Digital standards

AI transforms autism therapy in China

In Shenzhen, a quiet breakthrough is unfolding in autism rehabilitation as AI-powered tools begin to transform how young children receive therapy.

At a local centre, a therapist guides a three-year-old boy through speech exercises, while an AI system documents progress and instantly generates a tailored home-training plan, offering much-needed support to both therapists and families.

China faces a severe shortage of autism therapists, with only around 100,000 professionals serving a community of over 10 million individuals, including 3 million children.

Traditional diagnosis and treatment rely on time-consuming behavioural assessments. Now, AI is streamlining this process.

Centres like Dami & Xiaomi, in partnership with Amazon Web Services, have developed RICE AI, a system trained on over 80 million behavioural data points to generate faster, personalised interventions and even custom visual materials for home learning.

By dramatically reducing workloads and enhancing precision, AI is helping to close the gap in early intervention and support.

More facilities are following suit, with efforts underway to unify and open-source these tools across the country. As one mother tearfully recalled her autistic son’s first spoken word, the emotional impact of this technological shift was clear, AI is not replacing care, but deepening it.

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Japan targets Apple and Google with new law

The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) announced on Monday that it has designated Apple Inc., its Japanese subsidiary iTunes K.K., and Google LLC under the new smartphone software competition promotion law.

The law targets dominant IT companies in the smartphone app market, regulating areas like smartphone operating systems, app stores, web browsing software, and search engines.

The primary aim of the law is to prevent these giants from blocking market entry for other companies or giving preferential treatment to their own services. The law will take full effect in December, with the designated companies required to correct any problematic practices.

Apple will be required to allow other companies into the App Store business instead of monopolising it, fostering price competition. Google will be prohibited from displaying its services in search results instead of favouring them.

In response, both companies expressed concerns, with Apple questioning the impact on user experience and Google vowing to engage in discussions to ensure fairness.

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Chinese brain chip project accelerates human trials

A Chinese brain chip project has expanded its human trials, aiming to implant 13 patients with its semi-invasive Beinao No.1 device by the end of the year.

Backed by the Chinese Institute for Brain Research and NeuCyber NeuroTech, the project may soon overtake Elon Musk’s Neuralink in patient numbers.

Early results have shown paralysed patients using the chip to control robotic arms and transmit thoughts to a computer screen. The developers from China plan a larger clinical trial next year with 50 participants, pending regulatory approval.

The team is also working on a more advanced wireless chip similar to Neuralink’s, expected to begin human testing within 18 months.

While funding remains a challenge, scientists stress their focus is on helping patients, not profit.

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Guangdong eyes global role in AI and robotics

Guangdong is stepping up efforts to become a world leader in AI and robotics by offering generous subsidies to attract start-ups and top tech talent.

The province will grant up to 50 million yuan to major AI manufacturing hubs and millions more to smaller firms and developers.

Officials also plan to fund five open-source communities and ten industrial applications of AI each year, with up to 8 million yuan in support for each.

Local tech giants like Huawei and Tencent are expected to play a key role in the ecosystem.

The move follows the rise of AI firm DeepSeek in neighbouring province of China, Zhejiang, whose founder hails from Guangdong.

The government hopes to replicate that success at home by turning the region into a centre for innovation and global competitiveness.

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AI technology sparks debate in Hollywood

Hollywood is grappling with AI’s increasing role in filmmaking, with executives, actors, and developers exploring the technology’s potential. At a recent event, industry leaders discussed AI-generated video, heralded as the biggest breakthrough since the advent of sound in cinema.

Despite its growing presence, AI’s impact remains controversial, especially after recent strikes from actors and writers seeking protection from AI exploitation.

AI technology is making its way into movies and TV shows, with Oscar-nominated films like Emilia Perez and The Brutalist using AI for voice alterations and actor de-aging. AI’s capacity to generate scripts, animation, and even actors has led to fears of job displacement, particularly for background actors.

However, proponents like Bryn Mooser of Moonvalley argue that AI can empower filmmakers, especially independent creators, to produce high-quality content at a fraction of traditional costs.

While Hollywood is still divided on AI’s potential, several tech companies, including OpenAI and Google, are lobbying for AI models to access copyrighted art to fuel their development, claiming it’s vital for national security.

The push has met resistance from filmmakers who fear it could undermine the creative industry, which provides millions of jobs. Despite the opposition, AI’s role in filmmaking is rapidly expanding, and its future remains uncertain.

Some in the industry believe AI, if used correctly, can enhance creativity by allowing filmmakers to create worlds and narratives beyond their imagination. However, there is a push to ensure that artists remain central to this transformation, and that AI’s role in cinema respects creators’ rights and protections.

As AI technology evolves, Hollywood faces a critical choice: embrace it responsibly instead of the risk of being overtaken by powerful tech companies.

