A Grok-powered AI support tool has been added to Starlink’s website, expanding automated help for broadband users. The chatbot builds on a similar service already available through the company’s mobile app.
Users can access the chatbot via the checkout support page, receiving a link by email. Responses are limited to Starlink services and usually appear within several seconds.
The system is designed to streamline support for millions of users worldwide, including rural UK customers. Public opinion remains divided over the growing reliance on AI instead of human support staff.
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The US AI company, OpenAI, has acquired healthcare technology startup Torch only days after unveiling ChatGPT Health, signalling an accelerated push into medical and clinical applications.
Financial terms were not officially disclosed, although media reports estimate the transaction at between $60 million and $100 million.
Torch was developed as a unified medical memory platform, designed to consolidate patient data from hospitals, laboratories, wearable devices and consumer testing services.
The company positioned its technology as a means to support AI systems in navigating fragmented healthcare information, rather than relying on isolated data sources.
Torch’s four-person team will join OpenAI following the acquisition, reinforcing the company’s internal healthcare expertise. OpenAI has emphasised privacy, safety and collaboration with medical professionals as core principles guiding its expansion into sensitive data environments.
The move follows a broader strategy by OpenAI to strengthen enterprise offerings, particularly for large healthcare organisations. Recent hires and partnerships suggest healthcare remains a priority area as AI adoption increases across regulated sectors.
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Körber Supply Chain and Sereact have formed a strategic partnership to bring AI-controlled pick-and-place robotics technology into automated production and distribution solutions.
The collaboration aims to overcome the limitations of conventional automation by using AI systems that analyse visual and object data in real-time and autonomously adjust picking strategies for a wide variety of products.
The Sereact solution is now part of Körber’s broader supply chain ecosystem, enabling companies to integrate flexible and scalable robot automation into their warehouse and logistics operations.
AI-enabled robots can handle unknown or complex items with precision and speed, making logistics processes more efficient and reducing reliance on manual labour.
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Personal finance assistants powered by AI tools are increasingly helping users manage budgets, analyse spending, and organise financial documents. Popular platforms such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude now offer features designed to support everyday financial tasks.
Rather than focusing on conversational style, users should consider how financial data is accessed and how each assistant integrates with existing systems. Connections to spreadsheets, cloud storage, and secure platforms often determine how effective AI tools are for managing financial workflows.
ChatGPT is commonly used for drafting financial summaries, analysing expenses, and creating custom tools through plugins. Google Gemini is closely integrated with Google Docs and Sheets, making it suitable for users who rely on Google’s productivity ecosystem.
Microsoft Copilot provides strong automation for Excel and Microsoft 365 users, with administrative controls that appeal to organisations. Claude focuses on safety and large context windows, allowing it to process lengthy financial documents with more conservative output.
Choosing the most suitable AI tools for personal finance depends on workflow needs, data governance preferences, and privacy considerations. No single platform dominates every use case; each offers strengths across different financial management tasks.
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A UK public sector cyberattack on Kensington and Chelsea Council has exposed the growing vulnerability of government organisations to data breaches. The council stated that personal details linked to hundreds of thousands of residents may have been compromised after attackers targeted the shared IT infrastructure.
Security experts warn that interconnected systems, while cost-efficient, create systemic risks. Dray Agha, senior manager of security operations at Huntress, said a single breach can quickly spread across partner organisations, disrupting essential services and exposing sensitive information.
Public sector bodies remain attractive targets due to ageing infrastructure and the volume of personal data they hold. Records such as names, addresses, national ID numbers, health information, and login credentials can be exploited for fraud, identity theft, and large-scale scams.
Gregg Hardie, public sector regional vice president at SailPoint, noted that attackers often employ simple, high-volume tactics rather than sophisticated techniques. Compromised credentials allow criminals to blend into regular activity and remain undetected for long periods before launching disruptive attacks.
Hardie said stronger identity security and continuous monitoring are essential to prevent minor intrusions from escalating. Investing in resilient, segmented systems could help reduce the impact of future UK public sector cyberattack incidents and protect critical operations.
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Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek will launch a customised Italian version of its online chatbot following a probe by the Italian competition authority, the AGCM. The move follows months of negotiations and a temporary 2025 ban due to concerns over user data and transparency.
The AGCM had criticised DeepSeek for not sufficiently warning users about hallucinations or false outputs generated by its AI models.
The probe ended after DeepSeek agreed to clearer Italian disclosures and technical fixes to reduce hallucinations. The regulator noted that while improvements are commendable, hallucinations remain a global AI challenge.
