British universities have been urged to reassess their assessment methods after new research revealed a significant rise in students using genAI for their projects. A survey of 1,000 undergraduates found that 88% of students used AI tools like ChatGPT for assessments in 2025, up from 53% last year. Overall, 92% of students now use some form of AI, marking a substantial shift in academic behaviours in just a year.
The report, by the Higher Education Policy Institute and Kortext, highlights how AI is being used for tasks such as summarising articles, explaining concepts, and suggesting research ideas. While AI can enhance the quality of work and save time, some students admitted to directly including AI-generated content in their assignments, raising concerns about academic misconduct.
The research also found that concerns over AI’s potential impact on academic integrity vary across demographics. Women, wealthier students, and those studying STEM subjects were more likely to embrace AI, while others expressed fears about getting caught or receiving biased results. Despite these concerns, students generally feel that universities are addressing the issue of academic integrity, with many believing their institutions have clear policies on AI use.
Experts argue that universities need to adapt quickly to the changing landscape, with some suggesting that AI should be integrated into teaching rather than being seen solely as a threat to academic integrity. As AI tools become an essential part of education, institutions must find a balance between leveraging the technology and maintaining academic standards.
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Canada’s telecommunications regulator, the CRTC, announced on Wednesday that it will impose a fee on Google to cover the costs of enforcing the Online News Act, which requires large tech platforms to pay for news content shared on their sites. The levy, which will be implemented from April 1, will vary each year and has no upper limit. This move comes amid rising tensions between Canada and the US over issues like trade and a digital services tax on American tech firms.
The CRTC stated that most of its operations are funded by fees from the companies it regulates, and the new charge aims to recover costs related to the law. Google, which had previously raised concerns about the fairness of such a rule, had argued that it was unreasonable to impose 100% of the costs on one company. Despite this, Google has agreed to pay C$100 million annually to Canadian publishers in a deal that ensures its search results continue to feature news content.
The law, which is part of a global trend to make internet giants pay for news, was introduced last year in response to concerns that tech firms were crowding out news businesses in the online advertising market. While both Google and Meta were identified as major platforms required to make payments, Meta chose to block news from its platforms in Canada instead. Google, however, has continued to negotiate with the Canadian government, although it has yet to comment further on the CRTC’s decision.
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For over a century, the Rorschach inkblot test has been used to explore human psychology by revealing the hidden facets of the mind through personal interpretations of ambiguous shapes. The test leverages a phenomenon known as pareidolia, where individuals perceive patterns, such as animals or faces, in random inkblots. Now, thanks to the advances in artificial intelligence, this test has been used to explore how AI interprets these same images.
In an intriguing experiment, ChatGPT was shown five common inkblots to see how it would respond. Unlike humans, who often project their emotions or personal experiences onto the images, the AI offered more literal interpretations, identifying symmetrical shapes or common visual features. However, these responses were based purely on patterns it has been trained to recognise, rather than any true emotional connection to the inkblots.
The AI’s responses were consistent with what it had learned from vast datasets of human interpretations. But while humans might see a butterfly or a skull, the AI merely recognised a shape, demonstrating a key difference between human cognition and machine processing. This experiment highlights the unique human ability to attach emotional or symbolic meaning to abstract visuals, something AI is not equipped to replicate.
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Europe’s top court has ruled that Google’s decision to block an Enel e-mobility app from Android Auto could be considered an abuse of market power. The judgment reinforces competition rules and may push major tech firms to allow easier access for rival apps.
The case stemmed from a €102 million fine imposed by Italy’s antitrust authority in 2021 for restricting access to Enel’s JuicePass app.
Google challenged the penalty, arguing security concerns and the absence of a specific app template. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union backed the Italian regulator, stating that dominant companies must ensure interoperability unless valid security risks exist.
The court clarified that companies should develop necessary templates within a reasonable timeframe.
Although Google has since introduced the requested feature, the ruling may set a precedent for similar cases. Legal experts see it as aligning with EU competition law, citing past decisions against IBM and Microsoft.
The ruling also supports the objectives of the Digital Markets Act, which aims to regulate dominant digital platforms.
The decision is final and unappealable, meaning the Italian Council of State must now rule on Google’s appeal in line with the court’s findings.
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Italy is demanding 12.5 million euros ($13 million) from Elon Musk’s social network X following a tax probe linked to a broader investigation into Meta. The case, which focuses on value-added tax (VAT) claims for the years 2016 to 2022, is significant as it raises questions about how social networks provide access to their services. Italian tax authorities argue that user registrations on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram should be considered taxable transactions, as they involve the exchange of personal data for a membership account.
This case could have major implications for the tech sector in Europe, potentially altering the way business models are structured in the 27-nation European Union, as VAT is a harmonised EU tax. Although the claim of 12.5 million euros is a small amount for X, the outcome of this case could influence future tax policies across the region. Both X and Meta must respond to the tax authority’s observations by late March or early April, with the option to either accept the charges or challenge them in court.
The investigation also comes at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump has criticised digital taxes in countries like Italy that target US tech firms. Musk, who has strong ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is also keen to expand his Starlink business in the country. If no agreement is reached, Italy’s Revenue Agency may pursue a lengthy judicial review, which could take up to 10 years to resolve.
