Anthropic has released Claude Sonnet 4.5, featuring a suite of new upgrades designed to enhance coding, automation, and creativity. The update enhances Claude Code, extends Computer Use, and introduces experimental tools to boost productivity and facilitate real-world applications.
Claude Code now features checkpoints, allowing developers to roll back projects to earlier versions. The Claude API has also been expanded, supporting longer-running agents to generate files such as slides, spreadsheets, and documents directly within chats.
The model’s Computer Use function has been strengthened, enabling agents to operate applications for up to 30 hours autonomously. Anthropic says Claude Sonnet 4.5 built a Slack-style app with 11,000 lines of code in one session.
A new feature, Imagine with Claude, focuses on generating creative software. The system produced a Shakespeare-themed desktop with customised scripts and performance schedules from a single prompt, highlighting its versatility.
Anthropic has maintained steady pricing for free and premium users, positioning Sonnet 4.5 as its most practical and feature-rich release yet, combining reliability with expanded creative and developer-friendly tools.
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A global survey commissioned by Yubico suggests that younger workers are more vulnerable to phishing scams than older generations. Gen Z respondents reported the highest level of interaction with phishing messages, with 62 percent admitting they engaged with a scam in the past year.
The study gathered responses from 18,000 employed adults in nine countries, including the UK, US, France, and Japan. In the past twelve months, 44 percent of participants admitted to clicking on or replying to a phishing message.
AI is raising the stakes for cybersecurity. Seventy percent of those surveyed believe phishing has become more effective due to AI, and 78 percent said the attacks seem more sophisticated. More than half could not confidently identify a phishing email when shown one.
Despite growing risks, cyber defences remain patchy. Only 48 percent said their workplace used multi-factor authentication across all services, and 40 percent reported never receiving cybersecurity training from their employer.
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Burnout is a significant challenge in the cybersecurity sector, as workers face rising threats and constant pressure to defend organisations. A BBC report highlights how professionals often feel overworked and undervalued, with stress levels leading some to take extended leave.
UK-based surveys reflect growing strain. Membership body ISC2 found that job satisfaction among cybersecurity staff dropped in 2024, with burnout cited as a key issue. Experts say demands have increased while resources remain stretched, leaving staff expected to stay on call around the clock.
Hackers are becoming more aggressive, targeting health services, retailers, and critical national infrastructure. Nation-state actors, including North Korean groups linked to large crypto thefts, are also stepping up activity. These attacks add to the psychological burden on frontline defenders.
Industry figures warn that high turnover risks weakening cyber resilience, especially in junior roles. Initiatives like Cybermindz call for better mental health support, while some argue for protections akin to those for first responders.
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Rapid growth in AI data centres is raising global energy use and emissions, prompting MIT scientists to cut the carbon footprint through more intelligent computing, greater efficiency, and improved data centre design.
Innovations include cutting energy-heavy training, using optimised or lower-power processors, and improving algorithms to achieve results with fewer computations. Known as ‘negaflops,’ these efficiency gains can dramatically lower energy consumption without compromising AI performance.
Adjusting workloads to coincide with periods of higher renewable energy availability also helps cut emissions.
Location and infrastructure play a significant role in reducing carbon impact. Data centres in cooler climates, flexible multi-user facilities, and long-duration energy storage systems can all decrease reliance on fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, AI is being applied to accelerate renewable energy deployment, optimise solar and wind generation, and support predictive maintenance for green infrastructure.
Experts stress that effective solutions require collaboration among academia, companies, and regulators. Combining AI efficiency, more innovative energy use, and clean energy aims to cut emissions while supporting generative AI’s rapid growth.
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Harvard researchers have developed an AI tool to distinguish glioblastoma from similar brain tumours during surgery. The PICTURE system gives surgeons near-real-time guidance for critical decisions during surgery.
PICTURE outperformed humans and other AI, correctly distinguishing glioblastoma from PCNSL over 98 percent of the time in international tests. The tool also flags cases it is unsure of, allowing human review and reducing the risk of misdiagnosis, particularly in complex or rare brain tumours.
The AI works on frozen tissue samples, commonly used for rapid surgical evaluation, and can identify crucial cancer features such as cell shape, density, and necrosis.
Accurate tumour differentiation helps surgeons avoid unnecessary tissue removal and choose the proper treatment- surgery for glioblastoma or radiation and chemotherapy for PCNSL.
