AI could save billions but healthcare adoption is slow

AI is being hailed as a transformative force in healthcare, with the potential to reduce costs and improve outcomes dramatically. Estimates suggest widespread AI integration could save up to 360 billion dollars annually by accelerating diagnosis and reducing inefficiencies across the system.

Although tools like AI scribes, triage assistants, and scheduling systems are gaining ground, clinical adoption remains slow. Only a small percentage of doctors, roughly 12%, currently rely on AI for diagnostic decisions. This cautious rollout reflects deeper concerns about the risks associated with medical AI.

Challenges include algorithmic drift when systems are exposed to real-world conditions, persistent racial and ethnic biases in training data, and the opaque ‘black box’ nature of many AI models. Privacy issues also loom, as healthcare data remains among the most sensitive and tightly regulated.

Experts argue that meaningful AI adoption in clinical care must be incremental. It requires rigorous validation, clinician training, transparent algorithms, and clear regulatory guidance. While the potential to save lives and money is significant, the transformation will be slow and deliberate, not overnight.

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Latin America struggling to join the global AI race

Currently, Latin America is lagging in AI innovation. It contributes only 0.3% of global startup activity and attracts a mere 1% of worldwide investment, despite housing around 8% of the global population.

Experts point to a significant brain drain, a lack of local funding options, weak policy frameworks, and dependency on foreign technology as major obstacles. Many high‑skilled professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

To bridge the gap, regional governments are urged to develop coherent national AI strategies, foster regional collaboration, invest in digital education, and strengthen ties between the public and private sectors.

Strategic regulation and talent retention initiatives could help Latin America build its capacity and compete globally.

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Indonesia opens AI centre with global tech partners

Indonesia has inaugurated a National AI Centre of Excellence in Jakarta in partnership with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, NVIDIA and Cisco. The centre is designed to fast-track the adoption of AI and build digital talent to support Indonesia’s ambitions for its 2045 digital vision.

Deputy Minister Nezar Patria said the initiative will help train one million Indonesians in AI, networking and cybersecurity by 2027. Officials and industry leaders stressed the importance of human capability in maximising AI’s potential.

The centre will also serve as a hub for research and developing practical solutions through collaborations with universities and local communities. Indosat launched a related AI security initiative on the same day, highlighting national ambitions for digital resilience.

Executives at the launch said they hope the centre becomes a national movement that helps position Indonesia as a regional and global AI leader.

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Vatican urges ethical AI development

At the AI for Good Summit in Geneva, the Vatican urged global leaders to adopt ethical principles when designing and using AI.

The message, delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, warned against letting technology outpace moral responsibility.

Framing the digital age as a defining moment, the Vatican cautioned that AI cannot replace human judgement or relationships, no matter how advanced. It highlighted the risk of injustice if AI is developed without a commitment to human dignity and ethical governance.

The statement called for inclusive innovation that addresses the digital divide, stressing the need to reach underserved communities worldwide. It also reaffirmed Catholic teaching that human flourishing must guide technological progress.

Pope Leo XIV supported a unified global approach to AI oversight, grounded in shared values and respect for freedom. His message underscored the belief that wisdom, not just innovation, must shape the digital future.

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Moscow targets crypto miners to protect AI infrastructure

Russia is preparing to ban cryptocurrency mining in data centres as it shifts national focus towards digitalisation and AI development. The draft law aims to prevent miners from accessing discounted power and infrastructure support reserved for AI-related operations.

Amendments to the bill, introduced at the request of President Vladimir Putin, will prohibit mining activity in facilities registered as official data centres. These centres will instead benefit from lower electricity rates and faster grid access to help scale computing power for big data and AI.

The legislation redefines data centres as communications infrastructure and places them under stricter classification and control. If passed, it could blow to companies like BitRiver, which operate large-scale mining hubs in regions like Irkutsk.

Putin defended the move by citing the strain on regional electricity grids and a need to use surplus energy wisely. While crypto mining was legalised in 2024, many Russian territories have imposed bans, raising questions about the industry’s long-term viability in the country.

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AI can reshape the insurance industry, but carries real-world risks

AI is creating new opportunities for the insurance sector, from faster claims processing to enhanced fraud detection.

According to Jeremy Stevens, head of EMEA business at Charles Taylor InsureTech, AI allows insurers to handle repetitive tasks in seconds instead of hours, offering efficiency gains and better customer service. Yet these opportunities come with risks, especially if AI is introduced without thorough oversight.

Poorly deployed AI systems can easily cause more harm than good. For instance, if an insurer uses AI to automate motor claims but trains the model on biassed or incomplete data, two outcomes are likely: the system may overpay specific claims while wrongly rejecting genuine ones.

The result would not simply be financial losses, but reputational damage, regulatory investigations and customer attrition. Instead of reducing costs, the company would find itself managing complaints and legal challenges.

To avoid such pitfalls, AI in insurance must be grounded in trust and rigorous testing. Systems should never operate as black boxes. Models must be explainable, auditable and stress-tested against real-world scenarios.

It is essential to involve human experts across claims, underwriting and fraud teams, ensuring AI decisions reflect technical accuracy and regulatory compliance.

