Hull College has embraced AI to enhance learning, from lesson planning to real-time language translation. The institution is hosting a conference at its Queens Gardens campus to discuss how AI is influencing teaching, learning, and career preparation.
Mature student Sharron Knight, retraining to become a police call handler, attended an AI seminar and described the technology as ‘not as scary’ as she initially thought. She expressed surprise at the vast possibilities it offers. Student Albara Tahir, whose first language is Sudanese, has also benefited from AI tools, using them to improve his English skills.
Hull College principal Debra Gray highlighted AI’s potential to empower educators. She compared the tool to a bicycle, helping both teachers and students reach their goals faster without altering the core learning process.
The UK government recently announced plans to expand AI’s role in public services and economic growth, including creating ‘AI Growth Zones’ to support job creation and infrastructure projects. AI is already being used in UK hospitals for cancer diagnostics and other critical tasks.
Beijing-based AI company Zhipu Huazhang Technology has opposed the US government’s plan to add it to the export control entity list. The company argues the decision lacks a factual basis.
Zhipu issued a statement on its official WeChat account expressing strong opposition to the move. The firm criticised the US commerce department’s intentions, insisting the decision was unjustified.
Zhipu and its subsidiaries face restrictions on accessing US technologies if added to the list. The company maintains it operates lawfully and transparently in its business practices.
The US has been increasing scrutiny on Chinese technology firms, citing national security concerns. Zhipu emphasised its commitment to responsible technology development and cooperation with global partners.
Microsoft has introduced a new chat service, Copilot Chat, allowing businesses to deploy AI agents for routine tasks. The service, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, enables users to create AI-driven assistants using natural language commands in English, Mandarin, and other languages. Tasks such as market research, drafting strategy documents, and meeting preparation can be handled for free, though advanced features like Teams call transcription and PowerPoint slide creation require a $30 monthly Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.
With increasing pressure to generate returns on its substantial AI investments, Microsoft is betting on a pay-as-you-go model to drive adoption. The company is expected to spend around $80 billion on AI infrastructure and data centres this fiscal year. Following concerns about Copilot’s adoption, Microsoft has been pushing its AI tools more aggressively, offering businesses greater flexibility in using AI for automation.
In a move towards greater AI autonomy, Microsoft previously introduced tools allowing customers to create self-sufficient AI agents with minimal human input. Analysts suggest that such innovations could offer a simpler path to monetisation for tech companies, making AI-driven automation more accessible and scalable.
Italian startup iGenius has launched Colosseum 355B, a large language model built using the latest Nvidia technology, designed for industries with strict data protection and compliance needs. CEO Uljan Sharka highlighted the challenges that tight regulations pose for AI adoption in sectors like finance, heavy industry, and government, where data security is paramount.
Unlike major competitors like OpenAI, iGenius offers open-source AI models that allow companies to run the technology on their own infrastructure, ensuring that sensitive data remains in-house. The startup is already in talks with potential clients in the financial services and industrial sectors.
Sharka also traveled to Brussels to present the new model to the European Commission, aiming to gain regulatory approval and foster wider adoption in Europe’s heavily regulated markets.
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to support the rapid expansion of AI data centres by providing federal land and resources. The initiative will allow AI facilities to be built on sites owned by the Defence and Energy departments, addressing the growing demand for computing power while promoting clean energy development. Companies using federal land for AI data centres will also be required to purchase a portion of American-made semiconductors, reinforcing the administration’s push for domestic chip production.
The order aims to ensure that the most advanced AI models are developed and stored within the United States, strengthening national security and economic competitiveness. The White House stressed the importance of securing energy supplies and transmission infrastructure to sustain AI growth, with experts predicting that by 2028, leading developers could need up to five gigawatts of capacity to train their AI models. Agencies have been directed to fast-track grid interconnections, permitting, and infrastructure development to meet these demands.
Efforts to keep AI technology within the United States align with broader national security concerns. The Commerce Department has announced new restrictions on AI chip exports to prevent China from accessing advanced computing power. White House technology adviser Tarun Chhabra highlighted the potential risks posed by AI, including its ability to aid in developing chemical, biological, and cyber warfare capabilities. Ensuring that AI data centres remain under US control will help safeguard military and national security interests.
A French interior designer, identified as Anne, has fallen victim to a sophisticated scam in which she was tricked into believing she was in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. Over the course of a year, the scammer, using AI-generated images and fake social media profiles, manipulated Anne into sending €830,000 for purported cancer treatment after a fabricated story involving the actor’s frozen bank accounts.
