Telecommunications infrastructure

AI-powered browsing arrives in Chrome for India New Zealand and Canada

Chrome is bringing its advanced AI features to users in India, New Zealand and Canada, aiming to simplify daily browsing tasks and provide instant support. The updates include the integration of Gemini in Chrome and support for over 50 languages.

Users can now interact with a personalised browsing assistant without switching tabs, receiving instant answers, summaries or creative suggestions. Gemini in Chrome allows multitasking and remembers previously visited pages for easier navigation.

Integrations with Google apps such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube enhance productivity directly from the browser. Users can draft emails, schedule meetings, or extract key points from videos without leaving their current page.

Chrome’s AI can also consolidate information from multiple open tabs, streamlining tasks like research or shopping. Nano Banana 2 allows users to transform images on the web in real time, without uploading files or switching windows.

Security remains a priority, with Chrome designed to detect threats and require confirmations for sensitive actions. Gemini in Chrome benefits from automated testing and updates to maintain robust protection as users explore new AI features.

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Tesla moves to enter the British household electricity market

A licence that would allow Tesla to supply electricity directly to households and businesses across Great Britain has been applied for.

The application was submitted to the national energy regulator Ofgem, which oversees energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales.

Approval would enable the company to enter the retail electricity market as early as next year. The service is expected to operate under the brand ‘Tesla Electric’, extending the company’s strategy of combining electric vehicles, battery storage and energy supply into a single ecosystem.

Tesla’s UK energy subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, filed the application through its Manchester-based operation. Regulatory review may take several months, as Ofgem typically requires up to nine months to evaluate electricity supplier licences.

A future electricity offer could primarily target households that already use Tesla technologies, including home batteries and electric vehicle charging systems.

The company sells Powerwall storage batteries in the UK, which allow homeowners to store electricity generated by solar panels or purchased during off-peak hours.

Such systems also allow surplus energy stored in batteries to be sold back to the grid.

Similar services are already available in the US, where Tesla launched a residential electricity supply programme in Texas in 2022.

The expansion into the energy supply market comes amid pressure on Tesla’s automotive business in Europe. Sales of Tesla vehicles in the UK declined significantly during 2025, reducing the company’s share of the national car market.

Diversifying into energy services could therefore represent a broader strategic shift for the company led by Elon Musk. Integrating electricity supply with electric vehicles and home energy systems could allow Tesla to build a more comprehensive energy platform for consumers.

If approved, the initiative would position Tesla as both a technology manufacturer and a direct energy supplier in the British market.

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AI browsers expose new cybersecurity attack surfaces

Security researchers have demonstrated that agentic browsers, powered by AI, may introduce new cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Experiments targeting the Comet AI browser, developed by Perplexity AI, showed that attackers could manipulate the system into executing phishing scams in only a few minutes.

The attack exploits the reasoning process used by AI agents when interacting with websites. These systems continuously explain their actions and observations, revealing internal signals that attackers can analyse to refine malicious strategies and bypass built-in safeguards.

Researchers showed that phishing pages can be iteratively trained using adversarial machine learning methods, such as Generative Adversarial Networks.

By observing how the AI browser responds to suspicious signals, attackers can optimise fraudulent pages until the system accepts them as legitimate.

The findings highlight a shift in the cybersecurity threat landscape. Instead of deceiving human users directly, attackers increasingly focus on manipulating the AI agents that perform online actions on behalf of users.

Security experts warn that prompt injection vulnerabilities remain a fundamental challenge for large language models and agentic systems.

Although new defensive techniques are being developed, researchers believe such weaknesses may remain difficult to eliminate.

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5G expansion strengthens digital connectivity across Algeria

Ooredoo Algeria has expanded its 5G network to all provinces in Algeria. The operator announced that 5G services are now present in every wilaya, although coverage within each province remains limited as the network continues to expand.

The deployment is progressing ahead of the national rollout schedule. The expansion goes beyond the initial timeline set by the Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE), which required operators to begin with pilot deployments in a limited number of provinces.

Algeria’s national plan foresees a gradual expansion of 5G coverage. Under the regulatory roadmap, telecom operators must extend services to additional provinces each year until 2031, when all wilayas are expected to reach at least 50% 5G coverage.

Telecom operators are accelerating 5G deployment nationwide. Alongside Ooredoo Algeria, operators such as Mobilis and Djezzy launched 5G services in December 2025, with Djezzy also reporting progress ahead of schedule.

The expansion of 5G infrastructure is expected to support the digital economy. Operators say improved connectivity could help accelerate business digitalisation, strengthen digital services, and support broader economic development.

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Google outlines roadmap for safer generative AI for young users

Google has presented a strategy for developing generative AI systems designed to protect younger users better better while supporting learning and creativity.

The approach emphasises building conversational AI experiences that balance innovation with safeguards tailored to children and teenagers.

The company’s framework rests on three pillars: protecting young people online, respecting the role of families in digital environments and enabling youth to explore AI technologies responsibly.

