Digital business models Archives | Page 27 of 566

Microsoft launches Copilot Cowork to automate tasks across Microsoft 365

AI is moving from assistance to execution as Microsoft introduces Copilot Cowork, a system designed to perform tasks across the Microsoft 365 environment.

Instead of simply generating text or suggestions, the feature allows users to delegate real work by describing a desired outcome.

Copilot Cowork converts requests into structured plans that run in the background. The system analyses signals from workplace tools such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Excel to understand schedules, documents and ongoing projects.

Users can approve or modify each step while the AI coordinates actions across meetings, files and messages.

Several enterprise scenarios illustrate the system’s capabilities. Cowork can reorganise calendars by analysing meetings and automatically proposing schedule changes.

It can also prepare complete briefing materials for customer meetings by collecting relevant emails, files and data before generating presentations and research summaries.

The technology also supports deeper analysis tasks. Users can request company research and receive structured outputs that include summaries, financial data and supporting documents.

In product launch planning, Cowork can compile competitive intelligence, build presentations and outline project milestones, creating a coordinated workflow for teams.

Microsoft emphasises that the system operates within enterprise security boundaries. Identity, compliance policies and data permissions remain enforced while tasks execute in a protected cloud environment.

The platform also reflects a multi-model strategy, combining Microsoft AI capabilities with Anthropic technology through the integration of the model behind Claude.

Copilot Cowork is currently available to a limited group of customers through a research preview.

Wider availability is expected later in 2026 through Microsoft’s Frontier programme as the company expands AI-driven workplace automation.

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Space startup to test crypto mining in orbit

Starcloud, a space startup, is preparing to test Bitcoin mining in orbit with its upcoming Starcloud-2 satellite. The mission will carry specialised ASIC mining processors, marking one of the first attempts to run crypto infrastructure beyond Earth.

The initiative builds on a successful 2025 demonstration when Starcloud operated Nvidia H100 GPUs in low Earth orbit. During that mission, the satellite performed AI computing tasks, proving that data-centre-grade hardware can function in space.

Starcloud-2 will expand these capabilities by adding a larger GPU cluster and mining-specific ASICs.

Operating in orbit offers potential advantages for energy-intensive computing. Satellite solar arrays provide near-continuous power, and space’s vacuum allows natural heat dissipation, cutting the need for water-based cooling systems.

Engineers warn that technical challenges remain. Radiation exposure, shielding needs, and the difficulty of repairing hardware once launched could complicate operations.

Despite these obstacles, Starcloud sees orbit as a promising environment for next-generation computing and Bitcoin mining.

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Malaysia expands AI learning across universities with Google tools

AI tools from Google are now available across all public universities in Malaysia after the nationwide deployment of Gemini for Education.

An initiative that integrates AI capabilities into university systems, providing digital research and learning support to nearly 600,000 students and 75,000 faculty members.

The rollout is coordinated with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia as part of the country’s broader strategy to become an AI-driven economy by 2030. Universities already using Google Workspace for

Education can now access advanced tools, including NotebookLM and the reasoning model Gemini 3.1 Pro, which are designed to support research, writing and personalised learning.

Several universities are already experimenting with AI-assisted teaching. At Universiti Malaysia Perlis, lecturers have created customised AI assistants to guide students through specialised engineering courses.

Meanwhile, researchers and students at Universiti Putra Malaysia are using AI tools to improve literature reviews and academic research workflows.

Other institutions are focusing on digital literacy and AI skills.

At Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, hundreds of lecturers and students are receiving AI certifications, while training programmes are expanding across campuses.

Officials believe the combination of AI tools, training and research support will strengthen the education system of Malaysia and prepare graduates for an increasingly AI-driven economy.

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Blockchain and AI security central to US cyber framework

The US National Cyber Strategy emphasises support for emerging technologies, including blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI, and post-quantum cryptography. The strategy highlights the importance of securing digital infrastructure while advancing technological leadership.

The strategy rests on six pillars, including modernising federal networks, protecting critical infrastructure, and advancing secure technology. Specific sections reference cryptocurrencies and blockchain, noting the need to safeguard digital systems from design to deployment.

Financial systems, data centres, and telecommunications networks are identified as key components of the broader cybersecurity framework. The strategy also stresses collaboration with private-sector technology companies and research institutions to foster innovation and strengthen protections.

AI plays a central role, with measures to secure AI data centres and deploy AI-driven tools for network defence. The plan avoids direct crypto rules but signals greater integration of blockchain and cryptography into national digital infrastructure.

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Every emergency department in New Zealand now uses AI scribes

New Zealand has completed a nationwide rollout of AI scribe technology across all public emergency departments, with approximately 1,250 emergency doctors and frontline staff now using the tool, 250 more than originally announced.

Health Minister Simeon Brown described the achievement as placing New Zealand among the fastest health systems in the world to move from pilot to full frontline AI deployment in emergency departments.

Early results have been striking. At Middlemore Emergency Department in Auckland, 80% of staff surveyed after one month reported improved productivity or efficiency, and 84% said it had a positive impact on their well-being during shifts.

A pilot study found that the tool reduced average documentation time from 17 minutes to 4 minutes, allowing doctors to see 1 additional patient per shift.

Following strong interest from clinicians, Te Whatu Ora is now preparing to procure over 1,000 additional AI scribe licences predominantly for mental health crisis teams, who were involved in early implementation phases, given their role supporting patients presenting in crisis within emergency departments.

