Development

OpenAI and Broadcom unite to deploy 10 gigawatts of AI accelerators

The US firm, OpenAI, has announced a multi-year collaboration with Broadcom to design and deploy 10 gigawatts of custom AI accelerators.

The partnership will combine OpenAI’s chip design expertise with Broadcom’s networking and Ethernet technologies to create large-scale AI infrastructure. The deployment is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and be completed by the end of 2029.

A collaboration that enables OpenAI to integrate insights gained from its frontier models directly into the hardware, enhancing efficiency and performance.

Broadcom will develop racks of AI accelerators and networking systems across OpenAI’s data centres and those of its partners. The initiative is expected to meet growing global demand for advanced AI computation.

Executives from both companies described the partnership as a significant step toward the next generation of AI infrastructure. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said it would help deliver the computing capacity needed to realise the benefits of AI for people and businesses worldwide.

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan called the collaboration a milestone in the industry’s pursuit of more capable and scalable AI systems.

The agreement strengthens Broadcom’s position in AI networking and underlines OpenAI’s move toward greater control of its technological ecosystem. By developing its own accelerators, OpenAI aims to boost innovation while advancing its mission to ensure artificial general intelligence benefits humanity.

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Google gives students free access to AI tools

Google has launched a 12-month free AI Pro Plan for university students aged 18 and above across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The plan gives access to Google’s top AI tools, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, NotebookLM, Veo 3, Nano Banana, and 2 TB of cloud storage.

Students can use these tools for homework, research, content creation, and creative projects, all designed to enhance learning and skill development.

Guided Learning in Gemini helps students with step-by-step support for math, essays, and test preparation. AI tools let students explore creativity by generating images, editing visuals, and making short cinematic clips with Veo 3 and Nano Banana.

Educators gain over 30 new tools with Gemini for Education and Classroom to plan lessons, create resources, and foster AI literacy. Google is partnering with universities to integrate AI into teaching, helping students gain practical skills for the future workforce.

The initiative reflects Google’s commitment to equipping students with AI skills, boosting critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving while expanding access to knowledge through innovative technologies.

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Vodafone and Samsung expand Open RAN deployment across Europe

Samsung Electronics has been chosen by Vodafone as a primary partner to deploy virtualised RAN and Open RAN networks in Germany and several European countries. The agreement builds on previous collaborations and represents one of the largest Open RAN projects in Europe.

Germany will serve as the first and main market, with thousands of sites planned, including a full deployment in Wismar by early 2026. The rollout will expand across Europe over five years, beginning with a live site already operating in Hannover.

Samsung will provide its virtualised RAN solutions supporting 2G, 4G and 5G, as well as O-RAN compliant radios, Massive MIMO equipment and AI-powered management tools. The company will also integrate its CognitiV Network Operations Suite to improve performance, efficiency and automation.

Partners such as Dell Technologies, Intel and Wind River will contribute hardware and cloud platforms to ensure interoperability and large-scale integration.

Vodafone’s Chief Network Officer Alberto Ripepi said Open RAN is essential for building flexible, future-ready networks and expanding connectivity across Europe.

Samsung’s Networks Business President Woojune Kim highlighted the project as a major step in developing software-based and autonomous networks designed for the AI era. Both companies view the partnership as a means to advance digital transformation and enhance network efficiency.

The collaboration also promotes energy efficiency and shared infrastructure. Samsung’s AI Energy Saving Manager will monitor traffic to reduce power consumption during low-use periods. The company’s radio systems will support RAN sharing, helping operators cut costs and deliver consistent coverage.

Analysts consider Vodafone’s decision a validation of Samsung’s leadership in open and virtualised network technology.

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Nvidia DGX Spark launches as the world’s smallest AI supercomputer

Nvidia has launched the DGX Spark, described as the world’s smallest AI supercomputer.

Designed for developers and smaller enterprises, the Spark offers data centre-level performance without the need for costly AI server infrastructure or cloud rentals. It features Nvidia’s GB10 Grace Blackwell superchip, ConnectX-7 networking, and the company’s complete AI software stack.

The system, co-developed with ASUS and Dell, can support up to 128GB of memory, enabling users to train and run substantial AI models locally.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang compared Spark’s mission to the 2016 DGX-1, which he delivered to Elon Musk’s OpenAI, marking the start of the AI revolution. The new Spark, he said, aims to place supercomputing power directly in the hands of every developer.

Running on Nvidia’s Linux-based DGX OS, the Spark is built for AI model creation rather than general computing or gaming. Two units can be connected to handle models with up to 405 billion parameters.

The device complements Nvidia’s DGX Station, powered by the more advanced GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra chip.

Nvidia continues to dominate the AI chip industry through its powerful hardware and CUDA platform, securing multi-billion-dollar deals with companies such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon. The DGX Spark reinforces its position by expanding access to AI computing at the desktop level.

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Smartphone AI estimates avocado ripeness with high accuracy

Researchers at Oregon State University and Florida State University have unveiled a smartphone-based AI system that accurately predicts the ripeness and internal quality of avocados.

They trained models using more than 1,400 iPhone images of Hass avocados, achieving around 92% accuracy for firmness (a proxy for ripeness) and over 84% accuracy in distinguishing fresh from rotten fruit.

Avocado waste is a major issue because they spoil quickly, and many are discarded before reaching consumers. The AI tool is intended to guide both shoppers and businesses on when fruit is best consumed or sold.

Beyond consumer use, the system could be deployed in processing and retail facilities to sort avocados more precisely. For example, more ripe batches might be sent to nearby stores instead of longer transit routes.

