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V3.2 models signal renewed DeepSeek momentum

DeepSeek has launched two new reasoning-focused models, V3.2 and V3.2-Speciale. The release marks a shift toward agent-style systems that emphasise efficiency. Both models are positioned as upgrades to the firm’s earlier experimental work.

The V3.2 model incorporates structured thinking into its tool-use behaviour. It supports fast and reflective modes while generating large training datasets. DeepSeek says this approach enables more exhaustive testing across thousands of tasks.

V3.2-Speciale is designed for high-intensity reasoning workloads and contests. DeepSeek reports performance levels comparable to top proprietary systems. Its Sparse Attention method keeps costs down for long and complex inputs.

The launch follows pressure from rapid advances by key rivals. DeepSeek argues the new line narrows capability gaps despite lower budgets. Earlier momentum came from strong pricing, but expectations have increased.

The company views the V3.2 series as supporting agent pipelines and research applications. It frames the update as proof that efficient models can still compete globally. Developers are expected to use the systems for analytical and technical tasks.

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Thrive Holdings deepens AI collaboration with OpenAI for business transformation

OpenAI and Thrive Holdings have launched a partnership to accelerate enterprise adoption of AI. The work focuses on applying AI to high-volume business functions such as accounting and IT services. Both companies say these areas offer immediate gains in speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency.

OpenAI will place its teams inside Thrive Holdings’ companies to improve core workflows. The partners want a model they can replicate across other sectors. They say embedding AI in real operations delivers better results than external tools.

Executives say AI is reshaping how organisations deliver value in competitive markets. OpenAI’s Brad Lightcap described the collaboration as an example of rapid, organisation-wide transformation. He said the approach could guide other businesses seeking practical pathways to use advanced AI tools.

Thrive Holdings views the initiative as part of a broader shift in how technology is adopted. Founder Joshua Kushner said industry experts are now driving change from within their sectors. He added that Thrive’s portfolio offers the data and domain knowledge needed to refine AI for specialised tasks.

Both partners expect the model to scale into additional business areas as uptake grows. They see long-term opportunities to adapt the framework to more enterprise functions. The ambition is to demonstrate how embedded AI can boost performance and sustain operational improvements.

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SIM-binding mandate forces changes to WhatsApp use in India

India plans to change how major messaging apps operate under new rules requiring SIM binding and frequent re-verification. The directive obliges platforms to confirm that the original SIM remains active, altering long-standing habits around device switching. Services have 90 days to comply with the order.

The Department of Telecom says continuous SIM checks will reduce misuse by linking each account to a live subscriber identity. Companion tools such as WhatsApp Web will automatically log out every 6 hours. Users will need to relink sessions with a QR code to stay connected.

The rules apply to apps that rely on phone numbers, including WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and local platforms. The approach mirrors SIM-bound verification used in banking apps in India. It adds a deeper security layer that goes beyond one-time codes and registration checks.

The change may inconvenience people who use Wi-Fi-only tablets or older devices without an active SIM card. It also affects anyone who relies on WhatsApp Web for work or on multi-device setups under a single number. Messaging apps may need new login systems to ease the shift.

Officials argue that tighter controls are needed to limit cyber fraud and protect consumers. Users may still access services, but with reduced flexibility and more frequent verification. India’s move signals a broader push for stronger digital safeguards across core communications tools.

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Australia stands firm on under 16 social media ban

Australia’s government defended its under-16 social media ban ahead of its introduction on 10 December. Minister Anika Wells said she would not be pressured by major platforms opposing the plan.

Tech companies argued that bans may prove ineffective, yet Wells maintained firms had years to address known harms. She insisted parents required stronger safeguards after repeated failures by global platforms.

Critics raised concerns about enforcement and the exclusion of online gaming despite widespread worries about Roblox. Two teenagers also launched a High Court challenge, claiming the policy violated children’s rights.

