Ericsson has completed the world’s first pre-standard 6G over-the-air session in the United States, marking a milestone toward commercial 6G networks. The trial took place in Plano, Texas, using a pre-standard system built on an AI-native, cloud-based architecture.
The demonstration validated core 6G building blocks, including radio hardware, RAN Compute, software-defined air interfaces and cloud platforms. Ericsson said its software architecture is deployable across CPU and GPU hardware environments.
The trial used spectrum in the 7GHz range with 400 MHz carrier bandwidth and focused on uplink performance, energy efficiency and spectral utilisation. The system included Ericsson radios, baseband platforms and cloud-native software.
According to the company, the test demonstrated capabilities to support AI-driven applications, such as robotics, that require real-time control and high-quality video streaming. Future 6G networks are expected to deliver consistent low latency and enhanced uplink capacity for advanced AI services.
Ericsson said the milestone strengthens US participation in global standards development, including 3GPP and Open RAN. The company plans to expand trials across additional spectrum bands while building on its US research and manufacturing footprint.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Nokia and Deutsche Telekom have expanded their collaboration to advance cloud-based, disaggregated, and AI-native RAN technologies. The strengthened Innovation Cooperation Program deepens joint work in Cloud RAN, open interfaces, and next-generation solutions.
The partnership builds on years of cooperation focused on open and flexible architectures. Both companies said the expanded effort aims to improve network efficiency, programmability, and long-term operational value for service providers.
Work on Open Fronthaul integration is being intensified following earlier multivendor deployments in Germany linking Nokia baseband units with O-RAN-compliant radios. Additional integrations covering Open Fronthaul and Cloud RAN are progressing within confidential development programmes.
The companies are also advancing O-RAN-aligned management capabilities through open O1 interfaces and deeper integration of configuration management. A vendor-independent Service Management and Orchestration platform remains central to Deutsche Telekom’s multivendor RAN strategy.
Nokia will act as Deutsche Telekom’s strategic co-creation partner for AI-native RAN development. Joint efforts will focus on AI-powered receivers, adaptive beamforming, predictive optimisation, and lab and field validation to support intelligent, autonomous mobile networks.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Lawmakers in the European Parliament are pressing the European Commission for clarity after reports that Meta’s smart glasses recorded people in intimate moments without their knowledge.
Concerns intensified when Swedish outlets reported that Ray-Ban AI glasses captured and uploaded sensitive footage in violation of strict consent requirements under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation.
The reports indicate that personal data from EU users was sent to Sama, a third-party contractor, in Kenya for human review. Annotators working there said they viewed images of individuals changing clothes and believed the recordings were taken without consent.
They added that Meta’s attempts to blur faces or apply other safeguards failed often enough to expose identifiable material instead of ensuring proper anonymisation.
EU privacy law requires clear information and consent before collecting and processing personal data, and additional safeguards when exporting data to countries without recognised adequacy status.
Kenya is still negotiating such recognition with the Commission, meaning contractual protections would be necessary.
The Irish Data Protection Commission, responsible for Meta’s GDPR oversight, has been contacted amid questions about whether Meta complied with EU requirements.
Lawmakers also want the Commission to examine whether proposed changes in the Digital Omnibus package could dilute privacy protections rather than strengthen them.
Critics argue the reforms might ease data-use rules for AI training at a moment when allegations about Meta’s smart glasses have intensified scrutiny of the EU’s broader digital policy agenda.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Samsung has settled a lawsuit with the Texas Attorney General over allegations that its smart TVs collected viewing data without users’ informed consent.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the suit last December, accusing Samsung of using Automated Content Recognition (ACR) technology to capture screenshots of what consumers were watching and using that information for targeted advertising.
As part of the settlement, Samsung must halt any collection or processing of ACR viewing data without first obtaining the express consent of Texas consumers.
The company is also required to update its smart TVs with clear, conspicuous disclosure and consent screens, replacing what a court had previously identified as ‘dark patterns’ requiring over 200 clicks to access privacy settings.
Samsung stated that it does not believe its Viewing Information Services system violated any regulations, but agreed to strengthen its privacy disclosures. Paxton noted that other smart TV manufacturers, including Sony, LG, Hisense, and TCL Technologies, have not yet made similar changes in response to ongoing lawsuits.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Thales has successfully demonstrated a world-first capability that prepares 5G networks for the era of quantum computing. The test proved that SIM and eSIM cards can be remotely upgraded to support post-quantum cryptography, boosting security without disrupting services or user experience.
The breakthrough highlights the potential of crypto-agile networks to evolve securely as quantum threats emerge.
Replacing millions of devices is impractical, so Thales enables operators to deploy quantum-safe algorithms directly to existing devices. Remote upgrades preserve data and connectivity while instantly boosting security, keeping 5G networks resilient and trusted.
