Sustainable development

NSO asks court to overturn WhatsApp verdict

Israeli spyware company NSO Group has requested a new trial after a US jury ordered it to pay $168 million in damages to WhatsApp.

The company, which has faced mounting legal and financial troubles, filed a motion in a California federal court last week seeking to reduce the verdict or secure a retrial.

The May verdict awarded WhatsApp $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.25 million in punitive damages. Jurors found that NSO exploited vulnerabilities in the encrypted platform and sold the exploit to clients who allegedly used it to target journalists, activists and political rivals.

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, filed the lawsuit in 2019.

NSO claims the punitive award is unconstitutional, arguing it is over 376 times greater than the compensatory damages and far exceeds the US Supreme Court’s general guidance of a 4:1 ratio.

The firm also said it cannot afford the penalty, citing losses of $9 million in 2023 and $12 million in 2024. Its CEO testified that the company is ‘struggling to keep our heads above water’.

WhatsApp, responding to TechCrunch in a statement, said NSO was once again trying to evade accountability. The company vowed to continue its legal campaign, including efforts to secure a permanent injunction that would prevent NSO from ever targeting WhatsApp or its users again.

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Microwave tech offers cleaner path to e-waste recovery

When your old phone or computer reaches the end of its life and heads off for recycling, most of its valuable materials—like steel, aluminium and copper—are recovered with ease. But hidden in its circuitry are tiny specks of rare metals such as gallium, indium and tantalum.

These are critical to modern technology but often lost in current recycling processes, ending up in landfills or repurposed in cement. That might be about to change.

Engineers at West Virginia University have developed a novel method using microwave technology to extract these rare materials more safely and efficiently.

Unlike conventional methods, which rely on toxic chemicals or are too costly to justify, this approach uses electromagnetic waves to target and heat carbon present in e-waste plastics. This creates a reaction with critical minerals, yielding nearly pure, sponge-like metals that can be easily filtered out.

Laboratory tests have already recovered around 80% of gallium, indium and tantalum from e-waste, with purities reaching up to 97%.

Backed by the United States Department of Defense, the researchers are preparing larger pilot projects using smartphones, LED lights and server boards—materials rich in these rare elements. If scaled successfully, the system could recover up to 50 pounds of critical minerals per ton of processed waste.

The urgency is clear. America recycles just 15% of its e-waste, and much of it is exported to countries with lax safety and environmental standards. Gallium alone can cost over $500 per kilogram—making it 50 times more expensive than copper.

The technology’s success could help shift the economics of recycling, turning discarded electronics into a domestic supply of essential materials and reducing reliance on imports from countries like China.

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China creates AI to detect real nuclear warheads

Chinese scientists have created the world’s first AI-based system capable of identifying real nuclear warheads from decoys, marking a significant step in arms control verification.

The breakthrough, developed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), could strengthen Beijing’s hand in stalled disarmament talks, although it also raises difficult questions about AI’s growing role in managing weapons of mass destruction.

The technology builds on a long-standing US–China proposal but faced key obstacles: how to train AI using sensitive nuclear data, gain military approval without risking secret leaks, and persuade sceptical nations like the US to move past Cold War-era inspection methods.

So far, only the AI training has been completed, with the rest of the process still pending international acceptance.

The AI system uses deep learning and cryptographic protocols to analyse scrambled radiation signals from warheads behind a polythene wall, ensuring the weapons’ internal designs remain hidden.

The machine can verify a warhead’s chain-reaction potential without accessing classified details. According to CIAE, repeated randomised tests reduce the chance of deception to nearly zero.

While both China and the US have pledged not to let AI control nuclear launch decisions, the new system underlines AI’s expanding role in national defence.

Beijing insists the AI can be jointly trained and sealed before use to ensure transparency, but sceptics remain wary of trust, backdoor access and growing militarisation of AI.

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Uber’s product chief turns to AI for reports and research

Uber’s chief product officer, Sachin Kansal, is embracing AI to streamline his daily workflow—particularly through tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and, soon, NotebookLM.

