Digital business models

Ask Photos rollout stalls as Google tackles speed and UX

Google has temporarily paused the rollout of its Ask Photos feature in Google Photos, citing performance concerns.

The tool, powered by Gemini’s multimodal AI, was designed to enhance search by allowing users to find images using natural language—such as ‘pictures of my dog eating on the sofa’ or ‘me in a swimming pool.’

The feature began rolling out in September last year but has seen limited availability. Google Photos product manager Jamie Aspinall revealed the rollout had stalled at ‘very small numbers’ due to latency, quality and user experience issues.

He confirmed that an improved version is expected within two weeks, promising search speeds comparable to the app’s original functionality.

Users with access to Ask Photos can continue using it, though they may encounter slow response times. Those who prefer to wait can turn off the feature in the app’s settings until the update is released.

In the meantime, Google has improved its traditional photo search capabilities. You can now search for specific text in your images by enclosing keywords in quotation marks. This refined approach delivers more accurate results for users who prefer a faster and more direct search experience.

As part of its tenth-anniversary celebrations, Google Photos has also introduced new features, including an updated image editor with AI tools, the ability to share albums via QR codes, and broader access to formerly Pixel 9-exclusive tools like Reimagine and Auto Frame.

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Ethereum Foundation tightens treasury rules

The Ethereum Foundation has introduced a stricter treasury policy as it prepares for a crucial 18-month period.

Spending will now be based on Ether reserves and market conditions, with just 2.5 years of runway remaining, according to director Hsiao-Wei Wang.

To improve transparency, the Foundation will publish quarterly and annual reports. Its treasury, worth around $970.2 million in October, was mostly held in ETH. Recent asset sales sparked backlash from the community.

In a shift from neutrality, the Foundation is now engaging with audited DeFi protocols. In February, it allocated 45,000 ETH to platforms like Aave, Spark and Compound. Internal restructuring also led to staff redundancies, though exact numbers were not revealed.

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Coinbase security breach linked to India contractor

Coinbase is under scrutiny after revealing a data breach tied to its contractor TaskUs. The incident reportedly involved insider misconduct at a support centre in India.

Though the breach was disclosed in May, insiders say Coinbase had knowledge of the issue as early as January.

The incident was traced to a TaskUs agent who allegedly photographed customer data and sold it to hackers. TaskUs fired two staff, saying the breach seemed part of a broader campaign targeting several Coinbase service providers.

Operations in Indore were suspended, impacting 226 staff, most of whom received severance.

Hackers accessed names, addresses, masked banking data, and ID documents, but no funds or passwords were compromised. On 11 May, Coinbase received a $20 million ransom demand.

CEO Brian Armstrong rejected the threat and instead offered a $20 million reward for information leading to the attackers’ arrest.

The breach, which affected under 1% of users, has triggered a shareholder lawsuit accusing Coinbase of failing to disclose the incident promptly.

Although its stock dipped 7% after the news, it has since recovered, supported by the company’s recent inclusion in the S&P 500 index.

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Tebra introduces AI Note Assist to speed up clinical documentation

Tebra, a platform for independent healthcare providers, has launched AI Note Assist, an ambient documentation tool designed to streamline clinical note-taking significantly.

Integrated directly into Tebra’s electronic health record (EHR) system, the HIPAA-compliant solution promises to reduce the time spent on documentation by up to 50%.

The AI tool listens during patient consultations and automatically generates structured, editable clinical notes. It supports various formats, including SOAP notes, therapy progress notes, and psychiatric documentation, and even suggests ICD-10 codes based on conversation content.

All notes remain under the provider’s control, with the ability to review, edit and approve each entry to ensure clinical accuracy.

Tebra’s chief product and technology officer, Kyle Ryan, described the launch as a ‘significant milestone’ in supporting independent practices.

‘Our research shows that 82% of independent providers see more patient time as their key competitive advantage,’ said Ryan. ‘AI Note Assist helps them reclaim that advantage by reducing administrative workload, improving efficiency and minimising burnout.’

Clinically validated by practising healthcare professionals, the solution has been tested in real-world settings to ensure reliability and effectiveness. Tebra customers can use AI Note Assist immediately without requiring additional hardware or software installations.

By helping healthcare professionals cut down on documentation time while maintaining quality and compliance, Tebra aims to support providers in delivering more focused and personalised patient care.

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Naver and Siam.AI launch Thai-language LLM and tourism agent

South Korean tech giant Naver is entering Thailand’s AI market through a strategic partnership with local technology firm Siam.AI Cloud.

The two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop a Thai-language large language model (LLM) and a tourism-specific AI agent, with the first outputs expected by the end of 2025.

The partnership aims to foster Thailand’s technological self-reliance, enabling the country to develop and run AI models domestically rather than relying on Western or Chinese technologies.

The move is a practical step toward achieving sovereign AI — a concept gaining momentum across Southeast Asia. One-third of Asia’s governments are expected to adopt sovereign cloud services by 2026, reflecting regional concerns about ‘digital colonialism’ and the need for local data control.

Thailand, and countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, are already implementing policies to retain data within national borders.

The Thai-Naver collaboration reflects a broader commitment to embedding AI into the healthcare, public services, and education sectors. The timing is strategic, with 77% of Thai businesses already deploying AI, especially in customer communication and acquisition.

