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Showing posts from July, 2025

Survey: Most Europeans are worried about their digital privacy - and it’s impacting how they use AI

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Almost nine out of 10 Europeans are concerned about their privacy and would be more willing to embrace technology with artificial intelligence (AI) if they knew their data was secure, a new survey has found. Research from Samsung Electronics showed that as well as privacy concerns, more Europeans (62 per cent) would be willing to use AI if they understood the benefits to their lifestyles. The data comes as tech companies race to integrate AI into their gadgets, such as Apple which this week announced several updates , including AI in its smartwatch to give users better health data. Internet data scraping is one of the biggest debates in AI, with tech companies such as OpenAI saying all content online should be used to train AI models, which has led to lawsuits over copyright and data practices. Related The AI revolution is 'unprecedented' in the scale of human history, new report finds...

“I used ChatGPT to save my relationship, here’s what it did for me”

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Our fights used to feel like tense reality TV episodes: action-packed, a little too loud, and downright exhausting. Then one night, feeling a bit on edge, I called on an unexpected ally: ChatGPT. Yes, artificial intelligence. And no, it's not as cold and weird as it sounds. One evening, after yet another argument We've been together for 8 years. The kind of relationship where we finish each other's sentences... and sometimes also get on each other's nerves. Despite the love (still there, I assure you) , communication was becoming more and more... acrobatic. It only took one wrong word for everything to degenerate: poorly worded reproaches, icy silences, sentences we regret barely having said. One evening, the atmosphere was frosty. We had argued—again—over something trivial. I think it was about summer vacation: she wanted the mountains this time, me the sea again, and we found ourselves throwing reproaches at each other about two-year-old issues. You get ...

Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement

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Disney and Universal sued popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday. This is the first time major Hollywood companies have taken legal action against a maker of generative AI technology that could upend the entertainment industry. The copyright lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court claims Midjourney pirated the libraries of the two Hollywood studios to generate and distribute “endless unauthorized copies” of their famed characters, such as Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise and the Minions from “Despicable Me”. Related More than 400 artists send letter to Trump over AI companies exploiting copyrighted works Disney sued for using Peter Cushing's likeness in Star Wars, 22 years after his death “Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism. Piracy is piracy, and whether an infringing image or video is made with AI or a...

Environmental lawyers ‘heartened’ by another EU Court ruling backing bans on bottom trawling

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A ban on deep-sea fishing in parts of the Atlantic rich with marine life has been upheld by the EU’s General Court. It means these areas will remain restricted to help preserve vulnerable species and ecosystems. The decision comes after the same court ruled last month in a German case that Marine Protected Areas must be protected from bottom trawling. Separate legal actions were filed by the Spanish government and fishermen from Galicia and Asturias who challenged a 2016 EU rule that banned fishing with nets and longlines in 87 areas of the Atlantic off the coasts of Spain, Ireland, Portugal and France. Related What is UNOC? World leaders gather in Nice to confront ocean emergency ‘A golden opportunity’: UK unveils plan to ban bottom trawling in more marine protected areas When the rules came into effect in 2022, Spain sued the European Commission, claiming that it failed to consider t...

Should you be worried about flying on a Boeing plane?

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Fears around the safety of Boeing ’s aircraft have resurfaced following the fatal crash of an Air India flight. The Boeing 787-8 plane carrying 242 people, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport, India . It’s currently unclear what caused the crash , but at least 105 deaths have been recorded; 53 British nationals, 169 Indian nationals, 7 Portuguese passengers and 1 Canadian were onboard the flight to London Gatwick . This is the first ever hull loss for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model that first began commercial service in 2011. Up until now, the plane had recorded no fatal accident of any kind. But the latest tragedy in a series of recent incidents adds to concerns over the safety of the company’s aircraft, with some travellers uncertain about flying on Boeing-manufactured planes. Which airlines use Boeing planes? The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is a wide-body, long-range aircraft designed for inter...

