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India deepens ties with Finland and Denmark

India is intensifying its strategic ties with Finland and Denmark as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation with key Nordic countries.

In recent high-level conversations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

These discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations in advanced technologies such as quantum computing, 5G and 6G, AI, and cybersecurity, instead of limiting collaboration to traditional sectors. Sustainability, mobility, and digital transformation also featured prominently.

Modi and Stubb underlined the importance of India-Finland cooperation within the wider context of EU relations. Both leaders expressed hope for a timely conclusion of an India-EU free trade agreement, a sentiment echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The collaboration aims to bolster efforts in AI for disaster response and climate resilience, secure telecommunications, and semiconductor development, especially given ongoing geopolitical shifts and the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In parallel, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership during talks with Frederiksen.

The alliance prioritises environmentally responsible maritime practices instead of relying on conventional methods, and promotes innovation in green technologies and anti-piracy cooperation.

With the third India-Nordic Summit scheduled for later this year in Norway, the focus will be on expanding trade, climate action, and peace efforts with all five Nordic nations.

Meanwhile, India has overtaken Finland as the ‘World’s Happiest Country’ according to the latest Ipsos survey, with 88% of Indian respondents reporting happiness.

A milestone like this reflects a broader sense of national optimism and self-assurance as India continues to strengthen its global partnerships and expand its strategic influence across key sectors.

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OpenAI partners with major news outlets

OpenAI has signed multiple content-sharing deals with major media outlets, including Politico, Vox, Wired, and Vanity Fair, allowing their content to be featured in ChatGPT.

As part of the deal with The Washington Post, ChatGPT will display summaries, quotes, and links to the publication’s original reporting in response to relevant queries. OpenAI has secured similar partnerships with over 20 news publishers and 160 outlets in 20 languages.

The Washington Post’s head of global partnerships, Peter Elkins-Williams, emphasised the importance of meeting audiences where they are, ensuring ChatGPT users have access to impactful reporting.

OpenAI’s media partnerships head, Varun Shetty, noted that more than 500 million people use ChatGPT weekly, highlighting the significance of these collaborations in providing timely, trustworthy information to users.

OpenAI has worked to avoid criticism related to copyright infringement, having previously faced legal challenges, particularly from the New York Times, over claims that chatbots were trained on millions of articles without permission.

While OpenAI sought to dismiss these claims, a US district court allowed the case to proceed, intensifying scrutiny over AI’s use of news content.

Despite these challenges, OpenAI continues to form agreements with leading publications, such as Hearst, Condé Nast, Time magazine, and Vox Media, helping ensure their journalism reaches a wider audience.

Meanwhile, other publications have pursued legal action against AI companies like Cohere for allegedly using their content without consent to train AI models.

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Jamaica tests AI tools to aid teachers

The Jamaican Ministry of Education is testing AI tools in schools to assist teachers with marking and administrative duties.

Portfolio Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon announced this during the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Education Conference 2025, emphasising that AI would allow teachers to focus more on interacting with students, while AI handles routine tasks like grading.

The Ministry is also preparing to launch the Jamaica Learning Assistant, an AI-powered tool that personalises learning to fit individual students’ preferences, such as stories, humour, or quizzes.

Morris Dixon highlighted that AI is not meant to replace teachers, but to support them in delivering more effective lessons. The technology will allow students to review lessons, explore topics in more depth, and reinforce their understanding outside the classroom.

Looking ahead, the Government plans to open Jamaica’s first state-of-the-art AI lab later this year. The facility will offer a space where both students and teachers can develop technological solutions tailored for schools.

Additionally, the Ministry is distributing over 15,000 laptops, 600 smart boards, and 25,000 vouchers for teachers to subsidise the purchase of personal laptops to further integrate technology into the education system.

JTA President Mark Smith acknowledged the transformative potential of AI, calling it one of the most significant technological breakthroughs in history.

He urged educators to embrace this new paradigm and collaborate with the Ministry and the private sector to advance digital learning initiatives across the island.

The conference, held under the theme ‘Innovations in Education Technology: The Imperative of Change,’ reflects the ongoing push towards modernising education in Jamaica.

