Capacity development

Employees embrace AI but face major training and trust gaps

SnapLogic has published new research highlighting how AI adoption reshapes daily work across industries while exposing trust, training, and leadership strategy gaps.

The study finds that 78% of employees already use AI in their roles, with half using autonomous AI agents. Workers interact with AI almost daily and save over three hours per week. However, 94% say they face barriers to practical use, with concerns over data privacy and security topping the list.

Based on a survey of 3,000 US, UK, and German employees, the research finds widespread but uneven AI support. Training is a significant gap, with only 63% receiving company-led education. Many rely on trial and error, and managers are more likely to be trained than non-managers.

Generational and hierarchical differences are also evident. Seventy percent of managers express strong confidence in AI, compared with 43% of non-managers. Half believe they will be managed by AI agents rather than people in the future, and many expect to be handled by AI themselves.

SnapLogic’s CTO, Jeremiah Stone, says the agile enterprise is about easing workloads and sparking creativity, not replacing people. The findings underscore the need for companies to align strategy, training, and trust to realise AI’s potential in the workplace fully.

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ChatGPT introduces new generation of interactive apps

A new generation of interactive apps is arriving in ChatGPT, allowing users to engage with tools like Canva, Spotify, and Booking.com directly through conversation. The apps appear naturally during chats, enabling users to create, learn, and explore within the same interface.

Developers can now build their own ChatGPT apps using the newly launched Apps SDK, released in preview as an open standard based on the Model Context Protocol. The SDK includes documentation, examples, and testing tools, with app submissions and monetisation to follow later this year.

Over 800 million ChatGPT users can now access these apps on Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans, excluding EU regions for the moment. Early partners include Booking.com, Coursera, Canva, Figma, Expedia, Spotify, and Zillow, with more to follow later in the year.

Apps respond to natural language and integrate interactive features such as maps, playlists, and slides directly in chat. ChatGPT can even suggest relevant apps during conversations- for instance, showing Zillow listings when discussing home purchases or prompting Spotify for a party playlist.

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Harvard team builds quantum computer that runs continuously for over two hours

A team of Harvard physicists has built a quantum computing machine that can operate continuously without restarting, achieving a significant milestone in experimental quantum hardware.

Until now, quantum computing systems have typically run only for milliseconds or seconds before decoherence or atom loss forces a reset. But in a new setup, the team sustained operation for more than two hours, and they claim that, in theory, it could run indefinitely.

The breakthrough depends on a design that uses an optical lattice conveyor belt together with optical tweezers. These tools allow the system to replenish qubits (atoms) in real time, injecting new atoms at a rate of 300,000 per second into a 3,000-qubit array, to counteract atom loss and maintain quantum information.

Overcoming atom loss has been one of the biggest bottlenecks in scaling quantum computers. Without that fix, durability and error accumulation limit usability. With this experiment, the researchers demonstrate a path toward more robust, always-on quantum platforms.

Mikhail Lukin, who leads Harvard’s quantum research, said that while scaling remains challenging, the approach appears compatible with larger systems. Collaboration with MIT physicist Vladan Vuletić suggested that machines capable of indefinite operation could be within reach in as little as three years.

Applications in cryptography, materials simulation, finance, and medicine could benefit enormously if quantum machines can reliably operate over long durations. The new design resets a key assumption in quantum systems, shifting focus from short bursts of computation to sustained, fault-tolerant operation.

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Policy hackathon shapes OpenAI proposals ahead of EU AI strategy

OpenAI has published 20 policy proposals to speed up AI adoption across the EU. Released shortly before the European Commission’s Apply AI Strategy, the report outlines practical steps for member states, businesses, and the public sector to bridge the gap between ambition and deployment.

The proposals originate from Hacktivate AI, a Brussels hackathon with 65 participants from EU institutions, governments, industry, and academia. They focus on workforce retraining, SME support, regulatory harmonisation, and public sector collaboration, highlighting OpenAI’s growing policy role in Europe.

Key ideas include Individual AI Learning Accounts to support workers, an AI Champions Network to mobilise SMEs, and a European GovAI Hub to share resources with public institutions. OpenAI’s Martin Signoux said the goal was to bridge the divide between strategy and action.

Europe already represents a major market for OpenAI tools, with widespread use among developers and enterprises, including Sanofi, Parloa, and Pigment. Yet adoption remains uneven, with IT and finance leading, manufacturing catching up, and other sectors lagging behind, exposing a widening digital divide.

The European Commission is expected to unveil its Apply AI Strategy within days. OpenAI’s proposals act as a direct contribution to the policy debate, complementing previous initiatives such as its EU Economic Blueprint and partnerships with governments in Germany and Greece.

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Brazil advances first national cybersecurity law

Brazil is preparing to pass its first national cybersecurity law, aiming to centralise oversight and strengthen protection for citizens and companies. The Cybersecurity Legal Framework would establish a new National Cybersecurity Authority to coordinate defence efforts across government and industry.

The legislation comes after a series of high-profile cyberattacks disrupted hospitals and exposed millions of personal records, highlighting gaps in Brazil’s digital defences. The authority would create nationwide standards, replacing fragmented rules currently managed by individual ministries and agencies.

Under the bill, public procurement will require compliance with official security standards, and suppliers will share responsibility for incidents. Companies meeting the rules could be listed as trusted providers, potentially boosting competitiveness in both public and private sectors.

The framework also includes incentives: financing through the National Public Security Fund and priority for locally developed technologies. While the bill still awaits approval in Congress, its adoption would make Brazil one of Latin America’s first countries with a comprehensive cybersecurity law.

