The US General Services Administration (GSA) has agreed on a significant deal with Microsoft to provide federal agencies with discounted access to its AI and cloud tools suite.
Instead of managing separate contracts, the government-wide pact offers unified pricing on products including Microsoft 365, the Copilot AI assistant, and Azure cloud services, potentially saving agencies up to $3.1 billion in its first year.
The arrangement is designed to accelerate AI adoption and digital transformation across the federal government. It includes free access to the generative AI chatbot Microsoft 365 Copilot for up to 12 months, alongside discounts on cybersecurity tools and Dynamics 365.
Agencies can opt into any of the offers through September next year.
The deal leverages the federal government’s collective purchasing power to reduce costs and foster innovation.
It delivers on a White House AI action plan and follows similar arrangements the GSA announced last month with other tech giants, including Google, Amazon Web Services, and OpenAI.
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The non-invasive system uses electroencephalography (EEG) to decode brain signals and combines them with an AI camera platform for real-time assistance. The results, published in ‘Nature Machine Intelligence’, demonstrate significant performance improvements over traditional BCIs.
Participants tested the device on two tasks: moving a cursor across a computer screen and directing a robotic arm to reposition blocks. All completed tasks faster with AI assistance, while a paralysed participant, unable to finish without support, succeeded in under seven minutes.
Researchers emphasise the importance of safety and accessibility. Unlike surgically implanted BCIs, which remain confined to limited clinical trials, the wearable device avoids neurosurgical risks while offering new independence for people with paralysis or ALS.
Future development will focus on making AI ‘co-pilots’ more adaptive, allowing robotic arms to move with greater precision, dexterity, and task awareness.
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WhatsApp has disclosed a hacking attempt that combined flaws in its app with a vulnerability in Apple’s operating system. The company has since fixed the issues.
The exploit, tracked as CVE-2025-55177 in WhatsApp and CVE-2025-43300 in iOS, allowed attackers to hijack devices via malicious links. Fewer than 200 users worldwide are believed to have been affected.
Amnesty International reported that some victims appeared to be members of civic organisations. Its Security Lab is collecting forensic data and warned that iPhone and Android users were impacted.
WhatsApp credited its security team for identifying the loopholes, describing the operation as highly advanced but narrowly targeted. The company also suggested that other apps could have been hit in the same campaign.
The disclosure highlights ongoing risks to secure messaging platforms, even those with end-to-end encryption. Experts stress that keeping apps and operating systems up to date remains essential to reducing exposure to sophisticated exploits.
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According to Bloomberg, OpenAI is weighing partnerships in India to build a data centre of at least 1 gigawatt capacity as part of its Stargate project. Such a facility would represent one of Asia’s most significant AI infrastructure investments.
The company recently registered as a legal entity in India and is recruiting a local team. It also announced plans in August to open its first office in New Delhi later this year, highlighting the importance of India’s second-largest market by user base.
The prospective data centre is linked to Stargate, a private-sector AI investment programme valued at up to $500 billion and backed by SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle. The project was first introduced in January by US President Donald Trump.
Details on the timing and location of the Indian facility remain unclear. Reports suggest that OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman could provide further information during a visit to India in September.
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have announced a joint effort to clarify spot cryptocurrency trading. Regulators confirmed that US and foreign exchanges can list spot crypto products- leveraged and margin ones.
The guidance follows the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets recommendations, which called for rules that keep blockchain innovation within the country.
Regulators said they are ready to review filings, address custody and clearing, and ensure spot markets meet transparency and investor protection standards.
Under the new approach, major venues such as the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, CME Group and Cboe Global Markets could seek to list spot crypto assets. Foreign boards of trade recognised by the CFTC may also be eligible.
The move highlights a policy shift under President Donald Trump’s administration, with Congress and the White House pressing for greater regulatory clarity.
In July, the House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act, a bill on crypto market structure now before the Senate. The moves and the regulators’ statement mark a key step in aligning US digital assets with established financial rules.
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Kazakhstan has announced its support for China’s proposal to establish a Global Organisation for Cooperation in AI, highlighting its ambition to strengthen digital ties with Beijing.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev voiced his backing during the Kazakh-Chinese Business Council meeting in Beijing, following his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin.