Speaking on ‘Lenny’s Podcast,’ Kansal revealed how AI summarisation helps him digest lengthy 50- to 100-page reports he otherwise wouldn’t have time to read. He uses AI to understand market trends and rider feedback across regions such as Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa.

Kansal also relies on AI as a research assistant. For instance, when exploring new driver features, he used ChatGPT’s deep research capabilities to simulate possible driver reactions and generate brainstorming ideas.

‘It’s an amazing research assistant,’ he said. ‘It’s absolutely a starting point for a brainstorm with my team.’

He’s now eyeing Google’s NotebookLM, a note-taking and research tool, as the next addition to his AI toolkit—especially its ‘Audio Overview’ feature, which turns documents into AI-generated podcast-style discussions.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi previously noted that too few of Uber’s 30,000+ employees are using AI and stressed that mastering AI tools, especially for coding, would soon be essential.

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Students build world’s fastest Rubik’s Cube solver

A group of engineering students from Purdue University have built the world’s fastest Rubik’s Cube-solving robot, achieving a Guinness World Record time of just 0.103 seconds.

The team focused on improving nearly every aspect of the process, not only faster motors, from image capture to cube construction.

Rather than processing full images, the robot uses low-resolution cameras aimed at opposite corners of the cube, capturing only the essential parts of the image to save time.

Instead of converting camera data into full digital pictures, the system directly reads colour data to identify the cube’s layout. Although slightly less accurate, the method allows quicker recognition and faster solving.

The robot, known as Purdubik’s Cube, benefits from software designed specifically for machines, allowing it to perform overlapping turns using a technique called corner cutting. Instead of waiting for one rotation to finish, the next begins, shaving off valuable milliseconds.

To withstand the stress, the team designed a cube with extremely tight tension using reinforced nylon, making it nearly impossible to turn by hand.

High-speed motors controlled the robot’s movements, with a trapezoidal acceleration profile ensuring rapid but precise turns. The students believe the record could fall again—provided someone develops a stronger, lighter cube using materials like carbon fibre.

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AI copyright clash stalls UK data bill

A bitter standoff over AI and copyright has returned to the House of Lords, as ministers and peers clash over how to protect creative workers while fostering technological innovation.

At the centre of the debate is the proposed Data (Use and Access) Bill, which was expected to pass smoothly but is now stuck in parliamentary limbo due to growing resistance.

The bill would allow AI firms to access copyrighted material unless rights holders opt out, a proposal that many artists and peers believe threatens the UK’s £124bn creative industry.

Nearly 300 Lords have called for AI developers to disclose what content they use and seek licences instead of relying on blanket access. Former film director Baroness Kidron described the policy as ‘state-sanctioned theft’ and warned it would sacrifice British talent to benefit large tech companies.

Supporters of the bill, like former Meta executive Sir Nick Clegg, argue that forcing AI firms to seek individual permissions would severely damage the UK’s AI sector. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology insists it will only consider changes if they are proven to benefit creators.

If no resolution is found, the bill risks being shelved entirely. That would also scrap unrelated proposals bundled into it, such as new NHS data-sharing rules and plans for a nationwide underground map.

Despite the bill’s wide scope, the fight over copyright remains its most divisive and emotionally charged feature.

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Gmail adds automatic AI summaries

Gmail on mobile now displays AI-generated summaries by default, marking a shift in how Google’s Gemini assistant operates within inboxes.

Instead of relying on users to request a summary, Gemini will now decide when it’s useful—typically for long email threads with multiple replies—and present a brief summary card at the top of the message.

These summaries update automatically as conversations evolve, aiming to save users from scrolling through lengthy discussions.

The feature is currently limited to mobile devices and available only to users with Google Workspace accounts, Gemini Education add-ons, or a Google One AI Premium subscription. For the moment, summaries are confined to emails written in English.

Google expects the rollout to take around two weeks, though it remains unclear when, or if, the tool will extend to standard Gmail accounts or desktop users.

