Development

Oxford secures £118 million for AI-enhanced vaccine research programme

In partnership with the Ellison Institute of Technology, Oxford University has received a £118 million grant to launch CoI-AI, Correlates of Immunity-AI, a five-year vaccine research programme.

Led by Professors Sir Andrew Pollard and Daniela Ferreira, the initiative will combine human challenge trials with AI analysis to explore how the immune system responds to antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.

AI models developed at EIT will process vast human-derived datasets, including blood and tissue samples, to identify protective immune responses, profoundly accelerating vaccine discovery and design. CoI-AI pioneers a collaboration of biomedical science and advanced AI within a high-risk, precision-driven framework.

Orange funding will also support the creation of Oxford–EIT research infrastructure, including a new £1 billion campus opening in 2027, embedding AI-driven innovation into cutting-edge medical research.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Wearable brain-computer interface pairs EEG with AI for robotic control

UCLA engineers have developed a wearable brain-computer interface that utilises AI to interpret intent, allowing for the control of robotic arms and computer cursors.

The non-invasive system uses electroencephalography (EEG) to decode brain signals and combines them with an AI camera platform for real-time assistance. The results, published in ‘Nature Machine Intelligence’, demonstrate significant performance improvements over traditional BCIs.

Participants tested the device on two tasks: moving a cursor across a computer screen and directing a robotic arm to reposition blocks. All completed tasks faster with AI assistance, while a paralysed participant, unable to finish without support, succeeded in under seven minutes.

Researchers emphasise the importance of safety and accessibility. Unlike surgically implanted BCIs, which remain confined to limited clinical trials, the wearable device avoids neurosurgical risks while offering new independence for people with paralysis or ALS.

Future development will focus on making AI ‘co-pilots’ more adaptive, allowing robotic arms to move with greater precision, dexterity, and task awareness.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Gemini upgrade for Google Home coming soon

An upcoming upgrade for Google Home devices is set to bring a new AI assistant, Gemini, to the smart home ecosystem. A recent post by the Made by Google account on X revealed that more details will be announced on 1 October.

The move follows months of user complaints about Google Home’s performance, including issues with connectivity and the assistant’s failure to recognise basic commands.

With Gemini’s superior ability to understand natural language, the upgrade is expected to improve how users interact with their smart devices significantly. Home devices should better execute complex commands with multiple actions, such as dimming some lights while leaving others on.

However, the update will also introduce ‘Gemini Live’ to compatible devices, a feature allowing for natural, back-and-forth conversations with the AI chatbot.

The Gemini for Google Home upgrade will initially be rolled out on an early access basis. It will be available in free and paid tiers, suggesting that some more advanced features may be locked behind a subscription.

The update is anticipated to make Google Home and Nest devices more reliable and to handle complex requests easily.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Hackers exploited flaws in WhatsApp and Apple devices, company says

WhatsApp has disclosed a hacking attempt that combined flaws in its app with a vulnerability in Apple’s operating system. The company has since fixed the issues.

The exploit, tracked as CVE-2025-55177 in WhatsApp and CVE-2025-43300 in iOS, allowed attackers to hijack devices via malicious links. Fewer than 200 users worldwide are believed to have been affected.

Amnesty International reported that some victims appeared to be members of civic organisations. Its Security Lab is collecting forensic data and warned that iPhone and Android users were impacted.

WhatsApp credited its security team for identifying the loopholes, describing the operation as highly advanced but narrowly targeted. The company also suggested that other apps could have been hit in the same campaign.

The disclosure highlights ongoing risks to secure messaging platforms, even those with end-to-end encryption. Experts stress that keeping apps and operating systems up to date remains essential to reducing exposure to sophisticated exploits.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

US regulators offer clarity on spot crypto products

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have announced a joint effort to clarify spot cryptocurrency trading. Regulators confirmed that US and foreign exchanges can list spot crypto products- leveraged and margin ones.

The guidance follows the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets recommendations, which called for rules that keep blockchain innovation within the country.

Regulators said they are ready to review filings, address custody and clearing, and ensure spot markets meet transparency and investor protection standards.

Under the new approach, major venues such as the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, CME Group and Cboe Global Markets could seek to list spot crypto assets. Foreign boards of trade recognised by the CFTC may also be eligible.

The move highlights a policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration, with Congress and the White House pressing for greater regulatory clarity.

In July, the House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act, a bill on crypto market structure now before the Senate. The moves and the regulators’ statement mark a key step in aligning US digital assets with established financial rules.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Quantum and supercomputing converge in IBM-AMD initiative

IBM has announced plans to develop next-generation computing architectures by integrating quantum computers with high-performance computing, a concept it calls quantum-centric supercomputing.

The company is working with AMD to build scalable, open-source platforms that combine IBM’s quantum expertise with AMD’s strength in HPC and AI accelerators. The aim is to move beyond the limits of traditional computing and explore solutions to problems that classical systems cannot address alone.

Quantum computing uses qubits governed by quantum mechanics, offering a far richer computational space than binary bits. In a hybrid model, quantum machines could simulate atoms and molecules, while supercomputers powered by CPUs, GPUs, and AI manage large-scale data analysis.

