Artificial intelligence

Dublin startup raises US$2.5 m to protect AI data with encryption

Mirror Security, founded at University College Dublin, has announced a US$2.5 million (approx. €2.15 million) pre-seed funding round to develop what it describes as the next generation of secure AI infrastructure.

The startup’s core product, VectaX, is a fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) engine designed for AI workloads. This technology allows AI systems to process, train or infer on data that remains encrypted, meaning sensitive or proprietary data never has to be exposed in plaintext, even during computation.

Backed by leading deep-tech investors such as Sure Valley Ventures (SVV) and Atlantic Bridge, Mirror Security plans to scale its engineering and AI-security teams across Ireland, the US and India, accelerate development of encrypted inferencing and secure fine-tuning, and target enterprise markets in the US.

As organisations increasingly adopt AI, often handling sensitive data, Mirror Security argues that conventional security measures (like policy-based controls) fall short. Its encryption native approach aims to provide cryptographic guarantees rather than trust-based assurances, positioning the company as a ‘trust layer’ for the emerging AI economy.

The Irish startup also announced a strategic partnership with Inception AI (a subsidiary of G42) to deploy its full AI security stack across enterprise and government systems. Mirror has also formed collaborations with major technology players including Intel, MongoDB, and others.

From a digital policy and global technology governance perspective, this funding milestone is significant. It underlines how the increasing deployment of AI, especially in enterprise and government contexts, is creating demand for robust, privacy-preserving infrastructure. Mirror Security’s model offers a potential blueprint for how to reconcile AI’s power with data confidentiality, compliance, and sovereignty.

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Australia stands firm on under 16 social media ban

Australia’s government defended its under-16 social media ban ahead of its introduction on 10 December. Minister Anika Wells said she would not be pressured by major platforms opposing the plan.

Tech companies argued that bans may prove ineffective, yet Wells maintained firms had years to address known harms. She insisted parents required stronger safeguards after repeated failures by global platforms.

Critics raised concerns about enforcement and the exclusion of online gaming despite widespread worries about Roblox. Two teenagers also launched a High Court challenge, claiming the policy violated children’s rights.

Wells accepted rollout difficulties but said wider social gains in Australia justified firm action. She added that policymakers must intervene when unsafe operating models place young people at risk.

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Safran and UAE institute join forces on AI geospatial intelligence

Safran.AI, the AI division of Safran Electronics & Defence, and the UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute have formed a strategic partnership to develop a next-generation agentic AI geospatial intelligence platform.

The collaboration aims to transform high-resolution satellite imagery into actionable intelligence for defence operations.

The platform will combine human oversight with advanced geospatial reasoning, enabling operators to interpret and respond to emerging situations faster and with greater precision.

Key initiatives include agentic reasoning systems powered by large language models, a mission-specific AI detector factory, and an autonomous multimodal fusion engine for persistent, all-weather monitoring.

Under the agreement, a joint team operating across France and the UAE will accelerate innovation within a unified operational structure.

Leaders from both organisations emphasise that the alliance strengthens sovereign geospatial intelligence capabilities and lays the foundations for decision intelligence in national security.

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Valentino faces backlash over AI-generated handbag campaign

Italian fashion house Valentino has come under intense criticism after posting AI-generated advertisements for its DeVain handbag, with social media users calling the imagery ‘disturbing’ and ‘sloppy’. The BBC report describes how the brand’s digital-creative collaboration produced a surreal promotional video that quickly drew hundreds of negative comments on Instagram.

The campaign features morphing models, swirling bodies and shifting Valentino logos, all rendered by generative AI. Although the post clearly labels the material as AI-produced, many viewers noted that the brand’s reliance on the technology made the luxury product appear less appealing.

Commenters accused the company of prioritising efficiency over artistry and argued that advertising should showcase human creativity rather than automated visuals. Industry analysts have noted that the backlash reflects broader tensions within the creative economy.

Getty Images executive Dr Rebecca Swift said audiences often view AI-generated material as ‘less valuable’, mainly when used by luxury labels. Others warned that many consumers interpret the use of generative AI as a sign of cost-cutting rather than innovation.

Brands including H&M and Guess have faced similar criticism for recent AI-based promotional work, fuelling broader concerns about the displacement of models, photographers and stylists.

