Researchers at the University of Manchester and The Christie Cancer Hospital have received a £5.9 million grant from Cancer Research UK to use AI in cancer treatment. The funding will support a project that simulates clinical trials to test the effectiveness of radiotherapy on ‘virtual’ patients, created using real-life data. This innovative approach aims to make cancer research faster, safer, and more cost-effective than traditional large-scale clinical trials.
The virtual trials will focus on patient-specific genetics and tumours, with a particular emphasis on comparing new proton beam therapy with conventional radiotherapy for lung cancer. AI will allow researchers to test treatments more quickly than through traditional trials involving real patients. This initiative is part of Cancer Research UK’s push to advance radiotherapy research, with Manchester being one of only seven centres of excellence in the UK to receive funding for this work.
Martin Storey, a lung cancer survivor who benefited from radiotherapy in a clinical trial, expressed his support for the project, saying that AI-driven trials could help more people survive cancer. Storey, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, believes that the use of AI could accelerate treatment advancements and improve outcomes for future patients.
As a follow-up to the Global Digital Compact (GDC), the President of the General Assembly appointed the Permanent Representatives of Costa Rica and Spain to the UN as co-facilitators for the intergovernmental process and consultations to identify the terms of reference and modalities for the establishment and functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, for adoption by the General Assembly.
Through the GDC, UN member states committed to:
(a) Establish, within the United Nations, a multidisciplinary Independent International Scientific Panel on AI with balanced geographic representation to promote scientific understanding through evidence-based impact, risk and opportunity assessments, drawing on existing national, regional and international initiatives and research networks;
(b) Initiate, within the United Nations, a Global Dialogue on AI Governance involving Governments and all relevant stakeholders which will take place in the margins of existing relevant United Nations conferences and meetings (paragraph 56).
Apple has launched the AI-powered version of iOS 18.2, bringing new features to public beta users. These include tools like Genmoji, an AI-powered emoji generator, Image Playground for creating AI-generated images and ChatGPT integration with Siri. The update also introduces Visual Intelligence, which uses the iPhone 16’s camera for real-time object and place identification. These features were previously available only to developers but are now open to select users, with some requiring a waitlist for access.
The new capabilities, grouped under “Apple Intelligence,” promise to enhance Siri’s functionality, including offering writing and proofreading assistance across apps. Apple plans to extend these AI tools to third-party developers, potentially increasing their impact. For now, users can experiment with ChatGPT for text generation and image creation, as well as generate custom emojis and edit rough sketches using Image Wand.
While Apple Intelligence is enabled by default on some devices, others will need to sign up for the new features. However, there’s a waitlist for certain tools, which Apple is managing to ensure a safe rollout. Concerns over misuse, like the creation of NSFW emojis, have contributed to the cautious approach.
The update follows AI improvements introduced in iOS 18.1, such as enhanced writing tools and updated Siri features. Alongside iOS 18.2, Apple also released public betas for iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and tvOS 18.2, continuing to expand its AI-driven ecosystem.
Researchers in the UK are exploring how AI could lead to new treatments for children with brain tumours. With around 420 children diagnosed annually, the team at the Cancer Research UK Children’s Brain Tumour Centre of Excellence in Cambridge is focused on improving survival rates, especially for those with the most aggressive forms of the disease, who currently have a low likelihood of survival beyond a year.
Dr Elizabeth Cooper, one of the researchers, noted that children’s brain tumours differ from adult tumours due to the ongoing development of the brain in children, which may explain why treatments like immunotherapy, effective in other cancers, have limited success with brain tumours. Dr Cooper highlighted that the brain has its own unique immune system, but scientists have yet to fully understand how to harness it for treatment.
Led by co-director Prof. Richard Gilbertson, the team is also working to develop new drugs that are less harmful to young patients. With a substantial grant, the centre plans to use AI to build digital models of complex brain tumours. These models will allow the team to conduct virtual trials, aiming to identify more effective and less toxic treatment options than traditional methods like radiotherapy, which can cause severe side effects in children.
Learn more about the potential and problems of AI assistants in “GPT for the Future of YOUR Work 2.0,” the sequel to last year’s workshop on the topic. Prof. Ash will offer a quick but deep introduction to the use of Generative AI in diverse work tasks: writing/editing, brainstorming, summarization, marketing, data analysis, coding, and fun. That includes some of the new developments and trajectories since last year. Regardless of your work domain, we will demo tools that can help with some tasks. We will also review the limitations, risks, and open questions about the integration of AI into work.
A top Republican lawmaker has criticised the Biden administration for not taking stronger action against China’s Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), accusing the company of aiding China’s chip industry and military complex. Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called on the US Commerce Department to investigate whether SMIC is violating export controls by producing chips for the sanctioned telecommunications giant Huawei.
