ElevenLabs, a Palo Alto-based AI startup valued at $3.3 billion, has introduced its first stand-alone speech-to-text model, Scribe. The company, which is better known for its audio-generation capabilities, now aims to disrupt the speech detection market by providing a faster and more accurate alternative to existing models like Whisper and Deepgram. Scribe supports over 99 languages, with top accuracy in more than 25, including English, French, and Spanish.
The new AI model has already outperformed competitors like Google’s Gemini 2.0 Flash and OpenAI’s Whisper Large V3 in benchmark tests. It also includes features like speaker diarisation, accurate subtitles, and sound event tagging, which could appeal to customers in media and content creation. While Scribe currently only works with pre-recorded audio, ElevenLabs plans to release a real-time version soon.
Priced at $0.40 per hour of transcribed audio, Scribe offers a competitive rate, though some rivals currently offer lower prices. With this move into speech-to-text, ElevenLabs is positioning itself to expand its AI offerings and challenge established players in the field.
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British universities have been urged to reassess their assessment methods after new research revealed a significant rise in students using genAI for their projects. A survey of 1,000 undergraduates found that 88% of students used AI tools like ChatGPT for assessments in 2025, up from 53% last year. Overall, 92% of students now use some form of AI, marking a substantial shift in academic behaviours in just a year.
The report, by the Higher Education Policy Institute and Kortext, highlights how AI is being used for tasks such as summarising articles, explaining concepts, and suggesting research ideas. While AI can enhance the quality of work and save time, some students admitted to directly including AI-generated content in their assignments, raising concerns about academic misconduct.
The research also found that concerns over AI’s potential impact on academic integrity vary across demographics. Women, wealthier students, and those studying STEM subjects were more likely to embrace AI, while others expressed fears about getting caught or receiving biased results. Despite these concerns, students generally feel that universities are addressing the issue of academic integrity, with many believing their institutions have clear policies on AI use.
Experts argue that universities need to adapt quickly to the changing landscape, with some suggesting that AI should be integrated into teaching rather than being seen solely as a threat to academic integrity. As AI tools become an essential part of education, institutions must find a balance between leveraging the technology and maintaining academic standards.
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Canada’s telecommunications regulator, the CRTC, announced on Wednesday that it will impose a fee on Google to cover the costs of enforcing the Online News Act, which requires large tech platforms to pay for news content shared on their sites. The levy, which will be implemented from April 1, will vary each year and has no upper limit. This move comes amid rising tensions between Canada and the US over issues like trade and a digital services tax on American tech firms.
The CRTC stated that most of its operations are funded by fees from the companies it regulates, and the new charge aims to recover costs related to the law. Google, which had previously raised concerns about the fairness of such a rule, had argued that it was unreasonable to impose 100% of the costs on one company. Despite this, Google has agreed to pay C$100 million annually to Canadian publishers in a deal that ensures its search results continue to feature news content.
The law, which is part of a global trend to make internet giants pay for news, was introduced last year in response to concerns that tech firms were crowding out news businesses in the online advertising market. While both Google and Meta were identified as major platforms required to make payments, Meta chose to block news from its platforms in Canada instead. Google, however, has continued to negotiate with the Canadian government, although it has yet to comment further on the CRTC’s decision.
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Quantum Machines (QM), a leader in quantum computing technology, has raised $170 million in a mid-stage funding round, bringing its total funding to $280 million. The investment is seen as a significant step in accelerating QM’s role in the rapidly evolving quantum computing industry. With quantum technology on the verge of becoming a major disruptive force, this funding will help QM expand its hardware and software offerings to meet the demands of quantum system developers globally.
Quantum computing holds enormous promise for breakthroughs in fields such as medicine and chemistry, offering the ability to solve problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers. While the technology is still developing, key milestones are being reached, including IBM and Google’s advancements in achieving over 1,000 qubits. These developments signal that practical quantum computers could soon become a reality.
QM’s growth is supported by strong backing from major investors, including PSG Equity and Intel Capital, reflecting the increasing confidence in the potential of quantum computing. As the technology matures, companies like Microsoft and Nvidia are also contributing to the ecosystem, highlighting that the quantum race is heating up. Despite regional challenges, Israeli tech startups, including QM, are continuing to attract investment, contributing to the country’s growing tech sector.
With this new funding, QM is well-positioned to drive forward its mission to innovate and lead in the quantum computing space, which many consider one of the most important technological developments of the current generation.
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Dassault Systèmes has collaborated with Apple to integrate its industrial 3D software with the Vision Pro headset. Widely used across manufacturing, life sciences and urban planning, the software allows engineers and designers to create precise digital twins of real-world objects.
The French company serves hundreds of thousands of customers designing cars, aircraft and factories.
A new app called 3DLive is set for release this summer, enabling real-time collaboration on 3D models. Engineers and designers will be able to work remotely on industrial projects, detecting potential issues early in the design process.
The technology aims to streamline workflows, particularly for manufacturing, where maintenance challenges often arise too late.
