Future of work

Brinc drones raises $75M to boost emergency drone tech

Brinc Drones, a Seattle-based startup founded by 25-year-old Blake Resnick, has secured $75 million in fresh funding led by Index Ventures.

Known for its police and public safety drones, Brinc is scaling its presence across emergency services, with the new funds bringing total investment to over $157 million. The round also includes participation from Motorola Solutions, a major player in US security infrastructure.

The company, founded in 2017, is part of a growing wave of American drone startups benefiting from tightened restrictions on Chinese drone manufacturers.

Brinc’s drones are designed for rapid response in hard-to-reach areas and boast unique features, such as the ability to break windows or deliver emergency supplies.

The new partnership with Motorola will enable tighter integration into 911 call centres, allowing AI systems to dispatch drones directly to emergency scenes.

Despite growing competition from other US startups like Flock Safety and Skydio, Brinc remains confident in the market’s potential.

With its enhanced funding and Motorola collaboration, the company is aiming to position itself as a leader in AI-integrated public safety technology while helping shift drone manufacturing back to the US.

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Blockchain app ARK fights to keep human creativity ahead of AI

Nearly 20 years after his AI career scare, screenwriter Ed Bennett-Coles and songwriter Jamie Hartman have developed ARK, a blockchain app designed to safeguard creative work from AI exploitation.

The platform lets artists register ownership of their ideas at every stage, from initial concept to final product, using biometric security and blockchain verification instead of traditional copyright systems.

ARK aims to protect human creativity in an AI-dominated world. ‘It’s about ring-fencing the creative process so artists can still earn a living,’ Hartman told AFP.

The app, backed by Claritas Capital and BMI, uses decentralised blockchain technology instead of centralised systems to give creators full control over their intellectual property.

Launching summer 2025, ARK challenges AI’s ‘growth at all costs’ mentality by emphasising creative journeys over end products.

Bennett-Coles compares AI content to online meat delivery, efficient but soulless, while human artistry resembles a grandfather’s butcher trip, where the experience matters as much as the result.

The duo hopes their solution will inspire industries to modernise copyright protections before AI erodes them completely.

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DeepMind blocks staff from joining AI rivals

Google DeepMind is enforcing strict non-compete agreements in the United Kingdom, preventing employees from joining rival AI companies for up to a year. The length of the restriction depends on an employee’s seniority and involvement in key projects.

Some DeepMind staff, including those working on Google’s Gemini AI, are reportedly being paid not to work while their non-competes run. The policy comes as competition for AI talent intensifies worldwide.

Employees have voiced concern that these agreements could stall their careers in a rapidly evolving industry. Some are seeking ways around the restrictions, such as moving to countries with less rigid employment laws.

While DeepMind claims the contracts are standard for sensitive work, critics say they may stifle innovation and mobility. The practice remains legal in the UK, even though similar agreements have been banned in the US.

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IBM unveils AI-powered mainframe z17

IBM has announced the launch of its most advanced mainframe yet, the z17, powered by the new Telum II processor. Designed to handle more AI operations, the system delivers up to 50% more daily inference tasks than its predecessor.

The z17 features a second-generation on-chip AI accelerator and introduces new tools for managing and securing enterprise data. A Spyre Accelerator add-on, expected later this year, will enable generative AI features such as large language models.

More than 100 clients contributed to the development of the z17, which also supports a forthcoming operating system, z/OS 3.2. The OS update is set to enable hybrid cloud data processing and enhanced NoSQL support.

IBM says the z17 brings AI to the core of enterprise infrastructure, enabling organisations to tap into large data sets securely and efficiently, with strong performance across both traditional and AI workloads.

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OpenAI’s Sam Altman responds to Miyazaki’s AI animation concerns

The recent viral trend of AI-generated Ghibli-style images has taken the internet by storm. Using OpenAI’s GPT-4o image generator, users have been transforming photos, from historic moments to everyday scenes, into Studio Ghibli-style renditions.

A trend like this has caught the attention of notable figures, including celebrities and political personalities, sparking both excitement and controversy.

While some praise the trend for democratising art, others argue that it infringes on copyright and undermines the efforts of traditional artists. The debate intensified when Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, became a focal point.

In a 2016 documentary, Miyazaki expressed his disdain for AI in animation, calling it ‘an insult to life itself’ and warning that humanity is losing faith in its creativity.

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently addressed these concerns, acknowledging the challenges posed by AI in art but defending its role in broadening access to creative tools. Altman believes that technology empowers more people to contribute, benefiting society as a whole, even if it complicates the art world.

Miyazaki’s comments and Altman’s response highlight a growing divide in the conversation about AI and creativity. As the debate continues, the future of AI in art remains a contentious issue, balancing innovation with respect for traditional artistic practices.

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Anthropic grows its presence in Europe

Anthropic is expanding its operations across Europe, with plans to add over 100 new roles in sales, engineering, research, and business operations. Most of these positions will be based in Dublin and London.

The company has also appointed Guillaume Princen, a former Stripe executive, as its head for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This move signals Anthropic’s ambition to strengthen its global presence, particularly in Europe where the demand for enterprise-ready AI tools is rising.

