Artificial intelligence

Nvidia opens new quantum research centre in Boston

Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing.

Expected to begin operations later this year, the centre aims to accelerate the shift from experimental to practical quantum computing.

Rather than treating quantum hardware as a standalone endeavour, Nvidia intends to integrate it with existing AI-driven systems, believing this combination could unlock solutions to problems unsolvable by today’s machines.

Quantum computing—much like AI in its early stages—fits naturally with Nvidia’s core strength: parallel processing. Instead of continuing to rely on traditional serial computing, the company has long embraced parallelism through its GPU technology and CUDA software platform.

Nvidia’s success in transforming GPUs from graphics engines into tools for scientific and commercial applications began with its bold decision to make CUDA available across all its products, even at the cost of short-term profit margins.

Nvidia now sees quantum error correction as the next major challenge. Current quantum computers, operating with between fifty and one hundred qubits, face a high error rate due to environmental ‘noise.’

Achieving truly useful systems will require a million qubits or more, most of which will be used for error correction. Instead of depending solely on traditional methods, Nvidia plans to use AI to develop scalable solutions capable of correcting errors in real time.

The Boston-based NVAQC will serve as a testing ground for these innovations. Harvard, MIT, and quantum startups like Quantinuum and QuEra will collaborate with Nvidia’s quantum team to train AI models for error correction and test them using Nvidia’s top-tier supercomputers.

By doing so, Nvidia hopes to make quantum computing not just viable, but powerful and practical at scale.

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

Trump denies sharing AI pope image after Truth Social backlash

Donald Trump has rejected claims that he shared an AI-generated image depicting him dressed as the pope, following criticism from some Christian groups.

The image, which showed the former president wearing white and gold papal-style robes, appeared on his Truth Social account and swiftly sparked outrage. Speaking on Monday, Trump claimed he had no knowledge of the picture’s origins and suggested it may have been created using AI.

Trump further distanced himself from the incident, insisting he first saw the image on Sunday evening, despite it being posted on his account on Friday night and later shared by the White House through its official X account.

When questioned about offended Catholics, he dismissed the concerns lightly, stating, ‘Oh, they can’t take a joke.’ He also remarked that Melania Trump thought the image was ‘cute’.

Despite his lighthearted response, some pointed out that Trump is ineligible to become pope, having never been baptised as a Catholic. He would not be permitted to join the conclave or hold the position.

Meanwhile, preparations continue in the Vatican, where 133 cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to begin the ancient rituals of selecting a new pontiff following the death of Pope Francis last month.

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

New AI app offers early support for parents of neurodivergent children

A new app called Hazel, developed by Bristol-based company Spicy Minds, offers parents a powerful tool to understand better and support their neurodivergent children while waiting for formal diagnoses. Using AI, the app runs a series of tests and then provides personalised strategies tailored to everyday challenges like school routines or holidays.

While it doesn’t replace a medical diagnosis, Hazel aims to fill a critical gap for families stuck in long waiting queues. Spicy Minds CEO Ben Cosh emphasised the need for quicker support, noting that many families wait years before receiving an autism diagnosis through the UK’s NHS.

‘Parents shouldn’t have to wait years to understand their child’s needs and get practical support,’ he said.

In Bristol alone, around 7,000 children are currently on waiting lists for an autism assessment, a number that continues to rise. Parents like Nicola Bennett, who waited five years for her son’s diagnosis, believe the app could be life-changing.

She praised Hazel for offering real-time guidance for managing sensory needs and daily planning—tools she wished she’d had much earlier. She also suggested integrating links to local support groups and services to make the app even more impactful.

By helping reduce stress and giving families a head start on understanding neurodiversity, Hazel represents a meaningful step toward more accessible, tech-driven support for parents navigating a complex and often delayed healthcare system.

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

Google’s Gemini AI completes Pokémon Blue with a little help

Google’s cutting-edge AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, has made headlines by completing the 1996 classic video game Pokémon Blue. While Google didn’t achieve the feat directly, it was orchestrated by Joel Z, an independent software engineer who created a livestream called Gemini Plays Pokémon.