Tokayev stressed that joint efforts in AI were vital as experts predict the global market could reach $5 trillion by 2033, accounting for nearly one-third of the technology sector. He praised China’s digital achievements and urged bilateral collaboration in emerging technologies.
Kazakhstan has taken notable steps to position itself as a regional digital hub, launching Central Asia’s first supercomputer and the AlemAI International Centre for AI earlier this year.
Tokayev added that partnerships with Chinese firms, including a major construction agreement, would accelerate the development of Alatau City as a separate innovation ecosystem.
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IBM has announced plans to develop next-generation computing architectures by integrating quantum computers with high-performance computing, a concept it calls quantum-centric supercomputing.
The company is working with AMD to build scalable, open-source platforms that combine IBM’s quantum expertise with AMD’s strength in HPC and AI accelerators. The aim is to move beyond the limits of traditional computing and explore solutions to problems that classical systems cannot address alone.
Quantum computing uses qubits governed by quantum mechanics, offering a far richer computational space than binary bits. In a hybrid model, quantum machines could simulate atoms and molecules, while supercomputers powered by CPUs, GPUs, and AI manage large-scale data analysis.
Arvind Krishna, IBM’s CEO, said the approach represents a new way of simulating the natural world. AMD’s Lisa Su described high-performance computing as foundational to tackling global challenges, noting the partnership could accelerate discovery and innovation.
An initial demonstration is planned for later this year, showing IBM quantum computers working with AMD technologies. Both companies say open-source ecosystems like Qiskit will be crucial to building new algorithms and advancing fault-tolerant quantum systems.
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Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has faced repeated changes to its political orientation, with updates shifting its answers towards more conservative views.
xAI, Musk’s company, initially promoted Grok as neutral and truth-seeking, but internal prompts have steered it on contentious topics. Adjustments included portraying declining fertility as the greatest threat to civilisation and downplaying right-wing violence.
Analyses of Grok’s responses by The New York Times showed that the July updates shifted answers to the right on government and economy, while some social responses remained left-leaning. Subsequent tweaks pulled it back closer to neutrality.
Critics say that system prompts, such as short instructions like ‘be politically incorrect’, make it easy to adjust outputs, but also leave the model prone to erratic or offensive responses. A July update saw Grok briefly endorse a controversial historical figure before xAI turned it off.
The case highlights growing concerns about political bias in AI systems. Researchers argue that all chatbots reflect the worldviews of their training data, while companies increasingly face pressure to align them with user expectations or political demands.
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Much like checking your doors before bed, it is wise to review your Google account security to ensure only trusted devices have access. Periodic checks can prevent both hackers and acquaintances from spying on your personal data.
The fastest method is visiting google.com/devices, where you can see all logged-in devices. If one looks suspicious, remove it and immediately change your password to block further access.
You can also navigate manually via your profile settings, under the ‘Security’ tab, to view and manage connected devices. On mobile, the Google app provides the same functionality for reviewing and signing out unfamiliar logins.
Beyond devices, third-party services linked to your Google account pose another risk. Abandoned apps or forgotten integrations may be hijacked by attackers, providing a backdoor to your information.
Cleaning up both devices and linked apps significantly reduces exposure. Regular reviews keep your Google account safe and ensure your data remains under your control.
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Apple is moving forward with its integrated approach to AI by testing an internal chatbot designed for retail training. The company focuses on embedding AI into existing services rather than launching a consumer-facing chatbot like Google’s Gemini or ChatGPT.
The new tool, Asa, is being tested within Apple’s SEED app, which offers training resources for store employees and authorised resellers. Asa is expected to improve learning by allowing staff to ask open-ended questions and receive tailored responses.
Screenshots shared by analyst Aaron Perris show Asa handling queries about device features, comparisons, and use cases. Although still in testing, the chatbot is expected to expand across Apple’s retail network in the coming weeks.
The development occurs amid broader AI tensions, as Elon Musk’s xAI sued Apple and OpenAI for allegedly colluding to limit competition. Apple’s focus on internal AI tools like Asa contrasts with Musk’s legal action, highlighting disputes over AI market dominance and platform integration.
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