Interdisciplinary approaches

Gemini Projects feature appears in Google app teardown

Google is preparing a Gemini feature called Projects, offering a small workspace for grouping chats by topic. Early clues show it works like a sandbox that keeps related conversations structured. It is still hidden and not active for anyone.

An Android Authority teardown of the Google app revealed the interface and onboarding prompts. These mention isolating chats, choosing a focus area and adding files for context. The feature remains dormant until Google enables it on the server.

When opening a project, users can name it and then view a simple dashboard. This includes options to set project goals that guide Gemini’s behaviour. The aim is to keep longer tasks organised in one place.

The teardown shows a limit of ten file uploads per project, with no clarity on whether paid tiers will receive more. This may affect complex tasks that require a larger context. Users will also be able to pin projects for quicker access.

Because all information comes from hidden code, Google has not confirmed any details. The design or limits may change before launch. Until the Gemini feature is announced, the findings should be treated as provisional.

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Thrive Holdings deepens AI collaboration with OpenAI for business transformation

OpenAI and Thrive Holdings have launched a partnership to accelerate enterprise adoption of AI. The work focuses on applying AI to high-volume business functions such as accounting and IT services. Both companies say these areas offer immediate gains in speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency.

OpenAI will place its teams inside Thrive Holdings’ companies to improve core workflows. The partners want a model they can replicate across other sectors. They say embedding AI in real operations delivers better results than external tools.

Executives say AI is reshaping how organisations deliver value in competitive markets. OpenAI’s Brad Lightcap described the collaboration as an example of rapid, organisation-wide transformation. He said the approach could guide other businesses seeking practical pathways to use advanced AI tools.

Thrive Holdings views the initiative as part of a broader shift in how technology is adopted. Founder Joshua Kushner said industry experts are now driving change from within their sectors. He added that Thrive’s portfolio offers the data and domain knowledge needed to refine AI for specialised tasks.

Both partners expect the model to scale into additional business areas as uptake grows. They see long-term opportunities to adapt the framework to more enterprise functions. The ambition is to demonstrate how embedded AI can boost performance and sustain operational improvements.

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Singapore and the EU advance their digital partnership

The European Union met Singapore in Brussels for the second Digital Partnership Council, reinforcing a joint ambition to strengthen cooperation across a broad set of digital priorities.

Both sides expressed a shared interest in improving competitiveness, expanding innovation and shaping common approaches to digital rules instead of relying on fragmented national frameworks.

Discussions covered AI, cybersecurity, online safety, data flows, digital identities, semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Officials highlighted the importance of administrative arrangements in AI safety. They explored potential future cooperation on language models, including the EU’s work on the Alliance for Language Technologies and Singapore’s Sea-Lion initiative.

Efforts to protect consumers and support minors online were highlighted, alongside the potential role of age verification tools.

Further exchanges focused on trust services and the interoperability of digital identity systems, as well as collaborative research on semiconductors and quantum technologies.

Both sides emphasised the importance of robust cyber resilience and ongoing evaluation of cybersecurity risks, rather than relying on reactive measures. The recently signed Digital Trade Agreement was welcomed for improving legal certainty, building consumer trust and reducing barriers to digital commerce.

The meeting between the EU and Singapore confirmed the importance of the partnership in supporting economic security, strengthening research capacity and increasing resilience in critical technologies.

It also reflected the wider priorities outlined in the European Commission’s International Digital Strategy, which placed particular emphasis on cooperation with Asian partners across emerging technologies and digital governance.

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Italy secures new EU support for growth and reform

The European Commission has endorsed Italy’s latest request for funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, marking an important step in the country’s economic modernisation.

An approval that covers 12.8 billion euros, combining grants and loans, and supports efforts to strengthen competitiveness and long-term growth across key sectors of national life.

Italy completed 32 milestones and targets connected to the eighth instalment, enabling progress in public administration, procurement, employment, education, research, tourism, renewable energy and the circular economy.

Thousands of schools have gained new resources to improve multilingual learning and build stronger skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Many primary and secondary schools have also secured modern digital tools to enhance teaching quality instead of relying on outdated systems.

Health research forms another major part of the package. Projects focused on rare diseases, cancer and other high-impact conditions have gained fresh funding to support scientific work and improve treatment pathways.

These measures contribute to a broader transformation programme financed through 194.4 billion euros, representing one of the largest recovery plans in the EU.

A four-week review by the Economic and Financial Committee will follow before the payment can be released. Once completed, Italy’s total receipts will exceed 153 billion euros, covering more than 70 percent of its full Recovery and Resilience Facility allocation.

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Poetic prompts reveal gaps in AI safety, according to study

Researchers in Italy have found that poetic language can weaken the safety barriers used by many leading AI chatbots.

A work by Icaro Lab, part of DexAI, that examined whether poems containing harmful requests could provoke unsafe answers from widely deployed models across the industry. The team wrote twenty poems in English and Italian, each ending with explicit instructions that AI systems are trained to block.

The researchers tested the poems on twenty-five models developed by nine major companies. Poetic prompts produced unsafe responses in more than half of the tests.

Some models appeared more resilient than others. OpenAI’s GPT-5 Nano avoided unsafe replies in every case, while Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro generated harmful content in all tests. Two Meta systems produced unsafe responses to twenty percent of the poems.

