Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 180 of 572

AI tools bring new hope for cardiovascular medicine

AI, omics, and systems biology enable targeted drugs for heart disease pathways once considered untreatable. A new study in Frontiers in Science highlights how these innovations could revolutionise treatment and save millions of lives.

Heart disease remains the leading global killer, partly because generic treatments like statins do not account for individual biological differences.

Researchers say AI-powered precision medicine can identify new gene and protein targets, enabling personalised therapies for each patient’s unique heart disease.

RNA-based drugs are emerging as an up-and-coming solution. Unlike conventional medicines that reach only limited protein targets, RNA therapies can influence almost any gene and may be developed more quickly.

Early trials show they can lower cholesterol more effectively than traditional approaches, with potential to address long-standing ‘undruggable’ pathways in cardiovascular disease.

Experts say realising these treatments requires global leadership and collaboration across academia, industry, and healthcare. Bold investment and open science are crucial to make precision medicine global and reduce heart disease, expected to cause 26 million deaths annually by 2030.

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ABB sells Robotics division to SoftBank in $5.4 billion deal

The Swedish-Swiss electrical engineering corporation ABB has agreed to sell its Robotics division to Japan’s SoftBank Group for an enterprise value of $5.375 billion, abandoning plans for a spin-off.

However, the move marks one of the most significant robotics transactions in recent years, and reflects both firms’ ambition to drive the next era of AI-based automation.

A divestment that will allow ABB to focus on its core businesses in electrification and automation, while SoftBank expands its ‘Physical AI’ strategy.

ABB said the sale would create immediate shareholder value and that proceeds would be used according to its capital allocation principles.

The Robotics division, which employs around 7,000 people and generated $2.3 billion in 2024 revenues, will become part of SoftBank’s portfolio upon completion of the deal, expected by mid-to-late 2026. The transaction is projected to yield ABB a pre-tax book gain of about $2.4 billion.

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son said the acquisition aligns with his vision to combine artificial superintelligence and robotics to ‘propel humanity forward’.

ABB’s CEO Morten Wierod said the partnership would unite ABB’s industrial expertise with SoftBank’s AI capabilities, strengthening its global leadership in advanced robotics.

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New copyright settings announced for Sora 2 video generation

OpenAI has announced it will give copyright holders more control over how their intellectual property is used in videos produced by Sora 2. The shift comes amid criticism over Sora’s ability to generate scenes featuring popular characters and media, sometimes without permission.

At launch, Sora allowed generation under a default policy that required rights holders to opt out if they did not want their content used. That approach drew immediate backlash from studios and creators complaining about unauthorised use of copyrighted characters.

OpenAI now says it will introduce ‘more granular control’ for content owners, letting them set parameters for how their work can appear, or choose complete exclusion. The company has also hinted at monetisation features, such as revenue sharing for approved usage of copyrighted content.

CEO Sam Altman acknowledged that feedback from studios, artists and other stakeholders influenced the change. He emphasised that the new content policy would treat fictional characters more cautiously and make character generation opt-in rather than default.

Still unresolved is how precisely the system will work, especially around the enforcement, blocking, or filtering of unauthorised uses. OpenAI has repeatedly framed the updates as evolutionary, acknowledging that design and policy missteps may occur.

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Opal’s global rollout spans 15 countries with major feature upgrades

Google is expanding access to Opal, its no-code AI mini-app builder. Introduced two months ago within Google Labs, the tool enables users to create AI-powered mini-apps through natural language prompts, eliminating the need for coding.

According to Megan Li, Senior Product Manager at Google Labs, the expansion follows strong early engagement from creators. Users can access Opal at opal.withgoogle.com and join its builder community through Discord.

New debugging features aim to make workflows more transparent and efficient. Users can now run workflows step by step in a visual editor or adjust specific steps in the console, with real-time error reporting.

Performance upgrades have been introduced to speed up app creation, while parallel run capabilities enable simultaneous workflow steps. The rollout covers India, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Singapore, Colombia, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panamá, Honduras, and Argentina.

Meanwhile, Google DeepMind has launched Gemini 2.5 Computer Use, a specialised model capable of interacting with user interfaces. Available in preview through the Gemini API, it can be accessed via Google AI Studio and Vertex AI Studio.

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Kazakhstan turns to AI to fight the shadow economy

Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has directed the full implementation of AI across government agencies to meet President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s goal of reducing the shadow economy’s share in GDP to 15 percent in 2025.

At a government session, Bektenov said progress must go beyond reports and correspondence, calling for structural reforms in taxation, digitalisation, and business regulation. He urged ministries to pursue a ‘transparent economy’ through comprehensive AI and data integration initiatives.

The State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan will lead the digital transformation, supported by a new Data Processing Centre established by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

Bektenov stressed that digitalisation projects such as cashless payments and the digital tenge have already proven effective in curbing unrecorded transactions and improving financial oversight.

AI will also be deployed in customs risk profiling and cargo inspection analysis to detect fraud and reduce corruption.

The Ministries of Finance, Justice, Trade, and National Economy were instructed to integrate databases under the Smart Data Finance system and to finalise an automated risk management system for company registration by 25 November.

Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin will oversee coordination.

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AI recreations of Robin Williams spark outrage

Zelda Williams has urged people to stop sending her AI-generated videos of her late father, Robin Williams, calling the practice disturbing and disrespectful. The actor and director said the videos are exploitative and misrepresent what her father would have wanted.

In her post, she said such recreations are ‘dumb’ and a ‘waste of time and energy’, adding that turning human legacies into digital imitations is ‘gross’. She criticised those using AI to simulate deceased performers for online engagement, describing the results as emotionless and detached.

