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UAE experts warn on AI privacy risks in art apps

A surge in AI applications transforming selfies into Studio Ghibli-style artwork has captivated social media, but UAE cybersecurity experts are raising concerns over privacy and data misuse.

Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, warned that engaging with unofficial apps could lead to breaches or leaks of personal data. He emphasised that while AI’s benefits are clear, users must understand how their personal data is handled by these platforms.

He called for strong cybersecurity standards across all digital platforms, urging individuals to be more cautious with their data.

Media professionals are also sounding alarms. Adel Al-Rashed, an Emirati journalist, cautioned that free apps often mimic trusted platforms but could exploit user data. He advised users to stick to verified applications, noting that paid services, like ChatGPT’s Pro edition, offer stronger privacy protections.

While acknowledging the risks, social media influencer Ibrahim Al-Thahli highlighted the excitement AI brings to creative expression. He urged users to focus on education and safe engagement with the technology, underscoring the UAE’s goal to build a resilient digital economy.

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AI transforms global healthcare with major growth ahead

The healthcare sector is poised for significant growth as AI continues to revolutionise the industry. A new report from Avant Technologies predicts an influx of AI-powered solutions in healthcare, with key technology giants leading the charge.

Avant Technologies and Ainnova, in their joint venture, plan to showcase their AI-powered Vision AI platform at the 2025 Mexico Healthcare Innovation Summit.

The platform, aimed at early disease detection, is nearing approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is already in clinical trials in Southeast Asia and South America.

Apple and Amazon are also entering the AI healthcare space, with Apple launching an AI-powered health coach to guide users on diet and exercise, while Amazon is expanding its AI solutions with a healthcare chatbot.

Meanwhile, GE Healthcare has seen success with its AI-driven cardiac imaging, which has garnered FDA approval. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports AI integration in healthcare, particularly for outpatient care and early diagnosis, though it has urged regulators to be cautious of potential risks.

AI in healthcare is expected to grow exponentially, reaching a market valuation of $613 billion by 2034. The sector’s rapid expansion is driven by increasing adoption rates, particularly for early disease detection, administrative efficiency, and personalised medicine.

Despite data privacy concerns, the adoption of AI tools in fields like dermatology, oncology, and cardiovascular health is expected to surge. North America is predicted to lead the market, followed by Europe and South Asia, as more healthcare institutions embrace AI technologies.

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Lenovo unveils compact edge AI server

Lenovo has introduced the ThinkEdge SE100, a compact AI inferencing server aimed at bringing edge AI within reach for businesses of all sizes.

Rather than relying on large data centres for processing, this server is designed to operate on-site in space-constrained environments, allowing data to be processed locally instead of being sent to the cloud.

The SE100 supports hybrid cloud deployments and is part of Lenovo’s new ThinkSystem V4 family. While the V4 systems are built for AI training, the SE100 is intended for inferencing, which is less demanding and doesn’t require power-hungry GPUs.

Lenovo says the unit is 85% smaller than a typical 1U server and draws under 140W, even with GPU configurations.

Engineered to be both energy-efficient and quiet, the SE100 uses Neptune liquid cooling instead of traditional fans, making it suitable for public spaces. Its design also helps extend system health and lifespan by reducing air flow needs and lowering operating temperatures.

Lenovo’s vice president of infrastructure products, Scott Tease, stated the SE100 is a cost-effective solution that simplifies AI deployment at the edge.

Its flexible design adapts to diverse business needs, offering low-latency, high-performance inferencing without the complexity or expense of full-scale AI infrastructure.

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Meta faces landmark antitrust trial

An antitrust trial against Meta commenced in Washington, with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) arguing that the company’s acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were designed to crush competition instead of fostering innovation.

Although the FTC initially approved these deals, it now claims they effectively handed Meta a monopoly. Should the FTC succeed, Meta may be forced to sell off both platforms, a move that would reshape the tech landscape.

