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AI-powered search expands with Microsoft’s Copilot Search

Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Search, a new AI-powered feature designed to enhance the Bing search experience.

Available at bing.com/copilotsearch, it generates responses using AI, providing users with summarised answers, related links, and reasoning behind the results. The feature follows Google‘s introduction of AI Mode in Search, which similarly offers AI-generated overviews for complex queries.

Copilot Search enables users to explore their queries more interactively. Responses include two key options: ‘See all links,’ which displays sources used in the summary, and ‘See reasoning,’ which explains how the response was generated.

Users can also submit follow-up questions within the same interface, keeping the entire conversation on a single page for easier navigation. Additional options for images and videos are available, though they redirect to Bing’s standard media search.

The latest search enhancement introduced by Microsoft reflects the increasing role of AI in online search, blending AI-generated insights with traditional web links.

Bing users who prefer the classic search experience will still have access to traditional results, while AI-generated answers will appear at the top of natural language queries.

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Amazon introduces AI-generated recaps for Kindle book series

Amazon has introduced a new Recaps feature for Kindle users, designed to help readers recall key plot points and character developments before starting the next book in a series.

The feature, now available to Kindle users in the United States, provides AI-generated summaries for thousands of best-selling English-language e-books.

While Amazon did not initially mention AI in its announcement, the company later confirmed that Recaps are created using generative AI, with human moderators ensuring accuracy.

Concerns about the reliability of AI-generated summaries have surfaced among Kindle users, with some questioning whether they will accurately reflect book content. Amazon maintains that its process ensures accuracy, though further details have not been provided.

Recaps can be accessed through the Kindle Library or within a book series page, and users must acknowledge a spoiler warning before viewing the summary.

The feature aims to improve the reading experience by helping readers stay immersed in complex stories without having to re-read previous books.

Amazon plans to expand Recaps to the Kindle app for iOS soon, covering a variety of genres, including fantasy, mystery, and thriller series.

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OpenAI backs Adaptive Security in the battle against AI threats

AI-driven cyber threats are on the rise, making it easier than ever for hackers to deceive employees through deepfake scams and phishing attacks.

OpenAI, a leader in generative AI, has recognised the growing risk and made its first cybersecurity investment in New York-based startup Adaptive Security. The company has secured $43 million in Series A funding, co-led by OpenAI’s startup fund and Andreessen Horowitz.

Adaptive Security helps companies prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks by simulating deepfake calls, texts, and emails. Employees may receive a phone call that sounds like their CTO, asking for sensitive information, but in reality, it is an AI-generated test.

The platform identifies weak points in a company’s security and trains staff to recognise potential threats. Social engineering scams, which trick employees into revealing sensitive data, have already led to massive financial losses, such as the $600 million Axie Infinity hack in 2022.

CEO Brian Long, a seasoned entrepreneur, says the funding will go towards hiring engineers and improving the platform to keep pace with evolving AI threats.

The investment comes amid a surge in cybersecurity funding, with companies like Cyberhaven, Snyk, and GetReal also securing major investments.

As cyber risks become more advanced, Long advises employees to take simple precautions, including deleting voicemails to prevent hackers from cloning their voices.

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National Crime Agency responds to AI crime warning

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has pledged to ‘closely examine’ recommendations from the Alan Turing Institute after a recent report highlighted the UK’s insufficient preparedness for AI-enabled crime.

The report, from the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS), urges the NCA to create a task force to address AI crime within the next five years.

Despite AI-enabled crime being in its early stages, the report warns that criminals are rapidly advancing their use of AI, outpacing law enforcement’s ability to respond.

CETaS claims that UK police forces have been slow to adopt AI themselves, which could leave them vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated crimes, such as child sexual abuse, cybercrime, and fraud.

The Alan Turing Institute emphasises that although AI-specific legislation may be needed eventually, the immediate priority is for law enforcement to integrate AI into their crime-fighting efforts.

An initiative like this would involve using AI tools to combat AI-enabled crimes effectively, as fraudsters and criminals exploit AI’s potential to deceive.

While AI crime remains a relatively new phenomenon, recent examples such as the $25 million Deepfake CFO fraud show the growing threat.

The report also highlights the role of AI in phishing scams, romance fraud, and other deceptive practices, warning that future AI-driven crimes may become harder to detect as technology evolves.

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Apple and Samsung brace for impact as US tariffs take effect

US President Donald Trump has announced new import tariffs that could significantly impact smartphone prices and the profit margins of leading manufacturers.

Apple and Samsung, which dominate United States smartphone sales, are particularly vulnerable due to their heavy reliance on production in China and Vietnam. Under the new tariff scheme, China faces a 34 per cent import levy, while Vietnam is subject to a 46 per cent fee.

Industry analysts warn that if the tariffs remain unchanged, consumers will likely see higher prices on smartphones and other electronic devices.

Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, noted that Apple and Samsung may attempt to cushion some of the added costs, but this would put pressure on their profit margins.

Foxconn, Apple’s primary manufacturing partner, has been shifting production to India in an effort to reduce reliance on China. However, India is also affected by the tariffs, facing a 26 per cent reciprocal rate.

