Development

Power demands reshape future of data centres

As AI and cloud computing demand surges, Siemens is tackling critical energy and sustainability challenges facing the data centre industry. With power densities surpassing 100kW per rack, traditional infrastructure is being pushed beyond its limits.

Siemens highlighted the urgent need for integrated digital solutions to address growing pressures such as delayed grid connections, rising costs, and speed of deployment. Operators are increasingly adopting microgrids and forming utility partnerships to ensure resilience and control over power access.

Siemens views data centres not just as energy consumers but as contributors to the grid, using stored energy to balance supply. The shift is pushing the industry to become more involved in grid stability and renewable integration.

While achieving net zero remains challenging, data centres are adopting on-site renewables, advanced cooling systems, and AI-driven management tools to boost efficiency.

Siemens’ own software, such as the Building X Suite, is helping reduce energy waste and predict maintenance needs, aligning operational effectiveness with sustainability goals.

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

Chinese scientists develop new method to turn Moon dust into fuel

Chinese researchers have developed an innovative method to extract water and generate fuel from lunar soil, offering a potentially game-changing solution for future Moon missions.

By harnessing a ‘photothermal strategy’—a technique that converts light into heat—they demonstrated how carbon dioxide exhaled by astronauts could be transformed into oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide using water extracted directly from Moon dust.

The breakthrough, detailed in the journal Joule, centres on integrating water extraction with gas conversion in a single, energy-efficient step.

Professor Lu Wang from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, described the discovery as a surprise, especially the soil’s unexpected catalytic potential. The integrated system could dramatically reduce reliance on costly Earth-supplied water, currently at about $83,000 per gallon.

The team used actual lunar samples collected during China’s Chang’E-5 mission to test their method. These samples, retrieved from the Moon’s near side in 2020, helped validate the concept in controlled lab conditions.

However, researchers caution that challenges such as radiation, microgravity, and extreme temperature fluctuations may complicate implementation on the Moon’s surface.

Even so, the results underscore the rapid progress of space programme in China. From relative obscurity just two decades ago, the country now positions itself as a frontrunner in building a sustainable Moon base, with ambitions to establish a permanent outpost by 2035.

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

Policy gaps widen Europe’s 5G divide

Europe’s 5G deployment is moving at two speeds, with northern and southern countries leading and western and eastern ones falling behind. The disparity stems less from geography and more from policy gaps in spectrum allocation and subsidy execution.

While Europe saw an increase in 5G adoption overall, reaching 44.5% time spent on 5G, the deployment of 5G Standalone remains slow. Spain and the UK are notable exceptions, with proactive policy use and EU funding helping to close the rural-urban divide.

The analysis by Ookla suggests that effective regulation, not technology gaps, will determine how competitive Europe remains in 5G. As data traffic growth slows and operator revenues remain flat, strategic national policies will decide whether Europe keeps pace globally.

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

Eric Schmidt warns that AI growth is limited by electricity

Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt has warned that electricity, rather than semiconductors, will limit the future growth of AI.

Speaking on the Moonshots podcast, Schmidt said the push towards artificial superintelligence—AI that exceeds human cognitive ability in almost all domains—will depend on securing sufficient power instead of just developing more advanced chips.

Schmidt noted the US alone may require an extra 92 gigawatts of electricity to support AI growth, equivalent to dozens of nuclear power stations.

Instead of waiting for new plants, companies such as Microsoft are seeking to retrofit closed facilities, including the Three Mile Island plant targeted for relaunch in 2028.

Schmidt highlighted growing environmental pressures, citing Microsoft’s 34% increase in water use within a year, a trend experts link directly to rising AI workloads.

Major AI developers like OpenAI’s Sam Altman also acknowledge energy as a key constraint. Altman has invested in nuclear fusion through Helion, while firms such as Microsoft and AMD are pressing US policymakers to fast-track energy permits.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, warn that unchecked AI expansion risks undermining climate goals instead of supporting them.

Schmidt believes superintelligence is inevitable and approaching rapidly, predicting specialised AI tools across all fields within five years. Rather than focusing solely on AI’s capabilities, he stressed the urgent need for planning energy infrastructure today to match tomorrow’s AI demands.

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

Malaysia pushes clean tech and innovation for growth

Malaysia is accelerating its transition to a low-carbon and digitally driven economy by channelling investments into green technologies and innovation.

At the National Economic Forum 2025, Minister Chang Lih Kang outlined the country’s strategy to support sustainable growth through carbon management, hydrogen energy, green materials and circular economic models.

The government is also exploring advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors to support decarbonisation and enhance research, talent development and technology transfer.

A 17% increase in private R&D investment last year, mainly in clean energy and digital health, has helped build investor confidence. Authorities are now encouraging further growth through co-investment strategies, grants and collaborative innovation platforms.

Malaysia’s National Biotechnology Policy is also supporting biopharmaceuticals and agricultural biotech, in line with sustainability and ESG objectives. The Malaysian government aims to create a resilient, inclusive and innovation-driven economy for the next phase of regional development.

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

Amazon cuts hundreds of AWS jobs amid AI shift

Amazon has reportedly cut hundreds of jobs within its Amazon Web Services cloud computing division, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Instead of providing specific numbers, Amazon confirmed the decision, citing ongoing efforts to optimise resources while continuing to invest in customer-focused innovation.

These layoffs follow warnings by CEO Andy Jassy, who recently said the rising use of generative AI would reduce workforce needs across the company.

The cuts affect several AWS teams, including specialists who support customers in developing new products and selling services. Employees reported receiving termination emails on Thursday, with their system access deactivated soon after.

