Britain has initiated a new technology security partnership with India, aiming to boost economic growth and collaboration in telecom security while fostering investment in emerging technologies. The agreement will enhance cooperation on critical technologies, including semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasised that this partnership would address future AI and critical minerals challenges, promoting mutual growth, innovation, job creation, and investment. Lammy made these remarks during his visit to India, where he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India’s Minister for External Affairs.
Additionally, both nations have committed to closer collaboration on tackling climate change. That includes mobilising finance and advancing partnerships in offshore wind energy and green hydrogen.
Microsoft has announced a partnership with Lumen Technologies to expand its capacity for AI workloads using LT’s network equipment. The tech giant, which has faced challenges due to data center infrastructure shortages, aims to meet the growing demand for AI services at its data centers.
In April, Microsoft revealed that the shortage of necessary infrastructure was limiting its ability to fully leverage the boom in AI technology. The company, which has invested heavily in OpenAI and its ChatGPT technology, continues to pour billions into cloud infrastructure to stay ahead of competitors like Google and Amazon.
As part of the deal, Lumen Technologies will switch to Microsoft’s Azure cloud services to reduce costs. The transition is expected to improve Lumen’s cash flow by over $20 million in the next year, aiding the company’s efforts to restructure its debt and achieve financial stability.
Why does this matter?
The collaboration comes as Microsoft also makes strides in AI development with projects like Vall-E-2, which achieves human-like speech, and its commitment to expanding AI in education in Hong Kong. These initiatives highlight Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to maintain its leadership in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
A consortium of universities, technology accelerators, and private research labs, funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program, has launched RoboSAPIENS, a project aimed at enhancing the adaptability and trustworthiness of industrial robots. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), industrial robot installations in Europe increased by 24% in 2021, reaching 84,302 units. The new project seeks to ensure these robots can efficiently adapt to changing environments while maintaining safe collaboration with humans.
The RoboSAPIENS consortium aims to advance robotic self-adaptation, empowering robots to dynamically respond to unforeseen changes in system structure or environment. The initiative focuses on developing control software for open-ended self-adaptation, improving safety engineering techniques, and utilising deep learning to reduce task uncertainty. This approach is designed to ensure that robots can reliably and reproducibly adapt to new tasks without the need for reprogramming.
Project coordinator Peter Gorm Larsen emphasised the importance of safety and trustworthiness in industrial robotics as Europe advances its capabilities. The project will build on the Monitor-Analyze-Plan-Execute-Knowledge (MAPE-K) framework to include adaptive controllers, incorporating deep learning and digital twin simulation techniques. RoboSAPIENS is currently conducting industrial use studies with manufacturing and logistics companies to test its adaptive controllers in real-world scenarios.
Why does this matter?
The launch of RoboSAPIENS comes amid broader efforts by the European Commission to promote human-centric AI, as seen with the introduction of the InTouchAI.eu initiative. At the same time, AI experts express concerns about granting legal status to robots, highlighting the need for careful consideration of AI’s role in society. RoboSAPIENS aims to strike a balance between innovation and safety, ensuring that industrial robots can adapt effectively while maintaining reliable and trustworthy operations.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an AI system to improve the categorisation of breast cancer. The new technology, led by G.V. Shivashankar from PSI and Caroline Uhler from MIT, aims to provide a reliable and cost-effective method for predicting the progression of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).
DCIS, a precursor of breast cancer in the milk ducts, accounts for about 25% of breast cancer diagnoses. It can develop into a threatening invasive form in 30 to 50% of cases. The AI system, trained on tissue samples stained with DAPI dye, analyses chromatin images to identify patterns matching those identified by human pathologists. This approach leverages AI’s potential, as highlighted by research in Lancet Digital Health showing AI outperforming radiologists in breast cancer detection.
The researchers believe this AI-based tumour classification method has significant potential, though further studies are necessary to ensure its reliability and safety. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has been using AI to detect cancer since 2020, showcasing the growing role of AI in medical diagnostics. The new system developed by PSI and MIT could lead to more accurate predictions and better treatment decisions for patients.
Chelmer Valley High School in Essex, United Kingdom has been formally reprimanded by the UK’s data protection regulator, the ICO, for using facial recognition technology without obtaining proper consent from students. The school began using the technology for cashless lunch payments in March 2023, but failed to carry out a required data protection impact assessment before implementation. Additionally, the school used an opt-out system for consent, contrary to UK GDPR regulations, which require clear affirmative action.
The incident has reignited the debate over the use of biometric data in schools. The ICO’s action echoes a similar situation from 2021, when schools in Scotland faced scrutiny for using facial recognition for lunch payments. Sweden was the first to issue a GDPR fine for using facial recognition in a school in 2019, highlighting the growing global concern over privacy and biometric data in educational settings.
Mark Johnson of Big Brother Watch criticised the use of facial recognition, emphasising that children should not be treated like ‘walking bar-codes’ and should be taught to protect their personal data. The ICO has chosen to issue a public reprimand rather than a fine, recognising the school’s first offense and the different approach required for public institutions compared to private companies.
The ICO stressed the importance of proper data handling, especially in environments involving children, and urged organisations to prioritise data protection when introducing new technologies. Lynne Currie of the ICO emphasised the need for schools to comply with data protection laws to maintain trust and safeguard children’s privacy rights.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has proposed a vision where AI bots assist content creators with audience engagement, aiming to free up their time for more crucial tasks. In an interview with internet personality Rowan Cheung, Zuckerberg discussed how these AI bots could capture the personalities and business objectives of creators, allowing fans to interact with them as if they were the creators themselves.
