Windows Weekly 992

Microsoft’s July 2026 Patch Tuesday just shattered records with hundreds of bug fixes, and AI is the force behind the surge. Are we witnessing the beginning of a safer Windows, or is this flood of vulnerabilities the new normal? Plus, Tony Redmond’s epic book has a new name (was Office 365 for IT Pros) and is now a bundle of four books.

Windows

• Patch Tuesday is here!
• Point in Time Restore, quieter Widgets, Windows Update improvements, Screen tint, and more
• The biggest Patch Tuesday in history, by far: a record 570 fixes for security flaws, and a huge 3X increase from the then-record flaws fixed last month. (Some say the number is 622. Math is hard.) And this is on top of 468 Microsoft Edge/Chromium flaws that were fixed by Google this month too. Yikes.
• Microsoft discusses how it’s improving Windows security with AI
• Windows Insider Program: Improved Windows Search is next on the docket, heading out to Experimental this week. Question: When do these things hit stable?
• Microsoft releases Snapdragon X2 versions of its Surface for Business Pro and Laptop models

AI

• Apple sues OpenAI for stealing trade secrets
• Surprised there was no talk of “thermonuclear war”
• OpenAI’s response is hilarious, and it is already prepping its first hardware device
• OpenAI just announced the rumored super app, which is a combination of ChatGPT, Work, Codex, and an in-app web browser, which replaces the standalone Atlas web browser. Also, GPT-5.6.
• In keeping with recent history, Anthropic announced its in-app web browser for Claude less than 24 hours later
• Reminder that Microsoft acknowledged that it, too, is working on an AI super app at Build
• Apple releases public betas of its OS 27 releases and, shocker, Siri is really good
• Now Spotify has an AI chatbot so I can tell it how much I hate Spotify

Xbox and gaming

• Obsidian is working on a new Fallout game, duh.
• A quiet time after last week’s terribleness

Tips and picks

• Tip of the week: Microsoft 365 for IT Pros (2027 edition) is here!
• App pick of the week: MusicBee
• RunAs Radio this week: Finding Security Vulnerabilities using AI with Sami Laiho
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Sanctuary Single Malt Whisky Reserve Edition

Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly

Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 992 Transcript

Links

• Microsoft Releases July 2026 Patch Tuesday Updates
• Patchpocalypse Now: Microsoft tops last month's record with 622 Patch Tuesday CVEs
• Microsoft Details How It’s Using AI to Improve Windows Security
• Windows Insiders Can Test a Decluttered Windows Search Experience
• Surface for Business Lineup Goes Snapdragon X2
• Apple Sues OpenAI for Trade Secrets Theft
• OpenAI is Reportedly Working on AI-Powered Mobile Smart Speaker
• OpenAI Announces ChatGPT Work and GPT-5.6
• OpenAI is Killing the Atlas Web Browser
• Apple Releases First Public Beta for iOS 27, macOS 27, and More
• What If Siri … Just Worked? ⭐
• Spotify is Copying AI Chatbots With new “Talk to Spotify” Feature
• Xbox Reportedly Has Obsidian Entertainment Working on New Fallout Game
• Announcing Microsoft 365 for IT Pros (2027 Edition)
• Microsoft 365 for IT Pros (2027 Edition). The Ultimate Guide to Managing Microsoft 365.
• From the Editor’s Desk: Inconvenient ⭐️
• MusicBee
• Vivaldi 8.1 for Desktop is Here
• Finding Security Vulnerabilities using AI with Sami Laiho
• Sanctuary Single Malt Whisky Reserve Edition