Artificial intelligence

Scientists use quantum AI to solve chip design challenge

Scientists in Australia have used quantum machine learning to model semiconductor properties more accurately, potentially transforming how microchips are designed and manufactured.

The hybrid technique combines AI with quantum computing to solve a long-standing challenge in chip production: predicting electrical resistance where metal meets semiconductor.

The Australian researchers developed a new algorithm, the Quantum Kernel-Aligned Regressor (QKAR), which uses quantum methods to detect complex patterns in small, noisy datasets, a common issue in semiconductor research.

By improving how engineers predict Ohmic contact resistance, the approach could lead to faster, more energy-efficient chips. It also offers real-world compatibility, meaning it can eventually run on existing quantum machines as the hardware matures.

The findings highlight the growing role of quantum AI in hardware design and suggest the method could be adopted in commercial chip production in the near future.

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Brainstorming with AI opens new doors for innovation

AI is increasingly embraced as a reliable creative partner, offering speed and breadth in idea generation. In Fast Company, Kevin Li describes how AI complements human brainstorming under time pressure, drawing from his work at Amazon and startup Stealth.

Li argues AI is no longer just a tool but a true collaborator in creative workflows. Generative models can analyse vast data sets and rapidly suggest alternative concepts, helping teams reimagine product features, marketing strategies, and campaign angles. The shift aligns with broader industry trends.

A McKinsey report from earlier this year highlighted that, while only 1% of companies consider themselves mature in AI use, most are investing heavily in this area. Creative use cases are expected to generate massive value by 2025.

Li notes that the most effective use of AI occurs when it’s treated as a sounding board. He recounts how the quality of ideas improved significantly when AI offered raw directions that humans later refined. The hybrid model is gaining traction across multiple startups and established firms alike.

Still, original thinking remains a hurdle. A recent study by PsyPost found human pairs often outperform AI tools in generating novel ideas during collaborative sessions. While AI offers scale, human teams reported more substantial creative confidence and profound originality.

The findings suggest AI may work best at the outset of ideation, followed by human editing and development. Experts recommend setting clear roles for AI in the creative cycle. For instance, tools like ChatGPT or Midjourney might handle initial brainstorming, while humans oversee narrative coherence, tone, and ethics.

The approach is especially relevant in advertising, product design, and marketing, where nuance is still essential. Creatives across X are actively sharing tips and results. One agency leader posted about reducing production costs by 30% using AI tools for routine content work.

The strategy allowed more time and budget to focus on storytelling and strategy. Others note that using AI to write draft copy or generate design options is becoming common. Yet concerns remain over ethical boundaries.

The Orchidea Innovation Blog cautioned in 2023 that AI often recycles learned material, which can limit fresh perspectives. Recent conversations on X raise alarms about over-reliance. Some fear AI-generated content will eradicate originality across sectors, particularly marketing, media, and publishing.

To counter such risks, structured prompting and human-in-the-loop models are gaining popularity. ClickUp’s AI brainstorming guide recommends feeding diverse inputs to avoid homogeneous outputs. Précis AI referenced Wharton research to show that vague prompts often produce repetitive results.

The solution: intentional, varied starting points with iterative feedback loops. Emerging platforms are tackling this in real-time. Ideamap.ai, for example, enables collaborative sessions where teams interact with AI visually and textually.

Jabra’s latest insights describe AI as a ‘thought partner’ rather than a replacement, enhancing team reasoning and ideation dynamics without eliminating human roles. Looking ahead, the business case for AI creativity is strong.

McKinsey projects hundreds of billions in value from AI-enhanced marketing, especially in retail and software. Influencers like Greg Isenberg predict $100 million niches built on AI-led product design. Frank$Shy’s analysis points to a $30 billion creative AI market by 2025, driven by enterprise tools.

Even in e-commerce, AI is transforming operations. Analytics India Magazine reports that brands build eight-figure revenues by automating design and content workflows while keeping human editors in charge. The trend is not about replacement but refinement and scale.

Li’s central message remains relevant: when used ethically, AI augments rather than replaces creativity. Responsible integration supports diverse voices and helps teams navigate the fast-evolving innovation landscape. The future of ideation lies in balance, not substitution.