Zuckerberg’s optimism aligns with many in the tech industry who believe AI can significantly enhance the impact of individuals and organizations. However, there are concerns about whether creators, whose audiences value authenticity, will embrace generative AI. Meta’s initial rollout of AI-powered bots earlier this year faced issues, including bots making false claims and providing misleading information, raising questions about the technology’s reliability.
Meta claims improvements with its latest AI model, Llama 3.1, but challenges such as hallucinations and planning errors persist. Zuckerberg acknowledges the need to address these concerns and build trust with users. Despite these hurdles, Meta continues to focus on integrating AI into its platforms while also pursuing its Metaverse ambitions and competing in the tech space.
Samsung is relaunching Bixby, its virtual assistant initially introduced in 2017. The new version will feature advanced AI capabilities, enhancing user interactions with generative AI powered by Samsung’s proprietary large language model. The announcement was confirmed by TM Roh, head of Samsung’s mobile division, who emphasised the improvements aimed at making Bixby a more natural conversational interface.
Samsung recently unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, highlighting new AI tools designed to enhance the user experience. However, the upgraded Bixby was not mentioned during the latest Galaxy Unpacked event. Speculations suggest that the new Bixby may debut with the Galaxy S25 series early next year, though no specific timeline has been provided.
Reintroducing Bixby into a market dominated by Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri is a significant challenge. Apple has also announced AI enhancements for Siri, intensifying the competition. Samsung aims to differentiate Bixby by seamlessly integrating it with its extensive product ecosystem, providing a unique user experience.
The timeline for Bixby’s AI upgrade remains unclear. Whether Samsung’s virtual assistant will reclaim its position among the top contenders in the market is uncertain. However, Samsung is determined to make a strong impact with its revitalised Bixby.
OpenAI’s AI safety leader, Aleksander Madry, is now working on a new significant research project, according to CEO Sam Altman. OpenAI executives Joaquin Quinonero Candela and Lilian Weng will take over the preparedness team, which evaluates the readiness of the company’s models for general AI. The move is part of a broader strategy to unify OpenAI’s safety efforts.
OpenAI’s preparedness team ensures the safety and readiness of its AI models. Following Madry’s shift to a new research role, he will have an expanded position within the research organization. OpenAI is also addressing safety concerns surrounding its advanced chatbots, which can engage in human-like conversations and generate multimedia content from text prompts.
Joaquin Quinonero Candela and Lilian Weng will lead the preparedness team as part of this strategic change. Researcher Tejal Patwardhan will manage much of the team’s work, ensuring the continued focus on AI safety. The reorganization follows the recent formation of a Safety and Security Committee, led by board members including Sam Altman.
The reshuffle comes amid rising safety concerns as OpenAI’s technologies become more powerful and widely used. The Safety and Security Committee was established earlier this year in preparation for training the next generation of AI models. These developments reflect OpenAI’s ongoing commitment to AI safety and responsible innovation.
Elon Musk has revealed that Tesla will start using humanoid robots next year. These robots will initially serve Tesla internally, with plans to begin sales by 2026. However, announcement aligns with Musk’s broader strategy to cut costs amid decreasing demand for Tesla vehicles.
Tesla’s recent financial update reported a significant drop in profits for the second quarter, from $2.7bn to less than $1.5bn. Despite various price cuts, automotive revenue decreased by 7% year-on-year, though a rise in the energy storage business led to a modest 2% increase in overall revenue. Consequently, Tesla’s shares fell by almost 8% in after-hours trading.
Musk has been increasingly focusing on advanced technologies such as AI and autonomous driving. He announced that the Optimus robot would be ready for internal use at Tesla by the end of this year, with mass production expected by 2026. Optimus is designed to perform tasks that are unsafe, repetitive, or boring for humans.
Mr Musk’s ambitious timelines have often been missed, including previous predictions about self-driving taxis. Tesla remains committed to developing robo-taxis, but their launch depends on regulatory approval. Other companies like Honda and Boston Dynamics are also developing humanoid robots, highlighting the competitive nature of this emerging field.
Leaders of Fortune 500 companies developing AI applications face a potential nightmare: hackers tricking AI into revealing sensitive data. Zurich-based startup Lakera has raised $20 million to address this issue. The funding round, led by Atomico with participation from Citi Ventures and Dropbox Ventures, brings Lakera’s total funding to $30 million. Lakera’s platform, used by companies like Dropbox and Citi, allows businesses to set guardrails for generative AI, protecting against prompt injection attacks.
Lakera CEO David Haber highlighted the importance of safety and security as companies integrate generative AI into critical functions. Existing security teams encounter new challenges in securing these applications. Lakera’s platform, built on internal AI models, ensures that generative AI applications do not take unintended actions. Customers can specify the context and policies for AI responses, preventing the disclosure of sensitive information.
A unique advantage for Lakera is Gandalf, an online AI security game used by millions, including Microsoft. The game generates a real-time database of AI threats, keeping Lakera’s software updated with thousands of new attacks daily. That helps in maintaining robust security measures for their clients.
Lakera competes in the generative AI security landscape with startups like HackerOne and BugCrowd. Matt Carbonara of Citi Ventures praised Lakera’s focus on prompt injection attacks and its team’s capability to build the necessary countermeasures for new attack surfaces.
