Digital standards Archives | Page 2 of 354

AI-powered Copilot Health platform introduced by Microsoft

Microsoft has introduced Copilot Health, a new feature that uses AI to help users interpret personal health data and prepare for medical consultations.

The tool will operate as a separate and secure environment within Microsoft’s Copilot ecosystem, allowing users to combine health records, wearable data, and medical history into a single profile. The system then uses AI to analyse patterns and generate personalised insights intended to support conversations with healthcare professionals.

Microsoft said the feature aims to help people better understand existing medical information rather than replace clinical care. Users can review trends such as sleep patterns, activity levels, and vital signs gathered from wearable devices, alongside test results and visit summaries from healthcare providers.

Copilot Health can integrate data from more than 50 wearable devices, including systems connected through platforms such as Apple Health, Fitbit, and Oura. The platform can also access health records from over 50,000 US hospitals and provider organisations through HealthEx, as well as laboratory test results from Function.

According to Microsoft, the system builds on ongoing research into medical AI systems, including work on the Microsoft AI Diagnostic Orchestrator (MAI-DxO). The company said future publications will explore how such systems could assist in analysing complex medical cases.

Privacy and security are central elements of the design. Microsoft stated that Copilot Health data and conversations are stored separately from standard Copilot interactions and protected through encryption and access controls. The company also noted that health information used in the service will not be used to train AI models.

Development of the system involves Microsoft’s internal clinical team and an external advisory group of more than 230 physicians from 24 countries. The company said Copilot Health has also achieved ISO/IEC 42001 certification, a standard focused on the governance of AI management systems.

The feature is being introduced through a phased rollout, beginning with a waitlist for early users who will help shape the service as it develops.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU competition regulators expand scrutiny across the entire AI ecosystem

Competition authorities in the EU are broadening their oversight of the AI sector, examining every layer of the technology’s value chain.

Speaking at a conference in Berlin, Teresa Ribera explained that regulators are analysing the full ‘AI stack’ instead of focusing solely on consumer applications.

According to the competition chief, scrutiny extends beyond visible AI tools to the systems that support them. Investigations are assessing underlying models, the data used to train those models, as well as cloud infrastructure and energy resources that power AI systems.

Regulatory attention has already reached the application layer.

The European Commission opened an investigation in 2025 involving Meta after concerns emerged that the company could restrict competing AI assistants on its messaging platform WhatsApp.

Following regulatory pressure, Meta proposed allowing rival AI chatbots on the platform in exchange for a fee. European regulators are now assessing the proposal to determine whether additional intervention is necessary to preserve fair competition in rapidly evolving digital markets.

Authorities have also examined concentration risks across other parts of the AI ecosystem, including the infrastructure layer dominated by companies such as Nvidia.

Regulators argue that effective competition oversight must address the entire technology stack as AI markets expand quickly.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Cambridge researchers warn AI toys misread children’s emotions

AI toys for young children may misread emotions and respond inappropriately, according to a study by researchers at the University of Cambridge. Developmental psychologists observed interactions between children aged three to five and conversational AI-powered toys.

Findings showed the toys often struggled with pretend play and emotional cues. In several cases, children attempted to express sadness or initiate imaginative scenarios, while the AI responded with unrelated or overly scripted replies, leaving emotional signals unrecognised.

Researchers warned that such limitations could affect children’s emotional development and imaginative play. Early years practitioners also raised concerns about how toy-collected conversation data may be used and whether children could start treating the devices as trusted companions.

The study calls for stronger regulation and the introduction of safety certification for AI toys aimed at young children. Toy developer Curio stated that improving AI interactions and maintaining parental controls remain priorities as the technology continues to develop.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

BeatBanker malware targets Android users in Brazil

A new Android malware called BeatBanker is targeting users in Brazil through fake Starlink and government apps. The malware hijacks devices, steals banking credentials, tampers with cryptocurrency transactions, and secretly mines Monero.

Infection begins on phishing websites mimicking the Google Play Store or the ‘INSS Reembolso’ app. Users are tricked into installing trojanised APKs, which evade detection through memory-based decryption and by blocking analysis environments.

Fake update screens maintain persistence while silently downloading additional malicious payloads.

BeatBanker initially combined a banking trojan with a cryptocurrency miner. It uses accessibility permissions to monitor browsers and crypto apps, overlaying fake screens to redirect Tether and other crypto transfers.

A foreground service plays silent audio loops to prevent the device from shutting down, while Firebase Cloud Messaging enables remote control of infected devices.

The latest variant replaces the banking module with the BTMOB RAT, providing full control over devices. Capabilities include automatic permissions, background persistence, keylogging, GPS tracking, camera access, and screen-lock credential capture.

Kaspersky warns that BeatBanker demonstrates the growing sophistication of mobile threats and multi-layered malware campaigns.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Biased AI suggestions shift societal attitudes

AI-powered writing tools may do more than speed up typing- they can influence the way people think. A Cornell study found that biassed autocomplete suggestions can subtly shift users’ opinions on issues like the death penalty, fracking, GMOs, and voting rights.

Experiments with over 2,500 participants revealed that users’ views gravitated toward the AI’s predetermined bias. Attempts to warn participants about the AI’s bias, either before or after writing, did not prevent the shifts.

Researchers noted that the effect occurs because users effectively write biassed viewpoints themselves, a process psychology research shows can alter personal attitudes.

The influence was consistent across political topics and participants of all leanings. Compared with simply providing pre-written arguments, biassed AI suggestions had a stronger effect on shaping opinions.

Researchers warn that as autocomplete and generative AI tools become increasingly prevalent, covert persuasion through AI may pose serious societal risks.

