ai

Character AI blocks teen chat and introduces new interactive Stories feature

A new feature called ‘Stories’ from Character.AI allows users under 18 to create interactive fiction with their favourite characters. The move replaces open-ended chatbot access, which has been entirely restricted for minors amid concerns over mental health risks.

Open-ended AI chatbots can initiate conversations at any time, raising worries about overuse and addiction among younger users.

Several lawsuits against AI companies have highlighted the dangers, prompting Character.AI to phase out access for minors and introduce a guided, safety-focused alternative.

Industry observers say the Stories feature offers a safer environment for teens to engage with AI characters while continuing to explore creative content.

The decision aligns with recent AI regulations in California and ongoing US federal proposals to limit minors’ exposure to interactive AI companions.

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AI is accelerating the transition to clean energy

AI is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting the transition to clean energy. AI helps optimise power grid operations, plan infrastructure investments, and accelerate the discovery of novel materials for energy generation, storage, and conversion.

While energy-hungry data centres can increase electricity demand, AI applications are helping reduce energy consumption across buildings, transport, and industry.

On electric grids, AI algorithms enhance efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and predict maintenance needs to prevent power outages. Grid operators can utilise AI to forecast supply and demand, optimise energy storage, and manage resources in real-time.

Technologies such as smart thermostats, electric vehicle batteries, and AI-managed data centres provide additional flexibility to balance peak demand and supply.

AI also aids long-term planning by helping utilities forecast future infrastructure needs amid growing renewable deployment and climate-related risks. Additionally, AI accelerates the discovery of materials for energy technologies.

At MIT, researchers use AI-guided experiments and robotics to design and test new materials, significantly shortening development times from decades to years.

Through research, modelling, and collaboration, AI is being applied to fusion reactor management, solar cell optimisation, and energy-efficient data centre design. MIT Energy Initiative programmes unite academics, industry, and policymakers to harness AI for a resilient and sustainable energy future.

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AI development by Chinese companies shifts abroad

Leading Chinese technology companies are increasingly training their latest AI models outside the country to maintain access to Nvidia’s high-performance chips, according to a report by the Financial Times. Firms such as Alibaba and ByteDance are shifting parts of their AI development to data centres in Southeast Asia, a move that comes as the United States tightens restrictions on advanced chip exports to China.

The trend reportedly accelerated after Washington imposed new limits in April on the sale of Nvidia’s H20 chips, a key component for developing sophisticated large language models. By relying on leased server space operated by non-Chinese companies abroad, tech firms are able to bypass some of the effects of US export controls while continuing to train next-generation AI systems.

One notable exception is DeepSeek, which had already stockpiled a significant number of Nvidia chips before the export restrictions took effect. The company continues to train its models domestically and is now collaborating with Chinese chipmakers led by Huawei to develop and optimise homegrown alternatives to US hardware.

Neither Alibaba, ByteDance, Nvidia, DeepSeek, nor Huawei has commented publicly on the report, and Reuters stated that it could not independently verify the claims. However, the developments underscore the increasing complexity of global AI competition and the lengths to which companies may go to maintain technological momentum amid geopolitical pressure.

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New alliance between Samsung and SK Telecom accelerates 6G innovation

Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom have taken a significant step toward shaping next-generation connectivity after signing an agreement to develop essential 6G technologies.

Their partnership centres on AI-based radio access networks, with both companies aiming to secure an early lead as global competition intensifies.

Research teams from Samsung and SK Telecom will build and test key components, including AI-based channel estimation, distributed MIMO and AI-driven schedulers.

AI models will refine signals in real-time to improve accuracy, rather than relying on conventional estimation methods. Meanwhile, distributed MIMO will enable multiple antennas to cooperate for reliable, high-speed communication across diverse environments.

The companies believe that AI-enabled schedulers and core networks will manage data flows more efficiently as the number of devices continues to rise.

Their collaboration also extends into the AI-RAN Alliance, where a jointly proposed channel estimation technology has already been accepted as a formal work item, strengthening their shared role in shaping industry standards.

Samsung continues to promote 6G research through its Advanced Communications Research Centre, and recent demonstrations at major industry events highlight the growing momentum behind AI-RAN technology.

Both organisations expect their work to accelerate the transition toward a hyperconnected 6G future, rather than allowing competing ecosystems to dominate early development.

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AI and anonymity intensifies online violence against women

Digital violence against women is rising sharply, fuelled by AI, online anonymity, and weak legal protections, leaving millions exposed.

UN Women warns that abuse on digital platforms often spills into real life, threatening women’s safety, livelihoods, and ability to participate freely in public life.

