E-commerce and trade

WhatsApp fixes deleted message privacy gap

WhatsApp is rolling out a privacy improvement that ensures deleted messages no longer linger in quoted replies, addressing a long-standing issue that exposed partial content users had intended to remove.

The update applies automatically, with no toggle required, and has begun reaching iOS users through version 25.12.73, with wider availability expected soon.

Until now, deleting a message for everyone in a chat has not removed it from quoted replies. That allowed fragments of deleted content to remain visible, undermining the purpose of deletion.

WhatsApp removes the associated quoted message entirely instead of keeping it in conversation threads, even in group or community chats.

WABetaInfo, which first spotted the update, noted that users delete messages for privacy or personal reasons, and leave behind quoted traces conflicted with those intentions.

The change ensures conversations reflect user expectations by entirely erasing deleted content, not only from the original message but also from any references.

Meta continues to develop new features for WhatsApp. Recent additions include voice chat in groups and a native interface for iPad. The company is also testing tools like AI-generated wallpapers, message summaries, and more refined privacy settings to enhance user control and experience further.

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

DeepSeek claims R1 model matches OpenAI

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek has announced a major update to its R1 reasoning model, claiming it now performs on par with leading systems from OpenAI and Google.

The R1-0528 version, released following the model’s initial launch in January, reportedly surpasses Alibaba’s Qwen3, which debuted only weeks earlier in April.

According to DeepSeek, the upgrade significantly enhances reasoning, coding, and creative writing while cutting hallucination rates by half.

These improvements stem largely from greater computational resources applied after the training phase, allowing the model to outperform domestic rivals in benchmark tests involving maths, logic, and programming.

Unlike many Western competitors, DeepSeek takes an open-source approach. The company recently shared eight GitHub projects detailing methods to optimise computing, communication, and storage efficiency during training.

Its transparency and resource-efficient design have attracted attention, especially since its smaller distilled model rivals Alibaba’s Qwen3-235B while being nearly 30 times lighter.

Major Chinese tech firms, including Tencent, Baidu and ByteDance, plan to integrate R1-0528 into their cloud services for enterprise clients. DeepSeek’s progress signals China’s continued push into globally competitive AI, driven by a young team determined to offer high performance with fewer resources

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

NSO asks court to overturn WhatsApp verdict

Israeli spyware company NSO Group has requested a new trial after a US jury ordered it to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp.

The company, which has faced mounting legal and financial troubles, filed a motion in a California federal court last week seeking to reduce the verdict or secure a retrial.

The May verdict awarded WhatsApp $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.25 million in punitive damages. Jurors found that NSO exploited vulnerabilities in the encrypted platform and sold the exploit to clients who allegedly used it to target journalists, activists and political rivals.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, filed the lawsuit in 2019.

NSO claims the punitive award is unconstitutional, arguing it is over 376 times greater than the compensatory damages and far exceeds the US Supreme Court’s general guidance of a 4:1 ratio.

The firm also said it cannot afford the penalty, citing losses of $9 million in 2023 and $12 million in 2024. Its CEO testified that the company is ‘struggling to keep our heads above water’.

WhatsApp, responding to TechCrunch in a statement, said NSO was once again trying to evade accountability. The company vowed to continue its legal campaign, including efforts to secure a permanent injunction that would prevent NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp or its users again.

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

Shoppers can now let AI find and buy deals

Tech giants are pushing deeper into e-commerce with AI-powered digital aides that can understand shoppers’ tastes, try on clothes virtually, hunt for bargains, and even place orders independently.

The so-called ‘AI agent’ mark a new phase in retail, combining personalisation with automation to reshape how people shop online.

Google recently introduced a suite of tools under its new AI Mode, allowing users to upload a photo and preview how clothing would look on their own body. The AI adjusts sizes and fabric drape, enhancing realism.

Shoppers can also set their price and let the AI search for the best deal, alerting them when it’s found and offering to complete the purchase using Google’s payment platform.

OpenAI, Perplexity AI, and Amazon have also added shopping features to their platforms, while Walmart and other retailers are working to ensure their products remain visible to AI shoppers.

