Capacity development

OpenAI’s Sora app launches on Android

OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora, is now officially available for Android users in the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The app, which debuted on iOS in September, quickly reached over 1 million downloads within a week.

Its arrival on the Google Play Store is expected to attract a wider audience and boost user engagement.

The Android version retains key features, including ‘Cameos,’ which allow users to generate videos of themselves performing various activities. Users can share content in a TikTok-style feed, as OpenAI aims to compete with TikTok, Instagram, and Meta’s AI video feed, Vibes.

Sora has faced criticism over deepfakes and the use of copyrighted characters. Following user-uploaded videos of historical figures and popular characters, OpenAI strengthened guardrails and moved from an ‘opt-out’ to an ‘opt-in’ policy for rights holders.

The app is also involved in a legal dispute with Cameo over the name of its flagship feature.

OpenAI plans to add new features, including character cameos for pets and objects, basic video editing tools, and personalised social feeds. These updates aim to enhance user experience while maintaining responsible and ethical AI use in video generation.

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Scientists map genetic blueprint of the brain’s communication bridge

Researchers have mapped the genetic architecture of the corpus callosum, the thick bundle of nerve fibres connecting the brain’s left and right hemispheres, for the first time.

The Stevens INI at USC analysed MRI and genetic data from over 50,000 people using AI to identify genes affecting the corpus callosum’s size and thickness. Many of these genes are active during prenatal brain development, when neural wiring is established.

Abnormalities in the corpus callosum have long been linked to conditions such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, and Parkinson’s disease. The study found that separate genes control the corpus callosum’s area and thickness, with overlaps linked to the cerebral cortex and mental health disorders.

Scientists say these findings provide a molecular-level understanding of why changes in this key brain structure are associated with neurological and psychiatric conditions.

The AI tool automatically identifies and measures the corpus callosum from MRI scans, greatly speeding up analysis. Making the tool open-source allows scientists worldwide to study brain structure faster and more accurately, supporting research, diagnosis, and potential treatments.

By combining massive datasets with AI, the study sets a new standard for neuroscience research. The approach shows how AI can transform brain research, providing scientists with tools to study the genetics of cognition and neurological risk.

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Unitree firefighting robots transform fire rescue operations

China’s Unitree Robotics has introduced advanced firefighting robots designed to revolutionise fire rescue operations. These quadruped robots can climb stairs, navigate through debris, and operate in hazardous zones where human firefighters face significant risks.

Equipped with durable structures and agile joints, they are capable of handling extreme fire environments, including forest and industrial fires. Each robot features a high-capacity water or foam cannon capable of reaching up to 60 metres, alongside real-time video streaming for remote assessment and control.

That combination allows fire rescue teams to fight fires more safely and efficiently, while navigating complex and dangerous terrain. The robots’ mobility enhancements, offering approximately 170 % improved joint performance, ensure they can tackle steep angles and obstacles with ease.

By integrating these robotic fire responders into emergency services, Unitree is helping fire departments reduce risk, accelerate response times, and expand operational capabilities. These innovations mark a new era in fire rescue, where technology supports frontline teams in saving lives and protecting property.

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UNESCO and CANIETI promote responsible AI adoption in Mexico

UNESCO and CANIETI, with Microsoft’s support, have launched the ‘Mexico Model’ to promote ethical and responsible AI use in Mexican companies. The initiative seeks to minimise risks throughout AI development while ensuring alignment with human rights, ethics, and sustainable development.

Paola Cicero of UNESCO Mexico emphasised the model’s importance for MSMEs, which form the backbone of the country’s economy. Recent research shows 49% of Mexican MSMEs plan to invest in AI within the next 12 to 18 months, yet only half have internal policies to govern its use.

The Mexico Model offers practical tools for technical and non-technical professionals to evaluate ethical and operational risks throughout the AI lifecycle. Over 150 tech professionals from Mexico City and Monterrey have participated in UNESCO’s training on responsible, locally tailored AI development.

Designed as a living methodology, the framework evolves with each training cycle, incorporating feedback and lessons learned. The initiative aims to strengthen Mexico’s digital ecosystem while fostering ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI innovation.

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Blackwell stance on China exports holds as Washington weighs tech pace

AI export policy in Washington remains firm, with officials saying the most advanced Nvidia Blackwell chips will not be sold to China. A White House spokesperson confirmed the stance during a briefing. The position follows weeks of speculation about scaled-down variants.

Senior economic officials floated the possibility of a shift later, citing the rapid pace of chip development. If Blackwell quickly becomes superseded, future sales could be reconsidered. Any change would depend on achieving parity in technology, licensing, and national security assessments.

Nvidia’s chief executive signalled hope that parts for Blackwell family products could be supplied from China, while noting there are no current plans to do so. Company guidance emphasises both commercial and research applications. Analysts say licensing clarity will dictate data centre buildouts and training roadmaps.

Policy hawks argue that cutting-edge accelerators should remain in US allied markets to protect strategic advantages. Others counter that export channels can be reopened once hardware is no longer state-of-the-art. The debate now centres on timelines measured in product cycles.

Diplomatic calendars may influence further discussions, with potential leader-level meetings next year alongside major international gatherings. Officials portrayed the broader bilateral relationship as steadier. The industry will track any signals that link geopolitical dialogue to chip export regulations.

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AWS launches Fastnet, a subsea cable to strengthen transatlantic cloud and AI connectivity

Amazon Web Services has announced Fastnet, a high-capacity transatlantic subsea cable connecting Maryland and County Cork.