Anyone wanting to opt out must disable Gmail’s smart features entirely—giving up tools like Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and package tracking in the process.

While some may welcome the convenience, others may feel uneasy about their emails being analysed by large language models, especially since this process could contribute to further training of Google’s AI systems.

The move reflects a wider trend across Google’s products, where AI is becoming central to everyday user experiences.

Additional user controls and privacy commitments

According to Google Workspace, users have some control over the summary cards. They can collapse a Gemini summary card, and it will remain collapsed for that specific email thread.

In the near future, Gmail will introduce enhancements, such as automatically collapsing future summary cards for users who consistently collapse them, until the user chooses to expand them again. For emails that don’t display automatic summaries, Gmail still offers manual options.

Users can tap the ‘summarise this email’ chip at the top of the message or use the Gemini side panel to trigger a summary manually. Google also reaffirms its commitment to data protection and user privacy. All AI features in Gmail adhere to its privacy principles, with more details available on the Privacy Hub.

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ZTE and XLSMART partner to boost Indonesia’s digital future

ZTE Corporation and XLSMART partnered to accelerate Indonesia’s digital transformation by building a future-ready network infrastructure. Formed after the merger of PT XL Axiata Tbk and PT Smartfren Telecom Tbk, XLSMART aims to enhance connectivity, sustainability, and customer experience across the country, in line with the government’s digital growth vision.

At the core of this collaboration is ZTE’s commitment to delivering advanced technology solutions, particularly in wireless and energy infrastructure. The company will play a key role in developing reliable 5G networks and implementing green, energy-efficient technologies to support the modernisation of Indonesia’s digital ecosystem.

To ensure a smooth post-merger network integration for XLSMART, ZTE will provide a reliable supply chain, rapid delivery of network equipment, and tailored technological innovations. The company will also lead the engineering, implementation, and comprehensive network planning required to optimise performance and investment value.

Together, ZTE and XLSMART are laying the groundwork for a robust and scalable digital infrastructure capable of meeting Indonesia’s current and future connectivity needs.

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Clean energy projects in the US stall amid tax credit uncertainty

US clean energy companies are facing mounting uncertainty as Congress weighs deep cuts to green energy tax credits. Projects like HIF Global’s proposed $7bn e-methanol facility in Texas are now in limbo, with developers warning that the loss of hydrogen subsidies could stall investment decisions.

The plant would convert green hydrogen and captured carbon into low-emission fuel for global aviation and shipping, but without support, firms may shift focus to other markets.

The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) had sparked billions in green investment, especially in Republican-led states.

However, the Trump administration’s rollback efforts and proposed budget cuts could sharply reduce or terminate credits for clean electricity, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient home improvements. Agencies have paused or delayed funding while legal disputes continue, worsening industry-wide uncertainty.

Clean energy investment fell for the second consecutive quarter, according to new data, with $6.9bn in battery manufacturing projects cancelled.

Developers now face rising tariffs, high interest rates, and unclear policy direction, leading to declining confidence in the market. Firms are adjusting strategies to appeal to stakeholders beyond climate goals, focusing instead on local benefits and energy security.

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Central African Republic will tokenise land using $CAR coin

The Central African Republic (CAR) will begin tokenising over 1,700 hectares of land using its national meme coin, $CAR, according to President Faustin-Archange Touadéra. The announcement came shortly after a notable price surge in the token, which has risen over 127% in the past week.

From June, land concessions will be accessible online via $CAR on the Solana blockchain. The initiative is part of the country’s broader push to integrate crypto into its national development strategy, with a focus on transparency and accessibility.

The targeted area lies west of Bossongo, roughly 45 kilometres from Bangui.

The land tokenisation follows earlier crypto efforts such as Sango Coin, which has since been scrapped. However, $CAR continues to receive strong backing from the president.

The coin now has more than 18,400 holders and a market cap of over $56 million. Its recent use may also involve mining, as the decree references CAR’s mining laws and history of resource extraction.

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