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Google launches Nano Banana Pro image model

Google has launched Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation and editing model built on Gemini 3 Pro. The upgrade expands Gemini’s visual capabilities inside the Gemini app, Google Ads, Google AI Studio, Vertex AI and Workspace tools.

Nano Banana Pro focuses on cleaner text rendering, richer world knowledge and tighter control over style and layout. Creators can produce infographics, diagrams and character consistent scenes, and refine lighting, camera angle or composition with detailed prompts.

The AI model supports higher resolution visuals, localised text in multiple languages and more accurate handling of complex scripts. Google highlights uses in marketing materials, business presentations and professional design workflows, as partners such as Adobe integrate the model into Firefly and Photoshop.

Users can try Nano Banana Pro through Gemini with usage limits, while paying customers and enterprises gain extended access. Google embeds watermarking and C2PA-style metadata to help identify AI-generated images, foregrounding safety and transparency around synthetic content.

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Smart glasses by Meta transform life for disabled users

Meta has presented a new generation of AI glasses designed to increase independence for people with disabilities. The devices support hands-free calls, messages and translations while offering voice-activated photography and video capture.

Users can rely on spoken prompts instead of phones when they want to explore their surroundings or capture important moments.

The glasses help blind and low-vision individuals identify objects, read documents and understand scenes through detailed AI descriptions. Meta partnered with the Blinded Veterans Association to produce a training guide that explains how to activate voice commands and manage daily tasks more easily.

Veterans Affairs rehabilitation centres have adopted the glasses to support people who need greater autonomy in unfamiliar environments.

Creators and athletes describe how the technology influences their work and daily activities. A filmmaker uses first-person recording and AI-assisted scene guidance to streamline production. A Paralympic sprinter relies on real-time updates to track workouts without pausing to check a phone.

Other users highlight how hands-free photography and environmental awareness allow them to stay engaged instead of becoming distracted by screens.

Meta emphasises its collaboration with disabled communities to shape features that reflect diverse needs. The company views AI glasses as a route to improved participation, stronger confidence and wider digital access.

An approach that signals a long-term commitment to wearable technology that supports inclusion in everyday life.

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OpenAI Academy supports small firms with AI training

OpenAI Academy is running a US nationwide Small Business AI Jam for more than 1,000 owners. Workshops in San Francisco, New York, Detroit, Houston and Miami give practical help using AI to handle everyday tasks.

Participants from restaurants, retailers, professional services and creative firms work alongside mentors to build tailored AI tools. Typical projects include marketing assistants, customer communication helpers and organisers for bookings, stock or paperwork. Everyone leaves with at least one ready to use workflow.

A survey for OpenAI found around half of small business leaders want staff comfortable with AI. About sixty percent expect clear efficiency gains when employees have those skills, from faster content writing to smoother operations.

Only available in the US, owners gain access to an online academy hub before and after the in person events. Follow up offers a virtual jam on 4 December, office hours, and links to an AI for Main Street certification track and jobs platform.

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Legal action targets Uber AI pay model

Uber has been confronted with legal demands to halt the use of its AI-driven pay systems after accusations that they have reduced driver incomes.

Worker Info Exchange, a non-profit foundation, alleges that the ride-hailing firm breached European data protection laws by varying pay through algorithms.

Research conducted in partnership with Oxford University indicates many drivers earn less per hour since Uber introduced dynamic pricing in 2023, which adjusts pay and fares based on demand.

The findings suggest that the average hourly wage has stagnated and declined in real terms compared to previous models.

The foundation argues that Uber trained its algorithms using drivers’ historical personal data and demands a return to transparent, human-monitored pay setting.

If the company does not comply, WIE plans to bring collective proceedings before Amsterdam’s district court under Dutch collective redress laws.

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NVIDIA AI transforms smart cities

Cities worldwide face increasing operational challenges as populations grow and infrastructure becomes strained. Traffic congestion, emergency response coordination, and fragmented data pipelines make it difficult for local authorities to obtain real-time insights for effective decision-making.

NVIDIA’s Blueprint for smart city AI, combined with OpenUSD digital twins, allows cities to simulate complex scenarios and generate accurate sensor data.

These digital twins enable authorities to test urban systems, train vision AI models, and deploy real-time AI agents for tasks such as video analytics, emergency response, and traffic monitoring.

Several cities and organisations have adopted these technologies with measurable results. Kaohsiung City reduced incident response times by 80%, Raleigh achieved 95% vehicle detection accuracy, and French rail networks cut energy use by 20%.

Applications range from optimising rail operations to automating street inspections and video review.

By integrating AI-driven insights into city management, authorities can shift from reactive measures to proactive operations. Simulation, monitoring, and analysis tools improve infrastructure planning, enhance efficiency, and allow urban systems to respond dynamically to emerging situations.