Can AI chatbots speak in their own 'secret' language?

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A viral video which shows three different chatbots speaking in their own "secret language" has amassed hundreds of thousands of views across various social media platforms. The clip shows three chatbots engaging in a phone call in English, in which they discuss "an employee's badge number". When the machines realise that they are all speaking to other bots, they ask each other whether they should switch to "Gibberlink", prompting them to start emitting high-pitched noises, in what appears to be something out of a science-fiction film. Hype or a real technology? Gibberlink — a term which combines "gibberish" and "link" — is real. While use of the technology is limited, it enables AI engines to communicate in their own language. EuroVerify asked Anton Pidkuiko, who co-founded Gibberlink, to review a number of online clips. "Many of the videos are imitating an existing technology — they show phones which aren...

Period trackers might sell data but women are trapped

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‘Real and frightening privacy and safety risks.’ That’s the view of experts at Cambridge University in a report released this week on period tracker apps , warning that our personal information can be collected and sold at scale. Hundreds of millions of women are estimated to use these apps, which track menstrual cycles , and the risks are plentiful. The first and perhaps most striking comes when we consider what happens if this intimate data were to end up in the wrong hands. Knowing which women are pregnant and which women want to be is information which, if passed on to health insurers, could cause discrimination; if accessible by potential employers, could put jobs at risk; and that’s before we consider the threat of coercive control and domestic violence. It is also frightening to consider what this risk could look like for our reproductive rights, under threat at home and abroad. Recent police guidance suggests officers who suspect wo...

Report outlines directions to advance Vietnam s AI economy

At the ceremony, Vu Quoc Huy, director general of the NIC, said that Vietnam is entering a particularly important transition period, with new breakthroughs in strategic technologies such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, renewable energy, and big data that are reshaping the global value chain and changing the structures of economies. "AI is emerging as a central driving force of this revolution, with a forecast scale of contributing up to $5 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Vietnam is determined to participate and establish a solid position in this key field by promoting extensive cooperation with the world's leading countries, economies, and technology corporations," he emphasised. The report is the first document to provide a comprehensive picture of the AI ​​economy in Vietnam, providing international experiences for AI development and analysing opportunities in key economic sectors, while proposing development pillars for the AI ​​economy. This will...

Vietnam approves national action programme for cloud computing

The programme aims to prioritise resources, master technology, boost innovation, and develop and apply cloud computing to build an advanced, synchronous, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure, capable of providing high-performance computing resources. It also aims to improve national competitiveness, promote the digital economy, and create momentum to realise the country's socioeconomic development goals. This will help Vietnam become one of the leading countries in ASEAN for data centres and cloud computing services by 2030, towards a developed, high-income country by 2045. Cloud tech consultants TechX became the first partner of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Vietnam to achieve its Cloud Operation Competency certificate All state agencies and enterprises will use cloud computing services by 2030 as part of the plan. The country will attempt to draw domestic and foreign investment to build large-scale, modern, high-performance computing and interna...

Robotic Dog Unveiled as Bomb-Detecting Lifesaver

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Visitors at Europe ’s largest tech fair joined in with kicking a robotic dog – but it was designed for far worse. The cute quadruped has been programmed to respond to bomb threats, such as if a suspicious package is left in a public place. On display at Viva Tech in Paris , the dog gave its paw to shake hands with onlookers, before getting booted in the side. It wasn’t a display of pointless animal cruelty (we hope) but was intended to show how well it keeps its balance. Visiting the expo yesterday, was surprised to see nobody managed to knock it off its feet, even when it got up onto two legs to ‘sit up and beg’. The cost of the dog ranges from £1,600 right up to £120,000 depending on functionality. Ana Correia, a product designer for smart locker company Lokk, told : ‘The dog is under development in case of – I hate to say this word, but we need to talk about it – a terror attack. Imagine there is a bomb threat: You wouldn’t send ...

