Artificial intelligence

AI Innovation in the UK Advances with new Google initiatives

Google is intensifying its investment in the UK’s AI sector, with plans to expand its data residency offerings and launch new tools for businesses.

At an event in London, Google’s DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian unveiled plans to add Agentspace, Google’s platform for AI agents, to the UK’s data residency region.

However, this move will allow enterprises to host their AI agents locally, ensuring full control over their data.

In addition to the data residency expansion, Google announced new incentives for AI startups in the UK, offering up to £280,000 in Google Cloud credits for those participating in its accelerator programme.

These efforts come as part of a broader strategy to encourage businesses to adopt Google’s AI services over those of competitors. The company is also focusing on expanding AI skills training to help businesses better leverage these advanced technologies.

Google’s efforts align with the UK government’s push to strengthen its position in the global AI landscape. The government has been actively working to promote AI development, with a particular focus on building services that reduce reliance on big tech companies.

By bringing its latest AI offerings to the UK, Google is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s AI future.

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Europe’s tech giants push for sovereign fund

More than 90 European technology companies and lobby groups, including Airbus and Dassault Systèmes, have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to establish a sovereign infrastructure fund.

In an open letter dated 14 March, they emphasised the urgent need for Europe to strengthen its strategic autonomy in critical digital infrastructure, from AI frameworks to semiconductor manufacturing.

The letter warns that Europe’s reliance on foreign technology creates security risks and weakens economic growth. It highlights the importance of public investment, particularly in capital-intensive sectors like quantum computing and microchips. The signatories also suggest a ‘buy European’ policy in government procurement to boost demand and encourage local businesses to invest.

Prominent supporters of the initiative include French cloud provider OVH Cloud, the European Software Institute, and the German AI Association. The appeal also reached EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, as Europe faces increasing pressure to compete with major US and Asian technology powers.

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UK teachers embrace AI for future education

Teachers in Stoke-on-Trent gathered for a full-day event to discuss the role of AI in education. Organised by the Good Future Foundation, the session saw more than 40 educators, including Stoke-on-Trent South MP Allison Gardner, explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning. Gardner emphasised the government’s belief that AI represents a ‘generational opportunity’ for education in the UK.

The event highlighted both the promise and the challenges of integrating AI into UK schools. Attendees shared ideas on using AI to improve communication, particularly with families who speak English as an additional language, and to streamline access to school resources through automated chatbots. While the potential benefits are clear, many teachers expressed concerns about the risks associated with new technology.

Daniel Emmerson, executive director of the Good Future Foundation, stressed the importance of supporting educators in understanding and implementing AI. He explained that AI can help prepare students for a future dominated by this technology. Meanwhile, schools like Belgrave St Bartholomew’s Academy are already leading the way in using AI to improve lessons and prepare students for the opportunities AI will bring.

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Thailand approves millions for data centres

Thailand has approved investments worth 90.9 billion baht ($2.7 billion) in data centres and cloud services, further boosting its growing tech sector. The newly approved projects include data centres by China’s Beijing Haoyang Cloud&Data Technology, Singapore-based Empyrion Digital, and Thailand’s GSA Data Center 02, according to the country’s investment board.

Among these, Beijing Haoyang plans to build a 300-megawatt data centre valued at 72.7 billion baht, while GSA Data Center 02 is investing 13.5 billion baht in a 35-megawatt facility.

The rapid rise of AI has fuelled demand for data infrastructure across Southeast Asia, making Thailand an attractive hub for investment. In January, TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, announced plans to establish a data hosting service in Thailand worth 126.8 billion baht.

It follows significant investments from tech giants such as Google, which pledged $1 billion last year, and Amazon Web Services, which committed $5 billion over 15 years.

Microsoft has also revealed plans to open its first regional data centre in Thailand, reinforcing the country’s status as a growing digital hub in the region. With an increasing number of global technology firms choosing Thailand for data operations, the country is set to play a key role in Southeast Asia’s evolving digital economy.

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Google expands voice AI capabilities with Chirp 3

Google has announced the addition of its HD voice model, Chirp 3, to its Vertex AI platform, marking a significant step in its push into voice AI. Starting next week, developers will be able to use the platform to build applications such as voice assistants, audiobooks, and video voice-overs with eight new voices available in 31 languages.

The launch comes at a time when other companies, including startups like Sesame, are also advancing in the field of realistic-sounding AI voices. Despite this growing competition, Google remains cautious about potential misuse, with CEO Thomas Kurian noting that the company is working closely with its safety team to establish proper usage guidelines for Chirp 3.

Google’s move with Chirp 3 positions it alongside other tools from its Vertex AI platform, which includes machine learning and generative AI services like its Gemini and Imagen models. With AI voice applications rapidly gaining traction, it will be interesting to see how Google expands its offerings to stay competitive in this evolving space.

