Meta has reversed its earlier decision to discontinue virtual reality support for Horizon Worlds, allowing the platform to remain available on VR headsets despite previous plans to prioritise mobile and web access.
The decision follows an internal reassessment of user engagement trends, which indicate limited adoption of VR-based social platforms.
While Horizon Worlds was once positioned as central to the company’s metaverse ambitions, demand has remained relatively low, raising questions about the long-term viability of immersive social environments.
Financial pressures also continue to shape strategy.
Meta’s Reality Labs division has recorded substantial losses since 2021, reflecting high investment in virtual and augmented reality technologies without corresponding commercial returns.
Industry data further suggests declining headset sales, reinforcing uncertainty around VR as a mainstream consumer platform.
In contrast, mobile usage of Horizon Worlds is growing faster. Increasing downloads point to broader accessibility and improved product-market alignment, though revenue generation remains limited.
As a result, Meta is prioritising mobile development instead of fully abandoning VR, maintaining a dual approach while seeking more sustainable engagement models.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
BTQ Technologies has deployed Bitcoin Improvement Proposal BIP-360 on its Bitcoin Quantum Testnet v0.3.0, marking the first live test of the proposal. The upgrade introduces a quantum-resistant transaction model, Pay-to-Merkle-Root, designed to strengthen Bitcoin’s long-term security.
BIP-360 focuses on mitigating a vulnerability linked to Taproot’s key-path spending mechanism, which can expose public keys on-chain. Such exposure may become a risk if future quantum computers are capable of exploiting cryptographic weaknesses using advanced algorithms.
The testnet adds new consensus rules, post-quantum signatures, and full transaction lifecycle testing. Faster one-minute block times and adjusted fee structures have been introduced to accommodate larger and more complex signatures.
Growing global attention on quantum threats adds urgency to the development. US, EU, and Canadian authorities are setting timelines for post-quantum cryptography to protect future system security.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Broadcom is facing increased regulatory pressure in the EU following a formal antitrust complaint concerning changes to VMware licensing practices.
The complaint highlights growing tensions between large technology providers and European cloud infrastructure firms.
The filing, submitted by Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, raises concerns that revised licensing models could significantly alter market dynamics.
European providers argue that the changes may limit flexibility, increase costs, and affect their ability to compete effectively in the cloud services sector.
At the centre of the dispute lies the broader issue of market concentration and control over critical digital infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders suggest that restrictive licensing conditions could reshape access to essential virtualisation technologies, which underpin a wide range of cloud and enterprise services across the EU.
Regulatory attention is expected to focus on whether such practices align with the EU competition rules, particularly regarding fair access and market neutrality.
The case emerges at a time when European policymakers are intensifying oversight of dominant technology firms and seeking to strengthen digital sovereignty across strategic sectors.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Amazon is rolling out an AI upgrade to its Alexa assistant, aiming to make interactions more conversational and responsive. The new version is designed to follow the context and respond more naturally.
The update comes as Amazon seeks to compete with advanced AI chatbots that have gained popularity in recent years. Critics have argued that smart speakers have fallen behind newer AI tools.
Users in the UK are expected to notice more personalised and proactive responses from the upgraded assistant. This will be based on user and customer personal data. The service will be included with Prime subscriptions or offered as a standalone monthly option.
Analysts say the update could help Amazon gather even more user data and improve engagement by picking up on customers’ habits through conversations. However, questions remain about whether the changes will drive revenue or revive interest in smart speakers.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Tether has launched an AI framework that runs large language models on smartphones and non-NVIDIA GPUs. The system is part of its QVAC platform and uses Microsoft’s BitNet architecture, along with LoRA techniques to reduce memory and computational requirements.
The framework enables cross-platform training on AMD, Intel, Apple Silicon, and mobile GPUs, allowing models with up to 1 billion parameters to be fine-tuned on phones in under 2 hours.
Larger models with up to 13 billion parameters are also supported on mobile devices. BitNet’s 1-bit architecture reduces VRAM requirements by nearly 78%, enabling larger models to run on limited hardware.
Performance improvements benefit inference, with mobile GPUs outperforming CPUs, enabling on-device training and federated learning. By reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure, the system offers more flexible AI development for distributed environments.
Tether’s expansion into AI mirrors a broader trend in the crypto sector, where companies are investing in AI infrastructure, autonomous agents, and high-performance computing.
Industry activity includes record revenue growth for AI and HPC operations, blockchain-integrated AI agents, and new tools for secure on-chain transactions.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Chey Tae-won warned that the global memory chip shortage could last for years, with structural supply constraints likely to continue into the next decade. Speaking on the sidelines of Nvidia GTC 2026 in San Jose, he said limited wafer capacity remains a key bottleneck for the semiconductor industry.
