Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, has unveiled a standalone iOS app for its chatbot, Grok, marking its first major expansion beyond the X platform. The app, currently in beta testing across Australia and a few other regions, offers users an array of generative AI features, including real-time web access, text rewriting, summarisation, and even image generation from text prompts.
Grok, described as a ‘maximally truthful and curious’ assistant, is designed to provide accurate answers, create photorealistic images, and analyse uploaded pictures. While previously restricted to paying X subscribers, a free version of the chatbot was launched in November and has recently been made accessible to all users.
The app also serves as a precursor to a dedicated web platform, Grok.com, which is in the works. xAI has touted the chatbot’s ability to produce detailed and unrestricted image content, even allowing creations involving public figures and copyrighted material. This open approach sets Grok apart from other AI tools with stricter content policies.
As the beta rollout progresses, Grok is poised to become a versatile tool for users seeking generative AI capabilities in a dynamic and user-friendly interface.
Data centres in the United States could consume up to 12% of the country’s electricity by 2028 due to the rapid growth of AI, according to a new report. The Department of Energy-backed study predicts energy usage from data centres will rise from 4% to between 6.7% and 12%, depending on GPU availability and demand.
The shift to AI-driven infrastructure is driving the surge, with GPU-accelerated servers and cooling systems responsible for doubling power use in recent years. Researchers are calling for annual reports and strategies to track trends and enhance efficiency.
The findings highlight concerns about the impact of AI on power grids, energy bills, and climate change. Researchers also suggest increased transparency in data centre energy use, aiming to encourage efficiency and sustainable growth within the industry.
NETSCOUT SYSTEMS announced significant updates to its Arbor Edge Defense (AED) and Arbor Enterprise Manager (AEM) products as part of its Adaptive DDoS Protection solution. These enhancements are designed to address the growing threats of AI-enabled DDoS attacks, which have surged in sophistication and frequency.
Application-layer and volumetric attacks have increased by 43% and 30%, respectively, with DDoS-for-hire services making attacks easier to execute. To combat these evolving threats, NETSCOUT leverages AI and machine learning (ML) within its ATLAS Threat Intelligence system, which monitors over 550 Tbps of real-time internet traffic across 500 ISPs and 2,000 enterprise sites worldwide.
The AI/ML-powered solution enables dynamic threat identification and mitigation, creating a scalable, proactive defence mechanism. The updated AED and AEM products automate a closed-loop DDoS attack detection and mitigation process, providing real-time protection by adapting to changing attack vectors and applying mitigation recommendations automatically.
NETSCOUT’s solution also offers comprehensive protection across hybrid IT environments, including on-premise infrastructure, private data centres, and public cloud platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure, with enhancements such as 200 Gbps mitigation capacity, high-performance decryption, and visibility into non-DDoS threats.
By minimising downtime and safeguarding business-critical services, NETSCOUT’s Adaptive DDoS Protection reduces business risks and protects productivity and reputation. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, organisations can rely on NETSCOUT’s innovative technology to stay ahead of attackers and maintain IT resilience. Industry experts and agencies like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlight the need for adaptive cybersecurity measures. NETSCOUT’s AI/ML-driven solutions meet these demands by offering robust, future-proof protection for critical IT infrastructure.
Generative AI, has begun to mimic an intriguing aspect of human perception, the blending of sensory experiences. Research shows that humans naturally associate colours, shapes, and even sounds with flavours a phenomenon known as cross-modal correspondence. For instance, red hues often evoke sweetness, while sharp shapes suggest bitterness. AI systems, trained on human data, appear to be trained to replicate these associations, offering new perspectives on how deeply such connections are embedded in our perception.
This revelation emerged through studies where AI was tasked with answering prompts about the relationships between sensory elements, such as the sweetness of certain shapes or colours. The results closely mirrored human responses, particularly when using advanced models like ChatGPT-4. Researchers believe this reflects the biases in the data the AI was trained on, highlighting how common and universal these sensory links might be.
The potential applications of this technology are vast. Marketing, for example, could use AI to design products and packaging that enhance sensory appeal. However, experts warn that AI’s insights should complement, not replace, human creativity. While AI offers inspiration, the nuances of human perception remain essential for creating designs that resonate deeply with people.
By understanding how AI interprets sensory input, researchers hope to not only enhance technology but also unlock more about the mysteries of the human brain. As AI continues to explore the sensory dimensions, it might pave the way for innovative approaches to art, marketing, and even neuroscience.
OpenAI has announced internal testing of its latest reasoning models, o3 and o3 mini, which aim to tackle complex problems more effectively than their predecessors. The o3 mini model is expected to launch by January, with the full o3 model to follow. These developments signal increased competition with rivals like Google, which recently released its second-generation Gemini AI model.