The study, led by Sterling Williams-Ceci and Mor Naaman of Cornell Tech, highlights the potential for AI to shape beliefs without users noticing. Findings highlight the need for oversight as AI writing assistants enter everyday communication.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI browsers expose new cybersecurity attack surfaces

Security researchers have demonstrated that agentic browsers, powered by AI, may introduce new cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Experiments targeting the Comet AI browser, developed by Perplexity AI, showed that attackers could manipulate the system into executing phishing scams in only a few minutes.

The attack exploits the reasoning process used by AI agents when interacting with websites. These systems continuously explain their actions and observations, revealing internal signals that attackers can analyse to refine malicious strategies and bypass built-in safeguards.

Researchers showed that phishing pages can be iteratively trained using adversarial machine learning methods, such as Generative Adversarial Networks.

By observing how the AI browser responds to suspicious signals, attackers can optimise fraudulent pages until the system accepts them as legitimate.

The findings highlight a shift in the cybersecurity threat landscape. Instead of deceiving human users directly, attackers increasingly focus on manipulating the AI agents that perform online actions on behalf of users.

Security experts warn that prompt injection vulnerabilities remain a fundamental challenge for large language models and agentic systems.

Although new defensive techniques are being developed, researchers believe such weaknesses may remain difficult to eliminate.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU platform law expands data access rights

European regulators are examining how the Digital Markets Act interacts with the General Data Protection Regulation across major digital platforms. The EU rules apply to designated gatekeepers that operate core platform services used by millions of users.

Policy specialists in the EU say the Digital Markets Act complements GDPR protections by strengthening user control over personal data. The framework also supports rights related to data access, portability and transparency for both consumers and business users.

The regulatory overlap affects areas including consent requirements, third-party software installation and interoperability between services. Authorities are also coordinating enforcement between competition and data protection regulators.

Analysts say the combined application of both laws could reshape the responsibilities of major technology platforms. Policymakers aim to increase user choice while reinforcing safeguards for the integrity and confidentiality of personal data in the GDPR.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI agents face growing prompt injection risks

AI developers are working on new defences against prompt-injection attacks that aim to manipulate AI agents. Security specialists warn that attackers are increasingly using social engineering techniques to influence AI systems that interact with online content.

Researchers say AI agents that browse the web or handle user tasks face growing risks from hidden instructions embedded in emails or websites. Experts in the US note that attackers often attempt to trick AI into revealing sensitive information.

Engineers are responding by designing systems that limit the impact of manipulation attempts. Developers in the US say AI tools must include safeguards preventing sensitive data from being transmitted without user approval.

Security teams are also introducing technologies that detect risky actions and prompt users for confirmation. Specialists argue that strong system design and user oversight will remain essential as AI agents gain more autonomy.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

MIT researchers outline future of AI and physical sciences

AI and the mathematical and physical sciences are entering a new phase of collaboration that could accelerate technological progress and scientific discovery. Researchers increasingly see the relationship as a two-way exchange rather than a one-sided use of AI tools.

A 2025 MIT workshop brought together experts from astronomy, chemistry, materials science, mathematics and physics to examine the future of this collaboration.

Discussions resulted in a white paper published in Machine Learning: Science and Technology, outlining strategies for research institutions and funding bodies.

Participants agreed that stronger computing infrastructure, shared data resources and cross-disciplinary research methods are essential for progress. Scientists also improve AI by analysing neural networks, identifying principles and developing new algorithms.

Researchers highlighted the growing importance of so-called ‘centaur scientists’- specialists trained in both AI and traditional scientific disciplines. Universities, including MIT, are expanding interdisciplinary programmes and research initiatives to train experts who can work across AI and scientific fields.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Leading tech companies deepen AI competition with new capabilities

AI competition among leading AI developers intensified in early 2026 as major companies expanded their models, platforms, and partnerships. Companies including Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI are introducing new capabilities and integrating AI systems into broader ecosystems.

Google has continued to expand its Gemini model family with updates to Gemini 3.1 Pro and 3.1 Flash, designed to support complex tasks across applications. The company is also integrating Gemini into services such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, allowing users to generate documents and analyse data across multiple Google services.

Gemini has also been embedded into the Chrome browser and integrated with Samsung’s Galaxy devices, expanding its distribution across consumer platforms as AI competition among major developers accelerates.

Anthropic has focused on advancing the Claude model family while positioning the system for enterprise and professional use. Recent updates include Claude Sonnet 4.6, which introduces improvements in reasoning and coding capabilities alongside an expanded context window currently in beta. The company has also launched a limited preview of the Claude Marketplace, allowing organisations to use third-party tools built on Claude through partnerships with several software companies.

OpenAI has continued to update ChatGPT with the release of the GPT-5 series, including GPT-5.2 and GPT-5.4. The newer models combine reasoning, coding, and agent-based workflows, while also introducing computer-use capabilities that allow the system to interact with applications directly.

OpenAI has also introduced additional services, including ChatGPT Health and integrations designed to assist with spreadsheet modelling and data analysis, further intensifying AI competition across enterprise and consumer tools.

Meanwhile, xAI has expanded development of its Grok models while increasing computing infrastructure. The company has reported growth in Grok usage through integration with the X platform and other applications. Recent announcements include upgrades to Grok’s voice and multimodal capabilities, as well as continued training of future models.

Across the industry, developers are increasingly positioning their systems not only as conversational assistants but also as tools integrated into enterprise workflows, creative production, and software development. New releases in 2026 reflect a broader shift toward multimodal systems, agent-based capabilities, and deeper integration with existing digital platforms, highlighting how AI competition is shaping the next phase of AI development.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!