Development Archives | Page 277 of 540 | Digital Watch Observatory

Most US teens use AI companion bots despite risks

A new national survey shows that roughly 72% of American teenagers, aged 13 to 17, have tried AI companion apps such as Replika, Character.AI, and Nomi, with over half interacting with them regularly.

Although some teens report benefits like practising conversation skills or emotional self-expression, significant safety concerns have emerged.

Around 34% have been left uncomfortable by the bot’s behaviour, and one-third have turned to AI for advice on serious personal issues. Worryingly, nearly a quarter of users disclosed their real names or locations in chats.

Despite frequent use, most teens still prefer real friendships—two-thirds say AI interactions are less satisfying, and 80% maintain stronger ties to human friends.

Experts warn that teens are especially vulnerable to emotional dependency, manipulative responses, and data privacy violations through these apps.

Youth advocates call for mandatory age verification, better content moderation, and expanded AI literacy education, arguing that minors should not use companionship bots until more regulations are in place and platforms become truly safe for young users.

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xAI eyes data centre deal with Humain

Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has entered early discussions with Humain to secure data centre capacity instead of relying solely on existing infrastructure.

According to Bloomberg, the arrangement could involve several gigawatts of capacity, although Humain has yet to start building its facilities, meaning any deal would take years to materialise.

Humain is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Public Investment Fund (PIF). xAI is reportedly considering a fresh funding round where PIF might also invest.

At the same time, xAI is negotiating with a smaller company constructing a 200-megawatt data centre, offering a more immediate solution while waiting for larger projects.

Rather than operating in isolation, xAI joins AI competitors like Google, Meta and Microsoft in racing to secure vast computing power for training large AI models. The push for massive data centre capacity reflects the escalating demands of advanced AI systems.

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Quantum sector surges as Rigetti unveils modular machine

Quantum computing is progressing faster than expected, with Rigetti Computing achieving a major breakthrough. The company reached 99.5% median 2-qubit gate fidelity using a modular 36-qubit system—halving its error rate and moving closer to fault-tolerant computing.

The new machine, built from four 9-qubit chiplets, represents the industry’s largest multichip quantum system. Its modular design addresses the scalability challenges of single-chip models.

Rigetti’s superconducting qubits also outperform rivals by operating at significantly faster speeds.

Plans are in place to launch a 100+-qubit system before the end of 2025. Backing from DARPA, the US Air Force, and the UK government further validates Rigetti’s approach. Partnerships with Nvidia and Quanta Computer add commercial strength.

Despite modest revenue, Rigetti holds $575 million in cash with no debt and owns the sector’s first dedicated quantum chip factory. True commercial quantum advantage is expected between 2026 and 2028.

Shares of Rigetti, along with other quantum computing firms like IonQ and D-Wave, have surged in recent months, outperforming the broader market.

Rigetti offers strong potential—but remains a high-risk pick in a competitive field.

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EU helps Vietnam prepare for cyber emergencies

The European Union and Vietnam have conducted specialised cyber‑defence training to enhance the resilience of key infrastructure sectors such as power, transportation, telecoms and finance.

Participants, including government officials, network operators and technology experts, engaged in interactive threat-hunting exercises and incident simulation drills designed to equip teams with practical cyber‑response skills.

This effort builds on existing international partnerships, including collaboration with the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to align Vietnam’s security posture with global standards.

Vietnam faces an alarming shortfall of more than 700,000 cyber professionals, with over half of organisations reporting at least one breach in recent years.

The training initiative addresses critical skills gaps and contributes to national digital security resilience.

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How cultural heritage can go green through digital preservation

A Europe-wide survey has exposed how cultural heritage institutions (CHIs) protect humanity’s legacy digitally while unintentionally harming the environment.

Instead of focusing only on efficiency, the Europeana Climate Action Community recommends a shift towards environmentally sustainable and regenerative digital preservation.

Led by the Environmental Sustainability Practice Task Force, the survey collected input from 108 organisations across 24 EU countries. While 80% of CHIs recognise environmental responsibility, just 42% follow formal environmental strategies and a mere 14% measure carbon footprints.

Many maintain redundant data backups without assessing the ecological cost, and most lack policies for retiring digital assets responsibly.

The report suggests CHIs develop community-powered archives, adopt hardware recycling and repair, and prioritise sufficiency instead of maximising digital volume. Interviews with institutions such as the National Library of Finland and the POLIN Museum revealed good practices alongside common challenges.

With digital preservation increasingly essential, the Europeana Initiative calls for immediate action. By moving from isolated efficiency efforts to collective regeneration strategies, CHIs can protect cultural memory while reducing environmental impact for future generations.

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Generative AI now powers 20% of new Steam games

Nearly 20 percent of video games released on Steam in 2025 include generative AI, according to a new report by Totally Human Media.

The report, based on data gathered from Steam, states that around 7,818 games currently disclose using generative AI. The figure represents roughly 7 percent of the platform’s entire catalogue. For games launched in 2025, nearly one in five incorporate AI tools or openly disclose doing so.

Compared to 2024, this marks a nearly 700 percent increase in generative AI adoption, reflecting a broader industry trend towards automation and machine-generated content.

