California’s sole remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, is adopting artificial intelligence to navigate the complex challenges of staying operational. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has partnered with Atomic Canyon, a local startup, to deploy an AI system called Neutron Enterprise. The tool will help manage the plant’s decades-old infrastructure by analysing and organising millions of historical documents, a task critical for meeting federal licensing requirements to keep the facility running for another 20 years.
Located on the coast between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US, the Diablo Canyon facility was commissioned in 1985 and once slated for closure. However, in 2022, California reversed course to meet its ambitious carbon-reduction targets. The plant’s vice president, Maureen Zawalick, revealed that the facility stores over 9 million records, many originating from outdated formats like microfiche, making data retrieval and management a daunting task.
Using NVIDIA-powered systems, Atomic Canyon’s software can process these archives in natural language, significantly improving document accessibility and usability. According to the startup’s founder, Trey Lauderdale, the AI will streamline data searches, saving time and resources. Over time, the technology may also optimise maintenance schedules, an effort-intensive process that requires careful coordination of the plant’s aging systems.
The Guardian has announced its departure from X, citing concerns over harmful content, such as racist and conspiracy-based posts. The decision marks a significant retreat for one of the UK’s prominent news outlets from the social media platform, which Elon Musk acquired in 2022. According to an editorial, the Guardian stated that the downsides of remaining on X now outweigh any potential benefits.
With over 10.7 million followers, the Guardian’s exit reflects rising concerns about X’s moderation policies. Critics argue that Musk’s relaxed approach has fostered an environment that tolerates misinformation and hate speech. Musk responded to the Guardian’s decision by dismissing the publication as “irrelevant” on X.
The Guardian’s move comes as other high-profile users, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon, also announce plans to leave X. Lemon expressed disappointment in the platform, saying it no longer supports meaningful debate. The UK has seen an increase in concerns about X’s impact, with British police, charities, and public health organisations also reconsidering their use of the platform.
The British government, however, still maintains a presence on X, though it refrains from paid promotions. Instead, it directs advertising efforts towards platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Observers note that the Guardian’s exit may prompt other media outlets to evaluate their stance on social media engagement.
In Poznan, Poland, a new chapel is combining tradition with cutting-edge technology. Created by priest Radek Rakowski, the modern chapel features an AI-powered system that answers visitors’ questions about Catholicism. Housed in a residential building, the chapel includes a coffee corner and app-based amenities that control lighting and drink orders.
The AI assistant, accessible via a lectern, offers objective and comprehensive responses drawn from the Bible, catechism, and Church documents. Rakowski emphasises that the system helps address sensitive questions without emotional bias or human error. He views it as a tool to make faith discussions more open and accurate.
With its neon-lit, welcoming design and innovative approach, the Polish chapel symbolises a shift toward integrating technology with spirituality. Visitors can now explore their faith in an environment that blends community warmth with futuristic convenience.
As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, Americans have expressed mixed feelings about its role in job hiring. A survey conducted by Talker Research between October 21-24 revealed that 43% of respondents felt uneasy with AI conducting job interviews, while 32% were comfortable. Generational differences were also evident, with younger generations, particularly Gen Z, more accepting of AI-led interviews than older generations like Baby Boomers.
Despite the concerns, AI’s role in recruitment continues to grow. Philip Gjørup, co-founder of Nord Comms, believes AI could revolutionise the hiring process by swiftly identifying key attributes in candidates. Similarly, Lars Nyman from CUDO Compute points out that AI is already used to assess resumes and assess initial candidate fit, making AI-led interviews a logical next step.
However, AI faces limitations in capturing the personal touch needed in job interviews. While experts agree that AI can streamline recruitment, they also acknowledge that nuanced interpersonal skills, which are vital in interviews, remain beyond the capabilities of current AI technology.
The rising use of AI in hiring has raised concerns about the dehumanising effects of algorithms making important career decisions. Many worry about a lack of empathy in the process, with some likening it to pitching one’s career story to a ‘vending machine.’ As AI technology develops, it may take more time for people to adapt to its growing presence in the hiring process.
Elon Musk’s social media platform X is testing a free version of its AI chatbot, Grok, which was previously exclusive to premium subscribers. Over the weekend, reports surfaced from users and researchers indicating that some free accounts in regions like New Zealand now have access to the AI tool. While usage is capped to 10 queries every two hours for the Grok-2 model, this marks a significant expansion of the technology’s reach.
Grok, developed by Musk’s company xAI, launched earlier this year with advanced features like image generation and understanding, powered by Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 model. Previously available only to paying users, the decision to extend limited access to free users may reflect xAI’s strategy to grow its user base and improve feedback for refining its technology.
To use Grok for free, accounts must be at least seven days old and linked to a phone number. This move positions xAI to compete with AI giants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, while also potentially bolstering its valuation, which reportedly reached $40B in recent funding discussions. This test of free access could accelerate Grok’s development cycle and further establish xAI in the competitive AI market.
