A new AI tool created by Google DeepMind, called the ‘Habermas Machine,’ could help reduce culture war divides by mediating between different viewpoints. The system takes individual opinions and generates group statements that reflect both majority and minority perspectives, aiming to foster greater agreement.
Developed by researchers, including Professor Chris Summerfield from the University of Oxford, the AI system has been tested in the United Kingdom with more than 5,000 participants. It was found that the statements created by AI were often rated higher in clarity and quality than those written by human mediators, increasing group consensus by eight percentage points on average.
The Habermas Machine was also used in a virtual citizens’ assembly on topics such as Brexit and universal childcare. It was able to produce group statements that acknowledged minority views without marginalising them, but the AI approach does have its critics.
Some researchers argue that AI-mediated discussions don’t always promote empathy or give smaller minorities enough influence in shaping the final statements. Despite these concerns, the potential for AI to assist in resolving social disagreements remains a promising development.
Ericsson has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian government to collaborate on developing, deploying, and innovating 5G technology. The partnership aims to explore how 5G can support Nigeria’s digital transformation objectives, including driving economic growth and improving public services.
Specifically, key objectives outlined in the agreement include facilitating knowledge exchange within the technology sector, building capacity among local stakeholders, establishing innovation hubs and tech incubators, and enhancing digital literacy and skills development. Notably, the MoU was signed during a visit by a Nigerian government delegation to Ericsson’s global headquarters in Stockholm, led by the Vice President of Nigeria.
Thus, this collaboration reflects a shared vision for the future of technology in Nigeria and emphasises the importance of leveraging 5G to unlock innovation potential for businesses and citizens, enhancing the country’s national digital competitiveness.
In a related development, MTN Nigeria has opened a 5G Digital Experience Center in Abuja to showcase various 5G applications and services to consumers. This launch complements the recent MoU and demonstrates a concerted effort within the telecommunications sector to promote the benefits of 5G technology and drive its adoption in Nigeria.
Samsung is taking its commitment to security up a notch by expanding its blockchain technology to cover a wider range of AI-powered home appliances. The South Korean tech giant announced that its Knox Matrix framework, originally designed for mobile devices and televisions, will now protect home devices using a ‘Trust Chain.’ This private blockchain system enables connected devices to monitor each other for potential security issues, keeping users informed in case of any threats.
In addition to blockchain-based security, Samsung is introducing ‘Cross Platform’ technology, ensuring consistent protection across devices, regardless of the operating system. The company also aims to improve privacy with its ‘Credential Sync,’ which encrypts and synchronises user data for enhanced safety.
Expected to roll out these new features next year, Samsung will integrate biometric authentication, allowing users to log into apps with fingerprints instead of passwords. The move builds on the company’s previous blockchain ventures, including its Samsung Blockchain Wallet and Blockchain Keystore.
IBM unveiled its latest AI model, known as ‘Granite 3.0,’ on Monday, targeting businesses eager to adopt generative AI technology. The company aims to stand out from its competitors by offering these models as open-source, a different approach from firms like Microsoft, which charge clients for access to their AI models. IBM’s open-source strategy promotes accessibility and flexibility, allowing businesses to customise and integrate these models as needed.
Alongside the Granite 3.0 models, IBM provides a paid service called Watsonx, which assists companies in running these models within their data centres once they are customised. This service gives enterprises more control over their AI solutions, enabling them to tailor and optimise the models for their specific needs while maintaining privacy and data security within their infrastructure.
The Granite models are already available for commercial use through the Watsonx platform. In addition, select models from the Granite family will be accessible on Nvidia’s AI software stack, allowing businesses to incorporate these models using Nvidia’s advanced tools and resources. IBM collaborated closely with Nvidia, utilising its H100 GPUs, a leading technology in the AI chip market, to train these models. Dario Gil, IBM’s research director, highlighted that the partnership with Nvidia is central to delivering powerful and efficient AI solutions for enterprises looking to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
A new report from Aspen Digital reveals that 76% of Asia’s private wealth sector has already ventured into digital assets, with an additional 18% planning future investments. Interest in digital assets has surged since 2022, when just 58% of respondents had explored the space. The survey covered 80 family offices and high-net-worth individuals and found that most manage assets ranging from $10 million to $500 million.
Among those invested, 70% have allocated less than 5% of their portfolios to digital assets, although some increased their holdings to over 10% in 2024. Interest in decentralised finance (DeFi) and blockchain applications continues to grow, with two-thirds expressing a desire to explore DeFi, while 61% are keen on AI and decentralised physical infrastructure.
The approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, particularly in the US and Hong Kong, has driven increased demand for digital assets. The report highlighted that 53% of investors have gained exposure through funds or ETFs, with optimism remaining high as 31% predict Bitcoin could reach $100,000 by the end of 2024.