Rather than focusing solely on AWS, Amazon has also been reducing roles in other units, such as its books division, devices and services unit, and Wondery podcast platform.

Despite these workforce reductions, AWS sales rose 17% in the first quarter to $29.3 billion compared to a year earlier, with operating income increasing by 23% to $11.5 billion.

Amazon, alongside firms like Microsoft, Meta, and CrowdStrike, is increasingly relying on AI tools instead of human workers to automate tasks, write software code, and streamline operations as part of a broader trend affecting the tech industry.

Amazon’s latest cuts reflect efforts by Jassy to reduce bureaucracy and eliminate managerial layers, aiming to keep the company agile amid rapid AI adoption and changing business priorities.

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

Irish hospital turns to AI for appointment management

Beaumont Hospital in Dublin plans to deploy AI to predict patient no-shows and late cancellations, aiming to reduce wasted resources.

Instead of relying solely on reminders, the hospital will pilot AI software costing up to €110,000, using patient data to forecast missed appointments. Currently, no-shows account for 15.5% of its outpatient slots.

The system will integrate with Beaumont’s existing two-way text messaging service. Rather than sending uniform reminders, the AI model will tailor messages based on the likelihood of attendance while providing hospital staff with real-time insights to better manage clinic schedules.

The pilot is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026, potentially expanding into a full €1.2 million contract.

The move forms part of Beaumont Hospital’s strategic plan through 2030 to reduce outpatient non-attendance. It follows the broader adoption of AI in Irish healthcare, including Mater Hospital’s recent launch of an AI and Digital Health centre designed to tackle clinical challenges using new technologies.

Instead of viewing AI as a future option, Irish hospitals now increasingly treat it as an immediate solution to operational inefficiencies, hoping it will transform healthcare delivery and improve patient service.

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

Mistral’s chatbot Le Chat takes on ChatGPT with major upgrade

France-based AI startup Mistral has rolled out a major update to Le Chat, its AI chatbot, introducing new features aimed at challenging rivals like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. The update includes Deep Research, voice interaction, reasoning capabilities and a refreshed image editor.

According to the company’s latest blog post, the new Deep Research mode transforms Le Chat into a structured assistant that can clarify needs, search sources and deliver summarised findings. The tool enables users to receive comprehensive responses in a neatly formatted report.

In addition, Mistral unveiled Vocal mode, allowing users to speak to the chatbot as if they were talking to a person. The feature is powered by the firm’s voice input model, Voxtral, which handles voice recognition in real time.

The company also introduced Think mode, based on its Magistral reasoning model. Designed for multilingual and complex tasks, the feature provides thoughtful and clear responses, even when answering legal or professional queries in languages like Spanish or Japanese.

For users juggling multiple conversations or tasks, the new Projects tool groups related chats into separate spaces. Each project includes a dedicated Library for storing files and content, while also remembering individual tools and settings.

Users can upload documents directly into Projects and revisit past chats or references. Content from the Library can also be pulled into the active conversation, supporting a more seamless and personalised experience.

A revamped image editor rounds out the update, offering users the ability to tweak AI-generated visuals while maintaining consistency in character design and fine details. Mistral says the upgrade helps improve image customisation without compromising visual integrity.

All features are now available through Le Chat’s web platform at ‘chat.mistral.ai’ or via the company’s mobile apps on Android and iOS. The update reflects Mistral’s growing ambition to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive AI assistant market.

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

Hackers hide malware using DNS TXT records

Hackers are increasingly exploiting DNS records to deliver malware undetected, according to new research from DomainTools.

Instead of relying on typical delivery methods such as emails or downloads, attackers now hide malicious code within DNS TXT records, part of the Domain Name System, often overlooked by security systems.

The method involves converting malware into hexadecimal code, splitting it into small segments, and storing each chunk in the TXT record of subdomains under domains like whitetreecollective.com.

Once attackers gain limited access to a network, they retrieve these chunks via ordinary-looking DNS queries, reassembling them into functioning malware without triggering antivirus or firewall alerts.

The rising use of encrypted DNS protocols like DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS makes detecting such queries harder, especially without in-house DNS resolvers equipped for deep inspection.

Researchers also noted that attackers are using DNS TXT records for malware and embedding harmful text designed to manipulate AI systems through prompt injection.

Ian Campbell of DomainTools warns that even organisations with strong security measures struggle to detect such DNS-based threats due to the hidden nature of the traffic.

Instead of focusing solely on traditional defences, organisations are advised to monitor DNS traffic closely, log and inspect queries through internal resolvers, and restrict DNS access to trusted sources. Educating teams on these emerging threats remains essential for maintaining robust cybersecurity.

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

Stay True To The Act campaign defends music rights

More than 30 European musicians have launched a united video campaign urging the European Commission to preserve the integrity of the EU AI Act.

The Stay True To The Act campaign calls on policymakers to enforce transparency and uphold copyright protections.

Artists, including Spanish singer-songwriter Álex Ubago and Poland’s Eurovision 2025 entrant Justyna Steczkowska, have voiced concern over the unauthorised use of their work to train AI models. They demand the right to be informed and the power to refuse such usage.

The EU AI Act, passed in 2024, includes provisions requiring developers to disclose the content used in AI training. However, as implementation plans develop, artists fear the law may be diluted, weakening protections for creators.

The campaign appeals for vigorous enforcement of the Act’s original principles: transparency, copyright control and fair innovation. Artists say AI and music can coexist in Europe only if ethical boundaries are upheld.

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

Diplo chatbot can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.