Development

MSU launches first robotics and AI degree programs in Minnesota

Minnesota State University is set to break new ground this fall by launching two pioneering academic programs in robotics and AI. The university will introduce the state’s only undergraduate robotics engineering degree and the first graduate-level AI program within the Minnesota State system.

With these offerings, MSU aims to meet the fast-growing industry demand for skilled professionals in these cutting-edge fields. The programs have already drawn significant interest, with 13 students applying for the AI master’s and more expected in both tracks.

MSU officials say the curriculum combines strong theoretical foundations with hands-on learning to prepare students for careers in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, finance, construction, and manufacturing. Students will engage in real-world projects, building and deploying AI and robotics solutions while exploring ethical and societal implications.

University leaders emphasise that these programs are tailored to Minnesota’s economy’s needs, including a high concentration of Fortune 500 companies and a growing base of smaller firms eager to adopt AI technologies. Robotics also enjoys strong interest at the high school level, and MSU hopes to offer local students an in-state option for further study, competing with institutions in neighbouring states.

Why does it matter?

According to faculty, graduates of these programs will be well-positioned in the job market. The university sees the initiative as part of its broader mission to deliver education aligned with emerging technological trends and societal needs, ensuring Minnesota’s workforce remains competitive in an increasingly automated and AI-driven world.

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Episource data breach impacts patients at Sharp Healthcare

Episource, a UnitedHealth Group-owned health analytics firm, has confirmed that patient data was compromised during a ransomware attack earlier this year.

The breach affected customers, including Sharp Healthcare and Sharp Community Medical Group, who have started notifying impacted patients. Although electronic health records and patient portals remained untouched, sensitive data such as health plan details, diagnoses and test results were exposed.

The cyberattack, which occurred between 27 January and 6 February, involved unauthorised access to Episource’s internal systems.

A forensic investigation verified that cybercriminals viewed and copied files containing personal information, including insurance plan data, treatment plans, and medical imaging. Financial details and payment card data, however, were mostly unaffected.

Sharp Healthcare confirmed that it was informed of the breach on 24 April and has since worked closely with Episource to identify which patients were impacted.

Compromised information may include names, addresses, insurance ID numbers, doctors’ names, prescribed medications, and other protected health data.

The breach follows a troubling trend of ransomware attacks targeting healthcare-related businesses, including Change Healthcare in 2024, which disrupted services for months. Comparitech reports at least three confirmed ransomware attacks on healthcare firms already in 2025, with 24 more suspected.

Given the scale of patient data involved, experts warn of growing risks tied to third-party healthcare service providers.

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Google launches AI voice chat in Search app for Android and iOS

Google has started rolling out its new ‘Search Live in AI Mode’ for the Google app on Android and iOS, offering users the ability to have seamless voice-based conversations with Search.

Currently available only in the US for those signed up to the AI Mode experiment in Labs, the feature was previewed at last month’s Google I/O conference.

The tool uses a specially adapted version of Google’s Gemini AI model, fine-tuned to deliver smarter voice interactions. It combines the model’s capabilities with Google Search’s information infrastructure to provide real-time spoken responses.

Using a technique called ‘query fan-out’, the system retrieves a wide range of web content, helping users discover more varied and relevant information.

The new mode is particularly useful when multitasking or on the go. Users can tap a ‘Live’ icon in the Google app and ask spoken queries like how to keep clothes from wrinkling in a suitcase.

Follow-up questions are handled just as naturally, and related links are displayed on-screen, letting users read more without breaking their flow.

To use the feature, users can tap a sparkle-shaped waveform icon under the Search bar or next to the search field. Once activated, a full-screen interface appears with voice control options and a scrolling list of relevant links.

Even with the phone locked or other apps open, the feature keeps running. A mute button, transcript view, and voice style settings—named Cassini, Cosmo, Neso, and Terra—offer additional control over the experience.

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Microsoft to cut thousands more jobs in July amid AI focus

Microsoft is preparing to lay off thousands more employees next month, primarily in sales teams, as it continues to shift focus toward AI.

