Digital business models

Microsoft Copilot launches GPT-5 Smart Mode for users

Microsoft has upgraded all its Copilot tools with OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model, now available through a new Smart Mode.

The update brings enhanced speed and better performance across Microsoft 365 Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, GitHub Copilot, and the Windows AI chatbot pre-installed on PCs.

Users can try the Smart Mode via the Copilot website, which can be selected from a model selector below the text input. Notably, a Microsoft account is not required to use this new mode.

The Smart Mode rollout is gradual, and while not yet visible in the Windows Copilot app for everyone, early users have reported that GPT-5 delivers faster and more accurate responses compared to earlier models.

Unlike the free ChatGPT tier that limits queries and switches automatically to older versions after usage caps, Copilot offers fewer restrictions, allowing more extensive use.

Microsoft’s AI Red Team tested GPT-5 thoroughly before release, highlighting its strong safety profile and improved reasoning capabilities.

Microsoft 365 Copilot benefits from GPT-5’s advanced abilities to answer complex questions, maintain coherence over long conversations, assist with email replies, and analyse documents effectively.

GitHub Copilot has also been enhanced with GPT-5, significantly improving reasoning, code quality, and overall user experience. The upgrade positions Microsoft’s AI tools to support developers and professionals across multiple platforms better.

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Riverlane deploys Deltaflow 2 QEC in first UK commercial quantum integration

Riverlane has deployed its Deltaflow 2 quantum error correction (QEC) technology in a UK commercial quantum setting for the first time. The system introduces streaming quantum memory, enabling real-time error correction fast enough to preserve data across thousands of operations.

Deltaflow 2 combines a custom QEC chip with FPGA hardware and Riverlane’s software stack, supporting superconducting, spin, trapped-ion, and neutral-atom qubit platforms. It has been integrated with high-performance classical systems and a digital twin for noise simulation and monitoring.

Control hardware from Qblox delivers high-fidelity readout and ultra-low-latency links to enable real-time QEC. The deployment will validate error correction routines and benchmark system performance, forming the basis for future integration with OQC’s superconducting qubits.

The project is part of the UK Government-funded DECIDE programme, which aims to strengthen national capability in quantum error correction. Riverlane and OQC plan to demonstrate live QEC during quantum operations, supporting the creation of logical qubits for scalable systems.

Riverlane is also partnering with Infleqtion, Rigetti Computing, and others through the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. The company says growing industry demand reflects QEC’s shift from research to deployment, positioning Deltaflow 2 as a commercially viable, universally compatible tool.

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Warner Bros Discovery targets password sharing on Max

Warner Bros. Discovery is preparing to aggressively limit password sharing on its Max streaming platform, beginning next month and escalating throughout 2025. The move aims to turn shared users into paying subscribers, following Netflix and Disney+ strategies.

The company plans to deploy technology that detects unusual login activity, such as access from multiple locations. Users will get gentle warnings before stricter actions like suspensions or paid upgrades are enforced.

The initiative seeks to boost revenue and reduce subscriber churn in an increasingly competitive streaming market.

While concerns remain about user dissatisfaction and possible cancellations, Warner Bros. Discovery is confident that its extensive library of popular content, including HBO, DC, and Discovery titles, will encourage loyalty.

The goal is to create a sustainable revenue model that directly supports investments in original programming.

Industry observers note that Max’s crackdown reflects broader streaming trends, where enforcing account integrity becomes essential to growth. The full impact will be clear by the end of 2025, possibly shaping future subscription management.

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ShinyHunters breach Google’s Salesforce database

Google has confirmed a data breach during its investigation into the ShinyHunters group, revealing the tech giant was also affected. The attackers accessed a Salesforce database used for storing small business customer information.

The breach exposed business names and contact details during a short window before access was revoked. Google stated no highly sensitive or personal data was compromised.

ShinyHunters used phishing and vishing tactics to trick users into authorising malicious Salesforce apps disguised as legitimate tools. The technique mirrors previous high-profile breaches involving firms like Santander and Ticketmaster.

Google warned the group may escalate operations by launching a data leak site. Organisations are urged to tighten their cybersecurity measures and access controls, train staff and apply multi-factor authentication across all accounts.

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GPT-5 launches with ‘PhD-level performance’

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, the latest generation of its widely used ChatGPT tool, offering what CEO Sam Altman described as a ‘huge improvement’ in capability.

Now free to all users, the model builds on previous versions but stops short of the human-like reasoning associated with accurate artificial general intelligence.

Altman compared the leap in performance to ‘talking to a PhD-level expert’ instead of a student.

While GPT-5 does not learn continuously from new experiences, it is designed to excel in coding, writing, healthcare and other specialist areas.

Industry observers say the release underscores the rapid acceleration in AI, with rivals such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Elon Musk’s xAI investing heavily in the race. Chinese startup DeepSeek has also drawn attention for producing powerful models using less costly chips.

OpenAI has emphasised GPT-5’s safety features, with its research team training the system to avoid deception and prevent harmful outputs.

Alongside the flagship release, the company launched two open-weight models that can be freely downloaded and modified, a move seen as both a nod to its nonprofit origins and a challenge to competitors’ open-source offerings.

