Google’s DeepMind has introduced AlphaEvolve, a new AI-powered coding agent designed to autonomously discover and optimise computer algorithms.
Built on large language models and evolutionary techniques, AlphaEvolve aims to assist experts across mathematics, engineering, and computer science by improving existing solutions and generating new ones.
Unlike natural language-based models, AlphaEvolve uses automated evaluators and iterative evolution strategies—like mutation and crossover—to refine algorithmic solutions.
DeepMind reports success across several domains, including matrix multiplication, data centre scheduling, chip design, and AI model training.
In one case, AlphaEvolve developed a new method for multiplying 4×4 complex matrices using just 48 scalar multiplications, surpassing a longstanding result from 1969. It also improved job scheduling in Google data centres, recovering an average of 0.7% of global compute resources.
In mathematical tests, AlphaEvolve rediscovered known solutions 75% of the time and improved them in 20% of cases. While experts have praised its potential, researchers also stress the importance of secure deployment and responsible use.
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Google’s new quantum computer chip, Willow, has performed a computation in under five minutes that would take traditional supercomputers ten septillion years. Experts now believe this feat could support the multiverse theory, as Willow might be tapping into parallel universes to process information.
Willow also significantly reduces error rates, a major breakthrough in the field of quantum computing. The chip’s unprecedented speed and accuracy could pave the way for hybrid AI systems that combine quantum and classical computing.
Physicists like Hartmut Neven and David Deutsch suggest quantum mechanics implies multiple realities, reinforcing theories once considered speculative. If accessible and scalable, Willow could usher in an era of AI powered by multiverse-level processing.
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Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) has developed a pioneering AI model, PERISCOPE, designed to predict infection risk in patients following surgery. PERISCOPE will become a standard tool at LUMC, with full implementation expected by mid-2026.
Based on data from over 250,000 surgical procedures, the tool provides a personalised risk assessment within seven to thirty days post-operation, helping healthcare providers intervene earlier and reduce complications.
The AI model, developed by PhD researcher Siri van der Meijden, uses pseudonymised patient data including medical history, vital signs and existing conditions to identify those most at risk.
During testing, PERISCOPE performed as well as experienced doctors and outperformed less experienced ones, making it a valuable decision-support tool. Once fully adopted, the tool is expected to save time, improve patient outcomes, and potentially predict other complications.
Rather than replace clinicians, it complements their judgement by offering a clear, visual dashboard of infection risk levels. Integration into hospital systems remains a challenge, but preparations are underway.
Van der Meijden continues to develop the model to expand its predictive capabilities and ensure long-term impact not only in the Netherlands, but globally.
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OpenAI has announced it will no longer pursue a full transition to a for-profit company. Instead, it will restructure its commercial arm as a public benefit corporation (PBC), retaining oversight by its nonprofit board.
The move comes after discussions with the attorneys general of California and Delaware, and growing concerns about governance and mission drift. The nonprofit board—best known for briefly removing CEO Sam Altman—will continue to oversee the company and appoint the PBC board.
Investors will now hold regular, uncapped equity in the PBC, replacing the previous 100x return cap, a change designed to attract future funding. The nonprofit will also gain a growing equity stake in the business arm.
In a message to staff, Altman said OpenAI remains committed to building AI that benefits humanity and sees this structure as the best path forward. Critics, including former staff, say questions remain about technology ownership and long-term priorities.
At the same time, Meta is positioning itself as a major rival. It recently launched a standalone AI assistant app, powered by its Llama 4 model and available across platforms including Ray-Ban smart glasses. The app includes a social Discover feed, encouraging interaction with shared AI outputs.
OpenAI’s new structure attempts to balance commercial growth with ethical governance—a model that may influence how other AI firms approach funding, control, and public accountability.
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Apple is reportedly exploring a move towards integrating AI-powered search within its Safari browser, as questions mount over the future of its partnership with Google. Cue made the comments during his testimony in the US Department of Justice’s antitrust trial against Google’s parent company, Alphabet.
Senior Vice President Eddy Cue revealed the company is considering collaborations with AI search leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity, amid a broader shift in user behaviour towards AI tools.
Safari recently experienced its first decline in search usage, a trend attributed to users adopting AI-driven search solutions. While Apple currently integrates ChatGPT into Siri and plans to add Google’s Gemini, the company remains cautious about replacing Google as the default search engine.
