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Apple set to revamp operating systems with Vision Pro-inspired design

Apple is preparing a significant redesign of its software, which will bring a fresh look to the operating systems of the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

The update, expected later this year, will introduce changes to icons, menus, apps, windows and system buttons, drawing inspiration from the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. Sources familiar with the project say the goal is to make Apple’s various operating systems more visually consistent.

The company is also focusing on simplifying how users navigate and control their devices. The changes are part of Apple’s broader effort to enhance its product appeal, following the recent launch of new iPad Air and MacBook Air models with AI features.

The update is expected to make interacting with Apple devices more intuitive and streamlined.

Apple plans to showcase the redesigned software at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The overhaul marks one of the most significant visual updates in years, reflecting Apple’s push to refine its ecosystem and create a seamless user experience across its devices.

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IBM triumphs in UK Court over trade secrets

IBM secured a legal victory in the UK on March 10, 2025, after the High Court ruled in its favour against LzLabs. The lawsuit, which IBM filed against the Swiss-based company and its owner, John Moores, centred on accusations of stealing trade secrets. IBM claimed LzLabs’ UK subsidiary, Winsopia, misused its mainframe computer licence to reverse-engineer IBM’s proprietary software.

The court sided with IBM, agreeing that Winsopia had violated the terms of its licence agreement. Judge Finola O’Farrell concluded that LzLabs and Moores had unlawfully facilitated these breaches. Although LzLabs defended its actions, arguing that its software was developed independently over many years, the court ruled that the company had acted inappropriately.

This ruling is seen as a major win for IBM, reinforcing the value of its technological investments. The case, which will proceed to a hearing to determine potential damages, reflects the company’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property. LzLabs and Moores did not immediately comment on the decision.

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Coinbase secures approval to operate in India

Coinbase has officially registered with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), allowing it to offer crypto trading services in the country, the company announced on Tuesday. The US-based exchange plans to launch its initial retail services later this year, followed by further investments and product rollouts. While a specific timeline has not been disclosed, Coinbase sees India as a key market with strong growth potential.

Interest in cryptocurrency has surged in India, particularly among young investors looking to supplement their incomes. Despite a 30% tax on crypto trading gains—one of the highest globally—the sector remains largely unregulated. Other major exchanges operating in the country include CoinDCX, Binance, and KuCoin.

India requires virtual asset service providers to register with the FIU and comply with anti-money laundering regulations. The government is currently reviewing its stance on crypto, influenced by global regulatory trends and recent policy shifts in the US. As the regulatory landscape evolves, Coinbase aims to establish a strong foothold in the Indian market while adhering to local compliance standards.

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New digital health file system revolutionises medical data management in Greece

A new electronic health file system is launching on Tuesday in a preliminary form, aiming to provide doctors with an easier, safer, and more reliable way to access Greek patients’ medical histories.

The platform, expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, will store comprehensive records for every patient with a social security number (AMKA).

Once completed, the system will compile detailed medical histories, including hospital admissions, surgeries, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, vaccinations, allergies, and treatment protocols.

Upgrade like this one will significantly streamline healthcare access for both doctors and patients.

The enhanced MyHealth app will eliminate the need for patients to carry test results or verbally summarise their medical history.

It is particularly expected to benefit people with disabilities, as the entire process of claiming benefits will be handled electronically, removing the need for in-person evaluations by specialist committees.

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Britain’s CMA sets roadmap for Big Tech regulation

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced its focus will be on interventions that directly affect UK consumers and businesses. The regulator will release a ‘roadmap’ to guide Big Tech companies, clarifying which issues it plans to prioritise and which it may deprioritise. The roadmap will also outline potential future interventions if companies are designated as having strategic market status, including tech giants like Google and Apple.

CEO Sarah Cardell emphasised that the CMA would act with a ‘more nuanced approach’ to promote competition while fostering business growth. With new powers to investigate firms with significant turnover in the UK, the CMA will continue its work to ensure fairness and transparency in the digital markets. The first roadmaps for investigations into search engines and mobile platforms are set to be released in June and July 2025.

The CMA’s strategy aligns with a pro-business direction, as the UK government aims to boost investor confidence while maintaining competitive markets. This initiative follows the appointment of Doug Gurr, former head of Amazon UK, as interim chair, signaling the government’s commitment to balancing regulation with economic growth.

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Poland pushes ahead with tech tax despite US criticism

Poland’s deputy prime minister reaffirmed plans to introduce a new tax on big tech firms despite warnings from the incoming US ambassador, intensifying tensions between Warsaw and Washington. Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski dismissed Ambassador Thomas Rose’s remarks as interference, calling it ‘sick’ for another country to dictate Poland’s legislation.

