Tech News This Week: Microsoft May Be “Significantly Increasing” Windows 11 Pricing, YouTube Doubles Creators’ Earnings Requirements

Tech News This Week: Microsoft May Be “Significantly Increasing” Windows 11 Pricing, YouTube Doubles Creators’ Earnings Requirements

By Gene Marks
Publication Date: 2026-08-16 11:00:00

Let’s Recap:

  • Microsoft’s Windows 11 price may increase “significantly”;
  • YouTube doubles its creator earnings requirements;
  • Grok enters the agentic AI space with GrokBot;
  • OpenAI wants more SMBs to advertise;
  • Congress moves forward with a cybersecurity bill.

Microsoft Reportedly Pours Fuel on PC Pricing Flames as it Implements a ‘Significant Increase’ for Windows 11 Licenses

Microsoft has reportedly raised the price that PC manufacturers pay to license Windows 11 – adding to the existing pressures PC makers are dealing with such as memory price hikes (“RAM crisis.”) According to a report from Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Microsoft increased Windows 11 licensing fees for PC makers by roughly 7-10 percent as of last month – though that is yet to be confirmed. The increases may also vary depending on the computer: manufacturers are reportedly paying higher…