This month, we cover aging operating systems, record-breaking patch volumes, falling trust in AI, invisible digital friction, and (just for fun) a simulation of a catastrophic cyberattack.
Windows 10 holdouts create growing security risk
According to Lansweeper data, 16.9% of monitored Windows devices still run Windows 10. Among SMBs, that rises to 21.4%, creating a growing security gap as support deadlines approach.
The risk is significant: a Windows 10 device carries an average of 1,903 active Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), compared with 652 on Windows 11. For IT teams, the remaining migration work is likely to involve the most complex, costly, or business-critical devices.
Read more: Windows 10 refuses to die, and the security bill is coming ↗
AI adoption rises while user trust falls
82% of AI users used more than one chatbot over the past year, according to a Tether survey of more than 5,000 users covered by CIO Dive. Despite this, nearly half said they don't trust current AI companies.
The main concerns were data privacy, accuracy, reliability, and cloud dependence. Only 35% felt confident their personal data was secure. What do we take from this? People's trust in AI isn't keeping pace with their adoption of it. But for now, at least, that isn't stopping us from using it.
Read more: AI adoption surges as trust plummets: report | CIO Dive ↗
AI-assisted discovery drives record Patch Tuesday
An incredible 570 security flaws were fixed across Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products in July’s Patch Tuesday release. At least two were zero-days, including flaws affecting Windows Server and SharePoint.
Microsoft cited AI-assisted vulnerability discovery as one reason for the higher volume. For IT teams, this could increase pressure on patch prioritization, testing, and remediation workflows.
Digital friction quietly drains employee focus
Employees lose an average of 1.3 workdays per month to digital friction, according to TeamViewer’s The psychology of digital employee experience (DEX) whitepaper. Many of these issues never appear in support tickets.
The paper shows how small delays, workarounds, and repeated interruptions drain focus and performance. It also highlights why mature DEX teams focus on spotting hidden friction earlier and reducing disruption before it affects productivity.
Cyber war game exposes infrastructure fragility
AI is already leading to an increase in the speed and scale of cyberattacks. For a fascinating war game recently observed by WIRED, the target was 5,000 water utilities on US soil. Over the course of the simulation, the fallout of such an attack becomes all too clear.
With increased attacks on industry and critical infrastructure, the article shows how connected systems––and exposed legacy setups, in particular––quickly pave the way for real-world chaos.
Conclusion
Well, that’s it for now. What sticks with me? The fact that trust in AI is falling, while adoption and everyday use increase. Seems to me that there's work to be done to reassure people about AI, while supporting their use of it. Because if they lose more trust, it's hard to think they'll keep using it.
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