California has ordered Elon Musk’s AI company xAI to stop creating and sharing non-consensual sexual deepfakes immediately. The move follows a surge in explicit AI-generated images circulating on X.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said xAI’s Grok tool enabled the manipulation of images of women and children without consent. Authorities argue that such activity breaches state decency laws and a new deepfake pornography ban.
The Californian investigation began after researchers found Grok users shared more non-consensual sexual imagery than users of other platforms. xAI introduced partial restrictions, though regulators said the real-world impact remains unclear.
Lawmakers say the case highlights growing risks linked to AI image tools. California officials warned companies could face significant penalties if deepfake creation and distribution continue unchecked.
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Scientists in Chinadeveloped an error-aware probabilistic update (EaPU) to improve neural network training on memristor hardware. The method tackles accuracy and stability limits in analog computing.
Training inefficiency caused by noisy weight updates has slowed progress beyond inference tasks. EaPU applies probabilistic, threshold-based updates that preserve learning and sharply reduce write operations.
Experiments and simulations show major gains in energy efficiency, accuracy and device lifespan across vision models. Results suggest broader potential for sustainable AI training using emerging memory technologies.
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BioticsAI has received FDA approval for its AI software that detects fetal abnormalities in ultrasound images. The technology aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical workflows.
Founded by CEO Robhy Bustami, the company applies computer vision to enhance ultrasound quality and automated reporting. Development focused on consistent performance across diverse patient populations.
The software helps assess image quality and anatomical completeness, and generates automated reports. Bustami emphasised the importance of reliable performance for high-risk demographics.
With regulatory approval, BioticsAI plans nationwide adoption across health systems. Additional features for fetal medicine and reproductive health are also under development.
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Several UK professional organisations for tax practitioners, including the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), have published new AI guidance for members.
The documents aim to help tax professionals understand how to adopt AI tools securely and responsibly while maintaining professional standards and compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
The guidance stresses that members should be aware of risks associated with AI, including data quality, bias, model limitations and the need for human oversight. It encourages firms to implement robust governance, clear policies on use, appropriate training and verification processes where outputs affect client advice or statutory obligations.
By highlighting best practices, the professional bodies seek to balance the benefits of generative AI, such as improved efficiency and research assistance, with ethical considerations and core professional responsibilities.
The guidance also points to data-protection obligations under UK law and the importance of maintaining client confidentiality when using third-party AI systems.
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Industry expectations around SEO are shifting as AI agents increasingly rely on existing search infrastructure, according to James LePage, co-lead of the WordPress AI team at Automattic.
Search discovery for AI systems continues to depend on classic signals such as links, authority and indexed content, suggesting no structural break from traditional search engines.
Publishers are therefore being encouraged to focus on semantic markup, schema and internal linking, with AI optimisation closely aligned to established long-tail search strategies.
Future-facing content strategies prioritise clear summaries, ranked information and progressive detail, enabling AI agents to reuse and interpret material independently of traditional websites.
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South Africa’s rate of AI implementation is roughly half that of the US, according to insights from Specno. Analysts attribute the gap to shortages in skills, weak data infrastructure and limited alignment between AI projects and core business strategy.
Despite moderate AI readiness levels, execution remains a major challenge across South African organisations. Skills shortages, insufficient workforce training and weak organisational readiness continue to prevent AI systems from moving beyond pilot stages.
Industry experts say many executives recognise the value of AI but struggle to adopt it in practice. Constraints include low IT maturity, risk aversion and organisational cultures that resist large-scale transformation.
By contrast, companies in the US are embedding AI into operations, talent development and decision-making. Analysts say South Africa must rapidly improve executive literacy, data ecosystems and practical skills to close the gap.
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An artist called Sienna Rose has drawn millions of streams on Spotify, despite strong evidence suggesting she is AI-generated. Several of her jazz-influenced soul tracks have gone viral, with one surpassing five million plays.
Streaming platform Deezer says many of its songs have been flagged as AI-made using detection tools that identify technical artefacts in the audio. Signs include an unusually high volume of releases, generic sound patterns and a complete absence of live performances or online presence.
The mystery intensified after pop star Selena Gomez briefly shared one of Rose’s tracks on social media, only for it to be removed amid growing scrutiny. Record labels linked to Rose have declined to clarify whether a human performer exists.
The case highlights mounting concern across the industry as AI music floods streaming services. Artists, including Raye and Paul McCartney, have warned audiences that they still value emotional authenticity over algorithmic output.
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Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris said that AI is no longer a distant concept but is already integrated into everyday life and economic systems, following a visit to California where he discussed technology and innovation with business and political leaders.
He described the current period as an ‘AI moment’ and stressed that Ireland has an opportunity to lead in the next wave of technological development.
Harris announced that Ireland will host a dedicated AI summit to explore how the opportunities presented by AI can benefit all sections of society, highlighting the need for trust, responsibility and confidence in how the technology is adopted.
He cautioned that harms can arise without proper governance, pointing to recent controversies over deepfakes and the misuse of AI tools as examples of risks policymakers must address.
His comments come amid broader efforts to strengthen Ireland’s economic and innovation ties with the United States, including meetings with California officials and global tech companies during his official visit.
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Rising AI-driven electricity demand is straining power grids and renewing focus on nuclear energy as a stable, low-carbon solution. Data centres powering AI systems already consume electricity at the scale of small cities, and demand is accelerating rapidly.
Global electricity consumption could rise by more than 10,000 terawatt-hours by 2035, largely driven by AI workloads. In advanced economies, data centres are expected to drive over a fifth of electricity-demand growth by 2030, outpacing many traditional industries.
Nuclear energy is increasingly positioned as a reliable backbone for this expansion, offering continuous power, high energy density, and grid stability.
Governments, technology firms, and nuclear operators are advancing new reactor projects, while long-term power agreements between tech companies and nuclear plants are becoming more common.
Alongside large reactors, interest is growing in small modular reactors designed for faster deployment near data centres. Supporters say these systems could ease grid bottlenecks and deliver dedicated power for AI, strengthening nuclear energy’s role in the digital economy.
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US regulators have closed a loophole that allowed Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, to operate gas-burning turbines at its Memphis data centre without full air pollution permits. The move follows concerns over emissions and local health impacts.
The US Environmental Protection Agency clarified that mobile gas turbines cannot be classified as ‘non-road engines’ to avoid Clean Air Act requirements. Companies must now obtain permits if their combined emissions exceed regulatory thresholds.
Local authorities had previously allowed the turbines to operate without public consultation or environmental review. The updated federal rule may slow xAI’s expansion plans in the Memphis area.
The Colossus data centre, opened in 2024, supports training and inference for Grok AI models and other services linked to Musk’s X platform. NVIDIA hardware is used extensively at the site.
Residents and environmental groups have raised concerns about air quality, particularly in nearby communities. Legal advocates say xAI’s future operations will be closely monitored for regulatory compliance.
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