ai

DeepSeek launches V3 to challenge OpenAI

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has unveiled a major upgrade to its V3 large language model, intensifying the competition with US tech giants like OpenAI and Anthropic.

The new model, DeepSeek-V3-0324, is available via the AI development platform Hugging Face, showcasing significant advancements in reasoning and coding capabilities.

Benchmark tests have highlighted notable improvements in technical performance instead of its predecessor. DeepSeek, which has quickly gained recognition in the AI industry, continues to release competitive models, offering lower operational costs than many Western counterparts.

Following the V3 launch in December, DeepSeek also introduced its R1 model in January, further establishing its presence in the global AI market.

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Instagram users react to Meta’s new AI experiment

Meta has come under fire once again, this time over a new AI experiment on Instagram that suggests comments for users. Some users accused the company of using AI to inflate engagement metrics, potentially misleading advertisers and diminishing authentic user interaction.

The feature, spotted by test users, involves a pencil icon next to the comment bar on Instagram posts. Tapping it generates suggested replies based on the image’s content.

Meta has confirmed the feature is in testing but did not reveal plans for a broader launch. The company stated that it is exploring ways to incorporate Meta AI across different parts of its apps, including feeds, comments, groups, and search.

Public reaction has been largely negative, with concerns that AI-generated comments could flood the platform with inauthentic conversations. Social media users voiced fears of fake interactions replacing genuine ones, and some accused Meta of deceiving advertisers through inflated statistics.

Comparisons to dystopian scenarios were common, as users questioned the future of online social spaces.

This isn’t the first time Meta has faced backlash for its AI ventures. Previous attempts included AI personas modelled on celebrities and diverse identities, which were criticised for being disingenuous and engineered by largely homogenous development teams.

The future of AI-generated comments on Instagram remains uncertain as scrutiny continues to mount.

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Gmail uses AI to find emails faster

Google has introduced a new AI feature in Gmail aimed at making email searches faster and more accurate.

Instead of simply listing messages by date or keyword, the updated system now considers user habits, including frequently opened emails and commonly contacted senders, to provide more relevant results.

The enhanced search feature is being rolled out globally for personal Gmail accounts and is accessible via the web, Android, and iOS apps.

Users can now toggle between the new ‘most relevant’ results and the traditional ‘most recent’ option. Google has also stated that it plans to extend this functionality to business users in the near future.

By using AI to refine email searches, Gmail aims to reduce the time users spend digging through their inboxes.

However, this update is part of Google’s broader strategy to integrate more intelligent tools across its suite of productivity apps, offering a smoother, more efficient experience for everyday users.

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Apple plans to add cameras to future Apple Watch

Apple is reportedly planning to introduce cameras to its Apple Watch lineup within the next two years, integrating advanced AI-powered features like Visual Intelligence.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the standard Apple Watch Series will have a camera embedded within the display, while the Apple Watch Ultra will feature one on the side near the digital crown.

These cameras will allow the smartwatch to observe its surroundings and use AI to provide real-time, useful information to users.

Apple is also exploring similar camera technology for future AirPods, aiming to enhance their functionality with AI-driven capabilities.

The concept builds on the Visual Intelligence feature introduced with the iPhone 16, which allows users to extract details from flyers, identify locations, and more using the phone’s camera.

While the current system relies on external AI models, Apple is working on its in-house AI technology, and it is expected to power these features by 2027, when the camera-equipped Apple Watch and AirPods are likely to be released.

The move is part of Apple’s broader push into AI, led by Mike Rockwell, who previously spearheaded the Vision Pro project.

Rockwell is now overseeing the upgrade of Siri’s language model, which has faced delays, and contributing to visionOS, the operating system expected to support AI-enhanced AR glasses in the future. Apple’s increasing focus on AI suggests a shift towards more intelligent, context-aware wearable devices.

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New Airbyte connectors support AI and data privacy

San Francisco-based data startup Airbyte has unveiled a new set of enterprise tools aimed at helping companies move and manage data more securely, especially as AI becomes more central to operations. The updates, announced Thursday, include new connectors for apps such as NetSuite, SAP, and ServiceNow, as well as support for extracting unstructured data from platforms like Google Drive and SharePoint.

A key highlight of the release is compatibility with Apache Iceberg, an open-source format that enables businesses to centralise data into a single, AI-compatible “lakehouse.” This allows companies to better control how and where their data flows while preserving the flexibility needed for high-performance analytics and machine learning.

Airbyte co-founder and CEO Michel Tricot stressed the importance of data sovereignty in an AI-driven era. He noted that while AI tools can be powerful, giving away sensitive internal data, like employee compensation or strategic business metrics, to external services is a risk many companies are no longer willing to take. Airbyte’s approach ensures that only the enterprise sees and manages its data pipelines.

Founded in 2020, Airbyte now serves over 7,000 enterprise clients, including names like Invesco and Calendly, and has secured more than $181 million in funding. As businesses continue to prioritise secure, scalable infrastructure for AI, Airbyte’s offerings are positioning it as a go-to partner for data portability without compromise.

