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Malaysia expands AI learning across universities with Google tools

AI tools from Google are now available across all public universities in Malaysia after the nationwide deployment of Gemini for Education.

An initiative that integrates AI capabilities into university systems, providing digital research and learning support to nearly 600,000 students and 75,000 faculty members.

The rollout is coordinated with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia as part of the country’s broader strategy to become an AI-driven economy by 2030. Universities already using Google Workspace for

Education can now access advanced tools, including NotebookLM and the reasoning model Gemini 3.1 Pro, which are designed to support research, writing and personalised learning.

Several universities are already experimenting with AI-assisted teaching. At Universiti Malaysia Perlis, lecturers have created customised AI assistants to guide students through specialised engineering courses.

Meanwhile, researchers and students at Universiti Putra Malaysia are using AI tools to improve literature reviews and academic research workflows.

Other institutions are focusing on digital literacy and AI skills.

At Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, hundreds of lecturers and students are receiving AI certifications, while training programmes are expanding across campuses.

Officials believe the combination of AI tools, training and research support will strengthen the education system of Malaysia and prepare graduates for an increasingly AI-driven economy.

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Network Slicing unlocks powerful opportunities for Africa’s 5G future

Accelerating the deployment of standalone 5G networks is the most critical step for enabling network slicing in Africa. Standalone 5G uses cloud-native cores that allow operators to create and manage virtual network slices with guaranteed performance. Many African networks still rely on non-standalone architecture, which limits full slicing capabilities.

Releasing and harmonising mid-band spectrum is another key policy priority. Spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band is particularly important for delivering high throughput and low latency. Without timely spectrum allocation, operators may struggle to support advanced industrial and enterprise applications.

Clear enterprise service frameworks are also essential. Industries such as mining, logistics, and energy require reliable connectivity with strict service-level agreements. Regulators and operators must define transparent pricing models and performance guarantees to support enterprise adoption.

Investment in automation and technical skills will also play a central role. Network slicing relies on AI-driven orchestration, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity capabilities. Strengthening technical expertise will help operators manage complex network environments.

Once these policy foundations are in place, network slicing can unlock new business models for telecom providers. Operators can offer slice-as-a-service, allowing enterprises to subscribe to dedicated network segments tailored to specific operational needs.

African telecom companies are already exploring these opportunities. Operators such as MTN, Vodacom, Safaricom, and Telkom are developing enterprise connectivity solutions for sectors including mining, manufacturing, logistics, and energy.

Private 5G deployments in mining operations illustrate the potential value of these services. Dedicated networks support automation, real-time monitoring, and remote equipment management. These projects often involve multi-year contracts worth several million dollars.

Network slicing also enables telecom providers to move beyond traditional consumer data services. Instead of charging primarily for data volume, operators can generate revenue from long-term enterprise connectivity and managed digital services.

As 5G infrastructure expands across the continent, network slicing is expected to play an increasing role in enterprise connectivity. By aligning network performance with industry needs, it could become a key driver of digital transformation in Africa.

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AI security risks grow as companies integrate AI into daily workflows

AI is rapidly transforming workplaces as companies automate tasks and boost productivity. From writing code to analysing documents, AI tools help employees work faster, but also introduce new AI security and compliance risks.

One of the main concerns is the handling of sensitive information. Employees may upload confidential documents, proprietary code, or customer data into AI chatbots without realising the consequences. Doing so could violate privacy regulations such as the EU’s GDPR or breach internal non-disclosure agreements, making AI security an important priority for organisations.

Another challenge is the reliability of AI-generated content. While large language models can produce convincing responses, they sometimes generate false information, which is a phenomenon known as hallucination. High-profile cases have already shown professionals submitting work with fabricated references generated by AI. Such incidents highlight the need for rigorous AI security and oversight.

Cybersecurity risks are also growing. AI systems rely on complex infrastructure that can become targets for attackers through techniques such as prompt injection, which tricks the model into producing unintended responses, or data poisoning, which involves injecting malicious data into training sets to alter behaviour or outputs. Addressing these threats requires stronger AI security practices and careful monitoring.

