Digital business models Archives | Page 412 of 571

ChatGPT expands Deep Research to more users

A new feature introduced by ChatGPT in February, called Deep Research, is gradually becoming available across its user base. This includes subscribers on the Plus, Team, and Pro plans, while even those using the free ChatGPT app on iOS and Android can now access a simplified version.

Designed to carry out in-depth reports and analyses within minutes, Deep Research uses OpenAI’s o3 model to perform tasks that would otherwise take people hours to complete.

Instead of limiting access to paid users alone, OpenAI has rolled out a lightweight version powered by its o4-mini AI model for free users. Although responses are shorter, the company insists the quality and depth remain comparable.

The more efficient model also helps reduce costs, while delivering what OpenAI calls ‘nearly as intelligent’ results as the full version.

The feature’s capabilities stretch from suggesting personalised product purchases like cars or TVs, to helping with complex decisions such as choosing a university or analysing market trends.

Free-tier users are currently allowed up to five Deep Research tasks each month, whereas Plus and Team plans get ten full and fifteen lightweight tasks. Pro users enjoy a generous 125 tasks of each version per month, and EDU and Enterprise plans will begin access next week.

Once users hit their full version limit, they’ll be automatically shifted to the lightweight tool instead of losing access altogether. Meanwhile, Google’s GeminiAI offers a similar function for its paying customers, also aiming to deliver quick, human-level research and analysis.

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Google stopped Motorola from using Perplexity as default assistant

A senior executive at Perplexity AI has testified that Google prevented Motorola from setting the AI startup’s assistant as the default on new smartphones, citing restrictive contracts.

The testimony came during a trial seeking remedies after Google was found to have unlawfully maintained a search monopoly.

Although Motorola will preload the app, it cannot make it the default due to binding agreements with Google. Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, described the difficulty of replacing Google’s assistant on Android phones, saying Google’s terms create an environment where device makers fear losing revenue.

The CEO added that ongoing negotiations with other companies only became possible due to pressure from the US Department of Justice’s antitrust case.

The Justice Department is asking the court to ban Google from paying for default placements, which would also affect its AI products like Gemini.

Meanwhile, Perplexity is developing its own browser, Comet, and voiced concern about any Chrome sale undermining open-source access. The company does not support OpenAI’s interest in acquiring the browser, citing past inconsistencies in its open-source commitments.

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Legal AI startup Noxtua backed by top law firms

Germany-based legal tech firm Noxtua SE has secured €80.7 million in funding to support the launch of its AI-powered legal workspace, Beck-Noxtua. Previously known as Xayn SE, the company announced the round following a major rebrand.

C.H. Beck, Germany’s leading legal publisher, led the investment, with backing from Northern Data AG, CMS LTF Limited, Dentons Corp., and other strategic partners.

Beck-Noxtua is designed to streamline legal workflows by offering a suite of tools powered by large language models trained on over 55 million documents from C.H. Beck’s legal library.

These include the Noxtua Legal LLM, capable of generating and analysing complex legal texts, and Noxtua Voyage Embed, which enhances legal search and precedent discovery. The platform complies with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and is aimed at law firms across Europe.

Noxtua plans to expand beyond Germany, establishing offices in other EU countries. With support from Northern Data’s European infrastructure and legal input from firms like CMS and Dentons, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the continent’s legal AI space.

Analysts note Noxtua’s strategic partnerships as a potential advantage, though caution that the legal industry’s resistance to technology may prove a challenge.

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TSMC targets AI future with advanced chip designs

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has introduced its cutting-e d ge A14 logic process technology at its North America Technology Symposium, held in Santa Clara, California.

The A14 process, touted as a major leap from its N2 predecessor, is aimed at enhancing AI capabilities through faster computing speeds and greater power efficiency. TSMC expects the A14 to enter production in 2028 and reports that development is ahead of schedule in terms of yield performance.

Alongside the A14, TSMC revealed significant advances in its Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS) technology, crucial for meeting AI’s growing demands for processing power and high-bandwidth memory.

A new SoW-X platform, based on CoWoS and capable of 40 times more computing power than current solutions, is slated for mass production in 2027. The company also confirmed plans to scale up its 9.5 reticle size CoWoS for volume production in the same year.

TSMC continues to broaden its innovation pipeline with developments across various domains, including 3D chip stacking and advanced packaging. It also unveiled the N4C RF, its latest radio frequency technology designed to support upcoming standards like WiFi8 and AI-powered audio platforms.

Risk production of the N4C RF is expected in early 2026, as TSMC strengthens its foothold in high-performance computing, mobile, automotive, and IoT markets.

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White House condemns EU fines on Apple and Meta

The White House has strongly criticised the EU after landmark fines were imposed on Apple and Meta Platforms, describing the penalties as a ‘novel form of economic extortion’ that the US would not tolerate.

The European Commission fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a new law designed to rein in the power of dominant tech giants.

Rather than viewing the DMA as a fair attempt to promote market competition, US officials called it ‘discriminatory’ and claimed it unfairly targets American firms, undermines innovation, and restricts civil liberties.

The White House warned that such extraterritorial measures would be treated as trade barriers and hinted at retaliation.

At the same time, tensions were mounting on another front, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledging that tariffs between the US and China were unsustainable.

He said both sides must lower their tariffs, currently as high as 145 per cent, instead of expecting unilateral moves, suggesting a potential thaw in the ongoing trade war.

President Trump, while indicating openness to cutting Chinese import duties, also threatened to raise the existing 25 per cent tariff on Canadian car imports. He said the US should focus on building its own vehicles instead of relying on foreign manufacturers.

