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DeepMind unveils AlphaEvolve for scientific breakthroughs

Google DeepMind has unveiled AlphaEvolve, a new AI system designed to help solve complex scientific and mathematical problems by improving how algorithms are developed.

Rather than acting like a standard chatbot, AlphaEvolve blends large language models from the Gemini family with an evolutionary approach, enabling it to generate, assess, and refine multiple solutions at once.

Instead of relying on a single output, AlphaEvolve allows researchers to submit a problem and potential directions. The system then uses both Gemini Flash and Gemini Pro to create various solutions, which are automatically evaluated.

The best results are selected and enhanced through an iterative process, improving accuracy and reducing hallucinations—a common issue with AI-generated content.

Unlike earlier DeepMind tools such as AlphaFold, which focused on narrow domains, AlphaEvolve is a general-purpose AI for coding and algorithmic tasks.

It has already shown its value by optimising Google’s own Borg data centre management system, delivering a 0.7% efficiency gain—significant given Google’s global scale.

The AI also devised a new method for multiplying complex matrices, outperforming a decades-old technique and even beating DeepMind’s specialised AlphaTensor model.

AlphaEvolve has also contributed to improvements in Google’s hardware design by optimising Verilog code for upcoming Tensor chips.

Though not publicly available yet due to its complexity, AlphaEvolve’s evaluation-based framework could eventually be adapted for smaller AI tools used by researchers elsewhere.

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BEREC updates VHCN guidelines to reflect 5G and Network Advances

The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) is updating its guidelines on what qualifies as a Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) under Article 82 of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC).

The revision reflects technological developments, especially in mobile and 5G networks, and aims to ensure consistent classification across EU Member States. The draft was open for public consultation until 30 April 2025, with the final version expected by 31 December 2025.

For fixed networks, BEREC confirms that the original 2020 performance thresholds remain appropriate. These networks must include fibre components at least to the distribution point and meet high standards in bandwidth, latency, jitter, and resilience under normal peak conditions.

Technologies like G.fast (212 MHz) and DOCSIS 3.1 remain valid benchmarks, as no significant advancements have been observed since 2020.

For mobile networks, especially 5G, BEREC proposes adjusted thresholds to ensure they can be considered technically equivalent to fixed VHCNs.

The updated criteria include fibre backhaul to base stations and require performance parity with fixed networks under peak conditions.

Based on 2022 data from 19 countries, BEREC assessed both current commercial deployments and high-performance pilot setups, adopting a cautious approach by focusing on realistic, existing mobile infrastructure capabilities.

The changes carry regulatory implications for national authorities, who must apply these updated criteria in their markets.

Key consultation issues include the proportionality of raising the downlink threshold to 350 Mbps, especially given urban-rural digital divides, and the need for a harmonized definition of ‘normal peak conditions.’

Coordination with the EU Digital Decade 2030 goals is also essential to ensure regulatory clarity and alignment with long-term connectivity targets.

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ATCON calls for unified regulation and telecom reform

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is leading efforts to address critical challenges in Nigeria’s telecom sector, beginning with calls for a unified regulatory framework to eliminate overlapping and conflicting regulations from multiple government agencies.

At the 2025 General Meeting, ATCON announced the formation of an Industry Think Tank Committee to coordinate advocacy and streamline policy engagement.

The association also highlighted internal industry issues such as fragmentation and price wars, which weaken the collective bargaining power of operators. Stakeholders stressed the importance of greater unity to strengthen the sector’s negotiating position and overall influence.

To tackle the sector’s talent shortage and reduce reliance on foreign expertise, ATCON launched the ATCON Academy, designed to train Nigerian youth in essential telecom technical skills.

Telecom companies committed to expanding internship programs and partnering with universities to enhance practical training and update ICT curricula.

Despite these efforts, institutions like the Digital Bridge Institute have underperformed, prompting calls for stronger government investment in human capital and the creation of a national ICT Think Tank, inspired by successful models from India and Singapore.

