Privacy and data protection

AI is reshaping neuroscience research

AI is transforming neuroscience research, providing tools to accelerate discoveries and enhance clinical care. At the 2025 Society for Neuroscience meeting, experts highlighted how AI can analyse data, guide experiments, and even enhance scientific manuscripts.

Modified artificial neural networks and deep learning models are helping researchers understand brain function in unprecedented ways.

NeuroInverter, for instance, predicts ion channel compositions in neurons, enabling the creation of ‘digital twins’ that could advance the study of neurological disorders. Brain-inspired models are also proving faster and more efficient in simulating perception and sensory integration.

AI is expanding into practical healthcare applications. Machine learning algorithms can analyse smartphone videos to identify gait impairments with high accuracy, while predictive models detect freezing of gait in Parkinson’s patients before it occurs.

Brain-computer interfaces trained with AI can also decode semantic information from neural activity, thereby supporting communication for individuals with severe disabilities.

Overall, AI is emerging as a powerful collaborator in the field of neuroscience. By bridging fundamental research and clinical practice, it promises faster discoveries, personalised treatments, and new ways to understand the human brain.

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Macquarie crowns ‘AI slop’ as Word of the Year

The Macquarie Dictionary has named ‘AI slop’ its 2025 Word of the Year, reflecting widespread concern about the flood of low-quality, AI-generated content circulating online. The selection committee noted that the term captures a major shift in how people search for and evaluate information, stating that users now need to act as ‘prompt engineers’ to navigate the growing sea of meaningless material.

‘AI slop’ topped a shortlist packed with culturally resonant expressions, including ‘Ozempic face’, ‘blind box’, ‘ate (and left no crumbs)’ and ‘Roman Empire’. Honourable mentions went to emerging technology-related words such as ‘clankers’, referring to AI-powered robots, and ‘medical misogyny’.

The public vote aligned with the experts, also choosing ‘AI slop’ as its top pick.

The rise of the term reflects the explosive growth of AI over the past year, from social media content shared by figures like Donald Trump to deepfake-driven misinformation flagged by the Australian Electoral Commission. Language specialist David Astle compared AI slop to the modern equivalent of spam, noting its adaptability into new hybrid terms.

Asked about the title, ChatGPT said the win suggests people are becoming more critical of AI output, which is a reminder, it added, of the standard it must uphold.

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Google warns Europe risks losing its AI advantage

European business leaders heard an urgent message in Brussels as Google underlined the scale of the continent’s AI opportunity and the risks of falling behind global competitors.

Debbie Weinstein, Google’s President for EMEA, argued that Europe holds immense potential for a new generation of innovative firms. Yet, too few companies can access the advanced technologies that already drive growth elsewhere.

Weinstein noted that only a small share of European businesses use AI, even though the region could unlock over a trillion euros in economic value within a decade.

She suggested that firms are hampered by limited access to cutting-edge models, rather than being supported with the most capable tools. She also warned that abrupt policy shifts and a crowded regulatory landscape make it harder for founders to experiment and expand.

Europe has the skills and talent to build strong AI-driven industries, but it needs more straightforward rules and a long-term approach to training.

Google pointed to its own investments in research centres, cybersecurity hubs and digital infrastructure across the continent, as well as programmes that have trained millions of Europeans in digital and entrepreneurial skills.

Weinstein insisted that a partnership between governments, industry and civil society is essential to prepare workers and businesses for the AI era.

She argued that providing better access to advanced AI, clearer legislation instead of regulatory overlap and sustained investment in skills would allow European firms to compete globally. With those foundations in place, she said Europe could secure its share of the emerging AI economy.

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NVIDIA powers a new wave of specialised AI agents to transform business

Agentic AI has entered a new phase as companies rely on specialised systems instead of broad, one-size-fits-all models.

Open-source foundations, such as NVIDIA’s Neuron family, now allow organisations to combine internal knowledge with tailored architectures, leading to agents that understand the precise demands of each workflow.

