Study shows AI adapts answers to user's political orientation, which may reinforce beliefs

Users who use Microsoft 365 (Office) on Windows 10 operating systems should be aware of an important change: starting in August of this year, the package applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, will stop receiving new features specific to this operating system version. Only security updates will be maintained.

The limitation of Microsoft 365 support on Windows 10 was determined by Microsoft in 2025. At that time, it was stipulated that August 2026 would be the last month for the release of any new functionalities for the package on Windows 10.

Currently, Microsoft 365 is at version 2607, in both Family and Personal modes. However, computers running Windows 10 will be able to use Microsoft 365 up to version 2608, which will be released this August.

Subsequent versions of Microsoft 365 will be exclusively intended for Windows 11. Due to the security risks inherent in outdated software, Microsoft guarantees the issuance of fixes for version 2608 on Windows 10 until October 10, 2028.

It is important to note that even after August, tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will continue to operate on Windows 10. The distinction is that new functionalities will no longer be introduced, as these are integrated into the most recent versions of the package, which will remain restricted to version 2608 on Windows 10 devices.

Windows 10 subscribers can continue to contact Microsoft for technical assistance. However, the company warns that if a problem is reported on Windows 10 but does not occur on Windows 11, operating system migration will be suggested as a solution.

For corporate environments, support for new Microsoft 365 features will be maintained until October 13, 2026, on the Monthly Enterprise channel or until January 12, 2027, on the Semi-annual Enterprise channel.

Microsoft had ended support for Windows 10 in October 2025. A positive alternative is the possibility of keeping the operating system active through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

For residential users, the Windows 10 ESU can be activated by paying $30 or through free processes. Initially, updates would only be provided until October 2026 for home PCs. However, Microsoft has extended the Windows 10 ESU for consumers until October 2027, at no additional cost.

It should be noted that this extension program only offers security updates; new experiences and capabilities are directed exclusively to Windows 11.

OpenAI announced a new processing feature for GPT-5.6 Sol on Thursday (13), named Ultrafast. This new mode has the potential to increase response speed by up to fourteen times compared to the established standard, making it ideal for scenarios requiring immediate decisions and feedback.

Initially, this service is accessible via the API and utilizes infrastructure provided by Cerebras, which supports an output rate of up to 750 tokens per second. Currently, access is limited to a select group of clients while the company monitors its use in real environments and plans a gradual capacity expansion.

OpenAI's strategy aims to eliminate the need to choose between highly intelligent models and agile responses. With Ultrafast, the organization intends to apply GPT-5.6 Sol in various areas, including customer service, financial analysis, incident response, commerce, and interactive research.

OpenAI characterizes Ultrafast as a new class of service intended for applications where the time between posing a question and receiving an answer can directly impact the utility of artificial intelligence. The company claims that the efficiency advancements of GPT-5.6 have enabled a closer convergence between reasoning capability and operational speed.

One example of application presented is system failure response. In this context, the tool can analyze application reports, recent code modifications, and engineer reports to help identify the cause of a problem and prepare a temporary fix while the outage persists.

Additionally, applications in the financial and security sectors are cited, covering market indicator analysis, transaction evaluation, and detection of unusual patterns in rapidly changing contexts.

In customer support, the extra speed allows systems to manage more complex issues during the interaction itself. The proposal also covers voice functionalities, where a delay in response can harm conversation fluidity.

In e-commerce, the model can be used to answer product queries, confirm stock, suggest personalized items, and assist in resolving difficulties during the purchase process, aiming to act before slowness causes consumer abandonment.

Another field explored is research and experimentation. According to the company, tasks that previously required long execution periods can now become interactive cycles, allowing researchers to test a hypothesis, observe results, make adjustments, and repeat the experiment within the same working period.

The initial implementation phase includes companies in the programming, commerce, finance, and support segments. Among the clients mentioned by OpenAI are Jane Street, Podium, Basis, and Rogo.

Jane Street, through John Crepezzi, an AI assistant specialist, assessed that the speed increase offered by Cerebras modifies the usage possibilities of the models, promoting a more focused and productive relationship between developers and AI.

OpenAI decided to start with corporate applications to observe the technology in production operations. The goal is to determine in which activities a significant jump in speed generates the greatest benefit and how the products behave when closely tracking user pace.

OpenAI itself has also subjected Ultrafast to internal tests, with a special focus on reliability incidents, where teams need to quickly interpret constantly changing information during an event.

In these cases, the system is used to consolidate log and trace data, organize dialogues, propose checks, and assist in drafting or validating fixes, although the final responsibility for decision and implementation remains with the engineers.

In the research area, internal teams use the mode to query knowledge bases, access data, and compile, structure, and synthesize information through integrated tools. The distinction lies in the rhythm of the work cycle: instead of leaving sequences of experiments to run overnight and analyze them the next day, Ultrafast enables multiple rounds of investigation during business hours.

The infrastructure supporting this new feature results from the collaboration between OpenAI and Cerebras, responsible for providing the low-latency inference technology used in the service. With this architecture, GPT-5.6 Sol can achieve the announced rate of up to 750 tokens per second, which OpenAI relates to the ability to create more reactive products and integrate AI into processes where delay between phases constitutes a limitation.

The company emphasizes that Ultrafast is a preliminary version, available only to a limited number of clients, and the expansion of access will depend on increased capacity. Those interested in following this evolution can sign up to receive availability notifications, as the information collected during the testing phase will guide the next stages of implementation.