The discussion intensified after the unveiling of ‘AI actor’ Tilly Norwood, created by Dutch performer Eline Van der Velden. Unions and stars such as Emily Blunt condemned the concept, warning that AI-generated characters risk eroding human creativity and emotional authenticity.

Williams previously supported SAG-AFTRA’s campaign against the misuse of AI in entertainment, calling digital recreations of her father’s voice ‘personally disturbing’. She has continued to call for respect for real artists and their legacies.

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Virtual Jesus app ignites debate among believers worldwide

AI is making its way into religious practice with tools like Text With Jesus, a chatbot app that allows users to ask questions of figures like Jesus, Mary, Joseph and nearly all 12 apostles. The app draws thousands of paying users. Its creator says it is meant to be educational.

Though the app clearly states it uses AI, some virtual characters deny being bots when asked. The version used is based on GPT-5, which developers say follows instructions better than earlier iterations and remains in character with stronger emphasis.

Reactions from faith communities are mixed. Some users say the tools can help answer random or urgent spiritual questions, particularly when traditional mentors or clergy are unavailable.

Others feel these tools are inadequate substitutes for human counsellors. Emotional connection, empathy and living tradition are qualities AI cannot replicate.

One controversial example came from Catholic Answers, a ministry that launched an animated AI character called Father Justin. Some were offended by using a priest’s character; the organisation later removed the title ‘Father’ and continued as simply ‘Justin.

Clouding the debate is how AI-based religious tools might misrepresent or oversimplify doctrine, or even mislead users. Religious law also comes into play.

For example, in Judaism, interpretations of halakhah are deeply communal and intergenerational. Rabbi Gilah Langner is among those cautioning that AI lacks the relational nuance and collective insight crucial to interpretative traditions.

Some clergy are more open, seeing potential in these tools for educating, outreach, and even crisis support. Yet many stress that these technologies must remain auxiliary. The human presence remains central to spiritual life, ritual, community worship and pastoral care.

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Power grid spending surges as US braces for data centre and AI boom

US electric utilities are set to spend nearly $208 billion on the power grid in 2025 and more than $1.1 trillion over the next five years, according to the Edison Electric Institute. The surge in investment reflects rising demand from data centres, artificial intelligence, and wider electrification across the economy.

EEI data shows that investor-owned utilities spent $765 billion on capital projects in the five years to 2024. The new spending represents a significant increase and is aimed at upgrading and expanding infrastructure to keep pace with the accelerating demand for electricity.

The growing investment comes as demand from energy-intensive technologies continues to rise. Data ce n tres and AI workloads are driving sustained growth in US power consumption, placing unprecedented pressure on existing infrastructure and prompting utilities to scale up their spending plans.

David Weeks, supply chain industry practice lead at Moody’s, warned that the escalating energy crisis could become a limiting factor across multiple industries. He said grid constraints and permitting delays must be factored into corporate supply chain strategies to avoid future disruptions.

As electrification spreads across the economy, grid reliability and capacity are becoming critical considerations for companies. The planned investment underscores the urgency of modernising the power grid to support economic growth while adapting to new technological demands.

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Machine learning helps prevent disruptions in fusion devices

Researchers at MIT have developed a predictive model that could make fusion power plants more reliable and safe. The approach uses machine learning and physics-based simulations to predict plasma instabilities and prevent damage during tokamak shutdowns.

Experimental tokamaks use strong magnets to contain plasma hotter than the sun’s core. They often face challenges in safely ramping down plasma currents that circulate at extreme speeds and temperatures.

The model was trained and tested on data from the Swiss TCV tokamak. Combining neural networks with physics simulations, the team achieved accurate predictions using few plasma pulses, saving costs and overcoming limited experimental data.

The system can now generate practical ‘trajectories’ for controllers to adjust magnets and temperatures, helping to safely manage plasma during shutdowns.

Researchers say the method could be particularly important as fusion devices scale up to grid-level energy production. High-energy plasmas in larger reactors pose greater risks, and uncontrolled terminations could damage the machine.

The new model allows operators to carefully balance rampdowns, avoiding disruptions and ensuring safer, more efficient operation.

Work on the predictive model is part of wider collaboration with Commonwealth Fusion Systems and supported by the EUROfusion Consortium and Swiss research institutions. Scientists see it as a crucial step toward making fusion a practical, reliable, and sustainable energy source.

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MIT AI reveals how antibiotic targets Crohn’s bacteria

MIT and McMaster researchers used AI to map how a narrow-spectrum antibiotic attacks harmful gut bacteria. Enterololin targets E. coli linked to Crohn’s flares while preserving most of the microbiome, providing a precise alternative to broad-spectrum antibiotics.

AI accelerated the process of identifying the drug’s mechanism of action, reducing a task that usually takes years to just months.

The team used DiffDock, a generative AI tool developed at MIT, to predict how enterololin binds to a protein complex called LolCDE in E. coli. Laboratory experiments, including mutant evolution, RNA sequencing, and CRISPR knockdowns, confirmed the AI predictions.

The method demonstrates how AI can provide mechanistic insights, guide experiments, and speed up early-stage antibiotic development.

Enterololin improved recovery and preserved the microbiome in mouse models compared with conventional treatments. Researchers aim to develop derivatives against resistant pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae, with early work underway at spinout company Stoked Bio.

The study highlights broader implications for precision antibiotics, which could treat infections without disrupting beneficial microbes. AI-driven mechanism mapping could speed up drug discovery, cut costs, and help tackle antimicrobial resistance.

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