10 upgrades for iPhones and Apple devices in 2025, from AI to Liquid Glass OS design

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Operating systems for iPhones and other Apple devices will have a new look, and other changes include AI features and a revamped camera app. At its annual developer conference, Apple gave another preview of software innovations coming to the iPhone, Mac and other devices. These include many artificial intelligence (AI) features, but the first change you are likely to notice is the new design in the operating systems. Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, there have essentially only been two design directions for the software. Initially, Apple sought to mimic real-world objects, such as wooden bookshelves for the Books app, to help users understand the concept of multitouch screens. With iOS 7 in 2013, a starkly minimalist alternative was introduced, featuring icons made of just a few lines. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, ...

Edifier launches ES Series blending style with immersive sound

RICHMOND, BC, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Edifier, a leading innovator in premium audio solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its latest product line – the ES Series - a stunning new collection that redefines what it means to blend high-fidelity sound with sophisticated style. The new ES Series includes the ES20, ES60, and ES300 speakers, alongside the sleek and powerful ES850NB over-ear headphones. The new ES Series includes the ES20, ES60, and ES300 speakers, alongside the sleek and powerful ES850NB over-ear headphones. A symbol of Edifier's evolving vision, the "ES" in the series' name carries layered meaning: "E" for Elegant – capturing the series' sleek, modern design language. "S" for Superb (or Luxurious) – representing the elevated quality, premium materials, and refined finish. And "ES" as Edifier Sound – reflecting Edifier's legacy of high-performance audio and imm...

Pilot project to launch €185m sustainable data centre in Uzbekistan

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At the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025 (TIFF 2025), green tech and AI-ready infrastructure dominated the conversation, and few projects generated as much buzz as Data Volt’s push to build the region’s first fully sustainable, high-density data centres. “We’re bringing in the latest technology, especially in cooling”, said Rajit Nanda, CEO of Data Volt, outlining how the company is rethinking the fundamentals of digital infrastructure. “These facilities aren’t just built for today – they’re built for where AI is heading”. Data Volt’s model is deceptively simple: use solar by day, wind by night, and store the rest in powerful battery systems that keep operations running around the clock. What makes it revolutionary is the scale and the context. In a world where data centres already account for around 3% of global emissions, and AI could triple energy demand, this model is a direct response to a growing crisis. “If we don’t start building sustainable dat...

Sennheiser debuts Profile Wireless mic and 32 bit float update

SINGAPORE, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sennheiser announced a one-channel version of its Profile Wireless 2.4 GHz all-in-one microphone solution. The streamlined single-mic system comes in a compact bag and includes a second USB charging cable instead of the charging bar of the two-channel version launched in late 2024. Designed to be lightweight and ultra-portable, the one-channel version covers typical usage scenarios of solo creators, while allowing for later expansion of the system by including the same two-channel receiver as the Profile Wireless 2-channel system. Also, a 32-bit float firmware update for all Profile Wireless systems is available for download on the Sennheiser website from today. The Profile Wireless 1-channel mic system includes a clip-on mic with mini windshield and magnetic mount, a two-channel receiver, two USB cables, USB-C and Lightning adapters, a camera cable and a shoe mount adapter Streamlined one-channel version ...

China approves world’s biggest amphibious plane, AG600, for mass production

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China’s home-grown AG600, the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, has been given the green light for mass production, marking a step forward in building an independent and globally competitive aviation industry. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) certified the plane on Wednesday, confirming that its developer, the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (Avic), has established a reliable system to consistently produce aircraft that meet safety standards, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Avic said the approval was a milestone towards a “more high-end and standardised” civil aviation manufacturing sector, and that it “strengthened China’s ability to independently build a complete civil aviation ecosystem”, CCTV reported. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you b...