Arvind Krishna, IBM’s CEO, said the approach represents a new way of simulating the natural world. AMD’s Lisa Su described high-performance computing as foundational to tackling global challenges, noting the partnership could accelerate discovery and innovation.

An initial demonstration is planned for later this year, showing IBM quantum computers working with AMD technologies. Both companies say open-source ecosystems like Qiskit will be crucial to building new algorithms and advancing fault-tolerant quantum systems.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Musk’s influence puts Grok at the centre of AI bias debate

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has faced repeated changes to its political orientation, with updates shifting its answers towards more conservative views.

xAI, Musk’s company, initially promoted Grok as neutral and truth-seeking, but internal prompts have steered it on contentious topics. Adjustments included portraying declining fertility as the greatest threat to civilisation and downplaying right-wing violence.

Analyses of Grok’s responses by The New York Times showed that the July updates shifted answers to the right on government and economy, while some social responses remained left-leaning. Subsequent tweaks pulled it back closer to neutrality.

Critics say that system prompts, such as short instructions like ‘be politically incorrect’, make it easy to adjust outputs, but also leave the model prone to erratic or offensive responses. A July update saw Grok briefly endorse a controversial historical figure before xAI turned it off.

The case highlights growing concerns about political bias in AI systems. Researchers argue that all chatbots reflect the worldviews of their training data, while companies increasingly face pressure to align them with user expectations or political demands.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Google dismisses false breach rumours as Gmail security concerns grow

Reports that Gmail suffered a massive breach have been dismissed by Google, which said rumours of warnings to 2.5 billion users were false.

In a Monday blog post, Google rejected claims that it had issued global notifications about a serious Gmail security issue. It stressed that its protections remain effective against phishing and malware.

Confusion stems from a June incident involving a Salesforce server, during which attackers briefly accessed public business information, including names and contact details. Google said all affected parties were notified by early August.

The company acknowledged that phishing attempts are increasing, but clarified that Gmail’s defences block more than 99.9% of such attempts. A July blog post on phishing risks may have been misinterpreted as evidence of a breach.

Google urged users to remain vigilant, recommending password alternatives such as passkeys and regular account reviews. While the false alarm spurred unnecessary panic, security experts noted that updating credentials remains good practice.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

UK institutions embrace enterprise AI through global tech alliance

Microsoft, Accenture, and Avanade are deepening their 25-year partnership to bring AI into some of the UK’s most vital sectors, including healthcare and finance. NHS England is piloting AI-powered tools to streamline patient services and cut down on time-consuming administrative tasks, while Nationwide Building Society is deploying machine learning to improve customer services, speed up mortgage approvals, and enhance fraud detection.

The three companies have different responsibilities in tackling the challenges of enterprise AI. Microsoft provides the Azure cloud platform and pre-built AI models, Accenture contributes sector-specific expertise and governance frameworks, and Avanade integrates the technology into existing systems and workflows. That structure helps organisations move beyond experimental AI pilots and scale solutions reliably in highly regulated industries.

Unlike consumer applications, enterprise AI must meet strict compliance requirements, especially concerning sensitive patient data or financial transactions. The partnership emphasises embedding AI directly into day-to-day operations rather than treating it as an add-on, reducing disruption for staff and ensuring systems work seamlessly once live.

With regulators tightening oversight, the alliance highlights responsible AI as a key focus. By prioritising transparency, security, and ethical use, Microsoft, Accenture, and Avanade are positioning their collaboration as a blueprint for how AI can be adopted across critical institutions without compromising trust or reliability.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI boom drives massive surge in data centre power demand

According to Goldman Sachs, the surge in AI is set to transform global energy markets, with data centres expected to consume 165% more electricity by 2030 compared to 2023. The bank reports that US spending on data centre construction has tripled in just three years, while occupancy rates at existing facilities remain close to record highs.

The demand is driven by hyperscale operators like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, which are rapidly expanding their infrastructure to meet the power-hungry needs of AI systems.

Global data centres use about 55 gigawatts of electricity, more than half of which supports cloud computing. Traditional workloads like email and storage still account for a third, while AI represents just 14%.

However, Goldman Sachs projects that by 2027, overall consumption could rise to 84 gigawatts, with AI’s share growing to over a quarter. That shift is straining grids and pushing operators toward new solutions as AI servers can consume ten times more electricity than traditional racks.

Meeting this demand will require massive investment. Goldman Sachs estimates that global grid upgrades could cost as much as US$720 billion by 2030, with US utilities alone needing an additional US$50 billion in new generation capacity for data centres.

While renewables like wind and solar are increasingly cost-competitive, their intermittent output means operators lean on hybrid models with backup gas and battery storage. At the same time, technology companies are reviving interest in nuclear power, with contracts for over 10 gigawatts of new capacity signed in the US last year.

The expansion is most evident in Europe and North America, with Nordic countries, Spain, and France attracting investment due to their renewable energy resources. At the same time, hubs like Germany, Britain, and Ireland rely on incentives and established ecosystems. Yet, uncertainty remains.

Advances like DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model reportedly as capable as US systems but more efficient, could temper power demand growth. For now, however, the trajectory is clear, AI is reshaping the data centre industry and the global energy landscape.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!