The system is also being explored for outpatient clinics, with significant interest already received.

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Samsung’s AI smart glasses are coming to take on Meta Ray-Ban

Samsung has confirmed key details about its upcoming AI smart glasses, including a camera positioned at ‘eye level’ and smartphone connectivity, ahead of a planned 2026 launch.

The device is being developed in partnership with Qualcomm and Google, building on the same ecosystem that produced the Galaxy XR headset, and will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI.

Samsung executive Jay Kim indicated that the glasses will be able to understand ‘where you’re looking at’, allowing the AI to analyse objects or scenes in the user’s field of view and provide contextual information in real time.

Processing is expected to take place on a connected smartphone rather than within the glasses themselves, and Samsung has not confirmed whether a built-in display will be included, suggesting multiple versions may be in development.

The announcement puts Samsung on a direct collision course with Meta, whose Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 glasses are already on the market, offering 3K video recording and up to eight hours of battery life. Meta has also launched the Oakley Meta HSTN glasses, aimed at sports and outdoor users.

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Concerns grow over Grok AI content on X platform

Social media platform X has launched an investigation into racist and offensive posts generated by its Grok AI chatbot in the UK. The review follows a Sky News analysis that flagged troubling responses produced publicly by the system.

Analysis by the broadcaster found Grok generating highly offensive replies, including profanities targeting certain religions. Some responses also repeated false claims blaming Liverpool supporters for the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Sky News reporter Rob Harris said X safety teams were urgently examining the chatbot’s behaviour after the posts spread online. The company and its AI developer xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Concerns around Grok come as governments and regulators increasingly scrutinise AI-generated content on social platforms. Authorities in several countries have already raised alarms about sexually explicit or harmful material created by chatbots.

Earlier this year, xAI introduced new restrictions to limit some image editing features in Grok. Users in certain jurisdictions were also blocked from generating images of people in revealing clothing where such content is illegal.

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AI biotech firm pushes limits of human lifespan

Longevity research is gaining momentum as AI transforms the way scientists search for new medicines. Insilico Medicine, founded by Alex Zhavoronkov in 2014, combines machine learning and automation to study ageing and accelerate drug discovery.

Company research focuses on identifying biological targets linked to ageing and developing molecules to treat related diseases. Several experimental treatments have already received Investigational New Drug clearance, allowing them to move towards human clinical trials.

Insilico also became the first AI-driven biotech company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising HK$2.28 billion in its public offering. Zhavoronkov said careful financial planning was essential because enthusiasm around AI could still form a market bubble.

Expansion plans now include deeper partnerships across China and the Middle East. A new collaboration in the UAE aims to build regional AI drug discovery programmes and diversify economies beyond oil.

Beyond medicines, Zhavoronkov envisions integrated biotech ecosystems where living spaces, healthcare and research operate together. Such hubs allow scientists and citizens to contribute health data that helps develop future treatments.

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AI security risks grow as companies integrate AI into daily workflows

AI is rapidly transforming workplaces as companies automate tasks and boost productivity. From writing code to analysing documents, AI tools help employees work faster, but also introduce new AI security and compliance risks.

One of the main concerns is the handling of sensitive information. Employees may upload confidential documents, proprietary code, or customer data into AI chatbots without realising the consequences. Doing so could violate privacy regulations such as the EU’s GDPR or breach internal non-disclosure agreements, making AI security an important priority for organisations.

Another challenge is the reliability of AI-generated content. While large language models can produce convincing responses, they sometimes generate false information, which is a phenomenon known as hallucination. High-profile cases have already shown professionals submitting work with fabricated references generated by AI. Such incidents highlight the need for rigorous AI security and oversight.

Cybersecurity risks are also growing. AI systems rely on complex infrastructure that can become targets for attackers through techniques such as prompt injection, which tricks the model into producing unintended responses, or data poisoning, which involves injecting malicious data into training sets to alter behaviour or outputs. Addressing these threats requires stronger AI security practices and careful monitoring.

When adopting AI, organisations must develop clear policies, strengthen cybersecurity measures, and maintain human oversight. Taking those steps is essential to ensuring that the technology is used safely and responsibly.

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Online scams rise as Parkin urges Dubai residents to stay vigilant

Dubai’s parking provider, Parkin, has warned residents to stay alert as online scams targeting digital service users continue to rise, urging people to take immediate steps to protect their digital identities.

In an advisory, the company stressed that official entities will never ask users to log in or disclose sensitive information through unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls. The warning comes amid growing concerns about phishing attempts and other online scams targeting users of digital platforms.

Parkin said residents should exercise caution if they receive unexpected requests for personal details, passwords, or verification codes. Users are strongly advised not to respond to suspicious links, attachments, or messages from unknown sources, which are commonly used in online scams.

The operator also urged the public to verify the authenticity of communications before taking any action. Residents who are unsure about the legitimacy of a message should check official websites or contact customer service channels directly. The advice applies to messages claiming to come from Parkin or other service providers.

Authorities and service providers across the UAE have repeatedly warned that cybercriminals often impersonate trusted organisations in online scams designed to steal sensitive information. Such attacks can lead to identity theft, financial losses, or unauthorised access to personal accounts.

Parkin encouraged residents who receive suspicious communications to report them through official channels so that appropriate action can be taken. The company added that staying vigilant and safeguarding personal data remain essential to preventing online scams.

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