Development

Cybercriminals abandon Kido extortion attempt amid public backlash

Hackers who stole data and images of children from Kido Schools have removed the material from the darknet and claimed to delete it. The group, calling itself Radiant, had demanded a £600,000 Bitcoin ransom, but Kido did not pay.

Radiant initially blurred the photos but kept the data online before later removing all content and issuing an apology. Experts remain sceptical, warning that cybercriminals often claim to delete stolen data while secretly keeping or selling it.

The breach exposed details of around 8,000 children and their families, sparking widespread outrage. Cybersecurity experts described the extortion attempt as a ‘new low’ for hackers and said Radiant likely backtracked due to public pressure.

Radiant said it accessed Kido’s systems by buying entry from an ‘initial access broker’ and then stealing data from accounts linked to Famly, an early years education platform. The Famly told the BBC its infrastructure was not compromised.

Kido confirmed the incident and stated that they are working with external specialists and authorities. With no ransom paid and Radiant abandoning its attempt, the hackers appear to have lost money on the operation.

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Adobe Premiere debuts free mobile app for iPhone users

The US software company, Adobe, has launched a free version of its Premiere video-editing software for iPhone, bringing professional-level tools to mobile creators. The app is now available worldwide in Apple’s App Store, with an Android release still in development.

A new mobile Premiere app that allows users to edit videos on a multi-track timeline, enhance audio with AI-powered sound effects, and create studio-quality voiceovers. It also offers millions of free multimedia assets, including images, fonts, stickers, and audio files.

Projects can be exported directly to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts, with the app automatically adjusting video sizes for each platform.

Users can start editing on the iPhone app and then transfer their projects to Premiere Pro on a desktop for more advanced refinements. Adobe has also integrated its generative AI, enabling features such as backdrop expansion, image-to-video conversion, and custom AI stickers.

While the app is free, upgrades are available for additional storage and generative credits.

The launch highlights Adobe’s push to make professional editing more accessible to streamers, podcasters, and vloggers.

By blending mobile flexibility with cross-platform collaboration, the company aims to empower creators to produce high-quality content anytime and anywhere.

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Grok controversies shadow Musk’s new Grokipedia project

Elon Musk has announced that his company xAI is developing Grokipedia, a planned Wikipedia rival powered by its Grok AI chatbot. He described the project as a step towards achieving xAI’s mission of understanding the universe.

In a post on X, Musk called Grokipedia a ‘necessary improvement over Wikipedia,’ renewing his criticism of the platform’s funding model and what he views as ideological bias. He has long accused Wikimedia of leaning left and reflecting ‘woke’ influence.

Despite Musk’s efforts to position Grok as a solution to bias, the chatbot has occasionally turned on its creator. Earlier this year, it named Musk among the people doing the most harm to the US, alongside Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The Grok 4 update also drew controversy when users reported that the chatbot praised and adopted the surname of a controversial historical figure in its responses, sparking criticism of its safety. Such incidents raised questions about the limits of Musk’s oversight.

Grok is already integrated into X as a conversational assistant, providing context and explanations in real time. Musk has said it will power the platform’s recommendation algorithm by late 2025, allowing users to customise their feeds dynamically through direct requests.

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Europe urged to seize AI opportunity through action

Europe faces a pivotal moment to lead in AI, potentially boosting GDP by over €1.2 trillion, according to Google’s Kent Walker. Urgent action is needed to close the gap between ambition and implementation.

Complex EU regulations, with over 100 new digital rules since 2019, hinder businesses, costing an estimated €124 billion annually. Simplifying these, as suggested by Mario Draghi’s report, could unlock €450 billion in AI-driven growth.

Focused, balanced policies must prioritise real-world AI impacts without stifling progress.

Skilling Europe’s workforce is crucial for AI adoption, with only 14% of EU firms using generative AI compared to 83% in China. Google’s initiatives, like its €15 million AI Opportunity Fund, support digital training. Public-private partnerships can scale these efforts, creating new job categories.

Scaling AI demands secure, dependable tools and ongoing momentum. Google’s AlphaFold and GNoME fuel advances in biology and materials science, while partnerships with European companies safeguard data sovereignty. Joint efforts will help Europe lead globally in AI.

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Portugal to bring AI into bureaucracy to save time

The Portuguese government is preparing to bring AI into public administration to accelerate licensing procedures and cut delays, according to State Reform Minister Gonçalo Matias.

Speaking at a World Tourism Day conference in Tróia, he said AI can play a key role in streamlining decision-making while maintaining human oversight at the final stage.

Matias explained that the reform will reallocate staff from routine tasks to work of higher value, while introducing a system of prior notifications.

Under the plan, citizens and businesses in Portugal will be allowed to begin most activities without a licence, with tacit approval granted if the administration fails to respond within set deadlines.

The minister said the reforms will be tied to strict accountability measures, emphasising a ‘trust contract’ between citizens, businesses and the public administration. He argued the initiative will not only speed up processes but also foster greater efficiency and responsibility across government services.

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Cryptocurrency mining banned on Abu Dhabi farms

Abu Dhabi’s Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) reaffirms ban on crypto mining on farms to promote sustainable land use. Such activities fall outside the permitted economic uses, which are strictly limited to agriculture and livestock production.

The authority aims to protect the emirate’s agricultural sustainability and biosecurity.

