HeyWhatsNew: Snowflake Broadens Its AI Partnerships and Call of Duty Ramps Up Anti-Cheat
Hey there, Heyuppers. Here’s what caught our eye this week across tech, innovation, and gaming, starting 02/02/2026.
Adobe Animate Is Being Phased Out
Adobe has confirmed that Adobe Animate will stop being sold after March 1, 2026. Current users will still be able to download the app and access their files until March 1, 2027, while enterprise customers have until March 1, 2029. Adobe says support will continue during this period, giving users time to save their work and transition at their own pace.
The software has a long history, starting in 1996 as FutureSplash Animator and later becoming Flash before evolving into Adobe Animate. While Adobe is encouraging creators to use tools like After Effects and Adobe Express instead, many animators still rely on Animate for professional and indie projects. The shutdown has sparked concern among creators, but it also reflects Adobe’s wider shift toward new platforms and AI-powered creative tools.
Snowflake and OpenAI Signal a Multi-Model Enterprise AI Future
Snowflake has signed a $200 million multi-year deal with OpenAI, giving its 12,600 customers access to OpenAI models across all major cloud platforms. Snowflake employees will also use ChatGPT Enterprise, and the two companies plan to build new AI agents and enterprise-focused AI products together. Snowflake says the goal is to help businesses use AI directly on their existing data in a secure and compliant way, without forcing them to change platforms they already trust.
This deal follows a similar $200 million partnership Snowflake announced with Anthropic in late 2025, highlighting a clear trend. Enterprises are choosing flexibility over exclusivity. Other companies like ServiceNow are doing the same by working with multiple AI providers so customers can pick the best model for each task. While surveys disagree on which AI company leads enterprise adoption, the takeaway is clear. The enterprise AI race is shaping up to have multiple winners, with businesses mixing and matching AI tools based on real-world value rather than betting on a single provider.
AI Chat Toy Leak Raises Major Privacy Questions
Security researchers discovered that Bondu, an AI-powered chat toy for children, left its web console almost completely unprotected, allowing anyone with a Gmail account to view private chat logs. More than 50,000 conversations between children and the toy were exposed, including names, birth dates, preferences, and full chat transcripts. The issue was found without hacking, simply by logging in, highlighting a serious lapse in basic security practices.
Bondu fixed the issue within hours after being alerted and says it found no evidence of misuse beyond the researchers involved. While the immediate problem has been addressed, experts say the incident shows bigger risks around AI toys that collect detailed personal data from kids. As AI-powered playthings become more common, the case serves as a reminder that strong security and privacy protections are just as important as making the technology engaging and safe to talk to.
Haunted Chocolatier Is Still Very Much Alive
Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, has reassured fans that Haunted Chocolatier is still actively in development. In a January 28 blog post, he shared that progress on the game is ongoing and that recent productivity has been strong. Barone acknowledged that announcing the game early led to long wait times, but emphasized that development is moving forward and the project has not been abandoned.
He also addressed several rumors, including claims that Haunted Chocolatier would be merged into Stardew Valley or delayed until 2030. Barone made it clear that the two games are completely separate and built on different technology, and that continued Stardew Valley updates are simply a response to player demand. While there is still no release date, he reaffirmed that Haunted Chocolatier will be released when it is ready, thanking fans for their patience and support.
Call of Duty Steps Up Anti-Cheat Efforts for Season 2
Activision has announced new updates to its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system ahead of Season 2 of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, launching on February 5. The system will introduce stronger detection tools designed to identify and block cheating devices like Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix, which are often used to gain unfair advantages such as reduced recoil or assisted aiming. These updates will apply across console and PC players, with no extra steps required for most users.
On PC, the update builds on existing security measures by combining kernel-level detection with Microsoft Azure Attestation, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0 checks to verify system integrity. Alongside these anti-cheat improvements, Season 2 also brings new multiplayer maps, modes, weapons, and Battle Pass content. While it remains to be seen how effective the new measures will be, Activision is signaling a continued commitment to protecting fair play as the new season rolls out.
Thanks for spending your time with us, Heyuppers. We’ll see you next week with more stories, updates, and moments shaping tech, gaming, and innovation.
