Sustainable development

Riverlane deploys Deltaflow 2 QEC in first UK commercial quantum integration

Riverlane has deployed its Deltaflow 2 quantum error correction (QEC) technology in a UK commercial quantum setting for the first time. The system introduces streaming quantum memory, enabling real-time error correction fast enough to preserve data across thousands of operations.

Deltaflow 2 combines a custom QEC chip with FPGA hardware and Riverlane’s software stack, supporting superconducting, spin, trapped-ion, and neutral-atom qubit platforms. It has been integrated with high-performance classical systems and a digital twin for noise simulation and monitoring.

Control hardware from Qblox delivers high-fidelity readout and ultra-low-latency links to enable real-time QEC. The deployment will validate error correction routines and benchmark system performance, forming the basis for future integration with OQC’s superconducting qubits.

The project is part of the UK Government-funded DECIDE programme, which aims to strengthen national capability in quantum error correction. Riverlane and OQC plan to demonstrate live QEC during quantum operations, supporting the creation of logical qubits for scalable systems.

Riverlane is also partnering with Infleqtion, Rigetti Computing, and others through the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. The company says growing industry demand reflects QEC’s shift from research to deployment, positioning Deltaflow 2 as a commercially viable, universally compatible tool.

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GPT-5 launches with ‘PhD-level performance’

OpenAI has unveiled GPT-5, the latest generation of its widely used ChatGPT tool, offering what CEO Sam Altman described as a ‘huge improvement’ in capability.

Now free to all users, the model builds on previous versions but stops short of the human-like reasoning associated with accurate artificial general intelligence.

Altman compared the leap in performance to ‘talking to a PhD-level expert’ instead of a student.

While GPT-5 does not learn continuously from new experiences, it is designed to excel in coding, writing, healthcare and other specialist areas.

Industry observers say the release underscores the rapid acceleration in AI, with rivals such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Elon Musk’s xAI investing heavily in the race. Chinese startup DeepSeek has also drawn attention for producing powerful models using less costly chips.

OpenAI has emphasised GPT-5’s safety features, with its research team training the system to avoid deception and prevent harmful outputs.

Alongside the flagship release, the company launched two open-weight models that can be freely downloaded and modified, a move seen as both a nod to its nonprofit origins and a challenge to competitors’ open-source offerings.

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Scientists use AI to teach drones to program themselves

A computer scientist has shown that robots can now write the brains of other robots, thanks to generative AI.

Professor Peter Burke from the University of California, Irvine, has demonstrated a drone capable of creating and hosting its own control system using AI-written code, significantly reducing the time usually needed to build such infrastructure.

The project used several AI models and coding tools to prompt the creation of a real-time, web-based command centre hosted on the drone itself. The final system, which runs on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, allows the drone to operate independently while remaining accessible over the internet.

Unlike traditional systems, where ground control is handled externally, the drone manages its own mission planning and navigation through a built-in AI-generated website.

Burke’s team used tools such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Cursor, and Windsurf to build the system across several sprints. Despite context limitations in each model, the final version was completed in just over 100 hours, around twenty times faster than a previous project of similar complexity.

The final codebase consisted of 10,000 lines and included everything from flight commands to map-based interaction and GPS tracking.

Although the technology shows promising potential in fields like aerial imagery and spatial AI, experts have raised safety concerns.

While a manual override system was included in the experiment, the ability for robots to self-generate control logic introduces new ethical and operational challenges, especially as such systems evolve to operate in unpredictable environments.

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Endex brings AI to Excel with OpenAI Startup Fund support

Endex.ai has secured $14 million in funding to bring AI directly into Microsoft Excel. The funding round was led by the OpenAI Startup Fund, marking a significant moment for traditional tools in the business world.

Founded in 2022 by Tarun Amasa and Kevin Yang, the startup has spent the past year collaborating quietly with financial institutions to refine its product.

Now available to the public through limited invites, the tool embeds itself within Excel and helps users manage tasks like financial modelling, data cleanup, and detailed analysis (without switching applications).

Unlike broader AI tools, Endex has been designed specifically for finance professionals. It understands financial terminology, adapts to user habits, and references trusted data sources such as SEC filings, CapIQ, and earnings reports.

The company describes its product as Excel-native, aiming to enhance rather than replace a tool already deeply integrated into finance work.

With the new funding, Endex plans to expand development and scale its reach. The AI agent already works on both Mac and Windows, and its frictionless interface is proving attractive in a field where saving time and improving accuracy can make a substantial difference.

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Apple pledges $100 billion more to boost US chip production

Apple is increasing its domestic investment by an additional $100 billion, bringing its total commitment to US manufacturing to $600 billion over the next four years.

The announcement was made by CEO Tim Cook during a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House, as the administration signals plans to impose steep tariffs on foreign-made semiconductors.

The investment includes a new American Manufacturing Program aimed at expanding US production of key Apple components, such as AI servers and rare earth magnets. Facilities are already under development in states including Texas, Kentucky, and Arizona.

Apple says the initiative will support 450,000 jobs across all 50 states and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.

Apple’s expanded spending arrives amid criticism of its slow progress in AI. With its ‘Apple Intelligence’ software struggling for traction, and the recent departure of foundation model head Rouming Pang to Meta, the company is now shifting focus.

Cook confirmed that investment in AI infrastructure is accelerating, with data centres expanding in five states.

While Apple’s move has drawn praise for supporting American jobs, it has also stirred controversy. Some users expressed discontent with Cook’s public alignment with Trump, despite the strategic importance of avoiding tariffs.

