Hermes — Sunday 2 August 2026

1

🤖 ai The Decoder

81%

A security researcher built a self-spreading worm that hides inside Word docs and hijacks Microsoft Copilot

A security researcher has demonstrated a worm-like attack on Microsoft Copilot for Word: invisible prompt injections hidden in documents spread automatically into new files every time they're reused.…

Novelty

85%

Depth

70%

Practical

80%

Surprise

85%

Relevance

95%

https://the-decoder.com/a-security-researcher-built-a-self-spreading-worm-that-hides-inside-word-docs-and-hijacks-microsoft-copilot/

2

🤖 ai The Decoder

66%

AI keeps cracking unsolved math problems, and mathematicians have mixed feelings

OpenAI's refutation of the Unit Distance Conjecture has sparked a wave of AI-assisted advances in mathematics. Fields Medal winner Timothy Gowers says GPT 5.6 Pro solved two problems he had spent con…

https://the-decoder.com/ai-keeps-cracking-unsolved-math-problems-and-mathematicians-have-mixed-feelings/

3

🤖 ai The Decoder

59%

AI coding agents can modernize research software but can't judge if the science is right

A field report from OpenAI and academic partners shows coding agents can modernize neglected research software, with speedups of up to 60x. But the systems are "eloquent, convincing, and confidently …

https://the-decoder.com/ai-coding-agents-can-modernize-research-software-but-cant-judge-if-the-science-is-right/

4

🤖 ai The Decoder

59%

OpenAI announces its "next major model" Astra by dropping ten previously unsolved math solutions

OpenAI is building a new model family called "Astra" that would let multiple agents tackle complex problems together for hours or even days. CEO Sam Altman has already demoed Astra to policymakers in…

https://the-decoder.com/openai-announces-its-next-major-model-astra-by-dropping-ten-previously-unsolved-math-solutions/

5

🤖 ai The Decoder

59%

Google handed users the easiest possible tool for fake satellite imagery, then pulled it after two days

Google pulled its Nano Banana 2 image model from Google Earth just two days after launch. Users showed how easy it was to generate convincing fake satellite images. A simple prompt was enough to fill…

https://the-decoder.com/google-handed-users-the-easiest-possible-tool-for-fake-satellite-imagery-then-pulled-it-after-two-days/

6

🤖 ai The Decoder

50%

German court rules AI music generator Suno violated copyrights, rejects fair use defense

A Munich court ruled that AI music generator Suno violated copyrights through both training and output. The court found six songs reproducibly stored in Suno's models and rejected both Germany's text…

https://the-decoder.com/german-court-rules-ai-music-generator-suno-violated-copyrights-rejects-fair-use-defense/

7

🤖 ai The Decoder

43%

ByteDance's Seedance 2.5 generates 30-second video clips with built-in audio

ByteDance just shipped Seedance 2.5, an AI video model that produces video and audio together in one go. Each clip runs up to 30 seconds, three times what Google's Gemini Omni Flash puts out. Users c…

https://the-decoder.com/bytedances-seedance-2-5-generates-30-second-video-clips-with-built-in-audio/

8

🔐 security SANS Internet Stormcast

43%

Phishing Campaigns Targeting AI Solutions Providers, (Sat, Aug 1st)

Most phishing campaigns rely on the fact that the victim is afraid to loose "something": money, access to information, ... Many brands have been impersonated by campaigns but I spotted some phishing …

https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/33206

9

⚡ tech The Verge

40%

Trump blames Tim Walz for water hacks even though it’s probably Iran

Donald Trump speaks during the House Republican Party member retreat. | Image: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images The FBI, the EPA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) hav…

https://www.theverge.com/policy/974197/trump-tim-walz-minnesota-water-hacks-iran

10

🔐 security SecurityWeek

39%

Ruby on Rails Patches Critical Vulnerability

The flaw can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to read arbitrary files and potentially achieve remote code execution (RCE). The post Ruby on Rails Patches Critical Vulnerability appeared firs…

https://www.securityweek.com/ruby-on-rails-patches-critical-vulnerability/

11

⚡ tech The Verge

33%

Is this Billboard Hot 100 hit AI slop?

That cover art is almost certainly AI, too. | Image: Fenix Flexin Fenix Flexin is best known as a member of Shoreline Mafia, a rap duo from Los Angeles. But he's recently found solo success with the …

https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/974209/fenix-flexin-billboard-hot-100-rubberz-ai-slop

12

🔐 security SecurityWeek

29%

Balance Theory Raises $19 Million to Help Enterprises Manage Cybersecurity Investments

The funding round was led by SYN Ventures, with participation from existing investors DataTribe and TEDCO. The post Balance Theory Raises $19 Million to Help Enterprises Manage Cybersecurity Investme…

https://www.securityweek.com/balance-theory-raises-19-million-to-help-enterprises-manage-cybersecurity-investments/

13

🔐 security SANS Internet Stormcast

27%

Atomic MacOS (AMOS) stealer infection, (Sun, Aug 2nd)

Introduction

https://isc.sans.edu/diary/rss/33208

14

⚡ tech The Verge

27%

You could be taking way better photos on your phone

Your smartphone photos can look way better. If you're willing to put in a little extra work, use third party apps and spend a bit of time editing, it's possible to take photos that - under the right …

https://www.theverge.com/tech/973055/how-to-take-better-smartphone-photos

15

⚡ tech The Verge

18%

The Verge’s 2026 back-to-school shopping guide

Knowing exactly what your student needs for the school year ahead is next to impossible. Sure, you'll probably nail the essentials, but there will likely be a few items you forgot to buy, or didn't t…

https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/968645/back-to-school-shopping-guide-gifts