Artificial intelligence

Körber and Sereact team up to pioneer AI-controlled warehouse robots

Körber Supply Chain and Sereact have formed a strategic partnership to bring AI-controlled pick-and-place robotics technology into automated production and distribution solutions.

The collaboration aims to overcome the limitations of conventional automation by using AI systems that analyse visual and object data in real-time and autonomously adjust picking strategies for a wide variety of products.

The Sereact solution is now part of Körber’s broader supply chain ecosystem, enabling companies to integrate flexible and scalable robot automation into their warehouse and logistics operations.

AI-enabled robots can handle unknown or complex items with precision and speed, making logistics processes more efficient and reducing reliance on manual labour.

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Grok controversy fuels political backlash in Northern Ireland

A Northern Ireland politician, Cara Hunter of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), has quit X after renewed concerns over Grok AI misuse. She cited failures to protect women and children online.

The decision follows criticism of Grok AI features enabling non-consensual sexualised images. UK regulators have launched investigations under online safety laws.

UK ministers plan to criminalise creating intimate deepfakes and supplying related tools. Ofcom is examining whether X breached its legal duties.

Political leaders and rights groups say enforcement must go further. X says it removes illegal content and has restricted Grok image functions on the social media.

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Creators showcase AI film innovation in San Jose festival

San Jose became the site of the inaugural Silicon Valley AI Film Festival (SVAIFF) on January 10–11, bringing together filmmakers, tech innovators and creatives to explore how AI is transforming cinema and creative expression.

The event featured AI-generated film trailers, such as “Revolutionary” and “Cosmic,” as well as panel discussions on industry trends and the economic implications of AI in film, and a competition that received over 2,000 entries.

Festival co-founder Cynthia Jiang highlighted how production companies are increasingly using AI in post-production and concept development, while acknowledging resistance remains among some traditional filmmakers.

Human and AI-assisted art appeared throughout the festival, including fashion shows that blended robotics with runway models and featured a humanoid robot performer.

The festival also celebrated creative achievements with awards, such as the Grand Prix for ‘White Night Lake’ and Best Animated Short for ‘A Tree’s Imagination.’ It premiered the feature-length film ‘The Wolves,’ directed by Bing He, who credited generative AI with enabling his vision without replacing his writing role.

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AI tools influence modern personal finance practices

Personal finance assistants powered by AI tools are increasingly helping users manage budgets, analyse spending, and organise financial documents. Popular platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude now offer features designed to support everyday financial tasks.

Rather than focusing on conversational style, users should consider how financial data is accessed and how each assistant integrates with existing systems. Connections to spreadsheets, cloud storage, and secure platforms often determine how effective AI tools are for managing financial workflows.

ChatGPT is commonly used for drafting financial summaries, analysing expenses, and creating custom tools through plugins. Google Gemini is closely integrated with Google Docs and Sheets, making it suitable for users who rely on Google’s productivity ecosystem.

Microsoft Copilot provides strong automation for Excel and Microsoft 365 users, with administrative controls that appeal to organisations. Claude focuses on safety and large context windows, allowing it to process lengthy financial documents with more conservative output.

Choosing the most suitable AI tools for personal finance depends on workflow needs, data governance preferences, and privacy considerations. No single platform dominates every use case; each offers strengths across different financial management tasks.

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Ireland moves to fast-track AI abuse fines

The Irish government plans to fast-track laws allowing heavy fines for AI abuse. The move follows controversy involving misuse of image generation tools.

Ministers will transpose an existing EU AI Act into Irish law. The framework defines eight harmful uses breaching rights and public decency.

Penalties could reach €35 million or seven percent of global annual turnover. AI systems would be graded by risk under the enforcement regime.

A dedicated AI office is expected to launch by August to oversee compliance. Irish and UK leaders have pressed platforms to curb harmful AI features.

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EU warns X over Grok AI image abuse

The European Commission has warned X to address issues related to its Grok AI tool. Regulators say new features enabled the creation of sexualised images, including those of children.

EU Tech Sovereignty Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has stated that investigators have already taken action under the Digital Services Act. Failure to comply could result in enforcement measures being taken against the platform.

X recently restricted Grok’s image editing functions to paying users after criticism from regulators and campaigners. Irish and EU media watchdogs are now engaging with Brussels on the issue.

