Digital business models

Imperial College unveils plans for new AI campus in west London

Imperial College London has launched a public consultation on plans for a new twelve-storey academic building in White City dedicated to AI and data science.

A proposed development that will bring together computer scientists, mathematicians, and business specialists to advance AI research and innovation.

A building that will include laboratories, research facilities, and public areas such as cafés and exhibition spaces. It forms part of Imperial’s wider White City masterplan, which also includes housing, a hotel, and additional research infrastructure.

The university aims to create what it describes as a hub for collaboration between academia and industry.

Outline planning permission for the site was granted by Hammersmith and Fulham Council in 2019. The consultation is open until 26 October, after which a formal planning application is expected later this year. If approved, construction could begin in mid-2026, with completion scheduled for 2029.

Imperial College, established in 1907 and known for its focus on science, engineering, medicine, and business, sees the new campus as a step towards strengthening the position of the UK in AI research and technology development.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Amazon expands Project Kuiper with new satellite launches

Amazon’s Project Kuiper is moving ahead with its global satellite internet network, adding another 24 satellites to orbit as part of its ongoing deployment plan.

The latest mission, known as KF-03, is scheduled for today, launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The KF-03 launch will bring the total number of Kuiper satellites to 153, furthering the plan of Amazon to build a low Earth orbit constellation of more than 3,200 spacecraft.

Once deployed at an altitude of 289 miles, the satellites will undergo health checks before being raised to their operational orbit of 392 miles. The mission marks Amazon’s third collaboration with SpaceX as part of over 80 launches planned for the project.

Earlier missions in 2025 included deployments using both SpaceX Falcon 9 and ULA Atlas V rockets. The first launch in April carried 27 satellites, followed by additional missions in June, July, August and September.

Each operation has strengthened the foundation of Kuiper’s network, which aims to provide reliable internet connectivity to customers and communities worldwide.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper represents a major investment in global connectivity infrastructure, with its Kennedy Space Center facility in Florida supporting multiple launch campaigns simultaneously.

Once complete, the system is expected to compete with other satellite internet networks by expanding digital access across underserved regions.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Italy bans deepfake app that undresses people

Italy’s data protection authority has ordered an immediate suspension of the app Clothoff, which uses AI to generate fake nude images of real people. The company behind it, based in the British Virgin Islands, is now barred from processing personal data of Italian users.

The watchdog found that Clothoff enables anyone, including minors, to upload photos and create sexually explicit or pornographic deepfakes. The app fails to verify consent from those depicted and offers no warning that the images are artificially generated.

The regulator described the measure as urgent, citing serious risks to human dignity, privacy, and data protection, particularly for children and teenagers. It has also launched a wider investigation into similar so-called ‘nudifying’ apps that exploit AI technology.

Italian media have reported a surge in cases where manipulated images are used for harassment and online abuse, prompting growing social alarm. Authorities say they intend to take further steps to protect individuals from deepfake exploitation and strengthen safeguards around AI image tools.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Beer deliveries falter after Asahi cyber crisis

A ransomware attack by the Qilin group has crippled Asahi Group Holdings, Japan’s leading brewer, halting production across most of its 30 factories. Over 27GB of stolen Asahi data appeared online, forcing manual order processing with handwritten notes and faxes.

The attack has slashed shipments to 10-20% of normal capacity, disrupting supplies of its popular Super Dry beer.

Small businesses, like Tokyo’s Ben Thai restaurant, are left with dwindling stocks, some down to just a few bottles. Retail giants such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson warn of shortages affecting not only beer but also Asahi’s soft drinks and bottled teas.

Liquor store owners, grappling with limited deliveries, fear disruptions could persist for weeks given Asahi’s 40% market dominance.

Experts point to Japan’s outdated legacy systems and low cybersecurity expertise as key vulnerabilities, making firms like Asahi prime targets. Recent attacks on Japan Airlines and Nagoya’s port highlight a growing trend.