While AI is increasingly adopted across fashion to streamline design and marketing, experts say brands risk undermining the emotional connection that drives luxury purchasing. Analysts argue that without a compelling artistic vision at its core, AI-generated campaigns may make high-end labels feel less human at a time when customers are seeking more authenticity, not less.

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Jorja Smith’s label challenges ‘AI clone’ vocals on viral track

A dispute has emerged after FAMM, the record label representing Jorja Smith, alleged that the viral dance track I Run by Haven used an unauthorised AI clone of the singer’s voice.

The BBC’s report describes how the song gained traction on TikTok before being removed from streaming platforms following copyright complaints.

The label said it wanted a share of royalties, arguing that both versions of the track, the original release and a re-recording with new vocals, infringed Smith’s rights and exploited the creative labour behind her catalogue.

FAMM said the issue was bigger than one artist, warning that fans had been misled and that unlabelled AI music risked becoming ‘the new normal’. Smith later shared the label’s statement, which characterised artists as ‘collateral damage’ in the race towards AI-driven production.

Producers behind “I Run” confirmed that AI was used to transform their own voices into a more soulful, feminine tone. Harrison Walker said he used Suno, generative software sometimes called the ‘ChatGPT for music’, to reshape his vocals, while fellow producer Waypoint admitted employing AI to achieve the final sound.

They maintain that the songwriting and production were fully human and shared project files to support their claim.

The controversy highlights broader tensions surrounding AI in music. Suno has acknowledged training its system on copyrighted material under the US ‘fair use’ doctrine, while record labels continue to challenge such practices.

Even as the AI version of I Run was barred from chart eligibility, its revised version reached the UK Top 40. At the same time, AI-generated acts such as Breaking Rust and hybrid AI-human projects like Velvet Sundown have demonstrated the growing commercial appeal of synthetic vocals.

Musicians and industry figures are increasingly urging stronger safeguards. FAMM said AI-assisted tracks should be clearly labelled, and added it would distribute any royalties to Smith’s co-writers in proportion to how much of her catalogue they contributed to, arguing that if AI relied on her work, so should any compensation.

The debate continues as artists push back more publicly, including through symbolic protests such as last week’s vinyl release of silent tracks, which highlighted fears over weakened copyright protections.

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Amar Subramanya takes over Apple AI as Giannandrea steps aside

Apple says its AI leadership is shifting as John Giannandrea prepares to leave the company. Amar Subramanya, a veteran of Google and Microsoft, will take over AI research and development. The move comes after delays to promised Siri upgrades.

Subramanya will report to software chief Craig Federighi and lead work on foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety. Apple says his arrival reflects the company’s push to accelerate progress in these areas. Giannandrea will remain an adviser until early next year.

Multiple reports say internal pressure had grown as deadlines for Apple Intelligence features slipped. Senior leaders held private discussions on the future direction of the organisation. The reshuffle followed concerns that Apple had fallen behind competitors in core AI capabilities.

Giannandrea had previously overseen both Siri and AI models before responsibilities were split. Vision Pro architect Mike Rockwell now leads the development of the voice assistant. Apple says Giannandrea played a key role in shaping the company’s early AI work.

Chief executive Tim Cook praised both executives and framed the transition as part of a broader strategy. Apple says it remains committed to delivering a more personalised Siri next year. The company is positioning the leadership change as a step toward faster progress.

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Data centre power demand set to triple by 2035

Data centre electricity use is forecast to surge almost threefold by 2035. BloombergNEF reported that global facilities are expected to consume around 106 gigawatts by then.

Analysts linked the growth to larger sites and rising AI workloads, pushing utilisation rates higher. New projects are expanding rapidly, with many planned facilities exceeding 500 megawatts.

Major capacity is heading to states within the PJM grid, alongside significant additions in Texas. Regulators warned that grid operators must restrict connections when capacity risks emerge.

Industry monitors argued that soaring demand contributes to higher regional electricity prices. They urged clearer rules to ensure reliability as early stage project numbers continue accelerating.

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When AI use turns dangerous for diplomats

Diplomats are increasingly turning to tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek to speed up drafting, translating, and summarising documents, a trend Jovan Kurbalija describes as the rise of ‘Shadow AI.’ These platforms, often used through personal accounts or consumer apps, offer speed and convenience that overstretched diplomatic services struggle to match.