The demonstration reinforces Thales’ leadership in post-quantum cryptography, with dedicated research teams developing quantum-resistant methods and contributing to international standards, including NIST initiatives.
Operators can now protect long-term investments, secure critical services, and prepare for the next generation of quantum computing without operational disruptions.
Thales’ approach offers a practical roadmap for telecoms to adopt quantum-safe security today, ensuring continuity, trust, and resilience across mobile networks as digital threats evolve.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
China’s DeepSeek is reportedly preparing to release its latest AI model, according to a Financial Times report. The planned debut of the company’s V4 large language model is seen as another test of China’s ability to compete with leading US AI firms.
Sources cited by the report said V4 will be a multimodal model capable of generating images, video, and text. DeepSeek has reportedly worked with Huawei and Cambricon to optimise the model for Chinese AI chips.
The release is expected ahead of the annual Two Sessions parliamentary meetings in China, which begin on 4 March. Analysts say the timing could reinforce DeepSeek’s positioning as a national AI champion.
The launch would be the company’s first major model release since its R1 reasoning system debuted in January last year. DeepSeek claimed R1 matched leading US models while using less computing power, a development some compared to a ‘Sputnik moment’ for American technology firms.
Separately, AI researcher Andrew Ng said the industry remains decades away from achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI). He argued that systems capable of matching human intellectual breadth remain distant, despite steady advances in model performance.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
App Store charts have shifted sharply in the consumer AI market, with Anthropic’s Claude now surpassing ChatGPT in downloads. The change marks one of the most notable ranking reversals in recent months.
The spike in downloads appears tied to public reaction rather than new product features. App rankings often fluctuate, but this shift coincides with growing debate over how AI companies collaborate with governments.
Anthropic has positioned Claude around strict usage policies, including restrictions on domestic surveillance and lethal autonomous weapons. That stance has resonated with users concerned about the ethical deployment of AI technologies.
Claude’s ascent underscores a more competitive chatbot landscape in which transparency and public confidence are playing an increasingly important role. AI app rankings are becoming increasingly volatile as users are willing to switch platforms.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Global demand for AI data centres is creating a severe shortage of memory chips, disrupting supply chains across the consumer electronics industry. Manufacturers warn shortages of RAM could lead to higher prices and delayed shipments for devices including laptops, smartphones and gaming consoles.
Only three companies dominate global RAM production, with capacity increasingly redirected towards high-bandwidth memory used in AI systems. Analysts say rapid investment in AI infrastructure has absorbed available supply faster than manufacturers can expand production facilities.
Major technology firms are already feeling pressure as memory costs rise and inventories tighten. Companies including Apple, HP, Dell and Qualcomm have warned investors that pricing increases and weaker forecasts may follow if shortages persist.
Gaming and computer manufacturers are exploring different responses, ranging from price increases to redesigning products that require less memory. Experts expect supply constraints to continue through the year as chipmakers attempt to balance AI demand with consumer electronics needs.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Russia’s central bank reports that two-thirds of pyramid scheme operators use crypto, with funds sent to over 4,600 fraudster-controlled wallets in 2025. Authorities identified 7,087 online scams last year, most of which used crypto and money mules to collect illicit funds.
Officials highlighted that these schemes typically operate without physical offices, engaging victims via social media, chat apps, and phone calls. Nearly 1,500 firms offered fake crypto investments, and 84% of scammers used cryptocurrency to raise funds, up from 77% in 2024.
The central bank has blocked 21,500 web pages and social media posts linked to fraudulent operators.
The government is fast-tracking regulations, warning that only licensed firms can offer investments to Russian retail investors. Authorities plan to continue monitoring sophisticated online schemes and enhance public awareness to combat crypto-enabled fraud.
Crypto markets remain active, with Bitcoin trading at $66,566, up 3.8%, and Ethereum at $1,990, up more than 6% in the past 24 hours.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
South Korea’s finance minister, Koo Yun-cheol, has pledged urgent reforms to how government agencies manage digital assets following high-profile failures in state custody.
Recent incidents revealed that police and tax authorities mishandled seized cryptocurrency, highlighting weaknesses in oversight and security practices. Authorities will review current management methods and implement measures to prevent future losses.
Operational risks around securing crypto in public institutions have become increasingly apparent. A notable case involved Seoul police in Gangnam losing access to 22 BTC, worth around $1.4 million, after failing to retain private keys and allowing a third-party firm to manage the assets.
Prosecutors are now investigating potential bribery linked to the case.
The government says it holds only digital assets acquired through lawful enforcement, such as seizures for unpaid taxes or criminal cases. The reforms aim to strengthen security, improve operational controls, and restore confidence in the public sector’s handling of crypto amid growing scrutiny.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