OpenAI’s advancements build on its earlier o1 models, released in September, which demonstrated improved reasoning in science, coding, and mathematics. The company is inviting external researchers to test the new o3 models before public release.
The announcement follows OpenAI’s $6.6 billion funding round in October, highlighting its growing influence in the generative AI market. As competition intensifies, both OpenAI and Google aim to push the boundaries of AI technology.
Tetsuwan Scientific, a startup founded by Cristian Ponce and Théo Schäfer, is developing robotic AI scientists designed to automate lab experiments. Inspired by the rapid evolution of AI models like GPT-4, these robots aim to address the repetitive and labour-intensive aspects of research. They combine low-cost robotic hardware with advanced software that interprets and executes scientific tasks autonomously.
The breakthrough came when Ponce tested AI’s ability to diagnose scientific data and offer solutions. However, existing lab robots lacked the ability to physically act on these insights. Tetsuwan’s solution integrates AI to give robots the context and flexibility to perform tasks like pipetting and analysing results without constant programming.
Currently working with La Jolla Labs in RNA therapeutic drug development, Tetsuwan has secured $2.7 million in funding to advance its technology. The ultimate goal is to create self-reliant AI scientists capable of automating the entire scientific process, from hypothesis to reproducible results, potentially accelerating innovation at an unprecedented pace.
Data analytics firm Palantir Technologies and defence tech company Anduril Industries are leading efforts to form a consortium of technology companies to bid jointly for US government contracts, according to a report from the Financial Times. The group is expected to include SpaceX, OpenAI, Scale AI, autonomous shipbuilder Saronic, and other key players, with formal agreements anticipated as early as January.
The consortium aims to reshape the defence contracting landscape by combining cutting-edge technologies from some of Silicon Valley’s most innovative firms. A member involved in the initiative described it as a move toward creating “a new generation of defence contractors.” This collective effort seeks to enhance the efficiency of supplying advanced defence systems, leveraging technologies like AI, autonomous vehicles, and other innovations.
The initiative aligns with President-elect Donald Trump’s push for greater government efficiency, spearheaded in part by Elon Musk, who has been outspoken about reforming Pentagon spending priorities. Musk and others have criticised traditional defence programs, such as Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, advocating instead for the development of cost-effective, AI-driven drones, missiles, and submarines.
With these partnerships, the consortium hopes to challenge the dominance of established defence contractors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin, offering a modernised approach to defence technology and procurement in the US.
OpenAI has introduced a new way to access its popular ChatGPT AI by phone. Users in the United States can now call 1-800-CHATGPT to speak with ChatGPT for up to 15 minutes per month at no cost. This innovative feature is powered by OpenAI’s Realtime API and marks a move towards making AI more approachable for everyday users.
For those outside the US, OpenAI has expanded access via WhatsApp, allowing global users to interact with ChatGPT through text. The initiative is part of OpenAI’s effort to offer a simplified version of ChatGPT, providing a ‘low-cost way’ to try the service through familiar communication channels.
OpenAI has reassured users that calls will not be used to train its models, distinguishing its approach from similar past services like Google’s now-defunct GOOG-411. With this launch, OpenAI continues to bridge the gap between technology and accessibility, making conversational AI more reachable than ever.
The world of online dating is set for a significant shake-up as companies turn to AI to enhance user experiences. Major platforms like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble are introducing AI-powered features aimed at improving matchmaking, personalising user journeys, and offering support for daters.
Hinge, part of the Match Group, plans to launch an AI-driven dating coach next year, helping users refine profiles and navigate conversations. Similarly, Bumble’s AI safety tools and enhanced matchmaking algorithms are already shaping the dating experience. These innovations aim to move dating apps from self-service platforms to guided experiences tailored to individual needs.
Experts believe AI could reduce the frustrations of early-stage communication by identifying more compatible matches and even offering tools like AI concierges to assist with planning dates. While the integration of AI into online dating is still in its early stages, the industry is poised for transformative changes that could redefine how people connect online.
AI is revolutionising medical testing, including early detection of ovarian cancer and faster identification of life-threatening infections like pneumonia. Researchers are leveraging AI to interpret complex patterns in blood tests, improving accuracy and speed in diagnosing diseases.
Dr Daniel Heller’s team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center developed a nanotube-based blood test that uses AI to detect ovarian cancer earlier than traditional methods. Despite limited data, the technology shows promise, with further studies underway to enhance its effectiveness and expand its application.
AI is also transforming infectious disease diagnosis. California-based Karius uses AI to identify pneumonia-causing pathogens within 24 hours, cutting costs and improving treatment outcomes. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca‘s Dr Slavé Petrovski developed a platform that identifies over 120 diseases from United Kingdom biobank data. However, challenges persist, including a lack of data sharing among researchers, prompting calls for more collaborative efforts.
