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High-profile AI acquisition puts Manus back in focus

Manus has returned to the spotlight after agreeing to be acquired by Meta in a deal reportedly worth more than $2 billion. The transaction is one of the most high-profile acquisitions of an Asian AI startup by a US technology company and reflects Meta’s push to expand agentic AI capabilities across its platforms.

The startup drew attention in March after unveiling an autonomous AI agent designed to execute tasks such as résumé screening and stock analysis. Founded in China, Manus later moved its headquarters to Singapore and was developed by the AI product studio Butterfly Effect.

Since launch, Manus has expanded its features to include design work, slide creation, and browser-based task completion. The company reported surpassing $100 million in annual recurring revenue and raised $75 million earlier this year at a valuation of about $500 million.

Meta said the acquisition would allow it to integrate the Singapore-based company’s technology into its wider AI strategy while keeping the product running as a standalone service. Manus said subscriptions would continue uninterrupted and that operations would remain based in Singapore.

The deal has drawn political scrutiny in the US due to Manus’s origins and past links to China. Meta said the transaction would sever remaining ties to China, as debate intensifies over investment, data security, and competition in advanced AI systems.

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OpenAI secures massive funding round led by SoftBank

SoftBank Group has completed a $41 billion investment in OpenAI, marking one of the largest private funding rounds on record. The deal gives the Japanese conglomerate an estimated 11 percent stake in the ChatGPT developer.

The investment reflects SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son’s renewed focus on AI and supporting infrastructure. The company is seeking to capitalise on rising demand for the computing capacity that underpins advanced AI models.

SoftBank said the latest funding includes an additional $22.5 billion investment, following an earlier $7.5 billion injection in April. OpenAI also secured a further $11 billion through an expanded syndicated co-investment from other backers.

The funding values OpenAI at roughly $300 billion on a post-money basis, though secondary market transactions later placed the company’s valuation closer to $500 billion. The investment follows SoftBank’s recent agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group, a digital infrastructure investor.

OpenAI remains a central beneficiary of the global surge in AI spending. The company is also involved in Stargate, a large-scale data centre project backed by SoftBank and other partners to support next-generation AI systems.

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New οffline AI note app promises privacy without subscriptions

Growing concern over data privacy and subscription fatigue has led an independent developer to create WitNote, an AI note-taking tool that runs entirely offline.

The software allows users to process notes locally on Windows and macOS rather than relying on cloud-based services where personal information may be exposed.

WitNote supports lightweight language models such as Qwen2.5-0.5B that can run with limited storage requirements. Users may also connect to external models through API keys if preferred.

Core functions include rewriting, summarising and extending content, while a WYSIWYG Markdown editor provides a familiar workflow without network delays, instead of relying on web-based interfaces.

Another key feature is direct integration with Obsidian Markdown files, allowing notes to be imported instantly and managed in one place.

The developer says the project remains a work in progress but commits to ongoing updates and user-driven improvements, even joining Apple’s developer programme personally to support smoother installation.

For users seeking AI assistance while protecting privacy and avoiding monthly fees, WitNote positions itself as an appealing offline alternative that keeps full control of data on the local machine.

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Scam texts impersonating Illinois traffic authorities spread

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has warned residents to stay alert for fraudulent text messages claiming unpaid traffic violations or tolls. Officials say the messages are part of a phishing campaign targeting Illinois drivers.

The scam texts typically warn recipients that their vehicle registration or driving privileges are at risk of suspension. The messages urge immediate action via links that steal money or personal information.

The Secretary of State’s office said it sends text messages only to remind customers about scheduled DMV appointments. It does not communicate by text about licence status, vehicle registration issues, or enforcement actions.

Officials advised residents not to click on links or provide personal details in response to such messages. The texts are intended to create fear and pressure victims into acting quickly.

Residents who receive scam messages are encouraged to report them to the Federal Trade Commission through its online fraud reporting system.

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Belgium’s influencers seek clarity through a new certification scheme

The booming influencer economy of Belgium is colliding with an advertising rulebook that many creators say belongs to another era.

Different obligations across federal, regional and local authorities mean that wording acceptable in one region may trigger a reprimand in another. Some influencers have even faced large fines for administrative breaches such as failing to publish business details on their profiles.

In response, the Influencer Marketing Alliance in Belgium has launched a certification scheme designed to help creators navigate the legal maze instead of risking unintentional violations.

Influencers complete an online course on advertising and consumer law and must pass a final exam before being listed in a public registry monitored by the Jury for Ethical Practices.

Major brands, including L’Oréal and Coca-Cola, already prefer to collaborate with certified creators to ensure compliance and credibility.

Not everyone is convinced.

Some Belgian influencers argue that certification adds more bureaucracy at a time when they already struggle to understand overlapping rules. Others see value as a structured reminder that content creators remain legally responsible for commercial communication shared with followers.

The alliance is also pushing lawmakers to involve influencers more closely when drafting future rules, including taxation and safeguards for child creators.