For sensitive functions like fraud detection, blending AI insights with human oversight prevents mistakes that could unfairly affect policyholders.

While flawed AI poses dangers, ignoring AI entirely risks even greater setbacks. Insurers that fail to modernise may be outpaced by more agile competitors already using AI to deliver faster, cheaper and more personalised services.

Instead of rushing or delaying adoption, insurers should pursue carefully controlled pilot projects, working with partners who understand both AI systems and insurance regulation.

In Stevens’s view, AI should enhance professional expertise—not replace it—striking a balance between innovation and responsibility.

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Intel concedes defeat in AI race with Nvidia

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has admitted the company can no longer compete with Nvidia in the AI training processor market. Speaking candidly to staff during a company-wide meeting, Tan said Nvidia’s lead is too great to overcome.

His comments mark a rare public admission of Intel’s slipping position in the global semiconductor industry.

The internal broadcast coincided with major job cuts across Intel’s global operations. Entire divisions are being downsized or shut down, including its automotive arm and parts of its manufacturing units.

Around 200 roles are being cut in Israel, along with hundreds more across other departments, as the company aims to simplify its structure and improve agility.

Tan noted that Intel has fallen out of the top 10 semiconductor firms by market value, a stark contrast to its former dominance. Once worth over $200 billion, Intel is now valued at around $100 billion.

Nvidia, meanwhile, briefly became the first company to surpass a $4 trillion valuation.

Despite the setbacks, Tan is steering Intel toward edge AI and agentic AI as areas of future growth. He stressed the need for cultural change within Intel, urging faster decision-making and a stronger focus on customer needs.

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Samsung confirms core Galaxy AI tools remain free

Samsung has confirmed that core Galaxy AI features will continue to be available free of charge for all users.

Speaking during the recent Galaxy Unpacked event, a company representative clarified that any AI tools installed on a device by default—such as Live Translate, Note Assist, Zoom Nightography and Audio Eraser—will not require a paid subscription.

Instead of leaving users uncertain, Samsung has publicly addressed speculation around possible Galaxy AI subscription plans.

While there are no additional paid AI features on offer at present, the company has not ruled out future developments. Samsung has already hinted that upcoming subscription services linked to Samsung Health could eventually include extra AI capabilities.

Alongside Samsung’s announcement, attention has also turned towards Google’s freemium model for its Gemini AI assistant, which appears on many Android devices. Users can access basic features without charge, but upgrading to Google AI Pro or Ultra unlocks advanced tools and increased storage.

New Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 handsets even come bundled with six months of free access to premium Google AI services.

Although Samsung is keeping its pre-installed Galaxy AI features free, industry observers expect further changes as AI continues to evolve.

Whether Samsung will follow Google’s path with a broader subscription model remains to be seen, but for now, essential Galaxy AI functions stay open to all users without extra cost.

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AI tour retraces Anne Frank’s wartime route

An immersive new AI-guided walking tour in Amsterdam invites visitors to follow the footsteps of Anne Frank from 1941, offering a unique blend of narration and animations via smartphone.

The tour covers roughly seven kilometres and includes twelve stops that recreate the Jewish wartime experience.

Each waypoint features lifelike animations of historical figures like Miep Gies, who sheltered the Frank family, and other rescuers.

These are based on archival photographs and narratives, offering fresh insight into the bravery of ordinary citizens.

Designed by CityFans in collaboration with the Anne Frank Institute and the Holocaust Museum, the tour aims to complement the Anne Frank House, whose limited capacity often disappoints many visitors.

It delivers deeper context, personal stories, and valuable historical depth, all through a tech-savvy, self-paced experience.

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Huawei challenges Nvidia in global AI chip market

Huawei Technologies is exploring AI chip exports to the Middle East and Southeast Asia in a bid to compete with Nvidia, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday.

The Chinese telecom firm has contacted potential buyers in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand to promote its Ascend 910B chips, an earlier-generation AI processor.

The offer involves a limited number of chips, reportedly in the low thousands, although specific quantities remain undisclosed. No deals have been finalised so far. Sources cited in the report said there is limited interest in the UAE, and the status of talks in Thailand remains uncertain.

Government representatives in Thailand and Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Huawei also declined to comment. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand into markets where US chipmakers have long held dominance.

Huawei also promotes remote access to CloudMatrix 384, a China-based AI system built using its more advanced chipsets. However, due to supply limitations, the company cannot export these high-end models outside China.

The Middle East has quickly become a high-demand region for AI infrastructure, attracting interest from leading technology companies. Nvidia has already struck several regional deals, positioning itself as a major player in AI development across Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries.

Huawei is simultaneously focusing on domestic sales of its newer 910C chips, offering them to Chinese firms that cannot purchase US AI chips due to ongoing export restrictions imposed by Washington.

US administrations have long cited national security concerns in limiting China’s access to cutting-edge chip technologies, fearing their potential use in military applications.

‘With the current export controls, we are effectively out of the China datacenter market, which is now served only by competitors such as Huawei,’ an Nvidia spokesperson told Reuters.

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