US President Donald Trump has directed his trade officials to revive investigations into digital service taxes imposed by foreign countries on American tech giants.
The move could lead to new tariffs on imports from nations like France, Canada, and India, which have introduced taxes targeting major firms such as Google, Meta, Apple, and Amazon. Trump argues that these levies unfairly exploit US companies and has vowed to protect America’s tax base from foreign appropriation.
The renewed probe follows previous investigations during Trump’s first term, where the US Trade Representative found that several countries discriminated against American firms, paving the way for potential retaliatory tariffs.
While the Biden administration initially imposed 25% tariffs on goods from countries with digital taxes, these duties were suspended to allow for global tax negotiations. However, with talks stalling and the US rejecting the 15% global minimum tax, Trump has now abandoned the deal entirely.
As tensions grow, the US could impose fresh tariffs on billions of dollars worth of foreign imports. Trump has not yet revealed the specific tariff rates or the value of goods that may be targeted in this latest round of trade actions.
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A new digital wellbeing companion, known as Sonny, is now being introduced in several schools across nine districts. Developed by Sonar Mental Health, this tool combines artificial intelligence with human oversight to provide initial mental health support to students.
Students can send their queries via text, with the AI suggesting responses that are ultimately reviewed by a dedicated team of professionals experienced in psychology, social work, and crisis intervention. This approach comes at a time when many schools are facing a severe shortage of qualified counsellours, with recent data revealing that 17 per cent of high schools lack a dedicated counsellour.
CEO Drew Bavir has emphasised that Sonny is not meant to replace professional therapy. Instead, it acts as a first point of contact, with Sonar staff ready to work alongside schools and parents to secure access to further specialist support when needed. This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing mental health challenges within schools.
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A groundbreaking study from the University of Copenhagen has demonstrated that AI can decode emotions in animals. By training a machine-learning model to analyse the vocal patterns of seven ungulate species, including cows, pigs, and wild boars, the research achieved an impressive accuracy rate of 89.49%. This study, the first of its kind to cross species, marks a significant step forward in understanding animal emotions.
The AI model identified key acoustic indicators of emotional states, such as duration, frequency, and amplitude of vocalisations, revealing that emotional expressions are evolutionarily conserved across species. This discovery could revolutionise animal welfare, enabling real-time monitoring of animals’ emotional well-being, particularly in livestock management, veterinary care, and conservation efforts.
The implications for animal welfare are profound. Early detection of stress or discomfort could lead to timely interventions, improving animals’ lives. Additionally, promoting positive emotions could enhance overall welfare. The researchers have made their emotional call database publicly available to support further studies and encourage more AI-driven research in animal welfare and conservation.
This study not only sheds new light on animal emotions but also offers insights into the evolutionary roots of human language, opening up exciting possibilities for future scientific exploration and better understanding of animal behaviour.
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Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Waseda University have developed the world’s largest biohybrid robot hand, which utilises cultivated human muscle tissue to perform complex movements. The 18-centimetre hand, complete with five individually moving fingers, incorporates a novel “sushi roll” design that bundles multiple thin muscle tissue strings to ensure sufficient nutrient supply and strength. Gold electrodes are employed to stimulate the tissues, translating straight muscle contractions into the rotational motion of the joints.
This innovative Japanese device is capable of delicate tasks such as grasping small objects, although its muscle tissues exhibit a decrease in force after approximately ten minutes of continuous action, recovering fully after an hour of rest. Such a breakthrough overcomes the limitations of earlier biohybrid devices, which were restricted to single-joint movements and were much smaller due to nutrient diffusion challenges in thicker muscle constructs.
Professor Shoji Takeuchi, specialising in mechanical engineering, believes that this research paves the way for the development of humanlike robots and precision prosthetic hands. The team’s findings, published in Science Robotics, mark a significant advance in the fusion of biological elements with mechanical systems, promising a future where robotics more closely mimic the capabilities of the human body.
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Stellantis has unveiled its first in-house-developed automated driving system, STLA AutoDrive, designed to assist urban commuters with hands-free and eyes-off driving. The system can manage speed, steering and braking while adapting to traffic flow.
The new technology allows drivers to momentarily shift focus from the road at speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour.
Stellantis confirmed that future advancements could enable operation at speeds reaching 95 kilometres per hour.
Deployment of STLA AutoDrive will be determined by market demand, with integration planned across Stellantis’ vehicle brands. The system represents a step forward in the company’s push for enhanced driving automation.
