Artificial intelligence

Coding meets creativity in Minecraft Education’s AI tutorial

Minecraft Education is introducing an AI-powered twist on the classic first night challenge with a new Hour of AI world. Players explore a puzzle-driven environment that turns early survival stress into a guided coding and learning experience.

The activity drops players into a familiar biome and tasks them with building shelter before sunset. Instead of panicking at distant rustles or looming shadows, learners work with an AI agent designed to support planning and problem-solving.

Using MakeCode programming, players teach their agent to recognise patterns, classify resources, and coordinate helper bots. The agent mimics real AI behaviour by learning from examples and occasionally making mistakes that require human correction to improve its decisions.

As the agent becomes more capable, it shifts from a simple tool to a partner that automates key tasks and reduces first-night pressure. The aim is to let players develop creative strategies rather than resort to frantic survival instincts.

Designed for ages seven and up, the experience is free to access through Minecraft Education. It introduces core AI literacy concepts, blending gameplay with lessons on how AI systems learn, adapt, and occasionally fail, all wrapped in a familiar, family-friendly setting.

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Hidden freeze controls uncovered across major blockchains

Bybit’s Lazarus Security Lab says 16 major blockchains embed fund-freezing mechanisms. An additional 19 could adopt them with modest protocol changes, according to the study. The review covered 166 networks using an AI-assisted scan plus manual validation.

Whilst using AI, researchers describe three models: hardcoded blacklists, configuration-based freezes, and on-chain system contracts. Examples cited include BNB Chain, Aptos, Sui, VeChain and HECO in different roles. Analysts argue that emergency tools can curb exploits yet concentrate control.

Case studies show freezes after high-profile attacks and losses. Sui validators moved to restore about 162 million dollars post-Cetus hack, while BNB Chain halted movement after a 570 million bridge exploit. VeChain blocked 6.6 million in 2019.

New blockchain debates centre on transparency, governance and user rights when freezes occur. Critics warn about centralisation risks and opaque validator decisions, while exchanges urge disclosure of intervention powers.

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European Commission launches Culture Compass to strengthen the EU identity

The European Commission unveiled the Culture Compass for Europe, a framework designed to place culture at the heart of the EU policies.

An initiative that aims to foster the identity ot the EU, celebrate diversity, and support excellence across the continent’s cultural and creative sectors.

The Compass addresses the challenges facing cultural industries, including restrictions on artistic expression, precarious working conditions for artists, unequal access to culture, and the transformative impact of AI.

It provides guidance along four key directions: upholding European values and cultural rights, empowering artists and professionals, enhancing competitiveness and social cohesion, and strengthening international cultural partnerships.

Several initiatives will support the Compass, including the EU Artists Charter for fair working conditions, a European Prize for Performing Arts, a Youth Cultural Ambassadors Network, a cultural data hub, and an AI strategy for the cultural sector.

The Commission will track progress through a new report on the State of Culture in the EU and seeks a Joint Declaration with the European Parliament and Council to reinforce political commitment.

Commission officials emphasised that the Culture Compass connects culture to Europe’s future, placing artists and creativity at the centre of policy and ensuring the sector contributes to social, economic, and international engagement.

Culture is portrayed not as a side story, but as the story of the EU itself.

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Microsoft links datacentres into an AI superfactory

Microsoft has opened Fairwater, a new class of AI datacentres networked across the US. Atlanta began operating in October and links with the Wisconsin build to act as a single superfactory. The design targets faster training for models used by Microsoft, OpenAI and Copilot.

Fairwater sites pack hundreds of thousands of advanced GPUs with liquid cooling. Company materials highlight near-zero operational water use at Atlanta’s system and efficiency improvements in Wisconsin. Coverage confirms multi-site networking intended to accelerate model development.

Residents and experts voice concern over noise, power demand and water risks near proposed AI hubs. Georgia communities have pursued restrictions, citing environmental strain and rising utility bills, while Wisconsin groups demand transparency.

Microsoft expanded its Wisconsin investment and cancelled a separate Caledonia plan after severe local pushback. The Mount Pleasant project continues, with commitments on infrastructure costs and efficient cooling noted in filings and reports.

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AI tools deployed to set tailored attendance goals for English schools

England will introduce AI-generated attendance targets for each school, setting tailored improvement baselines based on the context and needs of each school. Schools with higher absence rates will be paired with strong performers for support. Thirty-six new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs will help drive the rollout.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said raising attendance is essential for opportunity. She highlighted the progress made since the pandemic, but noted that variation remains too high. The AI targets aim to disseminate effective practices across all schools.

A new toolkit will guide schools through key transition points, such as the transition from Year 7 to Year 8. CHS South in Manchester is highlighted for using summer family activities to ease anxiety. Officials say early engagement can stabilise attendance.

CHS South Deputy Head Sue Burke said the goal is to ensure no pupil feels left out. She credited the attendance team for combining support with firm expectations. The model is presented as a template for broader adoption.

The policy blends AI analysis with pastoral strategies to address entrenched absence. Ministers argue that consistent attendance drives long-term outcomes. The UK government expects personalised targets and shared practice to embed lasting improvement.

