The non-invasive system uses electroencephalography (EEG) to decode brain signals and combines them with an AI camera platform for real-time assistance. The results, published in ‘Nature Machine Intelligence’, demonstrate significant performance improvements over traditional BCIs.
Participants tested the device on two tasks: moving a cursor across a computer screen and directing a robotic arm to reposition blocks. All completed tasks faster with AI assistance, while a paralysed participant, unable to finish without support, succeeded in under seven minutes.
Researchers emphasise the importance of safety and accessibility. Unlike surgically implanted BCIs, which remain confined to limited clinical trials, the wearable device avoids neurosurgical risks while offering new independence for people with paralysis or ALS.
Future development will focus on making AI ‘co-pilots’ more adaptive, allowing robotic arms to move with greater precision, dexterity, and task awareness.
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The move follows months of user complaints about Google Home’s performance, including issues with connectivity and the assistant’s failure to recognise basic commands.
With Gemini’s superior ability to understand natural language, the upgrade is expected to improve how users interact with their smart devices significantly. Home devices should better execute complex commands with multiple actions, such as dimming some lights while leaving others on.
However, the update will also introduce ‘Gemini Live’ to compatible devices, a feature allowing for natural, back-and-forth conversations with the AI chatbot.
The Gemini for Google Home upgrade will initially be rolled out on an early access basis. It will be available in free and paid tiers, suggesting that some more advanced features may be locked behind a subscription.
The update is anticipated to make Google Home and Nest devices more reliable and to handle complex requests easily.
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WhatsApp has disclosed a hacking attempt that combined flaws in its app with a vulnerability in Apple’s operating system. The company has since fixed the issues.
The exploit, tracked as CVE-2025-55177 in WhatsApp and CVE-2025-43300 in iOS, allowed attackers to hijack devices via malicious links. Fewer than 200 users worldwide are believed to have been affected.
Amnesty International reported that some victims appeared to be members of civic organisations. Its Security Lab is collecting forensic data and warned that iPhone and Android users were impacted.
WhatsApp credited its security team for identifying the loopholes, describing the operation as highly advanced but narrowly targeted. The company also suggested that other apps could have been hit in the same campaign.
The disclosure highlights ongoing risks to secure messaging platforms, even those with end-to-end encryption. Experts stress that keeping apps and operating systems up to date remains essential to reducing exposure to sophisticated exploits.
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IBM has announced plans to develop next-generation computing architectures by integrating quantum computers with high-performance computing, a concept it calls quantum-centric supercomputing.
The company is working with AMD to build scalable, open-source platforms that combine IBM’s quantum expertise with AMD’s strength in HPC and AI accelerators. The aim is to move beyond the limits of traditional computing and explore solutions to problems that classical systems cannot address alone.
Quantum computing uses qubits governed by quantum mechanics, offering a far richer computational space than binary bits. In a hybrid model, quantum machines could simulate atoms and molecules, while supercomputers powered by CPUs, GPUs, and AI manage large-scale data analysis.
Arvind Krishna, IBM’s CEO, said the approach represents a new way of simulating the natural world. AMD’s Lisa Su described high-performance computing as foundational to tackling global challenges, noting the partnership could accelerate discovery and innovation.
An initial demonstration is planned for later this year, showing IBM quantum computers working with AMD technologies. Both companies say open-source ecosystems like Qiskit will be crucial to building new algorithms and advancing fault-tolerant quantum systems.
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Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has faced repeated changes to its political orientation, with updates shifting its answers towards more conservative views.
xAI, Musk’s company, initially promoted Grok as neutral and truth-seeking, but internal prompts have steered it on contentious topics. Adjustments included portraying declining fertility as the greatest threat to civilisation and downplaying right-wing violence.
Analyses of Grok’s responses by The New York Times showed that the July updates shifted answers to the right on government and economy, while some social responses remained left-leaning. Subsequent tweaks pulled it back closer to neutrality.
Critics say that system prompts, such as short instructions like ‘be politically incorrect’, make it easy to adjust outputs, but also leave the model prone to erratic or offensive responses. A July update saw Grok briefly endorse a controversial historical figure before xAI turned it off.
The case highlights growing concerns about political bias in AI systems. Researchers argue that all chatbots reflect the worldviews of their training data, while companies increasingly face pressure to align them with user expectations or political demands.
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Reports that Gmail suffered a massive breach have been dismissed by Google, which said rumours of warnings to 2.5 billion users were false.
