Artificial intelligence

G42 and Mistral team up to build AI platforms

Abu Dhabi-based tech company G42 has partnered with French startup Mistral AI to co-develop advanced AI platforms and infrastructure across Europe, the Middle East, and the Global South.

The collaboration aims to span the full AI value chain, from model training to sector-specific applications, combining Mistral’s open-weight language models with G42’s infrastructure expertise.

The deal builds on prior AI cooperation agreements endorsed by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and French President Emmanuel Macron, reinforcing both countries’ shared ambition to lead in AI innovation.

G42 subsidiaries Core42 and Inception will support the initiative by contributing technical development and deployment capabilities.

This partnership is part of a broader UAE strategy to position itself as a global AI hub and diversify its economy beyond oil. With AI expected to add up to $91 billion to the UAE’s economy by 2030, such international alliances reflect a shift in AI power centres toward the Middle East.

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Reddit accuses Anthropic of misusing user content

Reddit has taken legal action against AI startup Anthropic, alleging that the company scraped its platform without permission and used the data to train and commercialise its Claude AI models.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco’s Superior Court, accuses Anthropic of breaching contract terms, unjust enrichment, and interfering with Reddit’s operations.

According to Reddit, Anthropic accessed the platform more than 100,000 times despite publicly claiming to have stopped doing so.

The complaint claims Anthropic ignored Reddit’s technical safeguards, such as robots.txt files, and bypassed the platform’s user agreement to extract large volumes of user-generated content.

Reddit argues that Anthropic’s actions undermine its licensing deals with companies like OpenAI and Google, who have agreed to strict content usage and deletion protocols.

The filing asserts that Anthropic intentionally used personal data from Reddit without ever seeking user consent, calling the company’s conduct deceptive. Despite public statements suggesting respect for privacy and web-scraping limitations, Anthropic is portrayed as having disregarded both.

The lawsuit even cites Anthropic’s own 2021 research that acknowledged Reddit content as useful in training AI models.

Reddit is now seeking damages, repayment of profits, and a court order to stop Anthropic from using its data further. The market responded positively, with Reddit’s shares closing nearly 67% higher at $118.21—indicating investor support for the company’s aggressive stance on data protection.

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OpenAI and India plan AI infrastructure push

OpenAI is in discussions with the Indian government to collaborate on data centre infrastructure as part of its new global initiative, ‘OpenAI for Countries’.

The programme aims to help partner nations expand AI capabilities through joint investment and strategic coordination with the US. India could become one of the ten initial countries in the effort, although specific terms remain under wraps.

During a visit to Delhi, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon emphasised India’s potential, citing the government’s clear focus on infrastructure and AI talent.

Similar to the UAE’s recently announced Stargate project in Abu Dhabi, India may host large-scale AI computing infrastructure while also investing in the US under the same framework.

To nurture AI skills, OpenAI and the Ministry of Electronics and IT’s IndiaAI Mission launched the ‘OpenAI Academy’. It marks OpenAI’s first international rollout of its educational platform.

The partnership will provide free access to AI tools, developer training, and events, with content in English, Hindi, and four additional regional languages. It will also support government officials and startups through dedicated learning platforms.

The collaboration includes hackathons, workshops in six cities, and up to $100,000 in API credits for selected IndiaAI fellows and startups. The aim is to accelerate innovation and help Indian developers and researchers scale AI solutions more efficiently, according to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

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Europe gets new cybersecurity support from Microsoft

Microsoft has launched a free cybersecurity initiative for European governments aimed at countering increasingly sophisticated cyber threats powered by AI. Company President Brad Smith said Europe would benefit from tools already developed and deployed in the US.

The programme is designed to identify and disrupt AI-driven threats, including deepfakes and disinformation campaigns, which have previously been used to target elections and undermine public trust.

Smith acknowledged that AI is a double-edged sword, with malicious actors exploiting it for attacks, while defenders increasingly use it to stay ahead. Microsoft continues to monitor how its AI products are used, blocking known cybercriminals and working to ensure AI serves as a stronger shield than weapon.

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Amazon invests $10 billion in AI data centres

Amazon is investing $10 billion to build data centres in North Carolina, aiming to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure instead of outsourcing compute needs.

The initiative will create at least 500 high-skilled roles and includes support for education, broadband careers, and local development through a $150,000 community fund.

The company is also developing AI-powered humanoid robots for future delivery tasks, reportedly testing them in a newly constructed ‘humanoid park’ at its San Francisco office.

Although using third-party hardware for now, the long-term goal is to embed Amazon’s software into these robots, according to sources.

Experts say the investment underlines a growing concern: that only large firms can afford the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge AI.

‘It’s positive for growth but risks concentrating innovation in Big Tech’s hands,’ said Leo Fan, co-founder of Cysic, a blockchain-based AI firm. He argues that the shift could disincentivise smaller players and dampen broader AI progress.

Amazon is also rolling out Alexa+, a new generative AI-powered assistant, and has secured a licensing deal with The New York Times to integrate journalism, recipes, and sports content into Alexa and other AI products, further extending its ecosystem instead of relying solely on internal data.

