Sustainable development

TikTok outages spark fears over data control and censorship in the US

Widespread TikTok disruptions affected users across the US as snowstorms triggered power outages and technical failures, with reports of malfunctioning algorithms and missing content features.

Problems persisted for some users beyond the initial incident, adding to uncertainty surrounding the platform’s stability.

The outage coincided with the creation of a new US-based TikTok joint venture following government concerns over potential Chinese access to user data. TikTok stated that a power failure at a domestic data centre caused the disruption, rather than ownership restructuring or policy changes.

Suspicion grew among users due to overlapping political events, including large-scale protests in Minneapolis and reports of difficulties searching for related content. Fears of censorship spread online, although TikTok attributed all disruptions to infrastructure failure.

The incident also resurfaced concerns over TikTok’s privacy policy, which outlines the collection of sensitive personal data. While some disclosures predated the ownership deal, the timing reinforced broader anxieties over social media surveillance during periods of political tension.

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Maia 200 AI inference accelerator unveiled by Microsoft

Microsoft has unveiled Maia 200, a next-generation AI inference accelerator built to boost performance, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness at scale. Built on TSMC’s 3-nanometre process, the chip boosts speed, efficiency, and memory throughput for advanced AI models.

The new accelerator will power Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure across Azure, Microsoft Foundry, and Microsoft 365 Copilot, including workloads for OpenAI’s latest GPT-5.2 models.

Internal teams will use Maia 200 for synthetic data generation and reinforcement learning, accelerating AI development. Maia 200 is being rolled out in Microsoft’s US Central data centre region, with further deployments planned across additional global locations.

A preview version of the Maia software development kit is also being released, offering developers access to PyTorch integration, optimised compilers, and low-level programming tools to fine-tune AI models across heterogeneous computing environments.

The system introduces a redesigned networking and memory architecture optimised for high-bandwidth data movement and large-scale inference clusters.

Microsoft says the platform delivers significant improvements in performance per dollar, scalability, and power efficiency, positioning Maia 200 as a cornerstone of its long-term AI infrastructure strategy.

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Google.org backs AI-led science breakthroughs

The organisation Google.org has selected twelve recipients for its $20 million AI for Science fund, which aims to accelerate research in health, agriculture, biodiversity, and climate.

The initiative backs academic, nonprofit, and startup teams using AI to turn scientific insights into real-world solutions. In health and life sciences, projects target genetic decoding, neural mapping, disease prediction, and faster detection of drug resistance.

Research groups are applying advanced AI models to unlock hidden regions of the human genome, simulate disease pathways, and dramatically reduce detection times for life-threatening pathogens, shifting medicine towards earlier intervention and prevention.

Agriculture and food systems are another focus, using AI to breed resistant crops, improve nutrition, and cut livestock methane emissions. Projects seek to strengthen food security, boost sustainability, and support climate resilience.

Biodiversity and clean energy efforts target species mapping, conservation planning, fusion research, and large-scale carbon capture. Open science principles ensure datasets and tools remain accessible, scalable, and capable of driving wider breakthroughs.

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Indeed expands AI tools to reshape hiring

Indeed is expanding its use of AI to improve hiring efficiency, enhance candidate matching, and support recruiters, while keeping humans in control of final decisions.

The platform offers over 100 AI-powered features across job search, recruitment, and internal operations, supported by a long-term partnership with OpenAI.

Recent launches include Career Scout for job seekers and Talent Scout for employers, streamlining career guidance, sourcing, screening, and engagement.

Additional AI-powered tools introduced through Indeed Connect aim to improve candidate discovery and screening, helping companies move faster while broadening access to opportunities through skills-based matching.

AI adoption has accelerated internally, with over 80% of engineers using AI tools and two-thirds of staff saving up to 2 hours per week. Marketing, sales, and research teams are building custom AI agents to support creativity, personalised outreach, and strategic decision-making.

Responsible AI principles remain central to Indeed’s strategy, prioritising fairness, transparency, and human control in hiring. Early results show faster hiring, stronger candidate engagement, and improved outcomes in hard-to-fill roles, reinforcing confidence in AI-driven recruitment.

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Georgia moves to curb AI data centre expansion amid energy concerns

The state of Georgia is emerging as the focal point of a growing backlash against the rapid expansion of data centres powering the US’ AI boom.

Lawmakers in several states are now considering statewide bans, as concerns over energy consumption, water use and local disruption move to the centre of economic and environmental debate.

A bill introduced in Georgia would impose a moratorium on new data centre construction until March next year, giving state and municipal authorities time to establish more explicit regulatory rules.

The proposal arrives after Georgia’s utility regulator approved plans for an additional 10 gigawatts of electricity generation, primarily driven by data centre demand and expected to rely heavily on fossil fuels.

Local resistance has intensified as the Atlanta metropolitan area led the country in data centre construction last year, prompting multiple municipalities to impose their own temporary bans.

