Meta has reversed its earlier decision to discontinue virtual reality support for Horizon Worlds, allowing the platform to remain available on VR headsets despite previous plans to prioritise mobile and web access.
The decision follows an internal reassessment of user engagement trends, which indicate limited adoption of VR-based social platforms.
While Horizon Worlds was once positioned as central to the company’s metaverse ambitions, demand has remained relatively low, raising questions about the long-term viability of immersive social environments.
Financial pressures also continue to shape strategy.
Meta’s Reality Labs division has recorded substantial losses since 2021, reflecting high investment in virtual and augmented reality technologies without corresponding commercial returns.
Industry data further suggests declining headset sales, reinforcing uncertainty around VR as a mainstream consumer platform.
In contrast, mobile usage of Horizon Worlds is growing faster. Increasing downloads point to broader accessibility and improved product-market alignment, though revenue generation remains limited.
As a result, Meta is prioritising mobile development instead of fully abandoning VR, maintaining a dual approach while seeking more sustainable engagement models.
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Broadcom is facing increased regulatory pressure in the EU following a formal antitrust complaint concerning changes to VMware licensing practices.
The complaint highlights growing tensions between large technology providers and European cloud infrastructure firms.
The filing, submitted by Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe, raises concerns that revised licensing models could significantly alter market dynamics.
European providers argue that the changes may limit flexibility, increase costs, and affect their ability to compete effectively in the cloud services sector.
At the centre of the dispute lies the broader issue of market concentration and control over critical digital infrastructure.
Industry stakeholders suggest that restrictive licensing conditions could reshape access to essential virtualisation technologies, which underpin a wide range of cloud and enterprise services across the EU.
Regulatory attention is expected to focus on whether such practices align with the EU competition rules, particularly regarding fair access and market neutrality.
The case emerges at a time when European policymakers are intensifying oversight of dominant technology firms and seeking to strengthen digital sovereignty across strategic sectors.
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Malaysia has quietly restricted new data centre approvals to projects linked to AI, signalling a strategic shift in its digital economy. Authorities confirmed that non-AI development has been halted for nearly 2 years.
The policy reflects mounting pressure on energy and water resources as demand for data centres accelerates. Officials aim to ensure infrastructure supports high-value AI projects rather than lower-impact investments.
Rapid growth has positioned Malaysia as a key regional hub, attracting major global technology firms. Concerns remain over whether the country risks hosting infrastructure without building local innovation capacity.
Leaders say future efforts will focus on balancing investment with domestic benefits and energy sustainability. Plans include expanding power supply and strengthening national AI capabilities to secure long term gains.
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Two researchers have been awarded the Turing Award for pioneering work in quantum cryptography. Their research laid the foundations for a new form of secure communication based on quantum physics.
The method, developed in the 1980s, enables encryption keys that cannot be copied without detection. Any attempt to intercept the data alters its physical properties, revealing interference.
Experts say the approach could become vital as quantum computing advances. Traditional encryption methods may become vulnerable as computing power increases.
The award highlights the growing importance of secure data transmission in a digital world. Researchers believe quantum cryptography could play a central role in encrypting and protecting future communications.
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UAE operator e& (formerly Etisalat) has partnered with Khalifa University to outline a new vision for AI-native 6G networks. Their joint whitepaper presents a framework in which intelligence is embedded at the core of the network architecture rather than added as a feature.
The proposal introduces a dedicated AI plane alongside existing network layers to enable continuous learning and automation. This approach supports sensing, reasoning and autonomous decision-making across radio, core and edge systems.
The framework includes distributed AI agents, digital twin integration and closed-loop automation models. It is designed to support multi-vendor environments while enabling scalable and coordinated intelligence across networks.
Five core pillars underpin the model, including AI frameworks, cloud-edge computing and sustainability-focused design. Together, these elements position 6G as a cognitive infrastructure capable of predictive optimisation and advanced service delivery.
The whitepaper also defines measurable performance indicators such as latency, learning accuracy and energy efficiency. The initiative aims to contribute to global standards while strengthening the UAE’s role in shaping future telecom systems.
