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How Microsoft is teaching AI to understand biological systems

Medicine still relies largely on population averages, even though genetic and cellular differences shape how diseases develop and respond to treatment.

Researchers at Microsoft argue that AI could transform healthcare by learning the language of biology and enabling truly personalised medicine instead of one-size-fits-all therapies.

Ava Amini, principal researcher at Microsoft Research, explains that AI can detect biological patterns at a scale impossible for human analysis.

Single cancer biopsies can generate tens of millions of data points, allowing AI models to identify meaningful signals and support precision treatment strategies tailored to individual patients.

Building on decades of biological coding systems, Microsoft has developed generative models such as EvoDiff and the Dayhoff Atlas to design new proteins using biological language.

Lab testing has shown a marked improvement in functional success, demonstrating that AI-driven protein design is moving beyond theory into real-world application.

Challenges remain in modelling entire human cells, where current AI systems still predict averages rather than biological diversity. Microsoft researchers continue to pursue integrated experimental and computational approaches, aiming to bring precision oncology closer to everyday clinical practice.

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Samsung introduces upgraded AI-powered appliances at CES 2026

Samsung Electronics will showcase its latest kitchen appliances at CES 2026, highlighting upgrades to its Bespoke AI refrigerator, over-the-range microwave, and slide-in range. The company upgraded its vision-based AI with Google Gemini and Cloud to simplify kitchen tasks and enhance the cooking experience.

The upgraded Bespoke AI Refrigerator now recognises a wider variety of foods, including processed items without separate registration, and can track user-labelled ingredients. These improvements allow for more accurate food management and personalised kitchen experiences.

Samsung will also present the new Bespoke AI Wine Cellar, which identifies wine bottles, tracks their placement, and offers pairing suggestions via SmartThings AI Wine Manager.

Samsung is also updating appliance designs, with new French Door refrigerators, slide-in ranges, and over-the-range microwaves in a unified stainless steel finish. Upgrades feature easier drawer access, better cooktop ventilation, and redesigned controls for improved safety and convenience.

Visitors at CES 2026 will have the first opportunity to explore these innovations, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to merging technology, design, and usability in modern kitchens.

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Civil servants and AI will work together in 2050

Public administrations worldwide are facing unprecedented change as AI reshapes automation, procurement, and decision-making. Governments must stay flexible, open, and resilient, preparing for multiple futures with foresight, continuous learning, and adaptability.

During World Futures Day, experts from the SPARK-AI Alliance and representatives from governments, academia, and the private sector explored four potential scenarios for public service in 2050.

Scenarios ranged from human-centred administrations that reinforce trust, to algorithmic bureaucracies focused on oversight, agentic administrations with semi-autonomous AI actors, and data-eroded futures that require renewed governance of poor-quality data.

Key insights highlighted the growing importance of anticipatory capacity, positioning AI as a ‘co-worker’ rather than a replacement, and emphasising the need to safeguard public trust.

Civil servants will increasingly focus on ethical reasoning, interpretation of automated processes, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, supported by robust accountability and transparent data governance.

The SPARK-AI Alliance has launched a Working Group on the Future of Work in the Public Sector to help governments anticipate and prepare for change. Its focus will be on building resilient public administrations, evolving civil-service roles, and maintaining trust in AI-enabled governance.

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Google study shows teens embrace AI

Google’s new study, The Future Report, surveyed over 7,000 teenagers across Europe about their use of digital technologies. Most respondents describe themselves as curious, critical, and optimistic about AI in their daily lives.

Many teens use AI daily or several times a week for learning, creativity, and exploring new topics. They report benefits such as instant feedback and more engaging learning while remaining cautious about over-reliance.

Young people value personalised content recommendations and algorithmic suggestions, but emphasise verifying information and avoiding bias. They adopt strategies to verify sources and ensure the trustworthiness of online content.

The report emphasises the importance of digital literacy, safety, balanced technology use, and youth engagement in shaping the digital future. Participants request guidance from educators and transparent AI design to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI.

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UK plans ban on deepfake AI nudification apps

Britain plans to ban AI-nudification apps that digitally remove clothing from images. Creating or supplying these tools would become illegal under new proposals.

The offence would build on existing UK laws covering non-consensual sexual deepfakes and intimate image abuse. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said developers and distributors would face harsh penalties.

Experts warn that nudification apps cause serious harm, mainly when used to create child sexual abuse material. Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has called for a total ban on the technology.

Child protection charities welcomed the move but want more decisive action from tech firms. The government said it would work with companies to stop children from creating or sharing nude images.

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Japan’s mobile competition law forces Apple to adjust iOS app payments

Apple has announced changes to how iOS apps are distributed and monetised in Japan, bringing its platform into compliance with the country’s Mobile Software Competition Act. The updates introduce new options for alternative app marketplaces and payment methods for digital goods.