Consumer groups such as BEUC support clearer definitions and obligations under the forthcoming EU Digital Fairness Act, arguing that influencer advertising should follow the same standards as other media instead of remaining in a grey zone.

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Romania’s Oltenia Energy Complex reports a serious ransomware breach

A ransomware attack has disrupted the Oltenia Energy Complex, Romania’s largest coal-based power producer, after hackers encrypted key IT systems in the early hours of 26 December.

The state-controlled company confirmed that the Gentlemen ransomware strain locked corporate files and disabled core services, including ERP platforms, document management tools, email and the official website.

The organisation isolated affected infrastructure and began restoring services from backups on new systems instead of paying a ransom. Operations were only partially impacted and officials stressed that the national energy system remained secure, despite the disruption across business networks.

A criminal complaint has been filed. Additionally, both the National Directorate of Cyber Security of Romania and the Ministry of Energy have been notified.

Investigators are still assessing the scale of the breach and whether sensitive data was exfiltrated before encryption. The Gentlemen ransomware group has not yet listed the energy firm on its dark-web leak site, a sign that negotiations may still be underway.

An attack that follows a separate ransomware incident that recently hit Romania’s national water authority, underlining the rising pressure on critical infrastructure organisations.

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Best AI dictation tools for faster speech-to-text in 2026

AI dictation reached maturity during the years after many attempts of patchy performance and frustrating inaccuracies.

Advances in speech-to-text engines and large language models now allow modern dictation tools to recognise everyday speech more reliably while keeping enough context to format sentences automatically instead of producing raw transcripts that require heavy editing.

Several leading apps have emerged with different strengths. Wispr Flow focuses on flexibility with style options and custom vocabulary, while Willow blends automation with privacy by storing transcripts locally.

Monologue also prioritises privacy by allowing users to download the model and run transcription entirely on their own machines. Superwhisper caters for power users by supporting multiple downloadable models and transcription from audio or video files.

Other tools take different approaches. VoiceTypr offers an offline-first design with lifetime licensing, Aqua promotes speed and phrase-based shortcuts, Handy provides a simple free open source starting point, and Typeless gives one of the most generous free allowances while promising strong data protection.

Each reflects a wider trend where developers try to balance convenience, privacy, control and affordability.

Users now benefit from cleaner, more natural-sounding transcripts instead of the rigid audio typing tools of previous years. AI dictation has become faster, more accurate and far more usable for everyday note-taking, messaging and work tasks.

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Best AI chatbot for maths accuracy revealed in new benchmark

AI tools are increasingly used for simple everyday calculations, yet a new benchmark suggests accuracy remains unreliable.

The ORCA study tested five major chatbots across 500 real-world maths prompts and found that users still face roughly a 40 percent chance of receiving the wrong answer.

Gemini from Google recorded the highest score at 63 percent, with xAI’s Grok almost level at 62.8 percent. DeepSeek followed with 52 percent, while ChatGPT scored 49.4 percent, and Claude placed last at 45.2 percent.

Performance varied sharply across subjects, with maths and conversion tasks producing the best results, but physics questions dragged scores down to an average accuracy below 40 percent.

Researchers identified most errors as sloppy calculations or rounding mistakes, rather than deeper failures to understand the problem. Finance and economics questions highlighted the widest gaps between the models, while DeepSeek struggled most in biology and chemistry, with barely one correct answer in ten.

Users are advised to double-check results whenever accuracy is crucial. A calculator or a verified source is still advised instead of relying entirely on an AI chatbot for numerical certainty.

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Visually impaired gamers call for more accessible games

Many visually impaired gamers find mainstream video games difficult due to limited accessibility features. Support groups enable players to share tips, recommend titles, and connect with others who face similar challenges.

Audio and text‑based mobile games are popular, yet console and PC titles often lack voiceovers or screen reader support. Adjustable visual presets could make mainstream games more accessible for partially sighted players.

UK industry bodies acknowledge progress, but barriers remain for millions of visually impaired players. Communities offer social support and provide feedback to developers to improve games and make them inclusive.

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Lawsuit against Roskomnadzor over WhatsApp and Telegram calls dismissed

A Moscow court has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development by users of WhatsApp and Telegram. The ruling was issued by a judge at the Tagansky District Court.

The court said activist Konstantin Larionov failed to demonstrate he was authorised to represent messaging app users. The lawsuit claimed call restrictions violated constitutional rights, including freedom of information and communication secrecy.

The case followed Roskomnadzor’s decision in August to block calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, a move officials described as part of anti-fraud efforts. Both companies criticised the restrictions at the time.

Larionov and several dozen co-plaintiffs said the measures were ineffective, citing central bank data showing fraud mainly occurs through traditional calls and text messages. The plaintiffs also argued the restrictions disproportionately affected ordinary users.

Larionov said the group plans to appeal the decision and continue legal action. He has described the lawsuit as an attempt to challenge what he views as politically motivated restrictions on communication services in Russia.

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