Google has introduced AI-powered live lane guidance for cars with Google built in, marking a significant step toward intelligent in-vehicle navigation.
A new feature that enables Google Maps to interpret roads and lanes like a driver, offering real-time audio and visual cues to help motorists make timely lane changes and avoid missed exits.
Using AI that analyses lane markings and road signs through the vehicle’s front-facing camera, Google Maps integrates the live data with its navigation system, used by over two billion people monthly. The result is more accurate guidance alongside existing traffic, ETA, and hazard updates.
The feature will debut in Polestar 4vehicles in the US and Sweden, with plans to expand across more models and road types in collaboration with major automakers.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
European authorities have dismantled one of the continent’s largest cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering schemes, arresting nine suspects across Cyprus, Spain, and Germany. The network allegedly defrauded hundreds of investors through fake crypto platforms, stealing over €600 million.
The scammers reportedly created websites that mimicked legitimate trading platforms, luring victims through social media, cold calls, and fabricated celebrity endorsements. Once deposits were made, the funds were laundered through blockchain technology, making recovery nearly impossible.
During the operation, investigators seized €800,000 in bank accounts, €415,000 in cryptocurrencies, €300,000 in cash, and luxury watches worth over €100,000. Authorities stated that several properties linked to the network remain under evaluation as investigations continue.
French prosecutors said the suspects face fraud and money laundering charges, carrying sentences of up to ten years. The case underscores the growing cross-border nature of crypto-related crime, with Eurojust’s coordination proving key to dismantling the network.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Amazon Web Services has announced Fastnet, a high-capacity transatlantic subsea cable connecting Maryland and County Cork.
Set to be operational in 2028, Fastnet will expand AWS’s network resilience and deliver faster, more reliable cloud and AI services between the US and Europe.
The cable’s unique route provides critical redundancy, ensuring service continuity even when other cables face disruptions. Capable of transmitting over 320 terabits per second, Fastnet supports large-scale cloud computing and AI workloads while integrating directly into AWS’s global infrastructure.
The system’s design enables real-time data redirection and long-term scalability to meet the increasing demands of AI and edge computing.
Beyond connectivity, AWS is investing in community benefit funds for Maryland and County Cork, supporting local sustainability, education, and workforce development.
A project that reflects AWS’s wider strategy to reinforce critical digital infrastructure and strengthen global innovation in the cloud economy.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The US R&D company, OpenAI, has introduced IndQA, a new benchmark designed to test how well AI systems understand and reason across Indian languages and cultural contexts. The benchmark covers 2,278 questions in 12 languages and 10 cultural domains, from literature and food to law and spirituality.
Developed with input from 261 Indian experts, IndQA evaluates AI models through rubric-based grading that assesses accuracy, cultural understanding, and reasoning depth. Questions were created to challenge leading OpenAI models, including GPT-4o and GPT-5, ensuring space for future improvement.
India was chosen as the first region for the initiative, reflecting its linguistic diversity and its position as ChatGPT’s second-largest market.
OpenAI aims to expand the approach globally, using IndQA as a model for building culturally aware benchmarks that help measure real progress in multilingual AI performance.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Lambda has announced a multibillion-euro agreement with Microsoft to expand AI infrastructure powered by tens of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs, marking one of the largest private cloud computing collaborations to date.
The multi-year deal aims to accelerate the deployment of AI supercomputers at scale, enhancing the capacity for enterprise and research applications across industries.
A collaboration that builds on an eight-year relationship between the two companies and reflects growing global demand for high-performance computing driven by the rise of AI assistants and enterprise AI solutions.
Stephen Balaban, CEO of Lambda, said the project represents a major step in developing gigawatt-scale AI factories capable of serving billions of users. The company positions itself as a trusted large-scale partner for organisations building advanced AI models and systems.
Founded in 2012, Lambda designs supercomputing infrastructure for AI training and inference, aiming to make computing power as accessible as electricity and to advance what it calls the era of ‘superintelligence’.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Commission has approved €2.9 billion in funding for 61 large-scale net-zero technology projects, marking one of the EU’s most significant investments in clean innovation to date.
Financed through revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, the initiative aims to accelerate Europe’s path towards climate neutrality by 2050.
The selected projects cover 19 industrial sectors across 18 Member States and target areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, zero-emission mobility, and industrial carbon management.
