Telecommunications infrastructure

Quantum cybersecurity goes live in Paris

Orange Business and Toshiba Europe have launched France’s first commercial quantum-safe network service in Paris.

The Orange Quantum Defender, now living in the greater Paris region, aims to shield organisations from cyber threats posed by future quantum computing capabilities.

The service combines Toshiba’s Quantum Key Distribution and Post-Quantum Cryptography technologies to protect sensitive data with a multi-layered approach. A major French financial institution already uses the network to safeguard its critical infrastructure.

After years of testing, the partners confirmed the system works over existing fibre networks, cutting costs and easing enterprise adoption.

Leaders at both companies say the launch marks a turning point in cybersecurity preparedness for the quantum age.

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Europe’s new digital diplomacy: From principles to power

In a decisive geopolitical shift, the European Union has unveiled its 2025 International Digital Strategy, signalling a turn from a values-first diplomacy to a focus on security and competitiveness. As Jovan Kurbalija explains in his blog post titled ‘EU Digital Diplomacy: Geopolitical shift from focus on values to economic security‘, the EU is no longer simply exporting its regulatory ideals — often referred to as the ‘Brussels effect’ — but is now positioning digital technology as central to its economic and geopolitical resilience.

The strategy places special emphasis on building secure digital infrastructure, such as submarine cables and AI factories, and deepening digital partnerships across continents. Unlike the 2023 Council Conclusions, which promoted a human-centric, rights-based approach to digital transformation, the 2025 Strategy prioritises tech sovereignty, resilient supply chains, and strategic defence-linked innovations.

Human rights, privacy, and inclusivity still appear, but mainly in supporting roles to broader goals of power and resilience. The EU’s new path reflects a realpolitik understanding that its survival in the global tech race depends on alliances, capability-building, and a nimble response to the rapid evolution of AI and cyber threats.

In practice, this means more digital engagement with key partners like India, Japan, and South Korea and coordinated global investments through the ‘Tech Team Europe’ initiative. The strategy introduces new structures like a Digital Partnership Network while downplaying once-central instruments like the AI Act.

With China largely sidelined and relations with the US in ‘wait and see’ mode, the EU seems intent on building an independent but interconnected digital path, reaching out to the Global South with a pragmatic offer of secure digital infrastructure and public-private investments.

Why does it matter?

Yet, major questions linger: how will these ambitious plans be implemented, who will lead them, and can the EU maintain coherence between its internal democratic values and this outward-facing strategic assertiveness? As Kurbalija notes, the success of this new digital doctrine will hinge on whether the EU can fuse its soft power legacy with the hard power realities of a turbulent tech-driven world.

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Qualcomm to acquire Alphawave for $2.4 billion

Qualcomm has agreed to acquire London-listed semiconductor firm Alphawave for approximately $2.4 billion in cash, aiming to strengthen its position in AI and data centre technologies. Alphawave shares surged 23% in London trading following the announcement.

The deal, offering 183 pence per share, represents a 96% premium over Alphawave’s share price at the end of March. Regulatory and shareholder approvals are still required, with the transaction expected to close in early 2026.

Qualcomm is diversifying beyond smartphones as CEO Cristiano Amon targets growth sectors such as AI hardware. Alphawave, known for high-speed chip connectivity, has gained momentum, especially among US AI customers.

Alphawave’s board unanimously supports the offer, and shareholders representing half the company have already agreed to the deal. In addition to the cash option, Qualcomm is offering stock and security exchange alternatives.

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Meta plans $10 billion investment in Scale AI

Meta Platforms is reportedly in talks to invest over $10 billion in Scale AI, a data labelling startup already backed by Nvidia, Amazon, and Meta itself.

The deal, if finalised, would mark Meta’s largest external investment in AI to date, representing a notable shift away from its prior reliance on in-house research and open-source projects.

Founded in 2016, Scale AI supports the training of AI models through high-quality labelled datasets. It also provides a platform for AI research collaboration, now with contributors in more than 9,000 locations.

