Microsoft has introduced a new chat service, Copilot Chat, allowing businesses to deploy AI agents for routine tasks. The service, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, enables users to create AI-driven assistants using natural language commands in English, Mandarin, and other languages. Tasks such as market research, drafting strategy documents, and meeting preparation can be handled for free, though advanced features like Teams call transcription and PowerPoint slide creation require a $30 monthly Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.
With increasing pressure to generate returns on its substantial AI investments, Microsoft is betting on a pay-as-you-go model to drive adoption. The company is expected to spend around $80 billion on AI infrastructure and data centres this fiscal year. Following concerns about Copilot’s adoption, Microsoft has been pushing its AI tools more aggressively, offering businesses greater flexibility in using AI for automation.
In a move towards greater AI autonomy, Microsoft previously introduced tools allowing customers to create self-sufficient AI agents with minimal human input. Analysts suggest that such innovations could offer a simpler path to monetisation for tech companies, making AI-driven automation more accessible and scalable.
Sean Duffy, nominated to lead the US Transportation Department, stated he would allow the ongoing federal investigation into Tesla’s advanced driver assistance technology to proceed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a probe into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles with Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after multiple crashes, including a fatal 2023 incident.
Duffy affirmed he would not interfere with the investigation despite Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ties to former president Donald Trump. During a Senate hearing, Duffy responded to Senator Ed Markey’s request for objectivity, assuring that the NHTSA would be able to operate independently.
NHTSA recently opened a separate investigation into Tesla’s Actually Smart Summon feature, following crashes where vehicles failed to detect obstacles while being moved remotely. The agency is also evaluating whether Tesla’s recall of over two million vehicles in December 2023 adequately addressed safety concerns, particularly drivers’ attentiveness while using Autopilot.
Duffy also indicated he would review the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposed $633,000 fine against Musk’s SpaceX, linked to launch license violations.
Italian startup iGenius has launched Colosseum 355B, a large language model built using the latest Nvidia technology, designed for industries with strict data protection and compliance needs. CEO Uljan Sharka highlighted the challenges that tight regulations pose for AI adoption in sectors like finance, heavy industry, and government, where data security is paramount.
Unlike major competitors like OpenAI, iGenius offers open-source AI models that allow companies to run the technology on their own infrastructure, ensuring that sensitive data remains in-house. The startup is already in talks with potential clients in the financial services and industrial sectors.
Sharka also traveled to Brussels to present the new model to the European Commission, aiming to gain regulatory approval and foster wider adoption in Europe’s heavily regulated markets.
Several chip and manufacturing industry groups have criticised the Biden administration’s new export controls, arguing they were implemented without sufficient consultation. A private letter sent to President Joe Biden on January 13 expressed concerns that the rules could harm US companies and shift market share to global competitors.
The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and SEMI, representing chipmakers and manufacturing equipment firms, objected to the new licensing requirements for AI chip exports, including advanced high-bandwidth memory. They argued the lack of public input ignored the regulations’ economic and international consequences.
High-bandwidth memory, essential for AI chip production, is primarily manufactured by US and South Korean companies. The new rules could restrict its sale to China, further tightening controls on advanced technology exports.
A separate source suggested the restrictions may also affect companies like Lam Research, which previously benefited from a rule interpretation allowing expanded sales in China. Neither the SIA, SEMI, nor Lam Research commented immediately.
Taiwan’s government has expressed confidence in its management of AI chip exports following the island’s exemption from new US restrictions. Officials stated the exclusion should reassure partners about the country’s legal compliance and export controls.
The US announced stricter AI chip export measures this week, limiting shipments to most countries while continuing a ban on China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Taiwan remains a ‘tier one’ partner, enjoying unrestricted access to US AI technology. Taiwan’s Economy Ministry emphasised efforts to help local businesses stay informed about evolving export regulations.
Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world’s largest contract chipmaker and a key supplier for Nvidia. The government, alert to Beijing’s claims over the island, maintains strict export controls to China and has vowed to enforce US restrictions. TSMC suspended shipments to a Chinese company last year after a chip was illegally integrated into Huawei technology.
Huawei has faced US trade bans since 2019 due to national security concerns, with companies restricted from selling technology to the Chinese firm without a special licence.
