Interdisciplinary approaches Archives | Page 133 of 185

UK and OpenAI deepen AI collaboration on security and public services

OpenAI has signed a strategic partnership with the UK government aimed at strengthening AI security research and exploring national infrastructure investment.

The agreement was finalised on 21 July by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and science secretary Peter Kyle. It includes a commitment to expand OpenAI’s London office. Research and engineering teams will grow to support AI development and provide assistance to UK businesses and start-ups.

Under the collaboration, OpenAI will share technical insights with the UK’s AI Security Institute to help government bodies better understand risks and capabilities. Planned deployments of AI will focus on public sectors such as justice, defence, education, and national security.

According to the UK government, all applications will follow national standards and guidelines to improve taxpayer-funded services. Peter Kyle described AI as a critical tool for national transformation. ‘AI will be fundamental in driving the change we need to see across the country,’ he said.

He emphasised its potential to support the NHS, reduce barriers to opportunity, and power economic growth. The deal signals a deeper integration of OpenAI’s operations in the UK, with promises of high-skilled jobs, investment in infrastructure, and stronger domestic oversight of AI development.

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

AI governance needs urgent international coordination

A GIS Reports analysis emphasises that as AI systems become pervasive, they create significant global challenges, including surveillance risks, algorithmic bias, cyber vulnerabilities, and environmental pressures.

Unlike legacy regulatory regimes, AI technology blurs the lines among privacy, labour, environmental, security, and human rights domains, demanding a uniquely coordinated governance approach.

The report highlights that leading AI research and infrastructure remain concentrated in advanced economies: over half of general‑purpose AI models originated in the US, exacerbating global inequalities.

Meanwhile, facial recognition or deepfake generators threaten civic trust, amplify disinformation, and even provoke geopolitical incidents if weaponised in defence systems.

The analysis calls for urgent public‑private cooperation and a new regulatory paradigm to address these systemic issues.

Recommendations include forming international expert bodies akin to the IPCC, and creating cohesive governance that bridges labour rights, environmental accountability, and ethical AI frameworks.

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

ChatGPT stuns users by guessing object in viral video using smart questions

A video featuring ChatGPT Live has gone viral after it correctly guessed an object hidden in a user’s hand using only a series of questions.

The clip, shared on the social media platform X, shows the chatbot narrowing down its guesses until it lands on the correct answer — a pen — within less than a minute. The video has fascinated viewers by showing how far generative AI has come since its initial launch.

Multimodal AI like ChatGPT can now process audio, video and text together, making interactions more intuitive and lifelike.

Another user attempted the same challenge with Gemini AI by holding an AC remote. Gemini described it as a ‘control panel for controlling temperature’, which was close but not entirely accurate.

The fun experiment also highlights the growing real-world utility of generative AI. During Google’s I/O conference during the year, the company demonstrated how Gemini Live can help users troubleshoot and repair appliances at home by understanding both spoken instructions and visual input.

Beyond casual use, these AI tools are proving helpful in serious scenarios. A UPSC aspirant recently explained how uploading her Detailed Application Form to a chatbot allowed it to generate practice questions.

She used those prompts to prepare for her interview and credited the AI with helping her boost her confidence.

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

Isambard-AI launch brings Britain closer to AI breakthroughs

The UK’s most powerful AI supercomputer, Isambard-AI, has officially launched in Bristol. Developed with HPE and NVIDIA, the £225 million system marks a major step in national research capability.

It can compute in one second what the global population would take 80 years to process. Housed at the National Composites Centre, it aims to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, robotics, climate science and more.

Built by the University of Bristol’s Centre for Supercomputing, the machine is part of the UK Government’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) and was launched by Science Secretary Peter Kyle.

Alongside the Dawn supercomputer in Cambridge, Isambard-AI will deliver 23 AI ExaFLOPs — equal to the UK population working non-stop for 85,000 years. It is 100,000 times faster than an average laptop and supports drug discovery, personalised medicine and advanced data analysis.

Powered by 5,400 Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips and HPE’s Cray EX platform, it is among the greenest supercomputers globally, running on zero-carbon electricity and using direct liquid cooling to cut energy use by up to 90%.