Among the most prominent titles is My Summer Car, a vehicle simulation game with over 2.5 million copies sold. The developers disclosed that the game includes ‘some AI generated paintings found inside the main house’.

Valve, the company behind Steam, began requiring game developers to disclose AI use in January 2024. While the company did not comment on the findings, the policy has enabled public tracking of AI adoption across the platform.

Community reaction to the trend has been mixed. On Reddit, many users said they would automatically add AI-driven games to their ignore lists. One commenter wrote, ‘We need to tag them so they can be an ignored category.’ Others expressed disappointment in indie developers turning to generative tools over human artists.

Some users acknowledged the complexity of the issue. A typical comment noted that while AI usage in minor elements like UI assets might be acceptable, reliance on AI for core content raises questions about value and originality. One post read, ‘What am I paying for if it’s all AI? I agree with that sentiment.’

Steam’s Next Fest, which showcases upcoming releases, drew criticism from some players who said they lost interest in promising titles upon discovering their use of generative AI.

Despite user backlash, industry momentum continues to build. Many developers see AI as a means to streamline asset creation and reduce production costs, though concerns about quality, ethics, and employment remain central to the debate.

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Huang says Chinese AI science is world class

NVIDIA’s CEO has praised China’s open-source AI work during a high-profile visit to Beijing, spotlighting DeepSeek as an example of world-class science and engineering.

At the International Supply Chain Expo, Huang highlighted the global value of Chinese contributions to AI research.

He told former Alibaba executive Wang Jian that Chinese researchers publish more AI papers than any other nation, calling their output A-plus in both science and engineering. Huang named DeepSeek, Alibaba, Tencent, MiniMax, and Baidu’s Ernie Bot globally significant AI leaders.

The visit coincides with a policy shift by the US government allowing Nvidia to resume H20 chip exports to China. Huang confirmed that export licenses are expected soon, potentially unlocking billions in lost revenue.

Industry watchers see this development as pivotal for Nvidia, which had paused shipments under earlier restrictions. The chipmaker’s renewed access to China’s semiconductor market could reshape global AI infrastructure over the next year.

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Google expands AI tools in Search with new subscriber perks

Google has begun rolling out new AI features in Search, introducing AI-powered phone calling to help users gather business information instead of contacting places manually.

The service, free for everyone in the US, allows people to search for businesses and have Google’s AI check pricing and availability on their behalf.

Subscribers to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra receive additional exclusive capabilities. These include access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, Google’s most advanced AI model, which supports complex queries such as coding or financial analysis.

Users can enable Gemini 2.5 Pro through the AI Mode tab instead of relying on the default model. Google is also launching Deep Research tools through Deep Search for in-depth investigations related to work, studies, or major life decisions.

Rather than rolling everything out all at once, Google is phasing in the features gradually. AI-powered calling is now available to all Search users in the US, while Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research are becoming available specifically to AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers.

With these updates, Google aims to position Search as more than a simple information tool by transforming it into an active digital assistant capable of handling everyday tasks and complex research instead of merely providing quick answers.

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South Korea’s new Science Minister pledges AI-led national transformation

South Korea’s new Science and ICT Minister, Bae Kyung-hoon, has pledged to turn the nation into one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses.

Instead of following outdated methods, Bae outlined a bold national strategy centred on AI, science and technology, aiming to raise Korea’s potential growth rate to 3 per cent and secure a global economic leadership position.

Bae, a leading AI expert and former president of LG AI Research, officially assumed office on Thursday.

Drawing from experience developing hyperscale AI models like LG’s Exaone, he emphasised the need to build a unique competitive advantage rooted in AI transformation, talent development and technological innovation.

Rather than focusing only on industrial growth, Bae’s policy agenda targets a broad AI ecosystem, revitalised research and development, world-class talent nurturing, and addressing issues affecting daily life.

His plans include establishing AI-centred universities, enhancing digital infrastructure, promoting AI semiconductors, restoring grassroots research funding, and expanding consumer rights in telecommunications.

With these strategies, Bae aims to make AI accessible to all citizens instead of limiting it to large corporations or research institutes. His vision is for South Korea to lead in AI development while supporting social equity, cybersecurity, and nationwide innovation.

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EU confirms AI Act rollout and releases GPAI Code of Practice

The European Commission has confirmed it will move forward with the EU AI Act exactly as scheduled, instead of granting delays requested by tech giants and businesses.

On 10 July 2025, it published the final General-Purpose AI (GPAI) Code of Practice alongside FAQs to guide organisations aiming to comply with the new law.

Rather than opting for a more flexible timetable, the Commission is standing firm on its regulatory goals. The GPAI Code of Practice, now in its final form, sets out voluntary but strongly recommended steps for companies that want reduced administrative burdens and clearer legal certainty under the AI Act.

The document covers transparency, copyright, and safety standards for advanced AI models, including a model documentation form for providers.

Key dates have already been set. From 2 August 2025, rules covering notifications, governance, and penalties will come into force. By February 2026, official guidelines on classifying high-risk AI systems are expected.

The remaining parts of the legislation will take effect by August 2026, instead of being postponed further.

With the publication of the GPAI Code of Practice, the EU takes another step towards building a unified ethical framework for AI development and deployment across Europe, focusing on transparency, accountability, and respect for fundamental rights.

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