Despite being unaffiliated with the tech giant, Joel’s project has drawn enthusiastic support from Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, who celebrated the victory on social media. The challenge of beating a game like Pokémon Blue has become an informal benchmark for testing the reasoning and adaptability of large language models.

Earlier this year, AI company Anthropic revealed its Claude model was making strides in a similar title, Pokémon Red, but has yet to complete it. While comparisons between the two AIs are inevitable, Joel Z clarified that such evaluations are flawed due to differences in tools, data access, and gameplay frameworks.

To play the game, Gemini relied on a complex system called an ‘agent harness,’ which feeds the model visual and contextual information from the game and translates its decisions into gameplay actions. Joel admits to making occasional interventions to improve Gemini’s reasoning but insists these did not include cheats or explicit hints. Instead, his guidance was limited to refining the model’s problem-solving capabilities.

The project remains a work in progress, and Joel continues to enhance the framework behind Gemini’s gameplay. While it may not be an official benchmark for AI performance, the achievement is a playful demonstration of how far AI systems have come in tackling creative and unexpected challenges.

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

Apple partners with Anthropic on AI coding tool

Apple is reportedly collaborating with Anthropic, a startup backed by Amazon, to develop a new AI-powered coding platform called ‘vibe coding’, according to Bloomberg.

The platform will use Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model to write, edit, and test code on behalf of programmers, updating Apple’s existing Xcode software instead of launching an entirely separate tool.

‘Vibe coding’ refers to a growing trend in AI development where intelligent agents generate code autonomously instead of relying on manual programming. Apple is said to be testing the system internally for now, with no confirmed decision on whether it will become publicly available.

The move comes as tech firms race to lead in generative AI. While Apple previously introduced a similar tool, Swift Assist, it was never released to developers amid concerns from engineers about possible slowdowns in app creation.

Apple and Anthropic have not commented publicly on the reported collaboration.

With rivals like OpenAI pushing ahead—reportedly negotiating a $3 billion acquisition of coding assistant Windsurf—Apple is equipping its devices with more advanced chips and AI features, including ChatGPT integration, to compete in the rapidly evolving landscape instead of falling behind.

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

AI to boost India’s media and entertainment sector

AI could boost revenues by 10% and reduce costs by 15% for media and entertainment firms, according to a report by EY, unveiled during the first WAVES Summit.

The report, A Studio Called India, outlines how AI is reshaping the global media landscape—transforming everything from content creation and personalisation to monetisation and distribution.

India, already a global leader in content production and IT, is well-positioned to lead this AI-driven shift.

EY highlighted India’s unique combination of technical skill, creative depth, and a rapidly expanding AI ecosystem, which positions it as a critical hub in the evolving media value chain instead of remaining just an outsourcing destination.

Indian companies are increasingly using generative AI for tasks like campaign optimisation, audience targeting, automated dubbing, and voice cloning.

These tools enable faster localisation of international content and allow global studios to scale up multi-language releases without sacrificing cultural authenticity or narrative integrity.

With 2.8 million people directly employed and around 10 million in indirect roles, India’s media sector is growing rapidly, driven by digital platforms, government support, and rising demand for AI-enhanced content services.

EY concluded that India offers foreign investors a powerful combination of creative scale, cost advantage, and favourable policies instead of regulatory barriers.

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

Nvidia moves to comply with US export rules

Nvidia is planning to redesign its AI chips to comply with tightened US export restrictions, aiming to retain its foothold in China instead of pulling back.

According to a report by The Information, the chipmaker has already informed major Chinese clients, such as Alibaba, ByteDance, and Tencent, about its revised strategy. The discussions reportedly occurred during CEO Jensen Huang’s visit to Beijing in mid-April.

The visit came just after Washington expanded its curbs on high-performance AI chip exports to China, specifically targeting Nvidia’s H20 chip.

Originally developed to meet earlier US rules, the H20 has now also been deemed too powerful for export under the new regulations. The US government says the move is aimed at preventing China’s military from accessing cutting-edge AI.

