AI helping fuel two-year high in cyberattacks

Armed with artificial intelligence tools and an opportunity to attack a slew of new victims, cybercriminals are wreaking havoc. Security firm Check Point Research says cyberattacks surged 25% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter, the biggest increase in two years.

Check Point says the “relentless onslaught of attacks” was fueled by hackers wielding advanced technological tools, especially AI and machine learning. There was also an increase in new targets as companies made the leap to new technology systems but without the necessary security.

The education/research sector was the No. 1 target for attackers followed by government and health care. The health care sector is especially lucrative because attacks can garner personal information and Social Security numbers.

Taco Bell adds AI ordering

Taco Bell is the latest fast-food chain to serve up AI ordering. Parent company Yum Brands says its Voice AI technology is being rolled out to hundreds of its drive-thrus. The technology uses an artificial intelligence chatbot instead of a human to take customers’ orders. Other chains have had problems with AI ordering, including McDonald’s, which pulled the plug on its AI order taker in July.

Game over

Game Informer, the go-to magazine for video gamers that published its first issue in 1991, has shut down. At its peak 15 years ago, it had a circulation of 8 million, making it the third bestselling U.S. magazine. In 2000, Game Informer was acquired by retailer GameStop, which decided to stop publication. GameStop has been having financial problems as gamers increasingly download games instead of buying physical copies.

Yelp sues Google

Online reviews company Yelp sued Google, contending that the search giant uses its power over the web to benefit its own reviews business to unfairly shut out the smaller company. The lawsuit adds to a string of recent legal challenges to Google’s dominance, including court rulings that declared its search business and mobile app store to be illegal monopolies. Google said Yelp’s allegations were “meritless.” — THE WASHINGTON POST