ai

Apple expands AI features with new update

Apple Intelligence is expanding with new features, including Priority Notifications, which highlight time-sensitive alerts for users. This update is part of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, rolling out globally.

The AI suite is now available in more languages and has launched in the EU for iPhone and iPad users.

Additional improvements include a new Sketch style in Image Playground and the ability to generate ‘memory movies’ on Mac using simple text descriptions. Vision Pro users in the US can now access Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools and Genmoji.

Apple’s AI rollout has been gradual since its introduction at WWDC last year, with features arriving in stages.

The update also brings fresh emojis, child safety enhancements, and the debut of Apple News+ Food, further expanding Apple’s digital ecosystem.

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Nonprofits receive $10 million boost from Google for AI training

Google.org has announced a $10 million grant initiative aimed at helping nonprofits integrate AI into their operations.

Community foundations in Atlanta, Austin, Columbia, New York City, and San Francisco will distribute the grants, providing nonprofits with tailored AI support to enhance their work.

However, this funding forms part of a broader commitment by Google to improve AI adoption across various sectors.

The initiative includes a generative AI accelerator programme and an AI Opportunity Fund that aims to invest nearly $100 million in AI training and integration programmes for nonprofits.

Over the last year, 20 organisations have benefited from these funds, developing and piloting AI curricula to build practical skills within their communities.

According to Maggie Johnson, Vice President and Global Head of Google.org, recipients report that AI helps them achieve goals in a third of the time and at nearly half the cost.

A six-month-long AI accelerator programme has already provided training to 21 nonprofits, impacting more than 30 million people through AI-powered solutions.

The funding aims to enhance operational efficiency across sectors such as education, health, and workforce readiness.

Organisations like the Tech:NYC Foundation’s Decoded Futures project and Project Evident are leading efforts to promote equitable and responsible AI use, encouraging collaboration between tech leaders and nonprofits.

Nonprofits supported by Google’s funding include global organisations like the World Bank and local initiatives such as Climate Ride and Erika’s Lighthouse.

The funding is expected to drive AI literacy, streamline operations, and enhance the impact of organisations working with limited resources.

Project Evident’s managing director, Sarah Di Troia, emphasised the importance of nonprofits engaging with AI to remain relevant and influential in the evolving technological landscape.

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US robotics firms seek federal support amid China’s rapid growth

Following the US’s first-ever Enterprise Artificial Intelligence Strategy in October 2024, leading robotics companies are urging the government to develop a national robotics strategy and establish a federal office to support the industry.

The push comes as China accelerates its robotics investments, raising concerns about US competitiveness in the global market.

Executives from Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Agility Robotics showcased their latest innovations on Capitol Hill this week, advocating for policies that bolster domestic production and adoption of robots.

Jeff Cardenas, CEO of Apptronik, highlighted how the United States once led the field but lost ground to Japan and Europe. Tesla’s Jonathan Chen added that manufacturing at scale remains a key challenge.

The Association for Advanced Automation warned that without strong federal leadership, the US risks falling behind in both robotics and AI. Meanwhile, China continues expanding its robotics sector, with a state-backed fund aiming to attract $138 billion over two decades.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, China now leads in industrial robot usage, with 1.8 million in operation as of 2023.

With global investment in robotics projected to exceed $13 billion by 2025, US industry leaders stress that a national strategy is essential to maintaining a competitive edge.

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AI’s energy hunger drives nuclear energy resurgence

The rapid advancement of AI is placing immense pressure on global energy infrastructure, with data centres consuming more electricity than ever. As AI systems grow in complexity and scale, the energy required to support their operations is rising sharply, as stated in Bogdan Stojanovic’s blog on diplomacy.edu.

Training deep learning models, particularly those involving natural language processing and computer vision, demands substantial computational power, resulting in greater energy consumption and higher carbon emissions.

Estimates suggest that by 2030, AI-driven energy consumption could surpass that of entire nations like India.

The escalating power demands of AI have prompted technology giants to explore cleaner, more reliable energy sources. Unlike intermittent solar and wind power, nuclear energy provides a steady supply of low-carbon electricity.

Studies by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe indicate that nuclear energy’s carbon footprint is significantly smaller than that of coal or even wind power.

Big Tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta are increasingly investing in nuclear energy projects to mitigate their growing carbon footprints and ensure reliable power for their AI infrastructure.

Microsoft has committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030 despite its emissions surging by 30% from 2020 to 2023, largely due to AI-related data centre expansion. The company’s partnership with Constellation Energy aims to revitalise the defunct Three Mile Island nuclear plant.

Meanwhile, Google is collaborating with startup Kairos Power to develop advanced reactors, and Amazon is investing in small modular reactors through xEnergy.

As AI continues to grow in complexity and utility, nuclear power is emerging as a crucial component of Big Tech’s energy strategy.

Industry leaders like Bill Gates and Sam Altman are investing heavily in next-generation nuclear solutions, recognising that AI’s continued growth relies on consistent, low-carbon energy sources. The push for nuclear energy is no longer a distant possibility but a necessity for ensuring AI’s sustainability.

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Fake movie trailer channels banned from monetization on YouTube

YouTube has taken action against AI-driven fake movie trailer channels, stripping them of their ability to monetize content. Following an investigation by Deadline, two of the most prominent channels, Screen Culture and KH Studio, have reportedly lost their ad revenue privileges.

With over two million subscribers and nearly two billion views combined, these channels created misleading trailers by splicing footage from existing films with AI-generated content.