Collectively, they are expected to cut more than 220 million tonnes of CO₂ over the next decade, reinforcing Europe’s global leadership in sustainable technologies instead of relying on imports.
Funded under the Innovation Fund, which draws on an estimated €40 billion in ETS revenues, the initiative highlights the EU’s industrial readiness for decarbonisation. The latest call attracted 359 applications requesting €21.7 billion in support, underscoring the rapid growth of the continent’s cleantech sector.
Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra described the announcement as proof that the EU is turning its climate ambitions into industrial reality, creating green jobs and strengthening economic resilience. The next round of Innovation Fund calls will open in December 2025.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Commission has unveiled RAISE, a new virtual institute designed to unite Europe’s AI research and accelerate scientific breakthroughs.
The launch, announced in Copenhagen, marks a flagship moment in the EU’s strategy to strengthen its leadership in science and technology through collective action.
Funded with €107 million under Horizon Europe, RAISE will bring together Europe’s best resources in data, computing power, and research talent.
An initiative that will help scientists apply AI to pressing challenges such as cancer treatment, climate change, and natural disaster prediction, while promoting innovation that serves humanity instead of commercial interests alone.
RAISE will work with the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking to secure access to AI Gigafactories and will dedicate €75 million to train and attract global researchers through Networks of Excellence.
The Commission also plans to double Horizon Europe’s annual AI investments to more than €3 billion, ensuring that the EU remains a global leader in scientific AI.
A project that reflects the EU’s ambition to achieve technological sovereignty and create an inclusive AI ecosystem. As RAISE grows in phases towards 2034, it will strengthen cooperation among Member States, academia, and industry, setting a benchmark for responsible and innovative AI in science.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Organisations across public and private sectors are using Salesforce’s Agentforce to engage people whenever and wherever they need support.
From local governments to hospitals and education platforms, AI systems are transforming how services are delivered and accessed.
In the city of Kyle, Texas, an Agentforce-driven 311 app enables residents to report issues such as potholes or water leaks. The city plans to make the system voice-enabled, reducing traditional call volumes while maintaining a steady flow of service requests and faster responses.
At Pearson, AI enables students to access their online learning platforms instantly, regardless of their time zone. The company stated that the technology fosters loyalty by providing immediate assistance, rather than requiring users to wait for human support.
Meanwhile, UChicago Medicine utilises AI to streamline patient interactions, from prescription refills to scheduling, while ambient listening tools enable doctors to focus entirely on patients rather than typing notes.
Salesforce said Agentforce empowers organisations to save resources while enhancing trust, accessibility, and service quality. By meeting people on their own terms, AI enables more responsive and human-centred interactions across various industries.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Meta has introduced a new Facebook update allowing group administrators to change their private groups to public while keeping members’ privacy protected. The company said the feature gives admins more flexibility to grow their communities without exposing existing private content.
All posts, comments, and reactions shared before the change will remain visible only to previous members, admins, and moderators. The member list will also stay private. Once converted, any new posts will be visible to everyone, including non-Facebook users, which helps discussions reach a broader audience.
Admins have three days to review and cancel the conversion before it becomes permanent. Members will be notified when a group changes its status, and a globe icon will appear when posting in public groups as a reminder of visibility settings.
Groups can be switched back to private at any time, restoring member-only access.
Meta said the feature supports community growth and deeper engagement while maintaining privacy safeguards. Group admins can also utilise anonymous or nickname-based participation options, providing users with greater control over their engagement in public discussions.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
World Economic Forum President Borge Brende has warned that massive investments in AI and cryptocurrencies may create financial bubbles. Speaking in Berlin, he noted that $500 billion has been invested in AI this year, raising concerns about speculative bubbles in AI and cryptocurrency.
Brende described frontier technologies as a ‘big paradigm shift’ that could drive global growth, with potential productivity gains of up to 10% over the next decade. He noted that breakthroughs in medicine, synthetic biology, space, and energy could transform economies, but stressed that the benefits must be widely shared.
Geopolitical uncertainty remains a significant concern, according to Brende. He pointed to rising tensions between the US and China, calling it a race for technological dominance that could shape global power.
He also urged multilateral cooperation to address global challenges, including pandemics, cybercrime, and investment uncertainty.
Despite the disorder in world politics, Brende highlighted the resilience of economies like those in the US, China, and India. He called for patient investment strategies and stronger international coordination to ensure that new technologies translate into sustainable prosperity.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
