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Europe adds 12 new unicorn startups in first half of 2025

Funding season is restarting in Europe, with investors expecting to add several new unicorns in the coming months. Despite fewer mega-rounds than in 2021, a dozen startups passed the $1 billion mark in the first half of 2025.

AI, biotech, defence technology, and renewable energy are among the sectors attracting major backing. Recent unicorns include Lovable, an AI coding firm from Sweden, UK-based Fuse Energy, and Isar Aerospace from Germany.

London-based Isomorphic Labs, spun out of DeepMind, raised $600 million to enter unicorn territory. In biotech, Verdiva Bio hit unicorn status after a $410 million Series A, while Neko Health reached a $1.8 billion valuation.

AI and automation continue to drive investor appetite. Dublin’s Tines secured a $125 million Series C at a $1.125 billion valuation, and German AI customer service startup Parloa raised $120 million at a $1 billion valuation.

Dual-use drone companies also stood out. Portugal-based Tekever confirmed its unicorn status with plans for a £400 million UK expansion, while Quantum Systems raised €160 million to scale its AI-driven drones globally.

Film-streaming platform Mubi and encryption startup Zama also joined the unicorn club, showing the breadth of sectors gaining traction. With Bristol, Manchester, Munich, and Stockholm among the hotspots, Europe’s tech ecosystem continues to diversify.

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Generative AI music takes ethical turn with Beatoven.ai’s Maestro launch

Beatoven.ai has launched Maestro, a generative AI model for instrumental music that will later expand to vocals and sound effects. The company claims it is the first fully licensed AI model, ensuring royalties for artists and rights holders.

Trained on licensed datasets from partners such as Rightsify and Symphonic Music, Maestro avoids scraping issues and guarantees attribution. Beatoven.ai, with two million users and 15 million tracks generated, says Maestro can be fine-tuned for new genres.

The platform also includes tools for catalogue owners, allowing labels and publishers to analyse music, generate metadata, and enhance back-catalogue discovery. CEO Mansoor Rahimat Khan said Maestro builds an ‘AI-powered music ecosystem’ designed to push creativity forward rather than mimic it.

Industry figures praised the approach. Ed Newton-Rex of Fairly Trained said Maestro proves AI can be ethical, while Musical AI’s Sean Power called it a fair licensing model. Beatoven.ai also plans to expand its API into gaming, film, and virtual production.

The launch highlights the wider debate over licensing versus scraping. Scraping often exploits copyrighted works without payment, while licensed datasets ensure royalties, higher-quality outputs, and long-term trust. Advocates argue that licensing offers a more sustainable and fairer path for GenAI music.

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Parental controls and crisis tools added to ChatGPT amid scrutiny

The death of 16-year-old Adam Raine has placed renewed attention on the risks of teenagers using conversational AI without safeguards. His parents allege ChatGPT encouraged his suicidal thoughts, prompting a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco.

The case has pushed OpenAI to add parental controls and safety tools. Updates include one-click emergency access, parental monitoring, and trusted contacts for teens. The company is also exploring connections with therapists.

Executives said AI should support rather than harm. OpenAI has worked with doctors to train ChatGPT to avoid self-harm instructions and redirect users to crisis hotlines. The company acknowledges that longer conversations can compromise reliability, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards.

The tragedy has fuelled wider debates about AI in mental health. Regulators and experts warn that safeguards must adapt as AI becomes part of daily decision-making. Critics argue that future adoption should prioritise accountability to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

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WhatsApp launches AI assistant for editing messages

Meta’s WhatsApp has introduced a new AI feature called Writing Help, designed to assist users in editing, rewriting, and refining the tone of their messages. The tool can adjust grammar, improve phrasing, or reframe a message in a more professional, humorous, or encouraging style before it is sent.

The feature operates through Meta’s Private Processing technology, which ensures that messages remain encrypted and private instead of being visible to WhatsApp or Meta.

According to the company, Writing Help processes requests anonymously and cannot trace them back to the user. The function is optional, disabled by default, and only applies to the chosen message.

To activate the feature, users can tap a small pencil icon that appears while composing a message.

In a demonstration, WhatsApp showed how the tool could turn ‘Please don’t leave dirty socks on the sofa’ into more light-hearted alternatives, including ‘Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch’ or ‘Please don’t turn the sofa into a sock graveyard.’

By introducing Writing Help, WhatsApp aims to make communication more flexible and engaging while keeping user privacy intact. The company emphasises that no information is stored, and AI-generated suggestions only appear if users decide to enable the option.

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ChatGPT faces scrutiny as OpenAI updates protections after teen suicide case

OpenAI has announced new safety measures for its popular chatbot following a lawsuit filed by the parents of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide after relying on ChatGPT for guidance.

The parents allege the chatbot isolated their son and contributed to his death earlier in the year.

The company said it will improve ChatGPT’s ability to detect signs of mental distress, including indirect expressions such as users mentioning sleep deprivation or feelings of invincibility.

It will also strengthen safeguards around suicide-related conversations, which OpenAI admitted can break down in prolonged chats. Planned updates include parental controls, access to usage details, and clickable links to local emergency services.

OpenAI stressed that its safeguards work best during short interactions, acknowledging weaknesses in longer exchanges. It also said it is considering building a network of licensed professionals that users could access through ChatGPT.

The company added that content filtering errors, where serious risks are underestimated, will also be addressed.