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AI films are now eligible for the Oscar awards

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially made films that incorporate AI eligible for Oscars, reflecting AI’s growing influence in cinema. Updated rules confirm that the use of generative AI or similar tools will neither help nor harm a film’s chances of nomination.

These guidelines, shaped with input from the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, aim to keep human creativity at the forefront, despite the increasing presence of digital tools in production.

Recent Oscar-winning films have already embraced AI. Adrien Brody’s performance in The Brutalist was enhanced using AI to refine his Hungarian accent, while Emilia Perez, a musical that claimed an award, used voice-cloning technology to support its cast.

Such tools can convincingly replicate voices and visual styles, making them attractive to filmmakers instead of relying solely on traditional methods, but not without raising industry-wide concerns.

The 2023 Hollywood strikes highlighted the tension between artistic control and automation. Writers and actors protested the threat posed by AI to their livelihoods, leading to new agreements that limit the use of AI-generated content and protect individuals’ likenesses.

Actress Susan Sarandon voiced fears about unauthorised use of her image, and Scarlett Johansson echoed concerns about digital impersonation.

Despite some safeguards, many in the industry remain wary. Animators argue that AI lacks the emotional nuance needed for truly compelling storytelling, and Rokit Flix’s co-founder Jonathan Kendrick warned that AI might help draft scenes, but can’t deliver the depth required for an Oscar-worthy film.

Alongside the AI rules, the Academy also introduced a new voting requirement. Members must now view every nominated film in a category before casting their final vote, to encourage fairer decisions in this shifting creative environment.

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OpenAI eyes Chrome in bid to boost ChatGPT

OpenAI has expressed interest in acquiring Google’s Chrome browser if it were to be made available, viewing it as a potential boost for its AI platform, ChatGPT.

The remarks, made by Nick Turley, head of product for ChatGPT, surfaced during the US Department of Justice’s antitrust trial against Google. The case follows a 2023 ruling that found Google had maintained an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising.

Although Google has shown no intention to sell Chrome and plans to appeal, the DoJ has suggested the move as a remedy to restore competition.

Turley disclosed that OpenAI previously approached Google to use its search technology within ChatGPT, after facing limitations with Microsoft Bing, its current provider.

An email from OpenAI presented in court showed the company proposed using multiple partners, including Google’s search API, to improve the chatbot’s performance. Google, however, declined the request, citing fears of empowering rivals.

Turley confirmed there is currently no partnership with Google and noted that ChatGPT remains years away from answering most queries using its own search system.

The testimony also highlighted OpenAI’s distribution challenges. Turley voiced concerns over being shut out of key access points controlled by major tech firms, such as browsers and app stores.

While OpenAI secured integration with Apple’s iPhones, it has struggled to achieve similar placements on Android devices. Turley argued that forcing Google to share search data with competitors could instead speed up ChatGPT’s development and improve user experience.

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Russian hackers target NGOs with fake video calls

Hackers linked to Russia are refining their techniques to infiltrate Microsoft 365 accounts, according to cybersecurity firm Volexity.

Their latest strategy targets non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with Ukraine by exploiting OAuth, a protocol used for app authorisation without passwords.

Victims are lured into fake video calls through apps like Signal or WhatsApp and tricked into handing over OAuth codes, which attackers then use to access Microsoft 365 environments.

The campaign, first detected in March, involved messages claiming to come from European security officials proposing meetings with political representatives. Instead of legitimate video links, these messages directed recipients to OAuth code generators.

Once a code was shared, attackers could gain entry into accounts containing sensitive data. Staff at human rights organisations were especially targeted due to their work on Ukraine-related issues.

Volexity attributed the scheme to two threat actors, UTA0352 and UTA0355, though it did not directly connect them to any known Russian advanced persistent threat groups.

A previous attack from the same actors used Microsoft Device Code Authentication, usually reserved for connecting smart devices, instead of traditional login methods. Both campaigns show a growing sophistication in social engineering tactics.

