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Today’s headlines are all about boundaries: ethical, digital, and financial. OpenAI is shutting down ChatGPT accounts used for malware, Meta is entering the world of billion-dollar AI investments, and ransomware groups are crossing legal boundaries worldwide.

Meanwhile, companies are starting to reward the AI-fluent—not just in title, but in their paychecks too.

Let’s dive in.

Here’s what you need to know today:

Malware by ChatGPT? OpenAI Says Not Anymore

Hey ChatGPT, can you create a virus for me?

OpenAI has banned a swath of ChatGPT accounts after it was discovered that a Russian-speaking threat actor was using their AI chatbot to develop and create malware. The campaign—dubbed ScopeCreep—focused on building a trojanized “crosshair” overlay tool targeting online gamers.

According to The Hacker News, cybercriminals used multiple email accounts to create new ChatGPT logins, conduct a single conversation to make iterative improvements on the malware, and then abandon the account to repeat the process on another email to avoid detection.

"The [Russian-speaking] actor used our models to assist with developing and refining Windows malware, debugging code across multiple languages, and setting up their command-and-control infrastructure," OpenAI said.

If downloaded, ScopeCreep could harvest user credentials and enable unauthorized remote access. Thankfully, OpenAI stated that there is no evidence suggesting the malware has been deployed on a large scale.

Why it matters: ScopeCreep is a stark reminder of the double-edged sword that is generative AI. Yes, it can turbocharge software development. However, in the wrong hands, it can also help weaponize code at an alarming pace.  

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Meta Eyes $10B Investment In Scale AI, Report Finds

Meta Platforms is reportedly in talks to invest over $10 billion in Scale AI, the fast-rising data-labeling startup powering some of today’s most advanced AI models.

According to SiliconAngle, citing a Bloomberg report, the deal would mark Meta’s largest external AI investment to date. That is, if it goes through.

While neither company has issued an official statement, the move wouldn’t come as a shock. With Scale AI already serving tech heavyweights like Microsoft and OpenAI, Meta joining the client list feels like a natural next step.

Led by CEO Alexandr Wang, Scale AI specializes in data-labeling services that have become critical to modern AI platforms. The startup processes vast amounts of unstructured data (such as texts, images, or videos) and tags it with context to help train AI models and enhance their performance.

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Security Alerts

FBI and Cyber Agencies Warn: ‘Play’ Ransomware Group Has Hit 900+ Orgs Worldwide

The FBI, CISA, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre have released a joint advisory on Play (also known as Playcrypt). This ransomware group has targeted over 900 victims across North America, South America, and Europe.

According to the advisory, Play operates a double extortion model: They exfiltrate sensitive data, then encrypt systems, threatening to leak everything unless a ransom is paid.

Unlike most groups, however, Play skips giving a specific ransom price. Instead, they instruct victims to email them directly, placing the pressure (and risk) on them to initiate the negotiations.

To defend against Play’s tactics, the cyber agencies call for organizations to:

Play is playing for keeps—and if you’re not patched, you’re playing with fire.

iPhone, iMessage Crashes Tied Targeted Attacks on ‘High-Risk’ Users

A spate of mysterious iPhone crashes has been suspected to be part of a concerted attack on high-risk individuals in the US and the EU, as reported by SecurityWeek.

According to iVerify, the EDR firm that observed the incidents firsthand, at least six devices tied to prominent figures in government, media, and tech were affected between late 2024 and early 2025.

The most alarming part? The crashes were prompted without any user interaction.

iVerify’s report attributes the crashes to a security defect in Apple's iMessage (seen in iOS 18.1.1), where attackers exploited the “Nickname” feature to trigger a race condition leading to memory corruption, crashing the phones via a zero-click exploit. 

Fortunately, Apple has patched the flaw in iOS 18.3.1. 

If you're not updated yet, you might want to fix that… unless you enjoy being part of someone else’s exploit reel.

Industry Shakeups

AI Skills Pay Off—Literally, Says Study PwC

AI-savvy workers are earning 56% more than their non-AI counterparts, according to PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer.

The report found that knowing your way around prompt engineering and other AI tools can make you significantly more valuable at work, even in sectors where AI is expected to replace, not support, human roles. 

PwC suggests this calls into question whether concerns of AI replacing “automation-friendly” roles are actually misplaced. 

But don’t get too comfortable: PwC also found that AI-exposed roles are changing 66% faster than the rest, so staying ahead may require constant upskilling and ongoing study of AI.

So yeah… maybe don’t toss that prompt engineering course just yet.

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