Scientists at the University of Surrey have developed a new method to make artificial intelligence smarter by copying the way the human brain works. Their approach, called Topographical Sparse Mapping, connects AI ‘neurons’ only to nearby or related ones, mimicking how the brain organises information efficiently.
An advanced version, Enhanced Topographical Sparse Mapping, prunes unneeded connections during training, similar to how the brain strengthens useful pathways as it learns. Researchers are also exploring applications in neuromorphic computing, which designs computer systems to mimic the structure and function of the human brain.
The approach helps AI models, including tools like ChatGPT, work better while using less electricity. Traditional AI training can waste huge amounts of energy, but the new brain-inspired design cuts unnecessary connections without losing accuracy.
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Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, argues that AI should be built for people, not to replace them. Growing belief in chatbot consciousness risks campaigns for AI rights and a needless struggle over personhood that distracts from human welfare.
Debates over true consciousness miss the urgent issue of convincing imitation. Seemingly conscious AI may speak fluently, recall interactions, claim experiences, and set goals that appear to exhibit agency. Capabilities are close, and the social effects will be real regardless of metaphysics.
People already form attachments to chatbots and seek meaning in conversations. Reports of dependency and talk of ‘AI psychosis‘ show persuasive systems can nudge vulnerable users. Extending moral status to uncertainty, Suleyman argues, would amplify delusions and dilute existing rights.
Norms and design principles are needed across the industry. Products should include engineered interruptions that break the illusion, clear statements of nonhuman status, and guardrails for responsible ‘personalities’. Microsoft AI is exploring approaches that promote offline connection and healthy use.
A positive vision keeps AI empowering without faking inner life. Companions should organise tasks, aid learning, and support collaboration while remaining transparently artificial. The focus remains on safeguarding humans, animals, and the natural world, not on granting rights to persuasive simulations.
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AI is playing an increasingly important role in personal finance, with over 28 million UK adults using AI over the past year.
Lloyds Banking Group’s latest Consumer Digital Index reveals that many individuals turn to platforms like ChatGPT for budgeting, savings planning, and financial education, reporting an average annual savings of £399 through AI insights.
Digital confidence strongly supports financial empowerment. Two-thirds of internet users report that online tools enhance their ability to manage money, while those with higher digital skills experience lower stress and greater control over their finances.
Regular engagement with AI and other digital tools enhances both knowledge and confidence in financial decision-making.
Trust remains a significant concern despite growing usage. Around 80% of users worry about inaccurate information or insufficient personalisation, emphasising the need for reliable guidance.
Jas Singh, CEO of Consumer Relationships at Lloyds, highlights that banks must combine AI innovation with trusted expertise to help people make more intelligent choices and build long-term financial resilience.
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Saudi Arabia is accelerating its ambitions in AI with the launch of Humain, a homegrown AI company backed by the kingdom’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund. The company, financed by the Public Investment Fund, aims to offer a wide range of AI services and tools, including an Arabic large language model capable of understanding diverse dialects and observing Islamic values.
The company has secured major deals to expand its operations, including a $3 billion data centre project with Blackstone’s AirTrunk, a partnership with US chipmaker Qualcomm, and a significant stake acquisition by state-owned Saudi Aramco. The agreements aim to boost AI integration across the kingdom’s key sectors.
Challenges remain, from talent shortages to access to advanced technology, while regional competition is strong. Yet Humain’s leadership remains confident, aiming to position Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global AI landscape.
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Dubai-based telecom operator du has launched a cryptocurrency mining service designed to promote digital finance adoption across the UAE. The initiative, named Cloud Miner, enables residents to mine cryptocurrency via subscription, eliminating the need for personal hardware or maintenance.
The service, operated by du Tech’s data centres, enables users to rent computational power and mine Bitcoin and other digital assets. Participants can bid online from November 3 to 9 for 24-month contracts that offer 250 terahashes per second.
Users will also gain access to a calculator to track monthly Bitcoin yields linked directly to their crypto wallets.
According to Jasim Al Awadi, du’s Chief ICT Officer, Cloud Miner represents the company’s first step in expanding into digital asset services. He added that as adoption grows, Du plans to explore adjacent sectors such as crypto exchanges and lending platforms.
The company also intends to increase the number of available contracts and hash rate in future phases.
The UAE continues to position itself as a leader in digital finance, introducing supportive regulations and encouraging blockchain innovation. Al Awadi emphasised that trusted, regulated entities like du play a key role in helping users confidently engage with the crypto ecosystem.
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Perplexity has unveiled new privacy features for its AI-powered browser, Comet, designed to give users clearer control over their data. The updates include a new homepage widget called Privacy Snapshot, which allows people to review and adjust privacy settings in one place.
The widget provides a real-time view of how Comet protects users online and simplifies settings for ad blocking, tracker management and data access. Users can toggle permissions for the Comet Assistant directly from the homepage.
