In a legal move that underscores growing scrutiny of digital platforms, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court against Microsoft Corporation, accusing the company of misleading approximately 2.7 million Australian personal and family-plan subscribers of its Microsoft 365 service after integrating its AI assistant Copilot.
According to the ACCC, Microsoft raised subscription prices by 45 % for the Personal plan and 29 % for the Family plan after bundling Copilot starting 31 October 2024.
The regulator says Microsoft told consumers their only options were to pay the higher price with AI or cancel their subscription, while failing to clearly disclose a cheaper ‘Classic’ version of the plan without Copilot that remained available.
The ACCC argues Microsoft’s communications omitted the existence of that lower-priced plan unless consumers initiated the cancellation process. Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb described this omission as ‘very serious conduct’ that deprived customers of informed choice.
The regulator is seeking penalties, consumer redress, injunctions and costs, with potential sanctions of AUS $50 million (or more) per breach.
This action signals a broader regulatory push into how major technology firms bundle AI features, raise prices and present options to consumers, an issue that ties into digital economy governance, consumer trust and platform accountability.
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In a joint effort, Foxconn announced it will work with NVIDIA Corporation, Stellantis N.V. and Uber Technologies, Inc. on developing and deploying Level 4 (hands-off, eyes-off) autonomous vehicles for robotaxi services. Foxconn brings its expertise in high-performance computing, sensor integration and electronic control systems to the partnership.
The collaboration assigns distinct roles. Nvidia contributes its DRIVE AV software stack and DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 architecture, Stellantis provides vehicle platforms engineered for autonomy, Foxconn handles hardware and system integration, and Uber offers its global ride-service network to scale the deployment.
Foxconn chairman Young Liu described autonomous mobility as a strategic priority within its EV programme, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said this venture ‘is a leap in AI capability’.
This move underscores how hardware makers, AI firms and mobility service providers are converging around the autonomous-vehicle ecosystem.
It also highlights the expanding role of companies like Foxconn beyond traditional electronics manufacturing into mobility, AI and sensor integration, areas increasingly relevant for digital diplomacy, supply-chain resilience and global tech competition.
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Speaking at the CNBC Technology Executive Council Summit in New York, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has expressed scepticism about Elon Musk’s new AI-powered Grokipedia, suggesting that large language models cannot reliably produce accurate wiki entries.
Wales highlighted the difficulties of verifying sources and warned that AI tools can produce plausible but incorrect information, citing examples where chatbots fabricated citations and personal details.
He rejected Musk’s claims of liberal bias on Wikipedia, noting that the site prioritises reputable sources over fringe opinions. Wales emphasised that focusing on mainstream publications does not constitute political bias but preserves trust and reliability for the platform’s vast global audience.
Despite his concerns, Wales acknowledged that AI could have limited utility for Wikipedia in uncovering information within existing sources.
However, he stressed that substantial costs and potential errors prevent the site from entirely relying on generative AI, preferring careful testing before integrating new technologies.
Wales concluded that while AI may mislead the public with fake or plausible content, the Wiki community’s decades of expertise in evaluating information help safeguard accuracy. He urged continued vigilance and careful source evaluation as misinformation risks grow alongside AI capabilities.
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China has pledged to expand its high-tech industries over the next decade. Officials said emerging sectors such as quantum computing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, and brain-computer interfaces will receive major investment and policy backing.
Development chief Zheng Shanjie told reporters that the coming decade will redefine China’s technology landscape, describing it as a ‘new scale’ of innovation. The government views breakthroughs in science and AI as key to boosting economic resilience amid a slowing property market and demographic decline.
The plan underscores Beijing’s push to rival Washington in cutting-edge technology, with billions already channelled into state-led innovation programmes. Public opinion in Beijing appears supportive, with many citizens expressing optimism that China could lead the next technological revolution.
Economists warn, however, that sustained progress will require tackling structural issues, including low domestic consumption and reduced investor confidence. Analysts said Beijing’s long-term success will depend on whether it can balance rapid growth with stable governance and transparent regulation.
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Tech firms now spend a record €151 million a year on lobbying at EU institutions, up from €113 million in 2023, according to transparency-register analysis by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl.
Spending is concentrated among US giants. The ten biggest tech companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Qualcomm and Google, together outspend the top ten in pharma, finance and automotive. Meta leads with a budget above €10 million.
Estimates calculate there are 890 full-time lobbyists now working to influence tech policy in Brussels, up from 699 in 2023, with 437 holding European Parliament access badges. In the first half of 2025, companies declared 146 meetings with the Commission and 232 with MEPs, with artificial intelligence regulation and the industry code of practice frequently on the agenda.
As industry pushes back on the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act and the Commission explores the ‘simplification’ of EU rulebooks, lobbying transparency campaigners fear a rollback on the progress made to regulate the digital sector. On the contrary, companies argue that lobbying helps lawmakers grasp complex markets and assess impacts on innovation and competitiveness.