Under the revised framework, developers in Japan can distribute apps outside the App Store and offer alternative payment processing alongside the In-App Purchase. Apple said the changes aim to meet legal requirements while limiting new risks linked to fraud, malware, and data misuse.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. The measures are aimed at protecting users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. Apple said the measures aim to protect users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Additional controls are being rolled out with iOS 26.2, including browser and search engine choice screens, new default app settings, and expanded developer APIs. Apple said it will continue engaging with Japanese regulators as the new framework takes effect.

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Digital fraud declines in Russia after rollout of Cyberbez measures

Russia has reported a sharp decline in cyber fraud following the introduction of new regulatory measures in 2025. Officials say legislative action targeting telephone and online scams has begun to deliver measurable results.

State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Digital Development Ivan Lebedev told the State Duma that crimes covered by the first package of reforms, known as ‘Cyberbez 1.0’, have fallen by 40%, according to confirmed statistics.

Earlier this year, Lebedev said Russia records roughly 677,000 cases of phone and online fraud annually, with incidents rising by more than 35% since 2022, highlighting the scale of the challenge faced by authorities.

In April, President Vladimir Putin signed a law introducing a range of countermeasures, including a state information system to combat fraud, limits on unsolicited marketing calls, stricter SIM card issuance rules, and new compliance obligations for banks.

Further steps are now under discussion. Officials say a second package is being prepared, while a third set of initiatives was announced in December as Russia continues to strengthen its digital security framework.

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UK report quantifies rapid advances in frontier AI capabilities

For the first time, the UK has published a detailed, evidence-based assessment of frontier AI capabilities. The Frontier AI Trends Report draws on two years of structured testing across areas including cybersecurity, software engineering, chemistry, and biology.

The findings show rapid progress in technical performance. Success rates on apprentice-level cyber tasks rose from under 9% in 2023 to around 50% in 2025, while models also completed expert-level cyber challenges previously requiring a decade of experience.

Safeguards designed to limit misuse are also improving, according to the report. Red-team testing found that the time required to identify universal jailbreaks increased from minutes to several hours between model generations, representing an estimated forty-fold improvement in resistance.

The analysis highlights advances beyond cybersecurity. AI systems now complete hour-long software engineering tasks more than 40% of the time, while biology and chemistry models outperform PhD-level researchers in controlled knowledge tests and support non-experts in laboratory-style workflows.

While the report avoids policy recommendations, UK officials say it strengthens transparency around advanced AI systems. The government plans to continue investing in evaluation science through the AI Security Institute, supporting independent testing and international collaboration.

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Strong AI memory demand boosts Micron outlook into 2026

Micron Technology reported record first-quarter revenue for fiscal 2026, supported by strong pricing, a favourable product mix and operating leverage. The company said tight supply conditions and robust AI-related demand are expected to continue into 2026.

The Boise-based chipmaker generated $13.64 billion in quarterly revenue, led by record sales across DRAM, NAND, high-bandwidth memory and data centres. Chief executive Sanjay Mehrotra said structural shifts are driving rising demand for advanced memory in AI workloads.

Margins expanded sharply, setting Micron apart from peers such as Broadcom and Oracle, which reported margin pressure in recent earnings. Chief financial officer Mark Murphy said gross margin is expected to rise further in the second quarter, supported by higher prices, lower costs and a favourable revenue mix.

Analysts highlighted improving fundamentals and longer-term visibility. Baird said DRAM and NAND pricing could rise sequentially as Micron finalises long-term supply agreements, while capital expenditure plans for fiscal 2026 were viewed as manageable and focused on expanding high-margin HBM capacity.

Retail sentiment also turned strongly positive following the earnings release, with Micron shares jumping around 8 per cent in after-hours trading. The stock is on track to finish the year as the best-performing semiconductor company in the S&P 500, reinforcing confidence in its AI-driven growth trajectory.

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Natural language meets robotics in MIT’s on-demand object creation system

MIT researchers have developed a speech-to-reality system that allows users to create physical objects by describing them aloud, combining generative AI with robotic assembly. The system can produce simple furniture and decorative items in minutes using modular components.

The workflow translates spoken instructions into a digital design using a large language model and 3D generative AI. The design is then broken into voxel-based parts and adapted to real-world fabrication constraints before being assembled by a robotic arm.

Researchers have demonstrated the system by producing stools, shelves, chairs, tables and small sculptures. The approach aims to reduce manufacturing complexity by enabling rapid construction without specialised knowledge of 3D modelling or robotics.

Unlike traditional fabrication methods such as 3D printing, which can take hours or days, the modular assembly process operates quickly and allows objects to be disassembled and reused. The team is exploring stronger connection methods and extensions to larger-scale robotic systems.

The research was presented at the ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication in November. The team said the work points toward more accessible, flexible and sustainable ways to produce physical objects using natural language and AI-driven design.

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