The company’s hiring strategy also reflects a wider trend within the AI industry, with firms like Anthropic competing for global market share after securing significant funding.

The recent $3.5 billion funding round bolsters Anthropic’s position as it seeks to lead the AI race across multiple regions, including the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Instead of focusing solely on the US, Anthropic’s European push is designed to comply with local AI governance and regulatory standards, which are increasingly important to businesses operating in the region.

Anthropic’s expansion comes at a time when AI firms are facing growing competition from companies like Cohere, which has been positioning itself as a European-compliant alternative.

As the EU continues to shape global AI regulations, Anthropic’s focus on safety and localisation could position it favourably in these highly regulated markets. Analysts suggest that while the US may remain a less regulated environment for AI, the EU is likely to lead global AI policy development in the near future.

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Southampton Airport launches AI assistant to support passengers

Southampton Airport has launched an advanced AI-powered digital assistant to enhance passenger experience and accessibility throughout its terminal. The technology, developed in collaboration with Hello Lamp Post, offers real-time flight updates, personalised navigation assistance, and tailored support, especially for those requiring special assistance.

Following a successful trial at Glasgow Airport with Connected Places Catapult, the AI platform demonstrated a 50% reduction in customer service queries and supported over 12,000 additional passengers annually. Passenger satisfaction during the pilot reached 86%, prompting Southampton to expand the tool for all travellers. The assistant is accessible via QR codes placed throughout the terminal, effectively acting as a virtual concierge.

The initiative forms part of the airport’s broader commitment to inclusive and efficient travel. Southampton Airport recently received the Civil Aviation Authority’s top ‘Very Good’ rating for accessibility. Airport Managing Director Gavin Williams praised the new tool’s ability to enhance customer journeys, while Hello Lamp Post’s CEO, Tiernan Mines, highlighted the value in easing pressure on staff by handling routine queries.

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Digital Morocco 2030 strategy focuses on tech-driven transformation

Morocco has set ambitious goals to boost its economy through investment in emerging technologies, aiming for a 10% increase in GDP by 2030. As part of its Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, the government is committing over 11 billion dirhams ($1.1 billion) by 2026 to drive digital transformation, create more than 240,000 jobs, and train 100,000 young people annually in digital skills.

The roadmap prioritises digitising government services through a Unified Administrative Services Portal, with the long-term goal of placing Morocco among the world’s top 50 tech nations. Blockchain plays a central role in this vision, being adopted to improve transparency and efficiency in public services, and already undergoing trials in private sectors like healthcare and finance.

Despite an ongoing official ban, digital asset ownership has surged, more than six million Moroccans now hold such assets, representing over 15% of the population. In parallel, the country is rapidly expanding its use of AI. Notably, Morocco has introduced AI into its judiciary, launched an AI-powered university learning system, and trained over 1,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in AI adoption through partnerships with LinkedIn and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

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Trump administration pushes for pro-AI shift in US federal agencies

The White House announced on Monday a shift in how US federal agencies will approach AI, prioritising innovation over the stricter regulatory framework previously established under President Biden. 

A new memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget instructs agencies to appoint chief AI officers and craft policies to expand the use of AI technologies across government operations.

This pivot includes repealing two Biden-era directives emphasising transparency and safeguards against AI misuse. 

The earlier rules required federal agencies to implement protective measures for civil rights and limit unchecked acquisition of AI tools. 

These protections have now been replaced with a call for a more ‘forward-leaning and pro-innovation’ stance, removing what the current administration views as excessive bureaucratic constraints.

Federal agencies are now expected to develop AI strategies within six months. These plans must identify barriers to responsible AI implementation and improve how the technology is used enterprise-wide. 

The administration also encouraged the development of specific policies for generative AI, emphasising maximising the use of American-made solutions and enhancing interoperability between systems.

The policy change is part of President Trump’s broader rollback of previous AI governance, including his earlier revocation of a 2023 executive order signed by Biden that required developers to disclose sensitive training data. 

The new framework aims to streamline AI procurement processes and eliminate what the administration labels unnecessary reporting burdens while still maintaining basic privacy protections.

Federal agencies have already begun integrating AI into their operations. The Federal Aviation Administration, for example, has applied machine learning to analyse safety reports and identify emerging aviation risks. 

Under the new guidelines, such initiatives are expected to accelerate, signalling a broader federal embrace of AI across sectors.

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Meta and UFC to transform fight experience

UFC President Dana White has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Meta, following his recent appointment to the tech giant’s board.

The collaboration marks a significant moment for both organisations, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a well-known MMA enthusiast and practitioner, praising White’s ability to elevate global sports brands.

The deal aims to revolutionise fan engagement through cutting-edge technologies. According to White, plans are already underway to redesign the UFC’s ranking system, with hopes of delivering more compelling matchups.

While details remain under wraps, he hinted that AI could be central to the project, potentially transforming how fights are scored and analysed in real time.

Zuckerberg expressed excitement about the future of UFC fan experiences, suggesting Meta’s tech resources could introduce innovative ways for audiences to connect with the sport.

Enhanced data analysis may also support fighters in training and strategy, leading to higher-quality contests and fewer controversial decisions.

The full impact of the partnership will unfold in the coming years, with fans and athletes alike anticipating significant change.

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