The company was last valued at nearly $14 billion following a 2024 funding round involving Meta and Microsoft.

Meta’s planned investment signals an aggressive expansion of its AI ambitions. Earlier this year, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced up to $65 billion in AI spending for 2025. It includes Meta’s Llama chatbot, now embedded into Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, reaching one billion users monthly.

The move puts Meta in closer competition with Microsoft, which has committed over $13 billion to OpenAI, and Amazon and Alphabet, which are backing rival AI firm Anthropic. Scale AI declined to comment, while Meta has yet to respond publicly.

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Odyssey presents immersive AI-powered streaming

Odyssey, a startup founded by self-driving veterans Oliver Cameron and Jeff Hawke, has unveiled an AI model that allows users to interact with streaming video in real time.

The technology generates video frames every 40 milliseconds, enabling users to move through scenes like a 3D video game instead of passively watching. A demo is currently available online, though it is still in its early stages.

The system relies on a new kind of ‘world model’ that predicts future visual states based on previous actions and environments. Odyssey claims its model can maintain spatial consistency, learn motion from video, and sustain coherent video output for five minutes or more.

Unlike models trained solely on internet data, Odyssey captures real-world environments using a custom 360-degree, backpack-mounted camera to build higher-fidelity simulations.

Tech giants and AI startups are exploring world models to power next-generation simulations and interactive media. Yet creative professionals remain wary. A 2024 study commissioned by the Animation Guild predicted significant job disruptions across film and animation.

Game studios like Activision Blizzard have been scrutinised for using AI while cutting staff.

Odyssey, however, insists its goal is collaboration instead of replacement. The company is also developing software to let creators edit scenes using tools like Unreal Engine and Blender.

Backed by $27 million in funding and supported by Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, Odyssey aims to transform video content across entertainment, education, and advertising through on-demand interactivity.

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EU launches global digital strategy

The European Union has launched a sweeping international digital strategy to bolster its global tech leadership and secure a human-centric digital transformation. With the digital and AI revolution reshaping economies and societies worldwide, the EU is positioning itself as a reliable partner in building resilient, open, and secure digital ecosystems.

The strategy prioritises collaboration with international partners to scale digital infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity, and support emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors while promoting democratic values and human rights in digital governance. The EU will deepen and expand its global network of Digital Partnerships and Dialogues to remain competitive and secure in a fast-changing geopolitical landscape.

These collaborations focus on research, industrial innovation, regulatory cooperation, and secure supply chains, while engaging countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the EU’s own neighbourhood. The strategy also leverages trade instruments and investment frameworks such as the Global Gateway to support secure 5G and 6G networks, submarine cables, and digital public infrastructure, helping partner countries improve connectivity, resilience, and sustainability.

To enhance global digital governance, the EU is pushing for international standards that uphold privacy, security, and openness, and opposing efforts to fragment the internet. It supports inclusive multilateralism, working through institutions like the UN, G7, and OECD to shape rules for the digital age.

With initiatives ranging from AI safety cooperation and e-signature mutual recognition to safeguarding children online and combating disinformation, the EU aims to set the benchmark for ethical and secure digital transformation. At the heart of this vision is the EU Tech Business Offer—a modular, cross-border platform combining technology, capacity-building, and financing.

Through Team Europe and partnerships with industry, the EU seeks to bridge the digital divide, export trusted digital solutions, and foster an interconnected world aligned with European democratic principles. The strategy underscores that in today’s interconnected world, the EU’s prosperity and security hinge on shaping a digital future that is competitive, inclusive, and values-driven.

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OpenAI and India plan AI infrastructure push

OpenAI is in discussions with the Indian government to collaborate on data centre infrastructure as part of its new global initiative, ‘OpenAI for Countries’.

The programme aims to help partner nations expand AI capabilities through joint investment and strategic coordination with the US. India could become one of the ten initial countries in the effort, although specific terms remain under wraps.