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AI sparks fears over future of dubbing

Voice actors across Europe are pushing back against the growing use of AI in dubbing, fearing it could replace human talent in film and television. Many believe dubbing is a creative profession beyond simple voice replication, requiring emotional nuance and cultural sensitivity.

In Germany, France, Italy and the UK, nearly half of viewers prefer dubbed content over subtitles, according to research by GWI. Yet studios are increasingly testing AI tools that replicate actors’ voices or generate synthetic speech, sparking concern across the dubbing industry.

French voice actor Boris Rehlinger, known for dubbing Hollywood stars, says he feels threatened even though AI has not replaced him. He is part of TouchePasMaVF, an initiative defending the value of human dubbing and calling for protection against AI replication.

Voice artists argue that digital voice cloning ignores the craftsmanship behind their performances. As legal frameworks around voice ownership lag behind the technology, many in the industry demand urgent safeguards.

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Alibaba launches Wan2.2 AI for text and image to video generation

Alibaba and Zhipu AI have unveiled new open-source models as China intensifies its efforts to compete with the US in AI development. Alibaba’s Wan2.2 is being promoted as the first large video generation model using a Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture in the open-source space.

The Wan2.2 series includes models for generating video from text and images, supporting hybrid capabilities for advanced multimedia applications. MoE architecture allows these models to use less computing power by dividing tasks among specialised sub-networks.

Zhipu, one of China’s leading AI firms, launched the GLM-4.5 and GLM-4.5-Air models with up to 355 billion parameters, built on a self-developed architecture. The GLM-4.5 model ranked third globally and first among open-source models across 12 performance benchmarks.

China’s open-source ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with Zhipu’s models amassing over 40 million downloads and Alibaba’s Qwen series producing hundreds of derivatives. Industry momentum reflects a strategic shift towards wider adoption, improved efficiency and greater international reach.

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Survey finds developers value AI for ideas, not final answers

As AI becomes more integrated into developer workflows, a new report shows that trust in AI-generated results erodes. According to Stack Overflow’s 2025 Developer Survey, the use of AI has increased to 84%, up from 76% last year. However, trust in its output has dropped, especially among experienced professionals.

The survey found that 46% of developers now lack trust in AI-generated answers.

That figure marks a sharp increase from 31% in 2024, suggesting growing scepticism despite higher adoption. By contrast, only 3.1% of developers trust AI responses.

Interestingly, trust varies with experience. Beginners were twice as likely to express high confidence in AI, with 6.1% reporting strong trust, compared with just 2.5% among seasoned developers. The results indicate a divide in how AI is perceived across the developer landscape.

Despite doubts, developers continue to use AI tools across various tasks. The vast majority – 78.5% – use AI on an infrequent basis, such as once a month. The pattern holds across experience levels, suggesting cautious and situational usage.

While trust is lacking, developers still see AI as a helpful starting point. Three in five respondents reported favourable views of AI tools overall. One in five viewed them negatively, with the remaining 20% remaining neutral.

However, that usefulness has limits. Developers were quick to seek human input when unsure about AI responses. Seventy-five percent said they would ask someone when they didn’t trust an AI-generated answer. Fifty-eight percent preferred human advice when they didn’t fully understand a solution.

Ethics and security were also areas where developers preferred human judgement. Again, 58% reported turning to colleagues or mentors to evaluate such risks. Such cases show a continued reliance on human expertise in high-stakes decisions.

Stack Overflow CEO Prashanth Chandrasekar acknowledged the limitations of AI in the development process. ‘AI is a powerful tool, but it has significant risks of misinformation or can lack complexity or relevance,’ he said. He added that AI best uses a ‘trusted human intelligence layer’.

The data also revealed that developers may not trust AI entirely but use it to support learning.

Forty-four percent of respondents admitted using AI tools to learn how to code, up from 37% last year.

A further 36% use it for work-related growth or career advancement.

The results highlight the role of AI as an educational companion rather than a coding authority.

It can help users understand concepts or generate basic examples, but most still want human review.

That distinction matters as teams consider how to integrate AI into production workflows.

