Digital cooperation

Publishers set to earn from Comet Plus, Perplexity’s new initiative

Perplexity has announced Comet Plus, a new service that will pay premium publishers to provide high-quality news content as an alternative to clickbait. The company has not disclosed its roster of partners or payment structure, though reports suggest a pool of $42.5 million.

Publishers have long criticised AI services for exploiting their work without compensation. Perplexity, backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, said Comet Plus will create a fairer system and reward journalists for producing trusted content in the era of AI.

The platform introduces a revenue model based on three streams: human visits, search citations, and agent actions. Perplexity argues this approach better reflects how people consume information today, whether by browsing manually, seeking AI-generated answers, or using AI agents.

The company stated that the initiative aims to rebuild trust between readers and publishers, while ensuring that journalism thrives in a changing digital economy. The initial group of publishing partners will be revealed later.

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Travellers claim ChatGPT helps cut flight costs by hundreds of pounds

ChatGPT is increasingly used as a travel assistant, with some travellers claiming it can save hundreds of pounds on flights. Finance influencer Casper Opala shares cost-saving tips online and said the AI tool helped him secure a flight for £70 that initially cost more than £700.

Opala shared a series of prompts that allow ChatGPT to identify hidden routes, budget airlines not listed on major platforms, and potential savings through alternative airports or separate bookings. He also suggested using the tool to monitor prices for several days or compare one-way fares with return tickets.

While many money-saving tricks have existed for years, ChatGPT condenses the process, collecting results in seconds. Opala says this efficiency is a strong starting point for cheaper travel deals.

Experts, however, warn that ChatGPT is not connected to live flight booking systems. TravelBook’s Laura Pomer noted that the AI can sometimes present inaccurate or outdated fares, meaning users should always verify results before booking.

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NFL adds Microsoft Copilot to sidelines

The NFL has begun deploying Microsoft Copilot across all 32 clubs to support faster and more intelligent decision-making during games. Over 2,500 Surface Copilot+ devices have been distributed to coaches, analysts and staff for use on the sidelines and in the booth.

Teams now have access to AI-powered tools like a GitHub Copilot filter that quickly pulls key moments, such as penalties or fumbles, reducing the need to scrub through footage manually. Microsoft 365 Copilot also supports analysts with real-time trend spotting in Excel dashboards during matches.

To ensure reliability, Microsoft has provided hard-wired carts for connectivity even when Wi-Fi drops. These systems are linked to secure Windows servers managed by the NFL, safeguarding critical game data under various stadium conditions.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said the team has embraced the changes, calling Copilot ‘a valuable tool’ for navigating the pressure of real-time decisions. NFL leadership echoed his optimism, framing AI as essential to the future of the sport.

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Brave uncovers vulnerability in Perplexity’s Comet that risked sensitive user data

Perplexity’s AI-powered browser, Comet, was found to have a serious vulnerability that could have exposed sensitive user data through indirect prompt injection, according to researchers at Brave, a rival browser company.

The flaw stemmed from how Comet handled webpage-summarisation requests. By embedding hidden instructions on websites, attackers could trick the browser’s large language model into executing unintended actions, such as extracting personal emails or accessing saved passwords.

Brave researchers demonstrated how the exploit could bypass traditional protections, such as the same-origin policy, showing scenarios where attackers gained access to Gmail or banking data by manipulating Comet into following malicious cues.

Brave disclosed the vulnerability to Perplexity on 11 August, but stated that it remained unfixed when they published their findings on 20 August. Perplexity later confirmed to CNET that the flaw had been patched, and Brave was credited for working with them to resolve it.

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Jetson AGX Thor brings Blackwell-powered compute to robots and autonomous vehicles

Nvidia has introduced Jetson AGX Thor, its Blackwell-powered robotics platform that succeeds the 2022 Jetson Orin. Designed for autonomous driving, factory robots, and humanoid machines, it comes in multiple models, with a DRIVE OS kit for vehicles scheduled for release in September.

Thor delivers 7.5 times more AI compute, 3.1 times greater CPU performance, and double the memory of Orin. The flagship Thor T5000 offers up to 2,070 teraflops of AI compute, paired with 128 GB of memory, enabling the execution of generative AI models and robotics workloads at the edge.

The platform supports Nvidia’s Isaac, Metropolis, and Holoscan systems, and features multi-instance GPU capabilities that enable the simultaneous execution of multiple AI models. It is compatible with Hugging Face, PyTorch, and leading AI models from OpenAI, Google, and other sources.

Adoption has begun, with Boston Dynamics utilising Thor for Atlas and firms such as Volvo, Aurora, and Gatik deploying DRIVE AGX Thor in their vehicles. Nvidia stresses it supports robot-makers rather than building robots, with robotics still a small but growing part of its business.

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Vietnam accelerates modernization of foreign affairs through technology and AI

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam spearheads an extensive digital transformation initiative in line with the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW issued in December 2024. This resolution highlights the necessity of advancements in science, technology, and national digital transformation.

Under the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son, the Ministry is committed to modernising its operations and improving efficiency, reflecting Vietnam’s broader digital evolution strategy across all sectors.

