ai

Switzerland launches Apertus, an open multilingual AI model

Switzerland has launched its first large-scale open-source language model, Apertus, developed by EPFL, ETH Zurich, and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre. Trained on the powerful Alps supercomputer in Lugano, Apertus is designed to set a new standard for transparency and multilingual inclusivity in Europe’s AI landscape.

The model comes in two sizes, 8 billion and 70 billion parameters, and supports over 1,000 languages, with 40% of its training data drawn from non-English sources. That allows it to handle underrepresented languages such as Swiss German and Romansh more effectively.

Unlike proprietary AI systems, Apertus is fully open. Its architecture, training data recipes, model weights, and documentation are publicly accessible.

The model can be downloaded from Hugging Face or accessed via Swisscom’s sovereign Swiss AI platform, with both research and commercial use permitted under a permissive license. Developers highlight that its design ensures compliance with Swiss and the EU regulations, with careful filtering of training data for quality and ethical standards.

The release comes just ahead of the Swiss {ai} Weeks hackathons, where developers and researchers will put Apertus to the test. Organisers describe the model as more than a research breakthrough, framing it as a tool to drive innovation across society and industry.

Looking ahead, the Apertus project aims to expand its family of models, improve efficiency, and develop specialised versions for fields like law, health, climate, and education, further strengthening Switzerland’s role in shaping open, public-benefit AI.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI improves detection of dangerous plaques linked to heart risk

Researchers have shown that AI can analyse coronary scans after a heart attack and predict future risks better than traditional review. The findings come from the PECTUS-AI study, published in the European Heart Journal.

Using optical coherence tomography, the AI algorithm identified vulnerable plaques across entire artery segments.

Patients with these thin-cap fibroatheromas were found to have significantly higher rates of death, repeat heart attacks or unplanned procedures over two years.

Manual frame-by-frame review by specialists remains time-consuming and inconsistent, while AI delivers a faster and more standardised assessment.

Researchers say further validation is needed before routine adoption, but the technology could play an important role in secondary prevention.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

AI framework Hexstrike-AI repurposed by cybercriminals for rapid attacks

Within hours of its public release, the offensive security framework Hexstrike-AI has been weaponised by threat actors to exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, most recently affecting Citrix NetScaler ADC and Gateway, within just ten minutes.

Automated agents execute actions such as scanning, exploiting CVEs and deploying webshells, all orchestrated through high-level commands like ‘exploit NetScaler’.

Researchers from CheckPoint note that attackers are now using Hexstrike-AI to achieve unauthenticated remote code execution automatically.

The AI framework’s design, complete with retry logic and resilience, makes chaining reconnaissance, exploitation and persistence seamless and more effective.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

MyRepublic unveils AI Automation Box for SMEs

Telecom operator MyRepublic has launched the AI Automation Box, a plug-and-play server aimed at helping SMEs automate operations.

The company says the device allows firms to build AI-driven workflows quickly without the need for expensive consultants or large IT teams.

Designed for organisations with 20 to 200 staff, the AI Automation Box combines a no-code workflow builder with options for custom coding.

It comes preloaded with large language models from providers such as OpenAI, Meta and DeepSeek, supported by enterprise-grade GPU hardware.

To support adoption, MyRepublic offers over 100 ready-made templates, tutorials and access to its AI Academy. Typical use cases include customer service, invoicing, reporting, and HR functions, with the system available at $255 a month.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Nvidia and Microsoft highlight industrial AI at Seoul Expo

At the Industrial AI Expo in Seoul, Nvidia, Microsoft, and other global tech leaders are showcasing their latest AI technologies.

The three-day exhibition opened on Wednesday at COEX under the theme of integrating AI with industries.

On the sidelines, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards signed an agreement with 10 significant industry associations to pool high-quality data for AI applications.

Officials say this collaboration will support innovation in the manufacturing supply chain.

The government emphasised its commitment to expanding AI-driven factories and physical AI systems to boost industrial competitiveness. Officials stressed that closer cooperation with the private sector will be essential to achieving these goals.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Amazon rolls out Lens Live for real-world AI shopping

Amazon has introduced Lens Live, an AI-powered feature that lets shoppers identify and buy products by pointing their phone camera at real-world items.