OpenAI has introduced a new beta feature called Tasks in ChatGPT, expanding into the virtual assistant market. Tasks will let users schedule future actions such as reminders for concert ticket sales or recurring updates like daily weather reports.
ChatGPT may also suggest tasks based on user conversations, with users retaining control to accept or decline them. The feature aims to compete with virtual assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, both of which are being enhanced with AI capabilities.
The updated Alexa will include generative AI features for task automation, with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announcing its launch in the coming months. Apple has also integrated ChatGPT into Siri under its ‘Apple Intelligence’ initiative, seeking user permission for queries sent to OpenAI’s service.
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to support the rapid expansion of AI data centres by providing federal land and resources. The initiative will allow AI facilities to be built on sites owned by the Defence and Energy departments, addressing the growing demand for computing power while promoting clean energy development. Companies using federal land for AI data centres will also be required to purchase a portion of American-made semiconductors, reinforcing the administration’s push for domestic chip production.
The order aims to ensure that the most advanced AI models are developed and stored within the United States, strengthening national security and economic competitiveness. The White House stressed the importance of securing energy supplies and transmission infrastructure to sustain AI growth, with experts predicting that by 2028, leading developers could need up to five gigawatts of capacity to train their AI models. Agencies have been directed to fast-track grid interconnections, permitting, and infrastructure development to meet these demands.
Efforts to keep AI technology within the United States align with broader national security concerns. The Commerce Department has announced new restrictions on AI chip exports to prevent China from accessing advanced computing power. White House technology adviser Tarun Chhabra highlighted the potential risks posed by AI, including its ability to aid in developing chemical, biological, and cyber warfare capabilities. Ensuring that AI data centres remain under US control will help safeguard military and national security interests.
Nvidia has made its first investment in a Taiwanese startup by backing MetAI, a company specialising in AI-powered digital twins. MetAI raised $4 million in a seed funding round that also attracted several strategic investors, including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering and SparkLabs Taiwan.
The startup focuses on creating ‘SimReady’ digital twins, converting CAD files into realistic 3D environments within minutes. These virtual replicas are essential for training robots and building autonomous systems before their real-world deployment. Nvidia views this as a critical step in advancing its industrial AI platform, Omniverse.
MetAI claims its technology significantly reduces the time needed to build virtual simulations, making AI-driven automation more efficient. With plans to expand into the US, the company is eyeing markets with high operational costs and a growing need for digital solutions. MetAI’s collaboration with Nvidia is expected to set new standards for industries such as manufacturing and robotics.
A French interior designer, identified as Anne, has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam in which she was tricked into believing she was in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. Over the course of a year, the scammer, using AI-generated images and fake social media profiles, manipulated Anne into sending €830,000 for purported cancer treatment after a fabricated story involving the actor’s frozen bank accounts.
The scam began when Anne received messages from a fake ‘Jane Etta Pitt,’ claiming the Hollywood star needed someone like her. As Anne was going through a divorce, the AI-generated Brad Pitt sent declarations of love, eventually asking for money under the guise of urgent medical needs. Despite doubts raised by her daughter, Anne transferred large sums, believing she was saving a life.
The truth came to light when Anne saw Brad Pitt in the media with his current partner, and it became clear she had been scammed. However, instead of support, her story has been met with cyberbullying, including mocking social media posts from groups like Toulouse FC and Netflix France. The harassment has taken a toll on Anne’s mental health, and police are now investigating the scam.
The case highlights the dangers of AI scams, the vulnerabilities of individuals, and the lack of empathy in some online responses.
Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-driven podcast platform, recently faced a surprising issue: its virtual hosts sounded irritated when users interrupted them. The problem emerged after the launch of an interactive feature allowing users to “call in” and ask questions during AI-generated discussions. Users reported that the hosts would sometimes make snippy comments like ‘I was getting to that,’ creating an oddly confrontational experience.
To address the issue, Google’s team implemented a ‘friendliness tuning’ process. They revised the prompts used to guide the AI hosts, studying how human speakers handle interruptions more politely. The adjustment was announced with a light-hearted post on the platform’s social media.
The change seems to be working. In tests, the AI hosts now react to interruptions with polite curiosity rather than frustration. NotebookLM’s refined approach highlights the importance of human-like interaction in AI products, ensuring users feel more engaged and welcomed in conversations.