Meta has countered by asserting that users have benefited from Instagram’s development under its ownership, instead of being harmed by diminished competition. Legal experts believe the company will focus on consumer outcomes rather than corporate intent.

Nevertheless, statements made by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, such as his remark that it’s ‘better to buy than to compete,’ may prove pivotal. Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg are both expected to testify during the trial, which could span several weeks in the US.

Political tensions loom over the case, which was first launched under Donald Trump’s presidency. Reports suggest Zuckerberg has privately lobbied Trump to drop the lawsuit, while Meta has criticised the FTC’s reversal years after approving the acquisitions.

The recent dismissal of two Democratic commissioners from the FTC by Trump has raised concerns over political interference, especially as the commission now holds a Republican majority.

While the FTC seeks to challenge Meta’s dominance, experts caution that proving harm in this case will be far more difficult than in the ongoing antitrust battle against Google.

Unlike the search engine market, which is clearly monopolised, the social media space remains highly competitive, with platforms like TikTok, YouTube and X offering strong alternatives.

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Google rolls out AI to improve US power grid connections

Google has announced a partnership with PJM Interconnection, the largest electricity grid operator in North America, to deploy AI aimed at reducing delays in connecting new power sources to the grid. The move comes as energy demand surges due to the expansion of data centres required for AI development.

Wait times for connecting renewable and traditional energy sources, such as wind, solar and gas, have reached record levels, increasing the risk of blackouts and rising energy costs in the US. Google’s AI technology, developed alongside Alphabet-backed Tapestry, will streamline and automate key planning processes traditionally handled manually by grid operators.

Initial deployment will focus on automating tasks like assessing project viability, which are currently time-consuming. Over time, the project aims to create a digital model of PJM’s grid, similar to Google Maps, allowing planners to view layered data and make faster, more informed decisions.

While it is too early to quantify exactly how much time will be saved, the collaboration is expected to gradually improve planning efficiency. PJM’s grid serves 67 million people, including the world’s largest data centre hub in northern Virginia, making this a critical step toward modernising the energy infrastructure needed to support the AI era.

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AI giant Nvidia rebounds but challenges remain

Shares in Nvidia soared by nearly 20 per cent following a 90-day suspension of new US tariffs, lifting Wall Street to one of its strongest single-day performances in decades. The tech giant, whose chips underpin much of the AI boom from tools like ChatGPT to drone technologies, added $440bn to its market value in just one session, underlining its pivotal role in the global AI race.

Despite the rally, serious concerns remain. While some tariffs were temporarily halted, President Donald Trump raised levies on Chinese imports to as high as 125 per cent. For Nvidia, whose supply chain relies heavily on advanced manufacturing in Asia, particularly Taiwan and South Korea, the move threatens to disrupt both costs and production timelines. Analysts caution that such trade friction could deter investment in AI infrastructure, which is still in early stages of commercial return.

Even with strong revenues and continued dominance in AI hardware, Nvidia faces growing headwinds. The firm’s recent share slump reflected broader anxiety over whether AI spending is peaking, alongside the rise of cheaper, open-source alternatives. Added pressure from high energy demands, regulatory risks, and tighter capital markets could further complicate growth. Industry watchers warn that tariffs may undermine the very conditions AI needs to flourish: stable supply chains, affordable power, and investor confidence.

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AI site faces backlash for copying Southern Oregon news

A major publishing organisation has issued a formal warning to Good Daily News, an AI-powered news aggregator, demanding it cease the unauthorised scraping of content from local news outlets across Southern Oregon and beyond. The News Media Alliance, which represents 2,200 publishers, sent the letter on 25 March, urging the national operator to respect publishers’ rights and stop reproducing material without permission.

Good Daily runs over 350 online ‘local’ news websites across 47 US states, including Daily Medford and Daily Salem in Oregon. Though the platforms appear locally based, they are developed using AI and managed by one individual, Matt Henderson, who has registered mailing addresses in both Ashland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. Content is reportedly scraped from legitimate local news sites, rewritten by AI, and shared in newsletters, sometimes with source links, but often without permission.

