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Baidu launches new AI models to compete in global race

Baidu has unveiled two new AI models, including ERNIE X1, which it claims matches the performance of DeepSeek R1 at half the cost. The company says X1 is a deep-thinking model capable of autonomous tool use, with enhanced reasoning, planning, and adaptability.

Meanwhile, Baidu’s latest foundation model, ERNIE 4.5, boasts improved multimodal capabilities, advanced language understanding, and a better grasp of satire and internet culture.

The Chinese tech giant has been striving to compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, where startups like DeepSeek have disrupted the industry with high-performing, cost-effective models. While Baidu was one of the first Chinese companies to launch a ChatGPT-style chatbot, its Ernie LLM has faced challenges in achieving widespread adoption.

With growing competition from domestic and international AI firms, Baidu aims to solidify its position through continuous innovation. The company’s latest advancements highlight the push for more sophisticated AI systems capable of processing diverse forms of data, including text, images, and audio, as China intensifies its efforts to lead in AI.

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China announces mandatory AI labelling requirements

Chinese authorities have announced new regulations requiring AI-generated content to be clearly labelled, with the rules set to take effect on 1 September 2025. Officials said the move aims to ensure transparency and support the ‘healthy development’ of AI.

The decision follows global discussions on the risks associated with AI-generated media, including misinformation and deepfakes.

By mandating labelling, China seeks to enhance accountability and distinguish AI-created content from human-generated material.

The new rules reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate emerging technologies while maintaining control over digital information.

With AI playing an increasing role in content creation, policymakers worldwide are considering similar measures.

China’s regulations are expected to influence international approaches to AI governance as other nations evaluate their own strategies for handling AI-generated content.

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Dapr integrates AI agent support for developers

Dapr, the open-source microservices runtime introduced by Microsoft in 2019, has added new capabilities to support AI agents, broadening its appeal to developers creating scalable distributed applications.

Initially designed to simplify microservice-based app development, Dapr’s new functionality builds on its existing concept of virtual actors, making it easier to incorporate AI agents into systems.

The newly launched Dapr Agents offer developers a framework to efficiently run AI agents at scale with statefulness, making it ideal for applications involving large language models (LLMs).

However, this update allows seamless integration with popular AI providers, such as AWS Bedrock, OpenAI, and Hugging Face. Developers also benefit from Dapr’s orchestration and resource-efficient model, ensuring agents can spin up quickly when needed and retain state after tasks are completed.

Dapr Agents currently support Python, with plans for .NET and other languages like Java and Go coming soon.

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Meta faces lawsuit in France over copyrighted AI training data

Leading French publishers and authors have filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging the tech giant used their copyrighted content to train its artificial intelligence systems without permission.

The National Publishing Union (SNE), the National Union of Authors and Composers (SNAC), and the Society of Men of Letters (SGDL) argue that Meta’s actions constitute significant copyright infringement and economic ‘parasitism.’ The complaint was lodged earlier this week in a Paris court.

This lawsuit is the first of its kind in France but follows a wave of similar actions in the US, where authors and visual artists are challenging the use of their works by companies like Meta to train AI models.

As the issue of AI-generated content continues to grow, these legal actions highlight the mounting concerns over how tech companies utilise vast amounts of copyrighted material without compensation or consent from creators.

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Central bank of Russia opens path for wealthy to invest in crypto

Russia’s central bank has proposed a regulatory framework that would permit wealthy individuals to invest in cryptocurrencies, under a new ‘experimental’ regime for ‘specially qualified’ investors.

This initiative marks a significant shift in Russia’s approach to crypto assets, as the country has slowly relaxed its strong opposition to cryptocurrencies.

The central bank’s proposal would allow individuals whose investments exceed 100 million roubles or whose annual income surpasses 50 million roubles to participate in crypto trading.

While the proposal seeks to increase transparency within the cryptocurrency market, it also highlights the risks involved, reminding investors of the potential for financial losses.

The new regime would last for three years, providing a controlled environment for crypto investments. However, cryptocurrencies will still be banned as a form of payment in Russia, maintaining a cautious approach to their full integration into the economy.

This proposal follows a broader trend of easing cryptocurrency restrictions, particularly after a law was passed last year allowing businesses to use crypto in international trade.

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Apple and Google face scrutiny over browser competition

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that the mobile browser market, led by Apple and Google, is not functioning effectively for consumers and businesses. The findings support the regulator’s decision to launch an investigation into the sector earlier this year.

Concerns are largely focused on Apple’s policies regarding internet access through its Safari browser, which dominates its devices with an 88% market share. Google’s Chrome browser holds a 77% share on Android devices.

