Everbloom has developed Braid.AI, an AI system that transforms waste fibres into high-quality textiles. The process can use poultry feathers, wool, and other keratin-rich materials to replicate fabrics like cashmere.
The system works with standard textile machinery, combining chopped waste with proprietary compounds to produce biodegradable fibres. Everbloom aims to reduce environmental impact while maintaining material quality comparable to traditional cashmere.
Co-founder Sim Gulati said the startup aims to make materials economically accessible. Products are designed to offer both environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness, avoiding a ‘sustainable premium’ for consumers.
The AI can fine-tune fibre properties for multiple fabrics beyond cashmere, including polyester alternatives. Everbloom collects waste from farms, mills, and other sources to create a sustainable supply chain.
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Merriam-Webster has chosen ‘slop’ as its 2025 word of the year, reflecting the rise of low-quality digital content produced by AI. The term originally meant soft mud, but now describes absurd or fake online material.
Greg Barlow, Merriam-Webster’s president, said the word captures how AI-generated content has fascinated, annoyed and sometimes alarmed people. Tools like AI video generators can produce deepfakes and manipulated clips in seconds.
The spike in searches for ‘slop’ shows growing public awareness of poor-quality content and a desire for authenticity. People want real, genuine material rather than AI-driven junk content.
AI-generated slop includes everything from absurd videos to fake news and junky digital books. Merriam-Webster selects its word of the year by analysing search trends and cultural relevance.
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OpenAI has partnered with Australian data centre operator NextDC to build a major AI campus in western Sydney. The companies signed an agreement covering development, planning and long-term operation of the vast site.
NextDC said the project will include a supercluster of graphics processors to support advanced AI workloads. Both firms intend to create infrastructure capable of meeting rapid global demand for high-performance computing.
Australia estimates the development at A$7 billion and forecasts thousands of jobs during construction and ongoing roles across engineering and operations. Officials say the initiative aligns with national efforts to strengthen technological capability.
Plans feature renewable energy procurement and cooling systems that avoid drinking water use, addressing sustainability concerns. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the project reflects growing confidence in Australia’s talent, clean energy capacity and emerging AI economy.
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Europe’s constrained energy supply and strict regulations are emerging as unlikely strengths in the global race to expand AI infrastructure. Limited power access and careful planning are encouraging more resilient, future-ready data-centre designs that appeal to long-term investors.
Countries such as the Nordics, Spain and Italy are drawing interest due to stronger renewable capacity and shorter grid-connection times, while the UK, Germany and the Netherlands face greater congestion.
Shifting to a ‘first ready, first connected’ model aims to curb speculation and speed up delivery of viable projects.
Europe’s biggest opportunity lies in cloud-focused facilities and AI inference, which analysts expect to account for most AI demand and must often remain within regional borders.
Tighter rules may slow construction, yet they reduce the risk of stranded assets and support sustainable sites that strengthen Europe’s investment case.
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South Africa is betting on green technology to drive development while cutting emissions. Overlapping laws and strategies create a complex, sometimes conflicting environment for investors and innovators. Analysts warn that fragmentation slows both climate action and the just transition.
Flagship measures, such as the Climate Change Act and the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, anchor long-term goals. The government aims to mobilise around R1.5 trillion, including an initial R8.5 billion in catalytic finance.
Funding targets power generation, new energy vehicles and green hydrogen, with private capital expected to follow. Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer projects showcase successful public-private partnerships that attracted significant foreign and domestic investment.
Localisation rules, special economic zones and tariff tweaks seek to build manufacturing capacity and transfer skills. Critics argue that strict content quotas and data localisation can delay projects and deter prospective investors.
Observers say harmonised policies, clearer incentives and stronger coordination across sectors are essential for effective green technology transfer. Greater collaboration between the South African government, businesses, and universities could translate promising pilots into climate-resilient industries.
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Growing numbers of online users are turning to AI chatbots to verify suspicious images, yet many tools are failing to detect fakes they created themselves. AFP found several cases in Asia where AI systems labelled fabricated photos as authentic, including a viral image of former Philippine lawmaker Elizaldy Co.
The failures highlight a lack of genuine visual analysis in current models. Many models are primarily trained on language patterns, resulting to inconsistent decisions even when dealing with images generated by the same generative systems.
Investigations also uncovered similar misidentifications during unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where AI models wrongly validated synthetic protest images. A Columbia University review reinforced the trend, with seven leading systems unable to verify any of the ten authentic news photos.
Specialists argue that AI may assist professional fact-checkers but cannot replace them. They emphasise that human verification remains essential as AI-generated content becomes increasingly lifelike and continues to circulate widely across social media platforms.
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Ireland faces mounting pressure over soaring electricity use from data centres clustered around Dublin. Facilities powering global tech giants have grown into a major energy consumer, accounting for over a fifth of national demand.
The load could reach 30 percent by 2030 as expanding cloud and AI services drive further growth. Analysts warn that rising consumption threatens climate commitments and places significant strain on grid stability.
Campaigners argue that data centres monopolise renewable capacity while pushing Ireland towards potential EU emissions penalties. Some local authorities have already blocked developments due to insufficient grid capacity and limited on-site green generation.
Sector leaders fear stalled projects and uncertain policy may undermine Ireland’s role as a digital hub. Investment risks remain high unless upgrades, clearer rules and balanced planning reduce the pressure on national infrastructure.
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A growing debate over AI dominated COP30 in Brazil, as delegates weighed its capacity to support climate solutions against its rapidly rising environmental costs.
Technology leaders argued that AI can strengthen energy management, refine climate research and enhance conservation programmes.
Participants highlighted an expanding number of AI-driven tools showcased at the summit, reflecting both enthusiasm and caution about their long-term influence.
Several countries noted that AI systems could help smaller delegations review complex negotiation documents and take part more effectively.
Environmental advocates warned that ballooning electricity use and water demand from data centres risk undermining climate targets.
Campaigners pressed for tighter rules, including mandatory public-interest testing for new facilities and reliance on on-site renewable energy.
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently delivered a key insight, stating that the biggest hurdle to deploying new AI solutions is now electrical power, not chip supply. The massive energy requirements for running large language models (LLMs) have created a critical bottleneck for major cloud providers.
Nadella specified that Microsoft currently has a ‘bunch of chips sitting in inventory’ that cannot be plugged in and utilised. The problem is a lack of ‘warm shells’, meaning data centre buildings that are fully equipped with the necessary power and cooling capacity.
The escalating power requirements of AI infrastructure are placing extreme pressure on utility grids and capacity. Projections from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory indicate that US data centres could consume up to 12 percent of the nation’s total electricity by 2028.
The disclosure should serve as a warning to investors, urging them to evaluate the infrastructure challenges alongside AI’s technological promise. This energy limitation could create a temporary drag on the sector, potentially slowing the massive projected returns on the $5 trillion investment.
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Google will pour 40 billion dollars into Texas by 2027, expanding digital infrastructure. Funding focuses on new cloud and AI facilities alongside existing campuses in Midlothian and Dallas.
Three new US data centres are planned, one in Armstrong County and two in Haskell County. One Haskell site will sit beside a solar plant and battery storage facility. Investment is accompanied by agreements for more than 6,200 megawatts of additional power generation.
Google will create a 30 million dollar Energy Impact Fund supporting Texan energy efficiency and affordability projects. The company backs training for existing electricians and over 1,700 apprentices through electrical training programmes.
Spending strengthens Texas as a major hub for data centres and AI development. Google says expanded infrastructure and workforce will help maintain US leadership in advanced computing technologies. Company highlights its 15 year presence in Texas and pledges ongoing community support.
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