ai

AlphaEvolve by DeepMind automates code optimisation and discovers new algorithms

Google’s DeepMind has introduced AlphaEvolve, a new AI-powered coding agent designed to autonomously discover and optimise computer algorithms.

Built on large language models and evolutionary techniques, AlphaEvolve aims to assist experts across mathematics, engineering, and computer science by improving existing solutions and generating new ones.

Unlike natural language-based models, AlphaEvolve uses automated evaluators and iterative evolution strategies—like mutation and crossover—to refine algorithmic solutions.

DeepMind reports success across several domains, including matrix multiplication, data centre scheduling, chip design, and AI model training.

In one case, AlphaEvolve developed a new method for multiplying 4×4 complex matrices using just 48 scalar multiplications, surpassing a longstanding result from 1969. It also improved job scheduling in Google data centres, recovering an average of 0.7% of global compute resources.

In mathematical tests, AlphaEvolve rediscovered known solutions 75% of the time and improved them in 20% of cases. While experts have praised its potential, researchers also stress the importance of secure deployment and responsible use.

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Canva merges data and storytelling

Canva has introduced Sheets, a new spreadsheet platform combining data, design, and AI to simplify and visualise analytics. Announced at the Canva Create: Uncharted event, it redefines spreadsheets by enabling users to turn raw data into charts, reports and content without leaving the Canva interface.

Built-in tools like Magic Formulas, Magic Insights, and Magic Charts, Canva Sheets supports automated analysis and visual storytelling. Users can generate dynamic charts and branded content across platforms in seconds, thanks to Canva AI and features like bulk editing and multilingual translation.

Data Connectors allow seamless integration with platforms such as Google Analytics and HubSpot, ensuring live updates across all connected visuals. The platform is designed to reduce manual tasks in recurring reports and keep teams synchronised in real time.

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du and Microsoft launch $544M AI data centre in UAE

Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) has partnered with Microsoft to build a 2 billion dirham (US$544.5 million) hyperscale data centre in the UAE, unveiled during Dubai AI Week.

Microsoft will be the facility’s primary tenant, and the project will be delivered in phases. This marks du’s sixth data centre, reinforcing the UAE’s growing status as a regional AI and data infrastructure hub.

The partnership aligns with the UAE’s National Strategy for AI 2031, which aims to generate US$96 billion in economic value by 2030.

Hyperscale data centres like this one are expected to form the backbone of the country’s AI ecosystem, which is projected to reach a value of US$46.33 billion by the same year.

The GCC data centre market is booming, with expected growth from US$3.48 billion in 2024 to US$9.49 billion by 2030. du’s move comes amid a regional race between cloud giants like Google, AWS, and Oracle, as well as local providers including Khazna, Equinix, and Gulf Data Hub.

Sustainability is also a growing focus, with new builds like Khazna’s Ajman facility incorporating energy-efficient cooling for high-performance AI workloads.

As AI-driven transformation accelerates across logistics, finance, and smart cities, the UAE is using these strategic partnerships and infrastructure investments to move from a resource-based economy to a data-driven one.

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FBI warns against AI-powered text scams

The FBI has issued a fresh warning urging the public not to trust unsolicited texts or voice messages, even if they appear to come from senior officials. A new wave of AI-powered attacks is reportedly so convincing that traditional signs of fraud are almost impossible to spot.

These campaigns involve voice and text messages crafted with AI, mimicking the voices of known individuals and spoofing phone numbers of trusted contacts or organisations. US victims are lured into clicking malicious links, often under the impression that the messages are urgent or official.

The FBI advises users to verify all communications independently, avoid clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and listen for unnatural speech patterns or visual anomalies in videos and images.

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Google and Nvidia dominate AI patents

Google has overtaken IBM to lead in generative AI patent filings, according to new data from IFI Claims covering February 2024 to April 2025.

The tech giant has also emerged as a frontrunner in agentic AI patents, sharing the spotlight with Nvidia in both US and international rankings.

Instead of maintaining previous leads, IBM and Microsoft now trail Google and Nvidia, with Intel and several Chinese universities also securing top global positions in agentic AI. This suggests a growing international race to shape the future of autonomous AI systems.

In generative AI, Google maintains the top spot globally, while Chinese firms and institutions dominate six of the ten leading positions. Microsoft, Nvidia, and IBM also rank highly, with the US seeing a 56% surge in generative AI patent applications over the past year.

Within the US, top filers include Capital One, Samsung, Adobe, and Qualcomm.

Meta and OpenAI were notably absent from the top ten. OpenAI has recently increased its patent activity but continues to file defensively instead of focusing on patent volume.

Meta has prioritised open-source contributions rather than pursuing patents. Generative AI now accounts for 17% of all US AI patent activity, with agentic AI making up 7%.

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Trump seals $200 billion UAE AI deal

US President Donald Trump has secured €179 billion ($200 billion) in deals with the United Arab Emirates, capping his Persian Gulf tour with plans for the world’s largest AI campus outside the US.

Located in Abu Dhabi and spanning 10 square miles, the facility will be built by UAE-based firm G42 in partnership with American companies, aimed at boosting regional computing capacity while supporting the Global South.

