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EU clears Microsoft deal after privacy changes

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has ended its enforcement action against the European Commission over its use of Microsoft, following improvements to data protection practices. The decision came after the Commission revised its contract with Microsoft to improve privacy standards.

Under the updated terms, Microsoft must clarify the reasons for data transfers outside the European Economic Area and name the recipients. Transfers are only allowed to countries with EU-recognised protections or in public interest cases.

Microsoft must also inform the Commission if a foreign government requests access to EU data, unless the request comes from within the EU or a country with equivalent safeguards. The EDPS urged other EU institutions to adopt similar contractual protections if using Microsoft 365.

Despite the EDPS’ clearance, the Commission remains concerned about relying too heavily on a non-EU tech provider for essential digital services. It continues to support the current EU-US data adequacy deal, though recent political changes in the US have cast doubt on its long-term stability.

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Google brings AI Mode to UK search results

Google has officially introduced its AI Mode to UK users, calling it the most advanced version of its search engine.

Instead of listing web links, the feature provides direct, human-like answers to queries. It allows users to follow up with more detailed questions or multimedia inputs such as voice and images. The update aims to keep pace with the rising trend of longer, more conversational search phrases.

The tool first launched in the US and uses a ‘query fan-out’ method, breaking down complex questions into multiple search threads to create a combined answer from different sources.

While Google claims this will result in more meaningful site visits, marketers and publishers are worried about a growing trend known as ‘zero-click searches’, where users find what they need without clicking external links.

Research already shows a steep drop in engagement. Data from the Pew Research Centre reveals that only 8% of users click a link when AI summaries are present, nearly half the rate of traditional search pages. Experts warn that without adjusting strategies, many online brands risk becoming invisible.

Instead of relying solely on classic SEO tactics, businesses are being urged to adopt Generative Engine Optimisation. Using tools like schema markup, GEO focuses on conversational content, visual media, and context-aware formatting.

With nearly half of UK users engaging with AI search daily, adapting to these shifts may prove essential for maintaining visibility and sales.

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Microsoft adds AI Copilot Mode to Edge browser

Microsoft has launched Copilot Mode in its Edge browser, adding AI features to streamline online activity.

Instead of switching between tabs or manually comparing information, users can ask Copilot to complete tasks, search for content, and make suggestions. The tool is available for PC and Mac users and opens in a side panel, letting people interact with it while still viewing the original page.

Copilot can help with everyday tasks such as writing content, preparing grocery lists, and scheduling appointments. It works across multiple tabs if the user permits, enabling comparisons like hotel or flight prices in a single command.

Voice input is also supported, making it easier for those with limited mobility or less familiarity with AI tools to interact naturally.

Microsoft notes that Copilot Mode remains experimental, but users can still set it as the default. It supports conversational prompts, dynamic interactions like turning recipes vegan, and even measurements or language translations, all without losing browser position.

Users may eventually provide login or history access for more advanced tasks, although full consent and clear notifications will be required.

With growing reliance on digital assistants, Microsoft’s move puts Edge in direct competition with other AI-enabled browsers. As more AI tools become embedded in everyday software, the company expects Copilot to evolve rapidly and suggest next steps to help users pick up where they left off.

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Ray-Ban Meta leads smart glasses market growth

Sales of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have more than tripled in the first half of 2025, cementing Meta’s dominance in the growing AI wearables market.

While Apple remains quiet on a possible launch of its own AI glasses, Meta and its partner EssilorLuxottica continue to expand their lead. The eyewear giant revealed a 200% rise in Ray-Ban Meta sales, with second-quarter revenue up by over 7% compared to last year.

Smart glasses still represent a small part of both companies’ revenue, yet expectations are rising fast. In June, the firms announced a new model – Oakley AI performance glasses – which they hope will match the success of the Ray-Ban line.

Francesco Milleri, EssilorLuxottica’s CEO, stated they expect a ‘very fast ramp-up’ of the Oakley Meta model.

Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses have been on the market for nearly two years, but recent updates have added live translation features and visual recognition that allows the glasses to interpret scenes in real time.

A version with an integrated display is rumoured to launch later in 2025, and Meta is also developing a high-end model called Orion.

Apple, meanwhile, appears more focused on mixed reality, with reports of a second-generation Vision Pro and Samsung’s Project Moohan, which may follow a similar route. But in the space of everyday wearable AI, Meta currently stands alone—at least until the competition decides to enter the arena.

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Chrome update brings AI shopping summaries to US users

Google has updated its Chrome browser to include AI-generated summaries of online stores, aimed at helping shoppers in the US make more informed buying decisions.

Instead of manually searching through reviews, users can now click an icon next to the web address to see a summary of a shop’s performance across key areas like product quality, pricing, returns, and customer service.

The feature is currently available only in English and is limited to desktop users.

The summaries are generated from a range of trusted review platforms, including Trustpilot, Bazaarvoice, Bizrate Insights, and others. Google says that the tool will offer a more efficient and secure online shopping experience.