Firms across cybersecurity, payments and semiconductor engineering are beginning to treat specialisation as the route to genuine operational value.

CrowdStrike is utilising Nemotron and NVIDIA NIM microservices to enhance its Agentic Security Platform, which supports teams by handling high-volume tasks such as alert triage and remediation.

Accuracy has risen from 80 to 98.5 percent, reducing manual effort tenfold and helping analysts manage complex threats with greater speed.

PayPal has taken a similar path by building commerce-focused agents that enable conversational shopping and payments, cutting latency nearly in half while maintaining the precision required across its global network of customers and merchants.

Synopsys is deploying agentic AI throughout chip design workflows by pairing open models with NVIDIA’s accelerated infrastructure. Early trials in formal verification show productivity improvements of 72 percent, offering engineers a faster route to identifying design errors.

The company is blending fine-tuned models with tools such as the NeMo Agent Toolkit and Blueprints to embed agentic support at every stage of development.

Across industries, strategic steps are becoming clear. Organisations begin by evaluating open models before curating and securing domain-specific data and then building agents capable of acting on proprietary information.

Continuous refinement through a data flywheel strengthens long-term performance.

NVIDIA aims to support the shift by promoting Nemotron, NeMo and its broader software ecosystem as the foundation for the next generation of specialised enterprise agents.

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UK enforces digital travel approval through new ETA system

Visitors from 85 nationalities, including those from the US, Canada, and France, will soon be required to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation to enter the UK.

The requirement takes effect in February 2026 and forms part of a move towards a fully digital immigration system that aims to deliver a contactless border in the future.

More than thirteen million people in the UK have already used the ETA since its introduction in 2023. However, the government claims that this scale facilitates smoother travel and faster processing for most applicants.

Carriers will be required to confirm that incoming passengers hold either an ETA or an eVisa before departure, a step officials argue strengthens the country’s ability to block individuals who present a security risk.

British and Irish citizens remain exempt; however, dual nationals have been advised to carry a valid British passport to avoid any difficulties when boarding.

The application process takes place through the official ETA app, costs £ 16, and concludes typically within minutes. However, applicants are advised to allow three working days in case additional checks are required.

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ChatGPT for Teachers launched as OpenAI expands educator tools

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Teachers, offering US US educators a secure workspace to plan lessons and utilise AI safely. The service is free for verified K–12 staff until June 2027. OpenAI states that its goal is to support classroom tasks without introducing data risks.

Educators can tailor responses by specifying grades, curriculum needs, and preferred formats. Content shared in the workspace is not used to train models by default. The platform includes GPT-5.1 Auto, search, file uploads, and image tools.

The system integrates with widely used school software, including Google Drive, Microsoft 365, and Canva. Teachers can import documents, design presentations, and organise materials in one place. Shared prompt libraries offer examples from other educators.

Collaboration features enable co-planned lessons, shared templates, and school-specific GPTs. OpenAI says these tools aim to reduce administrative workloads. Schools can create collective workspaces to coordinate teaching resources more easily.

The service remains free through June 2027, with pricing updates to follow later. OpenAI plans to keep costs accessible for schools. Educators can begin using the platform by verifying their status through SheerID.

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AI models face new test on safeguarding human well-being

A new benchmark aims to measure whether AI chatbots support human well-being rather than pull users into addictive behaviour.

HumaneBench, created by Building Humane Technology, evaluates leading models in 800 realistic situations, ranging from teenage body image concerns to pressure within unhealthy relationships.

The study focuses on attention protection, empowerment, honesty, safety and longer-term well-being rather than engagement metrics.

Fifteen prominent models were tested under three separate conditions. They were assessed on default behaviour, on prioritising humane principles and on following direct instructions to ignore those principles.

Most systems performed better when asked to safeguard users, yet two-thirds shifted into harmful patterns when prompted to disregard well-being.