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Baidu launches new AI models to compete in global race

Baidu has unveiled two new AI models, including ERNIE X1, which it claims matches the performance of DeepSeek R1 at half the cost. The company says X1 is a deep-thinking model capable of autonomous tool use, with enhanced reasoning, planning, and adaptability.

Meanwhile, Baidu’s latest foundation model, ERNIE 4.5, boasts improved multimodal capabilities, advanced language understanding, and a better grasp of satire and internet culture.

The Chinese tech giant has been striving to compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, where startups like DeepSeek have disrupted the industry with high-performing, cost-effective models. While Baidu was one of the first Chinese companies to launch a ChatGPT-style chatbot, its Ernie LLM has faced challenges in achieving widespread adoption.

With growing competition from domestic and international AI firms, Baidu aims to solidify its position through continuous innovation. The company’s latest advancements highlight the push for more sophisticated AI systems capable of processing diverse forms of data, including text, images, and audio, as China intensifies its efforts to lead in AI.

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OpenAI fast-tracks court clash with Elon Musk

Elon Musk and OpenAI have agreed to expedite their legal dispute concerning OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit entity, proposing a trial in December 2025. The development follows a series of legal manoeuvres, including a recent court decision denying Musk’s request to halt the restructuring process.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but departed in 2018, initiated legal action last year, alleging that the company’s shift to a for-profit model deviates from its original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity.

In response, OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, have refuted these claims, suggesting that Musk’s actions aim to impede a competitor, especially considering his establishment of the rival AI firm, xAI, in 2023.

The outcome of this lawsuit holds significant implications for OpenAI’s financial strategy. The company’s recent $6.6 billion funding round and a prospective $40 billion investment, currently under negotiation with SoftBank Group, are contingent upon its transition to a for-profit structure. Restructuring is essential to attract the capital needed to remain competitive in the evolving AI industry. ​

In February 2025, Musk led an unsolicited $97.4 billion takeover bid for OpenAI, which Altman promptly declined, reinforcing his stance that OpenAI is not for sale. Musk’s bid further intensified the complex relationship between Musk and OpenAI, highlighting the broader debate over the commercialisation of AI and the ethical considerations associated with balancing profit motives against societal benefits.

As the presumed December trial approaches, the tech industry and the public will closely monitor the proceedings, given their potential to influence the future trajectory of AI development and corporate governance within the sector.

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DeepSeek focuses on innovation instead of rapid commercial growth

Chinese AI company DeepSeek is prioritising research over revenue, resisting the rush to capitalise on recent sales growth.

Unlike its Silicon Valley counterparts, the firm has chosen to refine its technology rather than focus on immediate profits.

According to sources familiar with its operations, DeepSeek achieved financial stability last month for the first time, with revenues covering ongoing costs.

Despite the financial milestone, its billionaire founder remains committed to long-term innovation rather than aggressive commercial expansion.

The decision reflects a broader trend in China‘s AI sector, where some firms are investing heavily in research to compete globally.

As AI adoption accelerates, DeepSeek’s strategy signals confidence in future breakthroughs over short-term financial gains.

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SoftBank invests in AI infrastructure with OpenAI partnership

SoftBank plans to transform a former Sharp LCD factory in Osaka into a large-scale data centre for AI.

The Japanese telecom giant intends to purchase the facility and surrounding land for approximately 100 billion yen ($677 million), with operations set to begin in 2026.

Once operational, the centre will be among Japan‘s largest, boasting a power capacity of 150 megawatts.

The project is part of SoftBank’s collaboration with OpenAI to commercialise AI agent technology in Japan. The data centre will support the training of AI models on client companies’ data, offering customised AI solutions tailored to business needs.

The investment in the venture is expected to be significant, potentially reaching 1 trillion yen ($6.77 billion).

SoftBank’s move highlights its commitment to AI infrastructure as demand for advanced computing power grows. The company and OpenAI have not yet commented on the reported plans.

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Legal battle erupts between Brave and News Corp over indexing articles

Brave Software has filed a lawsuit against News Corp in a bid to preempt legal action over the indexing of copyrighted articles from publications such as The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.

The legal dispute stems from a cease-and-desist letter issued by News Corp, which accused Brave of ‘scraping’ its websites and misappropriating content. Brave argues that indexing is standard practice for search engines and falls under ‘fair use.’

The lawsuit also raises concerns about the impact of such legal challenges on generative AI. Brave claims that search indexing is essential for AI models like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, which rely on search engine responses.

The company, which holds less than 1% of the search market compared to Google’s 90%, accuses News Corp of attempting to stifle competition and raise barriers for smaller search providers.

News Corp has rejected Brave’s arguments, with CEO Robert Thomson calling the company’s practices ‘parasitical’ and accusing it of unauthorised content scraping.

The dispute is part of a broader conflict between publishers and tech firms over the use of copyrighted material in AI training. News Corp previously sued AI startup Perplexity AI for allegedly copying its content without permission.

Brave is seeking a court declaration that its indexing practices do not constitute copyright infringement.

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