Digital business models Archives | Page 401 of 569

OpenAI expands developer tools with Windsurf purchase

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly set to acquire Windsurf, an AI-powered coding assistant formerly known as Codeium, for $3 billion, according to Bloomberg. If confirmed, it would be OpenAI’s largest acquisition to date.

The deal is still pending closure, but it follows recent investment talks Windsurf held with major backers such as General Catalyst and Kleiner Perkins, valuing the startup at the same amount.

Windsurf was last valued at $1.25 billion in 2024 after a $150 million funding round. Instead of raising more capital independently, the company now appears poised to join OpenAI, which is looking to bolster its suite of developer tools within ChatGPT.

The acquisition reflects OpenAI’s efforts to remain competitive in the fast-evolving AI coding landscape, following earlier purchases like Rockset and Multi last year.

OpenAI also revealed it would scale back a planned restructuring, abandoning its proposal to become a for-profit entity.

The decision comes amid growing scrutiny and legal challenges, including a high-profile lawsuit from Elon Musk, who accused the firm of drifting from its founding mission to develop AI that serves humanity.

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Trump to hold crypto dinners for top token holders

Donald Trump is hosting two crypto-themed dinners in May, raising ethical concerns among lawmakers. A $1.5 million-per-plate ‘Crypto & AI Innovators Di n ner‘ was held at his Virginia golf club, featuring guests such as David Sacks.

He also confirmed a 22 May gala for top holders of the $TRUMP meme coin. The top 220 wallets qualify, with the highest 25 promised a private reception and a White House tour. Access is based solely on wallet holdings, most of which are pseudonymous.

Lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, accuse Trump of selling access. She also criticised the Trump-linked stablecoin USD1, co-founded by his son Eric, calling it a vehicle for personal gain.

Watchdogs warn that the token system lacks transparency and may involve foreign actors. Despite the backlash, $TRUMP tokens surged by over 50% after announcing the dinner.

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Nvidia opens new quantum research centre in Boston

Nvidia has unveiled plans to open the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston, a facility set to bridge quantum computing and AI supercomputing.

Expected to begin operations later this year, the centre aims to accelerate the shift from experimental to practical quantum computing.

Rather than treating quantum hardware as a standalone endeavour, Nvidia intends to integrate it with existing AI-driven systems, believing this combination could unlock solutions to problems unsolvable by today’s machines.

Quantum computing—much like AI in its early stages—fits naturally with Nvidia’s core strength: parallel processing. Instead of continuing to rely on traditional serial computing, the company has long embraced parallelism through its GPU technology and CUDA software platform.

Nvidia’s success in transforming GPUs from graphics engines into tools for scientific and commercial applications began with its bold decision to make CUDA available across all its products, even at the cost of short-term profit margins.

Nvidia now sees quantum error correction as the next major challenge. Current quantum computers, operating with between fifty and one hundred qubits, face a high error rate due to environmental ‘noise.’

Achieving truly useful systems will require a million qubits or more, most of which will be used for error correction. Instead of depending solely on traditional methods, Nvidia plans to use AI to develop scalable solutions capable of correcting errors in real time.

The Boston-based NVAQC will serve as a testing ground for these innovations. Harvard, MIT, and quantum startups like Quantinuum and QuEra will collaborate with Nvidia’s quantum team to train AI models for error correction and test them using Nvidia’s top-tier supercomputers.

By doing so, Nvidia hopes to make quantum computing not just viable, but powerful and practical at scale.

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Gemini AI now accessible to kids via Family Link

Google has announced that children under the age of 13 will soon be able to access its Gemini AI chatbot through Family Link accounts. The service will allow parents to monitor their child’s use, set screen time limits, and disable access if desired.

Gemini, designed to assist with tasks like homework and storytelling, includes safeguards to prevent inappropriate content and protect child users. Google acknowledged the possibility of errors in the AI’s responses and urged parental oversight.

Google emphasised that data collected from child users will not be used to train AI models. Parents will be notified when their child first uses Gemini and are advised to encourage critical thinking and remind children not to share personal information with the chatbot.

Despite these precautions, child safety advocates have voiced concerns. Organisations such as Fairplay argue that allowing young children to interact with AI chatbots could expose them to risks, citing previous incidents involving other AI platforms.

International bodies, including UNICEF, have also highlighted the need for stringent regulations to safeguard children’s rights in an increasingly digital world.

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IBM boosts US manufacturing with $150 billion pledge

IBM has announced a major $150 billion investment in the US over the next five years, with a significant portion earmarked for expanding production of quantum computers and mainframes.

The move follows similar commitments from tech giants like Nvidia and Apple, as industry leaders respond to the Trump administration’s push for increased domestic manufacturing.

Of the total sum, more than $30 billion will be dedicated to scaling up IBM’s US-based manufacturing of quantum systems and mainframes, vital for processing vast data and critical tasks.