On August 12, 2026, the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2026 was launched, the latest notebook from ASUS's premium line. The event took place at Casa Bisutti in São Paulo, gathering journalists, influencers, partners, and industry professionals.

Diego Fernandez, ASUS's LATAM Marketing Director, began the presentation by discussing the brand's position in Latin America. He reported that ASUS not only maintains leadership in gaming notebooks in the region but has also achieved market share leadership in consumer notebooks in Brazil, according to GfK data. It was within this context of leadership that ASUS chose to launch the Zenbook DUO in the country.

Fernandez emphasized the strategic importance of Brazil for ASUS, stating that the company is committed to introducing its innovations to Brazilian consumers more quickly. He stressed that the launch of the ASUS Zenbook DUO after gaining market share leadership reinforces the brand's path of delivering advanced technology to those who need daily productivity and mobility.

Product Presentation and Features

Murilo Tunholi, ASUS's Technical PR in Brazil, presented the product, highlighting its design and practicality. Considering that many users already work with multiple screens daily, the new version of the Zenbook DUO offers not only two screens but also high performance, lightness, and remarkable battery life of up to 18 hours with both screens active, or 32 hours with only one screen on.

Tunholi detailed that this notebook complements the existing Zenbook line, which includes the Zenbook S14 and Zenbook A14 and A16 models. The DUO features two impressive screens, a body constructed from Ceraluminum—an exclusive material that provides greater lightness and resistance—and a powerful processor, the Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3. Weighing only 1.65 kilograms, it is ready to meet both performance and mobility demands.

The executive also clarified the positioning of the Zenbook DUO in the brand's Brazilian portfolio, classifying it as an ultra-premium and top-of-the-line product for consumers. However, he mentioned that several features of this model are also available in other Zenbooks and even in ASUS Vivobooks, ensuring that consumers do not necessarily have to opt for the ultra-premium segment to access cutting-edge functionalities.

Usage Modes of the ASUS Zenbook DUO 2026

The ASUS Zenbook DUO 2026 has differentiated usage modules, allowing it to be applied in various contexts and routines:

Notebook Mode

This is the standard use, where the keyboard remains attached to the machine, without the need to use both screens simultaneously.

Dual Screen Mode

In this mode, one screen is positioned above and another below, supported by a rear stand that allows the notebook to be elevated without extra accessories, similar to the functionality of the Nintendo Switch 2. The angle can be adjusted according to the desired height. This mode can operate with or without a keyboard, as the touchscreens support a virtual keyboard. There is an ergonomic limitation that each user must consider.

Desktop Mode

The two screens are arranged vertically, side by side, with the keyboard connected. This mode is recommended for programmers, scientific researchers, or journalists who need parallel screens for comparing materials. Together, the two screens offer an expanded area of 19.8 inches.

Shared Mode

The notebook is placed horizontally on a surface, with the screen expanded or duplicated, allowing two people to work at the same time, each using one screen.

The ASUS Zenbook DUO (2026) is the first notebook in the country to incorporate the Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 (Series 3) processor, recently released by Intel. This chip features 16 CPU cores, integrated Intel® Arc™ B390 graphics, and a total platform capacity of up to 180 TOPS for artificial intelligence tasks.

Internal tests conducted by ASUS, comparing the new model with the 2025 generation of the Zenbook DUO (which used the Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2), demonstrated that the new chip provides up to 26% faster multitasking, up to 112% more powerful graphics in games, and up to 203% faster AI processing.

To support this increase in performance, ASUS redesigned the notebook's cooling system, implementing larger fans, each with 97 blades, and a TDP of up to 45 W.

Carlos Buarque, Intel's Marketing Director in Brazil, commented on the partnership, stating that it aims to bring innovation and performance into daily life through thin, light notebooks with longer battery life. He cited the ASUS Zenbook DUO with the new Intel® Core™ Ultra X9 processor as an example of the union between high performance and energy efficiency in a portable format.

Although classified as a productivity notebook, the Zenbook DUO 2026 also has gaming capabilities. Murilo Tunholi explained that the Intel Core Ultra X9 Series 3 has a very robust integrated graphics card, comparable to a dedicated laptop GPU. He demonstrated that it is possible to run Cyberpunk 2077 with all settings on maximum, achieving 28 frames per second—an experience similar to a console—and that the resolution can be reduced to obtain more frames while maintaining the 1.65 kg weight. Furthermore, the device runs Battlefield 6 with high FPS rates, eliminating the need for an additional laptop for leisure time.

The model introduces a dual-battery system with a combined capacity of 99 Wh, supporting up to 32 hours of video playback using a single screen, or up to 18 hours with both screens on. Fast charging allows reaching 60% charge in 49 minutes using a USB Type-C port.

The chassis is made of Ceraluminum™, a ceramic material developed by ASUS, which the company describes as 30% lighter and three times more scratch-resistant than traditional anodized aluminum. The retractable hinge and magnetic pin system enable the five usage modes mentioned (notebook, dual screen with or without keyboard, desktop, and shared) without the need for external monitors, adapters, or additional accessories.

In specifications, the notebook weighs 1.65 kg in total (1.35 kg for the main body plus 0.3 kg for the detachable keyboard), has a chassis 5% smaller than the 2025 model, and has reduced the spacing between the two 14-inch OLED screens by 70%, contributing to a sense of visual continuity. The ASUS Zenbook DUO (2026) UX8407 was launched in Brazil on August 12, 2026, with a suggested price of R$ 29,999.00, and is available at the ASUS Store and partner retailers.