SoftBank and Intel are collaborating on a new memory technology designed to halve power consumption compared to current high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which is critical for AI systems.
The project includes the University of Tokyo, research institute Riken, and Shinco Electric Industries, among others, and aims to address cost, efficiency, and supply issues in today’s HBM market.
The initiative will be led by a newly established SoftBank subsidiary, Cy Memory, which is tasked with IP management and developing prototype memory chips that reconfigure wiring structures in stacked DRAMs.
The goal is to mass-produce more energy-efficient and cost-effective memory than existing HBM, with applications in data centres running AI workloads.
SoftBank plans to invest 3 billion yen in Cy Memory, becoming its largest shareholder, and may seek government funding.
As AI data centre demand skyrockets, the new memory could offer Japan a strategic edge in semiconductor development—particularly as domestic DRAM production has largely disappeared. Japan has pledged over 10 trillion yen in semiconductor investments by 2030 to revive its chip industry.
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The FBI has issued a warning about the resurgence of BADBOX 2.0, a dangerous form of malware infecting millions of consumer electronics globally.
Often preloaded onto low-cost smart TVs, streaming boxes, and IoT devices, primarily from China, the malware grants cyber criminals backdoor access, enabling theft, surveillance, and fraud while remaining essentially undetectable.
BADBOX 2.0 forms part of a massive botnet and can also infect devices through malicious apps and drive-by downloads, especially from unofficial Android stores.
Once activated, the malware enables a range of attacks, including click fraud, fake account creation, DDoS attacks, and the theft of one-time passwords and personal data.
Removing the malware is extremely difficult, as it typically requires flashing new firmware, an option unavailable for most of the affected devices.
Users are urged to check their hardware against a published list of compromised models and to avoid sideloading apps or purchasing unverified connected tech.
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Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has revealed plans to develop a 50,000 qubit fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2034, using its proprietary ‘Dimon’ superconducting transmon technology.
Achieving such scale would require millions of physical qubits but promises to outperform global rivals, including Google and IBM, with real-world applications ranging from cyber threat detection to drug discovery.
The roadmap includes a significant push to reduce error rates and optimise chip materials, with recent breakthroughs enabling error detection at the hardware level. OQC claims it achieves a 99.8% gate fidelity in just 25 nanoseconds and a tenfold improvement in qubit efficiency compared to competitors.
Interim CEO Gerald Mullally said the roadmap marks a turning point, calling on finance and national security organisations to prepare for a quantum-driven future.
Now seeking $100 million in Series B funding, the firm plans to install its first quantum system in New York, later this year.
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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has taken action against unauthorised financial influencers in a coordinated international crackdown, resulting in three arrests. Regulators across six countries, participated in the effort, targeting those offering unlicensed tips or falsely promoting products.
Hundreds of social media posts of websites are being taken down after being linked to misleading financial advice presented under the guise of luxury lifestyles. The FCA issued cease and desist letters and called several influencers in for questioning.
The FCA highlighted that many of these posts fail to explain risks and often encourage followers to pay for unverified trading algorithms. The campaign aims to protect people, especially young users, who increasingly use online sources for financial education.
Meta was questioned by the Treasury Committee over delays, prompting the firm to acknowledge a processing lapse in 2024. Separately, the UK FCA is reviewing a ban on crypto exchange-traded notes, signalling a shift toward regulated crypto investment for retail users.
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Anthropic has launched a new line of AI models, Claude Gov, explicitly tailored for US national security operations. Built with direct input from government clients, top-tier agencies already use the models.
These classified-use models were developed with enhanced safety testing and are optimised for handling sensitive material, including improved handling of classified data, rare language proficiency, and defence-specific document comprehension.
The Claude Gov models reflect Anthropic’s broader move into government partnerships, building on its collaboration with Palantir and AWS.
As competition in defence-focused AI intensifies, rivals including OpenAI, Meta, and Google are also adapting their models for secure environments.
The sector’s growing interest in custom, security-conscious AI tools marks a shift in how leading labs seek stable revenue streams and deeper ties with government agencies.
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ABBA legend Bjorn Ulvaeus is working on a new musical with the help of AI, describing the technology as ‘an extension of your mind.’ Despite previously criticising AI companies’ unlicensed use of artists’ work, the 80-year-old Swedish songwriter believes AI can be a valuable creative partner.
At London’s inaugural SXSW, Ulvaeus explained how he uses AI tools to explore lyrical ideas and overcome writer’s block. ‘It is like having another songwriter in the room with a huge reference frame,’ he said.
‘You can prompt a lyric and ask where to go from there. It usually comes out with garbage, but sometimes something in it gives you another idea.’
