Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia, featuring three data centres in the greater Kuala Lumpur area.
The centres, known as Malaysia West, will begin operations by mid-year, marking a significant step in the company’s $2.2 billion investment in the country.
However, this move is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to expand its cloud and AI services in Southeast Asia. Microsoft estimates the investment will generate $10.9 billion in revenue and create over 37,000 jobs in Malaysia over the next four years.
Laurence Si, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, stated that the company’s operations in Malaysia remain on track despite concerns over US export controls on semiconductor chips.
Microsoft remains confident in its relationships with stakeholders and its ability to meet its investment commitments.
Local businesses are expected to benefit from enhanced cloud and AI capabilities, with the country aiming to become a leading hub for technological innovation in the region.
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Britain should maintain competition in the broadband market to boost full-fibre coverage to 96% of premises by 2027 while capping prices on slower-speed services, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom announced on Thursday.
The cap would limit what BT’s Openreach can charge for connections up to 80Mbit/s, an increase from the current 40Mbit/s limit.
Ofcom’s previous measures, including encouraging new providers to use Openreach’s infrastructure, have helped increase full-fibre coverage from under 25% to nearly 70% of homes.
It now proposes keeping high-speed broadband prices free from regulation until 2031 while ensuring affordability for those relying on older copper-fibre connections.
In rural areas where commercial networks are less viable, Ofcom plans to support Openreach in expanding full-fibre access. The regulator’s consultation on these proposals will run until June 12, with final decisions expected in March 2026. BT shares rose 0.5% following the announcement.
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Chinese tech giant Baidu has denied claims of an internal data breach after the teenage daughter of a senior executive was accused of sharing users’ personal information online.
The controversy erupted when internet users alleged that the daughter of Baidu vice president Xie Guangjun had posted private details, including phone numbers, following an online dispute.
Baidu insisted that neither employees nor executives have access to user data and claimed the information came from illegally obtained ‘doxing databases’ on foreign platforms.
The company has filed a police report regarding false claims, including allegations that Xie had given his daughter access to Baidu’s databases.
Xie apologised, stating that the data had been sourced from overseas social networking sites.
The case comes amid ongoing crackdown in China on data privacy breaches, with stricter laws in place to prevent unauthorised sharing of personal details.
The controversy has impacted investor confidence, with Baidu’s shares falling more than 4% in Hong Kong trading.
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Announced at the Amplify 2025 event, the new models include the HP Color LaserJet Enterprise MFP 8801, Mono MFP 8601, and LaserJet Pro Mono SFP 8501. These printers are built to resist sophisticated attacks that could exploit vulnerabilities at the firmware level.
To enhance security, HP has integrated quantum-resistant cryptography within the printers’ ASIC chips. These chips provide digital signature verification, reducing the risk of unauthorised firmware modifications and potential data breaches.
HP emphasised that, without these safeguards, printers could be fully compromised by malicious firmware updates, allowing attackers to gain persistent control over the devices.
The new printers are also designed to integrate seamlessly with Zero Trust network architectures, reinforcing security within enterprise environments.
By incorporating advanced cryptographic measures, HP aims to future-proof its printing solutions against emerging cybersecurity threats.
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Stability AI has unveiled its latest AI model, Stable Virtual Camera, designed to convert 2D images into dynamic 3D video scenes. Announced in a company blog post, the model enables users to create immersive videos with realistic depth and perspective using up to 32 input images. It generates ‘novel views’ of a scene, offering various preset camera movements, including Spiral, Dolly Zoom, Move, and Pan.
The tool is currently available as a research preview and allows users to generate videos in square (1:1), portrait (9:16), and landscape (16:9) formats, with a maximum length of 1,000 frames. However, Stability AI warns that certain images, such as those with people, animals, or complex textures like water, may produce lower-quality results. Highly ambiguous or irregularly shaped objects may also lead to visual artifacts.
Stable Virtual Camera is available for research use under a non-commercial license and can be downloaded from AI development platform Hugging Face. The launch follows a turbulent period for Stability AI, which has recently undergone leadership changes, secured new investments, and expanded into new AI applications, including generative audio. With this latest innovation, the company aims to solidify its position in the competitive AI market.
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Tesla has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to operate a transportation service in the state, though the permit does not yet extend to autonomous vehicle operations. The transportation charter permit (TCP), granted on Tuesday, allows Tesla to use its own vehicles and employees as drivers for prearranged transport services. Initially, the company plans to use this permit for employee transportation, with the possibility of expanding to public services in the future.