Given the widespread use of Microsoft 365 tools like Outlook and Teams, experts urge organisations to heighten awareness among staff.

Rather than trusting unsolicited messages on encrypted apps, users should remain cautious when prompted to click links or enter authentication codes, as these could be cleverly disguised attempts to breach secure systems.

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New hiring platform tries to puts personality before paperwork

Two brothers and USC students, Raihan and Azam Dadabhoy, have launched an AI-powered job marketplace called Sensiply to foster more human-centred hiring.

They developed a platform where job seekers can introduce themselves via video, showcasing personality alongside experience.

Users upload personal and professional details before recording a ‘Sensipitch’ a video pitch that the AI analyses for traits like ambition or communication skills.

The tool then matches candidates with roles based on qualifications and inferred personality, helping employers connect with talent beyond a CV.

Despite concerns about algorithmic bias, the brothers designed the platform to delay access to demographic data until after a match is made.

While the service remains free for applicants, Sensiply plans to introduce a subscription model for employers.

The founders, driven by real-world struggles and over 100 research calls, hope their innovation makes hiring more equitable and personal.

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Quantum game shows power of entangled atoms

A team of physicists in collaboration with quantum computing company Quantinuum, has successfully tested a unique quantum game using lasers and atoms which demonstrates how quantum computers can outperform classical machines through a phenomenon known as quantum pseudotelepathy.

Using the Quantinuum System Model H1, researchers manipulated 20 ytterbium atoms arranged in a two-dimensional grid to create a “topological phase”, a highly stable, interconnected pattern of qubits.

These qubits, resistant to interference, enabled players to simulate a cooperative logic game where quantum entanglement allowed them to consistently solve tasks that classical players could not.

Achieving a success rate of around 95%, the study showcases the growing potential of current quantum hardware.

Although not a direct solution to global problems, it marks an important step in proving that quantum devices can already perform certain tasks that classical systems struggle with.

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Google invites African AI startups to join 2025 accelerator

Google has opened applications for its 2025 Startups Accelerator Africa programme, aiming to support early-stage African companies leveraging AI to solve critical local challenges.

The three-month initiative is open to Seed to Series A startups with a live product, at least one founder of African descent, and a strong focus on responsible AI development.

Successful applicants will receive tailored technical mentorship, up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits, and access to a global network of investors and partners.

Participants will also benefit from workshops covering technology, strategy, leadership, and AI implementation.

Google emphasised that empowering local innovators is key to unlocking the potential of AI across the continent.

Since 2018, the programme has backed 140 startups from 17 countries, helping them raise over $300 million and create more than 3,000 jobs.

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Google spoofed in sophisticated phishing attack

A sophisticated phishing attack recently targeted Google users, exploiting a well-known email authentication method to bypass security measures.

The attackers sent emails appearing to be from Google’s legitimate address, no-reply@accounts.google.com, and claimed the recipient needed to comply with a subpoena.

The emails contained a link to a Google Sites page, prompting users to log in and revealing a fake legal support page.

What made this phishing attempt particularly dangerous was that it successfully passed both DMARC and DKIM email authentication checks, making it appear entirely genuine to recipients.

In another cyber-related development, Microsoft issued a warning regarding the use of Node.js in distributing malware. Attackers have been using the JavaScript runtime environment to deploy malware through scripts and executables, particularly targeting cryptocurrency traders via malvertising campaigns.

The new technique involves executing JavaScript directly from the command line, making it harder to detect by traditional security tools.

Meanwhile, the US has witnessed a significant change in its disinformation-fighting efforts.

The State Department has closed its Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference group, previously known as the Global Engagement Center, after accusations that it was overreaching in its censorship activities.

The closure, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has sparked criticism, with some seeing it as a victory for foreign powers like Russia and China.

Finally, gig workers face new challenges as the Tech Transparency Project revealed that Facebook groups are being used to trade fake gig worker accounts for platforms like Uber and Lyft.

Sellers offer access to verified accounts, bypassing safety checks, and putting passengers and customers at risk. Despite reports to Meta, many of these groups remain active, with the social media giant’s automated systems failing to curb the activity.

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