But the same ease of use that makes Shadow AI attractive also creates a direct clash with diplomacy’s long-standing foundations of discretion and controlled ambiguity.

Kurbalija warns that this quiet reliance on commercial AI platforms exposes sensitive information in ways diplomats may not fully grasp. Every prompt, whether drafting talking points, translating notes, or asking for negotiation strategies, reveals assumptions, priorities, and internal positions.

Over time, this builds a detailed picture of a country’s concerns and behaviour, stored on servers outside diplomatic control and potentially accessible through foreign legal systems. The risk is not only data leakage but also the erosion of diplomatic craft, as AI-generated text encourages generic language, inflates documents, and blurs the national nuances essential to negotiation.

The problem, Kurbalija argues, is rooted in a ‘two-speed’ system. Technology evolves rapidly, while institutions adapt slowly.

Diplomatic services can take years to develop secure, in-house tools, while commercial AI is instantly available on any phone or laptop. Yet the paradox is that safe, locally controlled AI, based on open-source models, is technically feasible and financially accessible. What slows progress is not technology, but how ministries manage and value knowledge, their core institutional asset.

Rather than relying on awareness campaigns or bans, which rarely change behaviour, Kurbalija calls for a structural shift, where foreign ministries must build trustworthy, in-house AI ecosystems that keep all prompts, documents, and outputs within controlled government environments. That requires redesigning workflows, integrating AI into records management, and empowering the diplomats who have already experimented informally with these tools.

Only by moving AI from the shadows into a secure, well-governed framework, he argues, can diplomacy preserve its confidentiality, nuance, and institutional memory in the age of AI.

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Singapore and the EU advance their digital partnership

The European Union met Singapore in Brussels for the second Digital Partnership Council, reinforcing a joint ambition to strengthen cooperation across a broad set of digital priorities.

Both sides expressed a shared interest in improving competitiveness, expanding innovation and shaping common approaches to digital rules instead of relying on fragmented national frameworks.

Discussions covered AI, cybersecurity, online safety, data flows, digital identities, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Officials highlighted the importance of administrative arrangements in AI safety. They explored potential future cooperation on language models, including the EU’s work on the Alliance for Language Technologies and Singapore’s Sea-Lion initiative.

Efforts to protect consumers and support minors online were highlighted, alongside the potential role of age verification tools.

Further exchanges focused on trust services and the interoperability of digital identity systems, as well as collaborative research on semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Both sides emphasised the importance of robust cyber resilience and ongoing evaluation of cybersecurity risks, rather than relying on reactive measures. The recently signed Digital Trade Agreement was welcomed for improving legal certainty, building consumer trust and reducing barriers to digital commerce.

The meeting between the EU and Singapore confirmed the importance of the partnership in supporting economic security, strengthening research capacity and increasing resilience in critical technologies.

It also reflected the wider priorities outlined in the European Commission’s International Digital Strategy, which placed particular emphasis on cooperation with Asian partners across emerging technologies and digital governance.

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UNDP highlights rising inequality in the AI era

AI is developing at an unprecedented speed, but a growing number of countries lack the necessary infrastructure, digital skills, and governance systems to benefit from it. According to a new UNDP report, this imbalance is already creating economic and social strain, especially in states that are unprepared for rapid technological change.

The report warns that the risk is the emergence of a ‘Next Great Divergence,’ in which global inequalities deepen as advanced economies adopt AI while others fall further behind.

The study, titled ‘The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries,’ highlights Asia and the Pacific as the region where these trends are most visible. Home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies as well as countries with limited digital capacity, the region faces a widening gap in digital readiness and institutional strength.

Without targeted investment and smarter governance, many nations may struggle to harness AI’s potential while becoming increasingly vulnerable to its disruptions.

To counter this trajectory, the UNDP report outlines practical strategies for governments to build resilient digital ecosystems, expand access to technology, and ensure that AI supports inclusive human development. These recommendations aim to help countries adopt AI in a manner that strengthens, rather than undermines, economic and social progress.

The publication is the result of a multinational effort involving researchers and institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America. Contributors include teams from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, the Aapti Institute, and India’s Digital Future Lab, whose collective insights shaped the report’s findings and policy roadmap.

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