Development

AI-powered Opera Neon browser launches with premium subscription

After its announcement in May, Opera has started rolling out Neon, its first AI-powered browser. Unlike traditional browsers, Neon is designed for professionals who want AI to simplify complex online workflows.

The browser introduces Tasks, which act like self-contained workspaces. AI can understand context, compare sources, and operate across multiple tabs simultaneously to manage projects more efficiently.

Neon also features cards and reusable AI prompts that users can customise or download from a community store, streamlining repeated actions and tasks.

Its standout tool, Neon Do, performs real-time on-screen actions such as opening tabs, filling forms, and gathering data, while keeping everything local. Opera says no data is shared, and all information is deleted after 30 days.

Neon is available by subscription at $19.90 per month. Invitations are limited during rollout, but Opera promises broader availability soon.

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California enacts first state-level AI safety law

In the US, California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 53, a landmark law establishing transparency and safety requirements for large AI companies.

The legislation obliges major AI developers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google DeepMind to disclose their safety protocols. It also introduces whistle-blower protections and a reporting mechanism for safety incidents, including cyberattacks and autonomous AI behaviour not covered by the EU AI Act.

Reactions across the industry have been mixed. Anthropic supported the law, while Meta and OpenAI lobbied against it, with OpenAI publishing an open letter urging Newsom not to sign. Tech firms have warned that state-level measures could create a patchwork of regulation that stifles innovation.

Despite resistance, the law positions California as a national leader in AI governance. Newsom said the state had demonstrated that it was possible to safeguard communities without stifling growth, calling AI ‘the new frontier in innovation’.

Similar legislation is under consideration in New York, while California lawmakers are also debating SB 243, a separate bill that would regulate AI companion chatbots.

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New Facebook tools help creators boost fan engagement

Facebook has introduced new tools designed to help creators increase engagement and build stronger communities on the platform. The update includes fan challenges, custom badges for top contributors, and new insights to track audience loyalty.

Fan challenges allow creators with over 100,000 followers to issue prompts inviting fans to share content on a theme or event. Contributions are displayed in a dedicated feed, with a leaderboard ranking entries by reactions.

Challenges can run for a week or stretch over several months, giving creators flexibility in engaging their audiences.

Meta has also launched custom fan badges for creators with more than one million followers, enabling them to rename Top Fan badges each month. The feature gives elite-level fans extra recognition and strengthens the sense of community. Fans can choose whether to accept the custom badge.

To complement these features, Facebook adds new metrics showing the number of Top Fans on a page. These insights help creators measure engagement efforts and reward their most dedicated followers.

The tools are now available to eligible creators worldwide.

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ChatGPT gets family safety update with parental controls

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls for ChatGPT, giving families greater oversight of how teens use the AI platform. The tools, which are live for all users, allow parents to link accounts with their children and manage settings through a simple control dashboard.

The system introduces stronger safeguards for teen accounts, including filters on graphic or harmful content and restrictions on roleplay involving sex, violence or extreme beauty ideals.

Parents can also fine-tune features such as voice mode, memory, image generation, or set quiet hours when ChatGPT cannot be accessed.

A notification mechanism has been added to alert parents if a teen shows signs of acute distress, escalating to emergency services in critical cases. OpenAI said the controls were shaped by consultation with experts, advocacy groups, and policymakers and will be expanded as research evolves.

To complement the parental controls, a new online resource hub has been launched to help families learn how ChatGPT works and explore positive uses in study, creativity and daily life.

OpenAI also plans to roll out an age-prediction system that automatically applies teen-appropriate settings.

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Kazakhstan launches Alem Crypto Fund for digital assets

Kazakhstan has launched the Alem Crypto Fund to strengthen its presence in digital finance. The state-backed fund, created by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, will focus on long-term investments in digital assets and forming strategic reserves.

The initiative is managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group and registered within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a hub for financial innovation. Officials have suggested the fund could evolve into a tool for state-level savings, enhancing the country’s economic resilience.

Binance Kazakhstan, a locally licensed arm of the global exchange, has been named the fund’s strategic partner. They made their first investment in BNB, the native token of BNB Chain, which holds a market capitalisation of over $138 billion.

Government representatives and Binance Kazakhstan described the collaboration as a milestone for institutional recognition of cryptocurrencies in Kazakhstan. It signals a move toward a more transparent and secure digital asset market integrated with global technologies.

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UK’s Stockton secures £100m AI data centre to strengthen local economy

A £100m AI data centre has been approved for construction on the outskirts of Stockton, with developers Latos Data Centres pledging up to 150 new jobs.