When adopting AI, organisations must develop clear policies, strengthen cybersecurity measures, and maintain human oversight. Taking those steps is essential to ensuring that the technology is used safely and responsibly.

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Online scams rise as Parkin urges Dubai residents to stay vigilant

Dubai’s parking provider, Parkin, has warned residents to stay alert as online scams targeting digital service users continue to rise, urging people to take immediate steps to protect their digital identities.

In an advisory, the company stressed that official entities will never ask users to log in or disclose sensitive information through unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls. The warning comes amid growing concerns about phishing attempts and other online scams targeting users of digital platforms.

Parkin said residents should exercise caution if they receive unexpected requests for personal details, passwords, or verification codes. Users are strongly advised not to respond to suspicious links, attachments, or messages from unknown sources, which are commonly used in online scams.

The operator also urged the public to verify the authenticity of communications before taking any action. Residents who are unsure about the legitimacy of a message should check official websites or contact customer service channels directly. The advice applies to messages claiming to come from Parkin or other service providers.

Authorities and service providers across the UAE have repeatedly warned that cybercriminals often impersonate trusted organisations in online scams designed to steal sensitive information. Such attacks can lead to identity theft, financial losses, or unauthorised access to personal accounts.

Parkin encouraged residents who receive suspicious communications to report them through official channels so that appropriate action can be taken. The company added that staying vigilant and safeguarding personal data remain essential to preventing online scams.

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AI tools linked to rise in abuse disclosures

Support organisations in the UK report that some abuse survivors are turning to AI tools such as ChatGPT before contacting helplines. Charities in the UK say individuals increasingly use AI to explore experiences and seek guidance before approaching professional support services.

The National Association of People Abused in Childhood said callers in the UK have recently reported being referred to its helpline after conversations with ChatGPT. Staff say AI is being used as an informal step in processing trauma.

Law enforcement and support groups in the UK have also recorded a rise in disclosures involving ritualistic sexual abuse. Authorities in the UK say only 14 criminal cases since 1982 have formally recognised such practices.

Police and support organisations are responding by improving training and launching specialist working groups. Officials aim to strengthen the identification and investigation of complex cases of abuse.

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Codex Security expands OpenAI’s push into cybersecurity tools

OpenAI has launched Codex Security, an AI-powered application security agent that detects hard-to-find software vulnerabilities and proposes fixes through advanced reasoning. By providing detailed context about a system’s architecture, the tool identifies security risks that are often missed by conventional automation.

The system uses advanced models to analyse repositories, construct project-specific threat models, and prioritise vulnerabilities based on their potential real-world impact. By combining automated validation with system-level context, Codex Security aims to reduce the number of false positives that security teams must review while highlighting high-confidence findings.

Initially developed under the name Aardvark, the tool has been tested in private deployments over the past year. During early use, OpenAI said it uncovered several critical vulnerabilities, including a cross-tenant authentication flaw and a server-side request forgery issue, allowing internal teams to quickly patch affected systems.

The company says improvements during the beta phase significantly reduced noise in vulnerability reports. In some repositories, unnecessary alerts fell by 84 percent, while over-reported severity dropped by more than 90 percent, and false positives declined by more than half.

Codex Security is now rolling out in research preview for ChatGPT Pro, Enterprise, Business, and Edu customers. OpenAI also plans to expand access to open-source maintainers through a dedicated programme that offers security scanning and support to help identify and remediate vulnerabilities across widely used projects.

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Data breaches push South Korea toward stricter corporate liability rules

South Korea’s government and ruling party are advancing a second revision of the Personal Information Protection Act to strengthen corporate liability for large-scale data breaches.

The proposed amendment would make it easier for victims of major data breaches to receive compensation and relief. By removing the requirement for victims to prove a company’s ‘intent or negligence’, the amendment would increase companies’ legal liability when user data is compromised, making it more likely that affected individuals can claim damages.