Breakthrough in 2D Quantum Sensors Unlocks Advanced Magnetic Field Detection

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Scientists at the University of Cambridge have developed a next-generation 2D quantum sensor that detects vectorial magnetic fields with unprecedented accuracy. By leveraging atomic spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), this innovation surpasses traditional diamond-based quantum sensors, offering multi-axis detection and enhanced sensitivity at the nanoscale. How Hexagonal Boron Nitride Transforms Quantum Sensing Hexagonal boron nitride, a two-dimensional material similar to graphene, possesses unique quantum properties that make it ideal for sensing applications. Unlike conventional quantum sensors relying on nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, hBN-based sensors provide multi-axis magnetic field detection, enabling researchers to measure directional variations with superior precision. Atomic-scale defects within hBN absorb and emit visible light in response to local magnetic conditions, allowing real-time monitoring of quantum interactions. Advancements in Nanosc...

American Airlines plane is prevented from landing on Naples runway for being too large

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American Airlines Flight 780 carrying 231 passengers to the Italian city was forced to divert to Rome Fiumicino Airport “due to technical limitations.” The incident occurred on June 2. The aircraft being operated was a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Passengers had to take a bus for over 225 km before reaching their final destination. The wingspan of the Dreamliner is about 6 meters longer than that of the traditional Boeing 787-8, which is the model American Airlines typically uses to fly to Naples, as it meets the airport’s requirements. “We apologize to them for this disruption to their journey,” American Airlines said in a statement. Photos: Wikimedia Commons. This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team. The post American Airlines plane is prevented from landing on Naples runway for being too large appeared first on Trânsito e metrô .

Screen Galore! XPeng and Huawei Showcase Massive 87” Head-Up Display for Cars

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The Windshield of the Future Looks Like Something from a Sci-Fi Movie Forget about small infotainment screens and simple speedometers. XPeng and Huawei have just unveiled a gigantic 87-inch AR head-up display that covers the entire windshield – and it feels like driving into the future. What Exactly Is It? The new system functions as an augmented reality windshield, where everything from navigation and speed limits to alerts and entertainment is projected directly in front of you. Not in a small square – but across the whole field of view. It’s like driving with a digital layer on top of reality. Imagine road signs floating in the air, arrows guiding you in real-time, and a driving experience that resembles a video game – without taking your eyes off the road. Why 87 Inches? It sounds wild, but the screen size refers to the virtual image area you experience through the windshield. In practice, it covers an area equivalent to looking at an 87” screen floating about ...

Singapore leads global AI investment with 27% topping $1.28m: report

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This places Singapore ahead of both the United Kingdom (18%) and the United States (14%). Singapore has emerged as the global leader in high-value artificial intelligence ( AI ) investment, with 27% of businesses allocating more than $1.28m (US$1m) annually to AI initiatives. This places Singapore ahead of both the United Kingdom (18%) and the United States (14%), according to the latest IT Priorities Research report by Colt Technology Services. Whilst Japan leads in adoption rates and Hong Kong shows strong mid-level investment, Singapore stands out for the scale and depth of its AI commitment, the report noted. Much of this momentum is driven by the national $1b AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0) and a strong network of public-private partnerships advancing applied innovation. In addition to AI, Singaporean firms are placing significant emphasis on cybersecurity and oper...

The AI revolution is 'unprecedented' in the scale of human history, new report finds

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The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in our lives is officially unprecedented, according to the woman dubbed the "Queen of the Internet". Mary Meeker, a venture capitalist known for her internet trend insights, released a 340-page report titled 'Trends - Artificial Intelligence,' where copious research and charts show what she characterises as the “unprecedented” pace of change in which AI is being invested in, developed, adopted, and used. Meeker ran capital firm Kleiner Perkins’ growth practice during the 2010s, where she invested in future tech giants like Facebook, Spotify, and Canva. Related 'Godfather' of AI Yoshua Bengio launches non-profit to make AI safer and more trustworthy A profile in Forbes credits her with predicting the rise of Apple, Google, and the digital economy with her previous trend reports. “To say the world is changing at unprecedented rates is an understatement,...