previously a six-digit PIN, can now be a longer password with letters and symbols. On Android, incoming calls from unknown numbers now show extra context, such as whether the caller is in another country or shares a group with you.
Why it matters: Account takeovers on messaging apps often start with a stolen or phished code, and passkeys close that door because there is no code to hand over. Open WhatsApp's Settings → Account and turn on a passkey, and while you are there switch two-step verification to a proper password rather than a simple PIN — a few minutes now makes your account much harder to hijack.
A Stanford study finds AI is thinning out entry-level hiring
An updated Stanford study, "Canaries in the Coal Mine?", finds that the youngest workers in the jobs most exposed to AI are being hired less. Employment for workers aged 22 to 25 in the most AI-exposed occupations is now running well below their peers in less-exposed fields, with early-career employment in the most-exposed roles down roughly 11% since 2022 while less-exposed roles grew about 10%. The researchers say the driver is reduced hiring rather than mass layoffs — companies are bringing on fewer inexperienced people for tasks AI can now handle, such as writing routine code or answering customer chats. Where AI supports a worker rather than replacing the task, employment held steady or grew.
Why it matters: If you are early in your career or hiring for junior roles, the ground is shifting toward jobs where a person plus AI does more than either alone — checking, judging, dealing with people and handling the non-routine. For small employers, the practical read is that an entry-level hire who can direct and sanity-check AI tools is worth more than one hired to do the rote work those tools now absorb; for anyone job-hunting, being visibly good with these tools is becoming part of the entry ticket.
Apple's new Mac mini starts at $899 and leans into on-device AI
Apple has refreshed the Mac mini with a new M6 chip, and the base model starts at $899 with preorders open and shipping from 22 September. Apple says the M6 delivers about four times the AI performance of the M4 model it replaces, alongside faster storage and graphics; a step-up M5 Pro configuration starts at $1,699. The small desktop has become a favorite for running AI models locally — on your own machine rather than a cloud service — and this update is aimed squarely at that use.
Why it matters: Running AI on your own computer keeps your data off other companies' servers and avoids per-use fees, which is appealing for anyone handling sensitive documents or wanting a fixed cost. For most people a cloud AI service is still simpler and cheaper day to day, so this matters most if you specifically want local, private AI or already needed a compact, capable desktop — in which case the newer chip buys headroom without a price jump at the entry level.