Capacity development

Google Research applies AI across cancer, quantum computing and Earth science

Google Research has outlined how it tackles three major domains where foundational AI and science research are applied for tangible global effect, under a framework the team calls the ‘magic cycle’.

The three focus areas highlighted are fighting cancer with AI, quantum computing for medicines and materials, and understanding Earth at scale with Earth AI.

One of the flagship tools is DeepSomatic, an AI system developed to detect genetic variants in cancer cells that previous techniques missed. The tool partnered with a children’s hospital to identify ten new variants in childhood leukaemia samples. Significantly, DeepSomatic was applied to a brain cancer type it had never encountered before and still flagged likely causal variants.

Google Research is exploring the frontiers with its service chip (Willow) and algorithms like Quantum Echoes to simulate molecular behaviours with precision that classical computers struggle to reach. These efforts target improved medicines, better batteries and advanced materials by capturing quantum-scale phenomena.

Aiming to model complex interconnected systems, from weather and infrastructure to population vulnerability, the Earth AI initiative seeks to bring disparate geospatial data into unified systems. For example, predicting which communities are most at risk in a storm requires combining meteorological, infrastructure and socioeconomic data.

Google Research states that across these domains, research and applied work feed each other: foundational research leads to tools, which, when deployed, reveal new challenges that drive fresh research, the ‘magic cycle’.

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AI set to improve bowel cancer screening in Ireland

Ireland’s BowelScreen has joined the EU-backed Microb-AI-ome project with Viatel to enhance AI-driven colorectal cancer screening. The initiative aims to enhance early detection, improve patient outcomes, and reduce unnecessary colonoscopies across Europe.

Bowel cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Europe, with over 360,000 new cases and 161,000 deaths reported in 2022.

The project uses AI to analyse gut microbiome data from participants’ stool samples. Three Irish research hospitals are enrolling patients, while Viatel has developed a secure, cloud-based data management platform using Microsoft Azure.

The system anonymises sensitive information, ensuring full compliance with GDPR and Irish legislation, while enabling AI to process vast datasets to identify cancer risks accurately.

BowelScreen’s Pádraic Mac Mathúna says AI can analyse millions of data points to assess individual cancer risk. Viatel’s James Finglas calls the platform ‘game-changing,’ noting its ability to pinpoint patients needing colonoscopies and improve population screening.

The project demonstrates how AI can be applied meaningfully in healthcare, supporting earlier detection and better patient outcomes.

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AMD powers US AI factory supercomputers for national research

The US Department of Energy and AMD are joining forces to expand America’s AI and scientific computing power through two new supercomputers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Named Lux and Discovery, the systems will drive the country’s sovereign AI strategy, combining public and private investment worth around $1 billion to strengthen research, innovation, and security infrastructure.

Lux, arriving in 2026, will become the nation’s first dedicated AI factory for science.

Built with AMD’s EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs alongside Oracle and HPE technologies, Lux will accelerate research across materials, medicine, and advanced manufacturing, supporting the US AI Action Plan and boosting the Department of Energy’s AI capacity.

Discovery, set for deployment in 2028, will deepen collaboration between the DOE, AMD, and HPE. Powered by AMD’s next-generation ‘Venice’ CPUs and MI430X GPUs, Discovery will train and deploy AI models on secure US-built systems, protecting national data and competitiveness.

It aims to deliver faster energy, biology, and national security breakthroughs while maintaining high efficiency and open standards.

AMD’s CEO, Dr Lisa Su, said the collaboration represents the best public-private partnerships, advancing the nation’s foundation for science and innovation.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the initiative as proof that America leads when government and industry work together toward shared AI and scientific goals.

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Celebrity estates push back on Sora as app surges to No.1

OpenAI’s short-video app Sora topped one million downloads in under a week, then ran headlong into a likeness-rights firestorm. Celebrity families and studios demanded stricter controls. Estates for figures like Martin Luther King Jr. sought blocks on unauthorised cameos.

