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TikTok adds AI tool to animate photos with realistic effects

TikTok has launched a new feature called AI Alive, allowing users to turn still images into dynamic, short videos. Instead of needing advanced editing skills, creators can now use AI to generate movement and effects with a few taps.

By accessing the Story Camera and selecting a static photo, users can simply type how they want the image to change — such as making the subject smile, dance, or tilt forward. AI Alive then animates the photo, using creative effects to produce a more engaging story.

TikTok says its moderation systems review the original image, the AI prompt, and the final video before it’s shown to the user. A second check occurs before a post is shared publicly, and every video made with AI Alive will include an ‘AI-generated’ label and C2PA metadata to ensure transparency.

The feature stands out as one of the first built-in AI image-to-video tools on a major platform. Snapchat and Instagram already offer AI image generation from text, and Snapchat is reportedly developing a similar image-to-video feature.

Meanwhile, TikTok is also said to be working on adding support for sending photos and voice messages via direct message — something rival apps have long supported.

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NatWest hit by 100 million cyber attacks every month

NatWest is defending itself against an average of 100 million cyber attacks each month, according to the bank’s head of cybersecurity.

Speaking to Holyrood’s Criminal Justice Committee, Chris Ulliott outlined the ‘staggering’ scale of digital threats targeting the bank’s systems. Around a third of all incoming emails are blocked before reaching staff, as they are suspected to be the start of an attack.

Instead of relying on basic filters, NatWest analyses every email for malicious content and has a cybersecurity team of hundreds, supported by a multi-million-pound budget.

Mr Ulliott also warned of the growing use of AI by cyber criminals to make scams more convincing—such as altering their appearance during video calls to build trust with victims.

Police Scotland reported that cybercrime has more than doubled since 2020, with incidents rising from 7,710 to 18,280 in 2024. Officials highlighted the threat posed by groups like Scattered Spider, believed to consist of young hackers sharing techniques online.

MSP Rona Mackay called the figures ‘absolutely staggering,’ while Ben Macpherson said he had even been impersonated by fraudsters.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are now working together to tackle online crime. Meanwhile, Age Scotland warned that many older people lack confidence online, making them especially vulnerable to scams that can lead to financial ruin and emotional distress.

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Seattle startup ElastixAI raises $16 million for AI inference tech

A stealthy new AI startup in Seattle, ElastixAI, has raised $16 million to build technology that aims to reduce the cost and complexity of running large language models.

Rather than focusing on training, the company is developing an AI inference platform to optimise how these models operate, whether on cloud servers or edge devices. The funding round is led by Bellevue-based venture capital firm FUSE, with support from several others.

ElastixAI is led by CEO Mohammad Rastegari, formerly CTO of Xnor, a startup acquired by Apple in 2020. He co-founded the company with Saman Naderiparizi, also ex-Apple and Xnor, and Mahyar Najibi, who worked at both Apple and Waymo.

The team’s background in AI hardware and software gives them a unique edge in addressing challenges at a stage where AI models generate responses from trained data.

Instead of building a one-size-fits-all solution, the startup’s platform is designed for flexibility, allowing customers to fine-tune infrastructure to specific needs. ‘We saw a gap in delivering scalable and low-cost inference,’ said Rastegari.

The company remains in stealth but says its platform could serve both hyperscalers and enterprises looking to integrate AI into everyday operations.

With other players like Nvidia and Fireworks.ai competing in the inference space, ElastixAI may even count some of them as future customers.

Rastegari and Naderiparizi are also affiliate assistant professors at the University of Washington, and their startup reflects Seattle’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced AI development — a trend Apple has helped shape with several acquisitions in the region.

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Valve denies Steam data breach

Valve has confirmed that a cache of old Steam two-factor authentication codes and phone numbers, recently circulated by a hacker known as ‘Machine1337’, is indeed real, but insists it did not suffer a data breach.