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Figure has introduced Helix, a new Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model designed to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots in complex environments like homes.
The announcement follows the company’s decision to end its collaboration with OpenAI and highlights its growing focus on creating robots that can respond to natural language prompts and adapt to dynamic household settings.
Helix integrates visual data and language commands, enabling robots to understand tasks and execute them in real time. It demonstrates advanced object generalisation, allowing robots to handle thousands of unfamiliar household items simply through verbal instructions.
Designed to control multiple robots simultaneously, Helix can coordinate complex tasks, such as transferring items between robots and organising objects within a home.
While home robotics presents unique challenges due to unpredictable layouts and varying environments, Figure aims to overcome these hurdles through Helix’s adaptive learning capabilities.
By moving away from time-consuming manual programming, the company is working towards making humanoid robots more accessible and practical for domestic use. Although the project remains in its early stages, the Helix model represents a significant step towards bridging the gap between industrial robotics and home applications.
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AI start-up Sanas has raised $65 million in a new funding round, valuing the company at over $500 million. The firm, founded in 2020, uses artificial intelligence to modify call centre workers’ accents in real time, aiming to reduce discrimination and improve communication. Its software preserves the speaker’s emotions and identity while adjusting phonetic patterns instantly.
The company was inspired by a call centre worker’s struggle with accent bias, leading its founders to develop a solution that enhances clarity without replacing human connection. Despite concerns that such technology may homogenise voices rather than promote acceptance of diverse accents, Sanas insists its mission is to break barriers and reduce discrimination.
With an annual revenue of $21 million and a growing client base across healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, Sanas is rapidly expanding. The company plans to develop new AI-driven speech technologies, increase its global presence, and open an office in the Philippines, a major hub for call centres.
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Google has introduced an AI tool designed to act as a virtual collaborator for biomedical researchers. Tested by Stanford University and Imperial College London, the tool helps scientists analyse large volumes of literature and generate new hypotheses. It uses advanced reasoning to streamline research processes and assist in problem-solving.
DeepMind, Google’s AI unit, has prioritised science in its innovations. The unit’s leader, Demis Hassabis, recently shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for groundbreaking AI technology. In an experiment addressing liver fibrosis, the AI tool proposed promising solutions, showing potential to improve expert-generated approaches over time.
The system is not intended to replace scientists but to enhance their work. Google stated that the tool could accelerate scientific advancements, offering new possibilities for tackling complex challenges. Researchers involved in the project highlighted its role in fostering collaboration, rather than diminishing it.
Experts see this development as part of a growing trend in using AI across various industries. Successes like ChatGPT have demonstrated AI’s ability to support tasks ranging from customer service to legal research.
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Google has introduced Career Dreamer, a new AI-powered tool designed to help users discover career possibilities based on their skills, education, and interests. Announced in a blog post, the experiment aims to offer personalised job exploration without the need for multiple searches across different platforms.
The tool creates a ‘career identity statement’ by analysing users’ past and present roles, education, and experiences, which can be used to refine CVs or guide interview discussions. Career Dreamer also provides a visual representation of potential career paths and allows users to collaborate with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, to draft cover letters or explore further job ideas.
Unlike traditional job search platforms such as LinkedIn or Indeed, Career Dreamer does not link users to actual job postings. Instead, it serves as an exploratory tool to help individuals, whether students, career changers, or military veterans, identify roles that align with their backgrounds. Currently, the experiment is available only in the United States, with no confirmation on future expansion.
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Superhuman has introduced a new AI-powered feature called Auto Label, designed to automatically categorise emails into groups such as marketing, pitches, social updates, and news. Users can also create custom labels with personalised prompts and even choose to auto-archive certain categories, reducing inbox clutter.
The company developed the tool in response to customer complaints about an increasing number of unwanted marketing and cold emails. While Gmail and Outlook offer spam filtering, Superhuman’s CEO, Rahul Vohra, said their new system aims to provide more precise classification. However, at launch, users cannot edit prompts for existing labels, meaning they must create new ones if adjustments are needed.
Superhuman is also enhancing its reminder system. The app will now automatically surface emails if a response is overdue and can draft AI-generated follow-ups in the user’s writing style. Looking ahead, the company plans to integrate personal knowledge bases, automate replies, and introduce workflow automation, making email management even more seamless.
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