Users showcased hyperreal mashups that blurred satire and deception, from cartoon crossovers to dead celebrities in improbable scenes. All clips are AI-made, yet reposting across platforms spread confusion. Viewers faced a constant real-or-fake dilemma.

Rights holders pressed for consent, compensation, and veto power over characters and personas. OpenAI shifted toward opt-in for copyrighted properties and enabled estate requests to restrict cameos. Policy language on who qualifies as a public figure remains fuzzy.

Agencies and unions amplified pressure, warning of exploitation and reputational risks. Detection firms reported a surge in takedown requests for unauthorised impersonations. Watermarks exist, but removal tools undercut provenance and complicate enforcement.

Researchers warned about a growing fog of doubt as realistic fakes multiply. Every day, people are placed in deceptive scenarios, while bad actors exploit deniability. OpenAI promised stronger guardrails as Sora scales within tighter rules.

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Samsung and SoftBank team up on AI-RAN for next-gen telecom

Samsung Electronics and SoftBank Corp. have collaborated to develop advanced AI-RAN technologies to enhance next-generation telecommunications infrastructure.

The partnership will combine Samsung’s expertise in network solutions with SoftBank’s extensive operational data to advance automation and intelligence in wireless networks.

The companies plan to explore how AI can optimise network efficiency, improve real-time decision-making, and dynamically manage radio resources to deliver faster, more reliable connections. AI-RAN technologies are expected to play a key role in the evolution of 6G networks, where managing complex data flows and ensuring energy-efficient operations will become essential.

Dr Junehee Lee, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, said the collaboration represents ‘an important step toward realising autonomous networks powered by AI.’ He noted that such systems can predict network conditions, self-adjust to maintain quality of service, and reduce human intervention in operations.

Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO of SoftBank, emphasised that the project aligns with SoftBank’s long-term vision to build smarter, more resilient telecommunications infrastructure. ‘By combining our operational insights with Samsung’s technology leadership, we aim to accelerate innovation in network automation and deliver superior experiences to users,’ he said.

The two companies will begin joint trials in Japan using Samsung’s virtualised RAN (vRAN) and Open RAN solutions. These trials will focus on applying machine learning models to radio network optimisation, particularly in urban environments with high data demand.

Both firms view AI-RAN as a foundation for future communications systems that can autonomously adapt to network load and interference, setting the stage for a new generation of intelligent, energy-efficient mobile connectivity.

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Qualcomm and HUMAIN power Saudi Arabia’s AI transformation

HUMAIN and Qualcomm Technologies have launched a collaboration to deploy advanced AI infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, aiming to position the Kingdom as a global hub for AI.

Announced ahead of the Future Investment Initiative conference, the project will deliver the world’s first fully optimised edge-to-cloud AI system, expanding Saudi Arabia’s regional and global inferencing services capabilities.

In 2026, HUMAIN plans to deploy 200 megawatts of Qualcomm’s AI200 and AI250 rack solutions to power large-scale AI inference services.

The partnership combines HUMAIN’s regional infrastructure and full AI stack with Qualcomm’s semiconductor expertise, creating a model for nations seeking to develop sovereign AI ecosystems.

However, the initiative will also integrate HUMAIN’s Saudi-developed ALLaM models with Qualcomm’s AI platforms, offering enterprise and government customers tailor-made solutions for industry-specific needs.

The collaboration supports Saudi Arabia’s strategy to drive economic growth through AI and semiconductor innovation, reinforcing its ambition to lead the next wave of global intelligent computing.

Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon said the partnership would help the Kingdom build a technology ecosystem to accelerate its AI ambitions.

HUMAIN CEO Tareq Amin added that combining local insight with Qualcomm’s product leadership will establish Saudi Arabia as a key player in global AI and semiconductor development.

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Two founders turn note-taking into an AI success

Two 20-year-old drop-outs, Rudy Arora and Sarthak Dhawan, are behind Turbo AI, an AI-powered notetaker that has grown to around 5 million users and reached a multi-million-dollar annual recurring revenue (ARR) in a short timeframe.