It also helps the tech giant better compete with Amazon, which has already rolled out AI tools for product comparisons, fit suggestions, and ratings analysis. The move forms part of Google’s wider push to turn Chrome into a more powerful e-commerce assistant.

The company is also integrating AI tools like the Gemini assistant and developing agentic AI systems that can carry out tasks in the browser on a user’s behalf.

At the same time, Chrome faces fresh competition from AI-first browsers such as Perplexity’s Comet, Opera Neon, and a possible entry from OpenAI.

By adding AI-powered features directly into Chrome, Google hopes to future-proof its browser while strengthening its position in online retail.

As rivals begin to build intelligent browsers from the ground up, Google is reimagining how Chrome can serve users beyond simple search and browsing.

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China issues action plan for global AI governance and proposes global AI cooperation organisation

At the 2025 World AI Conference in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged the international community to prioritise joint efforts in governing AI, making reference to a need to establish a global framework and set of rules widely accepted by the global community. He unveiled a proposal by the Chinese government to create a global AI cooperation organisation to foster international collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in AI across nations.

‘China attaches great importance to global AI governance, and has been actively promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation with a willingness to offer more Chinese solutions‘.

An Action Plan for AI Global Governance was also presented at the conference. The plan outlines, in its introduction, a call for ‘all stakeholders to take concrete and effective actions based on the principles of serving the public good, respecting sovereignty, development orientation, safety and controllability, equity and inclusiveness, and openness and cooperation, to jointly advance the global development and governance of AI’.

The document includes 13 points related to key areas of international AI cooperation, including promoting inclusive infrastructure development, fostering open innovation ecosystems, ensuring high-quality data supply, and advancing sustainability through green AI practices. It also calls for consensus-building around technical standards, advancing international cooperation on AI safety governance, and supporting countries – especially those in the Global South – in ‘developing AI technologies and services suited to their national conditions’.

Notably, the plan indicates China’s support for multilateralism when it comes to the governance of AI, calling for an active implementation of commitments made by UN member states in the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, and expressing support for the establishment of the International AI Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance (whose terms of reference are currently negotiated by UN member states in New York).

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US senator urges Musk to block Starlink use by Southeast Asian criminal networks

US Senator Maggie Hassan has called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take immediate action against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia, which are allegedly using Starlink satellite internet to perpetrate massive online fraud schemes targeting American citizens.

In a letter seen by Reuters, the senator highlighted the growing role of Starlink in enabling so-called ‘scam compounds’ operated by criminal syndicates across Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

According to the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the fraud networks have collectively cost Americans billions of dollars.

Senator Hassan emphasised that although SpaceX’s service rules allow for termination of access in cases of fraudulent activity, Starlink appears to remain active in regions where these scams flourish. She urged Musk to uphold SpaceX’s stated standards and take responsibility for cutting off illicit use of the service.

The scam compounds in question are more than just virtual hubs; reportedly, they are the sites of forced labour and human trafficking. Reports, including those from the UN, detail how hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these centres, where they are coerced into operating elaborate online fraud schemes. These often target victims in the US and around the world through phishing messages, fake investment offers, and digital extortion.

The region has taken some steps to curb these operations. Since February, Thailand has actively disrupted resources such as electricity and internet to areas along its border with Myanmar, notably Myawaddy, where many scam centres are based. However, satellite services like Starlink can bypass these traditional infrastructure shutdowns, enabling fraud operations to persist despite regional crackdowns.

The criminal networks, many of which have roots in China, have also captured international attention due to high-profile cases. One such case was the January abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was kidnapped after arriving in Thailand and later rescued across the border in Myanmar by Thai authorities.

The incident further exposed these networks’ dangerous and organised nature, prompting broader calls for transnational cooperation and tech-sector accountability.

Source: Reuters

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AI fuels new wave of global security breaches

Global corporations are under growing threat from increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks as AI tools boost the capabilities of malicious actors.

Allianz Life recently confirmed a breach affecting most of its 1.4 million North American customers, adding to a string of high-profile incidents this year.

Microsoft is also contending with the aftermath of a wide-scale intrusion, as attackers continue to exploit AI-driven methods to bypass traditional defences.

Cybersecurity firm DeepStrike reports that over 560,000 new malware samples are detected daily, underscoring the scale of the threat.

Each month in 2025 has brought fresh incidents. January saw breaches at the UN and Hewlett-Packard, while crypto lender zkLend lost $9.5 million to hackers in February.

March was marked by a significant attack on Elon Musk’s X platform, and Oracle lost six million data records.

April and May were particularly damaging for retailers and financial services. M&S, Harrods, and Coinbase were among the prominent names hit, with the latter facing a $20 million ransom demand. In June, luxury brands and media companies, including Cartier and the Washington Post, were also targeted.

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AI startup Daydream revolutionises online fashion search

Online shopping for specific items like bridesmaid dresses can be challenging due to overwhelming choices. A new tech startup, Daydream, aims to simplify this. It uses AI to let users search for products by describing them in natural language, making the process easier and more intuitive.

