Maharashtra police are expanding the use of an AI-powered investigation platform developed with Microsoft to tackle the rapid growth of cybercrime.
MahaCrimeOS AI, already in use across Nagpur district, will now be deployed to more than 1,100 police stations statewide, significantly accelerating case handling and investigation workflows.
The system acts as an investigation copilot, automating complaint intake, evidence extraction and legal documentation across multiple languages.
Officers can analyse transaction trails, request data from banks and telecom providers and follow standardised investigation pathways, instead of relying on slow manual processes.
Investigators report major efficiency gains, handling several cases monthly where only one was previously possible, while maintaining procedural accuracy and accountability.
The initiative highlights how responsible AI deployment can strengthen public institutions.
By reducing administrative burden and improving investigative capacity, the platform allows officers to focus on victim support and crime resolution, marking a broader shift toward AI-assisted governance in India.
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A new law in New York, US, will require advertisers to disclose when AI-generated people appear in commercial content. Governor Kathy Hochul said the measure brings transparency and protects consumers as synthetic avatars become more widespread.
A second law now requires consent from heirs or executors when using a deceased person’s likeness for commercial purposes. The rule updates the state’s publicity rights, which previously lacked clarity in the context of the generative AI era.
Industry groups welcomed the move, saying it addresses the risks posed by unregulated AI usage, particularly for actors in the film and television industries. The disclosure must be conspicuous when an avatar does not correspond to a real human.
Specific expressive works such as films, games and shows are exempt when the avatar matches its use in the work. The laws arrive as national debate intensifies and President-elect Donald Trump signals potential attempts to limit state-level AI regulation.
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Mercedes-Benz Group AG has announced planned changes to its Supervisory Board, proposing the appointment of Katharina Beumelburg and Rashmi Misra at the company’s 2026 Annual General Meeting.
The move is intended to strengthen the board’s expertise in sustainability, industrial transformation, and AI, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on decarbonisation and digital innovation.
Beumelburg brings extensive experience in global sustainability and energy transition from roles at Heidelberg Materials, SLB, and Siemens. At the same time, Misra brings deep expertise in AI and emerging technologies, having held senior positions at Analogue Devices and Microsoft.
They will succeed Dame Polly Courtice and Prof. Dr Helene Svahn, who will step down in April 2026 after contributing to Mercedes-Benz’s strategic development in recent years.
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Huawei Technologies is intensifying its AI strategy with the establishment of a dedicated foundation model unit within its 2012 Laboratories research arm, reflecting the heightened competition among China’s major tech companies to develop advanced AI systems.
A recruitment advertisement posted in October signals that the Shenzhen-based telecom and tech giant is proactively wooing global AI talent to assemble a world-class team focused on foundational model development.
Huawei has confirmed the establishment of the unit but has offered few operational details.
Richard Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei’s consumer group and newly appointed chairman of the Investment Review Board overseeing AI strategy, has personally promoted the drive on social media, urging young engineers to help ‘make the world’s most powerful AI.’
This movement underscores Huawei’s broader ambition to challenge both domestic rivals and Western AI leaders in core areas of generative AI technology.
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AI is increasingly embedded in digital mapping systems used by commercial fleets, transforming static navigation tools into adaptive decision-making platforms.
These AI-powered systems ingest real-time data from vehicles, traffic feeds, weather, and sensors to optimise routes and operations continuously.
For fleet operators, this enables more accurate arrival times, reduced fuel consumption, and faster responses to disruptions such as congestion or road closures. AI models can also anticipate problems before they occur by identifying patterns in historical and live data.
Smarter maps support broader fleet intelligence, including predictive maintenance, driver behaviour analysis, and compliance monitoring. Mapping platforms are becoming core operational infrastructure rather than auxiliary navigation tools.
As logistics networks become increasingly complex, AI-driven mapping is emerging as a competitive necessity for commercial fleets seeking efficiency, resilience, and scalability.
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Time magazine has named the so-called architects of AI as its Person of the Year, recognising leading technologists reshaping global industries. Figures highlighted include Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei and Fei-Fei Li.
Time emphasises that major AI developers have placed enormous bets on infrastructure and capability. Their competition and collaboration have accelerated rapid adoption across businesses and households.
