WhatsApp introduces message translations to break language barriers

WhatsApp is introducing message translations to make communication across languages easier for its global user base of over 3 billion people. The feature lets users translate messages directly in one-to-one chats, groups, or Channel updates.

Users can translate messages by pressing them long and selecting the desired language. Translations can be saved for future use, and Android users can enable automatic translation for entire chat threads so all incoming messages are translated automatically.

The translations are processed entirely on the user’s device, ensuring that WhatsApp cannot access the content of private messages. The on-device approach protects users’ privacy while facilitating seamless communication.

Message translations are rolling out gradually, starting with six languages for Android- English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic and 19+ languages for iPhone, with additional languages planned for the future. The update aims to help users break down language barriers and connect more easily worldwide.

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Anthropic models join Microsoft Copilot Studio for enhanced AI flexibility

Microsoft has added Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 to Copilot Studio, giving users more control over model selection for orchestration, workflow automation, and reasoning tasks.

The integration allows customers to design and optimise AI agents with either Anthropic or OpenAI models, or even coordinate across both. Administrators can manage access through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, with automatic fallback to OpenAI GPT-4o if Anthropic models are disabled.

Anthropic’s models are available in early release environments now, with preview access across all environments expected within two weeks and full production readiness by the end of the year.

Microsoft said the move empowers businesses to tailor AI agents more precisely to industry-specific needs, from HR onboarding to compliance management.

By enabling multi-model orchestration, Copilot Studio extends its versatility for enterprises seeking to match the right AI model to each task, underlining Microsoft’s push to position Copilot as a flexible platform for agentic AI.

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Gatik and Loblaw to deploy 50 self-driving trucks in Canada

Autonomous logistics firm Gatik is set to expand its partnership with Loblaw, deploying 50 new self-driving trucks across North America over the next year. The move marks the largest autonomous truck deployment in the region to date.

The slow rollout of self-driving technology has frustrated supply chain watchers, with most firms still testing limited fleets. Gatik’s large-scale deployment signals a shift toward commercial adoption, with 20 trucks to be added by the end of 2025 and an additional 30 by 2026.

The partnership was enabled by Ontario’s Autonomous Commercial Motor Vehicle Pilot Program, a ten-year initiative allowing approved operators to test automated commercial trucks on public roads. Officials hope it will boost road safety and support the trucking sector.

Industry analysts note that North America’s truck driver shortage is one of the most pressing logistics challenges facing the region. Nearly 70% of logistics firms report that driver shortages hinder their ability to meet freight demand, making automation a viable solution to address this issue.

Gatik, operating in the US and Canada, says the deployment could ease labour pressure and improve efficiency, but safety remains a key concern. Experts caution that striking a balance between rapid rollout and robust oversight will be crucial for establishing trust in autonomous freight operations.

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New Stargate sites create jobs and boost AI capacity across the US

OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank are expanding their Stargate AI infrastructure with five new US data centre sites. The addition brings nearly 7 gigawatts of capacity and $400 billion in investment, putting the partners on track to meet the $500 billion, 10-gigawatt commitment by 2025.

Three of the new sites- located in Shackelford County, Texas; Doña Ana County, New Mexico; and a forthcoming Midwest location, are expected to deliver over 5.5 gigawatts of capacity. These developments are expected to create over 25,000 onsite jobs and tens of thousands more nationwide.

A potential 600-megawatt expansion near the flagship site in Abilene, Texas, is also under consideration.

The remaining two sites, in Lordstown, Ohio, and Milam County, Texas, will scale to 1.5 gigawatts over 18 months. SoftBank and SB Energy are providing advanced design and infrastructure to enable faster, more scalable, and cost-efficient AI compute.

The new sites follow a rigorous nationwide selection process involving over 300 proposals from more than 30 states. Early workloads at the Abilene flagship site are already advancing next-generation AI research, supported by Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and NVIDIA GB200 racks.

The expansion underscores the partners’ commitment to building the physical infrastructure necessary for AI breakthroughs and long-term US leadership in AI.

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Secrets sprawl flagged as top software supply chain risk in Australia

Avocado Consulting urges Australian organisations to boost software supply chain security after a high-alert warning from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). The alert flagged threats, including social engineering, stolen tokens, and manipulated software packages.

Dennis Baltazar of Avocado Consulting said attackers combine social engineering with living-off-the-land techniques, making attacks appear routine. He warned that secrets left across systems can turn small slips into major breaches.

Baltazar advised immediate audits to find unmanaged privileged accounts and non-human identities. He urged embedding security into workflows by using short-lived credentials, policy-as-code, and default secret detection to reduce incidents and increase development speed for users in Australia.

Avocado Consulting advises organisations to eliminate secrets from code and pipelines, rotate tokens frequently, and validate every software dependency by default using version pinning, integrity checks, and provenance verification. Monitoring CI/CD activity for anomalies can also help detect attacks early.

