Artificial intelligence

Mozilla integrates Perplexity AI into Firefox’s search features

Mozilla has announced that it is integrating Perplexity’s AI answer engine into Firefox as a choice available in the browser’s search options.

The feature had already been piloted in markets including the US, UK and Germany. Now Firefox is bringing the option to desktop users globally, with mobile rollout expected in the coming months.

When enabled, Perplexity AI offers conversational search. Instead of just showing a list of web pages, answers appear with citations. Users can activate it via the unified search button in the address bar or by configuring their default search engine settings.

Mozilla says the integration reflects positive feedback from early users and signals a desire to give people more choice in how they get information. The company also notes that Perplexity ‘doesn’t share or sell users’ personal data,’ which aligns with Mozilla’s privacy principles.

Firefox also continues to evolve other browser features. One is profiles, now broadly available, which allows users to maintain separate browser setups (for example, work vs home). The browser is also experimenting with visual search features using Google Lens for users who keep Google as their default provider.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Wider AI applications take centre stage at Japan’s CEATEC electronics show

At this year’s CEATEC exhibition in Japan, more companies and research institutions are promoting AI applications that stretch well beyond traditional factory or industrial automation.

Innovations on display suggest an increasing emphasis on ‘AI as companion’ systems, tools that help, advise, or augment human abilities in everyday settings.

Fujitsu’s showcase is a strong example. The company is using AI skeleton recognition and agent-based analysis to help people improve movement, whether for sports performance (such as refining a golf swing) or for healthcare settings. These systems give live feedback, coaching form, and offer suggestions, all in real time.

Other exhibits combine sensor tech, vision, and AI in consumer-friendly ways. For example, smart fridge compartments that monitor produce, earbuds or glasses that recognise real-world context (a flyer in a shop, say) and suggest recipes, or wearable systems that adapt to your motion.

These are not lab demos, they’re meant for direct, everyday interaction. Rising numbers of startups and university groups at CEATEC underscore Japan’s push toward embedding AI deeply in daily life.

The ‘AI for All’ theme and ‘Partner Parks’ at the show reflect a movement toward socially oriented technologies, with suggestions, health, ease, and personalisation. Japan seems to be leaning into AI not just for productivity gains but for lifestyle and well-being enhancements.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

OpenAI forms Expert Council to guide well-being in AI

OpenAI has announced the establishment of an Expert Council on Well-Being and AI to help it shape ChatGPT, Sora and other products in ways that promote healthier interactions and better emotional support.

The council comprises eight distinguished figures from psychology, psychiatry, human-computer interaction, developmental science and clinical practice.

Members include David Bickham (Digital Wellness Lab, Harvard), Munmun De Choudhury (Georgia Tech), Tracy Dennis-Tiwary (Hunter College), Sara Johansen (Stanford), Andrew K. Przybylski (University of Oxford), David Mohr (Northwestern), Robert K. Ross (public health) and Mathilde Cerioli (everyone.AI).

OpenAI says this new body will meet regularly with internal teams to examine how AI should function in ‘complex or sensitive situations,’ advise on guardrails, and explore what constitutes well-being in human-AI interaction. For example, the council already influenced how parental controls and user-teen distress notifications were prioritised.

OpenAI emphasises that it remains accountable for its decisions, but commits to ongoing learning through this council, the Global Physician Network, policymakers and experts. The company notes that different age groups, especially teenagers, use AI tools differently, hence the need for tailored insights.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

US seizes $15 billion crypto from Cambodia fraud ring

US federal prosecutors have seized $15 billion in cryptocurrency tied to a large-scale ‘pig butchering’ investment scam linked to forced labour compounds in Cambodia. Officials said it marks the biggest crypto forfeiture in Justice Department history.

Authorities charged Chinese-born businessman Chen Zhi, founder of the Prince Group, with money laundering and wire fraud. Chen allegedly used the conglomerate as cover for criminal operations that laundered billions through fake crypto investments. He remains at large.

Investigators say Chen and his associates operated at least ten forced labour sites in Cambodia where victims, many coerced workers, managed thousands of fake social media accounts to lure targets into fraudulent investment schemes.

The US Treasury also imposed sanctions on dozens of Prince Group affiliates, calling them transnational criminal organisations. FBI officials said the scam is part of a wider wave of crypto fraud across Southeast Asia, urging anyone targeted by online investment offers to contact authorities immediately.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

MIT develops AI tool for faster material testing

MIT engineers have created an AI system that can assess material quality faster and more cheaply by generating synthetic spectral data. The tool uses generative AI to produce spectral readings across different scanning modalities, allowing industries to verify materials without using multiple instruments.

By analysing one type of scan, such as infrared, SpectroGen can accurately recreate what the same material’s X-ray or Raman spectrum would look like. The process is completed in less than a minute with AI, compared with hours or days using traditional laboratory equipment.

Researchers said the system achieved a 99% match with real-world data in trials involving more than 6,000 mineral samples. The breakthrough could streamline quality control in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and battery production, cutting both time and cost.