Public figures, journalists, and activists are increasingly targeted with deepfakes, coordinated harassment campaigns, and gendered disinformation designed to silence and intimidate.

One in four women journalists report receiving online death threats, highlighting the urgent scale and severity of the problem.

Experts call for stronger laws, safer digital platforms, and more women in technology to address AI-driven abuse effectively. Investments in education, digital literacy, and culture-change programmes are also vital to challenge toxic online communities and ensure digital spaces promote equality rather than harm.

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Warner Music partners with AI song generator Suno

A landmark agreement has been reached between Warner Music and AI music platform Suno, ending last year’s copyright lawsuit that accused the service of using artists’ work without permission.

Fans can now generate AI-created songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in, offering a new way to engage with music.

The partnership will introduce new licensed AI models, including download limits and paid tiers, to prevent a flood of AI tracks on streaming platforms.

Suno has also acquired the live-music discovery platform Songkick, expanding its digital footprint and strengthening connections between AI music and live events.

Music industry experts say the deal demonstrates how AI innovation can coexist with artists’ rights, as the UK government continues consultations on intellectual property for AI.

Creators and policymakers are advocating opt-in frameworks to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their works are used to train AI models.

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AI chatbots misidentify images they created

Growing numbers of online users are turning to AI chatbots to verify suspicious images, yet many tools are failing to detect fakes they created themselves. AFP found several cases in Asia where AI systems labelled fabricated photos as authentic, including a viral image of former Philippine lawmaker Elizaldy Co.

The failures highlight a lack of genuine visual analysis in current models. Many models are primarily trained on language patterns, resulting to inconsistent decisions even when dealing with images generated by the same generative systems.

Investigations also uncovered similar misidentifications during unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where AI models wrongly validated synthetic protest images. A Columbia University review reinforced the trend, with seven leading systems unable to verify any of the ten authentic news photos.

Specialists argue that AI may assist professional fact-checkers but cannot replace them. They emphasise that human verification remains essential as AI-generated content becomes increasingly lifelike and continues to circulate widely across social media platforms.

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AI use by US immigration agents sparks concern

A US federal judge has condemned immigration agents in Chicago for using AI to draft use-of-force reports, warning that the practice undermines credibility. Judge Sara Ellis noted that one agent fed a short description and images into ChatGPT before submitting the report.

Body camera footage cited in the ruling showed discrepancies between events recorded and the written narrative. Experts say AI-generated accounts risk inaccuracies in situations where courts rely on an officer’s personal recollection to assess reasonableness.

Researchers argue that poorly supervised AI use could erode public trust and compromise privacy. Some warn that uploading images into public tools relinquishes control of sensitive material, exposing it to misuse.

Police departments across the US are still developing policies for safe deployment of generative tools. Several states now require officers to label AI-assisted reports, while specialists call for stronger guardrails before the technology is applied in high-stakes legal settings.

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Up to 3 million UK jobs at risk from automation by 2035

A new report from NFER warns that up to 3 million low-skilled jobs in the UK could disappear by 2035 due to the growing adoption of automation and AI. Sectors most at risk include trades, machine operations and administrative work, where routine and repetitive tasks dominate.

Economic forecasts remain mixed. The overall UK labour market is expected to grow by 2.3 million jobs by 2035, with gains primarily in professional and managerial roles. Many displaced workers may struggle to find new employment, widening inequality.

The change contrasts with earlier predictions suggesting AI would target higher-skilled jobs such as consultancy or software engineering. Current findings emphasise that manual and lower-skill roles face the most significant short-term disruption from AI.

Policymakers and educators are encouraged to build extensive retraining programmes and foster skills like creativity, communication and digital literacy. Without such efforts, long-term unemployment could become a significant challenge.

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Copilot will be removed from WhatsApp on 15 January 2026

Microsoft will withdraw Copilot from WhatsApp as of 15 January 2026, following the implementation of new platform rules that ban all LLM chatbots.

The service helped millions of users interact with their AI companion inside an everyday messaging environment, yet the updated policy leaves no option for continued support.

Copilot access will continue on the mobile app, the web portal and Windows, offering fuller functionality instead of the limited experience available on WhatsApp.

Users are encouraged to rely on these platforms for ongoing features such as Copilot Voice, Vision and Mico, which expand everyday use across a broader set of tasks.

Chat history cannot be transferred because WhatsApp operated the service without authentication; therefore, users must manually export their conversations before the deadline. Copilot remains free across supported platforms, although some advanced features require a subscription.

Microsoft is working to ensure a smooth transition and stresses that users can expect a more capable experience after leaving WhatsApp, as development resources now focus on its dedicated environments.

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