Artificial intelligence

OpenAI for Germany to modernise public sector with AI

SAP SE and OpenAI have announced the launch of OpenAI for Germany, a partnership to bring advanced AI solutions to the public sector.

The initiative will combine SAP’s expertise with OpenAI’s AI technology, ensuring safe, responsible use while meeting strict German data, security, and legal standards. The platform will be supported by SAP’s Delos Cloud, running on Microsoft Azure technology.

Starting in 2026, the collaboration will help public sector staff and institutions streamline tasks, automate workflows, and focus on people rather than paperwork. Customised AI will be integrated into existing systems to improve records management and data analysis.

SAP plans to expand Delos Cloud infrastructure to 4,000 GPUs to support AI workloads and will explore further investment based on demand.

OpenAI for Germany aligns with the country’s national AI strategy, which aims for AI-driven value creation of up to 10% of GDP by 2030. The ‘Made for Germany’ initiative, supported by 61 companies including SAP, has pledged over €631 billion for growth and digital modernisation.

SAP has also committed more than €20 billion to reinforce Europe’s digital sovereignty.

SAP, OpenAI, and Microsoft executives emphasised the partnership’s focus on trust, safety, and operational resilience. The initiative underscores Germany’s commitment to AI, maintaining strict standards and ensuring benefits reach all public institutions.

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Bye Bye Google AI hides unwanted AI results in Search

Google is pushing AI deeper into its services, with AI Overviews already reaching billions of users and AI Mode now added to Search. Chrome is also being rebranded as an AI-first browser.

Not all users welcome these changes. Concerns remain about accuracy, intrusive design and Google’s growing control over how information is displayed. Unlike other features, AI elements in Search cannot be turned off directly, leaving users reliant on third-party solutions.

One such solution is the new ‘Bye Bye, Google AI’ extension, which hides AI-generated results and unwanted blocks such as sponsored links, shopping sections and discussion forums.

The extension works across Chromium-based browsers, though it relies on CSS and may break when Google updates its interface.

A debate that reflects wider unease about AI in Search.

While Google claims it improves user experience, critics argue it risks spreading false information and keeping traffic within Google’s ecosystem rather than directing users to original publishers.

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The strategic shift toward open-source AI

The release of DeepSeek’s open-source reasoning model in January 2025, followed by the Trump administration’s July endorsement of open-source AI as a national priority, has marked a turning point in the global AI race, writes Jovan Kurbalija in his blog ‘The strategic imperative of open source AI’.

What once seemed an ideological stance is now being reframed as a matter of geostrategic necessity. Despite their historical reliance on proprietary systems, China and the United States have embraced openness as the key to competitiveness.

Kurbalija adds that history offers clear lessons that open systems tend to prevail. Just as TCP/IP defeated OSI in the 1980s and Linux outpaced costly proprietary operating systems in the 1990s, today’s open-source AI models are challenging closed platforms. Companies like Meta and DeepSeek have positioned their tools as the new foundations of innovation, while proprietary players such as OpenAI are increasingly seen as constrained by their closed architectures.

The advantages of open-source AI are not only philosophical but practical. Open models evolve faster through global collaboration, lower costs by sharing development across vast communities, and attract younger talent motivated by purpose and impact.

They are also more adaptable, making integrating into industries, education, and governance easier. Importantly, breakthroughs in efficiency show that smaller, smarter models can now rival giant proprietary systems, further broadening access.

The momentum is clear. Open-source AI is emerging as the dominant paradigm. Like the internet protocols and operating systems that shaped previous digital eras, openness is proving more ethical and strategically effective. As researchers, governments, and companies increasingly adopt this approach, open-source AI could become the backbone of the next phase of the digital world.

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London faces major job shifts as AI takes hold

Nearly a million jobs in London face change as AI reshapes the workplace.

New research suggests repetitive roles such as telemarketing, bookkeeping, and data entry will be among the most affected, with women at greater risk since they comprise much of the workforce in these sectors.

Analysts from LiveCareer UK and McKinsey reported that job adverts for roles most exposed to automation have dropped sharply in the past three years.

They warn that fewer entry-level opportunities could damage the future workforce unless businesses rethink how to balance automation with human creativity and judgement.

Some organisations are already adapting AI to support staff instead of replacing them. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital, a pharmaceutical robot works alongside clinicians, using AI to predict medicine demand and improve patient safety.

Leaders at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust argue AI should relieve staff of repetitive tasks so they can focus on higher-value care.

Across industries, firms from Ford to Microsoft predict significant disruption. Ford’s chief executive has suggested AI could replace half of white-collar roles in the US, while others argue it will boost productivity instead of eliminating jobs.

Tech companies such as Snap are experimenting with AI-driven creativity tools, insisting the technology should act as an aid for workers rather than a threat to employment.

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Musk escalates legal battle with new lawsuit against OpenAI

Elon Musk’s xAI has sued OpenAI, alleging a coordinated and unlawful campaign to steal its proprietary technology. The complaint alleges OpenAI targeted former xAI staff to steal source code, training methods, and data centre strategies.

The lawsuit claims OpenAI recruiter Tifa Chen offered large packages to engineers who then allegedly uploaded xAI’s source code to personal devices. Notable incidents include Xuechen Li confessing to code theft and Jimmy Fraiture allegedly transferring confidential files via AirDrop repeatedly.

