In this episode, Michael, Sarah and Mark talk to Nick Wryter about agentic AI identity, with a big focus on least privilege issues. We also cover news about:

• Microsoft AI Tour
• Azure Database for PostgresSQL
• Azure MCP Server for Azure Confidential Ledger
• Application Gateway, FIPS 140-2 and TLS
• Outbound internet access from VMs
• Azure NetApp Files and Ransomware protection
• Azure Cosmos DB Mirroring

https://aka.ms/azsecpod

Anthropic is overhauling Claude's so-called "soul doc."

The new missive is a 57-page document titled "Claude's Constitution," which details "Anthropic's intentions for the model's values and behavior," aimed not at outside readers but the model itself. The document is designed to spell out Claude's "ethical character" and "core identity," including how it should balance conflicting values and high-stakes situations.

Where the previous constitution, published in May 2023, was largely a list of guidelines, Anthropic now says it's important for AI models to "understand why we want them to behave in certain ways rather than just specifying w …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Apple is planning a big Siri overhaul that will transform the voice assistant into an AI chatbot built directly into its iPhone and Mac, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. The update is reportedly coming later this year and will replace the existing Siri interface, allowing users to interact with the assistant by both typing and talking, similar to the chatbots available from Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others.

As noted by Bloomberg, this change is separate from the AI-powered personalization features coming to Siri in the next few months. Like that updated version of Siri, the chatbot will reportedly use a custom Google Gemini …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Seattle-based Code.org laid off 18 employees, or about 14% of its staff, the nonprofit confirmed to GeekWire on Wednesday.

“Code.org has made the difficult decision to part ways with 18 colleagues as part of efforts to ensure our long-term sustainability,” the organization said in an emailed statement. “Their contributions helped millions of educators and students around the world, and we are grateful for their efforts.”

Code.org was launched in 2013 by brothers Hadi and Ali Partovi with a mission to expand computer science education to K-12 students. Backed by nearly $60 million in funding from the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Google and others, Code.org counts 102 million students and 3 million teachers on its platform today, with 232 million projects created by students around the world.

CEO Hadi Partovi is a former Microsoft manager and was an early investor in companies including Facebook, DropBox, Airbnb and Uber.

“Our mission remains unchanged,” the organization said in its statement. “We will continue our Hour of AI campaign, along with our work to reform policies and new curriculum supporting CS+AI education in classrooms.”

Following the cuts, Code.org’s staff now numbers 107. 

Previously:

• ‘We are all kids in the age of AI’: Trevor Noah teaches 5th graders — and learns a few things himself
• Code.org CEO rips NY Times for stoking ‘populist fears’ over computer science jobs and AI

Join Us In-Person on February 26, 2026 – Arlington, VA 

Ready to boost your productivity, streamline mission workflows, and get hands-on with the latest in Microsoft 365 AI? We’re excited to invite government employees to an immersive, in-person Agentathon at the Washington DC Microsoft Innovation Hub on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EST). 

This highly interactive event is designed specifically to help government teams unlock the potential of agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot (GCCaligned)—and transform real mission work into repeatable, instruction-driven assistance. 

Register now — space is very limited! 

Why You Should Attend 

Modern government work demands more agility, smarter processes, and tools that help teams stay ahead of mission needs. This session focuses on exactly that—personal productivity agents built within Microsoft 365 that connect your natural language instructions with your organization’s existing data. 

You’ll walk away with clarity on: 

• When to use M365 Copilot vs. agents 

• How to design instruction-driven agents 

• How to turn common workflows into repeatable AI powered patterns 

• What capabilities exist today in GCC, GCC High, and DoD—plus what’s coming next 

Our Microsoft experts and coaches will guide you every step of the way. 

What You’ll Do 

Collaborate with Government Peers & Microsoft Experts 

Work together to explore agent concepts, compare approaches, and hone instruction patterns using government-aligned Microsoft 365 capabilities. 

Hands-On Agent Building 

Draft agent instructions, validate inputs, define success measures, and refine solutions through real-world scenario-focused exercises. 

Interactive Learning & Real Examples 

See how agents fit across Microsoft 365, how they extend personal productivity, and how to map mission workflows into AI-driven guidance. 

Breakout Sessions 

Small-group coaching sessions help you sharpen your scenario, simplify your design, and accelerate your build. 

What You’ll Learn 

• What to use when: Make clear decisions on when M365 Copilot fits your need—and when an agent is the stronger choice. 

• Personal Productivity Agent Design: Learn how natural language + your Microsoft 365 data = faster, more consistent work. 

• Cross Agency Best Practices: Share designs, trade insights, and take home reusable patterns you can apply immediately in your environment. 

This is your opportunity to level up your AI expertise—at no additional cost. 

Agenda Snapshot 

09:00 – 09:30 Arrival & Networking 
09:30 – 10:00 State of AI in Government 
10:00 – 10:45 Agents in Microsoft 365: What They Are + What to Use When 
10:45 – 12:00 Breakouts: Scenario Selection + Instruction Patterns 
12:00 – 01:00 Lunch & Build Sprint 
01:00 – 02:30 Breakouts: Build, Refine & Test 
02:30 – 02:45 Break 
02:45 – 03:45 Share Out: Your Agent + Reusable Patterns 
03:45 – 04:00 Wrap-Up & Next Steps 

Location 

Microsoft Innovation Hub – Washington, D.C. 
1300 Wilson Blvd, 14th Floor 
Arlington, VA 22209 

Important Notes 

• Registration is processed first come, first served. 

• Due to limited capacity (~30 participants), you’ll be automatically waitlisted upon registration. A confirmation email will follow within a few business days. 

• All participants must adhere to the Microsoft Event Code of Conduct: 
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/events/codeofconduct?rtc=1 

• Government employees should confirm participation complies with applicable organizational policies and laws. 

Secure Your Spot Today 

Don’t miss this opportunity to supercharge your personal productivity and learn how Microsoft 365 Copilot and agent capabilities can accelerate the mission each day. 
Seats are limited—register now to save your place! 

The "liminal space" aesthetic of the Backrooms has become a staple of modern indie horror. If you’ve ever wanted to create your own unsettling, claustrophobic experience, the latest course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel is your perfect starting point.

In this comprehensive tutorial from DevEdge Studio, you’ll learn how to build a complete Backrooms-style horror game from scratch using Unreal Engine 5. And it is created entirely using Blueprints, meaning you don’t need to write a single line of C++ code to create the game.

Thought In this project, you will develop a fully playable "Body Cam" style horror game. You’ll build a complete gameplay loop featuring intelligent enemy AI, interactive puzzles, and custom jump scares, all while utilizing Blueprint Interfaces. And then at the end you will package a polished, standalone .exe file ready for distribution.

Watch the full course on the freeCodeCamp.org YouTube channel (3-hour watch).