The move follows May’s workforce reduction of 6,000 employees, about 3% of its staff, and reflects broader restructuring efforts rather than individual performance issues.

Sources cited by Bloomberg revealed that the next wave of job cuts is likely to begin in early July, following the end of Microsoft’s fiscal year. Although details may still change, internal teams across departments are expected to be impacted, with sales employees taking the largest hit.

The cuts come as Microsoft seeks to streamline operations while investing heavily in data centres and AI infrastructure.

CEO Satya Nadella previously explained that the recent layoffs were not due to poor performance but part of an organisational realignment.

During a company town hall, he stressed the emotional weight of the decision but reiterated that the cuts were necessary to reflect evolving business priorities, especially around AI.

Earlier in April, Microsoft announced that it would rely more on third-party partners to manage software sales for smaller customers.

With tens of billions of dollars allocated to AI development, executives have promised to control spending in other areas, which includes reducing staff in traditional roles like sales and marketing.

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UBS employee data leaked after Chain IQ ransomware attack

UBS Group AG has confirmed a serious data breach affecting around 130,000 of its employees, following a cyberattack on its third-party supplier, Chain IQ Group AG.

The exposed information included employee names, emails, phone numbers, roles, office locations, and preferred languages. No client data has been impacted, according to UBS.

Chain IQ, a procurement services firm spun off from UBS in 2013, was reportedly targeted by the cybercrime group World Leaks, previously known as Hunters International.

Unlike traditional ransomware operators, World Leaks avoids encryption and instead steals data, threatening public release if ransoms are not paid.

While Chain IQ has acknowledged the breach, it has not disclosed the extent of the stolen data or named all affected clients. Notably, companies such as Swiss Life, AXA, FedEx, IBM, KPMG, Swisscom, and Pictet are among its clients—only Pictet has confirmed it was impacted.

Cybersecurity experts warn that the breach may have long-term implications for the Swiss banking sector. Leaked employee data could be exploited for impersonation, fraud, phishing scams, or even blackmail.

The increasing availability of generative AI may further amplify the risks through voice and video impersonation, potentially aiding in money laundering and social engineering attacks.

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Ryuk ransomware hacker extradited to US after arrest in Ukraine

A key member of the infamous Ryuk ransomware gang has been extradited to the US after his arrest in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The 33-year-old man was detained in April 2025 at the request of the FBI and arrived in the US on 18 June to face multiple charges.

The suspect played a critical role within Ryuk by gaining initial access to corporate networks, which he then passed on to accomplices who stole data and launched ransomware attacks.

Ukrainian authorities identified him during a larger investigation into ransomware groups like LockerGoga, Dharma, Hive, and MegaCortex that targeted companies across Europe and North America.

According to Ukraine’s National Police, forensic analysis revealed the man’s responsibility for locating security flaws in enterprise networks.

Information gathered by the hacker allowed others in the gang to infiltrate systems, steal data, and deploy ransomware payloads that disrupted various industries, including healthcare, during the COVID pandemic.

Ryuk operated from 2018 until mid-2020 before rebranding as the notorious Conti gang, which later fractured into several smaller but still active groups. Researchers estimate that Ryuk alone collected over $150 million in ransom payments before shutting down.

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Amazon restructures around AI, cuts expected

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has signalled that more job cuts are likely as the company embraces AI to streamline its operations. In a letter to staff, he said the adoption of generative AI is driving major shifts in roles, especially within corporate functions.

Jassy described generative AI as a once-in-a-lifetime technology and highlighted its growing role across Amazon services, including Alexa+, shopping tools and logistics. He pointed to smarter assistants and improved fulfilment systems as early benefits of AI investments.

While praising the efficiency gains AI delivers, Jassy admitted some roles will no longer be needed, and others will be redefined. The long-term outcome remains uncertain, but fewer corporate roles are expected as AI adoption continues.

He encouraged staff to embrace the technology by learning, experimenting and contributing to AI-related innovations. Workshops and team brainstorming were recommended as Amazon looks to reinvent itself with leaner, more agile teams.

