Microsoft has launched Copilot 3D, an AI-powered tool that transforms 2D images into realistic 3D models without requiring specialist skills. Available through Copilot Labs, it aims to make 3D creation faster, more accessible, and more intuitive for global users signed in with a Microsoft account.
The tool supports only image-to-3D conversion, with no text-to-3D capability. Users can upload images up to 10 MB, generate a model, and download it in GLB format. Microsoft states uploaded images are used solely for model generation and are not retained for training or personalisation.
Copilot 3D is designed for applications that range from prototyping and creative exploration to interactive learning, thereby reducing the steep learning curve associated with conventional 3D programs. It can be used on PCs or mobile browsers; however, Microsoft recommends a desktop experience for optimal results.
Tech rivals are also advancing similar tools. Apple’s Matrix3D model can build 3D scenes from images, while Meta’s 3D Gen AI system creates 3D assets from text or applies textures to existing models. Nvidia’s NeRF technology generates realistic 3D scenes from multiple 2D images.
The release underscores growing competition in AI-driven 3D design, as companies race to make advanced modelling tools more accessible to everyday creators.
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The University of Western Australia has ordered a mass password reset for all staff and students after detecting unauthorised access to stored password data.
The incident was contained over the weekend by the university’s IT and security teams, who then moved to recovery and investigation. Australian authorities have been notified.
While no other systems are currently believed to have been compromised, access to UWA services remains locked until credentials are changed.
The university has not confirmed if its central access management system was targeted.
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US President Donald Trump has extended the pause on tariffs against Chinese goods by 90 days, postponing the deadline initially set for 12 August. The announcement triggered a sharp rise in Bitcoin’s price, which climbed to nearly $119,800 before returning to around $119,000.
Market watchers remain cautious, debating whether the price surge represents a lasting rally or a brief ‘Dead Cat Bounce.’ A CME futures gap below $119,000 may need to be filled before Bitcoin can sustain an uptrend.
The crypto market also awaits key US inflation data, with consumer and producer price figures expected in mid-August. These statistics could influence the Federal Reserve’s decisions, with a rate cut forecast for September growing more likely.
Crypto analyst Altcoin Sherpa outlined two possible paths for Bitcoin’s near-term movement. One scenario expects a gradual pullback to form a stable base, while the other anticipates a quick liquidity test near $120,000 influenced by treasury and economic factors.
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Hackers have stolen over $1 million in cryptocurrency using AI-generated malicious Firefox extensions disguised as legitimate wallet tools.
The group, known as GreedyBear, created over 150 fake add-ons for platforms like MetaMask and Phantom, bypassing security checks to drain funds from thousands of users. Analysts say AI enabled the attackers to automate coding and deployment at an industrial scale.
The theft comes amid a record-breaking year for crypto crime, with Chainalysis data showing over $2.17 billion stolen so far in 2025. Many incidents exploit smart contract flaws and human error, with access control attacks accounting for the most recent losses.
Security experts warn that AI is now a double-edged sword, helping attackers and defenders. They urge exchanges, developers, and users to adopt AI-powered monitoring, stronger verification, and collaborative defences to restore trust in digital assets.
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In mid-2025, the debate over AI in programming mirrors historic resistance to earlier breakthroughs in computing. Critics say current AI coding tools often slow developers and create overconfidence, while supporters argue they will eventually transform software creation.
The Register compares this moment to the 1950s, when Grace Hopper faced opposition to high-level programming languages. Similar scepticism greeted technologies such as C, Java, and intermediate representation, which later became integral to modern computing.
Current AI tools face limits in resources, business models, and capability. Yet, as past trends show, these constraints may fade as hardware, training, and developer practices improve. Advocates believe AI will shift human effort toward design and problem definition rather than manual coding.
For now, adoption remains a mixed blessing, with performance issues and unrealistic expectations. But history suggests that removing barriers between ideas and results catalyses lasting change.
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Tesla has applied for a licence to supply electricity to homes and businesses across Britain, challenging the dominance of major energy firms. Ofgem could take up to nine months to decide, with operations potentially starting next year.
Known for electric vehicles, Tesla also runs solar and battery storage divisions, with more than 250,000 EVs and tens of thousands of home batteries already sold in the UK. The company’s experience in Texas, where it rewards customers for feeding surplus power to the grid, could inform its UK plans.