Plans are underway to reuse its waste heat for nearby homes and businesses. Its sustainable design cuts emissions by 72% versus traditional builds.

The University of Bristol, chosen for its AI and HPC expertise, also offers a government-backed master’s through the Sparck AI scholarship. Vice-Chancellor Professor Evelyn Welch called the launch a milestone for British AI.

Researchers are already using Isambard-AI to analyse data from wearable cameras for assisted living support, and to scan MRI data to speed up cancer detection and treatment planning.

Other teams are modelling disease-related proteins and using AI to detect illness in dairy cattle by monitoring herd behaviour — showing the system’s broad real-world impact.

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

Ten jobs likely to be replaced by AI — here’s how workers can pivot

AI is poised to disrupt the job market, with routine roles such as data entry clerks, telemarketers, customer service agents, cashiers, proofreaders, legal assistants, bookkeepers, front-desk staff, warehouse operatives, and entry-level market researchers most at risk.

Workers in these roles are encouraged to reskill strategically, as automation and shifting market demands reshape the employment landscape.

Promising transition options include data analytics, digital marketing, technical support, logistics technology, financial advising, retail management, culinary operations, and business intelligence — careers that harness creativity, empathy, and critical thinking.

This risk also presents an opportunity. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has launched a S$200 million fund to retrain aviation professionals as AI reshapes the industry, a model that other sectors can follow.

Research indicates that AI predominantly complements tasks rather than replaces them entirely. Roles demanding human-centred reasoning, teamwork and digital literacy are growing, emphasising the importance of lifelong learning and adaptability.

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

5G Advanced lays the groundwork for 6G, says 5G Americas

5G Americas has released a new white paper outlining how 5G Advanced features in 3GPP Releases 18 to 20 are shaping the path to 6G.

The report highlights how 5G Advanced is evolving mobile networks through embedded AI, scaled IoT, improved energy efficiency, and broader service capabilities. Viet Nguyen, President of 5G Americas, called it a turning point for wireless systems, offering more intelligent, resilient, and sustainable connectivity.

AI-native networking is a key innovation which brings machine learning into the radio and core network. The innovation enables zero-touch automation, predictive maintenance, and self-organising systems, cutting fault detection by 90% and reducing false alarms by 70%.

Energy efficiency is another core benefit. Features like cell sleep modes and antenna switching can reduce energy use by up to 56%. Ambient IoT also advances, enabling battery-less devices for industrial and consumer use in energy-constrained environments.

Latency improvements like L4S and enhanced QoS allow scalable support for immersive XR and real-time automation. Advances in spectral efficiency and satellite support are boosting uplink speeds above 500 Mbps and expanding coverage to remote areas.

Andrea Brambilla of Nokia noted that 5G Advanced supports digital twins, private networks, and AI-driven transformation. Pei Hou of T-Mobile said it builds on 5G Standalone to prepare for a sustainable shift to 6G.

The paper urges updated policies on AI governance, spectrum sharing, and IoT standards to ensure global interoperability. Strategic takeaways include AI, automation, and energy savings as key to long-term innovation and monetisation across the public and private sectors.

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

Perplexity AI valued at $18 billion after new $100 million raise

AI startup Perplexity AI has raised $100 million in new funding, pushing its valuation to $18 billion, Bloomberg has reported. The deal reflects growing investor interest in AI tools amid the continued rise of chatbots and AI-powered search agents.

The funding follows a previous round from earlier in the year, which valued the company at $14 billion. Perplexity’s rapid valuation growth highlights the pace at which leading AI startups are expanding in the current market climate.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Perplexity was previously in advanced talks to raise $500 million at the earlier valuation. Venture capital firm Accel had been expected to lead that round. Other reports in March suggested that Perplexity aimed to raise as much as $1 billion.

The company has been making moves to challenge major tech incumbents. Just last week, it launched a new AI-powered web browser called ‘Comet’. The tool is designed to compete with Google Chrome by integrating advanced AI search functionality directly into browsing.