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OpenAI hits 3 million business subscribers

OpenAI has added another 1 million paying business subscribers since February, bringing the total to 3 million across ChatGPT Enterprise, Team and Edu.

The milestone was shared during a company livestream and confirmed in interviews with outlets like CNBC.

Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap noted that the business tools are being adopted widely, even in regulated sectors like finance and healthcare.

He said growth among individual users has fuelled enterprise adoption instead of stalling it, highlighting a feedback loop between consumer and business uptake.

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Enterprise in August 2023, followed by Team in January 2024 and Edu in May 2024. Within a year of its first business product, the firm had already reached 1 million paying business users—a number that has now tripled.

Lightcap said AI is reshaping work across sectors—from student learning to patient care and public services—by increasing productivity instead of just automating tasks.

A separate PYMNTS Intelligence report found that 82% of workers using generative AI weekly believe it improves their output. OpenAI’s overall user base has reportedly reached 800 million people, with CEO Sam Altman claiming 10% of the global population now uses the company’s tools.

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Google email will reply by using your voice

Google is building a next-generation email system that uses generative AI to reply to mundane messages in your own tone, according to DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

Speaking at SXSW London, Hassabis said the system would handle everyday emails instead of requiring users to write repetitive responses themselves.

Hassabis called email ‘the thing I really want to get rid of,’ and joked he’d pay thousands each month for that luxury. He emphasised that while AI could help cure diseases or combat climate change, it should also solve smaller daily annoyances first—like managing inbox overload.

The upcoming feature aims to identify routine emails and draft replies that reflect the user’s writing style, potentially making decisions on simpler matters.

While details are still limited, the project remains under development and could debut as part of Google’s premium AI subscription model before reaching free-tier users.

Gmail already includes generative tools that adjust message tone, but the new system goes further—automating replies instead of just suggesting edits.

Hassabis also envisioned a universal AI assistant that protects users’ attention and supports digital well-being, offering personalised recommendations and taking care of routine digital tasks.

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Ask Photos rollout stalls as Google tackles speed and UX

Google has temporarily paused the rollout of its Ask Photos feature in Google Photos, citing performance concerns.

The tool, powered by Gemini’s multimodal AI, was designed to enhance search by allowing users to find images using natural language—such as ‘pictures of my dog eating on the sofa’ or ‘me in a swimming pool.’

The feature began rolling out in September last year but has seen limited availability. Google Photos product manager Jamie Aspinall revealed the rollout had stalled at ‘very small numbers’ due to latency, quality and user experience issues.

He confirmed that an improved version is expected within two weeks, promising search speeds comparable to the app’s original functionality.

Users with access to Ask Photos can continue using it, though they may encounter slow response times. Those who prefer to wait can turn off the feature in the app’s settings until the update is released.

In the meantime, Google has improved its traditional photo search capabilities. You can now search for specific text in your images by enclosing keywords in quotation marks. This refined approach delivers more accurate results for users who prefer a faster and more direct search experience.

As part of its tenth-anniversary celebrations, Google Photos has also introduced new features, including an updated image editor with AI tools, the ability to share albums via QR codes, and broader access to formerly Pixel 9-exclusive tools like Reimagine and Auto Frame.

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Reinforcement learning enables robot to master badminton

A Swiss-led team at ETH Zurich has developed an AI-powered legged robot capable of playing badminton against human opponents with impressive precision and agility.

The project uses reinforcement learning, a type of AI that enables the robot to refine its movements and decisions through repeated trial and error.

The robot can accurately track the shuttlecock, predict its trajectory, and position itself effectively to return shots during high-speed rallies. Its ability to navigate the court and respond in real-time demonstrates significant progress in applying AI to dynamic, physical tasks.

Lead researcher Yuntao Ma said the project highlights the potential for AI to drive legged robots in increasingly complex activities.

The work represents a step forward in developing autonomous and intelligent robotic systems, including future humanoids capable of interacting in real-world environments.

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Tebra introduces AI Note Assist to speed up clinical documentation

Tebra, a platform for independent healthcare providers, has launched AI Note Assist, an ambient documentation tool designed to streamline clinical note-taking significantly.

Integrated directly into Tebra’s electronic health record (EHR) system, the HIPAA-compliant solution promises to reduce the time spent on documentation by up to 50%.

The AI tool listens during patient consultations and automatically generates structured, editable clinical notes. It supports various formats, including SOAP notes, therapy progress notes, and psychiatric documentation, and even suggests ICD-10 codes based on conversation content.

All notes remain under the provider’s control, with the ability to review, edit and approve each entry to ensure clinical accuracy.

Tebra’s chief product and technology officer, Kyle Ryan, described the launch as a ‘significant milestone’ in supporting independent practices.

‘Our research shows that 82% of independent providers see more patient time as their key competitive advantage,’ said Ryan. ‘AI Note Assist helps them reclaim that advantage by reducing administrative workload, improving efficiency and minimising burnout.’

Clinically validated by practising healthcare professionals, the solution has been tested in real-world settings to ensure reliability and effectiveness. Tebra customers can use AI Note Assist immediately without requiring additional hardware or software installations.

By helping healthcare professionals cut down on documentation time while maintaining quality and compliance, Tebra aims to support providers in delivering more focused and personalised patient care.

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