Google has announced an expansion of AI Mode in Search to five new languages, including Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese. The feature was first introduced in English in March and aims to compete with AI-powered search platforms such as ChatGPT Search and Perplexity AI.
The company highlighted that building a global search experience requires more than translation. Google’s custom version of Gemini 2.5 uses advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities to provide locally relevant and useful search results instead of offering generic answers.
AI Mode now also supports agentic tasks such as booking restaurant reservations, with plans to include local service appointments and event ticketing.
Currently, these advanced functions are available to Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US, while India received the rollout of the language expansion in July.
These developments reinforce Google’s strategy to integrate AI deeply into its search ecosystem, enhancing user experience across diverse regions instead of limiting sophisticated AI tools to English-language users.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The US AI firm OpenAI has introduced a new ChatGPT feature that allows users to branch conversations into separate threads and explore different tones, styles, or directions without altering the original chat.
The update, rolled out on 5 September, is available to anyone logged into ChatGPT through the web version.
The branching tool lets users copy a conversation from a chosen point and continue in a new thread while preserving the earlier exchange.
Marketing teams, for example, could test formal, informal, or humorous versions of advertising content within parallel chats, avoiding the need to overwrite or restart a conversation.
OpenAI described the update as a response to user requests for greater flexibility. Many users had previously noted that a linear dialogue structure limited efficiency by forcing them to compare and copy content repeatedly.
Early reactions online have compared the new tool to Git, which enables software developers to branch and merge code.
The feature has been welcomed by ChatGPT users who are experimenting with brainstorming, project analysis, or layered problem-solving. Analysts suggest it also reduces cognitive load by allowing users to test multiple scenarios more naturally.
Alongside the update, OpenAI is working on other projects, including a new AI-powered jobs platform to connect workers and companies more effectively.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
ASML has reportedly become the top shareholder in French AI company Mistral after investing €1.3 billion. The deal forms part of a wider €2 billion funding round that values Mistral at $14 billion, marking a significant milestone for the Paris-based startup.
The Dutch chip-making equipment giant will also gain a board seat at Mistral, with Bank of America advising on the investment. The move is seen as a step towards reinforcing European technological sovereignty by reducing reliance on American and Chinese AI systems.
The partnership could help Mistral expand its generative AI tools and open-source platforms while enhancing ASML’s ability to integrate data analytics into its operations.
Industry analysts suggest the collaboration will unite two European technology leaders at a critical moment in the global race for AI dominance.
Founded by Timothée Lacroix, Guillaume Lample, and Arthur Mensch, Mistral has quickly become one of Europe’s most valuable AI startups.
The company, backed by investors including Microsoft, Databricks, and General Catalyst, develops open-source generative AI models that directly compete with those produced by OpenAI.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Australia has announced plans to curb AI tools that generate nude images and enable online stalking. The government said it would introduce new legislation requiring tech companies to block apps designed to abuse and humiliate people.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said such AI tools are fuelling sextortion scams and putting children at risk. So-called ‘nudify’ apps, which digitally strip clothing from images, have spread quickly online.
A Save the Children survey found one in five young people in Spain had been targeted by deepfake nudes, showing how widespread the abuse has become.
Canberra pledged to use every available measure to restrict access, while ensuring that legitimate AI services are not harmed. Australia has already passed strict laws banning under-16s from social media, with the new measures set to build on its reputation as a leader in online safety.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Universal Internet connectivity by 2030 could cost up to $2.8 trillion, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space, and Technology (CST) Commission. The blueprint urges global cooperation to connect the one-third of humanity still offline.
The largest share, up to $1.7 trillion, would be allocated to expanding broadband through fibre, wireless, and satellite networks. Nearly $1 trillion is needed for affordability measures, alongside $152 billion for digital skills programmes.
ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin emphasised that connectivity is essential for access to education, employment, and vital services. She noted the stark divide between high-income countries, where 93% of people are online, and low-income states, where only 27% use the Internet.
The study shows costs have risen fivefold since ITU’s 2020 Connecting Humanity report, reflecting both higher demand and widening divides. Haytham Al-Ohali from Saudi Arabia said the figures underscore the urgency of investment and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful connectivity.
