Development

Japan builds battery that reuses uranium waste

Japan’s national nuclear research agency has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first uranium-based rechargeable battery — a breakthrough that could open up new uses for vast stockpiles of depleted uranium. The battery, developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, successfully demonstrated charging and discharging capabilities using uranium as the core material to generate electricity.

The prototype, about the size of a small cup, uses a uranium-based electrolyte on the negative side and iron on the positive. With a 1.3V voltage comparable to that of a standard alkaline battery, the device maintained its performance over ten charge cycles, suggesting it is relatively stable in its current form.

That innovation could give a new purpose to the approximately 16,000 tons of depleted uranium stored in Japan and the estimated 1.6 million tons worldwide, which are currently unusable in regular nuclear reactors. Researchers also believe the battery could help store surplus electricity from renewable energy sources.

While promising, the uranium battery’s practical use will likely remain restricted to radiation-controlled zones like nuclear facility sites. The agency plans to work on scaling up the technology by developing a redox flow version starting in fiscal 2025.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

ECB warns Euro zone banks on geopolitical risks

Euro zone banks must remain resilient and prepared for geopolitical shocks, including the risk of liquidity drying up amid volatile financial markets, according to Claudia Buch, the European Central Bank’s supervisory chief.

She highlighted concerns about the potential impact of policy reversals by the US government, particularly under President Donald Trump, which have unsettled investors and created uncertainty about future growth and stability.

Buch also pointed to the ongoing financial and political pressures arising from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the sanctions that followed.

She emphasised the need for banks to maintain sufficient capital, robust governance, and effective risk management systems in the face of potential asset quality deterioration and economic disruptions caused by geopolitical conflicts or sanctions.

Additionally, Buch noted the increasing threat of cybersecurity attacks, which have become more frequent and severe. The ECB’s annual report warned that geopolitical risks could strain liquidity and funding, particularly in foreign currencies, leading to higher borrowing costs and increased use of credit lines.

Buch called for progress in creating a crisis management and deposit insurance framework to protect depositors in the event of bank failures.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

WhatsApp wins support in EU fine appeal

WhatsApp has gained support from an adviser to the European Court of Justice in its fight against a higher fine imposed by the EU privacy watchdog.

The Irish Data Protection Authority fined WhatsApp 225 million euros ($242.2 million) in 2021 for privacy breaches.

The fine was increased after the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) intervened.

A lower tribunal had rejected WhatsApp’s challenge, saying the company lacked legal standing. However, WhatsApp appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Advocate General Tamara Capeta disagreed with the tribunal, recommending that the case be referred back to the General Court for further review.

The CJEU usually follows the adviser’s recommendations, and a final ruling is expected soon. This case could have significant implications for the fine imposed on WhatsApp.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

China faces Nvidia chip shortages

Chinese server manufacturer H3C has warned of potential shortages of Nvidia’s H20 chip, the most advanced AI processor still legally available in the country under US export controls.

In a notice to clients, the company revealed that its stock of H20 chips was nearly depleted, citing geopolitical tensions as a major factor affecting global supply chains.

New shipments are expected by mid-April, but future availability remains uncertain due to ongoing trade restrictions and supply disruptions.

The demand for H20 chips has surged, particularly as companies race to integrate AI models developed by Chinese startup DeepSeek.

Major tech firms such as Tencent, Alibaba, and ByteDance have significantly increased their orders, leading to further strain on supply.

H3C stated that future chip distribution will prioritise long-term, high-margin customers under a profit-first approach, raising concerns among smaller buyers about access to the critical technology.

The H20 was introduced after the US tightened export controls on high-performance AI chips in October 2023, blocking Nvidia’s most advanced processors from the Chinese market.

Washington has restricted such exports since 2022, citing national security concerns over China’s potential military applications of AI technology.

Despite these measures, Nvidia has reportedly shipped around one million H20 units in 2024, generating more than $12 billion in revenue. Meanwhile, domestic alternatives from Huawei and Cambricon are emerging as potential substitutes amid the ongoing supply crunch.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Trump weighs tariff cuts to secure TikTok deal

US President Donald Trump has indicated he is willing to reduce tariffs on China as part of a deal with ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the popular short-video app.

ByteDance faces an April 5 deadline to divest TikTok’s US operations or risk a nationwide ban over national security concerns.

The law mandating the sale stems from fears in Washington that Beijing could exploit the app for influence operations and data collection on American users.

Trump suggested he may extend the deadline if negotiations require more time and acknowledged China’s role in the deal’s approval. Speaking to reporters, he hinted that tariff reductions could be used as leverage to finalise an agreement.

China’s commerce ministry responded by reaffirming its stance on trade discussions, stating that engagement with Washington should be based on mutual respect and benefit.

The White House has taken an active role in brokering a potential sale, with discussions centring on major non-Chinese investors increasing their stakes to acquire TikTok’s US operations. Vice President JD Vance has expressed confidence that a framework for the deal could be reached by the April deadline.

Free speech advocates, meanwhile, continue to challenge the law, arguing that banning TikTok could violate the First Amendment rights of American users.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Mobile coverage from space may soon be reality

Satellite-based mobile coverage could arrive in the UK by the end of 2025, with Ofcom launching a consultation on licensing direct-to-smartphone services.

The move would allow users to stay connected in areas without mast coverage using an ordinary mobile phone.

The proposal favours mobile networks teaming up with satellite operators to share frequencies in unserved regions, offering limited services like text messaging at first, with voice and data to follow.

