A large-scale network disruption has been confirmed by Verizon, affecting wireless voice, messaging, and mobile data services and leaving many customer devices operating in SOS mode across several regions.
The company acknowledged service interruptions during Wednesday afternoon and evening, while emergency calling capabilities remained available.
Additionally, the telecom provider issued multiple statements apologising for the disruption and pledged to provide account credits to impacted customers. Engineering teams were deployed throughout the incident, with service gradually restored later in the day.
Verizon advised users still experiencing connectivity problems to restart their devices once normal operations resumed.
Despite repeated updates, the company has not disclosed the underlying cause of the outage. Independent outage-tracking platforms described the incident as a severe breakdown in cellular connectivity, with most reports citing complete signal loss and mobile phone failures.
Verizon stated that further updates would be shared following internal reviews, while rival mobile networks reported no comparable disruptions during the same period.
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British parents suing TikTok over the deaths of their children have called for greater accountability from the platform, as the case begins hearings in the United States. One of the claimants said social media companies must be held accountable for the content shown to young users.
Ellen Roome, whose son died in 2022, said the lawsuit is about understanding what children were exposed to online.
The legal filing claims the deaths were a foreseeable result of TikTok’s design choices, which allegedly prioritised engagement over safety. TikTok has said it prohibits content that encourages dangerous behaviour.
Roome is also campaigning for proposed legislation that would allow parents to access their children’s social media accounts after a death. She said the aim is to gain clarity and prevent similar tragedies.
TikTok said it removes most harmful content before it is reported and expressed sympathy for the families. The company is seeking to dismiss the case, arguing that the US court lacks jurisdiction.
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AI is increasingly reshaping European workplaces, though large-scale job losses have not yet materialised. Studies by labour bodies show that tasks change faster than roles disappear.
Policymakers and employers face pressure to expand AI skills while addressing unequal access to them. Researchers warn that the benefits and risks concentrate among already skilled workers and larger organisations.
Education systems across Europe are beginning to integrate AI literacy, including teacher training and classroom tools. Progress remains uneven between countries and regions.
Microsoft experts say workforce readiness will depend on evidence-based policy and sustained funding. Skills programmes alone may not offset broader economic and social disruption from AI adoption.
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Samsara has built a platform that helps companies with physical operations run more safely and efficiently. Founded in 2015 by MIT alumni John Bicket and Sanjit Biswas, the company connects workers, vehicles, and equipment through cloud-based analytics.
The platform combines sensors, AI cameras, GPS tracking, and real-time alerts to cut accidents, fuel use, and maintenance costs. Large companies across logistics, construction, manufacturing, and energy report cost savings and improved safety after adopting the system.
Samsara turns large volumes of operational data into actionable insights for frontline workers and managers. Tools like driver coaching, predictive maintenance, and route optimisation reduce risk at scale while recognising high-performing field workers.
The company is expanding its use of AI to manage weather risk, support sustainability, and enable the adoption of electric fleets. They position data-driven decision-making as central to modernising critical infrastructure worldwide.
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Almost all Indian companies plan to sustain AI spending even without near-term financial returns. A BCG survey shows 97 percent will keep investing, higher than the 94 percent global rate.
Corporate AI budgets in India are expected to rise to about 1.7 percent of revenue in 2026. Leaders see AI as a long-term strategic priority rather than a short-term cost.
Around 88 percent of Indian executives express confidence in AI generating positive business outcomes. That is above the global average of 82 percent, reflecting strong optimism among local decision-makers.
Despite enthusiasm, fewer Indian CEOs personally lead AI strategy than their global peers, and workforce AI skills lag international benchmarks. Analysts say talent and leadership alignment remain key as spending grows.
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Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image and voice to protect them from unauthorised use by AI platforms. His lawyers say the move is intended to safeguard consent and attribution in an evolving digital environment.
Several clips, including his well-known catchphrase from Dazed and Confused, have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Legal experts say it is the first time an actor has used trademark law to address potential AI misuse of their likeness.
McConaughey’s legal team said there is no evidence of his image being manipulated by AI so far. The trademarks are intended to act as a preventative measure against unauthorised copying or commercial use.
The actor said he wants to ensure any future use of his voice or appearance is approved. Lawyers also said the approach could help capture value created through licensed AI applications.
Concerns over deepfakes and synthetic media are growing across the entertainment industry. Other celebrities have faced unauthorised AI-generated content, prompting calls for stronger legal protections.
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The European Commission has announced €307.3 million ($356 million) in new funding to advance digital technologies across the EU. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s innovation, competitiveness, and strategic digital autonomy.
A total of €221.8 million will support projects in AI, robotics, quantum technologies, photonics, and virtual worlds. One focus is the development of trustworthy AI services and innovative data solutions to enhance EU digital leadership.
More than €40 million has been allocated to the Open Internet Stack Initiative, which aims to advance end-user applications and core stack technologies, boosting European digital sovereignty. A second call of €85.5 million will target open strategic autonomy in emerging digital technologies and raw materials.
The funding is open to businesses, academic institutions, public administrations, and other entities from EU member states and partner countries. Priority areas include next-generation AI agents, industrial and service robotics, and new materials with enhanced sensing capabilities.
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Ofcom has opened an investigation into Novi Ltd over age checks on its AI companion chatbot. The probe focuses on duties under the Online Safety Act.
Regulators will assess whether children can access pornographic content without effective age assurance. Sanctions could include substantial fines or business disruption measures under the UK’s Online Safety Bill.
In a separate case, Ofcom confirmed enforcement pressure led Snapchat to overhaul its illegal content risk assessment. Revised findings now require stronger protections for UK users.
Ofcom said accurate risk assessments underpin online safety regulation. Platforms must match safeguards to real world risks, particularly when AI and children are concerned.
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Britain and Canada are continuing regulatory probes into xAI’s Grok chatbot, signalling that official scrutiny will persist despite the company’s announcement of new safeguards. Authorities say concerns remain over the system’s ability to generate explicit and non-consensual images.
xAI said it had updated Grok to block edits that place real people in revealing clothing and restricted image generation in jurisdictions where such content is illegal. The company did not specify which regions are affected by the new limits.
Reuters testing found Grok was still capable of producing sexualised images, including in Britain. Social media platform X and xAI did not respond to questions about how effective the changes have been.
UK regulator Ofcom said its investigation remains ongoing, despite welcoming xAI’s announcement. A privacy watchdog in Canada also confirmed it is expanding an existing probe into both X and xAI.
Pressure is growing internationally, with countries including France, India, and the Philippines raising concerns. British Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the Online Safety Act gives the government tools to hold platforms accountable for harmful content.
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Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to collaborate on developing new AI models and preparing related legislation. The cooperation was formalised in a joint statement at a digital ministers’ meeting in Hanoi on Thursday.
Proposed by Minister Hayashi, the initiative aims to boost regional AI capabilities amid US and Chinese competition. Japan emphasised its ongoing commitment to supporting ASEAN’s technological development.
The partnership follows last October’s Japan-ASEAN summit, where Prime Minister Takaichi called for joint research in semiconductors and AI. The agreement aims to foster closer innovation ties and regional collaboration in strategic technology sectors.
The collaboration will engage public and private stakeholders to promote research, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building across ASEAN. Officials expect the partnership to speed AI adoption while maintaining regional regulations and ethical standards.
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