Their app addresses a clear pain point, which is that meetings, lectures, and long videos produce information overload. Turbo AI uses generative AI to convert audio, typed notes or uploads into structured summaries, highlight key points and help users organise insights. The founders describe it as a ‘productivity assistant’ more than a general-purpose chat agent.

The business model appears lean, meaning that freemium user acquisition is scaling quickly, then converting power users into paid subscriptions. The insights are that a well-targeted niche tool can win strong uptake even in a crowded productivity-AI market.

Arora and Dhawan say they kept the feature set focused and user experience simple, enabling rapid word-of-mouth growth.

The growth raises interesting implications for enterprise and consumer AI alike. While large language models dominate headlines, tools like Turbo AI show the value of vertical-specific applications addressing tangible workflows (e.g., note-taking, summarisation). It also underscores how younger founders are building AI tools outside the major tech hubs and scaling globally.

At this stage, challenges remain: user retention, differentiation in a field where major players (Microsoft, Google, OpenAI) are adding similar capabilities, and privacy/data governance (especially with audio and meeting content). However, the early results suggest that targeted AI productivity tools can achieve a meaningful scale quickly.

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UN cybercrime treaty signed in Hanoi amid rights concerns

Around 73 countries signed a landmark UN cybercrime convention in Hanoi, seeking faster cooperation against online crime. Leaders cited trillions in annual losses from scams, ransomware, and trafficking. The pact enters into force after 40 ratifications.

UN supporters say the treaty will streamline evidence sharing, extradition requests, and joint investigations. Provisions target phishing, ransomware, online exploitation, and hate speech. Backers frame the deal as a boost to global security.

Critics warn the text’s breadth could criminalise security research and dissent. The Cybersecurity Tech Accord called it a surveillance treaty. Activists fear expansive data sharing with weak safeguards.

The UNODC argues the agreement includes rights protections and space for legitimate research. Officials say oversight and due process remain essential. Implementation choices will decide outcomes on the ground.

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MLK estate pushback prompts new Sora 2 guardrails at OpenAI

OpenAI paused the ability to re-create Martin Luther King Jr. in Sora 2 after Bernice King objected to user videos. Company leaders issued a joint statement with the King estate. New guardrails will govern depictions of historical figures on the app.

OpenAI said families and authorised estates should control how likenesses appear. Representatives can request removal or opt-outs. Free speech was acknowledged, but respectful use and consent were emphasised.

Policy scope remains unsettled, including who counts as a public figure. Case-by-case requests may dominate early enforcement. Transparency commitments arrived without full definitions or timelines.

Industry pressure intensified as major talent agencies opted out of clients. CAA and UTA cited exploitation and legal exposure. Some creators welcomed the tool, showing a split among public figures.

User appetite for realistic cameos continues to test boundaries. Rights of publicity and postmortem controls vary by state. OpenAI promised stronger safeguards while Sora 2 evolves.

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EU MiCA greenlight turns Blockchain.com’s Malta base into hub

Blockchain.com received a MiCA license from Malta’s Financial Services Authority, enabling passported crypto services across all 30 EEA countries under one EU framework. Leaders called it a step toward safer, consistent access.

Malta becomes the hub for scaling operations, citing regulatory clarity and cross-border support. Under the authorisation, teams will expand secure custody and wallets, enterprise treasury tools, and localised products for the EU consumers.

A unified license streamlines go-to-market and accelerates launches in priority jurisdictions. Institutions gain clearer expectations on safeguarding, disclosures, and governance, while retail users benefit from standardised protections and stronger redress.

Fiorentina D’Amore will lead the EU strategy with deep fintech experience. Plans include phased rollouts, supervisor engagement, and controls aligned to MiCA’s conduct and prudential requirements across key markets.

Since 2011, Blockchain.com says it has processed over one trillion dollars and serves more than 90 million wallets. Expansion under MiCA adds scalable infrastructure, robust custody, and clearer disclosures for users and institutions.

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