ATCON prioritizes protecting telecom infrastructure and will push for full CNII enforcement. President Emoekpere aims to strengthen regulation, talent, and infrastructure for sustainable sector growth.

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Apple opens NFC chip, PayPal taps into it

PayPal has launched its tap-to-pay feature for iPhone users in Germany, allowing contactless payments at terminals that support Mastercard.

The rollout follows pressure from the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open up its NFC chip to third-party apps.

Currently, the feature is exclusive to iPhones and does not support Apple Watch. It mirrors earlier moves by other apps like Norway’s Vipps, which began using Apple’s newly accessible NFC hardware late last year.

Apple has also started expanding NFC access globally, enabling developers to integrate in-app payments and allowing businesses to accept contactless payments via iPhones using third-party apps like Venmo and PayPal Zettle.

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Android adds new scam protection for phone calls

Google is introducing new protections on Android devices to combat phone call scams, particularly those involving screen-sharing and app installations. Users will see warning messages if they attempt to change settings during a call and Android will also block the deactivation of Play Protect features.

The system will now block users from sideloading apps or granting accessibility permissions while on a call with unknown contacts.

The new tools are available on devices running Android 16 and select protections are also rolling out to older versions, starting with Android 11

A separate pilot in the UK will alert users trying to open banking apps during a screen-sharing call, prompting them to end the call or wait before proceeding.

These features expand Android’s broader efforts to prevent fraud, which already include AI-based scam detection for phone calls and messages.

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Audible and Spotify embrace AI to scale audiobook production

Audible, Amazon’s audiobook service, announced this week that it is partnering with publishers to convert print and e-books into AI-narrated audiobooks. The move is part of Audible’s strategy to expand its catalogue quickly as competition heats up with platforms like Apple and Spotify.

Using Amazon’s AI technology, Audible now offers publishers access to more than 100 synthetic voices across English, French, Spanish, and Italian, including various accents and dialects. More language options are expected to roll out over time.

Audible also revealed plans to launch a beta version of AI-powered translation services later this year. The tool will support both text-to-text and speech-to-speech translations from English into Spanish, French, Italian, and German.

Publishers will be able to request professional linguists to review the AI translations for accuracy. Amazon began experimenting with synthetic narration in 2023, launching an invite-only virtual voice tool for self-published authors.

The tool enables authors to transform their e-books into audiobooks using AI-generated speech. Audible also allowed a group of voice actors to train AI models using their voices.

Currently, more than 50,000 titles on Audible are listed as being ‘Narrated By: Virtual Voice’, indicating strong adoption by authors who may lack the budget or resources for traditional audiobook production.

Still, the rise of AI narration has sparked debate within the publishing world. Critics argue that automated voices could compromise the emotional nuance and performance quality that listeners expect from professional narrators.

Audible’s chief rival, Spotify, is also investing in AI-powered audiobooks. In February, Spotify partnered with voice AI company ElevenLabs to accelerate audiobook production across its platform.

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Instagram calls for EU-wide teen protection rules

Instagram is calling on the European Union to introduce new regulations requiring app stores to implement age verification and parental approval systems.

The platform argues that such protections, applied consistently across all apps, are essential to safeguarding teenagers from harmful content online.

‘The EU needs consistent standards for all apps, to help keep teens safe, empower parents and preserve privacy,’ Instagram said in a blog post.

The company believes the most effective way to achieve this is by introducing protections at the source—before teenagers download apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Instagram is proposing that app stores verify users’ ages and require parental approval for teen app downloads. The social media platform cites new research from Morning Consult showing that three in four parents support such legislation.

Most parents also view app stores, rather than individual apps, as the safer and more manageable point for controlling what their teens can access.

To reinforce its position, Instagram points to its own safety efforts, such as the introduction of Teen Accounts. These private-by-default profiles limit teen exposure to messages and content from unknown users, and apply stricter filters to reduce exposure to sensitive material.

