Artificial intelligence

Purple Fest highlights AI for disabilities

Entrepreneurs at International Purple Fest in Goa, India, from 9 to 12 October 2025, showcased AI transforming assistive technologies. Innovations like conversational screen readers, adaptive dashboards, and real-time captioning empower millions with disabilities worldwide.

Designed with input from those with lived experience, these tools turn barriers into opportunities for learning, working, and leading independently.

Surashree Rahane, born with club foot and polymelia, founded Yearbook Canvas and champions inclusive AI. Collaborating with Newton School of Technology near New Delhi, she develops adaptive learning platforms tailored to diverse learners.

‘AI can democratise education,’ she stated, ‘but only if trained to avoid perpetuating biases.’ Her work addresses structural barriers like inaccessible systems and biased funding networks.

Prateek Madhav, CEO of AssisTech Foundation, described AI as ‘the great equaliser,’ creating jobs through innovations like voice-to-speech tools and gesture-controlled wheelchairs.

Ketan Kothari, a consultant at Xavier’s Resource Centre in Mumbai, relies on AI for independent work, using live captions and visual description apps. Such advancements highlight AI’s role in fostering agency and inclusion across diverse needs.

Hosted by Goa’s Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, UN India, and the Ministry of Social Justice, Purple Fest promotes universal design.

Tshering Dema from the UN Development Coordination Office noted that inclusion requires a global mindset shift. ‘The future of work must be co-designed with people,’ she said, reflecting a worldwide transition towards accessibility.

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ICE-tracking apps pulled from the App Store

Apple has taken down several mobile apps used to track US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, sparking backlash from developers and digital rights advocates. The removals follow reported pressure from the US Department of Justice, which has cited safety and legal concerns.

One affected app, Eyes Up, was designed to alert users to ICE raids and detention locations. Its developer, identified only as Mark for safety reasons, said he believes the decision was politically motivated and vowed to contest it.

The takedown reflects a wider debate over whether app stores should host software linked to law enforcement monitoring or protest activity. Developers argue their tools support community safety and transparency, while regulators say such apps could risk interference with federal operations.

Apple has not provided detailed reasoning for its decision beyond referencing its developer guidelines. Google has also reportedly removed similar apps from its Play Store, citing policy compliance. Both companies face scrutiny over how content moderation intersects with political and civil rights issues.

Civil liberties groups warn that the decision could set a precedent limiting speech and digital activism in the US. The affected developers have said they will continue to distribute their apps through alternative channels while challenging the removals.

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Google faces UK action over market dominance

Google faces new regulatory scrutiny in the UK after the competition watchdog designated it with strategic market status under a new digital markets law. The ruling could change how users select search engines and how Google ranks online content.

The Competition and Markets Authority said Google controls more than 90 percent of UK searches, giving it a position of unmatched influence. The designation enables the regulator to propose targeted measures to ensure fair competition, with consultations expected later in 2025.

Google argued that tighter restrictions could slow innovation, claiming its search tools contributed £118 billion to the UK economy in 2023. The company warned that new rules might hinder product development during rapid AI advancement.

The move adds to global scrutiny of the tech giant, which faces significant fines and court cases in the US and EU over advertising and app store practices. The CMA’s decision marks the first important use of its new powers to regulate digital platforms with strategic control.

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Tariffs and AI top the agenda for US CEOs over the next three years

US CEOs prioritise cost reduction and AI integration amid global economic uncertainty. According to KPMG’s 2025 CEO Outlook, leaders are reshaping supply chains while preparing for rapid AI transformation over the next three years.

Tariffs are a key factor influencing business strategies, with 89% of US CEOs expecting significant operational impacts. Many are adjusting sourcing models, while 86% say they will increase prices where needed. Supply chain resilience remains the top short-term pressure for decision-making.

AI agents are seen as major game-changers. 84% of CEOs expect a native AI company to become a leading industry player within 3 years, displacing incumbents. Companies are accelerating investment returns, with most expecting payoffs within one to three years.

Cybersecurity is a significant concern alongside AI integration. Forty-six percent have increased spending on digital risk resilience, focusing on fraud prevention and data privacy. CEOs recognise that AI and quantum computing introduce both opportunities and new vulnerabilities.

Workforce transformation is a clear priority. Eighty-six percent plan to embed AI agents into teams next year, while 73% focus on retaining and retraining high-potential talent. Upskilling, governance, and organisational redesign are emerging as essential strategies.

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Grok to get new AI video detection tools, Musk says

Musk said Grok will analyse bitstreams for AI signatures and scan the web to verify the origins of videos. Grok added that it will detect subtle AI artefacts in compression and generation patterns that humans cannot see.

AI tools such as Grok Imagine and Sora are reshaping the internet by making realistic video generation accessible to anyone. The rise of deepfakes has alarmed users, who warn that high-quality fake videos could soon be indistinguishable from real footage.

A user on X expressed concern that leaders are not addressing the growing risks. Elon Musk responded, revealing that his AI company xAI is developing Grok’s ability to detect AI-generated videos and trace their origins online.

The detection features aim to rebuild trust in digital media as AI-generated content spreads. Commentators have dubbed the flood of such content ‘AI slop’, raising concerns about misinformation and consent.

Concerns about deepfakes have grown since OpenAI launched the Sora app. A surge in deepfake content prompted OpenAI to tighten restrictions on cameo mode, allowing users to opt out of specific scenarios.

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AI tool accelerates immune cell analysis for researchers

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have created scHDeepInsight, an AI platform that quickly and reliably classifies immune cells from single-cell RNA data. The system turns genetic profiles into images and uses a hierarchy-aware CNN to identify broad immune types and finer subtypes.