Critics argue that rapid development has pushed up electricity bills, strained water supplies and delivered fewer tax benefits than promised. At the same time, utility companies retain incentives to expand generation rather than improve grid efficiency.

The issue has taken on broader political significance as Georgia prepares for key elections that will affect utility oversight.

Supporters of the moratorium frame the pause as a chance for public scrutiny and democratic accountability, while backers of the industry warn that blanket restrictions risk undermining investment, jobs and long-term technological competitiveness.

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Europe rethinks dependence on US Big Tech

Rising transatlantic tensions have reignited concerns over Europe’s heavy reliance on US Big Tech, exposing vulnerabilities across cloud services, AI, and digital infrastructure.

European lawmakers are increasingly pushing for homegrown alternatives, warning that excessive dependence on a small group of foreign providers threatens economic resilience, public services, and technological sovereignty.

European Parliament data shows over 80 percent of the EU’s digital products and infrastructure come from outside the bloc, with US firms dominating cloud and AI.

Officials warn the concentration increases geopolitical, cyber and supply risks, driving renewed efforts to boost Europe’s digital autonomy and competitiveness.

Initiatives such as Eurostack and rising open-source investment aim to build digital independence, though analysts say real sovereignty could take a decade and vast funding.

While policymakers accept that full decoupling from US technology remains unrealistic, pressure is mounting for governments and public institutions to prioritise European solutions and treat digital infrastructure as a strategic asset.

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AI powers firefighting tools

Firefighting is entering a new era with HEN Technologies. Founder Sunny Sethi has developed nozzles that extinguish fires up to three times faster while conserving two-thirds of water.

HEN’s products include nozzles, valves, monitors, and sprinklers equipped with sensors and smart circuits. A cloud platform tracks water flow, pressure, GPS, and weather conditions, allowing fire departments to respond efficiently and manage resources effectively.

Predictive analytics built on this data provide real-time insights for incident commanders. Firefighters can anticipate wind shifts, monitor water usage, and optimise operations, attracting interest from the Department of Homeland Security and military agencies worldwide.

Commercial adoption has been rapid, with revenue rising from $200,000 in 2023 to a projected $20 million this year. Serving 1,500 clients globally and filing 20 patents, HEN is also collecting real-world fire data that could support AI models simulating extreme environments.

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AI surveillance cameras deployed to combat fly-tipping

New measures are being introduced in west Northamptonshire with the deployment of an AI-powered CCTV tower to combat fly-tipping in known hotspots. The mobile system will be rotated between locations until January 2027 to improve detection and deterrence.

Fly-tipping remains a significant issue across the area, with more than 21,000 incidents cleared between April 2024 and March 2025. Local authorities say illegal dumping damages neighbourhoods, harms wildlife and places a heavy financial burden on taxpayers.

The tower uses 360-degree cameras and AI to monitor activity and identify offences as they occur. Automatic number plate recognition allows enforcement officers to link incidents to suspected vehicles more quickly.

Council leaders say a similar scheme in Dartford have reduced fly-tipping and believe the technology sends a strong message to offenders. Residents are encouraged to report incidents through the council website or smartphone app to support enforcement efforts.

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Monnett highlights EU digital sovereignty in social media

Monnett is a European-built social media platform designed to give people control over their online feeds. Users can choose exactly what they see, prioritise friends’ posts, and opt out of surveillance-style recommendation systems that dominate other networks.

Unlike mainstream platforms, Monnett places privacy first, with no profiling or sale of user data, and private chats protected without being mined for advertising. The platform also avoids “AI slop” or generative AI content shaping people’s feeds, emphasising human-centred interaction.

Created and built in Luxembourg at the heart of Europe, Monnett’s design reflects a growing push for digital sovereignty in the European Union, where citizens, regulators and developers want more control over how their digital spaces are governed and how personal data is treated.

Core features include full customisation of your algorithm, no shadowbans, strong privacy safeguards, and a focus on genuine social connection. Monnett aims to win users who prefer meaningful online interaction over addictive feeds and opaque data practices.

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Rapid AI growth tests regulation in the Gulf

Gulf states are accelerating AI investment to drive diversification, while regulators struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar are deploying AI across key sectors while pursuing regional leadership in digital innovation.

Despite political commitment and large-scale funding, policymakers struggle to balance innovation with risk management. AI’s rapid pace and global reach strain governance, while foreign tech reliance raises sovereignty and security risks.

Corporate influence, intensifying geopolitical competition, and the urgent race to attract foreign capital further complicate oversight efforts, constraining regulators’ ability to impose robust and forward-looking governance frameworks.

With AI increasingly viewed as a source of economic and strategic power, Gulf governments face a narrowing window to establish effective regulatory frameworks before the technology becomes deeply embedded across critical infrastructure.

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