For instance, a user could ask for a ‘revenge dress to wear to a party in Sicily in July,’ or ‘a summer bag to carry to work and cocktails after.’

Daydream, with staff based in New York and San Francisco, represents the latest venture in a growing trend of tech companies utilising AI to streamline and personalise online retail.

Consumer demand for such tools is evident: an Adobe Analytics survey of 5,000 US consumers revealed that 39% had used a generative AI tool for online shopping last year, with 53% planning to do so this year. Daydream faces competition from tech giants already active in this space.

Meta employs AI to facilitate seller listings and to target users with more relevant product advertisements. OpenAI has launched an AI agent capable of shopping across the web for users, and Amazon is trialling a similar feature.

Google has also introduced various AI shopping tools, including automated price tracking, a ‘circle to search’ function for identifying products in photos, and virtual try-on options for clothing.

Despite the formidable competition, Daydream’s CEO, Julie Bornstein, believes her company possesses a deeper understanding of the fashion and retail industries.

Bornstein’s extensive background includes helping build Nordstrom’s website as its vice president of e-commerce in the early 2000s and holding C-suite positions at Sephora and Stitch Fix. In 2018, she co-founded her first AI-powered shopping startup, The Yes, which was sold to Pinterest in 2022.

Bornstein asserts, ‘They don’t have the people, the mindset, the passion to do what needs to be done to make a category like fashion work for AI recommendations.’ She added, ‘Because I’ve been in this space my whole career, I know that having the catalogue with everything and being able to show the right person the right stuff makes shopping easier.’

Daydream has already secured $50 million in its initial funding round, attracting investors such as Google Ventures and model Karlie Kloss, founder of Kode With Klossy. The platform operates as a free, digital personal stylist.

Users can input their desired products using natural language, eliminating the need for complex Boolean search terms, thanks to its AI text recognition technology, or upload an inspiration photo.

Daydream then presents recommendations from over 8,000 brand partners, ranging from budget-friendly Uniqlo to luxury brand Gucci. Users can further refine their search through a chat interface, for example, by requesting more casual or less expensive alternatives.

As users interact more with the platform, it progressively tailors recommendations based on their search history, clicks, and saved items.

When customers are ready to purchase, they are redirected to the respective brand’s website to complete the transaction, with Daydream receiving a 20% commission on the sale.

Unlike many other major e-commerce players, Bornstein is deliberately avoiding ad-based rankings. She aims for products to appear on recommendation pages purely because they are a suitable match for the customer, not due to paid placements.

Bornstein stated, ‘As soon as Amazon started doing paid sponsorships, I’m like, ‘How can I find the real good product?’ She emphasised, ‘We want this to be a thing where we get paid when we show the customer the right thing.’

A recent CNN test of Daydream yielded mixed results. A search for a ‘white, fitted button-up shirt for the office with no pockets’ successfully returned a $145 cotton long-sleeve shirt from Theory that perfectly matched the description.

However, recommendations are not always flawless. A query for a ‘mother of the bride dress for a summer wedding in California’ presented several slinky slip dresses, some in white, alongside more formal styles, appearing more suitable for a bachelorette party.

Bornstein confirmed that the company continuously refined its AI models and gathered user feedback. She noted, ‘We want data on what people are doing so we can focus and learn where we do well and where we don’t.’

Part of this ongoing development involves training the AI to understand nuanced contextual cues, such as the implications of a ‘dress for a trip to Greece in August’ (suggesting hot weather) or an outfit for a ‘black-tie wedding’ (implying formality).

Daydream’s web version launched publicly last month, and it is currently in beta testing, with plans for an app release in the autumn. Bornstein envisions a future where AI extends beyond shopping, assisting with broader fashion needs like pairing new purchases with existing wardrobe items.

She concluded, ‘This was one of my earliest ideas, but I didn’t know the term (generative AI) and I didn’t know a large language model would be the unlock.’

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AI chatbot captures veteran workers’ knowledge to support UK care teams

Peterborough City Council has turned the knowledge of veteran therapy practitioner Geraldine Jinks into an AI chatbot to support adult social care workers.

After 35 years of experience, colleagues frequently approached Jinks seeking advice, leading to time pressures despite her willingness to help.

In response, the council developed a digital assistant called Hey Geraldine, built on the My AskAI platform, which mimics her direct and friendly communication style to provide instant support to staff.

Developed in 2023, the chatbot offers practical answers to everyday care-related questions, such as how to support patients with memory issues or discharge planning. Jinks collaborated with the tech team to train the AI, writing all the responses herself to ensure consistency and clarity.

Thanks to its natural tone and humanlike advice, some colleagues even mistook the chatbot for the honest Geraldine.

The council hopes Hey Geraldine will reduce hospital discharge delays and improve patient access to assistive technology. Councillor Shabina Qayyum, who also works as a GP, said the tool empowers staff to help patients regain independence instead of facing unnecessary delays.

The chatbot is seen as preserving valuable institutional knowledge while improving frontline efficiency.

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