2025 was the year when artificial intelligence’s full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back.
For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the… pic.twitter.com/mEIKRiZfLo
The magazine also examined negative consequences linked to rapid deployment, including mental health concerns and reported chatbot-related lawsuits. Economists warn of significant labour disruption as companies adopt automated systems widely.
The editorial team framed 2025 as a tipping point when AI moved into everyday life. The publication resisted using AI-generated imagery for its cover, choosing traditional artists instead. Industry observers say the selection reflects AI’s central role in shaping economic and social priorities throughout the year.
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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at preventing individual US states from enforcing their own AI regulations, arguing that AI oversight should be handled at the federal level. Speaking at the White House, Trump said a single national framework would avoid fragmented rules, while his AI adviser, David Sacks, added that the administration would push back against what it views as overly burdensome state laws, except for measures focused on child safety.
The move is welcomed by major technology companies, which have long warned that a patchwork of state-level regulations could slow innovation and weaken the US position in the global AI race, particularly in comparison to China. Industry groups say a unified national approach would provide clarity for companies investing billions of dollars in AI development and help maintain US leadership in the sector.
However, the executive order has sparked strong backlash from several states, most notably California. Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the decision as an attempt to undermine state protections, pointing to California’s own AI law that requires large developers to address potential risks posed by their models.
Other states, including New York and Colorado, have also enacted AI regulations, arguing that state action is necessary in the absence of comprehensive federal safeguards.
Critics warn that blocking state laws could leave consumers exposed if federal rules are weak or slow to emerge, while some legal experts caution that a national framework will only be effective if it offers meaningful protections. Despite these concerns, tech lobby groups have praised the order and expressed readiness to work with the White House and Congress to establish nationwide AI standards.
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A new Eurobarometer survey finds that Europeans want digital skills to hold the same status in schools as reading, mathematics and science.
Citizens view digital competence as essential for learning, future employment and informed participation in public life.
Nine in ten respondents believe that schools should guide pupils on how to handle the harmful effects of digital technologies on their mental health and well-being, rather than treating such issues as secondary concerns.
Most Europeans also support a more structured approach to online information. Eight in ten say digital literacy helps them avoid misinformation, while nearly nine in ten want teachers to be fully prepared to show students how to recognise false content.
A majority continues to favour restrictions on smartphones in schools, yet an even larger share supports the use of digital tools specifically designed for learning.
More than half find that AI brings both opportunities and risks for classrooms, which they believe should be examined in greater depth.
Almost half want the EU to shape standards for the use of educational technologies, including rules on AI and data protection.
The findings will inform the European Commission’s 2030 Roadmap on digital education and skills, scheduled for release next year as part of the Union of Skills initiative.
A survey carried out across all member states reflects a growing expectation that digital education should become a central pillar of Europe’s teaching systems, rather than an optional enhancement.
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India is weighing a sweeping copyright framework that would require AI companies to pay royalties for training on copyrighted works under a mandatory blanket licence branded as the hybrid ‘One Nation, One Licence, One Payment’ model.
A new Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training, or CRCAT, would collect payments from developers and distribute money to creators. AI firms would have to rely only on lawfully accessed material and file detailed summaries of training datasets, including data types and sources.
The panel is expected to favour flat, revenue-linked percentages on global earnings from commercial AI systems, reviewed roughly every three years and open to legal challenge in court.
Obligations would apply retroactively to AI developers that have already trained profitable models on copyright-protected material, framed by Indian policymakers as a corrective measure for the creative ecosystem.
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Instagram has unveiled a new AI-powered feature called ‘Your Algorithm’, giving users control over the topics shown in their Reels feed. The tool analyses viewing history and allows users to indicate which subjects they want to see more or less of.
The feature displays a summary of each user’s top interests and allows typing in specific topics to fine-tune recommendations in real-time. Instagram plans to expand the tool beyond Reels to Explore and other areas of the app.
Launch started in the US, with a global rollout in English expected soon. The initiative comes amid growing calls for social media platforms to provide greater transparency over algorithmic content and avoid echo chambers.
By enabling users to adjust their feeds directly, Instagram aims to offer more personalised experiences while responding to regulatory pressures and societal concerns over harmful content.
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