The reliance on high trust in Japanese society further emboldens hackers, who often demand ransoms from unprepared organisations.

The government’s Active Cyber Defense Law aims to strengthen protections by enhancing information sharing and empowering proactive counterattacks. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed an ongoing investigation into the Asahi breach.

However, small vendors and customers face ongoing uncertainty, with no clear timeline for full recovery of Japan’s beloved brews.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Tech giants race to remake social media with AI

Tech firms are racing to integrate AI into social media, reshaping online interaction while raising fresh concerns over privacy, misinformation, and copyright. Platforms like OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Vibes are at the centre of the push, blending generative AI tools with short-form video features similar to TikTok.

OpenAI’s Sora allows users to create lifelike videos from text prompts, but film studios say copyrighted material is appearing without permission. OpenAI has promised tighter controls and a revenue-sharing model for rights holders, while Meta has introduced invisible watermarks to identify AI content.

Safety concerns are mounting as well. Lawsuits allege that AI chatbots such as Character.AI have contributed to mental health issues among teenagers. OpenAI and Meta have added stronger restrictions for young users, including limits on mature content and tighter communication controls for minors.

Critics question whether users truly want AI-generated content dominating their feeds, describing the influx as overwhelming and confusing. Yet industry analysts say the shift could define the next era of social media, as companies compete to turn AI creativity into engagement and profit.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

AI uncovers Lyme disease overlooked by doctors

Oliver Moazzezi endured years of debilitating symptoms, including severe tinnitus, high blood pressure, fatigue, and muscle spasms, following a tick bite three years ago. Doctors initially attributed his issues to anxiety or hearing loss, leaving him feeling dismissed and like a hypochondriac.

Frustrated, the IT consultant turned to AI, inputting all his symptoms into a tool prompted to draw from verified medical sources. Without mentioning Lyme disease, the AI suggested it as a possibility, prompting Oliver to seek a private antibody test that confirmed the diagnosis.

Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks, often mimics other conditions, making early detection challenging. Lyme symptoms, like Oliver’s rash, fatigue, and tinnitus, disrupted his gym visits, swimming, and ability to hear nature’s sounds.

Specialists echo Oliver’s frustrations with under-diagnosis in the NHS and private care. Tick-borne expert Georgia Tuckey says NHS tests miss Lyme symptom patterns, with 1,500 confirmed cases yearly in England and Wales, but 3,000-4,000 more likely go untreated.

The UK Health Security Agency acknowledges higher unconfirmed instances and ongoing data efforts to better track incidence.

AI shows promise in aiding disease diagnosis, as seen in Oliver Moazzezi’s discovery, empowering patients with insights from verified medical sources. However, experts stress that AI cannot replace doctors, urging professional consultation to ensure accurate, safe treatment.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Unapproved AI tools boom in UK workplaces

Microsoft research reveals 71% of UK employees use unapproved AI tools at work, with 51% doing so weekly, raising concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity risks. Organisations face heightened risks to data privacy and cybersecurity as sensitive information enters unregulated platforms.

Despite these dangers, awareness remains low, as only 32% express concern over data privacy and 29% over IT system vulnerabilities.

Workers favour Shadow AI for its simplicity, with 41% citing familiarity from personal use and 28% noting the absence of approved alternatives at their firms. Common applications include drafting communications (49%), creating reports or presentations (40%), and handling finance tasks (22%).

Generative AI assistants now permeate the workforce, saving an average of 7.75 hours weekly per user- equivalent to 12.1 billion hours annually across the economy, valued at £208 billion.

Sector leaders in IT, telecoms, sales, media, marketing, architecture, engineering, and finance report the highest adoption rates. Employees plan to redirect saved time towards better work-life balance (37%), skill development (31%), and more fulfilling tasks (28%).

Darren Hardman, CEO of Microsoft UK and Ireland, urges businesses to prioritise enterprise-grade tools that blend productivity with robust safeguards.