The researchers used deep learning (rather than older, manual feature extraction) to capture shape, texture and spatial cues better. As the model dataset grows, its performance is expected to improve further.

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Spider-style robot ‘Charlotte’ can 3D print a house in 24 hours

Australian robotics firm Crest Robotics, in collaboration with Earthbuilt Technology, has developed a semi-autonomous robot named Charlotte that blends robotic motion and 3D printing to build structures directly from raw materials.

Unveiled at the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Charlotte is still in prototype stage but already shows potential. The developers aim for it to print a 200 m² house in about 24 hours. The project has backing from the New South Wales Government’s Space+ programme.

Charlotte’s design is inspired by spider movement. It drives over different parts of a construction site and prints structural layers as it moves, eliminating the need for fixed scaffolding or separate manufacturing stages.

The robot aims to reduce energy use, waste, and labour costs by combining printing, transport and assembly into a continuous automated workflow. The developers estimate Charlotte’s printing rate rivals that of over 100 bricklayers.

The team sees applications beyond Earth. They are exploring versions of Charlotte that could help build infrastructure on the Moon under NASA’s Artemis programme.

In Australia, housing markets face stress from population growth, low productivity and supply bottlenecks. Charlotte could be a scalable response to these challenges, particularly in remote or constrained areas.

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EU expands network of AI Factories

The European Commission has announced the addition of six new AI Factories, increasing the total to 19 facilities across 16 Member States.

The new centres in the Czech Republic, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, and Poland will give startups, SMEs, and industry access to AI-optimised supercomputers and support.

The expansion is backed by over €500 million in joint investment from the EU and Member States, bringing the total funding for the AI Factories and Antennas initiative to more than €2.6 billion. The investments aim to boost Europe’s supercomputing capacity and speed up AI adoption in key sectors.

AI Factory Antennas will provide national AI communities with secure remote access to supercomputing resources alongside the factories. The initiative backs the EU’s AI Continent Action Plan and complements AI Gigafactories for developing and training advanced AI models.

By expanding infrastructure and expertise, the EU aims to position itself as a global leader in AI, fostering innovation, competitiveness, and adoption of AI across both industry and the public sector.

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Cities take on tech giants in a new diplomatic arena

In a world once defined by borders and treaties, a new kind of diplomacy is emerging, one where cities, not nations, take the lead. Instead of traditional embassies, this new diplomacy unfolds in startup hubs and conference halls, where ‘tech ambassadors’ represent cities in negotiations with powerful technology companies.

These modern envoys focus not on trade tariffs but on data sharing, digital infrastructure, and the balance between innovation and public interest. The growing influence of global tech firms has shifted the map of power.

Apple’s 2024 revenue alone exceeded the GDP of several mid-sized nations, and algorithms designed in Silicon Valley now shape urban life worldwide. Recognising this shift, cities such as Amsterdam, Barcelona, and London have appointed tech ambassadors to engage directly with the digital giants.

Their role combines diplomacy, investment strategy, and public policy, ensuring that cities have a voice in how technologies, from ride-sharing platforms to AI systems, affect their citizens. But the rise of this new urban diplomacy comes with risks.

Tech firms wield enormous influence, spending tens of millions on lobbying while many municipalities struggle with limited resources. Cities eager for investment may compromise on key issues like data governance or workers’ rights.

There’s also a danger of ‘technological solutionism’, the belief that every problem can be solved by an app, overshadowing more democratic or social solutions.

Ultimately, the mission of the tech ambassador is to safeguard the public interest in a digital age where power often lies in code rather than constitutions. As cities negotiate with the world’s most powerful corporations, they must balance innovation with accountability, ensuring that the digital future serves citizens, not just shareholders.

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Microsoft ends support for Windows 10

Windows 10 support ends on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, and routine security patches and fixes will no longer be provided. Devices will face increased cyber risk without updates. Microsoft urges upgrades to Windows 11 where possible.

Windows powers more than 1.4 billion devices, with Windows 10 still widely used. UK consumer group Which? estimates 21 million local users. Some plan to continue regardless, citing cost, waste, and working hardware.

Upgrade to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs via the Settings app. Others can enrol in Extended Security Updates, which deliver security fixes only until October 2026. ESU offers no technical support or feature updates.

Personal users in the European Economic Area can register for ESU at no charge. Elsewhere, eligibility may unlock ESU for free, or it costs $30 or 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points. Businesses pay $61 per device for year one.

Unsupported systems become easier targets for malware and scams, and some software may degrade over time. Organisations risk compliance issues running out-of-support platforms. Privacy-minded users may also dislike Windows 11’s tighter Microsoft account requirements.

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Why DC says no to AI-made comics

Jim Lee rejects generative AI for DC storytelling, pledging no AI writing, art, or audio under his leadership. He framed AI alongside other overhyped threats, arguing that predictions falter while human craft endures. DC, he said, will keep its focus on creator-led work.

Lee rooted the stance in the value of imperfection and intent. Smudges, rough lines, and hesitation signal authorship, not flaws. Fans, he argued, sense authenticity and recoil from outputs that feel synthetic or aggregated.

Concerns ranged from shrinking attention spans to characters nearing the public domain. The response, Lee said, is better storytelling and world-building. Owning a character differs from understanding one, and DC’s universe supplies the meaning that endures.

Policy meets practice in DCs recent moves against suspected AI art. In 2024, variant covers were pulled after high-profile allegations of AI-generated content. The episode illustrated a willingness to enforce standards rather than just announce them.

Lee positioned 2035 and DC’s centenary as a waypoint, not a finish line. Creative evolution remains essential, but without yielding authorship to algorithms. The pledge: human-made stories, guided by editors and artists, for the next century of DC.

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