Perplexity is backed by Nvidia and is positioning itself at the intersection of search, generative AI, and user experience. Industry observers view its fast-growing valuation as a sign of heightened investor confidence in AI-native platforms.

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

Mistral’s chatbot Le Chat takes on ChatGPT with major upgrade

France-based AI startup Mistral has rolled out a major update to Le Chat, its AI chatbot, introducing new features aimed at challenging rivals like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. The update includes Deep Research, voice interaction, reasoning capabilities and a refreshed image editor.

According to the company’s latest blog post, the new Deep Research mode transforms Le Chat into a structured assistant that can clarify needs, search sources and deliver summarised findings. The tool enables users to receive comprehensive responses in a neatly formatted report.

In addition, Mistral unveiled Vocal mode, allowing users to speak to the chatbot as if they were talking to a person. The feature is powered by the firm’s voice input model, Voxtral, which handles voice recognition in real time.

The company also introduced Think mode, based on its Magistral reasoning model. Designed for multilingual and complex tasks, the feature provides thoughtful and clear responses, even when answering legal or professional queries in languages like Spanish or Japanese.

For users juggling multiple conversations or tasks, the new Projects tool groups related chats into separate spaces. Each project includes a dedicated Library for storing files and content, while also remembering individual tools and settings.

Users can upload documents directly into Projects and revisit past chats or references. Content from the Library can also be pulled into the active conversation, supporting a more seamless and personalised experience.

A revamped image editor rounds out the update, offering users the ability to tweak AI-generated visuals while maintaining consistency in character design and fine details. Mistral says the upgrade helps improve image customisation without compromising visual integrity.

All features are now available through Le Chat’s web platform at ‘chat.mistral.ai’ or via the company’s mobile apps on Android and iOS. The update reflects Mistral’s growing ambition to differentiate itself in the increasingly competitive AI assistant market.

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

AI brings new life to martial arts cinema legends

China is embarking on a major digital restoration project to preserve its rich martial arts film heritage. Announced at the Shanghai International Film Festival, the government-backed initiative aims to restore 100 classic kung fu movies using AI.

Unlike Hollywood’s trend of digitally recreating actors, this effort focuses on enhancing image and sound quality while preserving the original storytelling and aesthetics. Films like Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury, Jackie Chan’s Police Story, and Jet Li’s Once Upon a Time in China will receive the high-definition makeover.

The project, supported by the China Film Foundation, is being framed to safeguard cultural treasures for future generations. Officials emphasise that AI will serve only as a preservation tool, not altering the essence of these iconic works.

However, the initiative has sparked debate: some critics fear that overreliance on technology could dilute the human touch in cinema, while supporters believe this will help introduce these classics to younger global audiences who may otherwise overlook them.

In parallel, China is experimenting with a more radical approach through A Better Tomorrow: Cyber Border, a fully AI-animated reboot that reimagines a beloved story rather than simply restoring it. That contrast highlights the country’s growing ambition to blend tradition with cutting-edge technology in the entertainment industry. Whether seen as a bold step toward the future or a controversial new chapter, the legendary kung fu films of the past are poised to shine again in stunning clarity.

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

Afghan data breach prompts secret UK relocation

A serious data breach involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who sought relocation to the UK has come to light following a High Court ruling.

The incident occurred in February 2022 when a UK Special Forces HQ official mistakenly emailed a spreadsheet containing personal details to an unauthorised recipient.

Names, contact details and family information of those who feared Taliban reprisals due to their ties to British forces were exposed.

The breach only surfaced in August 2023 after some names appeared on Facebook, prompting fears the Taliban could gain access to the data.

The government created the Afghanistan Response Route in secret to mitigate the risk, separate from the Arap scheme. Around 20,000 were deemed eligible, with 16,000 already relocated to the UK by May 2025, though an estimated 80,000 remain at risk.

A government review concluded the leak was unlikely to trigger mass reprisals, though those affected still consider it a severe failure. The scheme has already cost £400 million, with a further £450 million expected, contributing to a total Afghan relocation bill of up to £6 billion.

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