In a letter to the Commerce Department, McCaul highlighted concerns over SMIC’s recent advancements, including the production of advanced chips used in Huawei smartphones and plans to supply AI processors for Huawei. He described these developments as a ‘smoking gun’ that could enable China to surpass the US in AI. McCaul has urged the department to halt SMIC’s licenses unless the company undergoes a full audit.
While the US Commerce Department acknowledged McCaul’s letter, it emphasised that it has been tough on China in its enforcement of export controls. SMIC was added to the US restricted trade list in 2020, and Huawei, facing similar sanctions since 2019, have both denied any wrongdoing. The Chinese embassy in Washington has dismissed US criticism, calling it an overreach of national security concerns.
Singapore’s Keppel has announced an agreement to acquire an AI-ready data centre being developed by Japan’s Mitsui Fudosan in Tokyo. The deal comes shortly after Keppel revealed plans to significantly increase its data centre funds under management, aiming to take advantage of the growing AI sector.
Mitsui Fudosan will handle the core and shell development of the facility, while Keppel’s private fund will oversee the fit-out works. The data centre is expected to be completed by 2027, with Keppel taking on the role of facility manager, which will contribute to its recurring income stream.
Keppel emphasised its ongoing partnership with Mitsui Fudosan to develop a strong pipeline of assets for its upcoming Keppel Data Centre Fund III. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed due to confidentiality agreements.
Caitlin Kalinowski, previously Meta’s head of augmented reality (AR) glasses, has announced she will join OpenAI to lead its robotics and consumer hardware initiatives. Kalinowski, who managed Meta’s AR glasses and VR goggles divisions, is expected to leverage her expertise in hardware to advance OpenAI’s efforts in robotics and develop consumer-focused AI products. She will focus on bringing AI into the physical world through collaborative projects and new technology partnerships.
This move is part of OpenAI’s growing commitment to hardware. Recently, OpenAI teamed up with Jony Ive’s LoveFrom to design a consumer AI device aimed at creating a computing experience that minimises social disruption. OpenAI has also resumed hiring robotics engineers after a previous shift away from hardware, reflecting a renewed interest in integrating its AI models into physical applications.
Kalinowski joins at a time when several companies, including Apple, are beginning to integrate OpenAI’s AI models into consumer technology. With the addition of Kalinowski, OpenAI aims to bring advanced AI functionality into robotics and consumer devices, promising transformative new products.
Amazon’s Prime Video has introduced ‘X-Ray Recaps‘, a new feature that provides spoiler-free summaries of TV episodes and seasons using AI technology. Designed to spare viewers from accidental spoilers, the feature offers concise synopses of individual episodes, entire seasons, and even specific scenes. Amazon assures that the AI-generated recaps have built-in safeguards to prevent any unwanted plot reveals, enabling viewers to enjoy their favourite shows worry-free.
X-Ray Recaps builds on Prime Video’s X-Ray feature, which traditionally offers information about cast members and trivia when viewers pause a scene. To access the new summaries, users can visit a TV show’s detail page and select from three options: episode recap, season recap, or previous season recap. Currently in beta, X-Ray Recaps is initially available to Fire TV users in the United States, with plans for broader device support by year’s end.
The feature is powered by Amazon’s own AI models developed with Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker, which analyse video, subtitles, and dialogue to craft summaries of key moments without revealing significant plot points. X-Ray Recaps also synchronises with where viewers are in an episode, delivering personalised recaps that align with the scene in progress.
The rollout comes as Prime Video’s competitor Google TV recently introduced its own AI-generated summaries for TV shows and movies, signalling growing interest in AI-powered tools for enhancing viewer experience.
Amazon has resumed its drone delivery programme, bringing its Prime Air service to select customers in the Phoenix, Arizona area. After recently ending the service in California, Amazon is now offering drone deliveries for products weighing five pounds or less, covering around 50,000 items. Customers in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area can choose their delivery spot at checkout, with most items arriving within an hour from a nearby take-off site.
Using the advanced MK30 drone, Amazon has ensured improved delivery capabilities, with the Federal Aviation Administration recently allowing it to fly beyond the operator’s visual line of sight. The MK30 is quieter, can fly further, and operates in light rain, although it is limited to daylight and favourable weather conditions. The MK30 is also being used in College Station, Texas, where Amazon has piloted prescription medicine deliveries since 2023.
Amazon, aiming for efficient and cost-effective operations, has integrated drone deliveries into its same-day delivery network. While the company previously announced plans to expand drone delivery to the UK and Italy by the end of the year, no new updates were provided on these international expansions.