The tool builds on Amazon Lens by adding a live, real-time element to product discovery.

Lens Live is integrated with Amazon’s AI assistant Rufus, which provides AI-generated product summaries, suggested questions and insights to help users make informed decisions.

It is powered by Amazon SageMaker and AWS-managed OpenSearch, enabling machine learning at scale.

The feature has launched on the Amazon Shopping app for iOS, initially available to tens of millions of US shoppers, with no word yet on an international rollout.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Key AI researchers depart Apple for rivals Meta and OpenAI

Apple is confronting a significant exodus of AI talent, with key researchers departing for rival firms instead of advancing projects in-house.

The company lost its lead robotics researcher, Jian Zhang, to Meta’s Robotics Studio, alongside several core Foundation Models team members responsible for the Apple Intelligence platform. The brain drain has triggered internal concerns about Apple’s strategic direction and declining staff morale.

Instead of relying entirely on its own systems, Apple is reportedly considering a shift towards using external AI models. The departures include experts like Ruoming Pang, who accepted a multi-year package from Meta reportedly worth $200 million.

Other AI researchers are set to join leading firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, highlighting a fierce industry-wide battle for specialised expertise.

At the centre of the talent war is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, offering lucrative packages worth up to $100 million to secure leading researchers for Meta’s ambitious AI and robotics initiatives.

The aggressive recruitment strategy is strengthening Meta’s capabilities while simultaneously weakening the internal development efforts of competitors like Apple.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Free GPU access offered to AI startups in Taiwan

Taiwan’s new Digital Minister Lin Yi-ching has unveiled his policy agenda, putting AI development, cybersecurity and anti-fraud at the forefront.

He pledged to build on the work of his predecessor while accelerating digital government projects.

Lin said the government will support the AI industry through five key tools: computing power, data, talent, marketing and funding.

Taiwan startups will gain free GPU access, revised regulations will release non-sensitive public data, and a sovereign AI corpus will be developed.

Cybersecurity and fraud prevention are also central. Measures include DNS blocking, government SMS codes, and partnerships with platforms like Google and Line to curb scams. Lin reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the digital certificate wallet.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Researchers develop an AI system to modify the brain’s mental imagery with words

A new AI system named DreamConnect can now translate a person’s brain activity into images and then edit those mental pictures using natural language commands.

Instead of merely reconstructing thoughts from fMRI scans, the breakthrough technology allows users to reshape their imagined scenes actively. For instance, an individual visualising a horse can instruct the system to transform it into a unicorn, with the AI accurately modifying the relevant features.

The system employs a dual-stream framework that interprets brain signals into rough visuals and then refines them based on text instructions.

Developed by an international team of researchers, DreamConnect represents a fundamental shift from passive brain decoding to interactive visual brainstorming.

It marks a significant advance at the frontier of human-AI interaction, moving beyond simple reconstruction to active collaboration.

Potential applications are wide-ranging, from accelerating creative design to offering new tools for therapeutic communication.

However, the researchers caution that such powerful technology necessitates robust ethical safeguards to prevent misuse and protect the privacy of an individual’s most personal data, their thoughts.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU and Australia diverge on paths to AI regulation

The regulatory approaches to AI in the EU and Australia are diverging significantly, creating a complex challenge for the global tech sector.

Instead of a unified global standard, companies must now navigate the EU’s stringent, risk-based AI Act and Australia’s more tentative, phased-in approach. The disparity underscores the necessity for sophisticated cross-border legal expertise to ensure compliance in different markets.

In the EU, the landmark AI Act is now in force, implementing a strict risk-based framework with severe financial penalties for non-compliance.

Conversely, Australia has yet to pass binding AI-specific laws, opting instead for a proposal paper outlining voluntary safety standards and 10 mandatory guardrails for high-risk applications currently under consultation.

It creates a markedly different compliance environment for businesses operating in both regions.

For tech companies, the evolving patchwork of international regulations turns AI governance into a strategic differentiator instead of a mere compliance obligation.

Understanding jurisdictional differences, particularly in areas like data governance, human oversight, and transparency, is becoming essential for successful and lawful global operations.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!