Artificial intelligence

MoonshotAI released KIMI-K2 and OK Computer

KIMI-K2 is a large language model (LLM) developed by Beijing-based Moonshot AI, offering strong performance in writing and coding across diverse applications. Open-source and versatile, it delivers high-quality outputs across multiple domains, from text generation to programming.

Alongside KIMI-K2, the developers introduced OK Computer, an agent that extends the model’s abilities. Using this agent, users can build websites, conduct research, generate images, and create presentations or graphics from a single prompt, making complex workflows simpler and more accessible.

These tools reflect a growing trend in AI, which is combining multiple capabilities into one accessible system. By offering open-source solutions, KIMI-K2 and OK Computer empower users to tackle creative, technical, and research tasks with minimal effort.

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MLK estate pushback prompts new Sora 2 guardrails at OpenAI

OpenAI paused the ability to re-create Martin Luther King Jr. in Sora 2 after Bernice King objected to user videos. Company leaders issued a joint statement with the King estate. New guardrails will govern depictions of historical figures on the app.

OpenAI said families and authorised estates should control how likenesses appear. Representatives can request removal or opt-outs. Free speech was acknowledged, but respectful use and consent were emphasised.

Policy scope remains unsettled, including who counts as a public figure. Case-by-case requests may dominate early enforcement. Transparency commitments arrived without full definitions or timelines.

Industry pressure intensified as major talent agencies opted out of clients. CAA and UTA cited exploitation and legal exposure. Some creators welcomed the tool, showing a split among public figures.

User appetite for realistic cameos continues to test boundaries. Rights of publicity and postmortem controls vary by state. OpenAI promised stronger safeguards while Sora 2 evolves.

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Church of Greece launches AI tool LOGOS for believers

LOGOS, a digital tool developed by the Metropolis of Nea Ionia, Filadelfia, Iraklio and Halkidona alongside the University of the Aegean, has marked the Church of Greece’s entry into the age of AI.

The tool gathers information on questions of Christian faith and provides clear, practical answers instead of replacing human guidance.

Metropolitan Gabriel, who initiated the project, emphasised that LOGOS does not substitute priests but acts as a guide, bringing believers closer to the Church. He said the Church must engage the digital world, insisting that technology should serve humanity instead of the other way around.

An AI tool that also supports younger users, allowing them to safely access accurate information on Orthodox teachings and counter misleading or harmful content found online. While it cannot receive confessions, it offers prayers and guidance to prepare believers spiritually.

The Church views LOGOS as part of a broader strategy to embrace digital tools responsibly, ensuring that faith remains accessible and meaningful in the modern technological landscape.

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OpenAI rolls out pet-centric AI video features and social tools in Sora

OpenAI has announced significant enhancements to its text-to-video app Sora. The update introduces new features including pet and object ‘cameos’ in AI-generated videos, expanded video editing tools, social sharing elements and a forthcoming Android version of the app.

Using the new pet cameo feature, users will be able to upload photos of their pets or objects and then incorporate them into animated video scenes generated by Sora. The objective is to deepen personalisation and creative expression by letting users centre their own non-human characters.

Sora is also gaining editing capabilities that simplify the creation process. Users can remix existing videos, apply stylistic changes, and integrate social-type features like feeds where others’ creations can be viewed and shared. The Android app is noted as ‘coming soon’ which expands Sora’s accessibility beyond the iOS/web initial release.

The move reflects OpenAI’s strategy to transition Sora from an experimental novelty into a more fully featured social video product. By enabling user-owned content (pets/objects), expanding sharing functionality and broadening platform reach, Sora is positioned to compete in the generative video and social media landscape.

At the same time, the update raises questions around content use, copyright (especially when user-owned pets or objects are included), deepfake risks, and moderation. Given Sora’s prior scrutiny over synthetic media, the expansion into more personalised video may prompt further regulatory or ethical review.

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Meta cuts 600 AI roles even as it expands superintelligence lab

Meta Platforms confirmed today it will cut approximately 600 jobs from its AI division, affecting teams including the Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) unit and product and infrastructure units. The move comes even as the company continues hiring for its elite superintelligence unit, the TBD Lab, which remains unaffected by the cuts.

According to an internal memo from Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, the layoff aim is to make remaining teams more load-bearing and impactful. ‘By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact,’ Wang wrote.

Meta says employees affected will be encouraged to apply for other roles within the company; many are expected to be reassigned. The company’s earlier hiring spree in AI included poaching top talent from competitors and investing heavily in infrastructure. Analysts say the current cuts reflect a strategic pivot rather than a retreat, from broad AI research to more focused, high-impact model development.

This shift comes as Meta competes with organisations like OpenAI and Google in the race to build advanced large-language models and scaled AI systems. By trimming staff in legacy research and infrastructure units while bolstering resources for its superintelligence arm, Meta appears to be doubling-down on frontier AI even as it seeks to streamline operations.

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Diella 2.0 set to deliver 83 new AI assistants to aid Albania’s MPs

Albania’s AI minister Diella will ‘give birth’ to 83 virtual assistants for ruling-party MPs, Prime Minister Edi Rama said, framing a quirky rollout of parliamentary copilots that record debates and propose responses.