Professor Loza Tadesse described SpectroGen as a ‘co-pilot’ for researchers and technicians. Her team is now exploring medical and agricultural applications in the US, supported by Google funding, and plans to commercialise the technology through a startup.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

OpenAI partners with Walmart for ChatGPT shopping

OpenAI has announced a partnership with Walmart that will allow users to buy products directly through ChatGPT, turning the chatbot into a virtual shopping assistant. The move represents the company’s latest expansion into online retail as it seeks to generate new revenue streams.

Walmart said the feature will enable customers to ‘simply chat and buy’, letting them order groceries, household items, or other goods while chatting within ChatGPT. Instant Checkout, powered by payments firm Stripe, will process the transactions.

OpenAI previously launched similar integrations with Shopify and Etsy, but joining forces with Walmart marks a far larger step into e-commerce. The company continues to seek profitability as it scales up the cost of running its AI systems.

Walmart, meanwhile, is expanding its use of AI across operations, from its digital assistant Sparky to warehouse automation. Executives said the collaboration would help make everyday purchases faster and more intuitive for millions of customers.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Google and World Bank join forces to build AI-driven public infrastructure

Google and the World Bank Group have announced a partnership to develop AI-powered digital infrastructure for emerging markets. The collaboration aims to accelerate digital transformation by deploying Open Network Stacks that make essential public services more accessible.

The initiative combines Google Cloud’s Gemini AI models with the World Bank Group’s development expertise to help governments build interoperable networks in key areas such as healthcare, agriculture and education. Citizens will be able to access these services in over 40 languages, even on basic devices.

A successful pilot project in India’s Uttar Pradesh demonstrated how AI can improve livelihoods, with smallholder farmers increasing profitability through digital tools.

To support long-term growth, Google.org is funding a new nonprofit, Networks for Humanity, which will build universal digital infrastructure, create regional innovation labs and test social impact applications globally.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

An awards win for McAfee’s consumer-first AI defence

McAfee won ‘Best Use of AI in Cybersecurity’ at the 2025 A.I. Awards for its Scam Detector. The tool, which McAfee says is the first to automate deepfake, email, and text-scam detection, underscores a consumer-focused defence. The award recognises its bid to counter fast-evolving online fraud.

Scams are at record levels, with one in three US residents reporting victimisation and average losses of $1,500. Threats now range from fake job offers and text messages to AI-generated deepfakes, increasing the pressure on tools that can act in real time across channels.

McAfee’s Scam Detector uses advanced AI to analyse text, email, and video, blocking dangerous links and flagging deepfakes before they cause harm. It is included with core McAfee plans and available on PC, mobile, and web, positioning it as a default layer for everyday protection.

Adoption has been rapid, with the product crossing one million users in its first months, according to the company. Judges praised its proactive protection and emphasis on accuracy and trust, citing its potential to restore user confidence as AI-enabled deception becomes more sophisticated.

McAfee frames the award as validation of its responsible, consumer-first AI strategy. The company says it will expand Scam Detector’s capabilities while partnering with the wider ecosystem to keep users a step ahead of emerging threats, both online and offline.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Teenagers turn to AI for learning but struggle to spot false information

A new Oxford University Press (OUP) report has found that most teenagers are using AI for schoolwork but many cannot tell when information is false. Over 2,000 students aged 13 to 18 took part, with many finding it hard to verify AI content.

Around eight in ten pupils admitted using AI for homework or revision, often treating it as a digital tutor. However, many are simply copying material without being able to check its accuracy.

Assistant headteacher Dan Williams noted that even teachers sometimes struggle to identify AI-generated content, particularly in videos.

Despite concerns about misinformation, most pupils view AI positively. Nine in ten said they had benefited from using it, particularly in improving creative writing, problem-solving and critical thinking.

To support schools, OUP has launched an AI and Education Hub to help teachers develop confidence with the technology, while the Department for Education has released guidance on using AI safely in classrooms.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Microsoft finds 71% of UK workers use unapproved AI tools on the job

A new Microsoft survey has revealed that nearly three in four employees in the UK use AI tools at work without company approval.

A practice, referred to as ‘shadow AI’, that involves workers relying on unapproved systems such as ChatGPT to complete routine tasks. Microsoft warned that unauthorised AI use could expose businesses to data leaks, non-compliance risks, and cyber attacks.

The survey, carried out by Censuswide, questioned over 2,000 employees across different sectors. Seventy-one per cent admitted to using AI tools outside official policies, often because they were already familiar with them in their personal lives.

Many reported using such tools to respond to emails, prepare presentations, and perform financial or administrative tasks, saving almost eight hours of work each week.

Microsoft said only enterprise-grade AI systems can provide the privacy and security organisations require. Darren Hardman, Microsoft’s UK and Ireland chief executive, urged companies to ensure workplace AI tools are designed for professional use rather than consumer convenience.

He emphasised that secure integration can allow firms to benefit from AI’s productivity gains while protecting sensitive data.

The study estimated that AI technology saves 12.1 billion working hours annually across the UK, equivalent to about £208 billion in employee time. Workers reported using the time gained through AI to improve work-life balance, learn new skills, and focus on higher-value projects.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!