According to Google, safety policies prohibit harmful content, including material linked to child exploitation, violent extremism and self-harm, while additional restrictions target age-inappropriate topics.

Safeguards are integrated throughout the AI development lifecycle, from user input to model responses. Systems use specialised classifiers to detect potentially harmful queries and prevent inappropriate outputs.

These protections are also applied to models such as Gemini, which incorporates defences against prompt manipulation and cyber misuse.

Beyond preventing harm, Google aims to support responsible AI adoption through educational initiatives.

Resources designed for families encourage discussions about responsible technology use, while tools such as Guided Learning in Gemini seek to help students explore complex topics through structured explanations and interactive learning support.

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AI and quantum computing reshape the global cybersecurity landscape

Cybersecurity risks are increasing as digital connectivity expands across governments, businesses and households.

According to Thales Group, a growing number of connected devices and digital services has significantly expanded the potential entry points for cyberattacks.

AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape by enabling attackers to identify vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed.

Security specialists increasingly describe the environment as a contest in which defensive systems must deploy AI to counter adversaries using similar technologies to exploit weaknesses in digital infrastructure.

Security concerns also extend beyond large institutions. Connected devices in homes, including smart cameras and speakers, often lack robust security protections, increasing exposure for individuals and networks.

Policymakers in Europe are responding through measures such as the Cyber Resilience Act, which will introduce mandatory security requirements for connected products sold in the EU.

Long-term risks are also emerging from advances in quantum computing.

Experts warn that powerful future machines could eventually break widely used encryption systems that currently protect communications, financial data and government networks, prompting organisations to adopt quantum-resistant security methods.

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Lawmakers urged to rethink rules on private messaging

Policymakers are being urged to rethink the regulation of private messaging platforms as disinformation campaigns increasingly spread through closed digital networks. Researchers say messaging apps now play a major role in political communication and crisis information flows.

Evidence from elections and conflicts highlights the challenge. During Brazil’s 2024 municipal elections, manipulated political content spread widely through WhatsApp groups, while authorities in Ukraine reported Telegram being used for both emergency communication and disinformation.

Experts argue that current laws often fail to address messaging platforms, such as Telegram, because regulation typically targets public social media spaces. Analysts say modern messaging services combine private chats with broadcast channels and other features that allow content to reach large audiences.

Policy specialists propose regulating specific platform features rather than entire services. Governments and technology companies are also encouraged to protect encryption while expanding transparency tools, media literacy programmes and user safeguards.

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Amazon launches Health AI to assist with medical queries

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered assistant, Health AI, on its website and mobile app. The tool is designed to answer health questions, explain medical records, manage prescriptions, and connect users with healthcare providers.

Health AI can also book appointments and guide users based on their health information if they grant access to their records. The feature is currently limited to the US, with a wider rollout planned in the coming weeks.

The assistant is linked with One Medical, Amazon’s healthcare service, allowing users to communicate with licensed professionals through messages, video consultations, or in-person visits. It can also send prescription renewal requests and suggest relevant health products.

Users can create an Amazon Health Profile and enable two-step authentication to start using Health AI. By allowing the AI to access their medical records, including medications, lab results, and diagnoses, users can receive more personalised responses.

Amazon emphasises that Health AI is a support tool rather than a replacement for doctors. It helps users understand health information and prepare for discussions with healthcare providers, but it does not provide independent diagnoses or treatment.

As part of an introductory offer, eligible US Prime members can receive up to five free message consultations with One Medical providers. The system runs on Amazon Bedrock and uses multiple AI agents to manage tasks, monitor interactions, and escalate to human professionals when necessary.

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Gigabyte pushes accessible AI computing strategy at Mobile World Congress

Taiwanese computer manufacturer Gigabyte is expanding its AI strategy, focusing on making AI computing more widely accessible. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Gigabyte outlined its vision of ‘democratising AI’ by delivering infrastructure that ranges from data centre systems to tools that allow individuals to build and run AI models at home.

‘We believe that AI will be good for everyone when it’s more accessible to more people,’ said Jack Chou, brand marketing specialist at Gigabyte Technology.

Founded in 1986, the company initially built its reputation as one of the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers. The company has since expanded into full-stack AI infrastructure, telecom networking systems, and specialised AI supercomputers.

According to Chou, the company’s strategy reflects a shift from traditional consumer computing toward broader empowerment through AI. ‘In the past, we provided computing solutions for end users that might be used more for entertainment and gaming, but now we believe we’re empowering more people with AI computing,’ he said.

Gigabyte is also exploring physical AI systems, including robots for tasks such as automated assembly line monitoring and quality control in manufacturing environments. These systems rely on AI models trained in data centres and deployed through embedded industrial computing platforms that allow machines to interact with real-world environments.

As demand for AI infrastructure grows, Gigabyte is prioritising sustainability by investing in energy-saving cooling technologies such as direct liquid and immersion cooling for its data centres.

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