Cue acknowledged the financial benefits of the $20 billion annual deal with Google and expressed concerns over jeopardising the partnership. Discussions continue as Apple balances innovation with maintaining its lucrative search agreement with Google.
Despite this, Cue predicts AI search engines could eventually surpass traditional models. Apple has also evaluated other AI technologies, including DeepSeek and xAI’s Grok, highlighting its growing interest in generative AI.
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Two physicists from Aalto University believe they may have found a solution to one of science’s most enduring challenges: uniting gravity with quantum physics.
Mikko Partanen and Jukka Tulkki in Finland have proposed a new theoretical framework, called “unified gravity,” that treats gravity with the same mathematical structure as the other fundamental forces in the Standard Model.
Unlike previous attempts, their approach uses gauge theory symmetries similar to those found in quantum field theory. The new model introduces a space-time dimension field, allowing gravity to function like the other quantum forces without relying on curved spacetime.
Crucially, the theory appears renormalizable at first-order calculations, potentially avoiding the mathematical pitfalls that have plagued earlier efforts. While the theory remains untested experimentally, its success could provide vital insights into phenomena like black holes and the Big Bang.
Partanen and Tulkki have invited the global scientific community to scrutinise and extend their work. If validated, unified gravity could mark a pivotal moment in the quest to reconcile the laws of the cosmos in quantum physics.
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We are confronted with this phenomenon through photos, video and audio recordings that can easily confuse us and force us to question our perception of reality.
And while the public often focuses on deepfakes, at the same time we are witnessing inventions and patents emerging around the world that deserve admiration, but also spark important reflection: are we nearing, or have we already crossed, the ethical red line?
For these and many other reasons, in a world where the visual and functional differences between science fiction and reality have almost disappeared, the latest inventions come as a shock.
We are now at a point where we are facing technologies that force us to redefine what we mean by the word ‘reality’.
Neuralink: Crossing the boundary between brain and machine
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease caused by damage and degeneration of motor neurons—nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This damage disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles via peripheral nerves, leading to a progressive loss of muscle function.
However, the Neuralink chip, developed by Elon Musk’s company, has helped one patient type with their mind and speak using their voice. This breakthrough opens the door to a new form of communication where thoughts become direct interactions.
Liquid robot from South Korea
Scenes from sci-fi films are becoming reality, and in this case (thankfully), a liquid robot has a noble purpose—to assist in rescue missions and be applied in medicine.
Currently in the early prototype stage, it has been demonstrated in labs through a collaboration between MIT and Korean research institutes.
ULS exoskeleton as support for elderly care
Healthcare workers and caregivers in China have had their work greatly simplified thanks to the ULS Robotics exoskeleton, weighing only five kilograms but enabling users to lift up to 30 kilograms.
This represents a leap forward in caring for people with limited mobility, while also increasing safety and efficiency. Commercial prototypes have been tested in hospitals and industrial environments.
Another example from China that has been in use for several years. Robots equipped with AI perform precise crop spraying. The system analyses pests and targets them without the need for human presence, reducing potential health risks.
The application has become standardised, with expectations for further expansion and improvement in the near future.
The stretchable battery of the future
Researchers in Sweden have developed a flexible battery that can double in length without losing energy, making it ideal for wearable technologies.
Although not yet commercially available, it has been covered in scientific journals. The aim is for it to become a key component in bendable devices, smart clothing and medical implants.
Volonaut Airbike: A sci-fi vehicle takes off
When it comes to innovation, the Volonaut Airbike hits the mark perfectly. Designed to resemble a single-seat speeder bike from Star Wars, it represents a giant leap toward personal air travel.
Functional prototypes exist, but testing remains limited due to high production costs and regulatory hurdles related to traffic laws. Nevertheless, the Polish company behind it remains committed to this idea, and it will be exciting to follow its progress.
NEO robot: The humanoid household assistant
A Norwegian company has been developing a humanoid robot capable of performing household tasks, including gardening chores like collecting and bagging leaves or grass.
These are among the first serious steps toward domestic humanoid assistants. Currently functioning in demo mode, the robot has received backing from OpenAI.
Lenovo Yoga Solar: The laptop that loves sunlight
If you find yourself without a charger but with access to direct sunlight, this laptop will do everything it can to keep you powered. Using solar energy, 20 minutes of charging in sunlight provides around one hour of video playback.