Ulvaeus was among over 10,000 creatives who signed an open letter warning of the risks AI poses to artists’ rights. Still, he maintains that when used with consent and care, AI can support — not replace — human creativity. ‘It must not exclude the human,’ he warned.
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Google is rolling out a new voice-powered feature called Search Live as part of its evolving AI Mode for Search. Initially previewed at Google I/O 2025, the feature allows users to interact with Search through real-time spoken conversations without needing to type or tap through results.
Available to select users in the United States via the Google app on Android and iOS, Search Live lets users ask questions aloud and receive voice responses. It also supports conversational follow-ups, creating a more natural flow of information.
The feature is powered by Project Astra, Google’s real-time speech processing engine that underpins other innovations like Live in Gemini.
When enabled, a sparkle-styled waveform icon appears under the search bar, replacing the previous Google Lens shortcut. Tapping it opens the feature and activates four voice style options—Cosmo, Neso, Terra, and Cassini. Users can opt for audio responses or mute them and view a transcript instead.
Search Live marks a broader shift in how Google is rethinking search: turning static queries into dynamic dialogues. The company also plans to expand AI Mode with support for live camera feeds shortly, aiming to make Search more immersive and interactive.
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Malaysia Airlines is deepening its partnership with Google to accelerate its digital transformation, focusing on AI-powered marketing and end-to-end innovation across the travel experience.
Building on a successful 2024 collaboration, the renewed agreement will integrate more advanced technologies to enhance customer engagement and streamline services.
The airline and tech giant aims to shift from promotional showcases to a fully integrated ecosystem, using AI and data-driven tools to reshape the travel journey.
A recent highlight was an interactive showcase at the MATTA Fair, where visitors transformed photos into videos using Google’s Veo image-to-video generation tool — part of Malaysia Airlines’ ‘Time For’ campaign.
Dersenish Aresandiran, chief commercial officer of airlines at Malaysia Aviation Group, said the partnership is about more than technology: it’s a strategic move to enrich customer experiences and support national tourism goals ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Google Malaysia’s director, Farhan Qureshi, echoed the sentiment, calling the collaboration a powerful example of how innovation and creativity can redefine global travel.
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Dogecoin has taken a sharp bearish turn, with analysts warning of a potential 66% drop in value following a public clash between Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump.
The cryptocurrency, which has often rallied on Musk’s endorsements, is now facing its third consecutive weekly decline. DOGE is currently trading at $0.17, with bearish technical patterns pointing toward a possible slide to $0.06.
Trump has since threatened to end Musk’s federal contracts and subsidies, prompting the billionaire to respond on X (formerly Twitter) with fierce criticism, including calls for impeachment and mockery of Trump’s budget bill. The fallout has rattled crypto markets, where Musk’s influence is particularly strong.
Historically, Dogecoin has surged on Musk’s backing—from Tesla’s acceptance of DOGE for merchandise in 2022 to Twitter’s temporary rebranding with the memecoin’s logo in 2023.
It also rallied following Trump’s 2024 election win, which Musk vocally supported. The current breakdown in their alliance, however, appears to have reversed that trend.
Technically, DOGE has broken below key support levels, forming a bear flag pattern that analysts say could trigger a further decline to $0.06.
Indicators like the RSI have also turned negative, suggesting continued selling pressure in the short term as traders digest the political drama and shifting market sentiment.
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Broadcom reported strong second-quarter earnings and revenue driven by robust AI demand and solid networking performance.
Despite beating expectations and raising its outlook, the stock fell 3.47% in after-hours trading on Thursday — likely due to profit-taking instead of concern about fundamentals. Shares had previously rallied over 75% since April.
Revenue for the quarter ending May 5 reached US$15 billion, up 20% year-on-year. Adjusted earnings per share were US$1.58, exceeding estimates by two cents.
Net income more than doubled to US$4.97 billion. CEO Hock Tan attributed the strength to growing demand for AI infrastructure and contributions from VMware, which Broadcom acquired in late 2023.
Broadcom forecasted Q3 revenue of approximately US$15.8 billion, slightly above analyst expectations. AI-related revenue is set to increase to US$5.1 billion, up from US$4.4 billion in Q2, fuelled by custom AI accelerators and high-speed networking chips used in hyperscale data centres.
Tan said that the trend should continue through fiscal 2026.
Semiconductor solutions brought in US$8.4 billion in Q2, up 17% from last year, while software revenue rose 25% to US$6.6 billion, with VMware as a key contributor.
About 30% of Broadcom’s AI-related revenue now comes from its switching business, reflecting increasing demand for AI chip clusters. Despite the slight dip in share price, analysts continue to view Broadcom as a key player in AI infrastructure.
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