Capacity development

Amazon invests $10 billion in AI data centres

Amazon is investing $10 billion to build data centres in North Carolina, aiming to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure instead of outsourcing compute needs.

The initiative will create at least 500 high-skilled roles and includes support for education, broadband careers, and local development through a $150,000 community fund.

The company is also developing AI-powered humanoid robots for future delivery tasks, reportedly testing them in a newly constructed ‘humanoid park’ at its San Francisco office.

Although using third-party hardware for now, the long-term goal is to embed Amazon’s software into these robots, according to sources.

Experts say the investment underlines a growing concern: that only large firms can afford the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge AI.

‘It’s positive for growth but risks concentrating innovation in Big Tech’s hands,’ said Leo Fan, co-founder of Cysic, a blockchain-based AI firm. He argues that the shift could disincentivise smaller players and dampen broader AI progress.

Amazon is also rolling out Alexa+, a new generative AI-powered assistant, and has secured a licensing deal with The New York Times to integrate journalism, recipes, and sports content into Alexa and other AI products, further extending its ecosystem instead of relying solely on internal data.

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OpenAI hits 3 million business subscribers

OpenAI has added another 1 million paying business subscribers since February, bringing the total to 3 million across ChatGPT Enterprise, Team and Edu.

The milestone was shared during a company livestream and confirmed in interviews with outlets like CNBC.

Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap noted that the business tools are being adopted widely, even in regulated sectors like finance and healthcare.

He said growth among individual users has fuelled enterprise adoption instead of stalling it, highlighting a feedback loop between consumer and business uptake.

OpenAI launched ChatGPT Enterprise in August 2023, followed by Team in January 2024 and Edu in May 2024. Within a year of its first business product, the firm had already reached 1 million paying business users—a number that has now tripled.

Lightcap said AI is reshaping work across sectors—from student learning to patient care and public services—by increasing productivity instead of just automating tasks.

A separate PYMNTS Intelligence report found that 82% of workers using generative AI weekly believe it improves their output. OpenAI’s overall user base has reportedly reached 800 million people, with CEO Sam Altman claiming 10% of the global population now uses the company’s tools.

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Google email will reply by using your voice

Google is building a next-generation email system that uses generative AI to reply to mundane messages in your own tone, according to DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

Speaking at SXSW London, Hassabis said the system would handle everyday emails instead of requiring users to write repetitive responses themselves.

Hassabis called email ‘the thing I really want to get rid of,’ and joked he’d pay thousands each month for that luxury. He emphasised that while AI could help cure diseases or combat climate change, it should also solve smaller daily annoyances first—like managing inbox overload.

The upcoming feature aims to identify routine emails and draft replies that reflect the user’s writing style, potentially making decisions on simpler matters.

While details are still limited, the project remains under development and could debut as part of Google’s premium AI subscription model before reaching free-tier users.

Gmail already includes generative tools that adjust message tone, but the new system goes further—automating replies instead of just suggesting edits.

Hassabis also envisioned a universal AI assistant that protects users’ attention and supports digital well-being, offering personalised recommendations and taking care of routine digital tasks.

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Reinforcement learning enables robot to master badminton

A Swiss-led team at ETH Zurich has developed an AI-powered legged robot capable of playing badminton against human opponents with impressive precision and agility.

The project uses reinforcement learning, a type of AI that enables the robot to refine its movements and decisions through repeated trial and error.

The robot can accurately track the shuttlecock, predict its trajectory, and position itself effectively to return shots during high-speed rallies. Its ability to navigate the court and respond in real-time demonstrates significant progress in applying AI to dynamic, physical tasks.

Lead researcher Yuntao Ma said the project highlights the potential for AI to drive legged robots in increasingly complex activities.

The work represents a step forward in developing autonomous and intelligent robotic systems, including future humanoids capable of interacting in real-world environments.

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Tebra introduces AI Note Assist to speed up clinical documentation

Tebra, a platform for independent healthcare providers, has launched AI Note Assist, an ambient documentation tool designed to streamline clinical note-taking significantly.

Integrated directly into Tebra’s electronic health record (EHR) system, the HIPAA-compliant solution promises to reduce the time spent on documentation by up to 50%.