UK ministers also plan laws banning non-consensual intimate images and tools enabling their creation. Several digital rights groups argue that existing laws already permit criminal investigations and fines.

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DeepSeek to launch Italian version of chatbot

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek will launch a customised Italian version of its online chatbot following a probe by the Italian competition authority, the AGCM. The move follows months of negotiations and a temporary 2025 ban due to concerns over user data and transparency.

The AGCM had criticised DeepSeek for not sufficiently warning users about hallucinations or false outputs generated by its AI models.

The probe ended after DeepSeek agreed to clearer Italian disclosures and technical fixes to reduce hallucinations. The regulator noted that while improvements are commendable, hallucinations remain a global AI challenge.

DeepSeek now provides longer Italian warnings and detects Italian IPs or prompts for localised notices. The company also plans workshops to ensure staff understand Italian consumer law and has submitted multiple proposals to the AGCM since September 2025.

The start-up must provide a progress report within 120 days. Failure to meet the regulator’s requirements could lead to the probe being reopened and fines of up to €10 million (£8.7m).

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Next-generation Siri will use Google’s Gemini AI model

Apple and Google have confirmed a multi-year partnership that will see Google’s Gemini models powering Siri and future Apple Intelligence features. The collaboration will underpin Apple’s next-generation AI models, with updates coming later this year.

The move follows delays in rolling out Siri upgrades first unveiled at WWDC 2024. While most Apple Intelligence features have already been launched, the redesigned Siri has been postponed due to development taking longer than anticipated.

According to reports, Apple will continue using its own models for specific tasks, while Gemini is expected to handle summarisation, planning, and other advanced functions.

Bloomberg reports the upcoming Siri will be structured around three layers: query planning, knowledge retrieval, and summarisation. Gemini will handle planning and summarisation, helping Siri structure responses and create clear summaries.

Knowledge retrieval may also benefit from Gemini, potentially broadening Siri’s general knowledge capabilities beyond its current hand-off system.

All AI processing will operate on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute platform, ensuring user privacy and keeping data secure. Analysts suggest this integration will embed Gemini more deeply into Siri’s core functionality, rather than serving as a supplementary tool.

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Stranger Things fans question AI use in show finale’s script

The creators of Stranger Things have been accused by some fans of using ChatGPT while writing the show’s fifth and final season, following the release of a behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary.

The series ended on New Year’s Eve with a two-hour finale that saw (SPOILER WARNING) Vecna defeated and Eleven apparently sacrificing herself. The ambiguous ending divided viewers, with some disappointed by the lack of closure.

A documentary titled One Last Adventure: The Making Of Stranger Things 5 was released shortly after the finale. One scene showing Matt and Ross Duffer working on scripts drew attention after a screenshot circulated online.

Some viewers claimed a ChatGPT-style tab was visible on a laptop screen. Others questioned the claim, noting the footage may predate the chatbot’s mainstream use.

Netflix has since confirmed two spin-offs are in development, including a new live-action series and an animated project titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.

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New Spanish bill targets AI misuse of images and voices

Spain’s government has approved draft legislation that would tighten consent rules for AI-generated content, aiming to curb deepfakes and strengthen protections for the use of people’s images and voices. The proposal responds to growing concerns in Europe about AI being used to create harmful material, especially sexual content produced without the subject’s permission.

Under the draft, the minimum age to consent to the use of one’s own image would be set at 16, and stricter limits would apply to reusing images found online or reproducing a person’s voice or likeness through AI without authorisation. Spain’s Justice Minister Félix Bolaños warned that sharing personal photos on social media should not be treated as blanket approval for others to reuse them in different contexts.

The reform explicitly targets commercial misuse by classifying the use of AI-generated images or voices for advertising or other business purposes without consent as illegitimate. At the same time, it would still allow creative, satirical, or fictional uses involving public figures, so long as the material is clearly labelled as AI-generated.

Spain’s move aligns with broader EU efforts, as the bloc is working toward rules that would require member states to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfakes by 2027. The push comes amid rising scrutiny of AI tools and real-world cases that have intensified calls for more precise legal boundaries, including a recent request by the Spanish government for prosecutors to review whether specific AI-generated material could fall under child pornography laws.

The bill is not yet final. It must go through a public consultation process before returning to the government for final approval and then heading to parliament.

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