Unlike Uber and Lyft, which operate under transportation network company (TNC) permits, Tesla’s TCP authorisation requires the company to own the vehicles and directly employ its drivers. The permit does not allow Tesla to test or deploy autonomous vehicles, nor does it grant the company participation in California’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Programs. Should Tesla wish to operate a driverless service, it would need additional approvals from both the CPUC and the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Despite these restrictions, Tesla continues to push forward with its self-driving ambitions. CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, as early as June, using vehicles equipped with an updated version of the company’s Full Self-Driving software. While California regulators have not yet approved Tesla’s autonomous ride-hailing plans, the newly acquired permit may represent the first step towards that goal.
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Google’s Gemini team has introduced two new features aimed at improving user interaction with documents and coding projects. The first, Audio Overview, transforms uploaded documents into audio podcasts presented by AI hosts.
The feature, initially part of Google’s NotebookLM, is now available to all Gemini users, regardless of their subscription plan.
While it currently supports only English, additional languages will be added soon. Users can easily generate podcasts from documents, which can then be shared, downloaded, and accessed via web or mobile.
In addition to Audio Overview, Gemini has launched Canvas, an interactive tool designed to help users create and refine work. Canvas offers features that allow users to generate first drafts, edit content, and receive feedback on tone, length, and formatting.
Once completed, the work can be exported directly to Google Docs. Canvas also supports coding, helping developers create prototypes for web apps, Python scripts, and games, while students can use it to learn coding concepts.
These innovative tools highlight Google’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the user experience and revolutionising how people engage with digital content and coding. Gemini’s new features are now available to all users globally, with Canvas already rolling out to both Gemini and Gemini Advanced users.
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Britain should use its strengths in AI to shape how the technology is deployed worldwide, according to DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis.
Hassabis highlighted the country’s leading universities and skilled workforce as key factors in maintaining a competitive edge. Speaking at a Google AI event, he stressed the economic and geopolitical importance of ensuring AI development aligns with ethical and practical standards.
The UK government is working to boost AI innovation, with advanced technology at the centre of discussions between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US officials.
Google has announced upgrades to its AI offerings in Britain, including expanded UK data residency for its work productivity tool, Google Agentspace. Meanwhile, tech rival Oracle has pledged a $5 billion investment in Britain over the next five years to support growing demand for cloud services.
Hassabis also called for global standards on the use of copyrighted material in AI development, noting the challenges of regulating models used across different countries.
Google’s AI expansion includes the addition of its Chirp 3 audio generation model to Vertex AI, enhancing cloud services with human-like voice capabilities. The UK remains a key player in the AI sector, with industry leaders pushing for policies that ensure responsible and effective deployment of the technology.
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Palmetto, known for its innovative approach to residential solar installations, is now focusing on the broader electrification of US homes using AI.
The company has developed an AI-powered tool that simulates digital twins of homes across the country, which will help determine how technologies like heat pumps and solar panels can be effectively deployed in individual homes.
By using public and private data, Palmetto’s AI can infer critical information about a home, such as insulation types and building materials, to optimise energy efficiency.
As the residential solar market slows, Palmetto has expanded its software to include electrification solutions beyond solar, including backup batteries and heat pumps.
The company has now made its tool available to external developers through an API, allowing them to create new applications that can speed up the electrification process.
Palmetto hopes that developers will build tools that can quickly address the demand for these technologies, which will be essential in the US effort to reduce carbon emissions.
The company’s AI system analyses over 60 characteristics of homes, including details like the construction year and materials used, to make accurate energy efficiency predictions.
However, this tool will also offer developers insights into the growing electrification market. With an API offering 500 free calls per month, Palmetto’s strategy allows for scalable growth while providing key data for the company’s future development.
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France’s broadcasting regulator, Arcom, is on the verge of deciding whether satellite operator Eutelsat has breached European sanctions against Russia.
The decision follows requests from several NGOs, including Comité Diderot, which has raised concerns over Eutelsat’s contracts with Russian media outlets like the army’s Zvezda channel and state-run VGTRK.
These contracts represent a small fraction of Eutelsat’s revenue, about 4%, but the watchdog’s ruling could have significant financial consequences for the company.
In 2022, Eutelsat complied with Arcom’s request to halt the broadcast of three Russian TV channels. However, the company still maintains agreements with other Russian media outlets, which some critics argue continue to violate EU sanctions.
Eutelsat has expressed respect for regulatory decisions, but the investigation has drawn attention to its ongoing contracts with Russian entities.
Arcom, which now has the authority to ensure EU sanctions compliance under France’s 2024 SREN law, may impose a fine of up to 3% of Eutelsat’s annual revenue.
If further violations are found, the penalty could rise to 5%. The French National Assembly recently supported the call for Arcom to enforce stricter compliance, reflecting growing pressure on Eutelsat amid the ongoing sanctions against Russia.
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