By reflecting the natural structure of the immune system, the tool improves accuracy and consistency compared with previous methods.

scHDeepInsight uses hierarchical learning to mirror the immune system’s ‘family tree’ and image-based gene representation to capture complex gene relationships. It also includes built-in analytics to highlight key genes influencing cell behaviour.

The platform labels thousands of cells within minutes, a task that can take hours or days manually, and ensures rare cell populations are correctly identified through adjusted training processes.

While primarily a research tool, scHDeepInsight provides a healthy baseline for comparing disease-related immune changes, aiding studies in cancer, infections, and autoimmune conditions.

Researchers can apply it to patient samples to identify deviations from normal patterns, though clinical interpretation requires further validation. The system is already available as a downloadable package for laboratory use.

The team aims to expand scHDeepInsight to other biological areas, supporting clinical research and potentially discovering new cell types. Integrating AI with experimental validation, the tool aims to improve understanding of cellular systems and speed up immunology discoveries.

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AI cameras boost wildfire detection in Minnesota

Xcel Energy has deployed the first AI-driven wildfire-detection cameras in Minnesota to improve early warning for grass and forest fires. The technology aims to protect communities, natural resources, and power infrastructure while strengthening the grid’s resilience.

The first two Pano AI camera systems have been installed in Mankato and Clear Lake, with 38 planned for higher-risk areas. The cameras provide continuous 360-degree scanning and use AI to detect smoke, enabling rapid alerts to local fire agencies.

Pano AI technology combines high-definition imaging, satellite data, and human verification to locate fires in real time. Fire departments gain access to live terrain intelligence, including hard-to-monitor areas, helping shorten response times and improve firefighter safety.

More than 1,200 wildfires have burned nearly 49,000 acres in Minnesota so far this year. Xcel Energy already uses Pano AI cameras in Colorado and Texas, where the technology has proven effective in identifying fires early and containing their spread.

The initiative is part of Xcel Energy’s Minnesota Wildfire Mitigation Program, which combines advanced technologies, modernised infrastructure, and vegetation management to reduce risks. The company is working with communities and agencies to strengthen prevention and response efforts.

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Google Cloud to power Gap Inc.’s digital transformation with AI

Gap Inc. has announced a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to power its human-centred, digitally enabled technology strategy. The collaboration aims to accelerate AI adoption across the company’s brands, including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta.

The partnership will give Gap Inc. access to Google’s AI stack, including Gemini, Vertex AI, and BigQuery. These tools will drive innovation in product design, pricing, marketing, and employee workflows, improving efficiency and enabling faster, more personalised retail experiences.

AI tools will accelerate product development and planning, support hyper-personalised shopping, and optimise marketing through smarter recommendations and storytelling. Gap Inc. is also using Google Ads to strengthen its omnichannel campaigns through AI-driven optimisation.

For employees, AI will act as a partner in decision-making and execution, making operations more agile and freeing teams to focus on creativity and customer engagement. This shift reflects a broader redesign of workflows to embed AI across the business.

Gap Inc. CTO Sven Gerjets said the partnership will bring AI to life across the company. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian described it as a step towards reinventing retail with speed, personalisation, and industry-leading experiences.

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OpenAI joins dialogue with the EU on fair and transparent AI development

The US AI company, OpenAI, has met with the European Commission to discuss competition in the rapidly expanding AI sector.

A meeting focused on how large technology firms such as Apple, Microsoft and Google shape access to digital markets through their operating systems, app stores and search engines.

During the discussion, OpenAI highlighted that such platforms significantly influence how users and developers engage with AI services.

The company encouraged regulators to ensure that innovation and consumer choice remain priorities as the industry grows, noting that collaboration between major and minor players can help maintain a balanced ecosystem.

An issue arises as OpenAI continues to partner with several leading technology companies. Microsoft, a key investor, has integrated ChatGPT into Windows 11’s Copilot, while Apple recently added ChatGPT support to Siri as part of its Apple Intelligence features.

Therefore, OpenAI’s engagement with regulators is part of a broader dialogue about maintaining open and competitive markets while fostering cooperation across the industry.

Although the European Commission has not announced any new investigations, the meeting reflects ongoing efforts to understand how AI platforms interact within the broader digital economy.

OpenAI and other stakeholders are expected to continue contributing to discussions to ensure transparency, fairness and sustainable growth in the AI ecosystem.

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Microsoft attracts tech pioneers to build the next era of AI

Some of the world’s most influential technologists (the creators of Python, Kubernetes, Google Docs, Google Lens, RSS feeds and ONNX) are now helping Microsoft shape the next era of AI.

Drawn by the company’s scale, openness to collaboration, and long-term investment in AI, they are leading projects that span infrastructure, productivity, responsible innovation and reasoning systems.

R.V. Guha, who invented RSS feeds, is developing NLWeb, a project that lets users converse directly with websites.

Brendan Burns, co-creator of Kubernetes, focuses on improving AI tools that simplify developers’ work. At the same time, Aparna Chennapragada, the mind behind Google Lens, now leads efforts to build intelligent AI agents and enhance productivity through Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Sarah Bird, who helped create the ONNX framework, leads Microsoft’s responsible AI division, ensuring that emerging systems are safe, secure and reliable.

Meanwhile, Sam Schillace, co-creator of Google Docs, explores ways AI can collaborate with people more naturally. Python’s creator, Guido van Rossum, works on systems to strengthen AI’s long-term memory across conversations.

Together, these innovators illustrate how Microsoft has become a magnet for the pioneers who defined modern computing, and they are now united in advancing the next stage of AI’s evolution.

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