The move comes as Tesla’s European car sales decline sharply, with July registrations falling almost 60% in the UK and over 55% in Germany. Increased competition from Chinese manufacturer BYD has added to the pressure.
Tesla has faced public criticism linked to Elon Musk’s political positions, yet the energy push signals a strategic shift towards broader utility services in its key markets.
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OpenAI has released reasoning-focused open-weight models in a strategic response to China’s surging AI ecosystem, led by DeepSeek’s disruptive efficiency. Unlike earlier coverage, the shift is framed not merely as competitive posturing but as a deeper recognition of shifting innovation philosophies.
DeepSeek’s rise stems from maximizing limited resources under the US’s export restrictions, proving that top-tier AI doesn’t require massive chip clusters. The agility has emboldened the open-source AI sector in China, where over 10 labs now rival those in the US, fundamentally reshaping competitive dynamics.
OpenAI’s ‘gpt-oss’ models, which reveal numerical parameters for customization, mark a departure from its traditional closed approach. Industry watchers see this as a hybrid play, retaining proprietary strengths while embracing openness to appeal to global developers.
The implications stretch beyond technology into geopolitics. US export controls may have inadvertently fueled Chinese AI innovation, with DeepSeek’s self-reliant architecture now serving as a proof point for resilience. DeepSeek’s achievement challenges the US’s historically resource-intensive approach to AI.
AI rivalry may spur collaboration or escalate competition. DeepSeek advances models like DeepSeek-MoE, while OpenAI strikes a balance between openness and monetization. Global AI dynamics shift, raising both technological and philosophical stakes.
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OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has warned that many ChatGPT users are engaging with AI in self-destructive ways. His comments follow backlash over the sudden discontinuation of GPT-4o and other older models, which he admitted was a mistake.
Altman said that users form powerful attachments to specific AI models, and while most can distinguish between reality and fiction, a small minority cannot. He stressed OpenAI’s responsibility to manage the risks for those in mentally fragile states.
Using ChatGPT as a therapist or life coach was not his concern, as many people already benefit from it. Instead, he worried about cases where advice subtly undermines a user’s long-term well-being.
The model removals triggered a huge social-media outcry, with complaints that newer versions offered shorter, less emotionally rich responses. OpenAI has since restored GPT-4o for Plus subscribers, while free users will only have access to GPT-5.
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Firms such as Wix.com, Shutterstock, and Adobe have been labelled high risk by Bank of America, with stock declines far outpacing the broader market. The shift stems from fears that AI will replace services like graphic design and data analysis, delivering them faster and cheaper.
Some analysts say the impact, once expected over five years, may unfold in just two.
The disruption is not limited to creative industries. Gartner saw a record share drop after cutting its revenue forecast, with some attributing the slump to cheaper AI-powered alternatives.
Meanwhile, major tech firms, including Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon, are expected to invest around $350 billion this year, nearly 50% more than last year, to expand AI infrastructure.
Despite the pressure, certain businesses are adapting successfully. Duolingo has doubled its share price over the past year by integrating AI into its language-learning tools, though questions remain over the long-term sustainability of such gains.
As the gap between AI-powered growth and industry decline widens, markets are bracing for further upheaval.
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The 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing has drawn significant attention to China’s growing humanoid robotics industry. With over 60 humanoid robots on display, the event attracted investors and tech enthusiasts alike, generating a surge in stock prices for companies such as Unitree Robotics.
The conference showcased robots performing diverse activities from industrial operations to more human-like tasks, including marathons and kickboxing, highlighting rapid AI advancements.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has supported the sector strongly, aiming for mass production and widespread adoption by 2027. The market, valued at $2.24 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to $41 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of nearly 44%.
New manufacturing facilities and advances such as carbon fibre materials are boosting the durability and agility of these robots, while companies are focusing on AI integration and teamwork capabilities.
Despite the promising outlook, challenges like high costs, AI learning complexities, and potential overvaluation remain. Experts acknowledge China is closing the gap in humanoid robotics innovation, though technical hurdles persist.
The event underscores the significant role humanoid robots could play in reshaping industries and everyday life, supported by both state initiatives and private investment.
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