Capacity development

Crypto crime report 2025 reveals record nation-state activity

Illicit crypto activity surged in 2025 as nation states and professional criminal networks expanded on-chain operations. Government-linked actors used infrastructure built for organised cybercrime, increasing risks for regulators and security teams.

Data shows that illicit crypto addresses received at least $154 billion during the year, representing a 162% increase compared to 2024. Sanctioned entities drove much of the growth, with stablecoins making up 84% of illicit transactions due to their liquidity and ease of cross-border transfer.

North Korea remained the most aggressive state actor, with hackers stealing around $2 billion, including the record-breaking Bybit breach. Russia’s ruble-backed A7A5 token saw over $93 billion in sanction-evasion transactions, while Iran-linked networks continued using crypto for illicit trade and financing.

Chinese money laundering networks also emerged as a central force, offering full-service criminal infrastructure to fraud groups, hackers, and sanctioned entities. Links between crypto and physical crime grew, with trafficking and coercion increasingly tied to digital asset transfers.

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AI earbuds go beyond music

Startups are transforming everyday earbuds into AI assistants that can record meetings, translate languages, or offer cross-platform support, expanding the devices’ role beyond music. Major tech firms, such as Apple and Samsung, laid the groundwork with noise-cancelling and voice features.

At CES, companies such as OSO, Viaim and Timekettle demonstrated professional and educational use cases. Schools utilise translation earbuds to assist non-English-speaking students in following lessons, while professionals can retrieve meeting highlights on demand.

Experts note that earbuds are more accessible than smart glasses, but remain limited by voice-only interaction and reliance on smartphones. Neural earbuds with sensitive sensors could enable hands-free control or internet access for individuals with disabilities.

Although most headphones today still focus on listening, AI earbuds hint at a shift in personal technology, blending convenience, intelligence and accessibility into devices people already wear every day.

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ChatGPT reaches 40 million daily users for health advice

More than 40 million people worldwide now use ChatGPT daily for health-related advice, according to OpenAI.

Over 5 percent of all messages sent to the chatbot relate to healthcare, with three in five US adults reporting use in the past three months. Many interactions occur outside clinic hours, highlighting the demand for AI guidance in navigating complex medical systems.

Users primarily turn to AI to check symptoms, understand medical terms, and explore treatment options.

OpenAI emphasises that ChatGPT helps patients gain agency over their health, particularly in rural areas where hospitals and specialised services are scarce.

The technology also supports healthcare professionals by reducing administrative burdens and providing timely information.

Despite growing adoption, regulatory oversight remains limited. Some US states have attempted to regulate AI in healthcare, and lawsuits have emerged over cases where AI-generated advice has caused harm.

OpenAI argues that ChatGPT supplements rather than replaces medical services, helping patients interpret information, prepare for care, and navigate gaps in access.

Healthcare workers are also increasingly using AI. Surveys show that two in five US professionals, including nurses and pharmacists, use generative AI weekly to draft notes, summarise research, and streamline workflows.

OpenAI plans to release healthcare policy recommendations to guide the responsible adoption of AI in clinical settings.

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AI-designed sensors open new paths for early cancer detection

MIT and Microsoft researchers have developed AI-designed molecular sensors to detect cancer in its earliest stages. By coating nanoparticles with peptides targeted by cancer-linked enzymes, the sensors produce signals detectable through simple urine tests, potentially even at home.

The AI system, named CleaveNet, generates peptide sequences that are efficiently and selectively cleaved by specific proteases, enzymes overactive in cancer cells. The approach enables faster, more precise detection and can help identify a tumour’s type and location.

CleaveNet, trained on 20,000+ peptide-protease interactions, has designed novel peptides for enzymes like MMP13 that cancer cells use to metastasise. The system may cut the number of peptides needed for diagnostics and reveal key biological pathways.

Researchers plan an at-home kit to detect 30 cancers, with peptides also usable for targeted therapies. The work is part of an ARPA-H-funded initiative and highlights the potential of AI to accelerate early cancer detection and treatment.

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World Liberty Financial files to launch national trust bank for USD1

World Liberty Financial’s WLTC Holdings LLC has applied with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish World Liberty Trust Company, National Association (WLTC), a national trust bank designed for stablecoin operations.

The move aims to centralise issuance, custody, and conversion of USD1, the company’s dollar-backed stablecoin. USD1 has grown rapidly, reaching over $3.3 billion in circulation during its first year.

The trust company will serve institutional clients, providing stablecoin conversion and secure custody for USD1 and other supported stablecoins.

WLTC will operate under federal supervision, offering fee-free USD1 issuance and redemption, USD conversion, and custody with market-rate conversions. Operations will comply with the GENIUS Act and follow strict AML, sanctions, and cybersecurity protocols.

The stablecoin is fully backed by US dollars and short-duration Treasury obligations, operating across ten blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, and TRON.

By combining regulatory oversight with full-stack stablecoin services, WLTC seeks to provide institutional clients with clarity and efficiency in digital asset operations.

