Development

Vision AI Companion turns Samsung TVs into conversational AI platforms

Samsung has unveiled the Vision AI Companion, an advanced conversational AI platform designed to transform the television into a connected household hub.

Unlike voice assistants meant for personal devices, the Vision AI Companion operates on the communal screen, enabling families to ask questions, plan activities, and receive visualised, contextual answers through natural dialogue.

Built into Samsung’s 2025 TV lineup, the system integrates an upgraded Bixby and supports multiple large language models, including Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity.

With its multi-AI agent platform, Vision AI Companion allows users to access personalised recommendations, real-time information, and multimedia responses without leaving their current programme.

It supports 10 languages and includes features such as Live Translate, AI Gaming Mode, Generative Wallpaper, and AI Upscaling Pro. The platform runs on One UI Tizen, offering seven years of software upgrades to ensure longevity and security.

By embedding generative AI into televisions, Samsung aims to redefine how households interact with technology, turning the TV into an intelligent companion that informs, entertains, and connects families across languages and experiences.

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OpenAI loses German copyright lawsuit over song lyrics reproduction

A Munich regional court has ruled that OpenAI infringed copyright in a landmark case brought by the German rights society GEMA. The court held OpenAI liable for reproducing and memorising copyrighted lyrics without authorisation, rejecting its claim to operate as a non-profit research institute.

The judgement found that OpenAI had violated copyright even in a 15-word passage, setting a low threshold for infringement. Additionally, the court dismissed arguments about accidental reproduction and technical errors, emphasising that both reproduction and memorisation require a licence.

It also denied OpenAI’s request for a grace period to make compliance changes, citing negligence.

Judges concluded that the company could not rely on proportionality defences, noting that licences were available and alternative AI models exist.

OpenAI’s claim that EU copyright law failed to foresee large language models was rejected, as the court reaffirmed that European law ensures a high level of protection for intellectual property.

The ruling marks a significant step for copyright enforcement in the age of generative AI and could shape future litigation across Europe. It also challenges technology companies to adapt their training and licensing practices to comply with existing legal frameworks.

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Joint quantum partnership unites Canada and Denmark for global research leadership

Canada and Denmark have signed a joint statement to deepen collaboration in quantum research and innovation.

The agreement, announced at the European Quantum Technologies Conference 2025 in Copenhagen, reflects both countries’ commitment to advancing quantum science responsibly while promoting shared values of openness, ethics and excellence.

Under the partnership, the two nations will enhance research and development ties, encourage open data sharing, and cultivate a skilled talent pipeline. They also aim to boost global competitiveness in quantum technologies, fostering new opportunities for market expansion and secure supply chains.

Canadian Minister Mélanie Joly highlighted that the cooperation showcases a shared ambition to accelerate progress in health care, clean energy and defence.

Denmark’s Minister for Higher Education and Science, Christina Egelund, described Canada as a vital partner in scientific innovation. At the same time, Minister Evan Solomon stressed the agreement’s role in empowering researchers to deliver breakthroughs that shape the future of quantum technologies.

Both Canada and Denmark are recognised as global leaders in quantum science, working together through initiatives such as the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community.

A partnership that supports Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, launched in 2023, and reinforces its shared goal of driving innovation for sustainable growth and collective security.

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Finland to enforce stricter crypto tax reporting from 2026

Finland will introduce stricter reporting obligations for crypto asset service providers from 2026 as part of international efforts to enhance tax transparency.

The move aligns with the OECD’s Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), which aims to standardise the exchange of crypto-related tax information globally. More than 70 countries and jurisdictions have already committed to the framework.

Finnish and foreign crypto providers must collect and report users’ transaction data, including purchases, sales, and transfers. The Finnish Tax Administration will begin receiving annual reports in 2027, enabling cross-border exchange under the CARF and the amended EU DAC8 directive.

The government proposal, due for parliamentary debate in autumn 2025, would extend Finland’s reporting requirements beyond international standards. Providers must also supply data allowing authorities to calculate capital gains and losses for Finnish residents and estates.

The Tax Administration will review and update its guidance on financial account reporting to align with these changes.

Despite the increased flow of information, individuals trading crypto assets will still need to declare profits, losses, and related income in their annual tax returns. The first international exchange of crypto asset data is expected to take place by September 2027.

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Artist secretly hangs AI print Cardiff museum

An AI-generated print by artist Elias Marrow was secretly placed on a gallery wall at the National Museum Cardiff before staff were alerted, and it was removed. The work, titled Empty Plate, shows a young boy in a school uniform holding a plate and was reportedly seen by hundreds of visitors.

Marrow said the piece represents Wales in 2025 and examines how public institutions decide what is worth displaying. He defended the stunt as participatory rather than vandalism, emphasising that AI is a natural evolution of artistic tools.

Visitors photographed the artwork, and some initially thought it was performance art, while the museum confirmed it had no prior knowledge of the piece. Marrow has carried out similar unsanctioned displays at Bristol Museum and Tate Modern, highlighting his interest in challenging traditional curation.

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Winning the AI race means winning developers in China, says Huang of Nvidia

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said China is ‘nanoseconds’ behind the US in AI and urged Washington to lead by accelerating innovation and courting developers globally. He argued that excluding China would weaken the reach of US technology and risk splintering the ecosystem into incompatible stacks.

