Bluesky has launched a vertical video feed, positioning itself as a competitor in the short-video space amidst uncertainty surrounding TikTok’s future in the US. This new feature is accessible via the Explore tab and allows users to scroll through trending videos by swiping up. For convenience, users can pin the feed to their home screen or add it to their list of custom feeds.
Acknowledging developers building TikTok alternatives, Bluesky highlighted emerging platforms such as ‘Tik.Blue’ and ‘Skylight.Social,’ which are currently in early development stages. These efforts align with Bluesky’s growth, as the platform has surpassed 28 million users.
Other platforms are also leveraging TikTok’s precarious situation. Elon Musk’s X recently introduced a vertical video feed, while Meta unveiled Edits, a video editing app to rival ByteDance’s CapCut. Bluesky’s latest move highlights a broader shift among social networks seeking to capture the short-video audience in the US and globally.
Progress on the EU Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCS), stuck in a deadlock since 2019, remains uncertain as discussions are unlikely to advance in the first half of 2025. Despite efforts by Poland, which is leading the EU ministerial meetings until July, disagreements over sovereignty requirements continue to stall the process. The EUCS aims to help companies demonstrate that their ICT solutions meet cybersecurity standards for the EU market but has faced resistance, particularly from France, which wants to preserve its certification system, SecNum Cloud.
The European Cybersecurity Certification Group (ECCG) from ENISA has yet to provide an opinion on the scheme, with its next meeting possibly taking place in February. Poland plans to prioritise cybersecurity during its presidency, hosting key events like an informal telecom minister meeting in March and a conference on ENISA standardisation, though industry groups remain sceptical about a breakthrough.
Lobbyists, including the global software industry group BSA, have criticised the delays. They argue that cybersecurity standards should focus on technical protections rather than political considerations and have urged the Commission to adopt the scheme quickly to strengthen Europe’s cybersecurity resilience.
Further complicating matters, the EU Cybersecurity Act (CSA), which underpins ENISA’s authority to create certification schemes, is under evaluation but has not yet been revised. Of the three certification schemes proposed since 2019, only one has been adopted, with another for 5G still in progress. New EU Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has pledged to improve the adoption process for cybersecurity certification schemes as part of her mission to bolster Europe’s technological sovereignty and security.
Younger members of Generation Z are turning to ChatGPT for schoolwork, with a new Pew Research Centre survey revealing that 26% of US teens aged 13 to 17 have used the AI-powered chatbot for homework. This figure has doubled since 2023, highlighting the growing reliance on AI tools in education. The survey also showed mixed views among teens about its use, with 54% finding it acceptable for research, while smaller proportions endorsed its use for solving maths problems (29%) or writing essays (18%).
Experts have raised concerns about the limitations of ChatGPT in academic contexts. Studies indicate the chatbot struggles with accuracy in maths and certain subject areas, such as social mobility and African geopolitics. Research also shows varying impacts on learning outcomes, with Turkish students who used ChatGPT performing worse on a maths test than peers who didn’t. German students, while finding research materials more easily, synthesised information less effectively when using the tool.
Educators remain cautious about integrating AI into classrooms. A quarter of public K-12 teachers surveyed by Pew believed AI tools like ChatGPT caused more harm than good in education. Another study by the Rand Corporation found only 18% of K-12 teachers actively use AI in their teaching practices. The disparities in effectiveness and the tool’s limitations underscore the need for careful consideration of its role in learning environments.
A major data breach involving telecom provider AT&T has compromised sensitive information about FBI agents’ call and text logs. The incident, which occurred last year, exposed phone numbers and contact details, though not the content of communications. FBI officials warn that the breach may risk revealing the identities of confidential informants.
AT&T reported in July that hackers had stolen records linked to 109 million customer accounts. Among the stolen data were months of FBI call logs, potentially connecting agents to their sources. While AT&T claims to have collaborated with law enforcement to mitigate the damage, the FBI continues to prioritise protecting its informants.
The breach has reignited concerns about cyber-espionage targeting US telecom networks. Earlier this month, the US national security adviser highlighted ongoing threats from Chinese-linked cyber operations. Although telecom firms, including AT&T and Verizon, say their systems are now secure, the incident underscores the persistent risks posed by sophisticated hackers.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced that its new ‘Community Notes’ feature will apply only to organic content, not paid ads, when it rolls out later this year. Similar to a feature on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Community Notes will allow users to add context to organic posts, which are posts that Meta has not been paid to promote. However, paid advertisements will be excluded from this feature.