Failing to act could expose cryptographic keys, facilitate privilege escalation, and result in reputational and operational damage. Avocado Consulting states that secure development practices must become the default, with automated scanning and push protection integrated into the software development lifecycle.

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UK government AI tool recovers £500m lost to fraud

A new AI system developed by the UK Cabinet Office has helped reclaim nearly £500m in fraudulent payments, marking the government’s most significant recovery of public funds in a single year.

The Fraud Risk Assessment Accelerator analyses data across government departments to identify weaknesses and prevent scams before they occur.

It uncovered unlawful council tax claims, social housing subletting, and pandemic-related fraud, including £186m linked to Covid support schemes. Ministers stated the savings would be redirected to fund nurses, teachers, and police officers.

Officials confirmed the tool will be licensed internationally, with the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand among the first partners expected to adopt it.

The UK announced the initiative at an anti-fraud summit with these countries, describing it as a step toward global cooperation in securing public finances through AI.

However, civil liberties groups have raised concerns about bias and oversight. Previous government AI systems used to detect welfare fraud were found to produce disparities based on age, disability, and nationality.

Campaigners warned that the expanded use of AI in fraud detection risks embedding unfair outcomes if left unchecked.

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EU demands answers from Apple, Google, Microsoft and Booking.com on scam risks

The European Commission has asked Apple, Booking.com, Google and Microsoft how they tackle financial scams under the Digital Services Act. The inquiry covers major platforms and search engines, including Apple App Store, Google Play, Booking.com, Bing and Google Search.

Officials want to know how these companies detect fraudulent content and what safeguards they use to prevent scams. For app stores, the focus is on fake financial applications imitating legitimate banking or trading services.

For Booking.com, attention is paid to fraudulent accommodation listings, while Bing and Google Search face scrutiny over links and ads, leading to scam websites.

The Commission asked platforms how they verify business identities under ‘Know Your Business Customer’ rules to prevent harm from suspicious actors. Companies must also share details of their ad repositories, enabling regulators and researchers to spot fraudulent ads and patterns.

By taking these steps, the Commission aims to ensure that actions under the DSA complement broader consumer protection measures already in force across the European Union.

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OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank expand Stargate with new US data centres

A collaboration between OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank has announced five new data centres under the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion plan to expand US AI computing infrastructure.

The latest sites bring total planned capacity to nearly 7 gigawatts, with over $400 billion already committed, putting the project ahead of schedule to meet its 2025 target of 10 gigawatts.

Oracle will lead three projects in Texas, New Mexico and the Midwest, adding over 5.5 gigawatts of capacity and creating more than 25,000 jobs.

SoftBank will develop facilities in Ohio and Texas, expected to scale to 1.5 gigawatts within 18 months. SB Energy, its affiliate, will provide rapid-build infrastructure for the Texas site.

The companies described the expansion as a step toward faster deployment and greater cost efficiency, making high-performance computing more widely accessible.

Site selection followed a nationwide review of more than 300 proposals, with further projects under evaluation, suggesting investment could surpass the original commitment.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stressed that compute power is key to unlocking AI’s promise, while Oracle and SoftBank leaders highlighted scalable infrastructure and energy expertise as central to the initiative. With Stargate, the partners aim to anchor the next wave of AI innovation on US soil.

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Meta offers Llama AI to US allies amid global tech race

Meta will provide its Llama AI model to key European institutions, NATO, and several allied countries as part of efforts to strengthen national security capabilities.

The company confirmed that France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and the EU will gain access to the open-source model. US defence and security agencies and partners in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK already use Llama.

Meta stated that the aim is to ensure democratic allies have the most advanced AI tools for decision-making, mission planning, and operational efficiency.

Although its terms bar use for direct military or espionage applications, the company emphasised that supporting allied defence strategies is in the interest of nations.

The move highlights the strategic importance of AI models in global security. Meta has positioned Llama as a counterweight to other countries’ developments, after allegations that researchers adapted earlier versions of the model for military purposes.

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AI transforms software development according to DORA 2025 report

Google Cloud’s 2025 DORA Report reveals widespread AI adoption among software developers. The report surveyed nearly 5,000 professionals and found that AI adoption in software development has reached 90%, with many using it around two hours daily.

The findings reveal clear benefits: over 80% of respondents report increased productivity, and 59% say AI improves code quality. Yet the research also identifies a ‘trust paradox’: while AI is widely used, only 24% of developers firmly trust it.

Many continue to use AI as a supportive tool rather than a complete replacement for human judgement.

Organisational effects of AI are more nuanced. Teams using AI release more software and applications, boosting delivery throughput, but ensuring quality remains challenging.

AI acts as both a ‘mirror and a multiplier,’ enhancing efficiency in cohesive teams while exposing weaknesses in fragmented ones. Seven team archetypes provide a human-centric view of performance, well-being and AI adoption.

The report also presents the DORA AI Capabilities Model, detailing seven key factors for maximizing AI impact. Productivity gains need more than adoption; culture, processes and systems must evolve to harness AI fully.

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