Instead of pointing to its own systems, Valve explained that the leak involves outdated SMS messages, which are typically sent unencrypted and routed through multiple providers. These codes, once valid for only 15 minutes, were not linked to specific Steam accounts, passwords, or payment information.

The leaked data sparked early speculation that third-party messaging provider Twilio was the source of the breach, especially after their name appeared in the dataset. However, both Valve and Twilio denied any direct involvement, with Valve stating it does not even use Twilio’s services.

The true origin of the breach remains uncertain, and Valve acknowledged that tracing it may be difficult, as SMS messages often pass through several intermediaries before reaching users.

While the leaked information may not immediately endanger Steam accounts, Valve advised users to remain cautious. Phone numbers, when combined with other data, could still be used for phishing attacks.

Instead of relying on SMS for security, users are encouraged to activate the Steam Mobile Authenticator, which offers a more secure alternative for account verification.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the source of the breach, Valve reassured users there’s no need to change passwords or phone numbers. Still, it urged vigilance, recommending that users routinely review their security settings and remain wary of any unsolicited account notifications.

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Hackers use fake PayPal email to seize bank access

A man from Virginia fell victim to a sophisticated PayPal scam that allowed hackers to gain remote control of his computer and access his bank accounts.

After receiving a fake email about a laptop purchase, he called the number listed in the message, believing it to be legitimate. The person on the other end instructed him to enter a code into his browser, which unknowingly installed a program giving the scammer full access to his system.

Files were scanned, and money was transferred between his accounts—all while he was urged to stay on the line and visit the bank, without informing anyone.

The scam, known as a remote access attack, starts with a convincing email that appears to come from a trusted source. Instead of fixing any problem, the real aim is to deceive victims into granting hackers full control.

Once inside, scammers can steal personal data, access bank accounts, and install malware that remains even after the immediate threat ends. These attacks often unfold in minutes, using fear and urgency to manipulate targets into acting quickly and irrationally.

Quick action helped limit the damage in this case. The victim shut down his computer, contacted his bank and changed his passwords—steps that likely prevented more extensive losses. However, many people aren’t as fortunate.

Experts warn that scammers increasingly rely on psychological tricks instead of just technical ones, isolating their victims and urging secrecy during the attack.

To avoid falling for similar scams, it’s safer to verify emails by using official websites instead of clicking any embedded links or calling suspicious numbers.

Remote control should never be granted to unsolicited support calls, and all devices should have up-to-date antivirus protection and multifactor authentication enabled. Online safety now depends just as much on caution and awareness as it does on technology.

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DeepMind unveils AlphaEvolve for scientific breakthroughs

Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaEvolve, a new AI system designed to help solve complex scientific and mathematical problems by improving how algorithms are developed.

Rather than acting like a standard chatbot, AlphaEvolve blends large language models from the Gemini family with an evolutionary approach, enabling it to generate, assess, and refine multiple solutions at once.

Instead of relying on a single output, AlphaEvolve allows researchers to submit a problem and potential directions. The system then uses both Gemini Flash and Gemini Pro to create various solutions, which are automatically evaluated.

The best results are selected and enhanced through an iterative process, improving accuracy and reducing hallucinations—a common issue with AI-generated content.

Unlike earlier DeepMind tools such as AlphaFold, which focused on narrow domains, AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI for coding and algorithmic tasks.

It has already shown its value by optimising Google’s own Borg data centre management system, delivering a 0.7% efficiency gain—significant given Google’s global scale.

The AI also devised a new method for multiplying complex matrices, outperforming a decades-old technique and even beating DeepMind’s specialised AlphaTensor model.

AlphaEvolve has also contributed to improvements in Google’s hardware design by optimising Verilog code for upcoming Tensor chips.

Though not publicly available yet due to its complexity, AlphaEvolve’s evaluation-based framework could eventually be adapted for smaller AI tools used by researchers elsewhere.

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BEREC updates VHCN guidelines to reflect 5G and Network Advances

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) is updating its guidelines on what qualifies as a Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) under Article 82 of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC).