Wells accepted rollout difficulties but said wider social gains in Australia justified firm action. She added that policymakers must intervene when unsafe operating models place young people at risk.

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Amar Subramanya takes over Apple AI as Giannandrea steps aside

Apple says its AI leadership is shifting as John Giannandrea prepares to leave the company. Amar Subramanya, a veteran of Google and Microsoft, will take over AI research and development. The move comes after delays to promised Siri upgrades.

Subramanya will report to software chief Craig Federighi and lead work on foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety. Apple says his arrival reflects the company’s push to accelerate progress in these areas. Giannandrea will remain an adviser until early next year.

Multiple reports say internal pressure had grown as deadlines for Apple Intelligence features slipped. Senior leaders held private discussions on the future direction of the organisation. The reshuffle followed concerns that Apple had fallen behind competitors in core AI capabilities.

Giannandrea had previously overseen both Siri and AI models before responsibilities were split. Vision Pro architect Mike Rockwell now leads the development of the voice assistant. Apple says Giannandrea played a key role in shaping the company’s early AI work.

Chief executive Tim Cook praised both executives and framed the transition as part of a broader strategy. Apple says it remains committed to delivering a more personalised Siri next year. The company is positioning the leadership change as a step toward faster progress.

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Singapore and the EU advance their digital partnership

The European Union met Singapore in Brussels for the second Digital Partnership Council, reinforcing a joint ambition to strengthen cooperation across a broad set of digital priorities.

Both sides expressed a shared interest in improving competitiveness, expanding innovation and shaping common approaches to digital rules instead of relying on fragmented national frameworks.

Discussions covered AI, cybersecurity, online safety, data flows, digital identities, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Officials highlighted the importance of administrative arrangements in AI safety. They explored potential future cooperation on language models, including the EU’s work on the Alliance for Language Technologies and Singapore’s Sea-Lion initiative.

Efforts to protect consumers and support minors online were highlighted, alongside the potential role of age verification tools.

Further exchanges focused on trust services and the interoperability of digital identity systems, as well as collaborative research on semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Both sides emphasised the importance of robust cyber resilience and ongoing evaluation of cybersecurity risks, rather than relying on reactive measures. The recently signed Digital Trade Agreement was welcomed for improving legal certainty, building consumer trust and reducing barriers to digital commerce.

The meeting between the EU and Singapore confirmed the importance of the partnership in supporting economic security, strengthening research capacity and increasing resilience in critical technologies.

It also reflected the wider priorities outlined in the European Commission’s International Digital Strategy, which placed particular emphasis on cooperation with Asian partners across emerging technologies and digital governance.

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UNDP highlights rising inequality in the AI era

AI is developing at an unprecedented speed, but a growing number of countries lack the necessary infrastructure, digital skills, and governance systems to benefit from it. According to a new UNDP report, this imbalance is already creating economic and social strain, especially in states that are unprepared for rapid technological change.

The report warns that the risk is the emergence of a ‘Next Great Divergence,’ in which global inequalities deepen as advanced economies adopt AI while others fall further behind.

The study, titled ‘The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries,’ highlights Asia and the Pacific as the region where these trends are most visible. Home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies as well as countries with limited digital capacity, the region faces a widening gap in digital readiness and institutional strength.

Without targeted investment and smarter governance, many nations may struggle to harness AI’s potential while becoming increasingly vulnerable to its disruptions.

To counter this trajectory, the UNDP report outlines practical strategies for governments to build resilient digital ecosystems, expand access to technology, and ensure that AI supports inclusive human development. These recommendations aim to help countries adopt AI in a manner that strengthens, rather than undermines, economic and social progress.

The publication is the result of a multinational effort involving researchers and institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America. Contributors include teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Aapti Institute, and India’s Digital Future Lab, whose collective insights shaped the report’s findings and policy roadmap.

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Italy secures new EU support for growth and reform

The European Commission has endorsed Italy’s latest request for funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, marking an important step in the country’s economic modernisation.

