OpenAI faced a wave of global complaints after many users struggled to access ChatGPT.
Reports began circulating in the US during the afternoon, with outage cases climbing to more than 12.000 in less than half an hour. Social media quickly filled with questions from people trying to determine whether the disruption was widespread or a local glitch.
Also, users in the UK reported complete failure to generate responses, yet access returned when they switched to a US-based VPN.
Other regions saw mixed results, as VPNs in Ireland, Canada, India and Poland allowed ChatGPT to function, although replies were noticeably slower instead of consistent.
OpenAI later confirmed that several services were experiencing elevated errors. Engineers identified the source of the disruption, introduced mitigations and continued monitoring the recovery.
The company stressed that users in many regions might still experience intermittent problems while the system stabilises rather than operating at full capacity.
In the following update, OpenAI announced that its systems were fully operational again.
The status page indicated that the affected services had recovered, and engineers were no longer aware of active issues. The company added that the underlying fault was addressed, with further safeguards being developed to prevent similar incidents.
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WordPress has released new guidelines to shape how AI is used across plugins, themes, documentation and media assets. The framework focuses on transparency, accountability and maintaining the project’s open source foundations.
Contributors remain fully responsible for AI-assisted work and are expected to disclose meaningful AI use during submissions. Reviewers are encouraged to assess such contributions with awareness of how automated tools influenced the output.
Strong emphasis is placed on licensing, with all AI-generated material required to remain compatible with GPLv2 or later. Tools that restrict redistribution or reproduce incompatible code are explicitly ruled out.
The guidance also targets so-called AI slop, including untested code, fabricated references and unnecessarily complex solutions. Maintainers are authorised to reject low-quality submissions that lack apparent human oversight.
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AI tools are already widely used in higher education, with more than half of surveyed students required to use them in coursework and nearly two-thirds using them for assignments. However, the survey suggests that students are largely learning to use AI on their own, relying mainly on informal experimentation rather than structured university-led training.
At the same time, awareness and participation in formal AI education remain limited. Only 31% of students said they were aware of AI-related courses offered by their college or university, and fewer than 20% had taken one, highlighting a gap between widespread use and institutional teaching.
Despite this, many students recognise AI’s growing importance for their careers. Around half believe proficiency with AI tools will be important in the future, reflecting expectations that AI skills will be increasingly valued in the workplace.
Overall, the findings point to an opportunity for universities to strengthen AI education by integrating practical, advanced, and ethical AI training into curricula, helping students move beyond basic use toward workplace-ready skills.
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A major international AI safety report warns that AI systems are advancing rapidly, with sharp gains in reasoning, coding and scientific tasks. Researchers say progress remains uneven, leaving systems powerful yet unreliable.
The report highlights rising concerns over deepfakes, cyber misuse and emotional reliance on AI companions in the UK and the US. Experts note growing difficulty in distinguishing AI generated content from human work.
Safeguards against biological, chemical and cyber risks have improved, though oversight challenges persist in the UK and the US. Analysts warn advanced models are becoming better at evading evaluation and controls.
The impact of AI on jobs in the UK and the US remains uncertain, with mixed evidence across sectors. Researchers say labour disruption could accelerate if systems gain greater autonomy.
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Technology firms in China are rolling out large cash incentive campaigns to attract users to their AI chatbots ahead of the expected launch of new AI models later this month.
Alibaba Group has earmarked CNY 3 billion for users of its Qwen AI app, with the promotion beginning on 6 February to coincide with Lunar New Year celebrations.
Tencent Holdings and Baidu have announced similar offers, together committing around CNY 1.5 billion in cash rewards and consumer electronics, including smartphones and televisions.
To qualify for prizes, users must register on the platforms and interact with the chatbots during the promotional period by asking questions or completing everyday planning tasks.
The incentives reflect intensifying competition with global developers such as Google and OpenAI, while also strengthening efforts to position China-based firms as potential local AI partners for Apple in the Chinese market.