Instagram says it is working with civil society groups, industry partners, and European policymakers to push for rules that protect young users across platforms. With teen safety a growing concern, the company insists that industry-wide, enforceable solutions are urgently needed.

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Spotify adds voice interaction to AI DJ in 60+ markets

Spotify is giving its AI DJ a major upgrade, allowing users to make voice requests for music, mood changes, and genre shifts. Previously a passive listening experience, the AI DJ now offers interactive features for Premium subscribers in more than 60 markets.

Users can now ask the AI DJ to play songs by a specific artist, switch genres, or change the vibe of a playlist entirely. The feature supports English voice commands at launch, with more languages likely to follow.

To access it, type ‘DJ’ in the Spotify search bar, then hold the DJ button in the bottom-right corner to issue a voice request. For quick changes without speaking, users can simply tap the DJ button.

Spotify first introduced the AI DJ in February 2023 in the US and Canada, later expanding the feature globally in August. In late 2023, the company also added a Spanish-speaking AI DJ to its lineup.

The new voice interactions mark Spotify’s latest step in personalising the streaming experience through AI.

Alongside the AI DJ, Spotify also offers another AI tool that allows users to create playlists using text prompts—highlighting the company’s ongoing push to integrate generative AI into music discovery and curation.

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Apple partners with BCI developers to expand accessibility

Apple has announced a new set of accessibility features arriving later this year, including a breakthrough initiative that allows users to control their devices using brain signals. The company also plans to streamline its Personal Voice tool and expand accessibility support across its platforms.

In partnership with Brain Computer Interface (BCI) developers like Synchron, Apple is working to enable users to navigate iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro using neural input.

Synchron’s device, called the Stentrode, is a stent-like implant placed in a vein near the brain’s motor cortex via a minimally invasive procedure. It reads brain signals and translates them into commands for digital interfaces.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is building system-level support for BCIs in iOS 19 and visionOS 3, including a new protocol compatible with Switch Control.

This will allow users to operate Apple devices without physical interaction, an innovation aimed at supporting individuals with conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

One early tester of the technology, Mark Jackson, who has ALS, described using his Stentrode in conjunction with Apple’s Vision Pro headset to virtually explore environments like the Swiss Alps.

While Jackson noted limitations in cursor control and speed, the collaboration marks a significant step forward in assistive technology.

In addition to brain control support, iOS 19 will enhance Apple’s Personal Voice feature, originally introduced in iOS 17. This feature enables users at risk of losing their speech to create a personalised synthetic voice.

Previously, the tool required users to record 150 phrases and process them overnight. In iOS 19, the process has been reduced to just 10 phrases, with the model processed in under a minute. Apple says the updated output will sound smoother and more natural.

Other upcoming accessibility features include a Magnifier app for Mac and App Store Nutrition Labels to help users assess the accessibility of third-party apps.

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Amazon to invest in Saudi AI Zone

Amazon has announced a new partnership with Humain, an AI company launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to invest over $5 billion in creating an ‘AI Zone’ in the kingdom.

The project will feature Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, including servers, networks, and training programmes, while Humain will develop AI tools using AWS and support Saudi startups with access to resources.

A move like this adds Amazon to a growing list of tech firms—such as Nvidia and AMD—that are working with Humain, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. American companies like Google and Salesforce have also recently turned to the PIF for funding and AI collaborations.

Under a new initiative supported by former US President Donald Trump, US tech firms can now pursue deals with Saudi-based partners more freely.

Instead of relying on foreign data centres, Saudi Arabia has required AI providers to store data locally, prompting companies like Google, Oracle, and now Amazon to expand operations within the region.

Amazon has already committed $5.3 billion to build an AWS region in Saudi Arabia by 2026, and says the AI Zone partnership is a separate, additional investment.

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