DeepSeek now provides longer Italian warnings and detects Italian IPs or prompts for localised notices. The company also plans workshops to ensure staff understand Italian consumer law and has submitted multiple proposals to the AGCM since September 2025.
The start-up must provide a progress report within 120 days. Failure to meet the regulator’s requirements could lead to the probe being reopened and fines of up to €10 million (£8.7m).
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Apple and Google have confirmed a multi-year partnership that will see Google’s Gemini models powering Siri and future Apple Intelligence features. The collaboration will underpin Apple’s next-generation AI models, with updates coming later this year.
The move follows delays in rolling out Siri upgrades first unveiled at WWDC 2024. While most Apple Intelligence features have already been launched, the redesigned Siri has been postponed due to development taking longer than anticipated.
According to reports, Apple will continue using its own models for specific tasks, while Gemini is expected to handle summarisation, planning, and other advanced functions.
Bloomberg reports the upcoming Siri will be structured around three layers: query planning, knowledge retrieval, and summarisation. Gemini will handle planning and summarisation, helping Siri structure responses and create clear summaries.
Knowledge retrieval may also benefit from Gemini, potentially broadening Siri’s general knowledge capabilities beyond its current hand-off system.
All AI processing will operate on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute platform, ensuring user privacy and keeping data secure. Analysts suggest this integration will embed Gemini more deeply into Siri’s core functionality, rather than serving as a supplementary tool.
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A newly identified vulnerability in Telegram’s mobile apps allows attackers to reveal users’ real IP addresses with a single click. The flaw, known as a ‘one-click IP leak’, can expose location and network details even when VPNs or proxies are enabled.
The issue comes from Telegram’s automatic proxy testing process. When a user clicks a disguised proxy link, the app initiates a direct connection request that bypasses all privacy protections and reveals the device’s real IP address.
Cybersecurity researcher @0x6rss demonstrated an attack on X, showing that a single click is enough to log a victim’s real IP address. The request behaves similarly to known Windows NTLM leaks, where background authentication attempts expose identifying information without explicit user consent.
ONE-CLICK TELEGRAM IP ADDRESS LEAK!
In this issue, the secret key is irrelevant. Just like NTLM hash leaks on Windows, Telegram automatically attempts to test the proxy. Here, the secret key does not matter and the IP address is exposed. Example of a link hidden behind a… https://t.co/KTABAiuGYIpic.twitter.com/NJLOD6aQiJ
Attackers can embed malicious proxy links in chats or channels, masking them as standard usernames. Once clicked, Telegram silently runs the proxy test, bypasses VPN or SOCKS5 protections, and sends the device’s real IP address to the attacker’s server, enabling tracking, surveillance, or doxxing.
Both Android and iOS versions are affected, putting millions of privacy-focused users at risk. Researchers recommend avoiding unknown links, turning off automatic proxy detection where possible, and using firewall tools to block outbound proxy tests. Telegram has not publicly confirmed a fix.
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Malta’s government is preparing new legal measures to curb the abusive use of deepfake technology, with existing laws now under review. The planned reforms aim to introduce penalties for the misuse of AI in cases of harassment, blackmail, and bullying.
The move mirrors earlier cyberbullying and cyberstalking laws, extending similar protections to AI-generated content. Authorities are promoting AI while stressing the need for strong public safety and legal safeguards.
AI and youth participation were the main themes discussed during the National Youth Parliament meeting, where Abela highlighted the role of young people in shaping Malta’s long-term development strategy, Vision Malta 2050.
The strategy focuses on the next 25 years and directly affects those entering the workforce or starting families.
Young people were described as key drivers of national policy in areas such as fertility, environmental protection, and work-life balance. Senior officials and members of the Youth Advisory Forum attended the meeting.
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Efforts to reform US cryptocurrency regulation have hit another delay, as Senate senators pushed back the crucial markup of the CLARITY Act. The vote has been moved to the last week of January to secure bipartisan support.
Disagreements persist over stablecoin rewards, DeFi regulation, and regulatory authority between the SEC and CFTC. Without sufficient support, the bill risks stalling in committee and losing momentum for the year.
The CLARITY Act aims to bring structure to the US digital asset landscape, clarifying which tokens are classed as securities or commodities and expanding the CFTC’s supervisory role. It sets rules for market oversight and asset handling, providing legal clarity beyond the current enforcement-focused system.
The House passed its version in mid-2025, but the Senate has yet to agree on wording acceptable to all stakeholders. Delaying the markup gives Senate leaders time to refine the bill and rebuild support for potential 2026 reform.
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