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Creative industries seek rights protection amid AI surge

British novelists are raising concerns that AI could replace their work, with nearly half saying the technology could ‘entirely replace’ them. The MCTD survey of 332 authors found deep unease about the impact of generative tools trained on vast fiction datasets.

About 97% of novelists expressed intense negativity towards the idea of AI writing complete novels, while around 40% said their income from related work had already suffered. Many authors have reported that their work has been used to train large language models without their permission or payment.

While 80 % agreed AI offers societal benefits, authors called for better protections, including copyright reform and consent-based use of their work. MCTD Executive Director Prof. Gina Neff stressed that creative industries are not expendable in the AI race.

A UK government spokesperson said collaboration between the AI sector and creative industries is vital, with a focus on innovation and protection for creators. But writers say urgent action is needed to ensure their rights are upheld.

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EU unveils vision for a modern justice system

The European Commission has introduced a new Digital Justice Package designed to guide the EU justice systems into a fully digital era.

A plan that sets out a long-term strategy to support citizens, businesses and legal professionals with modern tools instead of outdated administrative processes. Central objectives include improved access to information, stronger cross-border cooperation and a faster shift toward AI-supported services.

The DigitalJustice@2030 Strategy contains fourteen steps that encourage member states to adopt advanced digital tools and share successful practices.

A key part of the roadmap focuses on expanding the European Legal Data Space, enabling legislation and case law to be accessed more efficiently.

The Commission intends to deepen cooperation by developing a shared toolbox for AI and IT systems and by seeking a unified European solution to cross-border videoconferencing challenges.

Additionally, the Commission has presented a Judicial Training Strategy designed to equip judges, prosecutors and legal staff with the digital and AI skills required to apply the EU digital law effectively.

Training will include digital case management, secure communication methods and awareness of AI’s influence on legal practice. The goal is to align national and EU programmes to increase long-term impact, rather than fragmenting efforts.

European officials argue that digital justice strengthens competitiveness by reducing delays, encouraging transparency and improving access for citizens and businesses.

The package supports the EU’s Digital Decade ambition to make all key public services available online by 2030. It stands as a further step toward resilient and modern judicial systems across the Union.

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OpenAI unveils new global group chat experience

Since yesterday, OpenAI has launched group chats worldwide for all ChatGPT users on Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans instead of limiting access to small trial regions.

The upgrade follows a pilot in Japan and New Zealand and marks a turning point in how the company wants people to use AI in everyday communication.

Group chats enable up to twenty participants to collaborate in a shared space, where they can plan trips, co-write documents, or settle disagreements through collective decision-making.

ChatGPT remains available as a partner that contributes when tagged, reacts with emojis and references profile photos instead of taking over the conversation. Each participant keeps private settings and memory, which prevents personal information from being shared across the group.

Users start a session by tapping the people icon and inviting others directly or through a link. Adding someone later creates a new chat, rather than altering the original, which preserves previous discussions intact.

OpenAI presents the feature as a way to turn the assistant into a social environment rather than a solitary tool.

The announcement arrives shortly after the release of GPT-5.1 and follows the introduction of Sora, a social app that encourages users to create videos with friends.

OpenAI views group chats as the first step toward a more active role for AI in real human exchanges where people plan, create and make decisions together.

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Climate tech and AI will shape Europe’s technology future

Europe faces a pivotal moment in its technology sector, with AI, climate tech and defence set to shape the continent’s future. Sustained investment is essential if Europe wants to remain competitive against the US and China in high-tech industries.

Venture capital firm Atomico’s State of European Tech 2025 report shows that AI already attracts the majority of funding, led by companies such as Mistral AI, Lovable, Synthesia and n8n.

Defence tech is also growing, with firms like Helsing, Isar Aerospace and Cambridge Aerospace securing significant investment to advance AI-powered systems.

Despite strong talent and innovation, Europe must match US levels of research funding, expand computing infrastructure and simplify regulations to realise its potential fully.

Experts say aligning ambition with commitment will be crucial for Europe to develop the next generation of world-leading tech companies.

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Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun departs to launch world-model AI startup

Yann LeCun, one of the pioneers of deep learning and Meta’s chief AI scientist, is leaving the company to establish a new startup dedicated to world-model AI research.

The firm will continue its long-standing ambition to develop systems capable of understanding the physical world and planning complex actions.

The move comes during a turbulent period for Meta’s AI efforts, following internal reorganisations and disappointment surrounding the performance of its Llama 4 model.

Meta is investing heavily to regain momentum, including significant hires and new leadership brought in over recent months.

Despite his departure, Meta intends to partner with LeCun’s new venture, though his research direction has increasingly diverged from the company’s strategy. Differences over open-source approaches, leadership changes and cuts to research teams were significant factors in his decision to leave.

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