Some developers are concerned that overreliance on AI could reduce the depth of their problem-solving skills. Others worry about hallucinations — AI-generated content that appears accurate but is misleading or incorrect. Such risks have led to a cautious, layered approach to using AI tools in real-life projects.

Stack Overflow’s findings align with broader AI adoption and trust industry trends. Tech firms are exploring ways to integrate AI safely, but many prioritise transparency and human oversight. Chandrasekar believes developers are uniquely positioned to help shape AI’s future revolution.

‘By providing a trusted human intelligence layer in the age of AI, we believe the tech enthusiasts of today can play a larger role in adding value,’ he said. ‘They’ll help build the AI technologies and products of tomorrow.’

As AI continues to expand into software development, one thing is clear: trust matters. Developers are open to using AI – but only when it supports, rather than replaces, human judgement. The challenge now is building systems that earn and maintain that trust.

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Google urges faster AI adoption to boost productivity

Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai and other tech leaders are urging their employees to quickly integrate AI into daily operations. The aim is to enhance productivity as companies seek smarter ways to manage rising costs.

Rather than simply expanding their workforce during periods of growth, firms like Google and Amazon are now focusing on AI tools to improve efficiency. Google plans to spend $85 billion this year to expand data centres for advanced AI models.

Meanwhile, Amazon has warned employees about upcoming layoffs linked to AI adoption, encouraging staff to learn how to work effectively with smaller teams.

Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has already reduced its workforce by about 6% in 2023, cutting thousands of jobs while continuing to invest heavily in AI development. Pichai described this period as one for cautious investment aimed at boosting productivity.

Other tech leaders, including Microsoft’s Julia Liuson and Shopify’s Tobi Lutke, have echoed the sentiment that adopting AI is now essential for success.

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Italy investigates Meta over AI integration in WhatsApp

Italy’s antitrust watchdog has investigated Meta Platforms over allegations that the company may have abused its dominant position by integrating its AI assistant directly into WhatsApp.

The Rome-based authority, formally known as the Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), announced the probe on Wednesday, stating that Meta may have breached European Union competition regulations.

The regulator claims that the introduction of the Meta AI assistant into WhatsApp was carried out without obtaining prior user consent, potentially distorting market competition.

Meta AI, the company’s virtual assistant designed to provide chatbot-style responses and other generative AI functions, has been embedded in WhatsApp since March 2025. It is accessible through the app’s search bar and is intended to offer users conversational AI services directly within the messaging interface.

The AGCM is concerned that this integration may unfairly favour Meta’s AI services by leveraging the company’s dominant position in the messaging market. It warned that such a move could steer users toward Meta’s products, limit consumer choice, and disadvantage competing AI providers.

‘By pairing Meta AI with WhatsApp, Meta appears to be able to steer its user base into the new market not through merit-based competition, but by ‘forcing’ users to accept the availability of two distinct services,’ the authority said.

It argued that this strategy may undermine rival offerings and entrench Meta’s position across adjacent digital services. In a statement, Meta confirmed cooperating fully with the Italian authorities.

The company defended the rollout of its AI features, stating that their inclusion in WhatsApp aimed to improve the user experience. ‘Offering free access to our AI features in WhatsApp gives millions of Italians the choice to use AI in a place they already know, trust and understand,’ a Meta spokesperson said via email.

The company maintains its approach, which benefits users by making advanced technology widely available through familiar platforms. The AGCM clarified that its inquiry is conducted in close cooperation with the European Commission’s relevant offices.

The cross-border collaboration reflects the growing scrutiny Meta faces from regulators across the EU over its market practices and the use of its extensive user base to promote new services.

If the authority finds Meta in breach of EU competition law, the company could face a fine of up to 10 percent of its global annual turnover. Under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, abusing a dominant market position is prohibited, particularly if it affects trade between member states or restricts competition.

To gather evidence, AGCM officials inspected the premises of Meta’s Italian subsidiary, accompanied by Guardia di Finanza, the tax police’s special antitrust unit in Italy.

The inspections were part of preliminary investigative steps to assess the impact of Meta AI’s deployment within WhatsApp. Regulators fear that embedding AI assistants into dominant platforms could lead to unfair advantages in emerging AI markets.