Perfect for ecologists and digital nomads. Although not yet commercially available, it has been showcased at several major tech expos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px1iEW600Pk
What comes next: The need for smart regulation
As technology races ahead, regulation must catch up. From neurotech to autonomous robots, each innovation raises new questions about privacy, accountability, and ethics.
Governments and tech developers alike must collaborate to ensure that these inventions remain tools for good, not risks to society.
So, what is real and what is generated?
This question will only become harder to answer as time goes on. But on the other hand, if the technological revolution continues to head in a useful and positive direction, perhaps there is little to fear.
The true dilemma in this era of rapid innovation may not be about the tools themselves, but about the fundamental question: Is technology shaping us, or do we still shape it?
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Google’s cutting-edge AI model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, has made headlines by completing the 1996 classic video game Pokémon Blue. While Google didn’t achieve the feat directly, it was orchestrated by Joel Z, an independent software engineer who created a livestream called Gemini Plays Pokémon.
Despite being unaffiliated with the tech giant, Joel’s project has drawn enthusiastic support from Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, who celebrated the victory on social media. The challenge of beating a game like Pokémon Blue has become an informal benchmark for testing the reasoning and adaptability of large language models.
Earlier this year, AI company Anthropic revealed its Claude model was making strides in a similar title, Pokémon Red, but has yet to complete it. While comparisons between the two AIs are inevitable, Joel Z clarified that such evaluations are flawed due to differences in tools, data access, and gameplay frameworks.
To play the game, Gemini relied on a complex system called an ‘agent harness,’ which feeds the model visual and contextual information from the game and translates its decisions into gameplay actions. Joel admits to making occasional interventions to improve Gemini’s reasoning but insists these did not include cheats or explicit hints. Instead, his guidance was limited to refining the model’s problem-solving capabilities.
The project remains a work in progress, and Joel continues to enhance the framework behind Gemini’s gameplay. While it may not be an official benchmark for AI performance, the achievement is a playful demonstration of how far AI systems have come in tackling creative and unexpected challenges.
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President Donald Trump indicated he would extend the deadline set for the Chinese-owned company ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations if negotiations remain unfinished by 19 June.
Democratic senators have challenged Trump’s authority to postpone the deadline further, arguing that the proposed spin-off arrangement does not satisfy legal conditions outlined in the original legislation.
Trump remains firm about maintaining high tariffs on China, now at 145%, which he insists significantly impacts the Chinese economy.
Yet, he has left the door open to eventually lowering these tariffs within a more comprehensive trade agreement, acknowledging China’s strong desire to resume business with the U.S.
Despite multiple extensions, the fate of TikTok’s US operations remains uncertain, as political and economic factors continue shaping negotiations. Trump’s willingness to extend deadlines reflects broader geopolitical dynamics between Washington and Beijing, linking digital platform regulation closely with international trade policy.
At this year’s Michelin Guide awards in France, AI sparked nearly as much conversation as the stars themselves.
Paris-based chef Matan Zaken, of the one-star restaurant Nhome, said AI dominated discussions among chefs, even though many are hesitant to admit they already rely on tools like ChatGPT for inspiration and recipe development.
Zaken openly embraces AI in his kitchen, using platforms like ChatGPT Premium to generate ingredient pairings—such as peanuts and wild garlic—that he might not have considered otherwise. Instead of starting with traditional tastings, he now consults vast databases of food imagery and chemical profiles.
In a recent collaboration with the digital collective Obvious Art, AI-generated food photos came first, and Zaken created dishes to match them.
Still, not everyone is sold on AI’s place in haute cuisine. Some top chefs insist that no algorithm can replace the human palate or creativity honed by years of training.
Philippe Etchebest, who just earned a second Michelin star, argued that while AI may be helpful elsewhere, it has no place in the artistry of the kitchen. Others worry it strays too far from the culinary traditions rooted in local produce and craftsmanship.
Many chefs, however, seem more open to using AI behind the scenes. From managing kitchen rotas to predicting ingredient costs or carbon footprints, phone apps like Menu and Fullsoon are gaining popularity.
Experts believe molecular databases and cookbook analysis could revolutionise flavour pairing and food presentation, while robots might one day take over laborious prep work—peeling potatoes included.
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