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More than 1,000 musicians have joined forces to release a silent album as part of a protest against the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright laws. The changes would allow AI companies to use artists’ work to train models without needing permission, a move critics argue would undermine creators’ rights. The silent album, titled ‘Is This What We Want?’, features empty studios and performance spaces, symbolising the potential loss of control over their work.
The changes have sparked outrage from high-profile artists such as Kate Bush, who warned that this could lead to the exploitation of musicians by tech companies. The protest album, which includes contributions from other major artists like Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa, aims to highlight the negative impact of such reforms on the livelihoods of creators.
The UK government argues that these changes will help boost the AI and creative industries, allowing them to reach their full potential. However, the controversy over copyright law is growing, with many in the music industry urging a rethink before any new regulations are finalised.
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Google has launched a new free AI tool aimed at helping developers with code completion and assistance. Gemini Code Assist for Individuals allows users to interact with a Google AI model through a chat window, helping to fix bugs, complete code, or explain parts of a codebase. The tool can be integrated into popular coding environments like VS Code and JetBrains, and supports a range of programming languages. It offers impressive capabilities, with 180,000 code completions per month—90 times more than GitHub’s free Copilot plan—and 240 daily chat requests, well beyond the limits of competing tools.
In addition, Google unveiled Gemini Code Assist for GitHub, a tool that automatically scans code in pull requests to identify bugs and provide helpful suggestions. These tools highlight Google’s increasing efforts to compete with Microsoft and GitHub in the developer space. Both tools leverage Google’s Gemini 2.0 AI model, fine-tuned for coding tasks, and offer a context window four times larger than similar models, enabling the AI to process more complex code.
The launch marks a strategic move by Google to attract developers, especially those early in their careers, with the hope that some will eventually transition to premium plans. Gemini Code Assist for Individuals is available through a free public preview, with Google planning to roll out additional enterprise features soon, including integration with third-party tools and more advanced customisation options for businesses.
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Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani is focusing on small businesses and promoting innovative neuroscience research to boost Reliance’s revenue from the Indian Premier League (IPL). After striking an $8.5 billion merger with Walt Disney, Reliance plans to attract small companies to advertise during the IPL by offering affordable ad packages starting at $17,000. The company has been conducting closed-door seminars in various Indian cities to pitch these packages, aiming to expand its digital ad inventory and increase streaming revenue.
Reliance is also experimenting with “brain mapping” research to show higher engagement rates for its IPL ads compared to rivals like Google and Meta. The company claims its ads have up to four times more focus, engagement, and memorability, based on neural studies of participants. However, the ad rates for IPL streaming have risen by up to 25%, creating competition with lower-cost platforms like Instagram and YouTube, where some businesses find advertising more affordable.
Despite heavy investments in IPL and other cricket rights, Reliance faces challenges in making the venture profitable. The company is battling major global players in India’s growing digital advertising market, where Google and Meta dominate. Reliance’s ad pitch focuses on user data, offering targeted ads based on viewer demographics. Yet, experts argue that Reliance’s efforts, including using brain scans to boost ad appeal, may not be enough to compete with the sheer reach of platforms like YouTube.
The high cost of IPL broadcast rights, coupled with increasing ad rates, puts pressure on Reliance’s strategy. Still, Ambani remains confident in the IPL’s potential to attract advertisers and retain viewers who may subscribe to additional content offerings. With competition intensifying in India’s $28-billion digital ad market, Reliance’s new tactics may shape its future in the entertainment and advertising sectors.
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The European Court of Justice has backed Italy‘s antitrust authority in a ruling against Google, stating that the tech giant’s refusal to allow Enel’s JuicePass app to work with its Android Auto platform could constitute an abuse of market power. This decision supports a 2021 fine of 102 million euros imposed by the Italian watchdog after Google blocked the e-mobility app. Google had argued that the refusal was due to security concerns and the absence of a specific template for compatibility, but the court disagreed, stating that dominant companies must ensure their platforms are interoperable with third-party apps unless doing so would harm security.
Although Google has since resolved the issue, the ruling sets a precedent for future cases involving platform dominance. The court acknowledged that companies could refuse interoperability if it compromises platform security, but if this is not the case, they must develop a compatible template in a reasonable timeframe. Google claimed the feature was only relevant to a small percentage of cars in Italy at the time, but the ruling now forces the company to comply with the antitrust decision. The case is final and cannot be appealed, and the Italian Council of State will follow the court’s guidance in its future ruling.
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Although a Berlin court initially supported the activists’ request, X filed a motion arguing the judge had shown bias by interacting with the plaintiffs’ social media posts. The court approved the motion, though similar claims against two other judges were dismissed.
The ruling means that the activists will not receive the requested data within their critical timeframe. A hearing on the matter is set for February 27, but any ruling will come too late to influence their election monitoring efforts in Germany.
However, the decision could establish an important precedent for future transparency cases involving social media platforms. The activists had argued that while some election data is technically accessible, it is not realistically obtainable without direct access from X.
X has also announced plans to sue the German government over what it calls excessive user data requests, claiming these demands violate privacy and freedom of expression.
The German digital affairs ministry acknowledged X’s public statements but confirmed that no formal lawsuits had been filed yet. The escalating legal dispute highlights growing tensions between Musk and German authorities, particularly as the country prepares for key elections amid concerns over misinformation.
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