Momentum for stricter rules follows several high-profile incidents, including a recent Coupang data breach that may have exposed personal information linked to numerous user accounts. The case has intensified scrutiny of how firms handle and protect customer data.

South Korea Officials at the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) say victims often struggle to obtain evidence explaining how data breaches occur or how damages arise. The proposed reform would shift a greater evidentiary burden onto companies in disputes over losses.

The amendment would also introduce criminal penalties for anyone who knowingly obtains or distributes leaked personal data, closing a legal gap that currently applies only to employees who unlawfully disclose information. Authorities would gain powers to issue emergency protective orders to limit the spread of compromised data.

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EU considers stronger child protection in Digital Fairness Act

Capitals across the EU are being asked to discuss how stronger child protection measures should be incorporated into the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA).

The initiative comes as policymakers attempt to address growing concerns about how online platforms expose minors to harmful content, manipulative design practices, and unsafe digital environments.

According to a document circulated during Cyprus’s Council presidency of the European Union, member states are expected to debate which concrete safeguards should be introduced as part of the broader consumer protection framework.

Officials are exploring whether new rules should require platforms to adopt stricter safeguards when designing digital services used by children.

The discussions are part of the European Union’s broader effort to strengthen digital governance and consumer protection across online platforms. Policymakers are increasingly focusing on how platform design, recommendation algorithms, and monetisation models may affect younger users.

The proposals could complement existing EU regulations targeting large digital platforms, while expanding protections specifically focused on minors.

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AI legal advice case asks whether ChatGPT crosses legal boundaries

A newly filed lawsuit against OpenAI raises a key issue: Does allowing generative AI systems like ChatGPT to provide legal advice violate laws that bar the unauthorised practice of law (UPL)? UPL means providing legal services, such as drafting filings or giving advice, without the required legal qualifications or a state licence.

The case claims an individual used ChatGPT to prepare legal filings in a dispute with Nippon Life Insurance, prompting the company to argue OpenAI should be held responsible for the outcome.

The lawsuit claims ChatGPT helped the user challenge a settled legal dispute. As a result, the company had to spend additional time and resources responding to filings produced with ChatGPT. The claim alleges tortious interference with a contract, which is the unlawful disruption of an existing agreement between two parties by causing one of the parties to breach or alter it.

Ultimately, this disrupted another party’s contractual relationship. The suit also claims unauthorised practice of law and abuse of the judicial process, which means using the legal system improperly to gain an advantage. It argues OpenAI should be liable because ChatGPT operates under its control. The dispute centres on whether AI systems should analyse disputes and offer legal advice like a lawyer.

Advocates argue the tools could widen access to legal advice. They could make legal support more accessible and affordable for those who cannot easily hire a lawyer. However, US legal frameworks restrict the provision of legal advice to licensed lawyers. The rules are designed to protect consumers and ensure professional accountability.

Critics argue that limiting legal advice to licensed lawyers preserves an expensive monopoly and hinders access to justice. AI-driven legal tools highlight this tension over the future of legal services.

The outcome of this lawsuit will likely hinge on whether AI-generated responses constitute intentional legal advice and if OpenAI can be held liable for such outputs. Even if it fails, the case foregrounds the broader debate about granting generative AI a legitimate role in legal guidance.

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ChatGPT ‘adult mode’ launch delayed as OpenAI focuses on core improvements

OpenAI has postponed the launch of ChatGPT’s ‘adult mode’, a feature designed to let verified adult users access erotica and other mature content.

Teams are focusing on improving intelligence, personality and proactive behaviour instead of releasing the feature immediately.

A feature that was first announced by Sam Altman in October, with an initial December rollout, aiming to allow adults more freedom while maintaining safety for younger users.

The project faced an earlier delay as internal teams prioritised the core ChatGPT experience.

OpenAI stated it still supports the principle of treating adults like adults but warned that achieving the right experience will require more time. No new release date has been provided.

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