Ofcom plans strict interference controls, and Vodafone is among those preparing to roll out such technology.

If approved, the service would be available across the UK mainland and surrounding seas, but not yet in places like the Channel Islands.

The public has until May to respond, as Ofcom seeks to modernise mobile access and help close the digital divide.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

China’s AI industry is transforming with open-source models, challenging the OpenAI proprietary approach

China’s AI landscape is witnessing a profound transformation as it embraces open-source large language models (LLMs), largely propelled by the innovative efforts of DeepSeek. The startup’s R1 model, released under the highly permissive ‘MIT License,’ has sparked a significant shift away from proprietary approaches dominated by major American tech firms, paving the way for increased accessibility, collaboration, and innovation.

That transition is likened to an ‘Android moment’ for China’s AI industry, highlighting the sector’s move towards more available and flexible AI development. The ripple effects of this open-source movement are evident across China’s tech giants. Baidu, long a proponent of proprietary models, has announced its shift to open-source by making its AI models, Ernie 4.5 and Ernie X1, freely available and plans to release them as open-source.

The following strategic pivot reflects the competitive pressure of disruptors like DeepSeek, prompting companies to revise their business models to maintain market relevance. Alibaba and Tencent are also joining this trend by open-sourcing their AI offerings, while smaller firms like ManusAI are following suit, embracing the open-source ethos to drive innovation and market presence.

The shift towards open-source models in China starkly contrasts the OpenAI’s continued focus on proprietary strategies bolstered by hefty investments. The open-source trend underscores a growing discourse on the future of AI development, investment, and competitive dynamics, with open-source frameworks emerging as potential harbingers of sustainable growth and inclusive technological advancement.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Re-evaluating the scaling hypothesis: The AI industry’s shift towards innovative strategies

In recent years, the AI industry has heavily invested in the ‘scaling hypothesis,’ which posited that by expanding data sets, model sizes, and computational power, artificial general intelligence (AGI) could be achieved. That belief, championed by industry leaders like OpenAI and advocated by figures such as Nando de Freitas, led to ventures like the OpenAI/Oracle/Softbank joint project Stargate and fuelled a half-trillion-dollar quest for AI breakthroughs.

Yet, scepticism has grown, as critics have pointed out that scaling often falls short of fostering genuine comprehension. Models continue to produce errors, hallucinations, and unreliable reasoning, raising doubts about fulfilling AGI’s promises with scaling alone.

As the AI landscape evolves, voices like industry investor Marc Andreessen and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella have increasingly criticised scaling’s limitations. Nadella, at a Microsoft event, highlighted that scaling laws are more like predictable but non-permanent trends, akin to the once-reliable Moore’s Law, which has slowed over time.

Once hailed as the future path, scaling is being re-evaluated in light of these emerging limitations, suggesting a need for a more nuanced approach. To address this, the industry has pivoted towards ‘test-time compute,’ allowing AI systems more time to deliberate on tasks.

While promising, its effectiveness is limited to fields like maths and coding, leaving broader AI functions grappling with fundamental issues. Products like Grok 3 have underscored this problem, as significant computational investments failed to overcome persistent errors, triggering customer dissatisfaction and financial reconsiderations.

Why does it matter?

With the scaling premise failing to meet expectations, the industry faces a potential financial correction and recognises the need for innovative approaches that transcend mere data and power expansion. For substantial AI progress, investors and nations should shift focus from scaling to nurturing bold research and novel solutions that address the complex challenges AI faces. Long-term investments in inventive strategies could pave the way for achieving reliable, intelligent AI systems that reach beyond the allure of simple scaling.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

OpenAI unveils new image generator in ChatGPT

OpenAI has rolled out an image generator feature within ChatGPT, enabling users to create realistic images with improved accuracy. The new feature, available for all Plus, Pro, Team, and Free users, is powered by GPT-4o, which now offers distortion-free images and more accurate text generation.

OpenAI shared a sample image of a boarding pass, showcasing the advanced capabilities of the new tool.

Previously, image generation was available through DALL-E, but its results often contained errors and were easily identifiable as AI-generated. Now integrated into ChatGPT, the new tool allows users to describe images with specific details such as colours, aspect ratios, and transparent backgrounds.

The update aims to enhance creative freedom while maintaining a higher standard of image quality.

CEO Sam Altman praised the feature as a ‘new high-water mark’ for creative control, although he acknowledged the potential for some users to create offensive content.

OpenAI plans to monitor how users interact with this tool and adjust as needed, especially as the technology moves closer to artificial general intelligence (AGI).

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Google launches advanced Gemini 2.5 AI

Google has unveiled its new Gemini 2.5 AI models, starting with the experimental Gemini 2.5 Pro version.

Described as ‘thinking models’, these AI systems are designed to demonstrate advanced reasoning abilities, including the capacity to analyse information, make logical conclusions, and handle complex problems with context and nuance.

The models aim to support more intelligent, context-aware AI agents in the future.

The Gemini 2.5 models improve on the Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking model released in December, offering an enhanced base model and better post-training capabilities.

The Gemini 2.5 Pro model, which has already been rolled out for Gemini Advanced subscribers and is available in Google AI Studio, stands out for its strong reasoning and coding skills. It excels in maths and science benchmarks and can generate fully functional video games from simple prompts.

It is also expected to handle sophisticated tasks, from coding web apps to transforming and editing code. Google’s future plans involve incorporating these ‘thinking’ capabilities into all of its AI models, aiming to enhance their ability to tackle more complex challenges in various fields.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Diplo chatbot can make mistakes. Consider checking important information.