Japan is set to send 200 engineers and students to the United States over the next five years as part of an ambitious effort to revitalise its semiconductor industry. The trainees will join US-based chip venture Tenstorrent to specialise in the design of chips for AI, according to the Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center. This research organisation was established in 2022 to spearhead advanced chip development.
The program aims to restore Japan’s standing in the semiconductor market, which has waned in recent decades with the rise of competitors like South Korea and Taiwan. Training periods will last up to 18 months and are intended to develop the technical expertise needed to produce state-of-the-art semiconductors.
Supported by government funding of 7.5B yen (approximately $49M) over five years, the initiative is part of a state-backed project led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. Key collaborators include Japanese tech giant SoftBank Corp and the University of Tokyo, with applications opening by March next year. This strategic move underscores Japan’s commitment to reclaiming a leading role in global chip production as demand for advanced technologies continues to surge.
The Vatican has introduced advanced AI-enabled services to offer virtual and enhanced access to St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the world’s most renowned Renaissance landmarks. Launched with Microsoft and heritage digitalisation firm Iconem, the new platform provides a 3D model of the basilica, developed with drones, cameras, and lasers that capture over 400,000 images. The model is now viewable through an interactive website. This innovation comes as the Catholic Church gears up for its 2025 Jubilee celebrations, expected to draw even more visitors to Rome.
With around 40,000-50,000 people visiting St. Peter’s daily, these new digital tools will allow users worldwide to virtually explore its artistic and architectural marvels. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti likened the basilica to a “starry sky,” hoping the tools would bring an “enchanting” experience to global audiences. The digital replica is also intended to aid the basilica’s future preservation and restoration.
Pope Francis expressed support for the project, highlighting the importance of ethical AI use. He noted that while AI can expand access to cultural knowledge, its application should always aim to benefit humanity.
Korean SDT and Finland’s SemiQon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a strategic partnership to advance quantum computing. That collaboration allows SDT to incorporate SemiQon’s silicon-based quantum processors (QPUs) into its quantum precision measurement equipment, enhancing scalability and stability in the quantum computing field.
SemiQon has developed QPUs that are compatible with existing infrastructure, which reduces production costs and facilitates mass production. Through this partnership, SDT expands its manufacturing capabilities into quantum technology, with both companies aiming to strengthen the global quantum computing market.
Both companies’ leaders expressed excitement about the potential impact of this collaboration, which is expected to fast-track the development of scalable and cost-effective quantum computers. The combination of SDT’s quantum precision technology and SemiQon’s silicon-based QPUs is a critical step toward realising general-purpose quantum computers operating at the million-qubit scale. The MOU is viewed as a foundation for the global commercialisation of quantum computing, with both SDT and SemiQon working together to enhance the industry’s stability and scalability.
A woman from Littlehampton, West Sussex, is ‘deeply grateful’ to AI for detecting her breast cancer, which had previously gone unnoticed despite a routine mammogram showing no signs of the disease. Sheila Tooth, 68, had her mammogram at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, where AI is being used to enhance breast cancer screenings and identify cancers that human reviewers might miss.
Sheila’s cancerous cells were nearly undetectable by traditional methods, and she believes AI’s detection helped catch it at an early, treatable stage. ‘I just feel so lucky,’ she said, reflecting on how AI detected the cancer that could have become invasive if left unnoticed. The technology is part of a larger project involving 15 trusts across the UK, which reviewed over 12,000 mammograms to identify missed cases. AI flagged nearly 10% of these as potentially needing a second look, leading to further investigations for some women and five confirmed breast cancer diagnoses.
Dr Olga Strukowska, a consultant radiologist, called AI screening ‘exciting’ because it enhances the accuracy of breast cancer detection, reduces missed diagnoses, and lowers false positives. AI’s role in early and precise cancer detection could greatly improve outcomes for patients, according to Dr Strukowska. With about 650 women diagnosed with breast cancer annually in Sussex, the trust now plans to participate in a national trial to further integrate AI into routine breast screenings.
Researchers at the University of Manchester and The Christie Cancer Hospital have received a £5.9 million grant from Cancer Research UK to use AI in cancer treatment. The funding will support a project that simulates clinical trials to test the effectiveness of radiotherapy on ‘virtual’ patients, created using real-life data. This innovative approach aims to make cancer research faster, safer, and more cost-effective than traditional large-scale clinical trials.
The virtual trials will focus on patient-specific genetics and tumours, with a particular emphasis on comparing new proton beam therapy with conventional radiotherapy for lung cancer. AI will allow researchers to test treatments more quickly than through traditional trials involving real patients. This initiative is part of Cancer Research UK’s push to advance radiotherapy research, with Manchester being one of only seven centres of excellence in the UK to receive funding for this work.
Martin Storey, a lung cancer survivor who benefited from radiotherapy in a clinical trial, expressed his support for the project, saying that AI-driven trials could help more people survive cancer. Storey, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009, believes that the use of AI could accelerate treatment advancements and improve outcomes for future patients.
