Pope Francis has called on global leaders to exercise caution in the development of AI, warning it could deepen a ‘crisis of truth’ in society. In a statement read at the World Economic Forum in Davos by Cardinal Peter Turkson, the pontiff acknowledged the potential of AI but emphasised its ethical implications and the risks it poses to humanity’s future. The remarks come as AI becomes a key focus at this year’s summit.
Francis highlighted concerns about AI’s ability to produce outputs nearly indistinguishable from human work, raising questions about its impact on public trust and truth. He urged governments and businesses to maintain strict oversight of AI development to address these challenges effectively. The pope has been vocal on ethical issues surrounding AI in recent years, addressing its implications at high-profile events like the Group of Seven summit in Italy.
The leader of the Catholic Church has personal experience with AI-related controversies. In early 2024, a deepfake image of him wearing a white puffer coat went viral, underscoring the risks associated with the misuse of such technologies. Francis has consistently warned against relying on algorithms to shape human destiny, advocating for a more responsible and ethical approach to technological innovation.
Oracle has introduced a suite of AI agents designed to streamline tasks for sales professionals. Unlike consumer-focused virtual assistants, these agents specialise in specific functions, such as updating records after customer meetings and compiling detailed reports to assist with deal negotiations. The agents can integrate data from across Oracle’s business software ecosystem, even translating information from different languages to offer sales teams a comprehensive view of customer interactions.
A notable feature of the new system is its ability to highlight critical insights, such as delays in shipments affecting repeat customers in other regions, which can help sales teams navigate negotiations more effectively. Rob Pinkerton, Oracle’s senior vice president, emphasised the global relevance of the technology, especially for companies operating in multiple markets. The tools are particularly tailored for industries like manufacturing and logistics, where accurate and timely data is crucial.
The AI agents are available to customers starting this week at no additional cost, reflecting Oracle’s commitment to enhancing its software offerings. The move aligns with broader industry trends, as competitors like Microsoft and Google also focus on deploying specialised AI to increase productivity and tackle complex challenges in enterprise environments.
SandboxAQ, a quantum technology startup spun off from Alphabet in 2022, has announced its large quantitative models (LQMs) will be available on Google Cloud. These models, which handle vast numerical datasets and perform complex calculations, are designed for applications such as financial modelling, trading automation, and statistical analysis. The partnership will enable enterprises to develop and deploy LQMs more efficiently, broadening SandboxAQ‘s customer base.
CEO Jack Hidary emphasised the significance of quantitative AI, highlighting its role in industries like life sciences, financial services, and navigation. The company, headquartered in Palo Alto, recently secured $300 million in funding, raising its valuation to $5.6 billion. This is the first time SandboxAQ’s models will be accessible on a third-party platform, marking a significant milestone in its growth.
Google’s growing focus on quantum computing complements its collaboration with SandboxAQ. The tech giant announced progress in quantum chip development last December, aiming to address key challenges in the field. Rivals like Microsoft and Nvidia have also been advancing quantum computing initiatives, signalling intensified competition in the emerging technology.
The UK‘s Competition and Markets Authority has appointed former Amazon executive Doug Gurr as its interim chairman, signalling the government’s push to boost economic growth and support the tech sector. Gurr, who brings extensive experience at Amazon, including leading the company’s UK and China operations, will guide the CMA as it fosters competition in industries such as cloud services and AI. The move aligns with the UK’s broader strategy to streamline regulations and position itself as a pro-business nation.
Gurr’s appointment comes amid a critical phase in the CMA’s investigation into the domestic cloud services market, which has been scrutinising Amazon’s dominant position. While Gurr will serve in an interim role, the government hopes his commercial background will help drive pro-business decisions that stimulate growth. This marks a shift from the previous chair, Marcus Bokkerink, whose tenure was shorter than expected, possibly due to dissatisfaction among government officials.
Industry experts note that Gurr’s appointment is timely, as the CMA is stepping up its oversight of Big Tech, particularly with the expanded powers under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act. Critics and lobby groups like the Open Cloud Coalition closely watch how the CMA will handle its regulatory responsibilities, particularly in the cloud services sector, where Amazon holds a significant market share. They urge the CMA to maintain a strong stance on promoting fairness and competition.
As the CMA navigates its investigations and enforces new rules, stakeholders are keen to see how Gurr’s leadership will shape the future of competition regulation in the UK. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for businesses and consumers, particularly in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Meta Platforms has joined a $10 billion investment round for Databricks, a data analytics firm specialising in AI applications. The funding, which closed on Wednesday, values the San Francisco-based company at $62 billion. This round also included a $5.25 billion credit facility led by major financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, aimed at boosting Databricks’ expansion and product development efforts.
Founded in 2013, Databricks provides tools to help businesses process, analyse, and apply artificial intelligence to complex datasets. The firm has benefited from the increasing corporate demand for AI technology, catalysed by the rapid adoption of platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Meta’s investment strengthens an existing partnership between the two, particularly in leveraging Meta’s Llama, a family of open-source large language models.
With over 10,000 organisations, including Shell and Comcast, already utilising its platform, Databricks is at the forefront of enterprise AI applications. According to CEO Ali Ghodsi, this deepened collaboration with Meta will help Databricks better serve enterprise clients using Llama, further solidifying its position in the AI race.
Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest Galaxy S25 smartphones, powered by Qualcomm’s chips and Google’s AI model. With a competitive pricing strategy, the Galaxy S25 series remains in the range of $799 to $1,299, aiming to boost sales amidst fierce competition from Apple and other Chinese manufacturers. The release, which includes a preview of a slimmer Galaxy S25 Edge model, comes as Samsung seeks to regain market share after losing ground in the premium smartphone sector last year.
