Quantum cybersecurity goes live in Paris

Orange Business and Toshiba Europe have launched France’s first commercial quantum-safe network service in Paris.

The Orange Quantum Defender, now living in the greater Paris region, aims to shield organisations from cyber threats posed by future quantum computing capabilities.

The service combines Toshiba’s Quantum Key Distribution and Post-Quantum Cryptography technologies to protect sensitive data with a multi-layered approach. A major French financial institution already uses the network to safeguard its critical infrastructure.

After years of testing, the partners confirmed the system works over existing fibre networks, cutting costs and easing enterprise adoption.

Leaders at both companies say the launch marks a turning point in cybersecurity preparedness for the quantum age.

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

IBM sets 2029 target for quantum breakthrough

IBM has set out a detailed roadmap to deliver a practical quantum computer by 2029, marking a major milestone in its long-term strategy.

The company plans to build its ‘Starling’ quantum system at a new data centre in Poughkeepsie, New York, targeting around 200 logical qubits—enough to begin outperforming classical computers in specific tasks instead of lagging due to error correction limitations.

Quantum computers rely on qubits to perform complex calculations, but high error rates have held back their potential. IBM shifted its approach in 2019, designing error-correction algorithms based on real, manufacturable chips instead of theoretical models.

The change, as the company says, will significantly reduce the qubits needed to fix errors.

With confidence in its new method, IBM will build a series of quantum systems until 2027, each advancing toward a larger, more capable machine.

Vice President Jay Gambetta stated the key scientific questions have already been resolved, meaning what remains is primarily an engineering challenge instead of a scientific one.

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

Sam Altman predicts AI will discover new ideas

In a new blog post titled The Gentle Singularity, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicted that AI systems capable of producing ‘novel insights’ may arrive as early as 2026.

While Altman’s essay blends optimism with caution, it subtly signals the company’s next central ambition — creating AI that goes beyond repeating existing knowledge and begins generating original ideas instead of mimicking human reasoning.

Altman’s comments echo a broader industry trend. Researchers are already using OpenAI’s recent o3 and o4-mini models to generate new hypotheses. Competitors like Google, Anthropic and FutureHouse are also shifting their focus towards scientific discovery.

Google’s AlphaEvolve has reportedly devised novel solutions to complex maths problems, while FutureHouse claims to have built AI capable of genuine scientific breakthroughs.

Despite the optimism, experts remain sceptical. Critics argue that AI still struggles to ask meaningful questions, a key ingredient for genuine insight.

Former OpenAI researcher Kenneth Stanley, now leading Lila Sciences, says generating creative hypotheses is a more formidable challenge than agentic behaviour. Whether OpenAI achieves the leap remains uncertain, but Altman’s essay may hint at the company’s next bold step.

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

Europe’s new digital diplomacy: From principles to power

In a decisive geopolitical shift, the European Union has unveiled its 2025 International Digital Strategy, signalling a turn from a values-first diplomacy to a focus on security and competitiveness. As Jovan Kurbalija explains in his blog post titled ‘EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security‘, the EU is no longer simply exporting its regulatory ideals — often referred to as the ‘Brussels effect’ — but is now positioning digital technology as central to its economic and geopolitical resilience.

The strategy places special emphasis on building secure digital infrastructure, such as submarine cables and AI factories, and deepening digital partnerships across continents. Unlike the 2023 Council Conclusions, which promoted a human-centric, rights-based approach to digital transformation, the 2025 Strategy prioritises tech sovereignty, resilient supply chains, and strategic defence-linked innovations.

Human rights, privacy, and inclusivity still appear, but mainly in supporting roles to broader goals of power and resilience. The EU’s new path reflects a realpolitik understanding that its survival in the global tech race depends on alliances, capability-building, and a nimble response to the rapid evolution of AI and cyber threats.

In practice, this means more digital engagement with key partners like India, Japan, and South Korea and coordinated global investments through the ‘Tech Team Europe’ initiative. The strategy introduces new structures like a Digital Partnership Network while downplaying once-central instruments like the AI Act.

With China largely sidelined and relations with the US in ‘wait and see’ mode, the EU seems intent on building an independent but interconnected digital path, reaching out to the Global South with a pragmatic offer of secure digital infrastructure and public-private investments.

Why does it matter?

Yet, major questions linger: how will these ambitious plans be implemented, who will lead them, and can the EU maintain coherence between its internal democratic values and this outward-facing strategic assertiveness? As Kurbalija notes, the success of this new digital doctrine will hinge on whether the EU can fuse its soft power legacy with the hard power realities of a turbulent tech-driven world.

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

OpenAI’s revenue almost doubles to $10 billion

OpenAI has revealed that its annualised revenue has surged to $10 billion as of June 2025, nearly doubling since December 2024, when it stood at $5.5 billion.

The rapid growth is driven by the widespread adoption of its ChatGPT AI models across consumer and business markets, putting the company on course to meet its earlier goal of $12.7 billion in revenue for the whole year.

The $10 billion figure excludes licensing income from Microsoft, a major investor, and some large one-off contracts, according to an OpenAI spokesperson. Despite recording a loss of about $5 billion last year, OpenAI’s impressive revenue scale places it well ahead of many rivals benefiting from the AI boom.