Instead of focusing solely on energy, Trump’s trip saw investments broaden to include AI, aviation, and industrial sectors. In total, his visit to the Gulf states yielded €1.3 trillion ($1.4 trillion) in investment pledges, including major agreements with Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Gulf leaders are using AI as a vehicle to diversify their economies, while Trump is turning foreign capital into support for US manufacturing and tech exports.

The UAE deal includes plans to import up to 500,000 Nvidia H100 AI chips annually through 2027, with 20% allocated to G42. US officials, however, continue to express concern over potential Chinese access to advanced American technology.

The US Department of Commerce insists that strict safeguards are in place to prevent any misuse or diversion of AI hardware.

Other agreements include a $14.5 billion aircraft purchase by Etihad Airways from Boeing and GE Aerospace, a $60 billion energy partnership with ADNOC, and aluminium and gallium production deals with Emirates Global Aluminum.

Trump’s push to expand American business influence in the Gulf appears to be paying off, instead of letting China or Europe dominate future AI and industrial markets.

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OpenAI launches AI safety hub

OpenAI has launched a public online hub to share internal safety evaluations of its AI models, aiming to increase transparency around harmful content, jailbreaks, and hallucination risks. The hub will be updated after major model changes, allowing the public to track progress in safety and reliability over time.

The move follows growing criticism about the company’s testing methods, especially after inappropriate ChatGPT responses surfaced in late 2023. Instead of waiting for backlash, OpenAI is now introducing an optional alpha testing phase, letting users provide feedback before wider model releases.

The hub also marks a departure from the company’s earlier stance on secrecy. In 2019, OpenAI withheld GPT-2 over misuse concerns. Since then, it has shifted towards transparency by forming safety-focused teams and responding to calls for open safety metrics.

OpenAI’s approach appears timely, as several countries are building AI Safety Institutes to evaluate models before launch. Instead of relying on private sector efforts alone, the global landscape now reflects a multi-stakeholder push to create stronger safety standards and governance for advanced AI.

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TikTok adds AI tool to animate photos with realistic effects

TikTok has launched a new feature called AI Alive, allowing users to turn still images into dynamic, short videos. Instead of needing advanced editing skills, creators can now use AI to generate movement and effects with a few taps.

By accessing the Story Camera and selecting a static photo, users can simply type how they want the image to change — such as making the subject smile, dance, or tilt forward. AI Alive then animates the photo, using creative effects to produce a more engaging story.

TikTok says its moderation systems review the original image, the AI prompt, and the final video before it’s shown to the user. A second check occurs before a post is shared publicly, and every video made with AI Alive will include an ‘AI-generated’ label and C2PA metadata to ensure transparency.

The feature stands out as one of the first built-in AI image-to-video tools on a major platform. Snapchat and Instagram already offer AI image generation from text, and Snapchat is reportedly developing a similar image-to-video feature.

Meanwhile, TikTok is also said to be working on adding support for sending photos and voice messages via direct message — something rival apps have long supported.

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AI hallucination at center of Anthropic copyright lawsuit

Anthropic, the AI company behind the Claude chatbot, has been ordered by a federal judge to respond to allegations that it submitted fabricated material—possibly generated by AI—as part of its defense in an ongoing copyright lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed in October 2023 by music publishers Universal Music Group, Concord, and ABKCO, accuses Anthropic of unlawfully using lyrics from over 500 songs to train its chatbot. The publishers argue that Claude can produce copyrighted material when prompted, such as lyrics from Don McLean’s American Pie.

During a court hearing on Tuesday in California, the publishers’ attorney claimed that an Anthropic data scientist cited a nonexistent academic article from The American Statistician journal to support the argument that Claude rarely outputs copyrighted lyrics.

One of the article’s alleged authors later confirmed the paper was a ‘complete fabrication.’ The judge is now requiring Anthropic to formally address the incident in court.

The company, founded in 2021, is backed by major investors including Amazon, Google, and Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced crypto executive convicted of fraud in 2023.

The case marks a significant test of how AI companies handle copyrighted content, and how courts respond when AI-generated material is used in legal proceedings.

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Seattle startup ElastixAI raises $16 million for AI inference tech

A stealthy new AI startup in Seattle, ElastixAI, has raised $16 million to build technology that aims to reduce the cost and complexity of running large language models.

Rather than focusing on training, the company is developing an AI inference platform to optimise how these models operate, whether on cloud servers or edge devices. The funding round is led by Bellevue-based venture capital firm FUSE, with support from several others.

ElastixAI is led by CEO Mohammad Rastegari, formerly CTO of Xnor, a startup acquired by Apple in 2020. He co-founded the company with Saman Naderiparizi, also ex-Apple and Xnor, and Mahyar Najibi, who worked at both Apple and Waymo.

The team’s background in AI hardware and software gives them a unique edge in addressing challenges at a stage where AI models generate responses from trained data.

Instead of building a one-size-fits-all solution, the startup’s platform is designed for flexibility, allowing customers to fine-tune infrastructure to specific needs. ‘We saw a gap in delivering scalable and low-cost inference,’ said Rastegari.

The company remains in stealth but says its platform could serve both hyperscalers and enterprises looking to integrate AI into everyday operations.

With other players like Nvidia and Fireworks.ai competing in the inference space, ElastixAI may even count some of them as future customers.

Rastegari and Naderiparizi are also affiliate assistant professors at the University of Washington, and their startup reflects Seattle’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced AI development — a trend Apple has helped shape with several acquisitions in the region.

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