Legal experts note the case centres on employee poaching and the definition of xAI’s ‘secret sauce,’ including GPU racking, vendor contracts, and operational playbooks.

Liability may depend on whether OpenAI knowingly directed recruiters, while the company could defend itself by showing independent creation with time-stamped records.

xAI is seeking damages, restitution, and injunctions requiring OpenAI to remove its materials and destroy models built using them. The lawsuit is Musk’s latest legal action against OpenAI, following a recent antitrust case with Apple over alleged market dominance.

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Google unveils new Gemini Robotics models

Google has unveiled two new robotics models, Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, designed to help robots better perceive, plan, and act in complex environments. The models aim to enable more capable robots to complete multi-step tasks efficiently and transparently.

Gemini Robotics 1.5 converts visual information and instructions into actions, letting robots think before acting and explain their reasoning. Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 acts as a high-level planner, reasoning about the physical world and using tools like Google Search to support decisions.

Together, the models form an ‘agentic’ framework. ER 1.5 orchestrates a robot’s activities, while Robotics 1.5 carries them out, enabling the machines to tackle semantically complex tasks. The pairing strengthens generalisation across diverse environments and longer missions.

Google said Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 is now available to developers through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio, while Gemini Robotics 1.5 is currently open to select partners. Both models advance robots’ reasoning, spatial awareness, and multi-tasking capabilities.

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Spotify launches new policies on AI and music spam

Spotify announced new measures to address AI risks in music, aiming to protect artists’ identities and preserve trust on the platform. The company said AI can boost creativity but also enable harmful content like impersonations and spam that exploit artists and cut into royalties.

A new impersonation policy has been introduced, clarifying that AI-generated vocal clones of artists are only permitted with explicit authorisation. Spotify is strengthening processes to block fraudulent uploads and mismatches, giving artists quicker recourse when their work is misused.

The platform will launch a new spam filter this year to detect and curb manipulative practices like mass uploads and artificially short tracks. The system will be deployed cautiously, with updates added as new abuse tactics emerge, in order to safeguard legitimate creators.

In addition, Spotify will back an industry standard for AI disclosures in music credits, allowing artists and rights holders to show how AI was used in production. The company said these steps show its commitment to protecting artists, ensuring transparency, and fair royalties as AI reshapes the music industry.

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Tech giants warn Digital Markets Act is failing

Apple and Google have urged the European Union to revisit its Digital Markets Act, arguing the law is damaging users and businesses.

Apple said the rules have forced delays to new features for European customers, including live translation on AirPods and improvements to Apple Maps. It warned that competition requirements could weaken security and slow innovation without boosting the EU economy.

Google raised concerns that its search results must now prioritise intermediary travel sites, leading to higher costs for consumers and fewer direct sales for airlines and hotels. It added that AI services may arrive in Europe up to a year later than elsewhere.

Both firms stressed that enforcement should be more consistent and user-focused. The European Commission is reviewing the Act, with formal submissions under consideration.

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OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Pulse for proactive updates

OpenAI has introduced a preview of ChatGPT Pulse, a feature designed to deliver proactive and personalised updates to Pro users on mobile. Instead of waiting for users to ask questions, Pulse researches chat history, feedback, and connected apps to deliver daily insights.

The updates appear as visual cards covering relevant topics, which users can scan quickly or expand for detail. Integrations with Gmail and Google Calendar are available, enabling suggestions such as drafting meeting agendas, recommending restaurants for trips, or reminding users about birthdays.

These integrations are optional and can be switched off at any time.

Pulse is built to prioritise usefulness over screen time, offering updates that expire daily unless saved or added to chat history. Early trials with students highlighted the importance of simple feedback to refine results, and users can guide what appears by curating topics or rating suggestions.

OpenAI plans to refine the feature further before expanding its availability beyond Pro users.

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UN Secretary-General launches call for candidates for AI Scientific Panel

The UN Secretary-General has launched an open call for candidates to serve on the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

The Panel was agreed by UN member states in September 2024 as part of the Global Digital Compact; its terms of reference were later defined in a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in August 2025. The 40-member Panel will provide evidence-based scientific assessments on AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts. Its work will culminate in an annual, policy-relevant – but non-prescriptive –summary report presented to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, along with up to two updates per year to engage with the General Assembly plenary.

Candidates with expertise in the following fields are invited to apply:

  • AI, including foundation models & generative AI, machine learning methods, core AI subfields (e.g. vision, language, speech/audio, robotics, planning & scheduling, knowledge representation), reliability, safety & alignment, cognitive & neuroscience links, human–AI interaction, AI security and infrastructure;
  • Applied AI, including science (foundational and applied in health, climate, life sciences, physics, health, social sciences, agriculture), engineering, industry and mobility (e.g. materials, drugs, transportation, smart cities, IoT, satellite, navigation), digital society (e.g. misinformation & disinformation, online harms, social networks, software engineering, web),
  • Related fields, including AI opportunity, risk and impact assessment, AI impacts on society, technology, economy, and environment, AI security and infrastructure, data, ethics, and rights, governance (e.g. public policy, international law, standards, oversight, compliance, foresight and scenario-building).

Following the call for nominations (open until 31 October 2025), the Secretary-General will recommend 40 members for appointment by the General Assembly.

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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