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TikTok faces scrutiny over AI moderation and UK staff cuts

TikTok has responded to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee regarding proposed cuts to its UK Trust and Safety teams. The company claimed that reducing staff while expanding AI, third-party specialists, and more localised teams would improve moderation effectiveness.

The social media platform, however, did not provide any supporting data or risk assessment to justify these changes. MPs previously called for more transparency on content moderation data during an inquiry into social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms.

TikTok’s increasing reliance on AI comes amid broader concerns over AI safety, following reports of chatbots encouraging harmful behaviours.

Committee Chair Dame Chi Onwurah expressed concern that AI cannot reliably replace human moderators. She warned AI could cause harm and criticised TikTok for not providing evidence that staff cuts would protect users.

The Committee urges the Government and Ofcom to take action to ensure user safety before implementing staffing reductions. Dame Onwurah emphasised that without credible data, it is impossible to determine whether the changes will effectively protect users.

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AI and digital tools improve early dementia detection in primary care

Early detection of Alzheimer’s is often limited in primary care due to short consultations, focus on other health issues, and stigma. Researchers have now demonstrated that a fully digital, zero-cost approach can overcome these barriers without requiring additional clinician time.

A pragmatic clinical trial involving over 5,000 patients tested a dual method combining the Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS), a ten-question patient-reported survey, with an AI-powered passive digital marker.

The approach, embedded in electronic health records, increased new dementia diagnoses by 31 percent compared with usual care and prompted 41 percent more follow-up assessments, such as cognitive tests and neuroimaging.

The passive digital marker from Regenstrief uses machine learning to analyse health records for memory issues and vascular concerns. Open-source and free, it flags at-risk patients and sends results to clinicians’ EHRs with no extra time or staff needed.

Researchers highlight that embedding these tools directly into routine care can improve equity, thereby reaching populations that the healthcare system has traditionally underserved.

Experts say that using patient-reported outcomes with AI is a scalable and efficient way to detect dementia early, without adding burden to primary care teams.

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Αnthropic pledges $50 billion to expand the US AI infrastructure

The US AI safety and research company, Anthropic, has announced a $50 billion investment to expand AI computing infrastructure inside the country, partnering with Fluidstack to build data centres in Texas and New York, with additional sites planned.

These facilities are designed to optimise efficiency for Anthropic’s workloads, supporting frontier research and development in AI.

The project is expected to generate approximately 800 permanent jobs and 2,400 construction positions as sites come online throughout 2026.

An investment that aligns with the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, aiming to maintain the US leadership in AI while strengthening domestic technology infrastructure and competitiveness.

Dario Amodei, CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, highlighted the importance of such an infrastructure in developing AI systems capable of accelerating scientific discovery and solving complex problems.

The company serves over 300,000 business customers, with a sevenfold growth in large accounts over the past year, demonstrating strong market demand for its Claude AI platform.

Fluidstack was selected as Anthropic’s partner for its agility in rapidly deploying high-capacity infrastructure. The collaboration aims to provide cost-effective and capital-efficient solutions to meet the growing demand, ensuring that research and development can continue to be at the forefront of AI innovation.

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Meta expands AI infrastructure with $1 billion sustainable facility

The US tech giant, Meta, has announced the construction of its 30th data centre in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, a $1 billion investment that will power the company’s growing AI infrastructure while benefiting the local community and environment.

A facility, designed to support Meta’s most demanding AI workloads, that will run entirely on clean energy and create more than 100 permanent jobs alongside 1,000 construction roles.

The company will invest nearly $200 million in energy infrastructure and donate $15 million to Alliant Energy’s Hometown Care Energy Fund to assist families with home energy costs.

Meta will also launch community grants to fund schools and local organisations, strengthening technology education and digital skills while helping small businesses use AI tools more effectively.

Environmental responsibility remains central to the project. The data centre will use dry cooling, eliminating water demands during operation, and restore 100% of consumed water to local watersheds.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Meta will revitalise 570 acres of wetlands and prairie, transforming degraded habitats into thriving ecosystems. The facility is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification, reflecting Meta’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-focused innovation.

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GPT-5.1 makes ChatGPT smarter and more personal

Meta has announced the construction of its 30th data centre in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The $1 billion investment will support the company’s expanding AI infrastructure while benefiting the local community and the environment.

A facility, designed to support Meta’s most demanding AI workloads, that will run entirely on clean energy and create more than 100 permanent jobs alongside 1,000 construction roles.

The company will invest nearly $200 million in energy infrastructure and donate $15 million to Alliant Energy’s Hometown Care Energy Fund to assist families with home energy costs.

Meta will also launch community grants to fund schools and local organisations, strengthening technology education and digital skills while helping small businesses use AI tools more effectively.

Environmental responsibility remains central to the project. The data centre will use dry cooling, eliminating water demands during operation, and restore 100% of consumed water to local watersheds.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Meta will revitalise 570 acres of wetlands and prairie, transforming degraded habitats into thriving ecosystems. The facility is expected to achieve LEED Gold Certification, reflecting Meta’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and community-focused innovation.

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