Digital identities

Wikipedia marks 25 years with new global tech partnerships

Wikipedia marked its 25th anniversary by showcasing the rapid expansion of Wikimedia Enterprise and its growing tech partnerships. The milestone reflects Wikipedia’s evolution into one of the most trusted and widely used knowledge sources in the digital economy.

Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Perplexity have joined the partner roster for the first time, alongside Google, Ecosia, and several other companies already working with Wikimedia Enterprise.

These organisations integrate human-curated Wikipedia content into search engines, AI models, voice assistants, and data platforms, helping deliver verified knowledge to billions of users worldwide.

Wikipedia remains one of the top ten most visited websites globally and the only one in that group operated by a non-profit organisation. With over 65 million articles in 300+ languages, the platform is a key dataset for training large language models.

Wikimedia Enterprise provides structured, high-speed access to this content through on-demand, snapshot, and real-time APIs, allowing companies to use Wikipedia data at scale while supporting its long-term sustainability.

As Wikipedia continues to expand into new languages and subject areas, its value for AI development, search, and specialised knowledge applications is expected to grow further.

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Cerebras to supply large-scale AI compute for OpenAI

OpenAI has agreed to purchase up to 750 megawatts of computing power from AI chipmaker Cerebras over the next three years. The deal, announced on 14 January, is expected to be worth more than US$10 billion and will support ChatGPT and other AI services.

Cerebras will provide cloud services powered by its wafer-scale chips, which are designed to run large AI models more efficiently than traditional GPUs. OpenAI plans to use the capacity primarily for inference and reasoning models that require high compute.

Cerebras will build or lease data centres filled with its custom hardware, with computing capacity coming online in stages through 2028. OpenAI said the partnership would help improve the speed and responsiveness of its AI systems as user demand continues to grow.

The deal is also essential for Cerebras as it prepares for a second attempt at a public listing, following a 2025 IPO that was postponed. Diversifying its customer base beyond major backers such as UAE-based G42 could strengthen its financial position ahead of a potential 2026 flotation.

The agreement highlights the wider race among AI firms to secure vast computing resources, as investment in AI infrastructure accelerates. However, some analysts have warned that soaring valuations and heavy spending could resemble past technology bubbles.

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Gemini gains new features through Personal Intelligence

A new beta feature has been launched in the United States that lets users personalise the Gemini assistant by connecting Google apps such as Gmail, Photos, YouTube and Search. The tool, called Personal Intelligence, is designed to make the service more proactive and context-aware.

When enabled, Personal Intelligence allows Gemini to reason across a user’s emails, photos, and search history to answer questions or retrieve specific details. Google says users remain in control of which apps are connected and can turn the feature off at any time.

The company showed how Gemini can use connected data to offer tailored suggestions, such as identifying vehicle details from Photos or recommending trips based on past travel.

Google said the system includes privacy safeguards. Personal Intelligence is turned off by default, and Gemini does not train on users’ Gmail inboxes or photo libraries.

The beta is rolling out to Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers in the US and will work across web, Android, and iOS. Google plans to expand access over time and bring the feature to more countries and users.

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New TranslateGemma models support 55 languages efficiently

A new suite of open translation models, TranslateGemma, has been launched, bringing advanced multilingual capabilities to users worldwide. Built on the Gemma 3 architecture, the models support 55 languages and come in 4B, 12B, and 27B parameter sizes.

The release aims to make high-quality translation accessible across devices without compromising efficiency.

TranslateGemma delivers impressive performance gains, with the 12B model surpassing the 27B Gemma 3 baseline on WMT24++ benchmarks. The models achieve higher accuracy while requiring fewer parameters, enabling faster translations with lower latency.

The 4B model also performs on par with larger models, making it ideal for mobile deployment.

The development combines supervised fine-tuning on diverse parallel datasets with reinforcement learning guided by advanced metrics. TranslateGemma performs well in high- and low-resource languages and supports accurate text translation within images.

Designed for flexible deployment, the models cater to mobile devices, consumer laptops, and cloud environments. Researchers and developers can use TranslateGemma to build customised translation solutions and improve coverage for low-resource languages.

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MetaMask adds native Tron support across all platforms

MetaMask has launched native Tron support on mobile and in the browser, completing its integration with the Tron DAO, announced last August. The move strengthens MetaMask’s shift towards a fully multichain strategy beyond its Ethereum roots.

Tron-based assets, decentralised applications, staking, and USDT transfers can now be managed directly within MetaMask’s self-custody wallet. Users can swap assets across Tron, EVM chains, Solana, and Bitcoin without extra wallet software.

The integration connects MetaMask to Tron, one of the busiest stablecoin networks, with $21 billion in daily transfers and millions of active wallets. Tron’s strong presence in payments and decentralised finance adds further scale to MetaMask’s growing multichain offering.

Consensys, the developer behind MetaMask, has accelerated expansion beyond Ethereum as user activity increasingly spans multiple blockchain ecosystems. After adding Solana and Bitcoin, the integration with Tron further strengthens MetaMask as a cross-chain platform beyond Ethereum.