An approval that covers 12.8 billion euros, combining grants and loans, and supports efforts to strengthen competitiveness and long-term growth across key sectors of national life.

Italy completed 32 milestones and targets connected to the eighth instalment, enabling progress in public administration, procurement, employment, education, research, tourism, renewable energy and the circular economy.

Thousands of schools have gained new resources to improve multilingual learning and build stronger skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Many primary and secondary schools have also secured modern digital tools to enhance teaching quality instead of relying on outdated systems.

Health research forms another major part of the package. Projects focused on rare diseases, cancer and other high-impact conditions have gained fresh funding to support scientific work and improve treatment pathways.

These measures contribute to a broader transformation programme financed through 194.4 billion euros, representing one of the largest recovery plans in the EU.

A four-week review by the Economic and Financial Committee will follow before the payment can be released. Once completed, Italy’s total receipts will exceed 153 billion euros, covering more than 70 percent of its full Recovery and Resilience Facility allocation.

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Poetic prompts reveal gaps in AI safety, according to study

Researchers in Italy have found that poetic language can weaken the safety barriers used by many leading AI chatbots.

A work by Icaro Lab, part of DexAI, that examined whether poems containing harmful requests could provoke unsafe answers from widely deployed models across the industry. The team wrote twenty poems in English and Italian, each ending with explicit instructions that AI systems are trained to block.

The researchers tested the poems on twenty-five models developed by nine major companies. Poetic prompts produced unsafe responses in more than half of the tests.

Some models appeared more resilient than others. OpenAI’s GPT-5 Nano avoided unsafe replies in every case, while Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro generated harmful content in all tests. Two Meta systems produced unsafe responses to twenty percent of the poems.

Researchers also argue that poetic structure disrupts the predictive patterns large language models rely on to filter harmful material. The unconventional rhythm and metaphor common in poetry make the underlying safety mechanisms less reliable.

Additionally, the team warned that adversarial poetry can be used by anyone, which raises concerns about how easily safety systems may be manipulated in everyday use.

Before releasing the study, the researchers contacted all companies involved and shared the full dataset with them.

Anthropic confirmed receipt and stated that it was reviewing the findings. The work has prompted debate over how AI systems can be strengthened as creative language becomes an increasingly common method for attempting to bypass safety controls.

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NVIDIA and Synopsys shape a new era in engineering

The US tech giant, NVIDIA, has deepened its long-standing partnership with Synopsys through a multi-year strategy designed to redefine digital engineering across global industries.

An agreement that includes a significant investment of two billion dollars in Synopsys shares and a coordinated effort to bring accelerated computing into every stage of research and development.

The aim is to replace slow, fragmented workflows with highly efficient engineering supported by GPU power, agentic AI and advanced physics simulation.

Research teams across semiconductor design, aerospace, automotive and industrial manufacturing continue to face rising complexity and escalating development costs. NVIDIA and Synopsys plan to respond by unifying their strengths, rather than relying on traditional CPU-bound methods.

NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platforms will connect with Synopsys tools to enable faster design, broader simulation capability and more precise verification. The collaboration extends to autonomous engineering through AI agents built on Synopsys AgentEngineer and NVIDIA’s agentic AI stack.

Digital twins stand at the centre of the new strategy. Accurate virtual models, powered through Omniverse and Synopsys simulation environments, will allow engineers to test and validate products in virtual space before physical production.

Cloud-ready access will support companies of all sizes, rather than restricting advanced engineering to large enterprises with specialised infrastructure. Both firms intend to promote adoption through a shared go-to-market programme.

The partnership remains open and non-exclusive, ensuring continued cooperation with the broader semiconductor and electronic design ecosystem.

NVIDIA and Synopsys expect accelerated engineering to reshape innovation cycles, offering a route to faster product development and more reliable outcomes across every primary technical sector.

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