A senior PwC expert has outlined how AI can play a pivotal role in speeding up the transition to clean energy, particularly by improving forecasting, enhancing operational efficiency and enabling smarter planning of renewable systems.
According to the specialist, AI tools can analyse complex data from wind, solar and grid systems to predict output and optimise maintenance, helping utilities and policymakers make better decisions in real time.
AI also supports decarbonisation by modelling scenarios for energy demand and emissions, allowing energy planners to prioritise investments in technologies that deliver the most impact.
The expert emphasised that data integration and digital infrastructure are essential to unlock these benefits at scale, and cautioned that firms must pair AI’s technical capabilities with strong governance and clear regulatory frameworks.
PwC’s perspective reflects a broader industry belief that AI will be integral to managing increasingly complex energy systems, especially as countries pursue net-zero targets and integrate variable renewables into their grids.
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Researchers at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK are launching a Digital Futures Lab, focusing on virtual reality and AI in the humanities. The hub opens on 7 February.
The facility will support collaboration between academics, students, businesses and cultural organisations. Launch events will showcase practical uses of VR, AI and digital language tools across research and culture.
Speakers will discuss chatbots, algorithms and data analysis shaping modern arts and humanities research. The project builds on the university’s wider investment in cyber resilience and AI.
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The tech giant, IBM, has announced IBM Sovereign Core, a new software offering designed to help organisations deploy and manage AI-ready environments under sovereign control.
The product addresses growing regulatory and governance requirements as enterprises and governments seek greater authority over data, infrastructure and AI operations.
Digital sovereignty, according to IBM, extends beyond where data is stored and includes who controls systems, how access is governed and under which jurisdiction AI workloads operate.
IBM Sovereign Core is positioned as a foundational software layer that embeds sovereignty into operations instead of applying controls after deployment.
Built on Red Hat’s open-source technologies, the software enables customer-operated control planes, in-jurisdiction identity management and continuous compliance reporting. AI workloads, including inference and model hosting, can be governed locally without exporting data to external providers.
IBM plans to offer the software across on-premises environments, in-region cloud infrastructure and through selected service providers.
A technology preview is expected to begin in February, with full general availability planned for mid-2026.
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SEC Chair Paul Atkins says US crypto market structure legislation is close to becoming law, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it soon. The move aims to end regulatory uncertainty and provide clear legal foundations for digital asset markets.
Atkins has openly backed Congress in defining the jurisdictional split between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, arguing that statutory clarity is essential for protecting investors and supporting institutional growth.
Supporters believe clear rules will replace enforcement-led interpretation and allow the sector to mature within established financial frameworks.
Progress is moving through Congress, with the Senate Banking Committee advancing the CLARITY Act while the Agriculture Committee continues negotiations. Despite disagreements and amendments, bipartisan support suggests the bill could reach the White House by the end of the first quarter.
Looking ahead, Atkins has linked the bill to long-term US competitiveness, stating that clear and principled regulation will encourage innovation and attract capital. Coordination between the SEC, CFTC and the White House is expected to be central to implementation.
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TSMC reported a strong fourth-quarter performance, posting a 35 percent rise in profit to a record level, supported by sustained demand for advanced chips.
The company forecast robust growth for 2026, citing continued customer interest and tight capacity, while highlighting expectations for a significant increase in revenue in the first quarter of the year.
The Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer confirmed that capital spending reached US$40.9 billion in 2025, slightly above earlier guidance, and indicated further increases ahead, with investment potentially rising to as much as US$56 billion in 2026 and accelerating later in the decade.
Ongoing projects include additional manufacturing capacity in the US, expansion in Japan, and continued investment in Taiwan.
TSMC also signalled that more US facilities may be planned, following earlier commitments to large-scale investment in Arizona.
Developments come amid discussions between Taiwan and the US on trade and tariffs, as well as broader policy efforts in Washington to encourage domestic semiconductor production.
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Engineers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that foams, long assumed to behave like static glass, remain in constant internal motion while preserving their outward form.
Computer simulations revealed that bubbles in wet foams continue shifting through many configurations instead of settling into fixed positions.
Researchers observed that this behaviour closely mirrors the mathematics behind deep learning, where AI systems repeatedly adjust internal parameters during training. Instead of converging on a single optimal state, both foams and AI models operate within broad solution spaces that allow flexibility and resilience.
The study challenges earlier theories that treated foam bubbles as particles trapped in low-energy states. A revised mathematical approach shows that continuous reorganisation offers stability at a larger scale, rather than undermining structural integrity.
The findings suggest that learning-like dynamics may represent a broader organising principle across materials science, biology and computation.
Researchers believe the insight could inform the design of adaptive materials and improve understanding of dynamic biological structures such. as cellular scaffolding.
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AI is no longer confined to chatbots and content tools. In the food and beverage sector, companies are utilising advanced AI systems to forecast consumer trends, expedite product development, and explore new ingredients for future products.
Mars, the multinational behind brands such as Dolmio, Pedigree, and Mars bars, is using AI to support its health and sustainability goals. Darren Logan, vice president of research at the Mars Advanced Research Institute, said the company is exploring plant compounds and alternative proteins.
Fermentation is also expanding Mars’ ingredient research by generating new chemical compounds through interactions between plants and microbes. Logan said combining plants with microbes increases chemical diversity, producing substances that would not otherwise exist.
The chocolate manufacturer partnered with UC Davis spin-out PIPA and its AI research platform LEAP to support this work. The system constructs knowledge graphs utilising scientific literature, databases, and the company’s proprietary data to establish connections between ingredients, microbes, and human health.
Logan said the platform helps reduce the time and cost of experimentation by guiding researchers towards more promising test options. Human oversight remains central to every AI-assisted decision.
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Scientists have developed a radar-based sensor that detects irregular heart rhythms without physical contact. The system uses radio waves and AI to identify atrial fibrillation and allow earlier detection.
The technology was tested on more than 6,200 patients during routine heart checks. Results showed accuracy comparable to standard electrocardiogram tests, demonstrating its potential for clinical use.
Trials during sleep revealed that the system could detect hidden heart rhythm issues even when patients were at rest. Many episodes of atrial fibrillation go unnoticed at night, so this could improve early intervention.
Further studies will examine how the system performs in everyday life. Researchers hope these tests will show whether the technology can be used reliably outside clinics to monitor heart health.
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Rising concern surrounds the growing number of people seeking help after becoming victims of AI-generated intimate deepfakes in Guernsey, part of the UK. Support services report a steady increase in cases.
Existing law criminalises sharing intimate images without consent, but AI-generated creations remain legal. Proposed reforms aim to close this gap and strengthen victim protection.
Police and support charities warn that deepfakes cause severe emotional harm and are challenging to prosecute. Cross-border platforms and anonymous perpetrators complicate enforcement and reporting.
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The robotics company Agibot has launched a series of Asia-Pacific strategic initiatives for 2026 with a high-profile event in Malaysia, signalling its push to expand embodied AI and robotics across the region.
The launch, held at i-City in Selangor, was attended by executives, Malaysian government officials, partners, and customers. It also marked the opening of the first AI and Robotics Experience Centre in Malaysia.
The centre was developed in partnership with I-Bhd and officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. Agibot said the facility will showcase real-world applications of humanoid robotics.
Founder and CEO of Agibot, Deng Taihua, said the company produced its 5,000th humanoid robot in 2025, strengthening its position as it begins regional expansion in 2026.
The firm plans to deploy its systems across property, hospitality, tourism, and urban services, while its partnership with I-Bhd will focus on wellness, longevity, and residential robotics.
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