Capacity development

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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Google’s AI Edge Gallery boosts privacy with on-device model use

Google has released an experimental app called AI Edge Gallery, allowing Android users to run AI models directly on their devices without needing an internet connection.

The app supports several publicly available models from Hugging Face, including Google’s own lightweight Gemma 3n, and offers tools for image generation, Q&A, and code assistance.

The key feature of the app is its local processing capability, which means data never leaves the user’s device.

This addresses rising concerns over privacy and data security, particularly when interacting with AI tools. By running models locally, users benefit from faster response times and greater control over their data.

AI Edge Gallery includes features such as ‘AI Chat,’ ‘Ask Image,’ and a ‘Prompt Lab,’ where users can experiment with tasks like text summarisation and single-turn AI interactions.

While the app is optimised for lighter models like Gemma 3—just 529MB in size—Google notes that performance will depend on the hardware of the user’s device, with more powerful phones delivering faster results.

Currently in Alpha, the app is open-source and available under the Apache 2.0 licence via GitHub, encouraging developers to explore and contribute. Google is also inviting feedback to shape future updates and improvements.

To enhance app security, especially as AI features become more embedded in mobile experiences, Google suggests integrating secure, passwordless login methods.

Solutions like MojoAuth—offering OTP-based logins via phone or email—can reduce risks of data breaches while offering a smooth, user-friendly authentication process.

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OpenAI turns ChatGPT into AI gateway

OpenAI plans to reinvent ChatGPT as an all-in-one ‘super assistant’ that knows its users and becomes their primary gateway to the internet.

Details emerged from a partly redacted internal strategy document shared during the US government’s antitrust case against Google.

Rather than limiting ChatGPT to existing apps and websites, OpenAI envisions a future where the assistant supports everyday life—from suggesting recipes at home to taking notes at work or guiding users while travelling.

The company says the AI should evolve into a reliable, emotionally intelligent helper capable of handling a various personal and professional tasks.

OpenAI also believes hardware will be key to this transformation. It recently acquired io, a start-up founded by former Apple designer Jony Ive, for $6.4 billion to develop AI-powered devices.

The company’s strategy outlines how upcoming models like o2 and o3, alongside tools like multimodality and generative user interfaces, could make ChatGPT capable of taking meaningful action instead of simply offering responses.

The document also reveals OpenAI’s intention to back a regulation requiring tech platforms to allow users to set ChatGPT as their default assistant. Confident in its fast growth, research lead, and independence from ads, the company aims to maintain its advantage through bold decisions, speed, and self-disruption.

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DeepSeek claims R1 model matches OpenAI

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek has announced a major update to its R1 reasoning model, claiming it now performs on par with leading systems from OpenAI and Google.

The R1-0528 version, released following the model’s initial launch in January, reportedly surpasses Alibaba’s Qwen3, which debuted only weeks earlier in April.

According to DeepSeek, the upgrade significantly enhances reasoning, coding, and creative writing while cutting hallucination rates by half.

These improvements stem largely from greater computational resources applied after the training phase, allowing the model to outperform domestic rivals in benchmark tests involving maths, logic, and programming.

Unlike many Western competitors, DeepSeek takes an open-source approach. The company recently shared eight GitHub projects detailing methods to optimise computing, communication, and storage efficiency during training.

Its transparency and resource-efficient design have attracted attention, especially since its smaller distilled model rivals Alibaba’s Qwen3-235B while being nearly 30 times lighter.

Major Chinese tech firms, including Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance, plan to integrate R1-0528 into their cloud services for enterprise clients. DeepSeek’s progress signals China’s continued push into globally competitive AI, driven by a young team determined to offer high performance with fewer resources

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NSO asks court to overturn WhatsApp verdict

Israeli spyware company NSO Group has requested a new trial after a US jury ordered it to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp.

The company, which has faced mounting legal and financial troubles, filed a motion in a California federal court last week seeking to reduce the verdict or secure a retrial.

The May verdict awarded WhatsApp $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.25 million in punitive damages. Jurors found that NSO exploited vulnerabilities in the encrypted platform and sold the exploit to clients who allegedly used it to target journalists, activists and political rivals.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, filed the lawsuit in 2019.

NSO claims the punitive award is unconstitutional, arguing it is over 376 times greater than the compensatory damages and far exceeds the US Supreme Court’s general guidance of a 4:1 ratio.

The firm also said it cannot afford the penalty, citing losses of $9 million in 2023 and $12 million in 2024. Its CEO testified that the company is ‘struggling to keep our heads above water’.

WhatsApp, responding to TechCrunch in a statement, said NSO was once again trying to evade accountability. The company vowed to continue its legal campaign, including efforts to secure a permanent injunction that would prevent NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp or its users again.

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