The UK CMA’s independent inquiry group suggested that if Apple and Google are found to have ‘strategic market status’ (SMS), regulatory interventions may be necessary to encourage competition. These could include measures allowing rival browsers to introduce new features.

Apple has defended its approach, arguing that proposed remedies could undermine security and user experience, while Google highlighted Android’s openness in fostering competition and innovation.

The investigation forms part of a broader effort to assess competition in mobile ecosystems, with final decisions expected later this year.

The inquiry group’s chair, Margot Daly, stated that limited competition between mobile browsers is stifling innovation, reinforcing the need for regulatory action.

The CMA’s ongoing probe into the dominance of Apple and Google aims to ensure a fairer and more competitive digital marketplace.

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EU draft AI code faces industry pushback

The tech industry remains concerned about a newly released draft of the Code of Practice on General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which aims to help AI providers comply with the EU‘s AI Act.

The proposed rules, which cover transparency, copyright, risk assessment, and mitigation, have sparked significant debate, especially among copyright holders and publishers.

Industry representatives argue that the draft still presents serious issues, particularly regarding copyright obligations and external risk assessments, which they believe could hinder innovation.

Tech lobby groups, such as the CCIA and DOT Europe, have expressed dissatisfaction with the latest draft, highlighting that it continues to impose burdensome requirements beyond the scope of the original AI Act.

Notably, the mandatory third-party risk assessments both before and after deployment remain a point of contention. Despite some improvements in the new version, these provisions are seen as unnecessary and potentially damaging to the industry.

Copyright concerns remain central, with organisations like News Media Europe warning that the draft still fails to respect copyright law. They argue that AI companies should not be merely expected to make ‘best efforts’ not to use content without proper authorisation.

Additionally, the draft is criticised for failing to fully address fundamental rights risks, which, according to experts, should be a primary concern for AI model providers.

The draft is open for feedback until 30 March, with the final version expected to be released in May. However, the European Commission’s ability to formalise the Code under the AI Act, which comes into full effect in 2027, remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the issue of copyright and AI is also being closely examined by the European Parliament.

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Google enhances Gemini AI with smarter personalisation

Google has announced an update to its Gemini AI assistant, enhancing personalisation to better anticipate user needs and deliver responses that feel more like those of a personal assistant.

The feature, initially available on desktop before rolling out to mobile, allows Gemini to offer tailored recommendations, such as travel ideas, based on search history and, in the future, data from apps like Photos and YouTube.

Users can opt in to the new personalisation features, sharing details like dietary preferences or past conversations to refine responses further.

Google assures that users must explicitly grant permission for Gemini to access search history and other services, and they can disconnect at any time.

However, this level of contextual awareness could give Google an advantage over competitors like ChatGPT by leveraging its vast ecosystem of user data.

The update signals a shift in how users interact with AI, bringing it closer to traditional search while raising questions for publishers and SEO professionals.

As Gemini increasingly provides direct, personalised answers, it may reduce the need for users to visit external websites. While currently experimental, the potential for Google to push broader adoption of AI-driven personalisation could reshape digital content discovery and search behaviour in the future.

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Major companies back global nuclear energy expansion

Several major companies, including Amazon and Google, have pledged to support the goal of tripling the world’s nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

However, this commitment was made during the CERAWeek conference in Houston, with other signatories such as shale company Occidental and Japanese firm IHI Corp. The World Nuclear Association (WNA) facilitated the pledge and expects more industries, including maritime and aviation, to join in the coming months.

Nuclear energy currently accounts for 9% of the world’s electricity, produced by 439 power reactors. As large tech companies like Amazon and Google pursue nuclear projects, including small modular reactors, the demand for uranium, essential for nuclear technology, has surged.

However, uranium supply remains constrained, mainly coming from Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia.

With high demand, uranium prices reached a 16-year peak last year, driven by supply disruptions during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Despite this, global nuclear power generation continues to be concentrated in just a few countries, with 411 reactors in operation as of early 2025, providing a combined 371 gigawatts of capacity.

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Indian police arrest Garantex administrator wanted by US

Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, an administrator of the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex, at the request of the US.

Besciokov, a Russian resident and Lithuanian national, was taken into custody in Kerala on charges of money laundering and violating sanctions. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said he was planning to flee India, and Washington is expected to seek his extradition.

The arrest follows a joint operation by the US, Germany, and Finland to dismantle Garantex’s online infrastructure.

The exchange, under US sanctions since 2022, has processed at least $96 billion in cryptocurrency transactions since 2019. The US Justice Department recently charged two administrators, including Besciokov, with operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

Experts warn that sanctioned exchanges often attempt to bypass restrictions by setting up new entities. Blockchain research firm TRM Labs called the Garantex takedown a significant step in combating illicit finance but emphasised the need for continued vigilance against evasion tactics.

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