During a visit to Delhi, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer Jason Kwon emphasised India’s potential, citing the government’s clear focus on infrastructure and AI talent.

Similar to the UAE’s recently announced Stargate project in Abu Dhabi, India may host large-scale AI computing infrastructure while also investing in the US under the same framework.

To nurture AI skills, OpenAI and the Ministry of Electronics and IT’s IndiaAI Mission launched the ‘OpenAI Academy’. It marks OpenAI’s first international rollout of its educational platform.

The partnership will provide free access to AI tools, developer training, and events, with content in English, Hindi, and four additional regional languages. It will also support government officials and startups through dedicated learning platforms.

The collaboration includes hackathons, workshops in six cities, and up to $100,000 in API credits for selected IndiaAI fellows and startups. The aim is to accelerate innovation and help Indian developers and researchers scale AI solutions more efficiently, according to IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

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Amazon invests $10 billion in AI data centres

Amazon is investing $10 billion to build data centres in North Carolina, aiming to expand its AI and cloud infrastructure instead of outsourcing compute needs.

The initiative will create at least 500 high-skilled roles and includes support for education, broadband careers, and local development through a $150,000 community fund.

The company is also developing AI-powered humanoid robots for future delivery tasks, reportedly testing them in a newly constructed ‘humanoid park’ at its San Francisco office.

Although using third-party hardware for now, the long-term goal is to embed Amazon’s software into these robots, according to sources.

Experts say the investment underlines a growing concern: that only large firms can afford the infrastructure needed for cutting-edge AI.

‘It’s positive for growth but risks concentrating innovation in Big Tech’s hands,’ said Leo Fan, co-founder of Cysic, a blockchain-based AI firm. He argues that the shift could disincentivise smaller players and dampen broader AI progress.

Amazon is also rolling out Alexa+, a new generative AI-powered assistant, and has secured a licensing deal with The New York Times to integrate journalism, recipes, and sports content into Alexa and other AI products, further extending its ecosystem instead of relying solely on internal data.

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Google email will reply by using your voice

Google is building a next-generation email system that uses generative AI to reply to mundane messages in your own tone, according to DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis.

Speaking at SXSW London, Hassabis said the system would handle everyday emails instead of requiring users to write repetitive responses themselves.

Hassabis called email ‘the thing I really want to get rid of,’ and joked he’d pay thousands each month for that luxury. He emphasised that while AI could help cure diseases or combat climate change, it should also solve smaller daily annoyances first—like managing inbox overload.

The upcoming feature aims to identify routine emails and draft replies that reflect the user’s writing style, potentially making decisions on simpler matters.

While details are still limited, the project remains under development and could debut as part of Google’s premium AI subscription model before reaching free-tier users.

Gmail already includes generative tools that adjust message tone, but the new system goes further—automating replies instead of just suggesting edits.

Hassabis also envisioned a universal AI assistant that protects users’ attention and supports digital well-being, offering personalised recommendations and taking care of routine digital tasks.

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Cyber attack hits Lee Enterprises staff data

Thousands of current and former employees at Lee Enterprises have had their data exposed following a cyberattack earlier this year.

Hackers accessed to the company’s systems in early February, compromising sensitive information such as names and Social Security numbers before the breach was contained the same day.

Although the media firm, which operates over 70 newspapers across 26 US states, swiftly secured its networks, a three-month investigation involving external cybersecurity experts revealed that attackers accessed databases containing employee details.

The breach potentially affects around 40,000 individuals — far more than the company’s 4,500 current staff — indicating that past employees were also impacted.

The stolen data could be used for identity theft, fraud or phishing attempts. Criminals may even impersonate affected employees to infiltrate deeper into company systems and extract more valuable information.

Lee Enterprises has notified those impacted and filed relevant disclosures with authorities, including the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

Headquartered in Iowa, Lee Enterprises draws over 200 million monthly online page views and generated over $611 million in revenue in 2024. The incident underscores the ongoing vulnerability of media organisations to cyber threats, especially when personal employee data is involved.

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