In a Monday blog post, Google rejected claims that it had issued global notifications about a serious Gmail security issue. It stressed that its protections remain effective against phishing and malware.
Confusion stems from a June incident involving a Salesforce server, during which attackers briefly accessed public business information, including names and contact details. Google said all affected parties were notified by early August.
The company acknowledged that phishing attempts are increasing, but clarified that Gmail’s defences block more than 99.9% of such attempts. A July blog post on phishing risks may have been misinterpreted as evidence of a breach.
Google urged users to remain vigilant, recommending password alternatives such as passkeys and regular account reviews. While the false alarm spurred unnecessary panic, security experts noted that updating credentials remains good practice.
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Microsoft, Accenture, and Avanade are deepening their 25-year partnership to bring AI into some of the UK’s most vital sectors, including healthcare and finance. NHS England is piloting AI-powered tools to streamline patient services and cut down on time-consuming administrative tasks, while Nationwide Building Society is deploying machine learning to improve customer services, speed up mortgage approvals, and enhance fraud detection.
The three companies have different responsibilities in tackling the challenges of enterprise AI. Microsoft provides the Azure cloud platform and pre-built AI models, Accenture contributes sector-specific expertise and governance frameworks, and Avanade integrates the technology into existing systems and workflows. That structure helps organisations move beyond experimental AI pilots and scale solutions reliably in highly regulated industries.
Unlike consumer applications, enterprise AI must meet strict compliance requirements, especially concerning sensitive patient data or financial transactions. The partnership emphasises embedding AI directly into day-to-day operations rather than treating it as an add-on, reducing disruption for staff and ensuring systems work seamlessly once live.
With regulators tightening oversight, the alliance highlights responsible AI as a key focus. By prioritising transparency, security, and ethical use, Microsoft, Accenture, and Avanade are positioning their collaboration as a blueprint for how AI can be adopted across critical institutions without compromising trust or reliability.
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Much like checking your doors before bed, it is wise to review your Google account security to ensure only trusted devices have access. Periodic checks can prevent both hackers and acquaintances from spying on your personal data.
The fastest method is visiting google.com/devices, where you can see all logged-in devices. If one looks suspicious, remove it and immediately change your password to block further access.
You can also navigate manually via your profile settings, under the ‘Security’ tab, to view and manage connected devices. On mobile, the Google app provides the same functionality for reviewing and signing out unfamiliar logins.
Beyond devices, third-party services linked to your Google account pose another risk. Abandoned apps or forgotten integrations may be hijacked by attackers, providing a backdoor to your information.
Cleaning up both devices and linked apps significantly reduces exposure. Regular reviews keep your Google account safe and ensure your data remains under your control.
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Pakistan plans to roll out AI-driven cybersecurity systems to monitor and respond to attacks on critical infrastructure and sensitive data in real time. Documents from the Ministry for Information Technology outline a framework to integrate AI into every stage of security operations.
The initiative will enforce protocols like secure data storage, sandbox testing, and collaborative intelligence sharing. Human oversight will remain mandatory, with public sector AI deployments registered and subject to transparency requirements.
Audits and impact assessments will ensure compliance with evolving standards, backed by legal penalties for breaches. A national policy on data security will define authentication, auditing, and layered defence strategies across network, host, and application levels.
New governance measures include identity management policies with multi-factor authentication, role-based controls, and secure frameworks for open-source AI. AI-powered simulations will help anticipate threats, while regulatory guidelines address risks from disinformation and generative AI.
Regulatory sandboxes will allow enterprises in Pakistan to test systems under controlled conditions, with at least 20 firms expected to benefit by 2027. Officials say the measures will balance innovation with security, safeguarding infrastructure and citizens.
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China has pledged to rein in excessive competition in AI, signalling Beijing’s desire to avoid wasteful investment while keeping the technology central to its economic strategy.
The National Development and Reform Commission stated that provinces should develop AI in a coordinated manner, leveraging local strengths to prevent duplication and overlap. Officials in China emphasised the importance of orderly flows of talent, capital, and resources.
The move follows President Xi Jinping’s warnings about unchecked local investment. Authorities aim to prevent overcapacity problems, such as those seen in electric vehicles, which have fueled deflationary pressures in other industries.
While global investment in data centres has surged, Beijing is adopting a calibrated approach. The state also vowed stronger national planning and support for private firms, aiming to nurture new domestic leaders in AI.
At the same time, policymakers are pushing to attract private capital into traditional sectors, while considering more central spending on social projects to ease local government debt burdens and stimulate long-term consumption.
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