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Dutch police struggle with cyberattacks and underfunding

A leaked report has revealed serious financial and digital failings within the Dutch police, including unchecked spending on IT and cybersecurity.

Auditors from Ernst & Young found that the force must cut €160 million, raising concerns over national security and officer safety.

The Dutch Police Union warns that chronic understaffing, daily cyberattacks and a lack of digital resilience have pushed the system to breaking point.

A September data breach affected nearly all officers, and experts say over €300 million is needed to restore proper infrastructure.

Police Chief Janny Knol acknowledged the force underestimated the costs of digital transformation.

Merged systems from 24 regional departments have caused spiralling maintenance issues, while key tech projects run over budget and behind schedule. Urgent reforms are now planned.

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MetaAI launches in Europe amid data concerns

Meta has resumed the roll-out of its MetaAI across Europe after halting the launch last year due to regulatory uncertainty.

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) still has questions regarding Meta’s AI tool, particularly in relation to its use of personal data from Facebook and Instagram users to train large language models.

The company has been in discussions with the DPC, but instead of an agreement, it remains under review as the tool continues to roll out.

MetaAI was first introduced in the US in September 2023, followed by India in June 2024, and the UK in October. It enables users to interact with a chat function across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

However, its expansion in Europe faced delays last summer due to concerns raised by the Irish privacy watchdog.

The company has expressed confidence in its compliance with the EU’s data protection laws and has been transparent with the DPC about its launch. However, failure to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could lead to significant fines.

Additionally, certain aspects of MetaAI fall under the scope of Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires the company to meet specific standards on user safety and transparency.

The European Commission has indicated it is waiting for a risk assessment from Meta to ensure that the tool complies with DSA obligations. While initial elements may not be directly relevant to the DSA, the Commission will continue to monitor the deployment closely.

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European Commission charges €58.2 million in fees for DSA enforcement

The European Commission has charged the largest online platforms in the EU a total of €58.2 million in supervisory fees for their enforcement under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

These fees, which apply to platforms with over 45 million users per month, aim to fund the Commission’s activities for DSA enforcement, including administrative and human resource costs.

Meta, TikTok, and Google have filed five pending court cases against the fees, challenging the charges.

The DSA, designed to increase platform accountability, became fully applicable in February 2024, and the Commission has designated 25 Very Large Online Platforms, including major players like Amazon and LinkedIn.

During the 2024 period, the Commission launched formal proceedings against several platforms and sent over 100 requests for information.

However, instead of these fees fully covering the Commission’s expenses, they led to a deficit of €514,061. Investigations into platforms like X are ongoing, with transparency issues being a key concern.

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Amazon unveils Nova Act to enhance AI capabilities

Amazon has launched Nova Act, a general-purpose AI agent capable of controlling web browsers to perform simple tasks. Along with the new agent, Amazon is releasing the Nova Act SDK, enabling developers to create agent prototypes.

The tool will also power key features of the upcoming Alexa+ upgrade, a generative AI-enhanced version of Amazon’s voice assistant.

Developed by Amazon’s AGI lab, Nova Act is designed to automate tasks such as ordering food or making reservations. Although the model is currently a research preview, Amazon claims Nova Act outperforms competitors like OpenAI’s Operator and Anthropic’s Computer Use in internal tests.

The toolkit, available on nova.amazon.com, allows developers to integrate AI agents into applications that can navigate websites, fill forms, and interact with digital content.

Despite its early stage, Nova Act is seen as a significant step in the development of superintelligent AI, with Amazon’s AGI lab aiming to make AI agents reliable and effective across various tasks.

Instead of AI agents from other companies that have faced challenges like slow response times and error-prone performance, Amazon hopes that Nova Act will address these issues, potentially providing a competitive edge in the AI market.

The success of Nova Act could also play a crucial role in the success of Alexa+ and Amazon’s broader AI strategy.

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Runway expands AI video capabilities with Gen-4

Runway has unveiled Gen-4, its most advanced AI-powered video generator yet, promising superior character consistency, realistic motion, and world understanding.

The model is now available to individual and enterprise users, allowing them to generate dynamic videos using visual references and text-based instructions.

Backed by investors such as Google and Nvidia, Runway faces fierce competition from OpenAI and Google in the AI video space. The company has differentiated itself by securing Hollywood partnerships and investing heavily in AI-generated filmmaking.

However, it remains tight-lipped about its training data, raising concerns over copyright issues.

Runway is currently embroiled in a lawsuit from artists accusing the company of training its models on copyrighted works instead of getting permission. The company claims fair use as a defence.

Meanwhile, it is reportedly seeking new funding at a $4 billion valuation, with hopes of reaching $300 million in annual revenue. As AI video tools advance, concerns grow over their impact on jobs in the entertainment industry, with thousands of positions at risk.

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