The report recommends new business models and stronger cooperation between governments, industry, and civil society. Proposed measures include using schools as Internet gateways, boosting Africa’s energy infrastructure, and improving localised data collection to accelerate digital inclusion.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published survey results probing the ethical outlook of aviation professionals on AI deployment, released during its AI Days event in Cologne.
The AI Days conference gathered nearly 200 on-site attendees from across the globe, with even more participating online.
The survey measured acceptance, trust and comfort across eight hypothetical AI use cases, yielding an average acceptance score of 4.4 out of 7. Despite growing interest, two-thirds of respondents declined at least one scenario.
Their key concerns included limitations of AI performance, privacy and data protection, accountability, safety risks and the potential for workforce de-skilling. A clear majority called for stronger regulation and oversight by EASA and national authorities.
In a keynote address, Christine Berg from the European Commission highlighted that AI in aviation is already practical, optimising air traffic flow and predictive maintenance, while emphasising the need for explainable, reliable and certifiable systems under the EU AI Act.
Survey findings will feed into EASA’s AI Roadmap and prompt public consultations as the agency advances policy and regulatory frameworks.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
WhatsApp has fixed a vulnerability that exposed Apple device users to highly targeted cyberattacks. The flaw was chained with an iOS and iPadOS bug, allowing hackers to access sensitive data.
According to researchers at Amnesty’s Security Lab, the malicious campaign lasted around 90 days and impacted fewer than 200 people. WhatsApp notified victims directly, which urged all users to update their apps immediately.
Apple has also acknowledged the issue and released security patches to close the cybersecurity loophole. Experts warn that other apps beyond WhatsApp may have been exploited in the same campaign.
The identity of those behind the spyware attacks remains unclear. Both companies have stressed that prompt updates are the best protection for users against similar threats.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Users reported search queries failing to return results, frozen pages, and an inability to connect to Google servers. Social media posts suggested the disruption extended beyond Türkiye, affecting users in Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Armenia, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency confirmed outages across parts of Southeastern Europe. Turkish Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Omer Fatih Sayan, said the issue impacted Android and related services in Türkiye and the wider European region.
He added that the National Cyber Incident Response Centre had requested a technical report from Google and is monitoring the situation closely.
As of 10:57 a.m. local time, 4 September 2025, access to Google services in Türkiye had been restored. Google has yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the disruption.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
According to people familiar with the plans, Chinese startup DeepSeek is developing an AI model with enhanced agent features to compete with US firms such as OpenAI.
The Hangzhou-based company intends for the system to perform multi-step tasks with limited input and adapt from its previous actions.
Founder Liang Wenfeng has urged his team to prepare the release before the end of 2025. The project follows DeepSeek’s earlier success with R1, a reasoning-focused model launched in January that attracted attention for its low development costs.
Since then, DeepSeek has delivered only incremental updates while rivals in China and the US have accelerated new product launches.
The shift towards AI agents reflects a broader industry move to develop tools capable of managing complex real-world tasks, from research to coding, with less reliance on users. OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Manus AI have already introduced similar projects.
Most systems still require significant oversight, highlighting the challenges of building fully autonomous agents.
The cloud computing services offered by IBM will end free human support under its Basic Support tier in January 2026, opting for an AI-driven self-service model instead.
Users will lose the option to open or escalate technical cases through the portal or APIs. However, they can still report service issues via the Cloud Console and raise billing or account cases through the Support Portal.
IBM will direct customers to its Watsonx-powered AI Assistant, upgraded earlier in the year, while introducing a ‘Report an Issue’ tool to improve routing. The company plans to expand its support library to provide more detailed self-help resources.
Starting at $200 per month, paid support will remain available for organisations needing faster response times and direct technical assistance.
The company describes the change as an alignment with industry norms. AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure already provide free tiers that rely on community forums, online resources and billing support.
However, IBM Cloud holds only 2–4 percent of the market, according to Synergy Research Group, which some analysts suggest makes cost reductions in support more likely. Tencent, another provider, previously withdrew support for basic users because they were not profitable.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