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Apple accused of misleading AI advertising

Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States over delays in delivering its much-promoted Apple Intelligence features.

The legal action, filed in a US based San Jose federal court, claims the company misled customers by advertising advanced AI tools that have yet to materialise on supported devices.

The complaint argues that buyers of new iPhones and other Apple products were promised ‘transformative’ AI capabilities at launch, only to find these features were either severely limited or completely absent.

According to the plaintiffs, Apple’s marketing created a “reasonable consumer expectation” that was ultimately not met.

This legal challenge adds to mounting pressure on the company, which has struggled to roll out its next-generation AI tools.

A recent Bloomberg report suggested internal tensions, revealing that CEO Tim Cook has reportedly lost confidence in AI chief John Giannandrea’s ability to deliver on the company’s ambitions.

The case reflects growing scrutiny of tech firms’ promises around AI, especially as consumer trust becomes more closely tied to the reality behind flashy announcements.

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Google adds Mind Maps to NotebookLM

Google has unveiled a new feature called Mind Maps for its AI-powered research tool, NotebookLM. Mind maps are visual diagrams that help users understand complex subjects by displaying ideas and their connections.

An addition like this follows the recent release of Audio Overviews, which provide AI-generated podcasts summarising key points from documents, articles, and videos.

NotebookLM, which works in both free and paid versions, assists users in summarising content and offering interactive conversations with AI to deepen understanding.

The new Mind Maps feature lets users generate and explore visual connections between ideas. Once created, users can zoom, expand or collapse branches, and click on nodes for detailed information on specific topics.

The feature is particularly useful for students or anyone who needs to absorb a lot of information quickly. With the combined power of Mind Maps and Audio Overviews, NotebookLM offers a multi-faceted approach to learning, making it easier to navigate and retain key insights.

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Trump’s crypto adviser meets UAE’s national security chief for tech talks

A top UAE official, Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with White House crypto and AI czar David Sacks to discuss digital currencies, artificial intelligence, and potential investments.

Tahnoon, the UAE’s national security adviser, revealed on social media that their discussions focused on AI’s impact and the growing role of digital currencies in the global economy.

The meeting was part of a broader engagement between UAE and US officials. Tahnoon attended a dinner with former President Donald Trump and senior advisers, where they explored ways to deepen economic and technological cooperation.

Additional talks included meetings with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade and investment, as well as a video call with White House cost-cutting czar Elon Musk.

Reports suggest that Tahnoon met leading tech executives, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, to discuss AI and semiconductor access.

The UAE reportedly seeks to expand its technology infrastructure in the US, particularly following US export restrictions on advanced computer chips.

Through his investment firm MGX, Tahnoon is backing a $7 billion investment in a private-led project called “Stargate,” aiming to develop AI data centres across the US.

His financial empire, valued at $1.5 trillion, includes significant stakes in sovereign wealth funds, banking, and AI development, reflecting the UAE’s growing influence in global tech and finance.

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Abu Dhabi sets goal to become first AI government

The Abu Dhabi Government has signed a landmark agreement with tech giant Microsoft and Core42, a subsidiary of AI powerhouse G42, to fast-track the adoption of AI across its public services.

The partnership will focus on merging Microsoft’s advanced cloud technology with G42’s AI capabilities to drive innovation and efficiency.

As part of its digital transformation strategy, Abu Dhabi aims to process more than 11 million digital interactions daily, making public services more innovative and responsive. Officials say this collaboration marks a pivotal step toward redefining how the government engages with citizens through technology.

With a dedicated budget of around $3.54 billion (Dh13 billion), Abu Dhabi has set its sights on becoming the world’s first fully AI-powered government by 2027. The initiative signals the emirate’s ambition to lead globally in AI-driven governance and digital innovation.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called the agreement a new benchmark for public sector AI use, emphasising that Abu Dhabi is setting the pace for governments worldwide in embracing transformative technologies.

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ChatGPT wrongly accuses man of murder

A Norwegian man has lodged a complaint against OpenAI after ChatGPT falsely claimed he had murdered his two sons and was serving a 21-year prison sentence.

Arve Hjalmar Holmen, who has never been accused of any crime, says the chatbot’s response was deeply damaging, leading him to seek action from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority.

Digital rights group Noyb, representing Holmen, argues the incident violates European data protection laws regarding the accuracy of personal data.

The error highlights a growing concern over AI ‘hallucinations,’ where chatbots generate false information and present it as fact.

Holmen received the incorrect response when searching for his own name, with ChatGPT fabricating a detailed and defamatory account of a crime that never occurred. Although the chatbot carries a disclaimer about potential inaccuracies,

Noyb insists this is not enough, arguing that spreading false information cannot be justified by a simple warning label.

AI-generated hallucinations have plagued multiple platforms, including Apple and Google, with some errors being bizarre but others causing real harm.

Experts remain uncertain about the underlying causes of these inaccuracies in large language models, making them a key focus of ongoing research.

While OpenAI has since updated ChatGPT’s model to incorporate current news sources, the case raises questions about accountability and the transparency of AI-generated content.

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