The Preston Farms Industrial Estate site will feature two commercial units, plants, substations and offices, designed to support the growing demands of AI and advanced computing.

Work on the Neural Data Centre is set to begin at the end of the year, with full operations expected by 2028. The project has been welcomed by Industry Minister and Stockton North MP Chris McDonald, who described it as a significant investment in skills and opportunities for the future.

Latos managing director Andy Collin said the facility was intended to be ‘future proof’, calling it a purpose-built factory for the modern digital economy. Local leaders hope the investment will help regenerate Teesside’s industrial base, positioning the region as a hub for cutting-edge infrastructure.

The announcement follows the UK government’s decision to create an AI growth zone in the North East, covering sites in Northumberland and Tyneside. Teesworks in Redcar was not included in the initial allocation, but ministers said further proposals from Teesside were still under review.

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New Jersey proposes bill to uncover data centre energy and water use

New Jersey legislators have introduced a bill requiring data centre operators in the state to disclose their annual energy and water usage publicly. The measure seeks to inject transparency into operations that are notorious for high resource consumption.

The proposed law emerges amidst broader scrutiny of data centres’ environmental footprint. Researchers in the Great Lakes region estimate hyper-scale facilities could use up to 365 million gallons of water yearly for cooling and related systems.

Supporters say the disclosures can help policymakers and communities understand strain on the electric grid and water supplies, especially as data centre growth accelerates. Critics warn that requiring such detailed reporting might discourage investment or create competitive disadvantages.

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Diplo explores AI and diplomacy in the Gulf

DiploFoundation has taken its work on AI and governance to the Gulf, with engagements in Oman and Qatar focused on how AI is reshaping diplomacy and policymaking. In Muscat, Jovan Kurbalija delivered a lecture on AI’s geopolitical implications, led a workshop on the future of digital diplomacy, and met with institutions advancing Oman’s National AI Strategy and innovation ecosystem.

In Doha, Diplo participated in the international conference AI Ethics: The Convergence of Technology and Diverse Moral Traditions. Dr Kurbalija joined a panel on transnational AI principles, discussing how diverse ethical and cultural frameworks can guide global standards for responsible AI.

Diplo in Gulf

The Gulf engagements highlighted the need to balance innovation with responsibility. Discussions focused on equipping government staff with AI expertise, ensuring technology is integrated into governance that reflects cultural values, and shaping diplomatic practice around collaboration with tech companies.

Diplo’s programme builds on its long-standing research into how Arabic and Islamic philosophical traditions can enrich global debates on AI. The initiative aims to advance inclusive, practical, and ethical approaches to AI in international policy and diplomacy by bringing these perspectives to the table.

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Internal chatbot Veritas helps Apple refine Siri features ahead of launch

Apple is internally testing its upcoming Siri upgrade with a chatbot-style tool called Veritas, according to a report by Bloomberg. The app enables employees to experiment with new capabilities and provide structured feedback before a public launch.

Veritas enables testers to type questions, engage in conversations, and revisit past chats, making it similar to ChatGPT and Gemini. Apple is reportedly using the feedback to refine Siri’s features, including data search and in-app actions.

The tool remains internal and is not planned for public release. Its purpose is to make Siri’s upgrade process more efficient and guide Apple’s decision on future chatbot-like experiences.

Apple executives have said they prefer integrating AI into daily tasks instead of offering a separate chatbot. Craig Federighi confirmed at WWDC that Apple is focused on natural task assistance rather than a standalone product.

Bloomberg reports that the new Siri will use Apple’s own AI models alongside external systems like Google’s Gemini, with a launch expected next spring.

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Semicon Coalition unites EU on chip strategy and autonomy

European ministers have signed the Declaration of the Semicon Coalition, calling for a revised EU Chips Act 2.0 to boost semiconductor resilience, innovation, and competitiveness. The declaration outlines five priorities: collaboration, investment, skills, sustainability, and global partnerships.

The coalition, launched by the Netherlands in March, includes Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. Other EU states joined today in Brussels, where Dutch minister Vincent Karremans presented the declaration to the European Commission.

Over fifty leading European and international semiconductor players have endorsed the declaration. This support strengthens momentum for placing end-markets at the core of the EU’s semiconductor strategy and aligns with Mario Draghi’s report on competitiveness.

The priorities include aligning EU and national funding, accelerating approvals for strategic projects, building a skilled talent pipeline, and promoting circular, energy-efficient manufacturing. International partnerships will also be deepened while safeguarding European strategic autonomy.

Minister Karremans said the strategy demonstrates Europe’s response to global tensions and its commitment to boosting semiconductor capacity, research funding, and readiness for demand in AI, automotive, energy, and defense.

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