Trump stated that companies investing in the US would not face the proposed import charges.

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Trump Media trials new AI search engine with help from Perplexity

Trump Media and Technology Group has begun testing a new AI-powered search engine called Truth Search AI on its Truth Social platform.

Developed in partnership with AI company Perplexity, the feature is intended to enhance access to information for users of the platform.

Devin Nunes, CEO and Chairman of Trump Media, said the tool will strengthen Truth Social’s position in the so-called ‘Patriot Economy’.

Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, added that the collaboration brings powerful AI to users who are seeking answers to significant questions.

The search engine is already live on the platform and has responded to politically sensitive queries with measured language.

When asked whether Donald Trump was a liar, the tool noted that the label often depends on context, but acknowledged that fact-checkers have documented many misleading claims.

A similar question about Nancy Pelosi prompted the response that such a claim was partisan rather than factual.

Trump Media plans to expand the feature to its iOS and Android apps shortly. The launch is part of a wider strategy to broaden the company’s digital offerings, which also include ventures in cryptocurrency and finance, such as a proposed Bitcoin ETF in partnership with Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital.

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GitHub deleted post exposes OpenAI’s new GPT-5 features

GitHub has prematurely unveiled OpenAI’s next-generation GPT-5 models in a blog post that was swiftly deleted. The post briefly revealed that GPT-5 will be released in four variants, promising significant upgrades in reasoning ability, coding performance, and user experience.

Archived versions of the removed announcement show that GPT-5 features improved agentic capabilities and can complete complex coding tasks with minimal input.

The four model versions include a full-strength GPT-5 for logic and multi-step operations, a lightweight mini version for cost-efficient usage, a nano version optimised for speed and low latency, and a chat-focused variant built for advanced, multimodal enterprise interactions.

Reddit users first spotted the post, including comparisons between GPT-5 and competing models such as Llama 4 Scout and Cohere v2.

The accidental release aligns with growing anticipation after OpenAI insiders hinted at a major release earlier in the week, with CEO Sam Altman teasing the update just days before.

OpenAI is expected to launch GPT-5 later today, officially during a live-streamed event. The company has also introduced two new open-weight GPT-OSS models, including one that can run locally on personal devices.

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OpenAI moves to challenge Meta and China with open-weight models

OpenAI has launched its first open-weight AI models in over five years, under the Apache 2.0 license. Developers now have access to download, adapt, and deploy the models commercially, marking a significant shift in policy from the company’s previously closed-source approach.

The move comes amid pressure from China’s open-source AI sector and Western rivals, such as Meta. The GPT-OS models focus on reasoning and support complex tasks such as coding and mathematics.

GPT-OS-120 b targets high-performance setups, while GPT-OS-20 b can run on standard machines. While not fully open-source, the release provides transparency regarding weights and architecture, although the training data remains undisclosed.

The approach has split expert opinion: some praise the openness, others question the limited disclosure. Regardless, it signals OpenAI’s strategic recalibration in response to market pressure.

Benchmark tests show the models excel in advanced reasoning. The o4-mini, a related model, has already surpassed its competitors in evaluations such as AIME 2024 and 2025. Analysts say these tools could reshape workflows across sectors, from coding to enterprise automation.

OpenAI’s timing aligns with rapid revenue growth and a $40 billion funding round. Analysts see this release as a calculated step in a maturing, competitive industry, where a balance of proprietary control and open access may define future leadership.

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Game developers fear job loss as Google unveils Genie 3

Google’s new AI model, Genie 3, can generate interactive game worlds from simple text prompts. It creates rich, explorable environments in minutes, which previously took developers weeks to build by hand.

The technology offers eye-catching scenarios like flying over mountains, exploring volcanoes, or swimming through deep oceans. Although the graphics still show AI hallmarks, the functionality is advanced enough to raise concerns across the game industry.

Many fear that Genie 3 could render traditional development tools, such as Unity and Unreal, less essential, especially for prototyping or indie games. With just a few words, AI can now build what teams of artists and designers once did.

Job losses driven by AI are already happening in other sectors. Customer support, design, and language learning platforms have replaced humans with bots. Game developers may be next in line as studios seek to cut costs.

Some players may continue to favour human-made games, but the pressure is growing. Genie 3 shows that AI is no longer just assisting developers; it’s beginning to replace them.

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Taiwan deepens AI and digital ties at APEC summit

Taiwan’s Digital Minister, Huang Yen-nun, discussed deeper cooperation in digital and AI technologies with the United States during the recent APEC conference in Incheon—the talks from 3 August to 6 August marked a new phase in bilateral tech collaboration.

Huang confirmed that the APEC gathering had produced its first joint ministerial statement on digital and AI policy. Ministers pledged to enhance connectivity, prevent digital exclusion, promote trustworthy AI, and accelerate the adoption of responsible technology across the Asia-Pacific region.

Digital goals of Taiwan closely align with the APEC declaration, Huang said, particularly in areas such as online fraud prevention, resilience-building, and expanding the digital economy. He framed the agreement as a strong alignment with national priorities.

Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was highlighted as a key ally. Huang also held talks with representatives from Japan and Southeast Asia to explore regional cooperation in emerging technologies.

Cybersecurity and semiconductors remain central to Taiwan’s leadership in the technology sector. However, Huang acknowledged that further investment and collaboration with digital trailblazers, such as those in the United States, are needed to maintain the country’s edge in high-value innovation.

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