The AI tool listens during patient consultations and automatically generates structured, editable clinical notes. It supports various formats, including SOAP notes, therapy progress notes, and psychiatric documentation, and even suggests ICD-10 codes based on conversation content.

All notes remain under the provider’s control, with the ability to review, edit and approve each entry to ensure clinical accuracy.

Tebra’s chief product and technology officer, Kyle Ryan, described the launch as a ‘significant milestone’ in supporting independent practices.

‘Our research shows that 82% of independent providers see more patient time as their key competitive advantage,’ said Ryan. ‘AI Note Assist helps them reclaim that advantage by reducing administrative workload, improving efficiency and minimising burnout.’

Clinically validated by practising healthcare professionals, the solution has been tested in real-world settings to ensure reliability and effectiveness. Tebra customers can use AI Note Assist immediately without requiring additional hardware or software installations.

By helping healthcare professionals cut down on documentation time while maintaining quality and compliance, Tebra aims to support providers in delivering more focused and personalised patient care.

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Naver and Siam.AI launch Thai-language LLM and tourism agent

South Korean tech giant Naver is entering Thailand’s AI market through a strategic partnership with local technology firm Siam.AI Cloud.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a Thai-language large language model (LLM) and a tourism-specific AI agent, with the first outputs expected by the end of 2025.

The partnership aims to foster Thailand’s technological self-reliance, enabling the country to develop and run AI models domestically rather than relying on Western or Chinese technologies.

The move is a practical step toward achieving sovereign AI — a concept gaining momentum across Southeast Asia. One-third of Asia’s governments are expected to adopt sovereign cloud services by 2026, reflecting regional concerns about ‘digital colonialism’ and the need for local data control.

Thailand, and countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, are already implementing policies to retain data within national borders.

The Thai-Naver collaboration reflects a broader commitment to embedding AI into the healthcare, public services, and education sectors. The timing is strategic, with 77% of Thai businesses already deploying AI, especially in customer communication and acquisition.

The country’s AI market is projected to grow significantly through 2031, with machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision leading the charge.

Beyond tourism, banking, manufacturing, retail, and agriculture sectors are primed for AI transformation.

For example, Thailand’s agricultural AI market is projected to grow from $80.3 million in 2023 to nearly $114 million by 2029, driven by initiatives like the AGROWTH platform that supports deep-tech agricultural innovation.

This partnership underscores a shift from importing AI tools to creating solutions tailored to national needs—backed by domestic infrastructure, local data, and region-specific expertise.

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Meta inks 20-year nuclear deal to power AI expansion

Meta has entered a landmark 20-year agreement with Constellation to purchase 1.1 gigawatts of nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, starting in 2027.

The deal is designed to support the company’s rapidly growing AI infrastructure and data centres as energy demands surge across the tech industry.

Once facing closure due to financial losses, the Clinton plant’s future is secure — without relying on Illinois’ Zero Emission Credit programme. The agreement will keep over 1,100 local jobs, boost grid capacity by 30 megawatts, and generate an estimated $13.5 million in annual tax revenue.

Illinois lawmakers have praised the deal for its economic and environmental benefits, with Republican Regan Deering calling it ‘a forward-thinking investment.’

The partnership is part of Meta’s broader strategy to build a nuclear-powered AI ecosystem. With clean energy targets of 1 to 4 gigawatts, Meta has been negotiating with multiple nuclear providers and says further agreements are in the final stages.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, global data centre energy use is set to more than double by 2030 — potentially outstripping Japan’s entire electricity consumption. Meta alone plans to invest $65 billion in AI infrastructure in 2025.

The Clinton plant deal also serves as a hedge against the environmental impact of fossil fuels. A 2024 study by the Brattle Group estimated that closing the facility would have led to an additional 34 million metric tons of carbon emissions over two decades. It would also have dealt an annual $765 million blow to Illinois’ GDP.

Constellation, the plant’s operator, said consistent, carbon-free baseload power is essential for the AI-driven future. With its reliability and scale, nuclear energy is increasingly seen as critical to supporting always-on AI systems.