Aspects of the program are still evolving, with brand and influencer organic posts potentially not being subject to Community Notes initially. Meta clarified that it is in the process of transitioning to this new system and will continue to evaluate and refine it throughout the year. The company recently scrapped its US fact-checking program and is now focusing on this new initiative, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Meta emphasised that any further details about the Community Notes program, beyond what has been officially announced, are speculative at this point. The company will begin implementing the feature in the US over the next couple of months as part of a broader overhaul in how it handles political content.
Austrian advocacy group Noyb has filed privacy complaints against six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, and Xiaomi, alleging illegal transfers of European user data to China. The group, known for targeting US tech giants like Apple and Meta, said this is its first case against Chinese firms. Complaints have been filed in four EU countries, seeking fines of up to 4% of each company’s global revenue.
Noyb claims that companies such as Alibaba’s AliExpress and Tencent’s WeChat transfer EU citizens’ data either directly to China or undisclosed ‘third countries,’ which are likely China. Under EU data protection laws, such transfers are prohibited if the destination country fails to meet the bloc’s strict privacy standards. A Noyb lawyer emphasised that China’s status as a ‘surveillance state’ makes such transfers clearly unlawful.
The allegations add to mounting regulatory challenges for Chinese tech firms. TikTok, already under scrutiny in Europe for election interference concerns, faces a potential US ban starting Sunday over national security fears. Regulators in multiple regions continue to ramp up pressure on Chinese companies amid growing global concerns over data privacy and security.
Nvidia has made its first investment in a Taiwanese startup by backing MetAI, a company specialising in AI-powered digital twins. MetAI raised $4 million in a seed funding round that also attracted several strategic investors, including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering and SparkLabs Taiwan.
The startup focuses on creating ‘SimReady’ digital twins, converting CAD files into realistic 3D environments within minutes. These virtual replicas are essential for training robots and building autonomous systems before their real-world deployment. Nvidia views this as a critical step in advancing its industrial AI platform, Omniverse.
MetAI claims its technology significantly reduces the time needed to build virtual simulations, making AI-driven automation more efficient. With plans to expand into the US, the company is eyeing markets with high operational costs and a growing need for digital solutions. MetAI’s collaboration with Nvidia is expected to set new standards for industries such as manufacturing and robotics.
Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-driven podcast platform, recently faced a surprising issue: its virtual hosts sounded irritated when users interrupted them. The problem emerged after the launch of an interactive feature allowing users to “call in” and ask questions during AI-generated discussions. Users reported that the hosts would sometimes make snippy comments like ‘I was getting to that,’ creating an oddly confrontational experience.
To address the issue, Google’s team implemented a ‘friendliness tuning’ process. They revised the prompts used to guide the AI hosts, studying how human speakers handle interruptions more politely. The adjustment was announced with a light-hearted post on the platform’s social media.
The change seems to be working. In tests, the AI hosts now react to interruptions with polite curiosity rather than frustration. NotebookLM’s refined approach highlights the importance of human-like interaction in AI products, ensuring users feel more engaged and welcomed in conversations.
ChatGPT is rolling out a new task-scheduling feature that allows paying users to set reminders and recurring requests directly with the AI assistant. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, the feature can handle practical tasks like sending reminders about passport expirations or offering personalised weekend plans based on the weather.
The task system represents OpenAI’s early venture into AI agents that can perform autonomous actions. Users can set tasks through ChatGPT’s web app by selecting the scheduling option from a dropdown menu. Once enabled, the assistant can deliver reminders or perform regular check-ins, such as providing daily news briefings or checking for concert tickets monthly.
While the feature currently offers limited independence, OpenAI sees it as a foundational step towards more capable AI systems. CEO Sam Altman hinted that 2025 will be a significant year for AI agents that may begin to handle more complex tasks, like booking travel or writing code. For now, ChatGPT’s task feature remains in beta, with plans to refine it based on user feedback.
Microsoft has created a new internal division, CoreAI Platform and Tools, to accelerate its development of AI technologies. The restructuring brings together its developer teams and AI platform under one unit, aimed at making AI a central pillar of the company’s software strategy.
Jay Parikh, a former engineering leader at Meta and CEO of cloud security startup Lacework, will head the new organisation. Reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella, Parikh will oversee various teams focused on AI infrastructure and tools. His appointment signals Microsoft’s continued push to lead in the fast-evolving AI space.
CoreAI’s formation reflects Microsoft’s increasing emphasis on “model-forward” applications, which Nadella described as reshaping software development across all categories. The company’s recent efforts include embedding AI tools across its productivity suite and cloud services, solidifying its place in the growing AI market.
This latest move builds on Microsoft’s broader strategy to remain a leader in AI innovation, following its high-profile partnership with OpenAI and ongoing investments in cloud-based AI solutions.