While Samsung boasts advanced AI features, analysts note that distinguishing its in-house voice assistant, Bixby, could prove challenging. Industry expert Thomas Husson remarked that without a standout application that leverages AI capabilities effectively, convincing consumers to choose an AI-based smartphone might be difficult. Despite this, the new Galaxy S25 is designed to provide a more personalised user experience, including features like the ‘Now Brief’ service, which offers tailored recommendations based on stored data and enhances user convenience.
In a notable shift, Samsung opted for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform for the entire Galaxy S25 lineup, moving away from its own Exynos chips. However this change may impact Samsung’s chip business, as the mobile division has been a significant customer for its semiconductor products. Following the announcement, Samsung shares dipped by 1.1%, trailing the overall market performance. The company’s sell-through of the new series is crucial, particularly as sales of its foldable phones have stagnated amid stiff competition from Chinese rivals.
Preliminary fourth-quarter results from Samsung indicated profits fell short of expectations due to high chip development costs and increasing competition in the smartphone market. Moving forward, Samsung plans to use its Exynos chips in upcoming foldable devices, highlighting the ongoing strategic shifts to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions.
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant behind TikTok, has allocated over 150 billion yuan ($20.64 billion) for capital expenditure this year, with a significant focus on AI, according to sources familiar with the matter. About half of the investment will support overseas AI infrastructure, including data centres and networking equipment. Beneficiaries of this spending are expected to include chipmakers Huawei, Cambricon, and US supplier Nvidia, although ByteDance has denied the accuracy of the claims.
The investment aims to solidify ByteDance’s AI leadership in China, where it has launched over 15 standalone AI applications, such as the popular chatbot Doubao, which boasts 75 million monthly active users. Its international counterparts include apps like Cici and Dreamina, reflecting ByteDance’s strategy to adapt its AI offerings globally. The company also recently updated its flagship AI model, Doubao, to rival reasoning models like those developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI.
ByteDance’s international spending aligns with its efforts to expand AI capabilities abroad amid challenges like the uncertain future of TikTok in the United States. While ByteDance’s $20 billion plan is substantial, it remains modest compared to the AI investments of US tech giants like Google and Microsoft, which spent $50 billion and $55.7 billion respectively on AI infrastructure in the past year. The spending will also bolster ByteDance’s partnerships with suppliers such as Nvidia, from which it has procured custom AI chips tailored to China despite US export restrictions.
OpenAI has told an Indian court that removing training data used for its ChatGPT service would conflict with its legal obligations in the United States. The company, backed by Microsoft, is defending a copyright lawsuit filed by Indian news agency ANI, which accuses OpenAI of using its content without permission and demands the deletion of ANI’s data from ChatGPT’s memory.
In a January 10 filing, OpenAI argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction as the company has no physical presence or data servers in India. It also emphasised its legal obligation in the US to preserve training data while litigation is ongoing. OpenAI denied wrongdoing, asserting its systems make fair use of publicly available data, a stance it has maintained in similar copyright disputes globally.
ANI insists the Delhi court has the authority to rule on the case, citing concerns over unfair competition and alleging that ChatGPT reproduces its content verbatim. OpenAI, however, countered that ANI manipulated prompts to elicit such responses. The court is set to hear the case on January 28, marking a key moment in India’s scrutiny of AI and copyright law.
Infosys, India’s second-largest software services exporter, anticipates a major shift in the way IT firms approach talent management. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, CTO Rafee Tarafdar highlighted the evolving market, driven by emerging technologies such as generative AI.
Tarafdar noted that the traditional ‘pyramid’ model, where most employees are at the entry level, may give way to a more dynamic framework. Infosys is actively experimenting with strategies to upskill its workforce while creating roles that did not exist before, including specialists in responsible AI and model engineering.
In addition to re-skilling existing employees, the company has developed bespoke small language models tailored to industries like banking and IT operations, offering these as services to clients. With AI creating both challenges and opportunities, Infosys believes a blend of evolving skills and innovative hiring will shape the future of tech talent.
As the IT sector grapples with rapid innovation, India’s Infosys remains focused on adapting its workforce to meet new demands, ensuring it remains at the forefront of the global technology industry.
Sarah de Lagarde’s world turned upside down after a train accident in 2022 cost her an arm and part of her leg. Offered a basic prosthetic by the NHS, she found its functionality limited and struggled with everyday tasks for nine months. However, her life changed when she received an advanced AI-powered bionic arm that learns her movements and anticipates her intent by detecting muscle signals. With this, she regained the ability to perform delicate actions, such as picking up an egg or pouring water.
The remarkable advancements in robotics are not limited to prosthetics. Intelligent machines are being developed to match human dexterity in fields ranging from healthcare to agriculture. Cambridge-based Dogtooth Technologies has created robots capable of picking soft fruit as delicately as human workers, while other projects aim to handle hazardous nuclear waste or assist in complex industrial tasks. Robots like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and Google’s DEX-EE are already demonstrating the ability to adapt and learn through embodied AI, mimicking human reflexes and movements.
Despite these breakthroughs, experts caution that AI-driven robots are still years away from matching the natural abilities of the human hand. Current limitations include sensory integration, haptic feedback, and adaptability to new environments. Safety, ethical concerns, and potential job impacts are also key issues as this technology develops. Still, pioneers like de Lagarde envision a future where robotic dexterity can assist not only people with disabilities but also support the elderly and others in need, highlighting the transformative potential of AI.