Inspections revealed multiple farms misusing agricultural land for cryptocurrency mining, violating regulations designed to preserve farmland for its intended purpose. ADAFSA considers these activities detrimental to the core objectives of farming.

Consequently, the authority has vowed to take decisive action against non-compliant farms to uphold its policies. Violators face severe penalties, including a AED100,000 fine, doubled for repeat offences, alongside suspension of all farm support services.

Additional measures include electricity disconnection and confiscation of mining equipment, which is then referred to relevant authorities for further legal action. These steps ensure compliance with agricultural regulations.

ADAFSA calls on farm owners and workers to adhere to approved agricultural practices to maintain access to support programmes. They enforces measures to protect Abu Dhabi’s agricultural sustainability and prevent practices that harm its environmental and economic goals.

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OpenAI’s Sora app raises tension between mission and profit

The US AI company, OpenAI, has entered the social media arena with Sora, a new app offering AI-generated videos in a TikTok-style feed.

The launch has stirred debate among current and former researchers, some praising its technical achievement while others worry it diverges from OpenAI’s nonprofit mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity.

Researchers have expressed concerns about deepfakes, addictive loops and the ethical risks of AI-driven feeds. OpenAI insists Sora is designed for creativity rather than engagement, highlighting safeguards such as reminders for excessive scrolling and prioritisation of content from known contacts.

The company argues that revenue from consumer apps helps fund advanced AI research, including its pursuit of artificial general intelligence.

A debate that reflects broader tensions within OpenAI: balancing commercial growth with its founding mission. Critics fear the consumer push could dilute its focus, while executives maintain products like ChatGPT and Sora expand public access and provide essential funding.

Regulators are watching closely, questioning whether the company’s for-profit shift undermines its stated commitment to safety and ethical development.

Sora’s future remains uncertain, but its debut marks a significant expansion of AI-powered social platforms. Whether OpenAI can avoid the pitfalls that defined earlier social media models will be a key test of both its mission and its technology.

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Samsung joins OpenAI for AI data centre push

Samsung Electronics, alongside OpenAI, has signed a letter of intent to collaborate on AI data centre infrastructure. The partnership leverages Samsung’s expertise in semiconductors, cloud services, and shipbuilding. Combining these strengths aims to accelerate advancements in global AI technology.

Samsung Electronics will provide energy-efficient DRAM for OpenAI’s Stargate, meeting a projected demand of 900,000 wafers monthly. Advanced chip packaging and heterogeneous integration further enhance Samsung’s ability to deliver tailored semiconductor solutions for AI workflows.

Samsung SDS will design and operate Stargate AI data centres while offering enterprise AI services, including ChatGPT integration for Korean businesses. Meanwhile, Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will explore floating data centres to address land scarcity and reduce emissions.

Signed in Seoul, the agreement positions Samsung to support Korea’s ambition to rank among the top three AI nations globally. Broader adoption of ChatGPT within Samsung’s operations will also drive workplace AI transformation.

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Instagram head explains why ads feel like eavesdropping

Adam Mosseri has denied long-standing rumours that the platform secretly listens to private conversations to deliver targeted ads. In a video he described as ‘myth busting’, Mosseri said Instagram does not use the phone’s microphone to eavesdrop on users.

He argued that such surveillance would not only be a severe breach of privacy but would also quickly drain phone batteries and trigger visible microphone indicators.

Instead, Mosseri outlined four reasons why adverts may appear suspiciously relevant: online searches and browsing history, the influence of friends’ online behaviour, rapid scrolling that leaves subconscious impressions, and plain coincidence.

According to Mosseri, Instagram users may mistake targeted advertising for surveillance because algorithms incorporate browsing data from advertisers, friends’ interests, and shared patterns across users.

He stressed that the perception of being overheard is often the result of ad targeting mechanics rather than eavesdropping.

Despite his explanation, Mosseri admitted the rumour is unlikely to disappear. Many viewers of his video remained sceptical, with some comments suggesting his denial only reinforced their suspicions about how social media platforms operate.

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AI tool detects tiny brain lesions, offering hope of epilepsy cure

Australian researchers have developed an AI tool that can identify tiny brain lesions in children with epilepsy, a breakthrough they say could enable faster diagnoses and pave the way for potential cures.

Scientists from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and The Royal Children’s Hospital designed the ‘AI epilepsy detective’ to detect lesions as small as a blueberry in up to 94 percent of cases. These cortical dysplasias are often invisible to doctors reviewing MRI scans, with around 80 percent of cases previously missed during human examination.

In a study published in Epilepsia, the team tested the tool on 71 children and 23 adults with focal epilepsy. Seventeen children were part of the test group, and 12 underwent surgery after the lesions were identified using the AI. Eleven are now seizure-free.

Lead researcher Dr Emma Macdonald-Laurs said earlier lesion identification can speed surgery referrals and improve outcomes. ‘Identifying the cause early lets us tailor treatment options and helps neurosurgeons plan and navigate surgery,’ she explained. ‘More accurate imaging allows neurosurgeons to develop a safer surgical roadmap and avoid removing healthy brain tissue.’

Brain lesions are one of the most common causes of drug-resistant seizures, yet they can be challenging to detect using conventional imaging techniques. The researchers now hope to expand the use of their AI tool across paediatric hospitals in Australia with additional funding.

One child, five-year-old Royal, experienced frequent seizures before doctors using the tool identified and removed the lesion responsible. His mother said he is seizure-free and has returned to his ‘calm, friendly, and patient’ self.

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