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Pasqal opens Canada factory, sells quantum computer to Distriq

French quantum computing firm Pasqal has deepened its North American presence by selling a 100-qubit quantum processor and opening a significant manufacturing facility in Sherbrooke, Québec.

The processor was sold to Distriq, a quantum innovation hub in Sherbrooke, which aims to strengthen Québec’s growing quantum technology ecosystem.

The deal was backed by a CA$9.6 million (US$7.1m) loan from the Québec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Investissement Québec, alongside CA$2.4 million (US$1.8m) from the National Bank of Canada and CA$1.2 million (US$883,000) from Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions.

Pasqal confirmed that the system would be manufactured and installed in Sherbrooke and made available to Canadian researchers and industries.

The firm also inaugurated its first North American manufacturing site—its second globally—in Sherbrooke’s 50,000 sq ft Espace Quantique 1 building. The facility will focus on producing Pasqal’s next-generation quantum processors.

The factory was supported by a CA$15 million (US$11m) loan from Investissement Québec, positioning Pasqal among Canada’s most significant quantum players.

‘These achievements signal that quantum computing is no longer a future promise—it has become a reality today,’ said Wasiq Bokhari, Pasqal’s executive chairman.

Distriq VP Mehdi Bozzo-Rey called the acquisition a ‘major milestone’ in supplying Québec with industrial quantum capabilities.

Founded in 2019, Pasqal counts Nobel Laureate Alain Aspect among its co-founders. The company has installed systems in Saudi Arabia and Germany, and in early June 2025, it acquired Canadian photonics company Aeponyx to bolster its hardware capabilities.

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AI in cardiology: 3D heart scan could cut waiting times

A new AI-powered heart test could significantly improve early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially in high-risk patients without symptoms.

Developed in Germany and evaluated in a UK study led by Dr Simon Rudland, the Cardisio test uses five electrodes—four on the chest, one on the back—to record 3D heart data. Unlike a traditional 2D ECG, this method captures electrical signals in more dimensions and uses AI to analyse rhythm, structure, and blood flow.

The quick 10-minute test returns a colour-coded result: green (normal), amber (borderline), or red (high risk). The study, published in BJGP Open, tested 628 individuals and found a positive predictive accuracy of 80% and a negative accuracy of 90.4%, with fewer than 2% test failures.

Dr Rudland called the findings ‘exciting,’ noting that the technology could streamline referrals, improve diagnosis in primary care, and reduce hospital waiting lists. He added that a pilot rollout may begin soon in Suffolk or north Essex, targeting high-risk women.

AI’s ability to process complex cardiac data far exceeds human capacity, making it a promising tool in preventative medicine. This research supports the NHS’s broader push to integrate AI for faster, smarter healthcare.

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Match Chat: AI comes to Wimbledon to modernise the fan experience

Wimbledon is embracing AI to engage a younger, tech-savvy audience by launching a live in-game AI assistant during this summer’s Championships.

The new Match Chat feature will allow fans to interact with real-time match data while watching games. Viewers can ask questions about shot speed, player positioning, and in-game stats—effectively combining the experience of watching live tennis with the interactivity of a video game.

Aimed at younger audiences more accustomed to multitasking and second-screen experiences, Match Chat is part of a broader push to modernise tennis and attract new followers. Fans can follow match insights on their phones without missing the live action on the court.

Wimbledon’s use of AI mirrors developments in other major sporting events. At the Paris Olympics, AI was deployed for real-time performance analysis, athlete tracking, and broadcasting enhancements, signalling a broader trend in how top-tier sports use AI to boost viewer engagement.

Though some traditionalists may be sceptical about the increasing role of technology in tennis, the innovation has been welcomed by figures such as Judy Murray, mother of two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. She praised the move as a smart way to connect with the next generation of tennis fans.

With this blend of tradition and tech, Wimbledon hopes Match Chat will enhance the fan experience while preserving the spirit of the game.

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