ai

Brain-inspired networks boost AI performance and cut energy use

Researchers at the University of Surrey have developed a new method to enhance AI by imitating how the human brain connects information. The approach, called Topographical Sparse Mapping, links each artificial neuron only to nearby or related ones, replicating the brain’s efficient organisation.

According to findings published in Neurocomputing, the structure reduces redundant connections and improves performance without compromising accuracy. Senior lecturer Dr Roman Bauer said intelligent systems can now be designed to consume less energy while maintaining power.

Training large models today often requires over a million kilowatt-hours of electricity, a trend he described as unsustainable.

An advanced version, Enhanced Topographical Sparse Mapping, introduces a biologically inspired pruning process that refines neural connections during training, similar to how the brain learns.

Researchers believe that the system could contribute to more realistic neuromorphic computers, which simulate brain functions to process data more efficiently.

The Surrey team said that such a discovery may advance generative AI systems and pave the way for sustainable large-scale model training. Their work highlights how lessons from biology can shape the next generation of energy-efficient computing.

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Unexpected language emerges as best for AI prompting

A new joint study by the University of Maryland and Microsoft has found that Polish is the most effective language for prompting AI, outperforming 25 others, including English, French, and Chinese.

The researchers tested leading AI models, including OpenAI, Google Gemini, Qwen, Llama, and DeepSeek, by providing identical prompts in 26 languages. Polish achieved an average accuracy of 88 percent, securing first place. English, often seen as the natural choice for AI interaction, came only sixth.

According to the study, Polish proved to be the most precise in issuing commands to AI, despite the fact that far less Polish-language data exists for model training. The Polish Patent Office noted that while humans find the language difficult, AI systems appear to handle it with remarkable ease.

Other high-performing languages included French, Italian, and Spanish, with Chinese ranking among the lowest. The finding challenges the widespread assumption that English dominates AI communication and could reshape future research on multilingual model optimisation.

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Perplexity launches AI-powered patent search to make innovation intelligence accessible

The US software company, Perplexity, has unveiled Perplexity Patents, the first AI-powered patent research agent designed to democratise access to intellectual property intelligence. The new tool allows anyone to explore patents using natural language instead of complex keyword syntax.

Traditional patent research has long relied on rigid search systems that demand specialist knowledge and expensive software.

Perplexity Patents instead offers conversational interaction, enabling users to ask questions such as ‘Are there any patents on AI for language learning?’ or ‘Key quantum computing patents since 2024?’.

The system automatically identifies relevant patents, provides inline viewing, and maintains context across multiple questions.

Powered by Perplexity’s large-scale search infrastructure, the platform uses agentic reasoning to break down complex queries, perform multi-step searches, and return comprehensive results supported by extensive patent documentation.

Its semantic understanding also captures related concepts that traditional tools often miss, linking terms such as ‘fitness trackers’, ‘activity bands’, and ‘health monitoring wearables’.

Beyond patent databases, Perplexity Patents can also draw from academic papers, open-source code, and other publicly available data, revealing the entire landscape of technological innovation. The service launches today in beta, free for all users, with extra features for Pro and Max subscribers.

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Japan’s KDDI partners with Google for AI-driven news service

Japan’s telecom leader KDDI is set to partner with Google to introduce an AI-powered news search service in spring 2026. The platform will use Google’s Gemini model to deliver articles from authorised Japanese media sources while preventing copyright violations.

The service will cite original publishers and exclude independent web scraping, addressing growing global concerns about the unauthorised use of journalism by generative AI systems. Around six domestic media companies, including digital outlets, are expected to join the initiative.

KDDI aims to strengthen user trust by offering reliable news through a transparent and copyright-safe AI interface. Details of how the articles will appear to users are still under review, according to sources familiar with the plan.

The move follows lawsuits filed in Tokyo by major Japanese newspapers, including Nikkei and Yomiuri, against US startup Perplexity AI over alleged copyright infringement. Industry experts say KDDI’s collaboration could become a model for responsible AI integration in news services.

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Apple plans to integrate multiple AI systems into Apple Intelligence

In a recent interview, Tim Cook confirmed that Apple plans to integrate more third-party AI systems into its new Apple Intelligence offering, describing the ambition as ‘over time’ and indicating both internal development and potential mergers and acquisitions.

Cook referenced existing integrations, such as the embedding of ChatGPT into Siri, and confirmed that other models like Google Gemini are under consideration.

He also emphasised that Apple remains open to acquiring AI companies that align with its roadmap for Apple Intelligence.

However, this announcement marks Apple’s strategic pivot in the AI era, shifting from a primarily closed system to one that supports a pluralistic ecosystem of AI tools.

The move has implications for how we think about platform-economy power, AI governance and interoperability.

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Australian police create AI tool to decode predators’ slang

Australian police are developing an AI tool with Microsoft to decode slang and emojis used by online predators. The technology is designed to interpret coded messages in digital conversations to help investigators detect harmful intent more quickly.

Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said social media has become a breeding ground for exploitation, bullying, and radicalisation. The AI based prototype, she explained, could allow officers to identify threats earlier and rescue children before abuse occurs.

Barrett also warned about the rise of so-called ‘crimefluencers’, offenders using social media trends to lure young victims, many of whom are pre-teen or teenage girls. Australian authorities believe understanding modern online language is key to disrupting their methods.

The initiative follows Australia’s new under-16 social media ban, due to take effect in December. Regulators worldwide are monitoring the country’s approach as governments struggle to balance online safety with privacy and digital rights.

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Korea ramps up AI infrastructure with NVIDIA partnership

South Korea is accelerating its AI development through a major partnership with NVIDIA, deploying over 260,000 GPUs across government, cloud providers, and industrial leaders.

The Ministry of Science and ICT is investing in sovereign AI infrastructure, while companies including Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai, and NAVER Cloud are building AI factories and expanding GPU capacity to support physical and enterprise AI workloads.

The initiative seeks to boost innovation in manufacturing, automotive, and telecoms, supporting large-scale AI model training, validation, and deployment.

Korean organisations are developing sovereign large language models through public-private partnerships with LG AI Research, SK Telecom, NC AI, Upstage, and NVIDIA.

The infrastructure will allow startups, researchers, and enterprises to access high-performance computing for AI applications and industrial digital twins.

Korea is also advancing AI-enabled quantum computing and scientific research. The Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) is creating a Center of Excellence using NVIDIA supercomputers, NVQLink for quantum processors, and PhysicsNeMo for physics-based AI models.

The goal is to strengthen research collaboration, AI innovation, and economic growth. Startups gain support through NVIDIA Inception and N-Up AI programs, accessing computing infrastructure, AI tools, and investment guidance to speed growth and industrial AI adoption.

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NVIDIA AI powers mobile clinics for breast cancer screening in rural India

A mobile clinic powered by NVIDIA AI is bringing life-saving breast cancer screenings to women in rural India.

The Health Within Reach Foundation, in partnership with Dallas-based startup MedCognetics, operates the Women Cancer Screening Van, which has already conducted over 3,500 mammograms, with 90% of patients screened for the first time.

MedCognetics, a member of NVIDIA’s Inception programme, provides an AI system that analyses mammogram data in real time to identify potential abnormalities.

The foundation reports that around 8% of screenings revealed irregularities, with 24 confirmed cancer diagnoses detected early enough for timely treatment. The collaboration demonstrates how AI can expand access to preventive healthcare in remote areas.

MedCognetics’ technology uses NVIDIA IGX Orin and Holoscan platforms for rapid image processing, supporting real-time detection and risk analysis. Its algorithms can improve image quality, assist radiologists in identifying small or early-stage tumours, and predict breast cancer risk within a year.

These tools are part of a wider effort to make advanced medical diagnostics affordable and accessible in developing regions.

By combining edge AI with local cloud infrastructure, the system enables faster diagnosis and better connectivity between healthcare workers in the field and radiologists in urban hospitals.

For millions of women in rural India, the initiative brings high-quality care directly to their communities and offers a powerful example of how AI can reduce health inequalities.

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Switzerland ranks among top countries for AI adoption

Switzerland has been ranked 15th globally for AI adoption, with around one in three working-age adults using AI tools, according to Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report. At 32.4%, the country’s adoption rate exceeds the Global North average of 23%, reflecting strong digital engagement.

The report shows over one billion people have used AI tools in under three years, making it the fastest-adopted technology ever. Microsoft analysed platforms like Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Midjourney to track AI use and introduced indices measuring AI development, infrastructure, and adoption.

Countries such as Singapore, the UAE, Norway, and Ireland show high AI adoption is possible with strong technology, education, and policy support, even without frontier-level breakthroughs.

Switzerland follows this model, using infrastructure, digital skills, and forward-looking policies to drive innovation and economic growth.

Despite rapid adoption in the Global North, nearly four billion people globally still lack the electricity, internet, or digital skills necessary to access AI, highlighting a growing divide between wealthier and lower-income nations.

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Reliance and Google expand Gemini AI access across India

Google has partnered with Reliance Intelligence to expand access to its Gemini AI across India.

Under the new collaboration, Jio Unlimited 5G users aged between 18 and 25 will receive the Google AI Pro plan free for 18 months, with nationwide eligibility to follow soon.

The partnership grants access to the Gemini 2.5 Pro model and includes increased limits for generating images and videos with the Nano Banana and Veo 3.1 tools.

Users in India will also benefit from expanded NotebookLM access for study and research, plus 2 TB of cloud storage shared across Google Photos, Gmail and Drive for data and WhatsApp backups.

According to Google, the offer represents a value of about ₹35,100 and can be activated via the MyJio app. The company said the initiative aims to make its most advanced AI tools available to a wider audience and support everyday productivity across India’s fast-growing digital ecosystem.

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