IBM, which operates one of the world’s largest quantum computing fleets, stated the investment reflects both technological ambition and a strategic gesture towards current US trade policies.

While the quantum computing field has seen exciting advancements, including new chip generations from rivals like Google, opinions remain divided on when practical applications will emerge.

IBM’s latest investment signals long-term confidence in the technology, even as the company navigates recent challenges, including the cancellation of 15 government contracts during federal cost-cutting efforts.

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Microsoft retires Skype, urges switch to Teams

Microsoft has officially retired Skype as of 5 May 2025, closing a chapter in the history of digital communication. The change affects both free and paid users, although “Skype for Business” users will not be impacted.

Users are now encouraged to switch to the free version of Microsoft Teams. By signing in with their Skype credentials, they can automatically transfer their contacts and chat history.

Those who prefer not to continue with Teams have the option to export their Skype data.

Launched in 2003, Skype revolutionised online communication and, by 2008, was the largest provider of international voice calls, holding an 8% share of global call volume.

At its peak in 2011, Skype boasted 140 million monthly users worldwide.

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Some iPhones lose WhatsApp support

WhatsApp has officially ceased support for older iPhone models starting 5 May 2025. Devices running iOS versions earlier than 15.1, including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus, will no longer be able to use the messaging platform. These models are limited to iOS 12.5.7 and cannot receive further updates.

The move comes as part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to bolster user security and keep pace with advancing technology.

By discontinuing support for devices that no longer receive security patches from Apple, the company aims to reduce vulnerabilities and provide a safer user experience.

While newer models like the iPhone 8 and iPhone X remain compatible for now, users are advised that these devices may also lose support soon as Apple has stopped issuing software updates for them. Apple has already classified the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus as obsolete.

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Google’s Gemini AI completes Pokémon Blue with a little help

Google’s cutting-edge AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, has made headlines by completing the 1996 classic video game Pokémon Blue. While Google didn’t achieve the feat directly, it was orchestrated by Joel Z, an independent software engineer who created a livestream called Gemini Plays Pokémon.

Despite being unaffiliated with the tech giant, Joel’s project has drawn enthusiastic support from Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, who celebrated the victory on social media. The challenge of beating a game like Pokémon Blue has become an informal benchmark for testing the reasoning and adaptability of large language models.

Earlier this year, AI company Anthropic revealed its Claude model was making strides in a similar title, Pokémon Red, but has yet to complete it. While comparisons between the two AIs are inevitable, Joel Z clarified that such evaluations are flawed due to differences in tools, data access, and gameplay frameworks.

To play the game, Gemini relied on a complex system called an ‘agent harness,’ which feeds the model visual and contextual information from the game and translates its decisions into gameplay actions. Joel admits to making occasional interventions to improve Gemini’s reasoning but insists these did not include cheats or explicit hints. Instead, his guidance was limited to refining the model’s problem-solving capabilities.

The project remains a work in progress, and Joel continues to enhance the framework behind Gemini’s gameplay. While it may not be an official benchmark for AI performance, the achievement is a playful demonstration of how far AI systems have come in tackling creative and unexpected challenges.

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How digital twins are being weaponised in crypto scams

Digital twins are virtual models of real-world objects, systems, or processes. They enable real-time simulations, monitoring, and predictions, helping industries like healthcare and manufacturing optimise resources. In the crypto world, cybercriminals have found a way to exploit this technology for fraudulent activities.

Scammers create synthetic identities by gathering personal data from various sources. These digital twins are used to impersonate influencers or executives, promoting fake investment schemes or stealing funds. The unregulated nature of crypto platforms makes it easier for criminals to exploit users.

Real-world scams are already happening. Deepfake CEO videos have tricked executives into transferring funds under false pretences. Counterfeit crypto platforms have also stolen sensitive information from users. These scams highlight the risks of AI-powered digital twins in the crypto space.

Blockchain offers solutions to combat these frauds. Decentralised identities (DID) and NFT identity markers can verify interactions. Blockchain’s immutable audit trails and smart contracts can help secure transactions and protect users from digital twin scams.

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Apple forced to ease rules on crypto apps

Crypto developers scored a major win after a US judge ruled that Apple violated a court injunction by continuing to restrict off-app purchases. The ruling stops Apple from blocking external payment links and removes fees on out-of-app purchases.

Effective immediately, developers can direct users to outside payment systems without facing Apple’s usual 30% charge. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasised that the court’s 2021 injunction was not open to negotiation. She warned Apple that further attempts to control competition would not be tolerated.

The crypto community sees the decision as a breakthrough. Developers can now link to NFT collections and external platforms without additional permissions.

Industry voices like Alex Masmej and crypto analyst Xero called the ruling ‘hugely bullish,’ suggesting a major shift for mobile-based crypto projects.

Epic Games has also announced plans to relaunch Fortnite on the US App Store following the ruling.

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