Researchers at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK are launching a Digital Futures Lab, focusing on virtual reality and AI in the humanities. The hub opens on 7 February.
The facility will support collaboration between academics, students, businesses and cultural organisations. Launch events will showcase practical uses of VR, AI and digital language tools across research and culture.
Speakers will discuss chatbots, algorithms and data analysis shaping modern arts and humanities research. The project builds on the university’s wider investment in cyber resilience and AI.
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Scientists have developed a radar-based sensor that detects irregular heart rhythms without physical contact. The system uses radio waves and AI to identify atrial fibrillation and allow earlier detection.
The technology was tested on more than 6,200 patients during routine heart checks. Results showed accuracy comparable to standard electrocardiogram tests, demonstrating its potential for clinical use.
Trials during sleep revealed that the system could detect hidden heart rhythm issues even when patients were at rest. Many episodes of atrial fibrillation go unnoticed at night, so this could improve early intervention.
Further studies will examine how the system performs in everyday life. Researchers hope these tests will show whether the technology can be used reliably outside clinics to monitor heart health.
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Rising concern surrounds the growing number of people seeking help after becoming victims of AI-generated intimate deepfakes in Guernsey, part of the UK. Support services report a steady increase in cases.
Existing law criminalises sharing intimate images without consent, but AI-generated creations remain legal. Proposed reforms aim to close this gap and strengthen victim protection.
Police and support charities warn that deepfakes cause severe emotional harm and are challenging to prosecute. Cross-border platforms and anonymous perpetrators complicate enforcement and reporting.
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Rising use of AI is transforming cyberattacks in the UAE, enabling deepfakes, automated phishing and rapid data theft. Expanding digital services increase exposure for businesses and residents.
Criminals deploy autonomous AI tools to scan networks, exploit weaknesses and steal information faster than humans. Shorter detection windows raise risks of breaches, disruption and financial loss.
High-value sectors such as government, finance and healthcare face sustained targeting amid skills shortages. Protection relies on cautious users, stronger governance and secure-by-design systems across smart infrastructure.
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UK lawmaker Jess Asato said an AI-altered image depicting her in a bikini circulated online. The incident follows wider reports of sexualised deepfake abuse targeting women on social media.
Platforms hosted thousands of comments, including further manipulated images, heightening distress. Victims describe the content as realistic, dehumanising and violating personal consent.
Government ministers of the UK pledged to ban nudification tools and criminalise non-consensual intimate images. Technology firms face pressure to remove content, suspend accounts, and follow Ofcom guidance to maintain a safe online environment.
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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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Rising living costs and economic instability are the biggest worries for young people worldwide. A World Economic Forum survey shows inflation dominates personal and global concerns.
Many young people fear that AI-driven automation will shrink entry-level job opportunities. Two-thirds expect fewer early career roles despite growing engagement with AI tools.
Nearly 60 per cent already use AI to build skills and improve employability. Side hustles and freelance work are increasingly common responses to economic pressure.
Youth respondents call for quality jobs, better education access and affordable housing. Climate change also ranks among the most serious long-term global risks.
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Canadian quantum computing company Photonic has raised $130 million in the first close of a new investment round led by Planet First Partners. New backers include RBC and TELUS, alongside returning investors.
The funding brings Photonic’s total capital raised to $271 million and supports the development of fault-tolerant quantum systems. The company combines silicon-based qubits with built-in photonic connectivity.
Photonic’s entanglement-first architecture is designed to scale across existing global telecom networks. The approach aims to enable large, distributed quantum computers rather than isolated machines.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Photonic plans to utilise the investment to accelerate key product milestones and expand its team. Investors see strong potential across finance, sustainability, telecommunications and security sectors.
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China’s AI sector could narrow the technological AI gap with the United States through growing risk-taking and innovation, according to leading researchers. Despite export controls on advanced chipmaking tools, Chinese firms are accelerating development across multiple AI fields.
Yao Shunyu, a former senior researcher at ChatGPT maker OpenAI and now Tencent’s AI scientist, said a Chinese company could become the world’s leading AI firm within three to five years. He pointed to China’s strengths in electricity supply and infrastructure as key advantages.
Yao said the main bottlenecks remain production capacity, including access to advanced lithography machines and a mature software ecosystem. Such limits still restrict China’s ability to manufacture the most advanced semiconductors and narrow the AI gap with the US.
China has developed a working prototype of an extreme-ultraviolet lithography machine that could eventually rival Western technology. However, Reuters reported the system has not yet produced functioning chips.
Sources familiar with the project said commercial chip production using the machine may not begin until around 2030. Until then, Chinese AI ambitions are likely to remain constrained by hardware limitations.
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The EU has agreed to open talks with the US on sharing sensitive traveller data. The discussions aim to preserve visa-free travel for European citizens.
The proposal is called ‘Enhanced Border Security Partnership‘, and it could allow transfers of biometric data and other sensitive personal information. Legal experts warn that unclear limits may widen access beyond travellers alone.
EU governments have authorised the European Commission to negotiate a shared framework. Member states would later settle details through bilateral agreements with Washington.
Academics and privacy advocates are calling for stronger safeguards and transparency. EU officials insist data protection limits will form part of any final agreement.
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