Payment giants Visa and Mastercard have upgraded their systems to allow AI agents to process transactions autonomously, cementing the role of digital agents in the online shopping journey.

Experts say this growing ‘agent economy’ offers powerful convenience but raises questions about consumer privacy, trust, and control.

While AI shoppers are unlikely to disrupt e-commerce overnight, analysts note that companies like Google and Meta are particularly well-positioned due to their vast user data and AI leadership.

The next evolution of shopping may not depend on what consumers choose, but on whether they trust machines to choose for them.

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

Microwave tech offers cleaner path to e-waste recovery

When your old phone or computer reaches the end of its life and heads off for recycling, most of its valuable materials—like steel, aluminium and copper—are recovered with ease. But hidden in its circuitry are tiny specks of rare metals such as gallium, indium and tantalum.

These are critical to modern technology but often lost in current recycling processes, ending up in landfills or repurposed in cement. That might be about to change.

Engineers at West Virginia University have developed a novel method using microwave technology to extract these rare materials more safely and efficiently.

Unlike conventional methods, which rely on toxic chemicals or are too costly to justify, this approach uses electromagnetic waves to target and heat carbon present in e-waste plastics. This creates a reaction with critical minerals, yielding nearly pure, sponge-like metals that can be easily filtered out.

Laboratory tests have already recovered around 80% of gallium, indium and tantalum from e-waste, with purities reaching up to 97%.

Backed by the United States Department of Defense, the researchers are preparing larger pilot projects using smartphones, LED lights and server boards—materials rich in these rare elements. If scaled successfully, the system could recover up to 50 pounds of critical minerals per ton of processed waste.

The urgency is clear. America recycles just 15% of its e-waste, and much of it is exported to countries with lax safety and environmental standards. Gallium alone can cost over $500 per kilogram—making it 50 times more expensive than copper.

The technology’s success could help shift the economics of recycling, turning discarded electronics into a domestic supply of essential materials and reducing reliance on imports from countries like China.

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

Panama City considers Bitcoin for canal payments

Panama City’s Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has floated the idea of letting cargo ships pay in Bitcoin. The proposal would allow faster passage through the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most vital trade routes.

Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, he suggested offering perks to vessels choosing Bitcoin as a payment method. The canal processes nearly 10,000 ships a year and accounts for around 5% of global maritime trade.

Mizrachi’s proposal comes as part of his broader effort to integrate Bitcoin into public infrastructure. Panama City began accepting crypto for municipal payments in April, instantly converting transactions into dollars.

The mayor is also exploring the creation of a Bitcoin reserve and has sought inspiration from El Salvador’s pro-Bitcoin policies.

The idea of crypto payments for canal fees emerges amid rising international interest in the waterway. Mizrachi, however, urged lawmakers not to rush into restrictive crypto regulation, advocating instead for a hands-off approach.

While the Bitcoin-for-passage concept remains in its early stages, Mizrachi claims crypto use in Panama is more widespread than it appears, with over $5 billion in annual transactions.

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

Paris Saint-Germain adds Bitcoin to treasury

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has revealed it holds Bitcoin in its treasury, becoming the first sports club to make such a move public. The announcement was made during the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas by Pär Helgosson, head of PSG Labs.

He called it part of a ‘new generation trend,’ reflecting the club’s efforts to align with future-facing innovations.

The club began acquiring Bitcoin last year, converting part of its fiat reserves into the digital asset. Helgosson highlighted the relevance of the decision by pointing out that 80% of PSG’s global fanbase is under the age of 34.

With over 550 million fans worldwide, the move positions PSG as a leader among sports organisations adapting to the digital economy.

Football remains the most active sport for crypto sponsorships, accounting for 43% of all crypto deals in the 2024/25 season, according to SportQuake.

The trend has seen a 64% annual increase, driven largely by European leagues and global campaigns amid political uncertainty in the US.

PSG joins a growing number of institutions adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets. Analysts credit both exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and political momentum, particularly under President Trump’s administration, for boosting corporate confidence in Bitcoin as a strategic asset.