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Plans to accelerate technological leadership have been outlined by the HM Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with a £2.5 billion investment targeting AI and quantum computing.
Ambition has been reinforced by Rachel Reeves, who positioned AI as a central driver of economic growth, alongside closer European ties and regional development. Strategy aims to secure the fastest adoption of AI across the G7 while supporting domestic innovation ecosystems.
Significant funding in the UK will be directed towards a Sovereign AI initiative, quantum infrastructure and research capacity. Plans include procurement of large-scale quantum systems and targeted investment in startups, helping companies scale while strengthening national capabilities in advanced technologies.
Expectations surrounding quantum computing are framed as transformative, with potential to reshape industries from healthcare to energy. Combined investment reflects a broader effort to align innovation policy with long-term economic growth and global competitiveness.
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A major cyber incident has impacted Stryker Corporation, where attackers targeted its internal Microsoft environment and remotely wiped tens of thousands of employee devices without deploying traditional malware.
Access to systems was reportedly achieved through a compromised administrator account, allowing attackers to issue remote wipe commands via Microsoft Intune.
As a result, large parts of the company’s internal infrastructure were disrupted, with some services remaining offline and business operations affected.
Responsibility has been claimed by Handala, a group often associated with broader geopolitical cyber activity. The incident reflects a growing trend of cyber operations blending disruption, data theft and strategic messaging.
Despite the scale of the attack, the company confirmed that its medical devices and patient-facing technologies were not impacted.
The case highlights increasing risks linked to identity compromise and cloud-based management tools, where attackers can cause significant damage without relying on conventional malware techniques.
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Debate over potential updates to the GDPR is intensifying, as Marina Kaljurand advocates a focused ‘fitness check’ rather than sweeping legislative changes in an omnibus package.
Concerns raised in the European Parliament highlight risks associated with altering foundational elements of the regulation, particularly its definitions to personal data. Preserving these core principles is seen as essential to maintaining the integrity of the EU’s data protection framework.
Ongoing discussions reflect broader policy tensions within the EU, where efforts to reduce regulatory complexity must be balanced against the need to uphold strong privacy safeguards. Proposals for simplification are therefore facing scrutiny from lawmakers prioritising stability and legal clarity.
Future developments are likely to shape how the EU adapts its data protection rules to evolving digital markets, while ensuring that existing protections remain effective in a rapidly changing technological environment.
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Efforts to improve the security of Europe’s digital infrastructure have advanced as the European Commission opens a €180 million funding call to support backup systems for subsea internet cables.
Investment by the EU will focus on developing alternative routes and redundancy mechanisms, ensuring continuity of connectivity in the event of disruptions affecting critical undersea networks that carry global data traffic.
Growing concerns around infrastructure vulnerability have increased attention on subsea cables, which play a central role in international communications. Strengthening resilience is therefore becoming a priority within broader European strategies on technological sovereignty and security.
Planned projects are expected to enhance reliability across the region, reducing risks associated with outages or potential external threats to essential telecommunications infrastructure.
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The UK Government has announced up to £2 billion in funding for quantum technologies, including more than £1 billion over the next four years, confirmed by UKRI in December 2025, and a new procurement programme called ProQure designed to support the scaling of quantum computing across the UK.
The announcement is being billed as the country’s ‘Quantum Leap’, positioning the UK as a first mover in quantum commercialisation.
The funding is distributed across several areas: over £500 million for quantum computing to help companies scale and develop applications in pharmaceuticals, financial services, and energy; £125 million for quantum networking; and £205 million for quantum sensing and navigation, with dedicated applications in medical diagnostics, greenhouse gas monitoring, and ultra-secure communications.
A further £13.8 million will be injected into the UK’s five National Quantum Research Hubs, with an additional £90 million for quantum infrastructure and £20 million for skills and commercialisation programmes.
techUK welcomed the announcement, noting that the UK is already home to 11% of the world’s quantum startups and has attracted 12% of global quantum private equity investment.
The trade association highlighted the ProQure procurement programme as a step in the right direction, but cautioned that sustained, long-term private investment will be essential to support deep-tech companies through lengthy development cycles.
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