A Cambridge start-up is trialing a groundbreaking device to support independence for people living with dementia. Supersense Technologies’ SenS2 hub monitors movement, temperature, and humidity in the home without using cameras or microphones, providing real-time updates to family members. The company is seeking 100 participants for further testing as part of its push for the £4.4m Longitude Prize on Dementia.
The technology has already made a difference for families in Cambridge. Maggie, a 83-year-old, who is living with dementia, and her daughter Lucy Gardner, say the device provides vital insights into Maggie’s daily routine while preserving her independence. Lucy explained that the alerts allow her to check on her mother without intruding, reducing stress for both.
Supersense co-founders Dr. James Brown and Dr. Matt Ash emphasise that every person’s needs are unique, and data-driven customisation is key. With AI integration, the SenS2 hub can interpret activity and provide tailored updates. The device reflects the growing potential of assistive technology to alleviate the challenges of dementia care, benefiting individuals and families alike.
Orange, the French telecoms giant, has announced a partnership with OpenAI and Meta to enhance AI language models for translating regional African languages. The initiative will integrate West African languages into OpenAI’s ‘Whisper’ and Meta’s ‘Llama‘ systems, aiming to address the linguistic diversity in the region.
Set to launch in the first half of 2025, the project will foster better communication and inclusivity in communities with limited digital representation. Orange sees this as a significant step in leveraging AI to promote cultural and linguistic preservation.
The collaboration underscores the increasing focus on adapting technology for underserved regions. Both OpenAI and Meta bring advanced AI capabilities to help bridge communication gaps, with Orange spearheading the drive for multilingual accessibility.
President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering appointing an ‘AI czar’ to oversee federal artificial intelligence initiatives and policy coordination. The position would centralise AI strategies across government departments, potentially reflecting growing recognition of AI’s transformative impact.
According to sources cited by Axios, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, though not a candidate for the role, is expected to contribute to discussions on AI’s future use and implications in the United States.
The move could mark a significant shift in the government’s approach to advancing AI capabilities while addressing regulatory and ethical challenges.
Audio platform Pocket FM is leveraging AI to expand its vast library of over 200,000 hours of content. CEO Rohan Nayak highlighted the company’s focus on using AI tools for faster and more cost-effective content production while also exploring new genres and markets. Collaborations with AI firms like ElevenLabs have enabled the platform to produce audio content five times faster and at a fraction of the usual cost.
India-based Pocket FM is also experimenting with AI-powered tools to adapt stories for different regions. These tools not only translate but consider cultural nuances, enhancing relevance for diverse audiences. Additionally, an AI-driven writing assistant provides creators with ideas, alternative storylines, and insights based on user preferences, empowering solo writers to produce high-quality episodes consistently.
To grow its audience, Pocket FM is developing a “blockbuster engine” that analyses user engagement data to predict and create hit shows. However, the company acknowledges the challenge of maintaining content quality as AI accelerates production. Striking this balance remains critical to the platform’s success.
Since its founding, Pocket FM has raised $197M in funding and generated $127M in revenue in 2024. Competing with Audible and other audio platforms, the company aims to use AI as a cornerstone of its growth strategy.
Chinese robotaxi firm Pony AI secured $260 million in a US IPO, valuing the startup at $4.55 billion. This marks a resurgence in US investor confidence for Chinese tech companies, with the IPO reflecting renewed interest in autonomous driving technologies despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The company’s move follows a period of uncertainty for Chinese firms in US markets, notably after Didi Global’s delisting. Regulatory disputes between China and the US have eased, bolstering opportunities for companies like Pony AI. However, the robotaxi sector faces challenges, including public concerns about autonomous vehicles’ safety, data privacy, and stiff competition from rivals such as Tesla, which plans to launch similar services in the US next year.
Pony AI sold 20 million American depositary shares at $13 each and raised an additional $153.4 million through private placements. Backed by Toyota, the company’s valuation has declined from $8.5 billion two years ago, highlighting the competitive and uncertain nature of the market. Analysts note widespread robotaxi adoption may take years due to safety and reliability hurdles.
The IPO follows a trend of other Chinese firms, including Zeekr and WeRide, also going public in the US. While Pony AI’s operations in the US remain limited, its public listing underscores growing investor interest in technology startups despite profitability challenges and intense market competition.