Huang’s remarks came amid ongoing export controls that bar Nvidia’s most advanced processors from the Chinese market. He acknowledged national security concerns but cautioned that strict limits can slow the spread of American tools that underpin AI research, deployment, and scaling.

Hardware remains central, Huang said, citing advanced accelerators and data-centre capacity as the substrate for training frontier models. Yet diffusion matters: widespread adoption of US platforms by global developers amplifies influence, reduces fragmentation, and accelerates innovation.

With sales of top-end chips restricted, Huang warned that Chinese firms will continue to innovate on domestic alternatives, increasing the likelihood of parallel systems. He called for policies that enable US leadership while preserving channels to the developer community in China.

Huang framed the objective as keeping America ahead, maintaining the world’s reliance on an American tech stack, and avoiding strategies that would push away half the world’s AI talent.

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Japan develops system to measure and share physical and mental pain

Japanese mobile carrier NTT Docomo has developed a system that measures physical and mental pain and translates it into a format others can understand.

The technology utilises brainwave analysis to convert subjective sensations, such as injuries, stomachaches, spiciness, or emotional distress, into quantifiable levels.

The system, created in collaboration with startup Pamela Inc., allows recipients to understand what a specific pain score represents and even experience it through a device.

Docomo sees potential applications in medical diagnosis, rehabilitation, immersive gaming, and support for individuals who have been exposed to psychological or social harm.

Officials said the platform could be introduced for practical use alongside sixth-generation cellular networks, which are expected to be available in the 2030s.

The innovation aims to overcome the challenge of pain being experienced differently by each person, creating a shared understanding of physical and emotional discomfort.

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The Inca system that preceded the digital age

Long before the internet and instant messaging, the Inca Empire built its own intricate communication web that spanned thousands of kilometres across the Andes.

In his blog post ‘Quipus and chasquis: The Inca internet of diplomacy,’ Jovan Kurbalija explores how this ancient civilisation mastered the art of connecting people and information without written language or digital tools, relying instead on an ingenious blend of data, logistics, and human networks.

At the heart of this system were the quipus, bundles of knotted cords that stored census data, taxes, inventories, and decrees. Each knot, colour, and string length encoded information much like modern databases do today. Far from being primitive, quipus functioned as the Incas’ version of data storage and computation, a tangible form of coding that required skilled interpreters to read and maintain.

The chasquis, on the other hand, were the living couriers of the empire, elite runners who relayed quipus and oral messages across vast distances using a network of mountain roads. Their relay system ensured that vital information could travel hundreds of kilometres within a day, forming what Kurbalija calls a ‘human internet.’ That combination of endurance, coordination, and trust made the Inca communication network remarkably efficient and resilient.

Beyond its technical brilliance, the Inca system carried a deeper diplomatic purpose. Communication was the glue that held together a vast and diverse empire. By integrating technology, logistics, and human skill, the Incas created a model of governance that balanced diversity and unity.

As Kurbalija concludes, the story of the quipus and chasquis offers a timeless lesson for modern diplomacy. Technology alone does not sustain communication; people do. Whether through knotted cords or encrypted data cables, the challenge remains the same, which is to move information wisely, build trust, and connect societies.

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Google flags adaptive malware that rewrites itself with AI

Hackers are experimenting with malware that taps large language models to morph in real time, according to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group. An experimental family dubbed PROMPTFLUX can rewrite and obfuscate its own code as it executes, aiming to sidestep static, signature-based detection.

PROMPTFLUX interacts with Gemini’s API to request on-demand functions and ‘just-in-time’ evasion techniques, rather than hard-coding behaviours. GTIG describes the approach as a step toward more adaptive, partially autonomous malware that dynamically generates scripts and changes its footprint.

Investigators say the current samples appear to be in development or testing, with incomplete features and limited Gemini API access. Google says it has disabled associated assets and has not observed a successful compromise, yet warns that financially motivated actors are exploring such tooling.

Researchers point to a maturing underground market for illicit AI utilities that lowers barriers for less-skilled offenders. State-linked operators in North Korea, Iran, and China are reportedly experimenting with AI to enhance reconnaissance, influence, and intrusion workflows.

Defenders are turning to AI, using security frameworks and agents like ‘Big Sleep’ to find flaws. Teams should expect AI-assisted obfuscation, emphasise behaviour-based detection, watch model-API abuse, and lock down developer and automation credentials.

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Courts signal limits on AI in legal proceedings

A High Court judge warned that a solicitor who pushed an expert to accept an AI-generated draft breached their duty. Mr Justice Waksman called it a gross breach and cited a case from the latest survey.
He noted 14% of experts would accept such terms, which is unacceptable.

Updated guidance clarifies what limited judicial AI use is permissible. Judges may use a private ChatGPT 365 for summaries with confidential prompts. There is no duty to disclose, but the judgment must be the judge’s own.

Waksman cautioned against legal research or analysis done by AI. Hallucinated authorities and fake citations have already appeared. Experts must not let AI answer the questions they are retained to decide.

Survey findings show wider use of AI for drafting and summaries. Waksman drew a bright line between back-office aids and core duties. Convenience cannot trump independence, accuracy and accountability.

For practitioners, two rules follow. Solicitors must not foist AI-drafted expert opinions, and experts should refuse. Within courts, limited, non-determinative AI may assist, but outcomes must be human.

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