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OpenAI invests in Merge Labs to advance brain-computer interfaces

The US AI company, OpenAI, has invested in Merge Labs as part of a seed funding round, signalling a growing interest in brain-computer interfaces as a future layer of human–technology interaction.

Merge Labs describes its mission as bridging the gap between biology and AI to expand human capability and agency. The research lab is developing new BCI approaches designed to operate safely while enabling much higher communication bandwidth between the brain and digital systems.

AI is expected to play a central role in Merge Labs’ work, supporting advances in neuroscience, bioengineering and device development instead of relying on traditional interface models.

High-bandwidth brain interfaces are also expected to benefit from AI systems capable of interpreting intent under conditions of limited and noisy signals.

OpenAI plans to collaborate with Merge Labs on scientific foundation models and advanced tools, aiming to accelerate research progress and translate experimental concepts into practical applications over time.

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Microsoft disrupts global RedVDS cybercrime network

Microsoft has launched a joint legal action in the US and the UK to dismantle RedVDS, a subscription service supplying criminals with disposable virtual computers for large-scale fraud. The operation with German authorities and Europol seized key domains and shut down the RedVDS marketplace.

RedVDS enabled sophisticated attacks, including business email compromise and real estate payment diversion schemes. Since March 2025, it has caused about US $40 million in US losses, hitting organisations like H2-Pharma and Gatehouse Dock Condominium Association.

Globally, over 191,000 organisations have been impacted by RedVDS-enabled fraud, often combined with AI-generated emails and multimedia impersonation.

Microsoft emphasises that targeting the infrastructure, rather than individual attackers, is key. International cooperation disrupted servers and payment networks supporting RedVDS and helped identify those responsible.

Users are advised to verify payment requests, use multifactor authentication, and report suspicious activity to reduce risk.

The civil action marks the 35th case by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, reflecting a sustained commitment to dismantling online fraud networks. As cybercrime evolves, Microsoft and partners aim to block criminals and protect people and organisations globally.

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MIT tool combines AI and physics for 3D printing

MIT researchers have developed a generative AI system called MechStyle that allows users to personalise 3D-printed objects while ensuring they remain durable and functional.

The tool combines AI-driven design with physics simulations, allowing everyday items such as vases, hooks, and glasses to be customised without compromising structural integrity.

Users can upload their own 3D models or select presets and use text or image prompts to guide the design. MechStyle modifies the geometry and simulates stress points to maintain strength, enabling unique, tactile, and usable creations.

The system can personalise aesthetics while preserving functionality, even for assistive devices like finger splints and utensil grips.

To optimise performance, MechStyle employs an adaptive scheduling strategy that checks only the critical areas of a model, reducing computation time. Early tests of 30 objects, including designs resembling bricks, cacti, and stones, showed up to 100% structural viability.

The tool offers a freestyle mode for rapid experimentation and a careful mode for analysing the effects of modifications. Researchers plan to expand MechStyle to generate entirely new 3D models from scratch and improve faulty designs.

The project reflects collaboration with Google, Stability AI, and Northeastern University and was presented at the ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication. Its potential extends to personal items, home and office décor, and even commercial prototypes for retail products.

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Why young people across South Asia turn to AI

Children and young adults across South Asia are increasingly turning to AI tools for emotional reassurance, schoolwork and everyday advice, even while acknowledging their shortcomings.

Easy access to smartphones, cheap data and social pressures have made chatbots a constant presence, often filling gaps left by limited human interaction.

Researchers and child safety experts warn that growing reliance on AI risks weakening critical thinking, reducing social trust and exposing young users to privacy and bias-related harms.

Studies show that many children understand AI can mislead or oversimplify, yet receive little guidance at school or home on how to question outputs or assess risks.

Rather than banning AI outright, experts argue for child-centred regulation, stronger safeguards and digital literacy that involves parents, educators and communities.

Without broader social support systems and clear accountability from technology companies, AI risks becoming a substitute for human connection instead of a tool that genuinely supports learning and wellbeing.

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AI-assisted money management adoption rises

Young adults in the UK are increasingly turning to AI for help with managing their finances, as many struggle to save and maintain control over spending.

A survey of 5,000 adults aged 28 to 40 found that impulse purchases and weak self-discipline frequently undermine savings, while most feel they could improve their financial knowledge.

AI-powered financial tools are gaining traction, particularly among those aged 28 to 34. Nearly two-thirds of respondents would trust AI to advise on disposable income, and over half would allow it to manage bills or prevent overdrafts.

However, nearly a quarter prefer to start with limited use, seeking proof of value before full engagement.

Regional differences highlight the uneven financial landscape in the UK. Londoners save significantly more than the national average, while cities such as Newcastle and Cardiff lag far behind.

Experts suggest fintech solutions must balance behavioural support with practical assistance and consider regional disparities to be effective.

Fintechs should prioritise tools that deliver immediate value over purely aspirational AI features. Modular tools and age- or region-specific solutions are likely to engage users, especially older millennials with rising financial responsibilities.

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