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AI assistant and cheaper autonomy headline Ford’s CES 2026 announcements

Ford has unveiled plans for an AI assistant that will launch in its smartphone app in early 2026 before expanding to in-vehicle systems in 2027. The announcement was made at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, alongside a preview of a next-generation BlueCruise driver assistance system.

The AI assistant will be hosted on Google Cloud and built using existing large language models, with access to vehicle-specific data. Ford said this will allow users to ask both general questions, such as vehicle capacity, and real-time queries, including oil life and maintenance status.

Ford plans to introduce the assistant first through its redesigned mobile app, with native integration into vehicles scheduled for 2027. The company has not yet specified which models will receive the in-car version first, but said the rollout would expand gradually across its lineup.

Alongside the AI assistant, the vehicle manufacturer previewed an updated version of its BlueCruise system, which it claims will be more affordable to produce and more capable. The new system is expected to debut in 2027 on the first electric vehicle built on Ford’s low-cost Universal Electric Vehicle platform.

Ford said the next-generation BlueCruise could support eyes-off driving by 2028 and enable point-to-point autonomous driving under driver supervision. As with similar systems from other automakers, drivers will still be required to remain ready to take control at any time.

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Meet the voice-first AI companion with personality

Portola has launched Tolan, a voice-first AI companion that learns from ongoing conversations through personalised, animated characters. Tolan is designed for open-ended dialogue, making voice interactions more natural and engaging than standard text-based AI.

Built around memory and character design, the platform uses real-time context reconstruction to maintain personality and track shifting topics. Each turn, the system retrieves user memories, persona traits, and conversation tone, enabling coherent, adaptive responses.

GPT‑5.1 has improved latency, steerability, and consistency, reducing memory recall errors by 30% and boosting next-day retention over 20%.

Tolan’s architecture combines fast vector-based memory, dynamic emotional adjustment, and layered persona scaffolds. Sub-second responses and context rebuilding help the AI handle topic changes, maintain tone, and feel more human-like.

Since February 2025, Tolan has gained over 200,000 monthly users, earning a 4.8-star rating on the App Store. Future plans focus on multimodal voice agents integrating vision, context, and enhanced steerability to expand the boundaries of interactive AI.

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AI and optical imaging transform thyroid cancer surgery

Thyroid cancer, the most common endocrine malignancy, poses challenges for surgeons trying to remove tumours while preserving healthy tissue.

Fine-needle aspiration and pathology are accurate but slow, providing no real-time guidance and sometimes causing unnecessary or incomplete surgeries. Dynamic Optical Contrast Imaging (DOCI) uses cells’ natural light to quickly distinguish healthy tissue from cancer.

The technique captures 23 optical channels from freshly excised tissue, creating detailed spectral maps without dyes or contrast agents. These optical signatures allow for rapid, label-free tissue analysis.

Researchers at Duke University and UCLA combined DOCI with AI to improve accuracy in classification and localisation. A two-stage machine-learning approach first categorised tissue as healthy or cancerous, including common and aggressive thyroid cancer subtypes.

Deep-learning models then produced tumour probability maps, pinpointing cancerous regions with minimal false positives.

Although initial studies focused on post-excision tissue, the technology could soon offer surgeons real-time guidance in the operating room. By combining optical imaging with AI, DOCI may reduce unnecessary surgery, preserve healthy tissue, and improve outcomes for thyroid cancer patients.

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New UK cyber strategy focuses on trust in online public services

The UK government has announced new measures to strengthen the security and resilience of online public services as more interactions with the state move online. Ministers say public confidence is essential as citizens increasingly rely on digital systems for everyday services.

Backed by more than £210 million, the UK Government Cyber Action Plan outlines how cyber defences and digital resilience will be improved across the public sector. A new Government Cyber Unit will coordinate risk identification, incident response, and action on complex threats spanning multiple departments.

The plan underpins wider efforts to digitise public services, including benefits applications, tax payments, and healthcare access. Officials argue that secure systems can reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency, but only if users trust that their data is protected.

The announcement coincides with parliamentary debate on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which sets clearer expectations for companies supplying services to the government. The legislation is intended to strengthen cyber resilience across critical supply chains.

Ministers also highlighted new steps to address software supply chain risks, including a Software Security Ambassador Scheme promoting basic security practices. The government says stronger cyber resilience is essential to protect public services and maintain public trust.

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ChatGPT Health offers personalised health support

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Health, a secure platform linking users’ health information with ChatGPT’s intelligence. The platform supports, rather than replaces, medical care, helping users understand test results, prepare for appointments, and manage their wellness.

ChatGPT Health allows users to safely connect medical records and apps such as Apple Health, Function, and MyFitnessPal. All data is stored in a separate Health space with encryption and enhanced privacy to keep sensitive information secure.

Conversations in Health are not used to train OpenAI’s models.

The platform was developed with input from more than 260 physicians worldwide, ensuring guidance is accurate, clinically relevant, and prioritises safety.

HealthBench, a physician-informed evaluation framework, helps measure quality, clarity, and appropriate escalation in responses, supporting users in making informed decisions about their health.

ChatGPT Health is initially available outside the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK, with wider access coming in the coming weeks. Users can sign up for a waitlist and begin connecting records and wellness apps to receive personalised, context-aware health insights.

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