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Meta under scrutiny in France over digital Ad practices

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is facing fresh legal backlash in France as 67 French media companies representing over 200 publications filed a lawsuit alleging unfair competition in the digital advertising market.

The case, brought before the Paris business tribunal, accuses Meta of abusing its dominant position through massive personal data collection and targeted advertising without proper consent.

The case marks the latest legal dispute in a string of EU legal challenges for the tech giant this week.

Media outlets such as TF1, France TV, BFM TV, and major newspaper groups like Le Figaro, Liberation, and Radio France are among the plaintiffs.

They argue that Meta’s ad dominance is built on practices that undermine fair competition and jeopardise the sustainability of traditional media.

The French case adds to mounting pressure across the EU. In Spain, Meta is due to face trial over a €551 million complaint filed by over 80 media firms in October.

Meanwhile, the EU regulators fined Meta and Apple earlier this year for breaching European digital market rules, while online privacy advocates have launched parallel complaints over Meta’s data handling.

Legal firms Scott+Scott and Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier represent the French media alliance.

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WhatsApp introduces privacy feature to block Meta AI

Meta has come under fire for integrating its AI assistant into WhatsApp, with users spotting an unremovable blue circle representing Meta AI’s presence.

While Google has favoured opt-in models for AI tools, Meta’s approach has sparked backlash, with some critics accusing it of disregarding WhatsApp’s privacy-first roots. Though users can’t remove the assistant entirely, WhatsApp now offers a workaround to disable its functions in individual chats.

A new ‘Advanced Chat Privacy’ setting allows users to block AI interactions on a chat-by-chat basis. When enabled, this feature prevents chats from being exported, stops media from auto-downloading, and crucially, disables AI from accessing messages.

WhatsApp says this is part of a broader plan to offer greater privacy controls, reaffirming its focus on secure and private messaging.

Meta maintains that it cannot read message content and that only limited data is shared when AI is used. Still, the company advises against sharing sensitive information with Meta AI.

The new privacy setting is being rolled out to all users on the latest version of WhatsApp and can be activated via the chat settings menu.

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Microsoft expands rewards for reporting AI vulnerabilities

Microsoft has announced an expanded bug bounty initiative, offering up to $30,000 for researchers who uncover critical vulnerabilities in AI features within Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.

The programme aims to strengthen security in enterprise software by encouraging ethical hackers to identify and report risks before cybercriminals can exploit them.

Rather than relying on general severity scales, Microsoft has introduced an AI-specific vulnerability classification system. It highlights prompt injection attacks, data poisoning during training, and techniques like model stealing and training data reconstruction that could expose sensitive information.

Highest payouts are reserved for flaws that allow attackers to access other users’ data or perform privileged actions without their consent.

The company urges researchers to use free trials of its services, such as PowerApps and AI Builder, to identify weaknesses. Detailed product documentation is provided to help participants understand the systems they are testing.

Even reports that don’t qualify for a financial reward can still lead to recognition if they result in improved defences.

The AI bounty initiative is part of Microsoft’s wider commitment to collaborative cybersecurity. With AI becoming more deeply integrated into enterprise software, the company says it is more important than ever to identify vulnerabilities early instead of waiting for security breaches to occur.

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Meta adds live translation to Ray-Ban smart glasses

Meta is enhancing its Ray-Ban smart glasses with new capabilities, including live language translation and broader AI integration.

Users can now access real-time translations in English, French, Italian, and Spanish, even without internet access if language packs are downloaded beforehand. The feature is available across all markets where the glasses are sold, aiming to break down communication barriers during travel and everyday use.

In the United States and Canada, Meta AI is gaining powerful new functionality, allowing the assistant to interpret visuals from the glasses’ built-in camera. This update lets users receive context-aware responses, such as identifying landmarks or translating menus.

Previously in beta testing, the ‘see what you see’ feature is moving to a full release. Messaging tools are also expanding, enabling communication via Instagram, in addition to WhatsApp, Messenger, and native SMS.

Aesthetic updates include new colour and lens options for the Skyler frame. Music lovers will benefit from broader support for streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Shazam in more countries.

Meta also confirmed upcoming launches of the glasses in Mexico, India, and the UAE, while EU users will soon gain access to Meta AI’s visual search tools.

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Ubisoft under fire for forcing online connection in offline games

French video game publisher Ubisoft is facing a formal privacy complaint from European advocacy group noyb for requiring players to stay online even when enjoying single-player games.

The complaint, lodged with Austria’s data protection authority, accuses Ubisoft of violating EU privacy laws by collecting personal data without consent.

Noyb argues that Ubisoft makes players connect to the internet and log into a Ubisoft account unnecessarily, even when they are not interacting with other users.

Instead of limiting data collection to essential functions, noyb claims the company contacts external servers, including Google and Amazon, over 150 times during gameplay. This, they say, reveals a broader surveillance practice hidden beneath the surface.

Ubisoft, known for blockbuster titles like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, has not yet explained why such data collection is needed for offline play.

The complainant who examined the traffic found that Ubisoft gathers login and browsing data and uses third-party tools, practices that, under GDPR rules, require explicit user permission. Instead of offering transparency, Ubisoft reportedly failed to justify these invasive practices.

Noyb is calling on regulators to demand deletion of all data collected without a clear legal basis and to fine Ubisoft €92 million. They argue that consumers, who already pay steep prices for video games, should not have to sacrifice their privacy in the process.

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