By relying on its established user base and platform integration, Meta may effectively foreclose competition by making alternative AI services harder to access or less visible to consumers. Such a case would not be the first time Meta has faced regulatory scrutiny in Europe.

The company has been the subject of multiple investigations across the EU concerning data protection, content moderation, advertising practices, and market dominance. The current probe adds to a growing list of regulatory pressures facing the tech giant as it expands its AI capabilities.

The AGCM’s investigation comes amid broader EU efforts to ensure fair competition in digital markets. With the Digital Markets Act and AI Act emerging, regulators are becoming more proactive in addressing potential risks associated with integrating advanced technologies into consumer platforms.

As the investigation continues, Meta’s use of AI within WhatsApp will remain under close watch. The outcome could set an essential precedent for how dominant tech firms can release AI products within widely used communication tools.

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UAE partnership boosts NeOnc’s clinical trial programme

Biotech firm NeOnc Technologies has gained rapid attention after going public in March 2025 and joining the Russell Microcap Index just months later. The company focuses on intranasal drug delivery for brain cancer, allowing patients to administer treatment at home and bypass the blood-brain barrier.

NeOnc’s lead treatment is in Phase 2A trials for glioblastoma patients and is already showing extended survival times with minimal side effects. Backed by a partnership with USC’s Keck Medical School, the company is also expanding clinical trials to the Middle East and North Africa under US FDA standards.

A $50 million investment deal with a UAE-based firm is helping fund this expansion, including trials run by Cleveland Clinic through a regional partnership. The trials are expected to be fully enrolled by September, with positive preliminary data already being reported.

AI and quantum computing are central to NeOnc’s strategy, particularly in reducing risk and cost in trial design and drug development. As a pre-revenue biotech, the company is betting that innovation and global collaboration will carry it to the next stage of growth.

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Google backs EU AI Code but warns against slowing innovation

Google has confirmed it will sign the European Union’s General Purpose AI Code of Practice, joining other companies, including major US model developers.

The tech giant hopes the Code will support access to safe and advanced AI tools across Europe, where rapid adoption could add up to €1.4 trillion annually to the continent’s economy by 2034.

Kent Walker, Google and Alphabet’s President of Global Affairs, said the final Code better aligns with Europe’s economic ambitions than earlier drafts, noting that Google had submitted feedback during its development.

However, he warned that parts of the Code and the broader AI Act might hinder innovation by introducing rules that stray from EU copyright law, slow product approvals or risk revealing trade secrets.

Walker explained that such requirements could restrict Europe’s ability to compete globally in AI. He highlighted the need to balance regulation with the flexibility required to keep pace with technological advances.

Google stated it will work closely with the EU’s new AI Office to help shape a proportionate, future-facing approach.

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EU AI Act begins as tech firms push back

Europe’s AI crackdown officially begins soon, as the EU enforces the first rules targeting developers of generative AI models like ChatGPT.

Under the AI Act, firms must now assess systemic risks, conduct adversarial testing, ensure cybersecurity, report serious incidents, and even disclose energy usage. The goal is to prevent harms related to bias, misinformation, manipulation, and lack of transparency in AI systems.

Although the legislation was passed last year, the EU only released developer guidance on 10 July, leaving tech giants with little time to adapt.

Meta, which developed the Llama AI model, has refused to sign the voluntary code of practice, arguing that it introduces legal uncertainty. Other developers have expressed concerns over how vague and generic the guidance remains, especially around copyright and practical compliance.

The EU also distinguishes itself from the US, where a re-elected Trump administration has launched a far looser AI Action Plan. While Washington supports minimal restrictions to encourage innovation, Brussels is focused on safety and transparency.

Trade tensions may grow, but experts warn that developers should not rely on future political deals instead of taking immediate steps toward compliance.

The AI Act’s rollout will continue into 2026, with the next phase focusing on high-risk AI systems in healthcare, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, questions remain over whether AI-generated content qualifies for copyright protection and how companies should handle AI in marketing or supply chains. For now, Europe’s push for safer AI is accelerating—whether Big Tech likes it or not.

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