The country’s AI market is projected to grow significantly through 2031, with machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision leading the charge.

Beyond tourism, banking, manufacturing, retail, and agriculture sectors are primed for AI transformation.

For example, Thailand’s agricultural AI market is projected to grow from $80.3 million in 2023 to nearly $114 million by 2029, driven by initiatives like the AGROWTH platform that supports deep-tech agricultural innovation.

This partnership underscores a shift from importing AI tools to creating solutions tailored to national needs—backed by domestic infrastructure, local data, and region-specific expertise.

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Dubai emerges as a top tech hub in the Middle East

Dubai is emerging as a global hub for technology and innovation, driven by government-backed initiatives and a thriving ecosystem of Free Zones.

Their economic agenda aims to make it the fastest and most connected city worldwide, with emphasis on AI, fintech, blockchain, and other industries.

Free Zones such as Internet City and Silicon Oasis offer foreign firms 100% ownership, minimal bureaucracy, and world-class infrastructure.

Recent regulatory changes now allow these businesses to operate beyond Free Zones under certain conditions, giving firms greater flexibility and market access.

Initiatives like the Dubai Future Foundation, the Centre for AI, and Sandbox Dubai reinforce the city’s commitment to technological advancement.

With its collaborative tech clusters and growing venture capital support, Dubai is positioning itself as the Middle East’s leading destination for innovation.

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Companies urged to balance risk when holding Bitcoin treasuries

Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, has urged companies adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset to carefully assess the associated risks. On 3 June, Zhao said risk is a business constant, varying in degree rather than being simply present or absent.

Zhao warned that avoiding risk can be as harmful as over-taking it, risking missed chances or unpreparedness for shocks. He stressed that, with a balanced approach, companies can find an optimal risk-to-reward ratio suited to their needs.

Zhao stressed companies must prepare for extreme events like currency collapse or Bitcoin losing all value. His comments come amid growing corporate interest in Bitcoin treasuries, including Trump Media and GameStop.

Experts explain that companies are increasingly turning to Bitcoin to reduce counterparty risk and currency instability. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and predictable issuance make it a strong defensive asset and aid multinational cross-border transactions.

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New South Korean president vows to support crypto growth

South Korea has elected Lee Jae-myung of the left-wing Democratic Party as its new president, following the impeachment of conservative leader Yoon Suk-yeol. A 79.4% turnout, the highest in 28 years, helped Lee win with 49.42%, beating right-wing rival Kim Moon-soo.

Lee pledged urgent economic reform, with a focus on supporting low-income families and small businesses. He also vowed to strengthen the domestic cryptocurrency industry, promising to introduce spot crypto ETFs and a won-backed stablecoin market.

Both are currently prohibited under existing financial rules.

The new president aims to complete the second phase of South Korea’s digital asset legislation, with specific measures targeting stablecoin regulation and exchange transparency. His plan includes reducing restrictions in blockchain innovation zones to accelerate local growth.

Although crypto reform was also promised by impeached predecessor Yoon, progress stalled during his administration. With nearly 10 million crypto users, South Korean regulators seem ready to ease rules, giving Lee a chance to fulfil his crypto promises.

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Crypto-friendly legislation advances in California

California’s State Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that would allow government departments to accept cryptocurrency payments. Assembly Bill 1180, introduced by Avelino Valencia, passed with a 68–0 vote and will now be reviewed by the State Senate.

If enacted, the law would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to establish regulations enabling crypto payments for state services. A pilot programme would run until 1 January 2031, with full implementation beginning on 1 July 2026.

The department would also be required to report on transaction volumes and any technical challenges by 2028.

The bill targets digital assets under existing law, after dropping transport-related clauses, aiming to align California with states like Florida and Colorado on crypto payments.

AB 1180 complements a separate proposal, AB 1052, which seeks to protect the private use of digital assets and enshrine the right to self-custody. The rising interest in such legislation reflects growing political and public support for cryptocurrencies across the state.

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Netherlands unveils open-architecture quantum computer

The Dutch quantum ecosystem has unveiled Tuna-5, a new open-architecture quantum computer developed as part of the HectoQubit/2 (HQ/2) project.

Unlike the vertically integrated machines offered by some commercial providers, Tuna-5 demonstrates a collaborative model that draws on interoperable hardware and software from across the Netherlands.

Built through a partnership between QuTech, TNO, and four Dutch startups — QuantWare, Qblox, Orange Quantum Systems, and Delft Circuits — Tuna-5 is now accessible via the Quantum Inspire public cloud platform.

The system integrates a superconducting quantum processor with tunable couplers, modular electronics, a user-friendly interface, and a Python-based SDK, all developed using components from the Delft quantum supply chain.

QuTech described the approach as more than simply combining parts from different vendors. It involved extensive testing and iterations to ensure a seamless system, which also helped strengthen the Netherlands’ capability to deliver scalable, interoperable quantum technology.

Hosted in QuTech’s DiCarlo lab and backed by Quantum Delta NL and the National Growth Fund, HQ/2 is designed to reinforce Dutch leadership in superconducting quantum computing.

Tuna-5 marks a step forward for academic and startup collaboration instead of relying solely on centralised industry giants.

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