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

Uber’s product chief turns to AI for reports and research

Uber’s chief product officer, Sachin Kansal, is embracing AI to streamline his daily workflow—particularly through tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and, soon, NotebookLM.

Speaking on ‘Lenny’s Podcast,’ Kansal revealed how AI summarisation helps him digest lengthy 50- to 100-page reports he otherwise wouldn’t have time to read. He uses AI to understand market trends and rider feedback across regions such as Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa.

Kansal also relies on AI as a research assistant. For instance, when exploring new driver features, he used ChatGPT’s deep research capabilities to simulate possible driver reactions and generate brainstorming ideas.

‘It’s an amazing research assistant,’ he said. ‘It’s absolutely a starting point for a brainstorm with my team.’

He’s now eyeing Google’s NotebookLM, a note-taking and research tool, as the next addition to his AI toolkit—especially its ‘Audio Overview’ feature, which turns documents into AI-generated podcast-style discussions.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi previously noted that too few of Uber’s 30,000+ employees are using AI and stressed that mastering AI tools, especially for coding, would soon be essential.

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

AI copyright clash stalls UK data bill

A bitter standoff over AI and copyright has returned to the House of Lords, as ministers and peers clash over how to protect creative workers while fostering technological innovation.

At the centre of the debate is the proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill, which was expected to pass smoothly but is now stuck in parliamentary limbo due to growing resistance.

The bill would allow AI firms to access copyrighted material unless rights holders opt out, a proposal that many artists and peers believe threatens the UK’s £124bn creative industry.

Nearly 300 Lords have called for AI developers to disclose what content they use and seek licences instead of relying on blanket access. Former film director Baroness Kidron described the policy as ‘state-sanctioned theft’ and warned it would sacrifice British talent to benefit large tech companies.

Supporters of the bill, like former Meta executive Sir Nick Clegg, argue that forcing AI firms to seek individual permissions would severely damage the UK’s AI sector. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology insists it will only consider changes if they are proven to benefit creators.

If no resolution is found, the bill risks being shelved entirely. That would also scrap unrelated proposals bundled into it, such as new NHS data-sharing rules and plans for a nationwide underground map.

Despite the bill’s wide scope, the fight over copyright remains its most divisive and emotionally charged feature.

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

Gmail adds automatic AI summaries

Gmail on mobile now displays AI-generated summaries by default, marking a shift in how Google’s Gemini assistant operates within inboxes.

Instead of relying on users to request a summary, Gemini will now decide when it’s useful—typically for long email threads with multiple replies—and present a brief summary card at the top of the message.

These summaries update automatically as conversations evolve, aiming to save users from scrolling through lengthy discussions.

The feature is currently limited to mobile devices and available only to users with Google Workspace accounts, Gemini Education add-ons, or a Google One AI Premium subscription. For the moment, summaries are confined to emails written in English.

Google expects the rollout to take around two weeks, though it remains unclear when, or if, the tool will extend to standard Gmail accounts or desktop users.

Anyone wanting to opt out must disable Gmail’s smart features entirely—giving up tools like Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and package tracking in the process.

While some may welcome the convenience, others may feel uneasy about their emails being analysed by large language models, especially since this process could contribute to further training of Google’s AI systems.

The move reflects a wider trend across Google’s products, where AI is becoming central to everyday user experiences.

Additional user controls and privacy commitments

According to Google Workspace, users have some control over the summary cards. They can collapse a Gemini summary card, and it will remain collapsed for that specific email thread.

In the near future, Gmail will introduce enhancements, such as automatically collapsing future summary cards for users who consistently collapse them, until the user chooses to expand them again. For emails that don’t display automatic summaries, Gmail still offers manual options.

Users can tap the ‘summarise this email’ chip at the top of the message or use the Gemini side panel to trigger a summary manually. Google also reaffirms its commitment to data protection and user privacy. All AI features in Gmail adhere to its privacy principles, with more details available on the Privacy Hub.

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