Other players in the AI space are also seeing strong growth. For instance, Anthropic recently surpassed $3 billion in annualised revenue, driven by startup demand using its code-generation models. Meanwhile, OpenAI plans to raise up to $40 billion in new funding, valuing the company at $300 billion.

Since launching ChatGPT over two years ago, OpenAI has expanded its offerings with various subscription plans and services. The company reported 500 million weekly active users as of March 2025, underscoring its dominant position in the AI market.

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

AI chip boom fuels TSMC revenue surge

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s leading contract chipmaker, reported a significant 39.6% year-over-year surge in May revenue, reaching NT$320.52 billion ($10.70 billion).

This robust growth is primarily attributed to sustained high demand for its AI chips. The company, a key supplier to tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, has seen its US-listed shares rise over 2% in premarket trading, extending their 5% gain so far this year.

Despite May’s revenue being down 8% from April’s figure, the chipmaker’s January-to-May revenue climbed nearly 43% compared to the same period last year, reaching NT$1.51 trillion.

This strong performance underpins TSMC’s ambitious expansion plans, including a previously announced intent to invest $100 billion in U.S.-based chip-manufacturing facilities.

TSMC CEO C.C. Wei reiterated the company’s full-year 2025 revenue projection in April, anticipating an increase of ‘close to mid-20s percent in US dollar terms.’

The continued strong demand for AI chips is expected to be a major driver in achieving these financial targets, solidifying TSMC’s critical role in the global technology landscape.

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

XRobotics makes 25,000 pizzas a month with AI

XRobotics, a San Francisco-based startup, is gaining traction in the food tech sector with its compact pizza-making robot, the xPizza Cube. Roughly the size of a washing machine, the machine uses AI to apply sauce, cheese and toppings, producing up to 100 pizzas per hour.

At $1,300 monthly on a three-year lease, it’s designed to fit seamlessly into existing kitchens and support, not replace, staff. Unlike failed predecessors such as Zume, XRobotics has found success by offering assistive rather than disruptive technology.

Their initial, larger model proved impractical, but the current compact version, launched in 2023, now produces 25,000 pizzas each month across an undisclosed number of customer locations. Both small pizzerias and large chains use the robot to cut labour time and improve consistency.

With over 73,000 pizza outlets in the US, XRobotics plans to stay focused on pizza for now. Its founders, self-professed pizza lovers, say customer response has confirmed that a well-targeted tool can significantly impact even the most traditional kitchens.

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

Apple reveals new AI features at WWDC

Apple has unveiled a range of AI features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, focusing on tighter privacy, enhanced user tools and broader integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These updates will appear across iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and visionOS 26, set to launch in autumn.

While Apple Intelligence was first teased last year, the company now allows third-party developers to access its on-device AI models for the first time.

CEO Tim Cook and software chief Craig Federighi outlined how these features are intended to offer more personalised, efficient apps. Users of newer iPhones will benefit from tools such as live translation in Messages and FaceTime, and AI-powered image analysis via Visual Intelligence.

Apple also enables users to blend emojis creatively and use ChatGPT through its Image Playground to stylise photos. Enhancements to the Wallet app will help summarise order tracking from emails, and AI-generated voices will offer fitness updates.

Despite these innovations, Apple’s redesign of Siri remains incomplete and is not expected to launch soon.

The event failed to deliver major surprises, as many details had already been leaked. Investors responded cautiously, sending Apple shares down by 1.2%. The firm has lost 20% of its value in the year and no longer holds the top spot as the world’s most valuable company.

Nonetheless, Apple is expected to reveal more AI advancements in 2026.

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

M&S resumes online orders after cyberattack

Marks & Spencer has resumed online clothing orders following a 46-day pause triggered by a cyberattack. The retailer restarted standard home delivery across England, Scotland and Wales, focusing initially on best-selling and new items instead of the full range.

A spokesperson stated that additional products will be added daily, enabling customers to gradually access a wider selection. Services such as click and collect, next-day delivery, and international orders are expected to be reintroduced in the coming weeks, while deliveries to Northern Ireland will resume soon.

The disruption began on 25 April when M&S halted clothing and home orders after issues with contactless payments and app services during the Easter weekend. The company revealed that the breach was caused by hackers who deceived staff at a third-party contractor, bypassing security defences.

M&S had warned that the incident could reduce its 2025/26 operating profit by around £300 million, though it aims to limit losses through insurance and internal cost measures. Shares rose 3 per cent as the online service came back online.

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

Reddit targets AI firm over scraped sports posts

Reddit has taken legal action against AI company Anthropic, accusing it of scraping content from the platform’s sports-focused communities.

The lawsuit claims Anthropic violated Reddit’s user agreement by collecting posts without permission, particularly from fan-driven discussions that are central to how sports content is shared online.

Reddit argues the scraping undermines its obligations to over 100 million daily users, especially around privacy and user control. According to the filing, Anthropic’s actions override assurances that users can manage or delete their content as they see fit.

The platform emphasises that users gain no benefit from technology built using their contributions.

These online sports communities are rich sources of original fan commentary and analysis. On a large scale, such content could enable AI models to imitate sports fan behaviour with impressive accuracy.

While teams or platforms might use such models to enhance engagement or communication, Reddit warns that unauthorised use brings serious ethical and legal risks.

The case could influence how AI companies handle user-generated content across the internet, not just in sports. As web scraping grows more common, the outcome of the dispute may shape future standards for AI training practices and online content rights.

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