Optimism about AI has climbed, with 57% of staff feeling excited or confident- up from 34% in January 2025. Familiarity grows too, as confusion over starting points drops from 44% to 36%, and clarity on organisational AI strategies rises from 24% to 43%.

Frontier firms leading in adoption see twice the thriving rates, aligning with global trends where 82% of leaders deem 2025 pivotal for AI.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Google cautions Australia on youth social media ban proposal

The US tech giant, Google (also owner of YouTube), has reiterated its commitment to children’s online safety while cautioning against Australia’s proposed ban on social media use for those under 16.

Speaking before the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee, Google’s Public Policy Senior Manager Rachel Lord said the legislation, though well-intentioned, may be difficult to enforce and could have unintended effects.

Lord highlighted the 23-year presence of Google in Australia, contributing over $53 billion to the economy in 2024, while YouTube’s creative ecosystem added $970 million to GDP and supported more than 16,000 jobs.

She said the company’s investments, including the $1 billion Digital Future Initiative, reflect its long-term commitment to Australia’s digital development and infrastructure.

According to Lord, YouTube already provides age-appropriate products and parental controls designed to help families manage their children’s experiences online.

Requiring children to access YouTube without accounts, she argued, would remove these protections and risk undermining safe access to educational and creative content used widely in classrooms, music, and sport.

She emphasised that YouTube functions primarily as a video streaming platform rather than a social media network, serving as a learning resource for millions of Australian children.

Lord called for legislation that strengthens safety mechanisms instead of restricting access, saying the focus should be on effective safeguards and parental empowerment rather than outright bans.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Purple Fest highlights AI for disabilities

Entrepreneurs at International Purple Fest in Goa, India, from 9 to 12 October 2025, showcased AI transforming assistive technologies. Innovations like conversational screen readers, adaptive dashboards, and real-time captioning empower millions with disabilities worldwide.

Designed with input from those with lived experience, these tools turn barriers into opportunities for learning, working, and leading independently.

Surashree Rahane, born with club foot and polymelia, founded Yearbook Canvas and champions inclusive AI. Collaborating with Newton School of Technology near New Delhi, she develops adaptive learning platforms tailored to diverse learners.

‘AI can democratise education,’ she stated, ‘but only if trained to avoid perpetuating biases.’ Her work addresses structural barriers like inaccessible systems and biased funding networks.

Prateek Madhav, CEO of AssisTech Foundation, described AI as ‘the great equaliser,’ creating jobs through innovations like voice-to-speech tools and gesture-controlled wheelchairs.

Ketan Kothari, a consultant at Xavier’s Resource Centre in Mumbai, relies on AI for independent work, using live captions and visual description apps. Such advancements highlight AI’s role in fostering agency and inclusion across diverse needs.

Hosted by Goa’s Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, UN India, and the Ministry of Social Justice, Purple Fest promotes universal design.

Tshering Dema from the UN Development Coordination Office noted that inclusion requires a global mindset shift. ‘The future of work must be co-designed with people,’ she said, reflecting a worldwide transition towards accessibility.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Digital assets set to double in portfolios

Investment institutions now allocate an average of 7% of their portfolios to digital assets, with projections indicating a rise to 16% within three years. Digital cash and tokenised equities or fixed income dominate, each comprising about 1% of portfolios.

Asset managers show greater exposure than asset owners, particularly in Bitcoin and Ethereum, with some even investing in smaller cryptocurrencies and NFTs.

Asset managers lead in adopting tokenised assets, holding 6% in public asset tokenisation and 5% in private assets, compared to just 1% and 2% for asset owners. Digital cash also sees higher adoption among managers at 7% versus 2% for owners.

Despite this, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum drive the majority of returns, with 27% and 21% of respondents citing them as top performers, respectively.

Looking ahead, private assets are expected to lead the tokenisation trend, with most institutions anticipating digital assets will become mainstream within a decade. By 2030, over half of respondents expect 10-24% of investments in digital assets or tokenised instruments, showing cautious optimism.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!