A new report from Menlo Security (PDF) shows a 140 percent increase in browser-based phishing attacks over the past year, as well as a 130 percent increase in zero-hour phishing attacks (i.e., novel attacks that are undetectable to existing detection tools). There are several reasons for this explosive growth: our reliance on the browser in the workplace, zero-day vulnerabilities, advanced phishing tools, and increasing adoption of generative AI. Criminals are now using AI to create credible phishing websites, trick users with fake AI services, and automate targeted attacks. According to security strategist Andrew Harding, advanced social engineering is being combined with "Phishing-as-a-Service" kits and zero-day vulnerabilities. All signs point to this trend accelerating in 2025.

As connected devices proliferate, new ways of processing have come to the fore to accommodate device and data explosion. For years, organizations have moved toward centralized, off-site processing architecture in the cloud and away from on-premises data centers. Cloud computing enabled startups to innovate and expand their businesses without requiring huge capital outlays on data center infrastructure or ongoing costs for IT management. It enabled large organizations to scale quickly and stay agile by using on-demand resources. But as enterprises move toward more remote models, video-intensive communications and other processes, they need an edge computing architecture to accommodate data-hogging tasks.

However, the rapidly evolving technology, one that has otherwise been expected to serve as an effective weapon against climate change, has a downside that many people are unaware of -- sky high energy consumption. Artificial intelligence, and particularly the subfield of deep learning, appears likely to become a significant climate culprit should industry trends continue. In only six years -- from 2012 to 2018 -- the compute needed for deep learning has grown 300,000%. However, the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with developing algorithms is rarely measured, despite numerous studies that clearly demonstrate the growing problem. In response to the problem, two students at the University of Copenhagen's Department of Computer Science, Lasse F. Wolff Anthony and Benjamin Kanding, together with Assistant Professor Raghavendra Selvan, have developed a software programme they call Carbontracker.

It is going to be an interesting year. Never before have we seen so much creativity, innovation, and evolution. Trend watchers are going berserk with all the cool new ideas being born every minute, and futurologists are seeing their predictions come true sooner than expected. The second machine age is here, and what an exciting time it is! But running a competitive business is challenging as we tumble from one paradigm to another.

It is going to be an interesting year. We have not seen so much creativity, innovation and evolution before in history. Trend watchers go berserk with all the cool new ideas born every minute and futurologist see their predictions come true sooner than expected. The second machine age is here and what an exciting time to live. Running a competitive business is challenging as we tumble from one paradigm into another.