Key implementations of this transformation include the creation of three major digital platforms: an electronic information portal providing access to foreign policies and online public services, an online document management system for internal digitalisation, and an integrated data-sharing platform for connectivity and multi-dimensional data exchange.

The Ministry has digitised 100% of its administrative procedures, linking them to a national-level system, showcasing a significant stride towards administrative reform and efficiency. Additionally, the Ministry has fully adopted social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter, indicating its efforts to enhance foreign information dissemination and public engagement.

A central component of this initiative is the ‘Digital Literacy for All’ movement, inspired by President Ho Chi Minh’s historic ‘Popular Education’ campaign. This movement focuses on equipping diplomatic personnel with essential digital skills, transforming them into proficient ‘digital civil servants’ and ‘digital ambassadors.’ The Ministry aims to enhance its diplomatic functions in today’s globally connected environment by advancing its ability to navigate and utilise modern technologies.

The Ministry plans to develop its digital infrastructure further, strengthen data management, and integrate AI for strategic planning and predictive analysis.

Establishing a digital data warehouse for foreign information and enhancing human resources by nurturing technology experts within the diplomatic sector are also on the agenda. These actions reflect a strong commitment to fostering a professional and globally adept diplomatic industry, poised to safeguard national interests and thrive in the digital age.

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Humain Chat has been unveiled by Saudi Arabia to drive AI innovation

Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step in AI with the launch of Humain Chat, an app powered by one of the world’s most enormous Arabic-trained datasets.

Developed by state-backed venture Humain, the app is designed to strengthen the country’s role in AI while promoting sovereign technologies.

Built on the Allam large language model, Humain Chat allows real-time web search, speech input across Arabic dialects, bilingual switching between Arabic and English, and secure data compliance with Saudi privacy laws.

The app is already available on the web, iOS, and Android in Saudi Arabia, with plans for regional expansion across the Middle East before reaching global markets.

Humain was established in May under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Public Investment Fund. Its flagship model, ALLAM 34B, is described as the most advanced AI system created in the Arab world. The company said the app will evolve further as user adoption grows.

CEO Tareq Amin called the launch ‘a historic milestone’ for Saudi Arabia, stressing that Humain Chat shows how advanced AI can be developed in Arabic while staying culturally rooted and built by local expertise.

A team of 120 specialists based in the Kingdom created the platform.

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CZ outlines vision for crypto and AI integration

Binance founder Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao shared his vision for crypto’s future, connecting digital assets with AI and recent policy changes. At WebX in Tokyo, CZ praised US crypto policy under Trump, highlighting stablecoin legislation and the Genius Act while opposing central bank digital currencies.

He argued that embracing innovation is crucial to remaining competitive globally.

CZ predicted that crypto will become the natural medium of exchange for AI, bypassing traditional fiat, banks, and credit cards. He envisaged hundreds or thousands of AI agents per person, generating a surge of microtransactions via programmable blockchain networks.

According to CZ, blockchains’ APIs are better suited than banks for interfacing with AI-driven economic activity.

Since stepping down from Binance, CZ has focused on education and advisory work. His Giggle Academy already serves 50,000 children, aiming to digitise 18 years of schooling at a fraction of government costs.

He advises at least 12 governments on crypto regulation and adoption. He also plans to mentor founders and back early-stage projects through his investment firm EZ Labs, emphasising ethical practices and long-term value creation.

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New WhatsApp features help manage unwanted groups

WhatsApp is expanding its tools to give users greater control over the groups they join and the conversations they take part in.

When someone not saved in a user’s contacts adds them to a group, WhatsApp now provides details about that group so they can immediately decide whether to stay or leave. If a user chooses to exit, they can also report the group directly to WhatsApp.

Privacy settings allow people to decide who can add them to groups. By default, the setting is set to ‘Everyone,’ but it can be adjusted to ‘My contacts’ or ‘My contacts except…’ for more security. Messages within groups can also be reported individually, with users having the option to block the sender.

Reported messages and groups are sent to WhatsApp for review, including the sender’s or group’s ID, the time the message was sent, and the message type.

Although blocking an entire group is impossible, users can block or report individual members or administrators if they are sending spam or inappropriate content. Reporting a group will send up to five recent messages from that chat to WhatsApp without notifying other members.

Exiting a group remains straightforward: users can tap the group name and select ‘Exit group.’ With these tools, WhatsApp aims to strengthen user safety, protect privacy, and provide better ways to manage unwanted interactions.

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Honor and Google deepen platform partnership with longer updates and AI integration

Honor has announced a joint commitment with Google to strengthen its Android platform support. The company now guarantees six years of Android OS and security updates for its upcoming Honor 400 series, aligning with similar practices by Pixel and Samsung devices.

This update period is part of Honor’s wider Alpha Plan, a strategic framework positioning the company as an AI device ecosystem player.

Honor will invest US $10 billion over five years to support this transformation through hardware innovation, software longevity and AI agent integration.

The partnership enables deeper cooperation with Google around Android updates and AI features. Honor already integrates tools like Circle to Search, AI photo expansion and Gemini voice assistants on its Magic series. The extended software support promises longer device lifespans, reduced e-waste and improved user experience.

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