Interdisciplinary approaches

Researchers develop advanced AI system to assess tumour relapse risk

Researchers at Universitat Rovira i Virgili have developed an AI model that predicts breast cancer recurrence more accurately than existing systems. The tool combines clinical data with MRI scans to detect subtle patterns signalling relapse risk.

Unlike traditional models, the AI also examines surrounding tissue, breast symmetry, and tumour texture variations. The system automatically segments MRI scans, extracts key features, and combines them with tumour type, hormone receptor status, and malignancy data.

Using a neural network model known as TabNet, it can interpret complex data while maintaining transparency in how predictions are made.

Tests on over 500 patients showed the model achieves high accuracy and reliably identifies those at real risk of relapse. Researchers say this reduces false negatives and helps ensure those needing further treatment are not overlooked.

Key indicators influencing predictions include tumour texture, breast symmetry, and hormone receptor status.

The AI model is scalable, interpretable, and suitable for clinical use without requiring costly or invasive genetic tests. Part of the European Bosomshield project, the research shows AI’s potential to make oncology more personalised and predictive.

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Amelia brings heads-up guidance to Amazon couriers

Amazon unveiled ‘Amelia’ AI-powered smart glasses for delivery drivers with a built-in display and camera, paired to a vest with a photo button, now piloting with hundreds of drivers across more than a dozen partners.

Designed for last-mile efficiency, Amelia can auto-shut down when a vehicle moves to prevent distraction, includes a hardware kill switch for the camera and mic, and aims to save about 30 minutes per 8–10-hour shift by streamlining repetitive tasks.

Initial availability is planned for the US market and the rest of North America before global expansion, with Amazon emphasizing that Amelia is custom-built for drivers, though consumer versions aren’t ruled out. Pilots involve real routes and live deliveries to customers.

Amazon also showcased a warehouse robotic arm to sort parcels faster and more safely, as well as an AI orchestration system that ingests real-time and historical data to predict bottlenecks, propose fixes, and keep fulfillment operations running smoothly.

The move joins a broader push into wearables from Big Tech. Unlike Meta’s consumer-oriented Ray-Ban smart glasses, Amelia targets enterprise use, promising faster package location, fewer taps, and tighter integration with Amazon’s delivery workflow.

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Alibaba pushes unified AI with Quark Chat and wearables

Quark, Alibaba’s consumer AI app, has launched an AI Chat Assistant powered by Qwen3 models, merging real-time search with conversational reasoning so users can ask by text or voice, get answers, and trigger actions from a single interface.

On iOS and Android, you can tap ‘assistant’ in the AI Super Box or swipe right to open chat, then use prompts to summarise pages, draft replies, or pull sources, with results easily shared to friends, Stories, or outside the app.

Beyond Q&A, the assistant adds deep search, photo-based problem-solving, and AI writing, while supporting multimodal tasks like photo editing, AI camera, and phone calls. Forthcoming MCP integrations will expand agent execution across Alibaba services.

Quark AI Glasses opened pre-sale in China on October 24 via Tmall with a list price of 4,699 RMB before coupons or memberships, deliveries starting in phases from December, and 1 RMB reservations available on JD.com and Douyin.

Powered by Qwen for hands-free assistance, translation, and meeting transcription, the glasses emphasise lightweight ergonomics, long battery life, and quality imaging, with bundles, accessories, and prescription lens options to broaden fit and daily use.

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Autonomous AI may improve diabetic eye screening in safety-net clinics

Researchers are testing if autonomous AI at FQHCs can boost diabetic retinopathy detection, accelerate diagnosis, and improve referral follow-through. The JAMA-published trial targets patients missing DR screening for 11 months, using FDA-cleared AI to analyse fundus photos during routine visits.

Immediate results allow same-day action, potentially reducing missed referrals for patients facing time, travel, and cost barriers.

The randomised, open-label trial at two San Diego County clinics compares point-of-care AI-DRS to usual-care referrals. Nonmydriatic fundus images are captured by trained staff, analysed by the AI algorithm, and results flow into the electronic health record (EHR).

Positive cases trigger immediate retina appointments, while ungradable images prompt urgent ophthalmology referrals. Outcomes at 90 and 180 days include screening completion, DR stage at detection, referral adherence, and patient-reported knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.

The AI-DRS has demonstrated high accuracy in prior studies, detecting more-than-mild and vision-threatening DR with sensitivities above 96%. Workflow integration aims to cut diagnostic delays, using closed-loop referrals and ICD-10 coding for consistent documentation and population health tracking.

The study also evaluates implementation metrics such as image quality, acquisition success, and patient trust in AI-supported care.

If successful, the model could help clinics meet screening targets and streamline workflows for primary care providers. The protocol focuses on training, quality checks, and real-world use, providing a scalable way to prevent avoidable vision loss in underserved communities.

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OpenAI outlines Japan’s AI Blueprint for inclusive economic growth

A new Japan Economic Blueprint released by OpenAI sets out how AI can power innovation, competitiveness, and long-term prosperity across the country. The plan estimates that AI could add more than ¥100 trillion to Japan’s economy and raise GDP by up to 16%.

Centred on inclusive access, infrastructure, and education, the Blueprint calls for equal AI opportunities for citizens and small businesses, national investment in semiconductors and renewable energy, and expanded lifelong learning to build an adaptive workforce.

AI is already reshaping Japanese industries from manufacturing and healthcare to education and public administration. Factories reduce inspection costs, schools use ChatGPT Edu for personalised teaching, and cities from Saitama to Fukuoka employ AI to enhance local services.