The scam began when Anne received messages from a fake ‘Jane Etta Pitt,’ claiming the Hollywood star needed someone like her. As Anne was going through a divorce, the AI-generated Brad Pitt sent declarations of love, eventually asking for money under the guise of urgent medical needs. Despite doubts raised by her daughter, Anne transferred large sums, believing she was saving a life.
The truth came to light when Anne saw Brad Pitt in the media with his current partner, and it became clear she had been scammed. However, instead of support, her story has been met with cyberbullying, including mocking social media posts from groups like Toulouse FC and Netflix France. The harassment has taken a toll on Anne’s mental health, and police are now investigating the scam.
The case highlights the dangers of AI scams, the vulnerabilities of individuals, and the lack of empathy in some online responses.
ChatGPT is rolling out a new task-scheduling feature that allows paying users to set reminders and recurring requests directly with the AI assistant. Available to ChatGPT Plus, Team, and Pro users, the feature can handle practical tasks like sending reminders about passport expirations or offering personalised weekend plans based on the weather.
The task system represents OpenAI’s early venture into AI agents that can perform autonomous actions. Users can set tasks through ChatGPT’s web app by selecting the scheduling option from a dropdown menu. Once enabled, the assistant can deliver reminders or perform regular check-ins, such as providing daily news briefings or checking for concert tickets monthly.
While the feature currently offers limited independence, OpenAI sees it as a foundational step towards more capable AI systems. CEO Sam Altman hinted that 2025 will be a significant year for AI agents that may begin to handle more complex tasks, like booking travel or writing code. For now, ChatGPT’s task feature remains in beta, with plans to refine it based on user feedback.
A biotech startup Bioptimus has raised $41 million to develop an advanced AI model aimed at simulating biological processes. Dubbed the ‘GPT for biology,’ this technology seeks to predict disease outcomes and accelerate the discovery of new treatments by learning from vast datasets that span everything from molecules to entire organisms.
The funding round, led by US venture firm Cathay Innovation, highlights a growing global interest in AI-driven healthcare. The French company’s CEO, Jean-Philippe Vert, explained that Bioptimus uses a model akin to those powering chatbots like ChatGPT, but instead of generating text, it simulates complex biological interactions. The goal is to help researchers better understand disease mechanisms and improve treatments in sectors ranging from medicine to cosmetics.
Founded less than a year ago, Bioptimus has already launched H-Optimus-0, an open-source model that aids in diagnosing diseases such as cancer. With the latest funding, the company plans to expand its platform by integrating a broader range of data and forming new partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical firms to drive innovation in healthcare.
France has become a hotbed for AI startups, with companies like Mistral AI and Hugging Face raising massive funds. Bioptimus’s rapid rise highlights how specialised AI models are transforming industries beyond traditional tech sectors.
Microsoft has created a new internal division, CoreAI Platform and Tools, to accelerate its development of AI technologies. The restructuring brings together its developer teams and AI platform under one unit, aimed at making AI a central pillar of the company’s software strategy.
Jay Parikh, a former engineering leader at Meta and CEO of cloud security startup Lacework, will head the new organisation. Reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella, Parikh will oversee various teams focused on AI infrastructure and tools. His appointment signals Microsoft’s continued push to lead in the fast-evolving AI space.
CoreAI’s formation reflects Microsoft’s increasing emphasis on “model-forward” applications, which Nadella described as reshaping software development across all categories. The company’s recent efforts include embedding AI tools across its productivity suite and cloud services, solidifying its place in the growing AI market.
This latest move builds on Microsoft’s broader strategy to remain a leader in AI innovation, following its high-profile partnership with OpenAI and ongoing investments in cloud-based AI solutions.
AI chip startup Blaize has announced plans to go public through a SPAC deal, which will see the company listed on Nasdaq with a valuation of $1.2 billion. Founded in 2011 by former Intel engineers, Blaize specialises in AI chips for edge devices such as drones, security cameras, and industrial robots. Unlike traditional data centre chips, its products are designed for real-world applications that prioritise low latency, power efficiency, and privacy.
The company has raised $335 million from prominent investors, including Samsung and Mercedes-Benz, and claims to have $400 million worth of deals in the pipeline. CEO Dinakar Munagala, who spent over a decade at Intel, emphasised that Blaize’s approach focuses on practical AI solutions for physical environments, differentiating the company from competitors like Nvidia, which primarily targets large-scale data centres.
Despite facing financial challenges, including a loss of $87.5 million in 2023, Blaize is betting on a future where AI chips are embedded into everyday devices. The startup is also involved in defence-related contracts, with one major deal involving AI systems capable of identifying troops and detecting drones, further highlighting its niche in edge computing.
Blaize’s IPO marks a significant shift in the AI chip industry, signalling investor interest in decentralised AI technologies that extend beyond traditional data centre applications.