The revision reflects technological developments, especially in mobile and 5G networks, and aims to ensure consistent classification across EU Member States. The draft was open for public consultation until 30 April 2025, with the final version expected by 31 December 2025.

For fixed networks, BEREC confirms that the original 2020 performance thresholds remain appropriate. These networks must include fibre components at least to the distribution point and meet high standards in bandwidth, latency, jitter, and resilience under normal peak conditions.

Technologies like G.fast (212 MHz) and DOCSIS 3.1 remain valid benchmarks, as no significant advancements have been observed since 2020.

For mobile networks, especially 5G, BEREC proposes adjusted thresholds to ensure they can be considered technically equivalent to fixed VHCNs.

The updated criteria include fibre backhaul to base stations and require performance parity with fixed networks under peak conditions.

Based on 2022 data from 19 countries, BEREC assessed both current commercial deployments and high-performance pilot setups, adopting a cautious approach by focusing on realistic, existing mobile infrastructure capabilities.

The changes carry regulatory implications for national authorities, who must apply these updated criteria in their markets.

Key consultation issues include the proportionality of raising the downlink threshold to 350 Mbps, especially given urban-rural digital divides, and the need for a harmonized definition of ‘normal peak conditions.’

Coordination with the EU Digital Decade 2030 goals is also essential to ensure regulatory clarity and alignment with long-term connectivity targets.

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ATCON calls for unified regulation and telecom reform

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is leading efforts to address critical challenges in Nigeria’s telecom sector, beginning with calls for a unified regulatory framework to eliminate overlapping and conflicting regulations from multiple government agencies.

At the 2025 General Meeting, ATCON announced the formation of an Industry Think Tank Committee to coordinate advocacy and streamline policy engagement.

The association also highlighted internal industry issues such as fragmentation and price wars, which weaken the collective bargaining power of operators. Stakeholders stressed the importance of greater unity to strengthen the sector’s negotiating position and overall influence.

To tackle the sector’s talent shortage and reduce reliance on foreign expertise, ATCON launched the ATCON Academy, designed to train Nigerian youth in essential telecom technical skills.

Telecom companies committed to expanding internship programs and partnering with universities to enhance practical training and update ICT curricula.

Despite these efforts, institutions like the Digital Bridge Institute have underperformed, prompting calls for stronger government investment in human capital and the creation of a national ICT Think Tank, inspired by successful models from India and Singapore.

ATCON prioritizes protecting telecom infrastructure and will push for full CNII enforcement. President Emoekpere aims to strengthen regulation, talent, and infrastructure for sustainable sector growth.

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Apple opens NFC chip, PayPal taps into it

PayPal has launched its tap-to-pay feature for iPhone users in Germany, allowing contactless payments at terminals that support Mastercard.

The rollout follows pressure from the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open up its NFC chip to third-party apps.

Currently, the feature is exclusive to iPhones and does not support Apple Watch. It mirrors earlier moves by other apps like Norway’s Vipps, which began using Apple’s newly accessible NFC hardware late last year.

Apple has also started expanding NFC access globally, enabling developers to integrate in-app payments and allowing businesses to accept contactless payments via iPhones using third-party apps like Venmo and PayPal Zettle.

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Android adds new scam protection for phone calls

Google is introducing new protections on Android devices to combat phone call scams, particularly those involving screen-sharing and app installations. Users will see warning messages if they attempt to change settings during a call and Android will also block the deactivation of Play Protect features.

The system will now block users from sideloading apps or granting accessibility permissions while on a call with unknown contacts.

The new tools are available on devices running Android 16 and select protections are also rolling out to older versions, starting with Android 11

A separate pilot in the UK will alert users trying to open banking apps during a screen-sharing call, prompting them to end the call or wait before proceeding.

These features expand Android’s broader efforts to prevent fraud, which already include AI-based scam detection for phone calls and messages.

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