OpenAI suggests that the focus of Japan on ethical and human-centred innovation could make it a model for responsible AI governance. By aligning digital and green priorities, the report envisions technology driving creativity, equality, and shared prosperity across generations.

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Large language models mimic human object perception

Recent research shows that large multimodal language models (LLMs) can develop object representations strikingly similar to human cognition. By analysing how these AI models understand and organise concepts, scientists found patterns in the models that mirror neural activity in the human brain.

The study examined embeddings for 1,854 natural objects, derived from millions of text-image pairings. These embeddings capture relationships between objects and were compared with brain scan data from regions like EBA, PPA, RSC and FFA.

Researchers also discovered that multimodal training, which combines text and image data, enhances model’s ability to form these human-like concepts. Findings suggest that large language models can achieve more natural understanding of the world, offering potential improvements in human-AI interaction and future model design.

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UK data stays in the UK as OpenAI rolls out residency

OpenAI will offer UK data residency for API Platform, ChatGPT Enterprise, and ChatGPT Edu from October 24. The option, announced by Deputy PM David Lammy, is tied to a Ministry of Justice partnership. The government says it boosts privacy, security, and resilience for public services and business.

Lammy will unveil the ‘sovereign capability’ at OpenAI Frontiers, citing early MoJ efficiency gains. Over 1,000 probation officers will use Justice Transcribe to record and auto-transcribe offender meetings. Hours of admin shift to AI so staff can focus on supervision and public protection.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says UK usage has quadrupled in the past year. The company pitches AI as a way to save time and lift productivity across sectors. MoJ pilots have sparked interest from other departments, with broader adoption expected.

Data residency is a key blocker for regulated sectors, and this move aims to address that gap. Keeping data within the UK can simplify compliance and reduce perceived risk. It also underpins continuity plans by localising sensitive workloads.

ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-first web browser, was also announced this week. Its arrival could nudge users away from keyword searches toward conversational answers. OpenAI faces rivals Anthropic, Perplexity, and big tech incumbents in that shift.

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Crypto hiring snaps back as AI cools

Tech firms led crypto’s hiring rebound, adding over 12,000 roles since late 2022, according to A16z’s State of Crypto 2025. Finance and consulting contributed 6,000, offsetting talent pulled into AI after ChatGPT’s debut. Net, crypto gained 1,000 positions as workers rotated in from tech, fintech, and education.

The recovery tracks a market turn: crypto capitalisation topping US$4T and new Bitcoin highs. A friendlier US policy stance on stablecoins and digital-asset oversight buoyed sentiment. Institutions from JPMorgan to BlackRock and Fidelity widened offerings beyond pilots.

Hiring is diversifying beyond developers toward compliance, infrastructure, and product. Firms are moving from proofs of concept to production systems with clearer revenue paths. Result: broader role mix and steadier talent pipelines.

A16z contrasts AI centralisation with crypto’s open ethos. OpenAI/Anthropic dominate AI-native revenue; big clouds hold most of the infrastructure share; NVIDIA leads GPUs. Crypto advocates pitch blockchains as a counterweight via verifiable compute and open rails.

Utility signals mature, too. Stablecoins settled around US$9T in 12 months, up 87% year over year. That’s over half of Visa’s annual volume and five times that of PayPal’s.

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Andreessen Horowitz backed Codi startup launches AI tool to streamline office operations

Codi, an Andreessen Horowitz–backed startup founded by Christelle Rohaut and Dave Schuman, has launched an AI-powered platform that is said to fully automate office management.

The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2018 to help firms find flexible workspaces. It first operated as a marketplace, matching companies to buildings with flexible office arrangements but has since evolved into an AI-powered software platform. The new AI agent handles logistics such as vendor coordination, cleaning and pantry restocking for any leased office, meeting a need that, according to Rohaut, remains very manual and costly.

Chief executive Christelle Rohaut said advances in AI made the shift possible. ‘Whatever office you lease, you can use this to automate your office logistics,’ she told TechCrunch.

The product entered beta in May and officially launched this week. Codi, which has raised $23 million to date, including a $16 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz in 2022 , reported reaching $100,000 in annual recurring revenue within five weeks of the beta launch.

The company says the platform can save firms hundreds of hours in administrative work and reduce costs compared with hiring an in-house or part-time office manager. Early adopters include TaskRabbit and Northbeam.

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CMC pegs JLR hack at £1.9bn with 5,000 firms affected

JLR’s cyberattack is pegged at £1.9bn, the UK’s costliest on record. Production paused for five weeks from 1 September across Solihull, Halewood, and Wolverhampton. CMC says 5,000 firms were hit, with full recovery expected by January 2026.

JLR is restoring manufacturing in phases and declined to comment on the estimate. UK dealer systems were intermittently down, orders were cancelled or delayed, and suppliers faced uncertainty. More than half of the losses fall on JLR; the remainder hits its supply chain and local economies.

The CMC classed the incident as Category 3 on its five-level scale. Chair Ciaran Martin warned organisations to harden critical networks and plan for disruption. The CMC’s assessment draws on public data, surveys, and interviews rather than on disclosed forensic evidence.

Researchers say costs hinge on the attack type, which JLR has not confirmed. Data theft is faster to recover than ransomware; wiper malware would be worse. A claimed hacker group linked to earlier high-profile breaches is unverified.

The CMC’s estimate excludes any ransom, which could add tens of millions of dollars. Earlier this year, retail hacks at M&S, the Co-op, and Harrods were tagged Category 2. Those were pegged at £270m–£440m, below the £506m cited by some victims.

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