Deep integration with Apple’s Vision Pro will allow 3DLive to leverage its advanced sensors and computing power. The software’s high level of scientific accuracy ensures it can be used for complex applications such as aircraft design, where precision is crucial.
Apple executives highlighted its potential to reduce costs and rework by facilitating earlier design decisions.
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Apple is set to begin selling its iPhone 16 in Indonesia following a new agreement with the government, which includes the establishment of a manufacturing plant and a research and development centre. The country’s industry minister, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, confirmed on Wednesday that Apple would soon receive the required local content certificate to allow sales of the device. However, he did not specify when the certificate would be issued.
Indonesia had previously banned the iPhone 16 due to Apple’s failure to meet the local content requirement, which mandates that a certain percentage of parts must be sourced domestically or through local partnerships. Although Apple has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, it has been operating developer academies in the country since 2018. Indonesia, with its population of 280 million, is keen to attract more tech-related investment.
Analysts have warned that the local content ban could harm investor confidence and fuel concerns about protectionism, but the new agreements between Apple and the Indonesian government may help address these issues.
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For over a century, the Rorschach inkblot test has been used to explore human psychology by revealing the hidden facets of the mind through personal interpretations of ambiguous shapes. The test leverages a phenomenon known as pareidolia, where individuals perceive patterns, such as animals or faces, in random inkblots. Now, thanks to the advances in artificial intelligence, this test has been used to explore how AI interprets these same images.
In an intriguing experiment, ChatGPT was shown five common inkblots to see how it would respond. Unlike humans, who often project their emotions or personal experiences onto the images, the AI offered more literal interpretations, identifying symmetrical shapes or common visual features. However, these responses were based purely on patterns it has been trained to recognise, rather than any true emotional connection to the inkblots.
The AI’s responses were consistent with what it had learned from vast datasets of human interpretations. But while humans might see a butterfly or a skull, the AI merely recognised a shape, demonstrating a key difference between human cognition and machine processing. This experiment highlights the unique human ability to attach emotional or symbolic meaning to abstract visuals, something AI is not equipped to replicate.
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Italy is demanding 12.5 million euros ($13 million) from Elon Musk’s social network X following a tax probe linked to a broader investigation into Meta. The case, which focuses on value-added tax (VAT) claims for the years 2016 to 2022, is significant as it raises questions about how social networks provide access to their services. Italian tax authorities argue that user registrations on platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram should be considered taxable transactions, as they involve the exchange of personal data for a membership account.
This case could have major implications for the tech sector in Europe, potentially altering the way business models are structured in the 27-nation European Union, as VAT is a harmonised EU tax. Although the claim of 12.5 million euros is a small amount for X, the outcome of this case could influence future tax policies across the region. Both X and Meta must respond to the tax authority’s observations by late March or early April, with the option to either accept the charges or challenge them in court.
The investigation also comes at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump has criticised digital taxes in countries like Italy that target US tech firms. Musk, who has strong ties with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is also keen to expand his Starlink business in the country. If no agreement is reached, Italy’s Revenue Agency may pursue a lengthy judicial review, which could take up to 10 years to resolve.
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Intel has announced that the first two of ASML’s cutting-edge high NA lithography machines are now in operation at its factories. Early data shows these machines are producing more consistent results than previous models, with a reported reliability double that of earlier systems. This marks a turning point for Intel, which had struggled with the earlier generation of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines.
Intel’s production of 30,000 wafers in a single quarter using these new machines signifies a substantial step forward in chip manufacturing. These high NA machines can print features onto chips with fewer exposures and less processing time, streamlining the production process and reducing costs. This development is set to contribute to Intel’s upcoming 18A manufacturing technology, expected to power a new generation of PC chips later this year.
The company is also preparing to implement the high NA machines for the next generation of 14A technology, though no mass production date has yet been confirmed. This breakthrough is seen as a pivotal moment for Intel, positioning it to reclaim ground lost to rivals in recent years.
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Elon Musk’s Starlink is facing mounting competition from several ambitious satellite internet projects, including China’s SpaceSail and Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper. SpaceSail, backed by the Chinese government, recently expanded its reach to Brazil and Kazakhstan, with plans for a 15,000-satellite constellation by 2030. Meanwhile, Bezos’s Project Kuiper is in talks with Brazilian officials to establish its own LEO satellite network.
These developments come as Beijing accelerates its investment in satellite technology, having launched a record 263 satellites last year. With SpaceSail aiming to deploy 648 satellites in 2025 alone, it is positioning itself as a serious challenger to Starlink’s current fleet of around 7,000 satellites. SpaceSail’s plans are seen as part of China’s broader push to expand its digital influence, sparking concerns about potential censorship capabilities.
While Starlink has revolutionised internet access for remote areas, its rivals are gaining traction with the backing of state funds and government connections. As the race to dominate satellite internet intensifies, the future of global connectivity may be shaped by these new players in space.
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