Researchers envision PICTURE could be used in surgery and pathology to aid AI collaboration, train pathologists, and improve access to neuropathology expertise. Further studies are planned to test its accuracy across more diverse populations and potentially extend its application to other cancer types.
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The tool, developed within the department’s Sydney-based cloud environment, prioritises privacy, security, and equity while tailoring content to the state’s educational context. It is aligned with the NSW AI Assessment Framework.
The trial began in 16 schools in Term 1, 2024, and then expanded to 50 schools in Term 2. Teachers reported efficiency gains, and students showed strong engagement. Access was extended to all staff in Term 4, 2024, with Years 5–12 students due to follow in Term 4, 2025.
Key features include a privacy-first design, built-in safeguards, and a student mode that encourages critical thinking by offering guided prompts rather than direct answers. Staff can switch between staff and student modes for lesson planning and preparation.
All data is stored in Australia under departmental control. NSWEduChat is free and billed as the most cost-effective AI tool for schools. Other systems are accessible but not endorsed; staff must follow safety rules, while students are limited to approved tools.
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PayOS and Mastercard have completed the first live agentic payment using a Mastercard Agentic Token, marking a pivotal step for AI-driven commerce. The demonstration, powered by Mastercard Agent Pay, extends the tokenisation infrastructure that already underpins mobile payments and card storage.
The system enables AI agents to initiate payments while enforcing consent, authentication, and fraud checks, thereby forming what Mastercard refers to as the trust layer. It shows how card networks are preparing for agentic transactions to become central to digital commerce.
Mastercard’s Chief Digital Officer, Pablo Fourez, stated that the company is developing a secure and interoperable ecosystem for AI-driven payments, underpinned by tokenized credentials. The framework aims to prepare for a future where the internet itself supports native agentic commerce.
For PayOS, the milestone represents a shift from testing to commercialisation. Chief executive Johnathan McGowan said the company is now onboarding customers and offering tools for fraud prevention, payments risk management, and improved user experiences.
The achievement signals a broader transition as agentic AI moves from pilot to real-world deployment. If security models remain effective, agentic payments could soon differentiate platforms, merchants, and issuers, embedding autonomy into digital transactions.
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After its announcement in May, Opera has started rolling out Neon, its first AI-powered browser. Unlike traditional browsers, Neon is designed for professionals who want AI to simplify complex online workflows.
The browser introduces Tasks, which act like self-contained workspaces. AI can understand context, compare sources, and operate across multiple tabs simultaneously to manage projects more efficiently.
Neon also features cards and reusable AI prompts that users can customise or download from a community store, streamlining repeated actions and tasks.
Its standout tool, Neon Do, performs real-time on-screen actions such as opening tabs, filling forms, and gathering data, while keeping everything local. Opera says no data is shared, and all information is deleted after 30 days.
Neon is available by subscription at $19.90 per month. Invitations are limited during rollout, but Opera promises broader availability soon.
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Kazakhstan has launched the Alem Crypto Fund to strengthen its presence in digital finance. The state-backed fund, created by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, will focus on long-term investments in digital assets and forming strategic reserves.
The initiative is managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group and registered within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a hub for financial innovation. Officials have suggested the fund could evolve into a tool for state-level savings, enhancing the country’s economic resilience.
Binance Kazakhstan, a locally licensed arm of the global exchange, has been named the fund’s strategic partner. They made their first investment in BNB, the native token of BNB Chain, which holds a market capitalisation of over $138 billion.
Government representatives and Binance Kazakhstan described the collaboration as a milestone for institutional recognition of cryptocurrencies in Kazakhstan. It signals a move toward a more transparent and secure digital asset market integrated with global technologies.
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A £100m AI data centre has been approved for construction on the outskirts of Stockton, with developers Latos Data Centres pledging up to 150 new jobs.
The Preston Farms Industrial Estate site will feature two commercial units, plants, substations and offices, designed to support the growing demands of AI and advanced computing.
Work on the Neural Data Centre is set to begin at the end of the year, with full operations expected by 2028. The project has been welcomed by Industry Minister and Stockton North MP Chris McDonald, who described it as a significant investment in skills and opportunities for the future.
Latos managing director Andy Collin said the facility was intended to be ‘future proof’, calling it a purpose-built factory for the modern digital economy. Local leaders hope the investment will help regenerate Teesside’s industrial base, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge infrastructure.
The announcement follows the UK government’s decision to create an AI growth zone in the North East, covering sites in Northumberland and Tyneside. Teesworks in Redcar was not included in the initial allocation, but ministers said further proposals from Teesside were still under review.
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