The dispute adds to growing friction between the two allies, fueled by a recent online clash involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Elon Musk, and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski over Poland’s funding of Ukraine’s Starlink services. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also weighed in, cautioning against ‘arrogance’ from Poland’s allies.

While Gawkowski has not provided specifics on the proposed tax, he suggested it would target the profits of major tech companies operating in Poland and support local tech development. However, some within Poland’s coalition government question the timing, warning of potential trade consequences. Meanwhile, the nationalist opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) argues that the move risks straining relations with Washington.

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Chinese investors turn to AI for stock market edge

Chinese retail investors are rapidly embracing AI tools like DeepSeek to navigate the stock market, marking a striking shift from last year’s government crackdown on computer-driven quantitative trading.

Online courses and packed training rooms reflect a growing eagerness among small-time traders to use AI-powered models, with many seeing them as essential in the digital age.

DeepSeek, developed by a hedge fund in Hangzhou, has not only boosted Chinese stocks but also reshaped perceptions of the country’s $700 billion hedge fund industry.

Despite the initial backlash against quant funds, which were previously blamed for market volatility, investors are now paying thousands of yuan to attend AI trading seminars.

Social media is flooded with courses teaching traders how to use DeepSeek to analyse companies, pick stocks, and even code their own trading strategies.

While major US funds like BlackRock and Renaissance Technologies have long used AI for investments, DeepSeek’s open-source model makes these tools accessible to China’s smaller asset managers and individual traders.

Financial institutions are also adapting to the AI-driven shift. Brokers are rushing to integrate AI models into their platforms, with industry leaders predicting a complete transformation in how Chinese investors make decisions.

Many now seek trading advice from DeepSeek instead of human wealth managers, reflecting a deep trust in the technology. However, experts warn that AI models still have limitations and could create market risks, especially if large numbers of traders act on the same signals.

While some remain cautious about AI’s role in investing, DeepSeek has undeniably changed public attitudes towards quant fund managers.

Many now view them as contributors to market efficiency rather than as culprits behind retail losses. As China’s stock market continues to evolve, AI looks set to play an increasingly dominant role in shaping investor behaviour.

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Meta AI widget now available for WhatsApp beta testers

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new Meta AI widget that will allow users to access its AI capabilities directly from their home screens.

The widget, now in beta testing, eliminates the need to open the app to interact with Meta’s AI, making it quicker and more convenient to use.

Users can ask questions, upload images, and even activate the AI’s voice mode directly from their device’s home screen.

This new feature is expected to make Meta AI even more accessible, helping to increase its popularity among WhatsApp users.

Powered by the company’s Llama language model, the AI is already capable of answering questions, generating images, and participating in both individual and group conversations.

The widget is adjustable, letting users resize it according to their preferences. While it’s currently only available to a limited group of users, WhatsApp plans to make it available to everyone in the coming months.

However, this addition comes as part of a wider rollout of new features within WhatsApp, including preset chat themes and shareable sticker packs.

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House Committee pushes Google to restore free speech on YouTube

Rep. Jim Jordan, Chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee, has subpoenaed Alphabet, the parent company of Google, demanding documents that show whether YouTube removed content due to requests from the Biden administration.

Jordan has long argued that Big Tech companies, including Google, have collaborated with the US government to suppress conservative speech. He believes that these actions constitute unlawful censorship, with YouTube allegedly playing a role.

This subpoena comes after the Committee’s successful investigation into Meta, which led the company to admit that it had bowed to pressure from the Biden administration, adjusting its content moderation policies and promising to restore free speech on its platforms.

Jordan is now pushing Alphabet to follow Meta’s lead and provide transparency on its own content moderation practices.

Google has responded by stating that its content policies are enforced independently, asserting its commitment to free expression.

However, the company has yet to provide a detailed response to Jordan’s subpoena or the claims of governmental influence. Also, this ongoing investigation signals that the scrutiny of Big Tech’s role in content moderation is far from over.

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Telegram faces regional ban in Russia amid security fears

Authorities in the Russian regions of Dagestan and Chechnya have moved to block Telegram, citing security concerns.

The decision was made after the messaging app was reportedly used by enemies to organise unrest, including the October 2023 anti-Israel riots at Makhachkala airport.

During these riots, protesters, spurred by Telegram channels, attempted to attack passengers arriving from Israel. Telegram condemned the attack and stated that it had blocked the related channels.

Dagestan’s digital development minister, Yuri Gamzatov, stated that the decision to block Telegram came from the federal government. He acknowledged that Telegram might be unblocked in the future but encouraged users to switch to other messaging platforms in the meantime.

Telegram, which has nearly 1 billion users, has faced tensions with the Russian government before. Despite previous attempts by Moscow to block the platform, it remains widely used in Russia and other former Soviet republics.

Telegram did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the regional bans.

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