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Oracle is expanding AI data centres across the United States while pairing infrastructure growth with workforce development through its philanthropic education programme, Oracle Academy.
The initiative provides schools and educators with curriculum, cloud tools, software, and hands-on training designed to prepare students for enterprise-scale technology roles increasingly linked to AI operations.
As demand for specialised skills rises, Oracle Academy is introducing Data Centre Technician courses to fast-track learners into permanent roles supporting AI infrastructure development and maintenance.
The programme already works with hundreds of institutions across multiple US states, including Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and New Mexico, spanning disciplines from computer science and engineering to construction management and supply chain studies.
Alongside new courses in machine learning, generative AI, and analytics, Oracle says the approach is intended to close skills gaps and ensure local communities benefit from the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.
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About 50 residents of Quilicura, an urban community near Chile’s capital, spent a day answering thousands of questions and creating hand-drawn images through a human-powered chatbot called Quili.AI, designed to demonstrate alternatives to instant AI responses and raise awareness of the hidden environmental toll of AI infrastructure.
Participants responded to more than 25,000 global requests, often taking minutes for answers and sketches that would be instantaneous with commercial AI models.
The project, organised by environmental group Corporación NGEN, emphasised that AI systems, especially data centres that host them, consume large amounts of electricity and water, with Quilicura itself becoming a hub for data centres run by major cloud providers.
Organisers said the human chatbot wasn’t an argument against AI’s value but a way to prompt reflection on responsible and sustainable use, especially in regions facing water scarcity and climate stresses like drought and wildfires.
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At the Summit for Clinical Operations Executives (SCOPE) 2026, major players in life sciences showcased artificial intelligence-enabled systems built to accelerate and optimise oncology clinical trials.
Massive Bio’s TrialRelay uses AI routing (“TrialRouter”) to orchestrate the enrolment process, reducing the risk that patients are lost in the referral pipeline after being matched to a study.
ConcertAI’s Accelerated Clinical Trials (ACT) platform, powered by its proprietary agentic AI, integrates real-world and proprietary datasets with advanced workflows to shorten trial timelines by 10–20 months, improve study design and reduce costly amendments, helping sponsors and contract research organisations (CROs) bring therapies to patients faster.
AI adoption in clinical research is rising across recruitment, trial design, data handling and operational forecasting, though integration challenges, regulatory alignment and rapid technological change remain obstacles.
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Web Summit Qatar is underway in Doha, drawing startups, investors, and technology leaders to discuss emerging trends shaping the global digital economy. Early sessions featured startup pitches, investor meetings, and discussions on AI, quantum technologies, and the creator economy.
More than 1,600 startups are taking part, with around 85% arriving from outside Qatar, joined by nearly 1,000 investors. Funds such as Amino Capital, Greycroft, and 500 Global are scouting opportunities, as journalists cover debates on tech geopolitics and innovation policy.
Germany is marking its strongest showing to date, bringing more than 200 startups, investors, and decision-makers. The German Pavilion showcases AI, cybersecurity, deep tech, and industrial innovation, highlighting plans to deepen cooperation with regional partners.
Beyond visibility, the summit emphasises partnerships, market entry, and long-term collaboration. Organisers and participants point to growing ties between Germany and Qatar as both countries seek to deepen cooperation across advanced technology and innovation ecosystems.
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European policymakers are sharpening their focus on digital sovereignty as concerns grow over the continent’s reliance on foreign technology providers. Control over key digital infrastructure and technologies is seen as vital to protecting Europe’s economic resilience.
At a fintech regulatory conference in Brussels, European Financial Services Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque stressed the need to retain control over core economic technologies. She warned that rising global isolationism is heightening the risks linked to external dependencies.
The comments reflected unease about Europe’s reliance on non-European tech companies, particularly those based in the United States. Such dependence, officials argue, could weaken Europe’s ability to protect its digital infrastructure and shape its own economic future.
Calls for greater digital autonomy are gaining momentum as the EU seeks to balance innovation with security. Policymakers see technological control as key to long-term stability, competitiveness, and strategic independence.
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