Israeli startup Panjaya.ai has raised $9.5 million in funding to develop BodyTalk, an AI-powered platform that translates content while synchronising lip movements and body gestures. The platform offers natural, accurate translations in any language, creating a seamless viewing experience across cultures. The funding was provided by Viola Ventures, R-Squared Ventures, GroundUp Ventures, and a number of notable angel investors.
Co-founded by Hilik Shani and Ariel Shalom, Panjaya aims to revolutionise AI translations. In 2023, the company was joined by Guy Piekarz, former Match co-founder and Apple executive, who now serves as CEO. By blending neural voice synthesis, computer vision, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), the platform enables organisations to provide culturally authentic experiences to diverse audiences.
The pilot programme of BodyTalk has already proven successful, with TED integrating the platform into its global content strategy. TED has used BodyTalk to translate Talks into multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. The AI ensures that translated content feels authentic to the original message, enhancing engagement for international audiences.
Panjaya’s platform is designed to offer something rare in digital communication: an authentic, culturally nuanced translation experience. CEO Guy Piekarz highlighted the significance of synchronisation in delivering content that truly resonates with global audiences. BodyTalk aims to set a new standard for multilingual communication, making it more impactful and inclusive.
China Mobile and ZTE have launched an AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution designed to optimise energy consumption in telecom networks while maintaining business continuity and a high-quality user experience. The solution monitors and analyses key parameters such as server load and network traffic in real-time, dynamically adjusting computing resources like CPU frequency and sleep modes by utilising advanced deep neural networks.
The energy-saving approach has been successfully validated on both X86 and ARM cloud platforms, with notable results in China Mobile’s Hunan and Anhui branches, demonstrating up to a 25% reduction in energy consumption. As a result, the solution lowers operational costs through improved resource utilisation and reduced equipment maintenance and contributes to global sustainability efforts by reducing carbon emissions. Therefore, that technology represents a significant step toward transforming the telecom industry into a more energy-efficient, green sector as 4G and 5G networks expand.
Furthermore, China Mobile and ZTE are committed to further optimising and expanding their AI-driven Green Telco Cloud solution to promote long-term sustainability in the telecom sector. Through their collaboration, both companies emphasise the importance of technological innovation in achieving environmental goals while simultaneously enhancing telecom operators’ corporate image and competitiveness. Additionally, they plan to drive the widespread adoption of energy-saving technologies, ensuring that the telecom industry contributes to a greener, low-carbon future.
AI-powered search engine Perplexity has started testing advertisements in the US, marking its first foray into ad-based monetisation. These ads appear as ‘sponsored follow-up questions,’ offering suggestions like ‘How can I use LinkedIn to enhance my job search?’ They are labelled and displayed alongside AI-generated answers without altering the platform’s objectivity or user privacy.
The company views advertising as essential for sustainable revenue growth, complementing its premium subscription service. Perplexity is partnering with brands like Indeed and Whole Foods, emphasising its ability to connect advertisers with high-income, educated audiences. However, critics have raised concerns about the platform’s reach and allegations of plagiarism, including lawsuits from major publishers like Dow Jones and The New York Times.
With pressure to diversify income streams, Perplexity is exploring ad formats as it approaches a potential $9B valuation. It remains committed to refining its tools and addressing industry concerns while adapting its platform for broader monetisation.
Google is testing an AI-driven feature for YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to alter licensed audio tracks to fit different styles or genres. Part of YouTube’s Dream Track experiment, the feature lets select creators customise songs by simply describing their desired transformation, such as changing the music genre. YouTube’s AI then generates a 30-second soundtrack for the creator’s short video, maintaining the original vocals and lyrics.
The experimental tool has clear attribution rules, ensuring viewers can see that the song has been restyled with AI. Videos featuring these AI-enhanced tracks will display the original song information and note that AI was used to alter the sound. This setup helps protect the rights of original music creators while giving video makers new artistic possibilities.
The Dream Track experiment has been in testing since last year, initially giving creators access to AI-generated artist voices with approved songs. This latest feature now expands to allow broader soundtrack customisation within Shorts, aiming to boost creator flexibility and viewer engagement.
Separately, YouTube is testing a swipe-up feature for its Android app, making it easier to navigate between videos. Available to a limited number of users, the swipe-up gesture now brings a navigation method similar to Instagram Reels, potentially signalling an interface shift across YouTube’s mobile platform.
India’s technology workforce is expected to expand significantly by 2028, creating an estimated 2.73 million new tech jobs, according to a ServiceNow report. As AI transforms industries nationwide, the overall workforce in India is projected to increase by 33.89 million, rising from 423.73 million in 2023 to 457.62 million. This growth is anticipated to bring a wave of new opportunities for professionals, particularly in tech-focused roles.
The retail sector is expected to drive the bulk of new employment, requiring nearly seven million additional workers as it adapts to tech innovations. Job opportunities in retail will increasingly demand skills in software development and data engineering, aligning with a broader shift towards a tech-enabled workforce. Other sectors set for growth include manufacturing, which anticipates 1.5 million new roles, as well as education and healthcare, each expected to see hundreds of thousands of new job openings.
ServiceNow’s research underscores the need for upskilling initiatives to support this tech-driven transition. Companies and policymakers are urged to work together in facilitating training efforts, ensuring a seamless shift for professionals moving into technical roles. Strategic investments in tech skills will also provide pathways for individuals to pursue advanced digital careers across various industries.