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AI transforms retinal scans into predictive health tools

AI and machine learning are transforming ophthalmology, making retinal scans powerful tools for predicting health risks. Retinal images offer a non-invasive view of blood vessels and nerve fibres, showing risks for high blood pressure, kidney, heart, and stroke-related issues.

With lifestyle-related illnesses on the rise, early detection through eye scans has become increasingly important.

Technologies like fundus photography and optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) now enable detailed imaging of retinal vessels. Researchers use AI to analyse these images, identifying microvascular biomarkers linked to systemic diseases.

Novel approaches such as ‘oculomics’ allow clinicians to predict surgical outcomes for macular hole treatment and assess patients’ risk levels for multiple conditions in one scan.

AI is also applied to diabetes screening, particularly in countries with significant at-risk populations. Deep learning frameworks can estimate average blood sugar levels (HbA1c) from retinal images, offering a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to blood tests.

Despite its promise, AI in ophthalmology faces challenges. Limited and non-diverse datasets can reduce accuracy, and the ‘black box’ nature of AI decision-making can make doctors hesitant.

Collaborative efforts to share anonymised patient data and develop more transparent AI models are helping to overcome these hurdles, paving the way for safer and more reliable applications.

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ChatGPT reaches 800 million weekly users as OpenAI’s value hits $500 billion

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced that ChatGPT now reaches 800 million weekly active users, reflecting rapid growth across consumers, developers, enterprises and governments.

The figure marks another milestone for the company, which reported 700 million weekly users in August and 500 million at the end of March.

Altman shared the news during OpenAI’s Dev Day keynote, noting that four million developers are now building with OpenAI tools. He said ChatGPT processes more than six billion tokens per minute through its API, signalling how deeply integrated it has become across digital ecosystems.

The event also introduced new tools for building apps directly within ChatGPT and creating more advanced agentic systems. Altman states these will support a new generation of interactive and personalised applications.

OpenAI, still legally a nonprofit, was recently valued at $500 billion following a private stock sale worth $6.6 billion.

Its growing portfolio now includes the Sora video-generation tool, a new social platform, and a commerce partnership with Stripe, consolidating its status as the world’s most valuable private company.

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Mercedes-Benz launches MBUX beta programme with ChatGPT

Mercedes-Benz is integrating ChatGPT into its MBUX infotainment system, enhancing voice control for US customers. The AI upgrade allows the Hey Mercedes assistant to understand natural language more effectively, providing detailed responses and conversational interactions.

An optional beta programme is available for over 900,000 vehicles, accessible via the Mercedes me app or through a voice command.

Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service powers ChatGPT with enterprise-grade security and reliability. Mercedes-Benz retains full control over IT processes, with voice command data anonymised and stored in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud.

Data privacy remains a top priority, ensuring customers are aware of what information is collected and how it is used.

ChatGPT complements the existing capabilities of Hey Mercedes, extending the assistant’s range beyond predefined tasks. Drivers and passengers can now receive detailed information about destinations, recipes, sports, weather, or other queries while keeping their hands on the wheel.

The three-month beta programme will help Mercedes-Benz refine the assistant and guide future rollouts across markets and languages.

Mercedes-Benz emphasises responsible AI integration, aligning ChatGPT with its AI principles. The system is continuously monitored to mitigate potential risks, ensuring innovative features are delivered safely and effectively to customers.

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New bill creates National Cybersecurity Authority in Brazil

Brazil is set to approve its first comprehensive Cybersecurity Legal Framework with Bill No. 4752/2025. The legislation creates a National Cybersecurity Authority and requires compliance for government procurement, with shared responsibility for supply chain security incidents.

The framework aims to unify the country’s fragmented cybersecurity policies. Government agencies will follow ANC standards, while companies delivering services to public entities must meet minimum cybersecurity requirements.

The ANC will also publish lists of compliant suppliers, providing a form of certification that could enhance trust in both public and private partnerships.

Supply chain oversight is a key element of the bill. Public bodies must assess supplier risks, and liability will be shared in the event of breaches.

The law encourages investment in national cybersecurity technologies and offers opportunities for companies to access financing and participate in the National Cybersecurity Program.

Approval would make Brazil one of the first Latin American countries with a robust federal cybersecurity law. The framework aims to strengthen protections, encourage innovation, and boost confidence for citizens, businesses, and international partners.

Companies that prepare now will gain a competitive advantage when the law comes into effect.

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OpenAI and AMD strike 6GW GPU deal to power next-generation AI infrastructure

AMD and OpenAI have announced a strategic partnership to deploy up to six gigawatts of AMD GPUs, marking one of the largest AI compute collaborations.

The multi-year agreement will begin with the rollout of one gigawatt of AMD Instinct MI450 GPUs in the second half of 2026, with further deployments planned across future AMD generations.

A deal that deepens a long-standing relationship between the two companies began with AMD’s MI300X and MI350X series.

OpenAI will adopt AMD as a core strategic compute partner, integrating its technology into large-scale AI systems and jointly optimising product roadmaps to support next-generation AI workloads.

To strengthen alignment, AMD has issued OpenAI a warrant for up to 160 million shares, with tranches vesting as the partnership achieves deployment and share-price milestones. AMD expects the collaboration to deliver tens of billions in revenue and boost its non-GAAP earnings per share.

AMD CEO Dr Lisa Su called the deal ‘a true win-win’ for both companies, while OpenAI’s Sam Altman said the partnership will ‘accelerate progress and bring advanced AI benefits to everyone faster’.

The collaboration positions AMD as a leading hardware supplier in the race to build global-scale AI infrastructure.

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