Samsung faces similar challenges, with limited options to offset the impact of the new tariffs. Even if the company moved all production back to South Korea, it would still be subject to a 25 per cent import duty.

The new tariff measures are expected to have broad implications for the consumer electronics industry, potentially reshaping global supply chains and pricing structures.

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Anthropic introduces Claude to revolutionise learning and teaching

Claude for Education, launched by Anthropic, introduces a specialised AI for higher education, aiming to support universities in teaching, learning, and administration.

The initiative includes key features like Learning mode, full campus access for top universities, and partnerships with organisations like Internet2 and Instructure to integrate AI into academic tools.

Learning mode helps students develop critical thinking by guiding them through problems with Socratic questioning instead of providing direct answers. It also offers templates for research and study.

Key academic partnerships include Northeastern University, London School of Economics, and Champlain College, all of which will benefit from campus-wide access to Claude. These partnerships ensure AI’s responsible integration and accessibility for all students.

New student programs, such as the Claude Campus Ambassadors and API credit initiatives, provide opportunities for students to engage with and build on AI tools.

The launch also coincides with efforts to integrate AI into the academic plans of institutions like Northeastern University, which is pioneering AI adoption in higher education with its ‘Northeastern 2025’ initiative.

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Retail stocks slump after tariff shock

Retail giants are facing sharp declines in after-hours trading as new tariffs from the US on imports from China, the European Union, and Vietnam begin to rattle markets. Walmart and Amazon both saw their shares fall, with Nike also heavily impacted due to its dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

Walmart’s drop of over 4% reflects its heavy reliance on Chinese imports, with roughly 70% of its merchandise tied to the country. Amazon, similarly exposed through its third-party sellers, dipped close to 5% amid fears that rising costs will force sellers to raise prices, dampening consumer demand. These developments could severely affect the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Nike, meanwhile, saw shares fall by more than 6% as news emerged that many of its products, including popular sneakers, are produced in China and Vietnam. Although the company has been diversifying production to Vietnam, the move offers little relief now, as Vietnam faces an even steeper 46% tariff. The new policies may force widespread price hikes, putting further pressure on consumers and the broader retail sector.

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UK’s Royal Mail investigates major data breach

Royal Mail is investigating a significant cybersecurity incident after a hacker known as ‘GHNA’ claimed to have leaked 144GB of sensitive customer data. The files were allegedly obtained through Spectos, a third-party analytics provider, and posted on the BreachForums platform. While the leaked information includes names, addresses, parcel data, and internal recordings, Royal Mail stated that its delivery services remain unaffected.

Spectos confirmed a breach on 29 March, explaining that the attack stemmed from a 2021 malware infection that compromised an employee’s credentials. Cybersecurity firm Hudson Rock linked the same login data to another recent attack involving Samsung. The exposed dataset includes thousands of files containing mailing lists from Mailchimp, Zoom meetings, logistics details, and a WordPress database, raising concerns about the security of Royal Mail’s extended network.

The breach is the latest in a series of cyber incidents targeting the UK’s Royal Mail, following a 2023 ransomware attack that halted international shipping and a 2022 outage in its tracking systems. While the full extent of the latest leak remains under investigation, experts warn that prolonged access to internal systems may have occurred before the data was released. No public notification procedures have yet been confirmed.

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Studio Ghibli director warns AI can’t replicate emotional depth

AI may soon be capable of producing entire animated films, warns Goro Miyazaki, son of the iconic Hayao Miyazaki and managing director at Studio Ghibli.

Amid a viral trend of AI-generated images mimicking Ghibli’s hand-drawn style, Goro reflected on both the potential and risks of generative technology. While automation could ease Japan’s animator shortage, he believes the emotional depth that defines Ghibli’s work cannot be replicated by machines.

Speaking from Ghibli’s atelier in Tokyo, Goro acknowledged that AI could soon produce full-length features, yet questioned whether audiences would accept creations lacking human touch.

He also noted that the new wave of tools may unlock creative opportunities for previously overlooked talent.

Nonetheless, he stressed the irreplaceable vision of artists like his father, whose Oscar-winning final film The Boy and the Heron continues to embody themes of loss and mortality, drawn from postwar experience.

OpenAI, whose ChatGPT image generator has fuelled the online Ghibli-style craze, claims to block imitations of living artists while allowing broader studio aesthetics.

As AI redefines content creation, Goro warned against losing the uniquely human elements, both light and dark, that have given Studio Ghibli’s films their enduring depth and resonance.

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Parents gain more oversight in latest Roblox update

Roblox is expanding its parental controls, offering more ways for parents to manage their children’s interactions and gaming experiences.

The update builds on safety measures introduced last year following concerns about child protection on the platform.

Parents who link their accounts with their child’s can now block or report specific people from the child’s friends list.

Children under 13 cannot unblock restricted users without parental approval. The update also allows parents to block access to specific games rather than just setting general content maturity limits.

A new feature provides parents with insights into their child’s gaming habits by showing the 20 experiences they have spent the most time on in the past week. Roblox continues to refine its safety tools to create a more secure environment for young players.

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