Comet’s updated AI Assistant settings now show precisely how data is used, including where it is stored locally or shared for processing. Sensitive information such as passwords and payment details remain securely stored on the user’s device.
Perplexity said the changes reinforce its ‘privacy by default’ approach, an important principle in EU data protection law, combining ad blocking, safe browsing and transparent data handling. The new features are available in the latest Comet update across desktop and mobile platforms.
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CISA’s warning serves as a reminder that ransomware is not confined to Windows. A Linux kernel flaw, CVE-2024-1086, is being exploited in real-world incidents, and federal networks face a November 20 patch-or-disable deadline. Businesses should read it as their cue, too.
Attackers who reach a vulnerable host can escalate privileges to root, bypass defences, and deploy malware. Many older kernels remain in circulation even though upstream fixes were shipped in January 2024, creating a soft target when paired with phishing and lateral movement.
Practical steps matter more than labels. Patch affected kernels where possible, isolate any components that cannot be updated, and verify the running versions against vendor advisories and the NIST catalogue. Treat emergency changes as production work, with change logs and checks.
Resilience buys time when updates lag. Enforce least privilege, require MFA for admin entry points, and segment crown-jewel services. Tune EDR to spot privilege-escalation behaviour and suspicious modules, then rehearse restores from offline, immutable backups.
Security habits shape outcomes as much as CVEs. Teams that patch quickly, validate fixes, and document closure shrink the blast radius. Teams that defer kernel maintenance invite repeat visits, turning a known bug into an avoidable outage.
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Microsoft’s AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, has dismissed the idea that AI could ever become conscious, arguing that consciousness is a property exclusive to biological beings.
Speaking at the AfroTech Conference in Houston, Suleyman said researchers should stop exploring the notion of sentient AI, calling it ‘the wrong question’.
He explained that while AI can simulate experience, it cannot feel pain or possess subjective awareness.
Suleyman compared AI’s output to a narrative illusion rather than genuine consciousness, aligning with the philosophical theory of biological naturalism, which ties awareness to living brain processes.
Suleyman has become one of the industry’s most outspoken critics of conscious AI research. His book ‘The Coming Wave’ and his recent essay ‘We must build AI for people;’ not to be a person warn against anthropomorphising machines.
He also confirmed that Microsoft will not develop erotic chatbots, a direction that has been embraced by competitors such as OpenAI and xAI.
He stressed that Microsoft’s AI systems are designed to serve humans, not mimic them. The company’s Copilot assistant now includes a ‘real talk’ mode that challenges users’ assumptions instead of offering flattery.
Suleyman said responsible development must avoid ‘unbridled accelerationism’, adding that fear and scepticism are essential for navigating AI’s rapid evolution.
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Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a new method to enhance AI by imitating how the human brain connects information. The approach, called Topographical Sparse Mapping, links each artificial neuron only to nearby or related ones, replicating the brain’s efficient organisation.
According to findings published in Neurocomputing, the structure reduces redundant connections and improves performance without compromising accuracy. Senior lecturer Dr Roman Bauer said intelligent systems can now be designed to consume less energy while maintaining power.
Training large models today often requires over a million kilowatt-hours of electricity, a trend he described as unsustainable.
An advanced version, Enhanced Topographical Sparse Mapping, introduces a biologically inspired pruning process that refines neural connections during training, similar to how the brain learns.
Researchers believe that the system could contribute to more realistic neuromorphic computers, which simulate brain functions to process data more efficiently.
The Surrey team said that such a discovery may advance generative AI systems and pave the way for sustainable large-scale model training. Their work highlights how lessons from biology can shape the next generation of energy-efficient computing.
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Europe raised €13.7bn across just over 1,300 rounds in Q3, the strongest quarter since Q2 2024. September alone brought €8.7bn. July and August reflected the familiar summer slowdown.
Growth equity provided €7bn, or 51.6% of the total, with two consecutive quarters surpassing 150 growth rounds. Data centres, AI agents, and GenAI led the activity, with more AI startups scaling with larger cheques.
Early-stage totals were the lowest in 12 months, yet they were ahead of Q3 last year. Lovable’s $200 million Series A at a $1.8 billion valuation stood out. Seven new unicorns included Nscale, Fuse Energy, Framer, IQM, Nothing, and Tide.
ASML led the quarter’s largest deal, investing €1.3bn in Mistral AI’s €1.7bn Series C. France tallied €2.7 billion, heavily concentrated in Mistral, while the UK reached €4.49 billion. Germany followed with just over €1.5bn, ahead of the Netherlands and Switzerland.
AI-native funding surpassed all verticals for the first time on record, reaching €3.9 billion, with deeptech at €2.6 billion. Agentic AI logged 129 rounds, sharply higher year-over-year, while data centres edged out agents for capital. Defence and dual-use technology attracted €2.1 billion across 44 rounds.
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