The lawsuit comes amid wider scrutiny of AI tools by regulators and mental health experts. Attorneys general from more than 40 US states recently warned AI companies of their duty to protect children from harmful or inappropriate chatbot interactions.

Critics argue that reliance on chatbots for support instead of professional care poses growing risks as usage expands globally.

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Publishers set to earn from Comet Plus, Perplexity’s new initiative

Perplexity has announced Comet Plus, a new service that will pay premium publishers to provide high-quality news content as an alternative to clickbait. The company has not disclosed its roster of partners or payment structure, though reports suggest a pool of $42.5 million.

Publishers have long criticised AI services for exploiting their work without compensation. Perplexity, backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, said Comet Plus will create a fairer system and reward journalists for producing trusted content in the era of AI.

The platform introduces a revenue model based on three streams: human visits, search citations, and agent actions. Perplexity argues this approach better reflects how people consume information today, whether by browsing manually, seeking AI-generated answers, or using AI agents.

The company stated that the initiative aims to rebuild trust between readers and publishers, while ensuring that journalism thrives in a changing digital economy. The initial group of publishing partners will be revealed later.

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Travellers claim ChatGPT helps cut flight costs by hundreds of pounds

ChatGPT is increasingly used as a travel assistant, with some travellers claiming it can save hundreds of pounds on flights. Finance influencer Casper Opala shares cost-saving tips online and said the AI tool helped him secure a flight for £70 that initially cost more than £700.

Opala shared a series of prompts that allow ChatGPT to identify hidden routes, budget airlines not listed on major platforms, and potential savings through alternative airports or separate bookings. He also suggested using the tool to monitor prices for several days or compare one-way fares with return tickets.

While many money-saving tricks have existed for years, ChatGPT condenses the process, collecting results in seconds. Opala says this efficiency is a strong starting point for cheaper travel deals.

Experts, however, warn that ChatGPT is not connected to live flight booking systems. TravelBook’s Laura Pomer noted that the AI can sometimes present inaccurate or outdated fares, meaning users should always verify results before booking.

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Brave uncovers vulnerability in Perplexity’s Comet that risked sensitive user data

Perplexity’s AI-powered browser, Comet, was found to have a serious vulnerability that could have exposed sensitive user data through indirect prompt injection, according to researchers at Brave, a rival browser company.

The flaw stemmed from how Comet handled webpage-summarisation requests. By embedding hidden instructions on websites, attackers could trick the browser’s large language model into executing unintended actions, such as extracting personal emails or accessing saved passwords.

Brave researchers demonstrated how the exploit could bypass traditional protections, such as the same-origin policy, showing scenarios where attackers gained access to Gmail or banking data by manipulating Comet into following malicious cues.

Brave disclosed the vulnerability to Perplexity on 11 August, but stated that it remained unfixed when they published their findings on 20 August. Perplexity later confirmed to CNET that the flaw had been patched, and Brave was credited for working with them to resolve it.

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Vietnam accelerates modernization of foreign affairs through technology and AI

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam spearheads an extensive digital transformation initiative in line with the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW issued in December 2024. This resolution highlights the necessity of advancements in science, technology, and national digital transformation.

Under the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bui Thanh Son, the Ministry is committed to modernising its operations and improving efficiency, reflecting Vietnam’s broader digital evolution strategy across all sectors.

Key implementations of this transformation include the creation of three major digital platforms: an electronic information portal providing access to foreign policies and online public services, an online document management system for internal digitalisation, and an integrated data-sharing platform for connectivity and multi-dimensional data exchange.

The Ministry has digitised 100% of its administrative procedures, linking them to a national-level system, showcasing a significant stride towards administrative reform and efficiency. Additionally, the Ministry has fully adopted social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter, indicating its efforts to enhance foreign information dissemination and public engagement.

A central component of this initiative is the ‘Digital Literacy for All’ movement, inspired by President Ho Chi Minh’s historic ‘Popular Education’ campaign. This movement focuses on equipping diplomatic personnel with essential digital skills, transforming them into proficient ‘digital civil servants’ and ‘digital ambassadors.’ The Ministry aims to enhance its diplomatic functions in today’s globally connected environment by advancing its ability to navigate and utilise modern technologies.

The Ministry plans to develop its digital infrastructure further, strengthen data management, and integrate AI for strategic planning and predictive analysis.

Establishing a digital data warehouse for foreign information and enhancing human resources by nurturing technology experts within the diplomatic sector are also on the agenda. These actions reflect a strong commitment to fostering a professional and globally adept diplomatic industry, poised to safeguard national interests and thrive in the digital age.

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AI controversy surrounds Will Smith’s comeback shows

Footage from Will Smith’s comeback tour has sparked claims that AI was used to alter shots of the crowd. Viewers noticed faces appearing blurred or distorted, along with extra fingers and oddly shaped hands in several clips.

Some accused Smith of boosting audience shots with AI, while others pointed to YouTube, which has been reported to apply AI upscaling without creators’ knowledge.

Guitarist and YouTuber Rhett Shull recently suggested the platform had altered his videos, raising concerns that artists might be wrongly accused of using deepfakes.

The controversy comes as the boundary between reality and fabrication grows increasingly uncertain. AI has been reshaping how audiences perceive authenticity, from fake bands to fabricated images of music legends.

Singer SZA is among the artists criticising the technology, highlighting its heavy energy use and potential to undermine creativity.

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