Set to be operational in 2028, Fastnet will expand AWS’s network resilience and deliver faster, more reliable cloud and AI services between the US and Europe.

The cable’s unique route provides critical redundancy, ensuring service continuity even when other cables face disruptions. Capable of transmitting over 320 terabits per second, Fastnet supports large-scale cloud computing and AI workloads while integrating directly into AWS’s global infrastructure.

The system’s design enables real-time data redirection and long-term scalability to meet the increasing demands of AI and edge computing.

Beyond connectivity, AWS is investing in community benefit funds for Maryland and County Cork, supporting local sustainability, education, and workforce development.

A project that reflects AWS’s wider strategy to reinforce critical digital infrastructure and strengthen global innovation in the cloud economy.

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Microsoft partners with Lambda in multibillion AI infrastructure deal

Lambda has announced a multibillion-euro agreement with Microsoft to expand AI infrastructure powered by tens of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs, marking one of the largest private cloud computing collaborations to date.

The multi-year deal aims to accelerate the deployment of AI supercomputers at scale, enhancing the capacity for enterprise and research applications across industries.

Under the partnership, Lambda will provide mission-critical cloud compute infrastructure using NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 systems.

A collaboration that builds on an eight-year relationship between the two companies and reflects growing global demand for high-performance computing driven by the rise of AI assistants and enterprise AI solutions.

Stephen Balaban, CEO of Lambda, said the project represents a major step in developing gigawatt-scale AI factories capable of serving billions of users. The company positions itself as a trusted large-scale partner for organisations building advanced AI models and systems.

Founded in 2012, Lambda designs supercomputing infrastructure for AI training and inference, aiming to make computing power as accessible as electricity and to advance what it calls the era of ‘superintelligence’.

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Cloudflare chief warns AI is redefining the internet’s business model

AI is inserting itself between companies and customers, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince warned in Toronto. More people ask chatbots before visiting sites, dulling brands’ impact. Even research teams lose revenue as investors lean on AI summaries.

Frontier models devour data, pushing firms to chase exclusive sources. Cloudflare lets publishers block unpaid crawlers to reclaim control and compensation. The bigger question, said Prince, is which business model will rule an AI-mediated internet.

Policy scrutiny focuses on platforms that blend search with AI collection. Prince urged governments to separate Google’s search access from AI crawling to level the field. Countries that enforce a split could attract publishers and researchers seeking predictable rules and payment.

Licensing deals with news outlets, Reddit, and others coexist with scraping disputes and copyright suits. Google says it follows robots.txt, yet testimony indicated AI Overviews can use content blocked by robots.txt for training. Vague norms risk eroding incentives to create high-quality online content.

A practical near-term playbook combines technical and regulatory steps. Publishers should meter or block AI crawlers that do not pay. Policymakers should require transparency, consent, and compensation for high-value datasets, guiding the shift to an AI-mediated web that still rewards creators.

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Qwen3-Max-Thinking hits perfect scores as Alibaba raises the bar on AI reasoning

Alibaba unveiled Qwen3-Max-Thinking, which scored 100 percent on AIME 2025 and HMMT, matching OpenAI’s top model on reasoning tests. It targets high-precision problem-solving across algebra, number theory, and probability. Researchers regard elite maths contests as strong proxies for reasoning.

Built on Qwen3-Max, a trillion-parameter flagship, the thinking variant emphasises step-by-step solutions. Alibaba says it matches or beats Claude Opus 4, DeepSeek V3.1, Grok 4, and GPT-5 Pro. Positioning stresses accuracy, traceability, and controllable latency.

Signal from a live trading trial added momentum. In a two-week crypto experiment, Qwen3-Max returned 22.3 percent on 10,000 US dollars. Competing systems underperformed, with DeepSeek at 4.9 percent and several US models booking losses.

Access is available via the Qwen web chatbot and Alibaba Cloud APIs. Early adopters can test tool use and stepwise reasoning on technical tasks. Enterprises are exploring finance, research, and operations cases requiring reliability and auditability.

Alibaba researchers say further tuning will broaden task coverage without diluting peak maths performance. Plans include multilingual reasoning, safety alignment, and robustness under distribution shift. Community benchmarks and contests will track progress.

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Microsoft deal signals pay-per-use path for AI access to People Inc. content

People Inc. has joined Microsoft’s publisher content marketplace in a pay-per-use deal that compensates media for AI access. Copilot will be the first buyer, while People Inc. continues to block most AI crawlers via Cloudflare to force paid licensing.

People Inc., formerly Dotdash Meredith, said Microsoft’s marketplace lets AI firms pay ‘à la carte’ for specific content. The agreement differs from its earlier OpenAI pact, which the company described as more ‘all-you-can-eat’, but the priority remains ‘respected and paid for’ use.

Executives disclosed a sharp fall in Google search referrals: from 54% of traffic two years ago to 24% last quarter, citing AI Overviews. Leadership argues that crawler identification and paid access should become the norm as AI sits between publishers and audiences.

Blocking non-paying bots has ‘brought almost everyone to the table’, People Inc. said, signalling more licences to come. Such an approach by Microsoft is framed as a model for compensating rights-holders while enabling AI tools to use high-quality, authorised material.

IAC reported People Inc. digital revenue up 9% to $269m, with performance marketing and licensing up 38% and 24% respectively. The publisher also acquired Feedfeed, expanding its food vertical reach while pursuing additional AI content partnerships.

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