‘The shortage stems from a lack of wafer capacity, and securing additional wafers takes at least four to five years,’ Chey said. ‘We expect the industry-wide supply shortfall to persist at over 20 percent through 2030.’
He added that SK Hynix is implementing initiatives such as adjusting production schedules and diversifying supplier partnerships to stabilise prices. CEO Kwak Noh-jung is expected to provide further details on these new steps to manage volatility linked to the memory chip shortage.
Despite growing pressure to expand manufacturing overseas, Chey stressed that the group will prioritise domestic production to better respond to the ongoing memory chip shortage. ‘Building capacity outside Korea takes the same amount of time, regardless of location,’ he said. ‘Korea already has the infrastructure in place, allowing for a much faster response.’
He also highlighted the challenges of building fabrication plants abroad, including the need for reliable electricity and water supplies, as well as access to skilled engineering talent.
On competition in the high-bandwidth memory market, Chey noted that rising demand driven by artificial intelligence is reshaping supply dynamics. ‘AI requires graphics processing units (GPUs), and GPUs require HBM. We will do our best,’ he said, while cautioning that excessive focus on HBM could worsen the memory chip shortage for conventional DRAM used in smartphones and personal computers.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Commission has delayed a flagship tech sovereignty package for the second time, according to its latest College agenda. The measures are now scheduled for adoption on 27 May, after previously being postponed from March to April.
The tech sovereignty package includes several major initiatives aimed at strengthening EU tech sovereignty, such as the Cloud and AI Development Act, the Chips Act 2, an open-source strategy, and a roadmap for digitalisation and AI in energy. European Commission officials have not provided a reason for the latest delay.
The Cloud and AI Development Act is expected to define what constitutes a ‘sovereign’ cloud and simplify rules for building data centres. The proposal is designed to accelerate infrastructure development as Europe seeks to compete in the global AI race.
Chips Act 2 will follow up on the EU’s earlier semiconductor strategy, which struggled to boost domestic chip production significantly. The new proposal is expected to refine industrial policy efforts to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Meanwhile, the planned open source strategy aims to support European software ecosystems and reduce dependence on large US technology firms. By encouraging commercially viable open source projects, the EU hopes to strengthen its long-term digital autonomy.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
AI agents are rapidly gaining traction, raising questions about whether existing EU rules can keep pace. Unlike chatbots, these systems can act autonomously and interact with digital tools on behalf of users.
Experts warn that AI agents require deeper access to personal data and online services to function effectively. Regulators in Europe are monitoring potential risks as the technology becomes more integrated into daily life.
Lawmakers are examining whether current legislation, such as the AI Act and GDPR, adequately covers agent-based systems. Legal experts highlight challenges around contracts, liability and accountability when AI acts independently.
Despite concerns, many governments remain reluctant to introduce new rules, citing regulatory fatigue. Policymakers may rely on existing frameworks unless major incidents force a reassessment of AI oversight.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Legal pressure is increasing on OpenAI as Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster file a lawsuit accusing the company of large-scale copyright violations.
According to the complaint, nearly 100,000 copyrighted articles were allegedly used without authorisation to train large language models. Publishers also argue that AI-generated outputs can reproduce parts of their content, raising concerns about unauthorised distribution.
Additional claims focus on how AI systems retrieve and present information. The lawsuit argues that retrieval-augmented generation tools may rely on proprietary databases, potentially undermining publishers’ business models by reducing traffic to original sources.
Concerns are also raised about inaccurate outputs attributed to publishers, which could affect trust in established information providers. The case highlights ongoing tensions between AI development and intellectual property protections.
Growing legal disputes involving media organisations, including The New York Times, suggest that courts will play a key role in defining how copyrighted material can be used in AI training.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Australia is advancing plans to regulate digital asset platforms under its financial services framework. The Senate committee recommended passing the Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, bringing Australia closer to licensing crypto exchanges and tokenisation platforms.
Industry groups have raised concerns about definitions such as ‘digital token’ and ‘factual control.’ Broad wording could inadvertently cover infrastructure providers, including multi-party wallet systems, potentially classifying them as financial service operators.
Ripple Labs emphasised the need for precise language to avoid unintended regulation.
The committee supported the Treasury’s approach while planning to refine technical details through future regulations. Coinbase welcomed the progress but noted ongoing banking challenges for crypto firms.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate for debate and a final vote, which could reshape digital asset operations in Australia.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