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OpenAI has introduced new features in ChatGPT to encourage healthier use for people who spend extended periods chatting with the AI. Users may see a pop-up message reading ‘Just checking in. You’ve been chatting for a while, is this a good time for a break?’.
Users can dismiss it or continue, helping to prevent excessive screen time while staying flexible. The update also guides high-stakes personal decisions.
ChatGPT will not give direct advice on sensitive topics such as relationships, but instead asks questions and encourages reflection, helping users consider their options safely.
OpenAI acknowledged that AI can feel especially personal for vulnerable individuals. Earlier versions sometimes struggled to recognise signs of emotional dependency or distress.
The company is improving the model to detect these cases and direct users to evidence-based resources when needed, making long interactions safer and more mindful.
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AI ECG analysis improved heart attack detection and reduced false alarms in a multicentre study of 1,032 suspected STEMI cases. Conducted across three primary PCI centres from January 2020 to May 2024, it points to quicker, more accurate triage, especially beyond specialist hospitals.
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction occurs when a major coronary artery is blocked. Guideline targets call for reperfusion within 90 minutes of first medical contact. Longer delays are associated with roughly a 3-fold increase in mortality, underscoring the need for rapid, reliable activation.
The AI ECG model, trained to detect acute coronary occlusion and STEMI equivalents, analysed each patient’s initial tracing. Confirmatory angiography and biomarkers identified 601 true STEMIs and 431 false positives. AI detected 553 of 601 STEMIs, versus 427 identified by standard triage on the first ECG.
False positives fell sharply with AI. Investigators reported a 7.9 percent false-positive rate with the model, compared with 41.8 percent under standard protocols. Clinicians said earlier that more precise identification could streamline transfers from non-PCI centres and help teams reach reperfusion targets.
An editorial welcomed the gains but urged caution. The model targets acute occlusion rather than STEMI, needs prospective validation in diverse populations, and must be integrated with clear governance and human oversight.
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The US tech giant, NVIDIA, has released open-source AI models and data tools across language, biology and robotics to accelerate innovation and expand access to cutting-edge research.
New model families, Nemotron, Cosmos, Isaac GR00T and Clara, are designed to empower developers to build intelligent agents and applications with enhanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities.
The company is contributing these open models and datasets to Hugging Face, further solidifying its position as a leading supporter of open research.
Nemotron models improve reasoning for digital AI agents, while Cosmos and Isaac GR00T enable physical AI and robotic systems to perform complex simulations and behaviours. Clara advances biomedical AI, allowing scientists to analyse RNA, generate 3D protein structures and enhance medical imaging.
Major industry partners, including Amazon Robotics, ServiceNow, Palantir and PayPal, are already integrating NVIDIA’s technologies to develop next-generation AI agents.
An initiative that reflects NVIDIA’s aim to create an open ecosystem that supports both enterprise and scientific innovation through accessible, transparent and responsible AI.
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Nokia and NVIDIA have announced a $1 billion partnership to develop an AI-powered platform that will drive the transition from 5G to 6G networks.
The collaboration will create next-generation AI-RAN systems, combining computing, sensing and connectivity to transform how the US mobile networks process data and deliver services.
However, this partnership marks a strategic step in both companies’ ambition to regain global leadership in telecommunications.
By integrating NVIDIA’s new Aerial RAN Computer and Nokia’s AI-RAN software, operators can upgrade existing networks through software updates instead of complete infrastructure replacements.
T-Mobile US will begin field tests in 2026, supported by Dell’s PowerEdge servers.
NVIDIA’s investment and collaboration with Nokia aim to strengthen the foundation for AI-native networks that can handle the rising demand from agentic, generative and physical AI applications.
These networks are expected to support future 6G use cases, including drones, autonomous vehicles and advanced augmented reality systems.
Both companies see AI-RAN as the next evolution of wireless connectivity, uniting data processing and communication at the edge for greater performance, energy efficiency and innovation.
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A new Focus Bari survey shows that AI is still unfamiliar territory for most Greeks.
Although more than eight in ten have heard of AI, 68 percent say they have never used it professionally. The study highlights that Greece integrates AI into its workplace more slowly than many other countries.
The survey covered 21 nations and found that 83 percent of Greeks know about AI, compared with 17 percent who do not. Only 35 percent feel well-informed, while about one in three admits to knowing little about the technology.
Similar trends appear worldwide, with Switzerland, Mexico, and Romania leading in AI awareness, while countries like Nigeria, Japan, and Australia show limited familiarity.
Globally, almost half of respondents use AI in their everyday lives, yet only one in three applies it in their work. In Greece, that gap remains wide, suggesting that AI is still seen as a distant concept rather than a professional tool.
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