TokenPocket, a global crypto wallet, has partnered with Swiss-regulated Web3 banking platform Fiat24 to simplify the use of digital currencies in everyday transactions. While over 600 million people worldwide own crypto, spending it on daily purchases remains complicated due to conversion processes and fees. The collaboration aims to bridge this gap by making crypto spending easier.
TokenPocket supports various blockchain networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, allowing users to securely manage their assets. Fiat24 brings decentralised banking to the table, using blockchain technology to manage operations via smart contracts. The integration enables users to seamlessly convert and spend their crypto.
The TP Card, born from this collaboration, allows users to spend their crypto just like traditional currency. Available across 32 European countries, it can be linked with Apple Pay and Google Pay, making crypto transactions as easy as regular card payments. The partnership is poised to reshape global finance by merging digital assets with everyday spending.
Meta, the owner of Facebook, announced a partnership with Blumhouse Productions, known for hit horror films like ‘The Purge’ and ‘Get Out,’ to test its new generative AI video model, Movie Gen. This follows the recent launch of Movie Gen, which can produce realistic video and audio clips based on user prompts. Meta claims that this tool could compete with offerings from leading media generation startups like OpenAI and ElevenLabs.
Blumhouse has chosen filmmakers Aneesh Chaganty, The Spurlock Sisters, and Casey Affleck to experiment with Movie Gen, with Chaganty’s film set to appear on Meta’s Movie Gen website. In a statement, Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum emphasised the importance of involving artists in the development of new technologies, noting that innovative tools can enhance storytelling for directors.
This partnership highlights Meta’s aim to connect with the creative industries, which have expressed hesitance toward generative AI due to copyright and consent concerns. Several copyright holders have sued companies like Meta, alleging unauthorised use of their works to train AI systems. In response to these challenges, Meta has demonstrated a willingness to compensate content creators, recently securing agreements with actors such as Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, and John Cena for its Meta AI chatbot.
Meanwhile, Microsoft-backed OpenAI has been exploring potential partnerships with Hollywood executives for its video generation tool, Sora, though no deals have been finalised yet. In September, Lions Gate Entertainment announced a collaboration with another AI startup, Runway, underscoring the increasing interest in AI partnerships within the film industry.
The Ras Al Khaimah Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO) in the UAE is preparing to launch a new legal framework for decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs), marking a significant step in enhancing the country’s digital asset sector. The framework, set to be discussed on 25 October, aims to clarify how DAOs can remain compliant with legal and governance requirements while providing protections for founders and members.
DAOs in the UAE will benefit from clear tax obligations and will be able to own both onchain and offchain assets. Additionally, the framework offers the ability to engage in legally binding contracts, as well as guidance on resolving disputes. The new structure is expected to attract global participants, as DAOs can be established remotely without the need for a physical presence in the UAE.
The UAE’s approach offers a cost-effective alternative to Switzerland, where setting up a DAO can cost up to $46,000. In comparison, the UAE’s framework starts at just $3,000, making it accessible to even smaller DAOs.
Hiya, a US-based company specialising in fraud and spam detection, has introduced a new Chrome browser extension to identify AI-generated deepfake voices. The tool offers free access to anyone concerned about the growing risk of voice manipulation.
The Deepfake Voice Detector analyses video and audio streams, sampling audio in just one second to determine whether a voice is genuine or artificially generated. Hiya’s technology relies on AI algorithms it integrated following the acquisition of Loccus.ai in July.
With deepfakes becoming increasingly difficult to spot, the company aims to help users stay ahead of potential misuse. Hiya president Kush Parikh emphasised the importance of launching the tool ahead of the US elections in November to address the rising threat.
A survey of 2,000 individuals conducted by Hiya revealed that one in four people encountered audio deepfakes between April and July this year. Personal voice calls emerged as the primary risk factor (61%), followed by exposure on platforms like Facebook (22%) and YouTube (17%).
A1 Austria, Eurofiber, and Quantcom have joined forces to develop a high-speed dark-fibre network connecting Frankfurt and Vienna, marking a significant advancement in European telecommunications. Scheduled for completion in December 2025, this ambitious project aims to deliver an ultra-low-latency infrastructure essential for meeting modern telecommunications’s growing demands.
By collaborating, these three providers are not only bolstering their technical capabilities but are also ensuring that the network will support a wide array of critical applications, including cloud services, media broadcasting, AI, and machine learning (ML). Furthermore, the network’s low latency will significantly enhance connectivity for key industries across Europe, making it a vital asset for telecommunications companies, fixed network operators, and global enterprises.
Ultimately, this new fibre network is poised to serve as a critical backbone for the region’s digital ecosystem, facilitating seamless communication and data exchange. As a result, it is expected to have a substantial economic impact by connecting various industries and enabling high-performance connectivity, thereby acting as a catalyst for growth across multiple sectors.
Moreover, this initiative addresses the current demand for faster and more reliable data transfer and lays the groundwork for a more robust digital infrastructure in Europe, thereby fostering innovation and economic development in the years to come.