Demand for tech roles such as Software Application Developers, Systems Software Developers, and Data Engineers is expected to soar, with tens of thousands of new positions in these fields. Other high-demand roles include Web Developers, Data Analysts, and Software Testers, reflecting a growing need for skilled professionals to support expanding digital economy in India.
In a significant rise, over 5 million Koreans used the ChatGPT app in October, a sevenfold jump from the previous year, according to data from WiseappㆍRetailㆍGoods. This surge marks a milestone, with around 10 percent of smartphone users in Korea, totalling 51.2 million, now engaging with ChatGPT regularly.
Reports reveal that Korean users are also spending more time on the app, averaging 51.6 minutes each month—an increase of 20 minutes compared to last year. Frequency of use has similarly grown, with users logging into ChatGPT around 5.7 days a month, up from 3.2 days last year.
The increase in Korea is part of a larger global trend, with ChatGPT visits worldwide reaching 3.1 billion in September, a dramatic 112 percent increase year-on-year. This global growth underscores the rising appeal and practicality of AI applications like ChatGPT.
Analysts attribute this trend to ChatGPT’s expanding capabilities, making it a versatile tool for both personal and professional use. As more people discover its potential, ChatGPT’s popularity is expected to continue climbing globally and within Korea.
Japan’s government will not impose any tax increases to finance its ambitious 10 trillion yen ($65 billion) plan aimed at bolstering the country’s semiconductor and AI sectors, Industry Minister Yoji Muto announced on Tuesday. The statement followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s unveiling of the substantial aid package to strengthen Japan‘s technology industry.
Prime Minister Ishiba clarified that deficit-covering bonds would not be issued to fund the initiative. The government’s approach to supporting high-tech projects is intended to enhance Japan’s global competitiveness without burdening taxpayers or adding to the national debt.
The funding strategy underscores Japan’s commitment to advancing domestic technology sectors while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The measures reflect a broader effort to secure the nation’s position in critical technology fields, vital for economic growth and national security.
Ben Peters, known for his work in autonomous vehicles, is shifting gears with Cogna, a UK-based AI startup that just secured $15M in Series A funding led by Notion Capital. Hoxton Ventures and Chalfen Ventures also joined the round, which follows an earlier $4.75M seed investment. Cogna’s mission is to revolutionise enterprise resource planning (ERP) by using AI to develop custom software tailored to businesses’ specific workflows.
Cogna’s AI-driven platform claims to streamline the traditionally cumbersome and expensive ERP processes used for managing procurement, supply chains, finance, and more. Customers like Cadent Gas and Network Plus have already adopted Cogna’s solutions, which deliver bespoke software experiences through a seamless SaaS interface. Peters emphasises that the platform enables non-technical teams to articulate their needs in natural language, letting the AI handle the rest.
Leveraging tools from providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, UK based Cogna combines generative AI with specialised engineering to write code that meets unique enterprise requirements. This approach positions Cogna to compete with established IT consulting giants while carving a niche in the lucrative enterprise AI market. Peters, drawing on his expertise from FiveAI, is confident in his ability to adapt and innovate as Cogna scales its groundbreaking solutions.
The Vatican has introduced advanced AI-enabled services to offer virtual and enhanced access to St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the world’s most renowned Renaissance landmarks. Launched with Microsoft and heritage digitalisation firm Iconem, the new platform provides a 3D model of the basilica, developed with drones, cameras, and lasers that capture over 400,000 images. The model is now viewable through an interactive website. This innovation comes as the Catholic Church gears up for its 2025 Jubilee celebrations, expected to draw even more visitors to Rome.
With around 40,000-50,000 people visiting St. Peter’s daily, these new digital tools will allow users worldwide to virtually explore its artistic and architectural marvels. Cardinal Mauro Gambetti likened the basilica to a “starry sky,” hoping the tools would bring an “enchanting” experience to global audiences. The digital replica is also intended to aid the basilica’s future preservation and restoration.
Pope Francis expressed support for the project, highlighting the importance of ethical AI use. He noted that while AI can expand access to cultural knowledge, its application should always aim to benefit humanity.
Baidu Inc. has launched several new AI-driven tools, including a text-to-image generator and a no-code app builder, aiming to make advanced technology more accessible. The unveiling took place at the Baidu World Conference, where CEO Robin Li presented innovations that showcase the company’s commitment to commercialising large language model (LLM) applications.
Among the new offerings is I-RAG, a text-to-image generator designed to prevent errors known as hallucinations—images deviating from input text or containing unreal elements. According to Li, the company’s Ernie platform now handles 1.5 billion interactions daily, a remarkable leap from 200 million requests just months ago. This platform supports tasks like text generation, question-answering, and other AI-assisted functions.
In its push for user-friendly AI, Baidu has introduced Miaoda, a no-code tool that leverages LLM capabilities to enable software creation without coding expertise. The company has also integrated these tools into its cloud services, providing AI-powered solutions across its product range for broader commercialisation.
Baidu’s expansion includes new hardware, with the debut of Xiaodu AI glasses, equipped with cameras and voice-interaction capabilities powered by the Ernie platform. Rather than building a single ‘super app’, Baidu is diversifying its approach, distinguishing itself from rivals by focusing on a more versatile AI product lineup.