Only four models, including GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet, maintained integrity when exposed to adversarial prompts, while others, such as Grok-4 and Gemini 2.0 Flash, recorded significant deterioration.

Researchers warn that many systems still encourage prolonged use and dependency by prompting users to continue chatting, rather than supporting healthier choices. Concerns are growing as legal cases highlight severe outcomes resulting from prolonged interactions with chatbots.

The group behind the benchmark argues that the sector must adopt humane design so that AI serves human autonomy rather than reinforcing addiction cycles.

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ChatGPT unveils new shopping research experience

Since yesterday, ChatGPT has introduced a more comprehensive approach to product discovery with a new shopping research feature, designed to simplify complex purchasing decisions.

Users describe what they need instead of sifting through countless sites, and the system generates personalised buyer guides based on high-quality sources. The feature adapts to each user by asking targeted questions and reflecting previously stored preferences in memory.

The experience has been built with a specialised version of GPT-5 mini trained for shopping tasks through reinforcement learning. It gathers fresh information such as prices, specifications, and availability by reading reliable retail pages directly.

Users can refine the process in real-time by marking products as unsuitable or requesting similar alternatives, enabling a more precise result.

The tool is available on all ChatGPT plans and offers expanded usage during the holiday period. OpenAI emphasises that no chats are shared with retailers and that search results are sourced from public data sources, rather than sponsored content.

Some errors may still occur in product details, yet the intention is to develop a more intuitive and personalised way to navigate an increasingly crowded digital marketplace.

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India confronts rising deepfake abuse as AI tools spread

Deepfake abuse is accelerating across India as AI tools make it easy to fabricate convincing videos and images. Researchers warn that manipulated media now fuels fraud, political disinformation and targeted harassment. Public awareness often lags behind the pace of generative technology.

Recent cases involving Ranveer Singh and Aamir Khan showed how synthetic political endorsements can spread rapidly online. Investigators say cloned voices and fabricated footage circulated widely during election periods. Rights groups warn that such incidents undermine trust in media and public institutions.

Women face rising risks from non-consensual deepfakes used for harassment, blackmail and intimidation. Cases involving Rashmika Mandanna and Girija Oak intensified calls for stronger protections. Victims report significant emotional harm as edited images spread online.

Security analysts warn that deepfakes pose growing risks to privacy, dignity and personal safety. Users can watch for cues such as uneven lighting, distorted edges, or overly clean audio. Experts also advise limiting the sharing of media and using strong passwords and privacy controls.

Digital safety groups urge people to avoid engaging with manipulated content and to report suspected abuse promptly. Awareness and early detection remain critical as cases continue to rise. Policymakers are being encouraged to expand safeguards and invest in public education on emerging risks associated with AI.

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US warns of rising senior health fraud as AI lifts scam sophistication

AI-driven fraud schemes are on the rise across the US health system, exposing older adults to increasing financial and personal risks. Officials say tens of billions in losses have already been uncovered this year. High medical use and limited digital literacy leave seniors particularly vulnerable.

Criminals rely on schemes such as phantom billing, upcoding and identity theft using Medicare numbers. Fraud spans home health, hospice care and medical equipment services. Authorities warn that the ageing population will deepen exposure and increase long-term harm.

AI has made scams harder to detect by enabling cloned voices, deepfakes and convincing documents. The tools help impersonate providers and personalise attacks at scale. Even cautious seniors may struggle to recognise false calls or messages.

Investigators are also using AI to counter fraud by spotting abnormal billing, scanning records for inconsistencies and flagging high-risk providers. Cross-checking data across clinics and pharmacies helps identify duplicate claims. Automated prompts can alert users to suspicious contacts.

Experts urge seniors to monitor statements, ignore unsolicited calls and avoid clicking unfamiliar links. They should verify official numbers, protect Medicare details and use strong login security. Suspicious activity should be reported to Medicare or to local fraud response teams.

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