Researchers also argue that poetic structure disrupts the predictive patterns large language models rely on to filter harmful material. The unconventional rhythm and metaphor common in poetry make the underlying safety mechanisms less reliable.

Additionally, the team warned that adversarial poetry can be used by anyone, which raises concerns about how easily safety systems may be manipulated in everyday use.

Before releasing the study, the researchers contacted all companies involved and shared the full dataset with them.

Anthropic confirmed receipt and stated that it was reviewing the findings. The work has prompted debate over how AI systems can be strengthened as creative language becomes an increasingly common method for attempting to bypass safety controls.

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Philips launches AI-powered spectral CT system

Philips has unveiled Verida, the world’s first detector-based spectral CT fully powered by AI. The system integrates AI across the imaging chain, enhancing image quality, lowering system noise, and streamlining clinical workflow for faster, more precise diagnostics.

Spectral CT allows tissues to be distinguished based on how they absorb different x-ray energies, providing insights that conventional scans cannot. Verida reconstructs 145 images per second, completing exams in under 30 seconds, allowing up to 270 scans daily with lower doses and up to 45% less energy use.

Clinicians are already seeing benefits, especially in cardiac imaging. Prof. Eliseo Vañó Galván, Chairman of CT & MR at Hospital Nuestra. Sra. Del Rosario in Madrid, said the system could boost confidence, reduce invasive procedures, and expand spectral imaging.

Built for high-demand environments, Verida combines AI-driven reconstruction with Philips’ Nano-panel dual-layer detector and proprietary Spectral Precise Image technology. The system is CE-marked and 510k pending, with availability in select markets expected in 2026.

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Most German researchers now use AI

Around 80 percent of researchers at Germany’s Max Planck and Fraunhofer societies report using AI in their work, according to a survey of more than 6,200 respondents published in Research Policy.

Nearly half said they were very familiar with AI tools, while another 44 percent had used AI a few times.

The study shows a rapid rise in AI use since 2023, when just 17 percent of researchers used generative AI weekly. Many respondents now employ AI for core and creative research tasks, with 37 percent citing its use in innovative work processes.

Demographic trends reveal that older researchers and women are less likely to use AI, although lower familiarity rather than scepticism drives these differences. Researchers view AI as transformative, acting increasingly as a co-creator or manager rather than merely an automation tool.

Measures such as training, supportive learning environments and legal guidance could further boost AI adoption. Despite the study being limited to Germany, the findings point to a profound transformation in research driven by AI technologies.

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Cairo Forum examines MENA’s path in the AI era

The Second Cairo Forum brought together experts to assess how AI, global shifts, and economic pressures are shaping MENA. Speakers said the region faces a critical moment as new technologies accelerate. The discussion asked whether MENA will help shape AI or simply adopt it.

Participants highlighted global divides, warning that data misuse and concentrated control remain major risks. They argued that middle-income countries can collaborate to build shared standards. Several speakers urged innovation-friendly regulation supported by clear safety rules.

Officials from Egypt outlined national efforts to embed AI across health, agriculture, and justice. They described progress through applied projects and new governance structures. Limited data access and talent retention were identified as continuing obstacles.

Industry voices stressed that trust, transparency, and skills must underpin the use of AI. They emphasised co-creation that fits regional languages and contexts. Training and governance frameworks were seen as essential for responsible deployment.

Closing remarks warned that rapid advances demand urgent decisions. Speakers said safety investment lags behind development, and global competition is intensifying. They agreed that today’s choices will shape the region’s AI future.

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DeepSeek launches AI model achieving gold-level maths scores

Chinese AI company DeepSeek has unveiled Math-V2, the first open-source AI model to achieve gold-level performance at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

The system, now available on GitHub and Hugging Face, allows developers to modify and deploy the model under a permissive license freely.

Math-V2 also excelled in the 2024 Chinese Mathematical Olympiad, demonstrating advanced reasoning and problem-solving capabilities. Unlike many AI systems, it features a self-verification process that enables it to check solutions even for problems without known answers.

The launch comes as US AI leaders, such as Google DeepMind and OpenAI, have achieved similar milestones with their proprietary models.

Open access to Math-V2 could democratise advanced mathematical tools, potentially accelerating scientific research and development globally.

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Mixx and MVola services grow under Axian’s partnership with Mastercard

Axian Group has entered a strategic partnership with Mastercard to expand digital payment services across its mobile network markets. The collaboration covers virtual and physical cards under the Mixx and MVola brands. Both companies say the tools will enable safer, faster cross-border payments.

Consumers will activate and top up virtual cards via the Mixx and MVola apps in markets such as Madagascar and the Comoros. Axian says real-time monitoring features will simplify international transactions. The rollout is designed to broaden financial access through mobile channels.

Axian’s fintech lead, Erwan Gelebart, says the initiative will help SMEs and entrepreneurs in Senegal and Togo adopt secure mobile-payment tools. He argues the partnership strengthens local digital ecosystems. Mastercard sees the cooperation as part of wider financial-inclusion efforts.

Mastercard executive Mete Guney says the collaboration will expand secure digital-payment infrastructure in Tanzania and neighbouring regions. He says new services aim to improve how people pay and get paid. The companies plan phased deployment as demand grows.

Axian rebranded its mobile units to Yas in 2024 across Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal, Togo and Tanzania. Its financial services arms now operate as Mixx by Yas. The new merchant and card tools build on this unified-market strategy.

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