Nvidia previously warned that the latest restrictions could cost it up to $5.5 billion in lost revenue. Instead of backing away, the company is now preparing redesigned chips to stay within legal bounds while continuing to serve Chinese tech firms.

Customers have been told that prototype chips could be ready by June.

In addition, Nvidia is developing a tailored version of its next-generation AI chip, Blackwell, specifically for China. These efforts underline Nvidia’s attempt to balance regulatory compliance with its commercial interests in one of the world’s largest AI markets.

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

Musk says AI should replace federal jobs

Elon Musk has suggested that AI should replace many federal government workers, criticising the US administration as bloated and inefficient.

Speaking privately at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Musk argued AI could perform government tasks faster and with greater accuracy, ultimately saving taxpayers money.

His remarks coincided with the winding down of his controversial volunteer role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative born under Donald Trump’s presidency.

Musk spent over 100 days embedded in the White House, even setting up a small office in the West Wing. Despite joking about its minimal view and sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, he claimed his work had major impacts — including rooting out fraud and slashing federal budgets.

Musk said DOGE was responsible for cutting $160 billion in government spending, although no formal evidence has been released to support that figure.

The programme has sparked intense backlash. Thousands of federal employees were reportedly dismissed or resigned during the DOGE audits, prompting lawsuits and allegations of illegal firings.

Critics say the sweeping cuts have left the US less prepared for emergencies and reduced its global influence, allowing China to expand its reach. Protesters have targeted Tesla in response, leading Trump to defend Musk and condemn the attacks.

Although scaling back his involvement in Washington, Musk isn’t leaving entirely. He will now spend only one or two days a week on government affairs, returning more of his focus to Tesla amid flagging sales and investor pressure.

Despite the chaos, DOGE has inspired new political groups in Congress, blurring the line between satire and policy. Musk himself finds it all surreal, asking, ‘Are we in a simulation here?’

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

Chefs quietly embrace AI in the kitchen

At this year’s Michelin Guide awards in France, AI sparked nearly as much conversation as the stars themselves.

Paris-based chef Matan Zaken, of the one-star restaurant Nhome, said AI dominated discussions among chefs, even though many are hesitant to admit they already rely on tools like ChatGPT for inspiration and recipe development.

Zaken openly embraces AI in his kitchen, using platforms like ChatGPT Premium to generate ingredient pairings—such as peanuts and wild garlic—that he might not have considered otherwise. Instead of starting with traditional tastings, he now consults vast databases of food imagery and chemical profiles.

In a recent collaboration with the digital collective Obvious Art, AI-generated food photos came first, and Zaken created dishes to match them.

Still, not everyone is sold on AI’s place in haute cuisine. Some top chefs insist that no algorithm can replace the human palate or creativity honed by years of training.

Philippe Etchebest, who just earned a second Michelin star, argued that while AI may be helpful elsewhere, it has no place in the artistry of the kitchen. Others worry it strays too far from the culinary traditions rooted in local produce and craftsmanship.

Many chefs, however, seem more open to using AI behind the scenes. From managing kitchen rotas to predicting ingredient costs or carbon footprints, phone apps like Menu and Fullsoon are gaining popularity.

Experts believe molecular databases and cookbook analysis could revolutionise flavour pairing and food presentation, while robots might one day take over laborious prep work—peeling potatoes included.

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

New Zealand central bank warns of AI risks

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has warned that the swift uptake of AI in the financial sector could pose a threat to financial stability.

A report released on Monday highlighted how errors in AI systems, data privacy breaches and potential market distortions might magnify existing vulnerabilities instead of simply streamlining operations.

The central bank also expressed concern over the increasing dependence on a handful of third-party AI providers, which could lead to market concentration instead of healthy competition.

A reliance like this, it said, could create new avenues for systemic risk and make the financial system more susceptible to cyber-attacks.

Despite the caution, the report acknowledged that AI is bringing tangible advantages, such as greater modelling accuracy, improved risk management and increased productivity. It also noted that AI could help strengthen cyber resilience rather than weaken it.

The analysis was published just ahead of the central bank’s twice-yearly Financial Stability Report, scheduled for release on Wednesday.

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