News Media Alliance president Danielle Coffey said such practices undermine the time, resources, and revenue of local journalism. Many publishers use digital tools to block automated scrapers, though this comes at a financial cost. The organisation is working with the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and exploring legal options. Others in the industry, including Heidi Wright of the Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism, have voiced strong support for the warning, calling for greater action to defend the integrity of local news.

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Fujitsu launches AI scanner to assess tuna fat

Fujitsu has developed a new AI-powered inspection device that determines the fat content of frozen albacore tuna with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Replacing the traditional practice of slicing and thawing tuna tails for human evaluation, the technology uses ultrasonic waves and artificial intelligence to analyse the internal marbling of the fish without causing damage.

The system scans each tuna from four angles, generating waveforms that an AI algorithm interprets to assess fat levels. Results are displayed in seconds with labels such as ‘highly marbled’ or ‘low fat’, dramatically reducing the time required compared to manual inspection. While visual assessment typically takes around a minute, Fujitsu’s device completes the process in just 12 seconds.

Developed in partnership with Tokai University and with support from machinery firm Ishida Tech, the device promises greater consistency and the ability to inspect every fish in a catch, something previously considered too labour-intensive. Scheduled to launch in June, it will be priced between 30 million and 35 million yen (£160,000–£187,000). Fujitsu aims to expand the system to evaluate additional species like yellowfin and bonito, and to assess freshness and texture in future updates.

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WooCommerce responds to alleged data breach claim

A hacker going by the alias ‘Satanic’ recently claimed responsibility for a significant data breach affecting websites that use WooCommerce, a leading eCommerce platform. The attacker alleged that over 4.4 million customer records were compromised, including personal and corporate data such as email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and social media profiles, as well as company revenues, staff sizes, and tech stacks.

The original announcement was made on Breach Forums, a known cybercrime forum, where the hacker stated that the data was available for sale via private messages or Telegram. While initial reports—including one by HackRead—linked the breach to WooCommerce-based stores, WooCommerce has since issued an official statement denying that its systems were involved in the incident.

‘We can confirm that no WooCommerce data has been involved in the breach described in these articles. Our team quickly investigated the data samples and compared them against our own records. We determined that the data was not obtained through a breach of WooCommerce.com or any other Automattic services.’ — Jay Walsh, Director of Communications, WooCommerce.

The company believes that the leaked data originated from a third-party service that aggregates publicly available information about e-commerce sites. It is unclear whether the data was accessed legally or obtained through other means.

The attacker claimed the breach was achieved by exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party systems integrated with WooCommerce-powered websites—such as CRMs or marketing platforms—rather than through WooCommerce itself. However, no technical evidence has been shared to substantiate this claim.

The incident follows previous breach claims by the same hacker involving platforms like Magento and Twilio’s SendGrid, the latter of which was also denied by the company.

WooCommerce, owned by Automattic, powers a large share of global online shops. While the platform remains secure according to its developers, the case highlights ongoing concerns about the security of third-party tools and integrations.

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Google offers steep discounts to US federal agencies

Google is offering a 71% discount on its business apps package to US federal agencies as part of a new agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA).

The move is aimed at capitalising on President Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, which include reducing government contracts. If fully adopted by federal agencies, the deal could save up to $2 billion.

The pricing structure will now be based on government-wide usage, rather than the individual agency agreements that previously offered smaller discounts. The GSA views the agreement as part of its broader strategy to create cost savings for the federal government.

A shift like this could help Google expand its presence in the government sector, where Microsoft currently holds an 85% market share.

As part of its push, Google has enhanced its Workspace suite with AI-driven features from its Gemini model. The platform has already been used by some government entities, including the US Air Force’s Air Force Research Laboratory, since 2021.

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