Diella began in January as a public-service chatbot on e-Albania, then ‘Diella 2.0’ added voice and an avatar in traditional dress. Built with Microsoft by the National Agency for Information Society, it now oversees specific state tech contracts.

The legality is murky: the constitution of Albania requires ministers to be natural persons. A presidential decree left Rama’s responsibility to establish the role and set up likely court tests from opposition lawmakers.

Rama says the ‘children’ will brief MPs, summarise absences, and suggest counterarguments through 2026, experimenting with automating the day-to-day legislative grind without replacing elected officials.

Reactions range from table-thumping scepticism to cautious curiosity, as other governments debate AI personhood and limits; Diella could become a template, or a cautionary tale for ‘ministerial’ bots.

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AI to improve forecasts and early warnings worldwide

The World Meteorological Organisation has highlighted the potential of AI to improve weather forecasts and early warning systems. The organisation urged the public, private, and academic sectors to use AI and machine learning to protect communities from extreme heat and rainfall.

The Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress approved resolutions to speed up Early Warnings for All, targeting universal coverage by 2027. AI will support, not replace, traditional forecasting, providing national meteorological services with ethical, transparent, and open-source tools.

Pilot projects, including a collaboration between Norway and Malawi, have already improved local forecasts.

Congress stressed helping low- and middle-income countries, least developed countries, and small island states access AI technology. WIPPS will use AI to provide advanced forecasts for better preparation against extreme weather and environmental events.

Congress also advanced the Global Greenhouse Gas Watch, WMO’s first Youth Action Plan, and reforms to boost efficiency amid financial constraints. The WMO continues underlining its essential role in resilient development, disaster risk reduction, and global economic stability.

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AI deepfake videos spark ethical and environmental concerns

Deepfake videos created by AI platforms like OpenAI’s Sora have gone viral, generating hyper-realistic clips of deceased celebrities and historical figures in often offensive scenarios.

Families of figures like Dr Martin Luther King Jr have publicly appealed to AI firms to prevent using their loved ones’ likenesses, highlighting ethical concerns around the technology.

Beyond the emotional impact, Dr Kevin Grecksch of Oxford University warns that producing deepfakes carries a significant environmental footprint. Instead of occurring on phones, video generation happens in data centres that consume vast amounts of electricity and water for cooling, often at industrial scales.

The surge in deepfake content has been rapid, with Sora downloaded over a million times in five days. Dr Grecksch urges users to consider the environmental cost, suggesting more integrated thinking about where data centres are built and how they are cooled to minimise their impact.

As governments promote AI growth areas like South Oxfordshire, questions remain over sustainable infrastructure. Users are encouraged to balance technological enthusiasm with environmental mindfulness, recognising the hidden costs behind creating and sharing AI-generated media.

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Google AI Studio introduces new vibe coding experience

Google has unveiled a redesigned AI-powered vibe coding experience in AI Studio, aimed at helping users turn ideas into working AI apps within minutes. The update eliminates managing API keys and connecting models, making app creation quicker and easier.

With the new workflow, users can describe the app they want, and AI Studio, powered by Google’s Gemini models, automatically links the right APIs and tools. Developers and non-coders can quickly build videos and images or write AI apps.

AI Studio also introduces a revamped App Gallery and Brainstorming Loading Screen to spark inspiration during app development. Users can explore project ideas, preview starter code, and remix apps, while real-time suggestions appear as their app builds.

Annotation Mode allows intuitive visual editing, letting users highlight elements and instruct Gemini to modify them.

Additional updates ensure uninterrupted development by allowing users to add API keys once free quotas are exhausted. These improvements empower creators and lower barriers, making turning AI-driven ideas into functional applications easier than ever.

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Google expands Earth AI for disaster response and environmental monitoring

The US tech giant, Google, has expanded access to Earth AI, a platform built on decades of geospatial modelling combined with Gemini’s advanced reasoning.

Enterprises, cities, and nonprofits can now rapidly analyse environmental and disaster-related data, enabling faster, informed decisions to protect communities.

During the 2025 California wildfires, Google’s AI helped alert millions and guide them to safety, showing the potential of Earth AI in crisis response.

A key feature, Geospatial Reasoning, allows the AI to connect multiple models (such as satellite imagery, population maps, and weather forecasts) to assess which communities and infrastructure are most at risk.

Instead of manual data analysis, organisations can now identify vulnerable areas and prioritise relief efforts in minutes.

Earth AI now includes tools to detect patterns in satellite imagery, such as drying rivers, harmful algae blooms, or vegetation encroachment on infrastructure. These insights support environmental monitoring and early warnings, letting authorities respond before disasters escalate.

The models are available on Google Cloud to Trusted Testers, allowing integration with external datasets for tailored analysis.

Several organisations are already leveraging Earth AI for the public good. WHO AFRO uses it to monitor cholera risks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Planet and Airbus analyse satellite imagery for deforestation and power line safety.

Bellwether uses Earth AI for hurricane prediction, enabling faster insurance claim processing and recovery. Google aims to make these tools broadly accessible to support global crisis management, public health, and environmental protection.

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