Inflection AI, once known for developing top-tier AI models to rival industry leaders, has shifted its focus to practical solutions for businesses. The move follows a significant change in direction after Microsoft acquired much of Inflection’s talent and technology for $650M, including former CEO Mustafa Suleyman. Now led by Sean White, the company is emphasising enterprise tools rather than chasing advancements in AI model architecture.
In the past two months, Inflection has acquired three startups: Jelled.AI for email management, BoostKPI for analytics, and Boundaryless for automation consulting in Europe. These acquisitions aim to strengthen Inflection’s suite of AI-driven tools, catering to the needs of global enterprise customers. White believes current AI technologies are sufficient for most business applications and prefers practical solutions over developing complex next-generation systems.
Inflection also promotes its ability to run AI systems on-premise, offering businesses a more secure alternative to cloud-based solutions from competitors. While it faces stiff competition from companies like Salesforce, Meta, and startups such as Anthropic, Inflection sees its new approach as better aligned with enterprise demands. The company’s pivot highlights the evolving priorities in the competitive AI landscape.
Uber is expanding its gig worker ecosystem with a new initiative aimed at data labeling and AI annotation. The new division, called Scaled Solutions, provides services not only for Uber’s internal needs but also for outside clients like self-driving car company Aurora Innovation and game developer Niantic. This move highlights Uber’s effort to diversify beyond its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses.
The company has started recruiting contractors across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, and India. Scaled Solutions aims to tap into the booming demand for data annotation services, a critical component for training AI models. The initiative positions Uber in a growing market dominated by companies like Scale AI, which recently secured a $1B funding round at a $13.8B valuation.
Uber’s entry into data labeling reflects its push to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving AI world. By leveraging its gig workforce model, the company could establish a foothold in this high-demand sector while diversifying its revenue streams.
OpenAI is allowing employees to sell up to $1.5 billion worth of shares to Japan’s SoftBank Group in a new tender offer, according to sources familiar with the deal. This follows SoftBank’s $500 million investment in OpenAI during an October funding round that valued the Microsoft-backed AI startup at $157 billion. Employees have until 24 December to decide whether to sell their shares, with the offer price matching the last funding round.
SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 will finance the purchase, reflecting CEO Masayoshi Son’s strategy to increase his stake in AI ventures. Son has aggressively expanded his AI portfolio, including investments in OpenAI and chip startup Graphcore, as he positions the conglomerate to ride the AI boom.
OpenAI continues to attract global attention with its flagship product ChatGPT, which now boasts 250 million weekly active users. The company’s rapid growth and high valuation highlight its central role in shaping the AI revolution.
An innovative AI system called Squirrel Agent is being tested across the UK to help conserve endangered red squirrels. Developed by Genysys Engine, the tool uses thousands of images to distinguish between red and grey squirrels with 97% accuracy. It controls access to feeders, ensuring reds receive food while greys are directed to feeders containing contraceptive paste to reduce their population.
Conservationists believe this technology could be transformative. Grey squirrels, introduced to the United Kingdom 200 years ago, have significantly contributed to the decline of red squirrels by outcompeting them and spreading a lethal virus. The AI can rapidly analyse markers like size and weight, making it far more efficient than human observers in distinguishing between the two species.
Future upgrades aim to identify individual squirrels using their unique whisker patterns, enabling researchers to track family lines and monitor populations more closely. Similar AI applications have already proven useful in wildlife conservation, such as mapping animal survival in fire-affected regions.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reaffirmed the importance of global collaboration in technology during a visit to Hong Kong, even as potential United States policy shifts on export controls loom. Speaking to the media, Huang stressed that cooperation in science and technology underpins societal and scientific progress, a principle he believes will endure despite regulatory changes.
In a speech at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Huang celebrated the transformative potential of AI, calling it ‘the most important technology of our time.’ He urged graduates to embrace the opportunities presented by a rapidly evolving industry and highlighted Nvidia‘s contributions to advancing AI and computing over the past 25 years.
Huang received an honorary doctorate at the event alongside other distinguished honourees, noting that the emerging era of AI offers a unique chance for young innovators to tackle global challenges and revolutionise industries.