Meanwhile, Meta continues advancing its AI vision. The company plans to fully automate ad creation by late 2026, generating images, videos, and text tailored to user location and timing.

This automation effort has already boosted ad performance, with Q1 2025 results showing a 30% rise in AI-generated ad use, a 10% increase in average ad prices, and $42.31 billion in revenue — a 16% year-over-year jump.

However, the push for AI-generated content has unsettled the advertising industry. Firms like Omnicom Group have seen share prices dip over fears disrupting to traditional creative and production models.

Zuckerberg’s long-term AI vision includes automating marketing and enhancing user experience through AI companions and virtual therapists — part of Meta’s goal to integrate machine learning into everyday life while ensuring its platforms run on clean, scalable energy.

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Netherlands unveils open-architecture quantum computer

The Dutch quantum ecosystem has unveiled Tuna-5, a new open-architecture quantum computer developed as part of the HectoQubit/2 (HQ/2) project.

Unlike the vertically integrated machines offered by some commercial providers, Tuna-5 demonstrates a collaborative model that draws on interoperable hardware and software from across the Netherlands.

Built through a partnership between QuTech, TNO, and four Dutch startups — QuantWare, Qblox, Orange Quantum Systems, and Delft Circuits — Tuna-5 is now accessible via the Quantum Inspire public cloud platform.

The system integrates a superconducting quantum processor with tunable couplers, modular electronics, a user-friendly interface, and a Python-based SDK, all developed using components from the Delft quantum supply chain.

QuTech described the approach as more than simply combining parts from different vendors. It involved extensive testing and iterations to ensure a seamless system, which also helped strengthen the Netherlands’ capability to deliver scalable, interoperable quantum technology.

Hosted in QuTech’s DiCarlo lab and backed by Quantum Delta NL and the National Growth Fund, HQ/2 is designed to reinforce Dutch leadership in superconducting quantum computing.

Tuna-5 marks a step forward for academic and startup collaboration instead of relying solely on centralised industry giants.

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Nigeria launches AI Scaling Hub with Gates Foundation

In partnership with the Gates Foundation, Nigeria has launched the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Scaling Hub, backed by a funding commitment of up to $7.5 million over three years.

Announced during a signing ceremony in Abuja, the initiative will focus on responsibly scaling AI solutions across healthcare, agriculture, and education.

The AI Scaling Hub aims to unite government agencies, tech firms, academia, and development partners to support the nationwide deployment of proven AI innovations.

Rather than developing isolated pilot projects, the hub intends to build a collaborative system that encourages mature AI tools to be applied widely.

The Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy stated that the move aligns with Nigeria’s draft National AI Strategy and broader technology agenda.

Minister Bosun Tijani said the hub would help turn local AI concepts into real-world results by offering innovators mentorship, resources, and support.

The Gates Foundation echoed the sentiment, with Nigeria Country Director Uche Amaonwu stressing the importance of ensuring AI benefits reach underserved communities.

The project also involves Lagos Business School and is expected to bolster Nigeria’s leadership in ethical AI adoption across Africa.

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Cyber attacks and ransomware rise globally in early 2025

Cyber attacks have surged by 47% globally in the first quarter of 2025, with organisations facing an average of 1,925 attacks each week.

Check Point Software, a cybersecurity firm, warns that attackers are growing more sophisticated and persistent, targeting critical sectors like healthcare, finance, and technology with increasing intensity.

Ransomware activity alone has soared by 126% compared to last year. Attackers are no longer just encrypting files but now also threaten to leak sensitive data unless paid — a tactic known as dual extortion.

Instead of operating as large, centralised gangs, modern ransomware groups are smaller and more agile, often coordinating through dark web forums, making them harder to trace.

The report also notes that cybercriminals are using AI to automate phishing attacks and scan systems for vulnerabilities, allowing them to strike with greater accuracy. Emerging markets remain particularly vulnerable, as they often lack advanced cybersecurity infrastructure.

Check Point urges companies to act decisively by adopting proactive security measures, investing in threat detection and employee training, and implementing real-time monitoring. Waiting for an attack instead of preparing in advance could leave organisations dangerously exposed.

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