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TikTok Shop faces surge in crypto phishing scams

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting TikTok Shop users through a phishing and malware campaign known as ‘ClickTok‘. The scheme uses fake Meta ads and AI-generated TikTok videos imitating influencers to lure victims to fraudulent domains resembling real sites.

These domains are used to steal credentials and distribute trojanised applications. More than 10,000 fake sites have been identified, luring shoppers with heavily discounted products and urgency tactics such as countdown timers.

Victims are prompted to make payments in Tether, allowing scammers to exploit the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transactions. The fraudulent storefronts are designed to appear convincing, encouraging rash purchases.

TikTok Shop affiliate members are also being targeted with advance fee scams. Criminals pose as TikTok affiliates on WhatsApp and Telegram, convincing victims to deposit funds into bogus wallets in exchange for fake commission payments.

The report warns that the younger demographic on TikTok, particularly those aged 18 to 34, may be more vulnerable to such schemes. The trend shows scams shifting from Facebook and X to new e-commerce platforms.

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Jio reports growth as it ramps up 6G and AI strategy

According to its latest annual report, Reliance Jio plans to lead in 6G and AI, aiming to deliver long-term returns for shareholders. With 191 million users, Jio is the world’s second-largest 5G provider after China.

The company is launching JioBrain, a wide-ranging AI platform for network planning, resource optimisation, and customer service. Jio intends to expand this platform beyond telecoms within India and globally.

Jio is also building a satellite communication platform and partnering with SpaceX to bring Starlink broadband to India. The company stated that it will combine its infrastructure and data with global partners to achieve the lowest AI operating costs globally.

Its JioFiber and JioAirFiber services have reached 18 million and 6 million homes, respectively. The goal is to connect 100 million premises through fibre and fixed wireless access technologies.

Jio has filed over 3,341 patents, including 1,654 in FY25, and now holds 485 patents in 5G and 6G, reportedly the most in India. Its digital services revenue reached ₹154,119 crore with an EBITDA of ₹65,001 crore, driven by mobility tariffs, enterprise demand, and platform expansion.

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Autonomous AI coding tool Jules now publicly available from Google

Google has released its autonomous coding agent Jules for free public use, offering AI-powered code generation, debugging, and optimisation. Built on the Gemini 2.5 Pro model, the tool completed a successful beta phase before entering general availability with both free and paid plans.

Jules supports a range of users, from developers to non-technical staff, automating tasks like building features or integrating APIs. The free version allows 15 tasks per day, while the Pro tier significantly raises the limits, providing access to more powerful tools.

Beta testing began in May 2025 and saw Jules process hundreds of thousands of tasks. Its new interface now includes visual explanations and bug fixes, refining usability. Integrated with GitHub and Gemini CLI, Jules can suggest optimisations, write tests, and even provide audio summaries.

Google positions Jules as a step beyond traditional code assistants by enabling autonomy. However, former researchers warn that oversight remains essential to avoid misuse, especially in sensitive systems where AI errors could be costly.

While its free tier may appeal to startups and hobbyists, concerns over code originality and job displacement persist. Nonetheless, Jules could reshape development workflows and lower barriers to coding for a much broader user base.

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UAE strengthen crypto oversight

The United Arab Emirates is moving closer to a unified regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies after the SCA and the Dubai VARA announced a formal partnership. The agreement aims to harmonise crypto oversight nationwide while maintaining robust compliance and security standards.

Mutual recognition of virtual asset service provider (VASP) licences forms the partnership’s core. However, automatic passporting between emirates will not be permitted.

Each VASP licensed by one authority will undergo coordinated regulatory assessments, including Anti-Money Laundering and operational checks, to ensure national standards are upheld.

The collaboration promises more precise regulation, faster market entry, and reduced duplication for crypto firms operating in the UAE. Officials highlight the deal as a milestone that strengthens the country’s position as an innovation-focused and credible crypto hub.

Ongoing talks with regulators like Abu Dhabi Global Markets support the UAE’s broader strategy for regulatory alignment and cross-border cooperation in virtual assets.

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Scientists use AI to teach drones to program themselves

A computer scientist has shown that robots can now write the brains of other robots, thanks to generative AI.

Professor Peter Burke from the University of California, Irvine, has demonstrated a drone capable of creating and hosting its own control system using AI-written code, significantly reducing the time usually needed to build such infrastructure.

The project used several AI models and coding tools to prompt the creation of a real-time, web-based command centre hosted on the drone itself. The final system, which runs on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, allows the drone to operate independently while remaining accessible over the internet.

Unlike traditional systems, where ground control is handled externally, the drone manages its own mission planning and navigation through a built-in AI-generated website.

Burke’s team used tools such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Cursor, and Windsurf to build the system across several sprints. Despite context limitations in each model, the final version was completed in just over 100 hours, around twenty times faster than a previous project of similar complexity.

The final codebase consisted of 10,000 lines and included everything from flight commands to map-based interaction and GPS tracking.

Although the technology shows promising potential in fields like aerial imagery and spatial AI, experts have raised safety concerns.

While a manual override system was included in the experiment, the ability for robots to self-generate control logic introduces new ethical and operational challenges, especially as such systems evolve to operate in unpredictable environments.

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