A new study in Robot Learning has introduced a robotic system that combines machine learning with decision-making to analyse water samples. The approach enables robots to detect, classify, and distinguish drinking water on Earth and potentially other planets.
Researchers used a hybrid method that merged the TOPSIS decision-making technique with a Random Forest Classifier trained on the Water Quality and Potability Dataset from Kaggle. By applying data balancing techniques, classification accuracy rose from 69% to 73%.
The robotic prototype includes thrusters, motors, solar power, sensors, and a robotic arm for sample collection. Water samples are tested in real time, with the onboard model classifying them as drinkable.
The system has the potential for rapid crisis response, sustainable water management, and planetary exploration, although challenges remain regarding sensor accuracy, data noise, and scalability. Researchers emphasise that further testing is necessary before real-world deployment.
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Citi has expanded its digital client platform, CitiDirect Commercial Banking, with new AI capabilities to improve customer service and security.
The platform now supports over half of Citi’s global commercial banking client base and handles around 2.3 million sessions.
AI features assist in fraud detection, automate customer queries, and provide real-time onboarding updates and guidance.
KYC renewals have been simplified through automated alerts and pre-filled forms, cutting effort and processing time for clients.
Live in markets including the UK, US, India, and others, the platform has received positive feedback from over 10,000 users. Citi says the enhancements are part of a broader effort to make mid-sized corporate banking faster, more innovative, and more efficient.
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Japan has pledged $5.5 billion in loans and announced an ambitious AI training programme to deepen economic ties with Africa.
At TICAD 9, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba proposed creating an Indian Ocean–Africa economic zone to link African nations with Asia and the Middle East.
Japan will also support training 30,000 AI experts over three years to drive digital transformation and job growth across the continent.
The initiative comes amid growing calls from leaders like António Guterres and João Lourenço to overhaul global finance systems and empower African representation.
Japan’s move signals renewed interest in African engagement, as the US scales back and China’s influence expands across the region.
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Honda has entered a multiyear partnership with US-based startup Helm.ai to enhance self-driving systems in its vehicles.
The collaboration focuses on developing advanced driver assistance for Honda’s mass market range, with a target launch set for 2027.
Helm.ai, backed by over $100 million in funding, specialises in AI camera-based perception software and simulation technologies.
Honda has held an equity stake in the firm since 2021, having invested at least $30 million to support early-stage development.
The move places Honda among major global carmakers aiming to deliver partial automation on highways and regular roads. Existing systems like GM’s SuperCruise and Tesla’s Autopilot have already pushed ahead in the driver assistance space.
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A new MIT study has found that 95% of corporate AI projects fail to deliver returns, mainly due to difficulties integrating them with existing workflows.
The report, ‘The GenAI Divide: State of AI in Business 2025’, examined 300 deployments and interviewed 350 employees. Only 5% of projects generated value, typically when focused on solving a single, clearly defined problem.
Executives often blamed model performance, but researchers pointed to a workforce ‘learning gap’ as the bigger barrier. Many projects faltered because staff were unprepared to adapt processes effectively.
More than half of GenAI budgets were allocated to sales and marketing, yet the most substantial returns came from automating back-office tasks, such as reducing agency costs and streamlining roles.
The study also found that tools purchased from specialised vendors were nearly twice as successful as in-house systems, with success rates of 67% compared to 33%.
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Thirty crypto executives have urged Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to adopt a national stablecoin strategy, warning the UK could fall behind faster-moving markets. Their letter warned that the UK could remain a ‘rule-taker’ in digital assets without regulation.
The executives criticised the UK’s current legal definition of stablecoins as outdated and misleading, likening it to defining a cheque merely as’ paper concerning currency.’
They argue that stablecoins should be recognised as digital payment rails already used globally. Signatories include Coinbase, Kraken, Copper, Fireblocks, BitGo, and VanEck leaders, calling for regulation that treats stablecoins as financial infrastructure rather than risks.
Analysts stress stablecoins remain essential, acting as the ‘cash equivalent’ for digital assets and enabling faster blockchain transfers than traditional banking.
Industry experts, including HSBC’s Daragh Maher, emphasised that growth depends on a suitable regulatory environment. Clear rules could strengthen the UK’s global financial role and let stablecoins play a key part in its digital finance system.
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The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has reversed plans to cut 45 customer service roles following union pressure over the use of AI in its call centres.
The Finance Sector Union argued that CBA was not transparent about call volumes, taking the case to the Workplace Relations Tribunal. Staff reported rising workloads despite claims that the bank’s voice bot reduced calls by 2,000 weekly.
CBA admitted its redundancy assessment was flawed, stating that it had not fully considered the business needs. Impacted employees are being offered the option to remain in their current roles, relocate within the firm, or depart.
The Bank of Australia apologised and pledged to review internal processes. Chief executive Matt Comyn has promoted AI adoption, including a new partnership with OpenAI, but the union called the reversal a ‘massive win’ for workers.
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Google has announced that Gemini will soon power its smart home platform, replacing Google Assistant on existing Nest speakers and displays from October. The feature will launch initially as an early preview.
Gemini for Home promises more natural conversations and can manage complex household tasks, including controlling smart devices, creating calendars, and handling lists or timers through natural language commands. It will also support Gemini Live for ongoing dialogue.
Google says the upgrade is designed to serve all household members and visitors, offering hands-free help and integration with streaming platforms. The move signals a renewed focus on Google Home, a product line that has been largely overlooked in recent years.
The announcement hints at potential new hardware, given that Google’s last Nest Hub was released in 2021 and the Nest Audio speaker dates back to 2020.
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Imagine dreaming of your next holiday and feeling a rush of excitement. That emotion is when your attention is most engaged. Neuro-contextual advertising aims to meet you at such emotional peaks.
Neuro-contextual AI goes beyond page-level relevance. It interprets emotional signals of interest and intent in real time while preserving user privacy. It asks why users interact with content at a specific moment, not just what they view.
When ads align with emotion, interest and intention, engagement rises. A car ad may shift tone accordingly, action-fuelled visuals for thrill seekers and softer, nostalgic tones for someone browsing family stories.
Emotions shape memory and decisions. Emotionally intelligent advertising fosters connection, meaning and loyalty rather than just attention.
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Google has patched a high-severity flaw in its Chrome browser with the release of version 139, addressing vulnerability CVE-2025-9132 in the V8 JavaScript engine.
The out-of-bounds write issue was discovered by Big Sleep AI, a tool built by Google DeepMind and Project Zero to automate vulnerability detection in real-world software.
Chrome 139 updates (Windows/macOS: 139.0.7258.138/.139, Linux: 139.0.7258.138) are now rolling out to users. Google has not confirmed whether the flaw is being actively exploited.
Users are strongly advised to install the latest update to ensure protection, as V8 powers both JavaScript and WebAssembly within Chrome.
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