Many unsuspecting viewers believed they were seeing genuine first looks at upcoming projects, such as Grand Theft Auto VI and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.

Hollywood studios have reportedly lobbied YouTube to maintain monetization for such channels, though the reasons remain unclear. However, YouTube’s policies explicitly state that content must be ‘significantly changed’ and not copied solely for generating views.

While KH Studio’s founder defended their work as ‘creative exploration,’ Screen Culture’s founder questioned, ‘what’s the harm?’ YouTube’s latest crackdown suggests it is taking a firmer stance on AI-generated misleading content.

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Fifty years of Microsoft in the AI era

Microsoft is marking its 50th anniversary as a pillar of modern computing, having grown from humble beginnings into a $2.9 trillion tech titan. Once known for Windows and Office, the company now bets big on AI to shape its future.

Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has shifted to cloud-based services and embraced AI through its partnership with OpenAI. While its cloud business thrives, critics note the firm still trails rivals like Google and AWS in building core AI technologies.

Despite past missteps in mobile and social platforms, Microsoft remains a major force, with ventures like Xbox, LinkedIn, and a bid for TikTok. As it turns 50, the tech giant is navigating a new era, one where AI defines the next frontier.

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New AI models help identify unknown proteins with high accuracy

AI is revolutionising biology by helping scientists uncover hidden proteins that traditional methods struggle to detect.

Researchers have developed two AI models, InstaNovo and InstaNovo+, designed to identify unknown proteins, which could improve disease research and treatment development.

Proteins, the functional components of cells, often differ from their genetic blueprint due to modifications after production.

Such variations can be difficult to analyse using conventional tools. InstaNovo, inspired by OpenAI’s GPT-4, translates mass spectrometry data into amino acid sequences, while InstaNovo+ refines these results using a noise-reduction technique similar to AI image generation.

Together, they outperform standard methods in complex protein sequencing tasks, particularly for challenging targets like human immune proteins.

Scientists believe these models could help explain biological mysteries, such as how stingrays adapt to different water environments or why pancreatic cancer leads to severe muscle wasting.

While the tools are promising, researchers caution that AI-generated results require verification. Nonetheless, AI sequencing is expected to complement traditional database searches, pushing biological research into new frontiers.

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OpenAI faces copyright debate over Ghibli-style images

Studio Ghibli-style artwork has gone viral on social media, with users flocking to ChatGPT’s feature to create or transform images into Japanese anime-inspired versions. Celebrities have also joined the trend, posting Ghibli-style photos of themselves.

However, what began as a fun trend has sparked concerns over copyright infringement and the ethics of AI recreating the work of established artists instead of respecting their intellectual property.

While OpenAI has allowed premium users to create Ghibli-style images, users without subscriptions can still make up to three images for free.

The rise of this feature has led to debates over whether these AI-generated images violate copyright laws, particularly as the style is closely associated with renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki.

Intellectual property lawyer Even Brown clarified that the style itself isn’t explicitly protected, but he raised concerns that OpenAI’s AI may have been trained on Ghibli’s previous works instead of using independent sources, which could present potential copyright issues.

OpenAI has responded by taking a more conservative approach with its tools, introducing a refusal feature when users attempt to generate images in the style of living artists instead of allowing such images.

Despite this, the controversy continues, as artists like Karla Ortiz are suing other AI generators for copyright infringement. Ortiz has criticised OpenAI for not valuing the work and livelihoods of artists, calling the Ghibli trend a clear example of such disregard.

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H&M to use AI-generated model ‘twins’ in marketing campaigns

Fashion retailer H&M is set to introduce AI-generated ‘twins’ of 30 real-life models, which will be used in social media and marketing campaigns. The company says this move, made in collaboration with Swedish tech firm Uncut, explores new creative possibilities while preserving a ‘human-centric’ approach.

H&M has emphasised that models will maintain control over how their digital replicas are used, including receiving payment similar to traditional modelling contracts. However, the announcement has sparked backlash across the fashion industry.

Critics, including influencer Morgan Riddle, fear that AI models could take away job opportunities from photographers, stylists, and other production crew. Trade unions like Equity have voiced concern over the lack of legal protections for models, warning that some are being pushed into unfair contracts that compromise their rights and ownership over their image.

The company says AI-generated images will be clearly marked and used responsibly, complying with platform rules on disclosing synthetic content. H&M is not alone in testing the waters—other fashion brands such as Levi’s and Hugo Boss have also experimented with AI-generated visuals, prompting debates about the future of creative jobs in the industry.

Why does it matter?

While H&M highlights potential upsides like less travel and increased flexibility for models, union leaders insist stronger protections and industry-wide agreements are urgently needed to prevent exploitation in the evolving digital fashion landscape.

EU to invest €1.3 billion in AI and digital skills

The European Commission has announced plans to invest €1.3 billion in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital skills development under the Digital Europe Programme for the period 2025 to 2027.

The funding aims to strengthen Europe’s position in advanced technologies and ensure that citizens and businesses can benefit from secure and cutting-edge digital tools.

Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s digital chief, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating that European tech sovereignty depends on both technological innovation and the ability of people to improve their digital competences.

The investment reflects a strategic commitment to ensuring Europe remains competitive in the global digital landscape.

The Digital Europe Programme has been central to the EU’s digital transformation agenda. Through this latest funding round, the EU seeks to further enhance its technological resilience, support innovation, and prepare the workforce for the demands of a fast-evolving digital economy.

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