Google Translate may soon evolve into a full-featured language learning tool, introducing AI-powered lessons rivalling apps like Duolingo.
The latest Translate app release recently uncovered a hidden feature called Practice. It enables users to take part in interactive learning scenarios.
Early tests allow learners to choose languages such as Spanish and French, then engage with situational exercises from beginner to advanced levels.
The tool personalises lessons using AI, adapting difficulty and content based on a user’s goals, such as preparing for specific trips.
Users can track progress, receive daily practice reminders, and customise prompts for listening and speaking drills through a dedicated settings panel.
The feature resembles gamified learning apps and may join Google’s premium AI offerings, though pricing and launch plans remain unconfirmed.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Meta is launching a research lab focused on superintelligence, led by Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang, in an attempt to regain ground in the global AI race.
Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly in talks to invest billions into Scale, reflecting strong confidence in Wang’s data-driven approach and industry influence.
While Meta’s past efforts with its Llama models gained traction, its latest release, Llama 4, failed to meet expectations and drew criticism.
Wang’s appointment arrives during an ongoing talent exodus from Meta, with several senior AI researchers departing for rivals or founding startups.
The new lab is separate from Meta’s existing FAIR division, led by Yann LeCun, who has dismissed the idea of chasing superintelligence. Meta’s partnership with Scale mirrors deals by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, aiming to secure top AI talent without formal acquisitions.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
US quantum computing firm Strangeworks has expanded its European presence by acquiring German company Quantagonia. The merger allows organisations to tackle complex planning and optimisation using classical, hybrid, quantum, and quantum-inspired technologies.
Quantagonia, founded in 2021, develops AI-powered, quantum-ready planning tools that combine optimisation, AI, and natural language interfaces. The technology enables experts and non-technical users to solve problems across industries, including life sciences, finance, energy, and logistics.
The acquisition removes barriers to advanced decision-making and opens new go-to-market opportunities in previously underserved sectors.
The combined entity will merge Quantagonia’s solver engine and AI decision-making tools with Strangeworks’ AI and quantum infrastructure. The approach lets enterprises run multiple solvers in parallel and solve problems using natural language without technical expertise.
Strangeworks has strengthened its strategic European foothold, adding to its recent expansion in India and existing operations in the US and APAC. Executives said the merger boosts global growth and broadens access to sophisticated optimisation tools.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Bitcoin and Ether fell on Tuesday as traders took profits following a recent market rally and positioned themselves ahead of upcoming macroeconomic events. Bitcoin dropped 2.78% to $113,234, briefly trading as low as $112,709, while Ether fell 5.44% to $4,108.
Analysts attribute the declines to profit-taking and leveraged liquidations after Bitcoin reached an all-time high earlier this month. Market participants take a wait-and-see approach, with ether key levels at $4,200 support and $3,900 downside risk.
Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs are also being closely monitored. ETFs have recently seen net outflows after strong inflows in July and early August, signalling cautious investor sentiment.
Traders are now focused on July’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech on Friday could trigger sharp market movements depending on policy signals.
Investors remain cautious, positioning for Powell’s remarks while weighing the potential impact of expected rate cuts in September. Analysts suggest the market may consolidate until greater clarity emerges on monetary policy.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 smartphones are tipped to place AI at the centre of the user experience, with three new features expected to redefine how people use their devices.
While hardware upgrades are anticipated at the Made by Google event, much of the excitement revolves around the AI tools that may debut.
One feature, called Help Me Edit, is designed for Google Photos. Instead of spending time on manual edits, users could describe the change they want, such as altering the colour of a car, and the AI would adjust instantly.
Expanding on the Pixel 9’s generative tools, it promises far greater control and speed.
Another addition, Camera Coach, could offer real-time guidance on photography. Using Google’s Gemini AI, the phone may provide step-by-step advice on framing, lighting, and composition, acting as a digital photography tutor.
Finally, Pixel Sense is rumoured to be a proactive personal assistant that anticipates user needs. Learning patterns from apps such as Gmail and Calendar, it could deliver predictive suggestions and take actions across third-party services, bringing the smartphone closer to a truly adaptive companion.
These features suggest that Google is betting heavily on AI to give the Pixel 10 a competitive edge.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Google’s Cloud Experience lead Hayete Gallot says developer interest in sovereign cloud solutions is rising sharply amid AI concerns. More clients are asking to control how and where their data is stored, processed, and encrypted within public cloud environments.
Microsoft said it could not guarantee full cloud data sovereignty in July, increasing pressure on rivals to offer stronger protections.
Gallot noted that sovereignty is more than location. Cybersecurity measures such as encryption, ownership, and administrative access are now top priorities for businesses.
On AI, Gallot dismissed fears that assistants will replace developers, saying skills like prompt writing still require critical thinking.
She believes modern developers must adapt, comparing today’s AI tools to learning older languages like Pascal or Fortran.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that the United States may be underestimating China’s rapid advances in AI. He argued that export controls on semiconductors are unlikely to be a reliable long-term solution to the global AI race.
At a press briefing in San Francisco, Altman said the competition cannot be reduced to a simple scoreboard. China can expand inference capacity more quickly, even as Washington tightens restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports.
He expressed doubts about the effectiveness of purely policy-driven approaches. ‘You can export-control one thing, but maybe not the right thing… workarounds exist,’ Altman said. He stressed that chip controls may not keep pace with technological realities.
His comments come as US policy becomes increasingly complex. President Trump halted advanced chip supplies in April, while the Biden administration recently allowed ‘China-safe’ chips, requiring Nvidia and AMD to share revenue. Critics call the rules contradictory and difficult to enforce.
Meanwhile, Chinese firms are accelerating efforts to replace US suppliers, with Huawei and others building domestic alternatives. Altman suggested this push for self-sufficiency could undermine Washington’s goals, raising questions about America’s strategy in the AI race.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Moving like this empowers enterprises to build AI agents tailored for multimodal understanding, software development, workflow automation and research.
The rollout extends beyond the initial model. Oracle plans to integrate the entire Gemini suite, including video, image, speech, and music generation, as well as vertically specialised models like MedLM for healthcare.
For customers, Oracle simplifies adoption: Gemini access is billed via Oracle Universal Credits, and no new contracts are required. Behind the scenes, OCI’s bare-metal GPU instances ensure optimised compute performance for demanding AI workflows.
This integration further strengthens Oracle’s position in enterprise AI, offering partners and clients a curated, model-agnostic environment that combines AI innovation with operational reliability.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Parag Agrawal, the former Twitter chief executive removed after Elon Musk’s takeover in 2022, has re-entered the technology sector with a new venture.
His company, Parallel Web Systems, is developing AI tools designed to help AI agents gather and analyse information online without human input.
The company’s first product, Deep Research API, outperforms human researchers and advanced models such as OpenAI’s GPT-5 on specific benchmarks.
Agrawal revealed that the system already supports millions of tasks daily and is used by coding agents to locate documents and fix errors. Parallel has secured 30 million dollars in funding and employs around 25 staff.
Agrawal had been Twitter’s chief technology officer before succeeding Jack Dorsey as chief executive in late 2021. After leaving the company, he returned to academic research and coding instead of joining other struggling firms.
He has argued that the internet will eventually be dominated by AI agents rather than human users, predicting that individuals may soon rely on dozens of agents to act on their behalf.
His views echo predictions from Coinbase developers, who recently suggested that AI agents could become the most significant users of Ethereum.
They propose that autonomous systems can handle stablecoin transfers and e-commerce transactions, enabling services from self-driving taxis to AI-powered content platforms.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
