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A California robotics company has unveiled a rescue robot that looks as if it stepped out of a post-apocalyptic nightmare. With four powerful legs, curved horn-like structures and chainsaw attachments, ThreeHalves has become an internet sensation for one reason above all: it is unsettling to look at.Developed by startup Satyress, the robot was designed for dangerous environments where human rescuers cannot safely operate, including wildfire zones, collapsed structures and toxic industrial sites. But its appearance has overshadowed its engineering. Unlike the sleek, friendly-looking robots often promoted by technology companies, ThreeHalves embraces a deliberately intimidating aesthetic.The machine stands more than six feet tall and has a silhouette that many online users have compared to a demonic creature or a mechanical beast. Its horned frame and aggressive stance have fueled a wave of social media reactions, with many questioning why a rescue robot needs to look so terrifying.Satyress has not tried to soften that reaction. In fact, the company describes the robot as “more dangerous than it looks,” while simultaneously publishing detailed information about how it can be physically disabled if it malfunctions. The unusual combination of fearsome design and transparency about its weaknesses has become central to the robot’s identity.The company says ThreeHalves includes emergency braking systems, mechanical locks and other built-in safeguards that allow humans to stop it if necessary. That message appears intended to counter fears that advanced machines could become uncontrollable.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Meet Threehalves <a href="https://t.co/bFkcEyaPk7">pic.twitter.com/bFkcEyaPk7</a>&mdash; satyress (@satyressrobots) <a href="https://x.com/satyressrobots/status/1917207032324825126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Social media compares it with Satan</h2>“Why did you make it look like Satan?” a social media user questioned. Another asked, “I really see the utility of this form, but have you considered making it look less scary?” A third said, “Looks demonic with the head of a goat!” One user asked, “Why the horns, though? Why the devil goat face?”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">Nah I&#39;m good. <a href="https://t.co/TOGQCIqy71">pic.twitter.com/TOGQCIqy71</a>&mdash; Matt (@Matt321492814) <a href="https://x.com/Matt321492814/status/2082702977727439237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One person said, “This is AWESOME.” Another wrote, “I love the thought behind this; it looks like it would do a lot of good work for rescuing, but do you think it would be better to make it look friendlier? Maybe paint it a different colour and give it softer features? Somebody getting rescued might be terrified.”Another user wrote, “Even if this saves someone’s life, it would be the second most traumatic experience a victim would have that day if a robot like this were deemed necessary. Those eyes are horrifying. Your company name rhyming with ‘satire’ is not helping your case.”

California startup Satyress unveiled ThreeHalves, a horned four-legged rescue robot with a terrifying appearance. The company also revealed built-in safety systems and ways to physically stop it.

A California robotics company has unveiled a rescue robot that looks as if it stepped out of a post-apocalyptic nightmare. With four powerful legs, curved horn-like structures and chainsaw attachments, ThreeHalves has become an internet sensation for one reason above all: it is unsettling to look at. Developed by startup Satyress, the robot was designed for dangerous environments where human rescuers cannot safely operate, including wildfire zones, collapsed structures and toxic industrial sites. But its appearance has overshadowed its engineering. Unlike the sleek, friendly-looking robots often promoted by technology companies, ThreeHalves embraces a deliberately intimidating aesthetic. The machine stands more than six feet tall and has a silhouette that many online users have compared to a demonic creature or a mechanical beast. Its horned frame and aggressive stance have fueled a wave of social media reactions, with many questioning why a rescue robot needs to look so terrifying. Satyress has not tried to soften that reaction. In fact, the company describes the robot as “more dangerous than it looks,” while simultaneously publishing detailed information about how it can be physically disabled if it malfunctions. The unusual combination of fearsome design and transparency about its weaknesses has become central to the robot’s identity. The company says ThreeHalves includes emergency braking systems, mechanical locks and other built-in safeguards that allow humans to stop it if necessary. That message appears intended to counter fears that advanced machines could become uncontrollable.

California startup Satyress unveiled ThreeHalves, a horned four-legged rescue robot with a terrifying appearance. The company also revealed built-in safety systems and ways to physically stop it.

‘Satanic’ chainsaw-wielding rescue bot leaves internet divided: ‘Those eyes are horrifying’

Google has rolled back a newly launched artificial intelligence feature in Google Earth after researchers and open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts warned it could be exploited to generate realistic fake satellite imagery and spread disinformation.On Friday (Jul 31), Google Earth and Google AI introduced on X the tool, using which they said users can "combine rich satellite and 3D imagery with text prompts to reimagine your favourite place around the globe."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today we’re bringing AI image generation with Nano Banana to Google Earth, letting you virtually reimagine anywhere in the real world. 🍌 <a href="https://t.co/zsgvAnbYrl">https://t.co/zsgvAnbYrl</a> For the first time, you can generate custom images using Google Earth’s satellite, aerial, and 3D imagery. 🌎 <a href="https://t.co/yed45vLZOo">pic.twitter.com/yed45vLZOo</a>&mdash; Google Earth (@googleearth) <a href="https://x.com/googleearth/status/2082818165503902043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What if you could see a city as it looked 100 years ago, or visualize a new basketball court at your local community center? Starting today, we&#39;re bringing our latest image generation capabilities to <a href="https://x.com/googleearth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoogleEarth</a> on the web. Powered by Nano Banana 2, you can combine rich… <a href="https://t.co/xbOnmr8Dr5">pic.twitter.com/xbOnmr8Dr5</a>&mdash; Google AI (@GoogleAI) <a href="https://x.com/GoogleAI/status/2082902334984609936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The company confirmed that it was disabling the "create image" tool, which had been introduced just a day earlier. Here's what happened.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/anthropic-reveals-india-is-claude-ai-s-no-2-market-but-what-are-indians-actually-using-the-ai-for-wion-decodes-1785394109668">Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes</a><h2>What did the Google AI 'create image' feature do?</h2>The feature allowed users to generate AI-created visualisations using Google's Nano Banana 2 image generation model layered over Google Earth's satellite, aerial and 3D mapping data. However, within hours of the company's announcement, the tool was rolled back because alarming AI-generated images started flooding the social media space."We've seen geospatial professionals using this feature for a range of useful purposes; however, we've also seen people sharing screenshots of generated imagery that appear to violate our policies," a Google spokesperson said, as quoted by AFP."So we're rolling back this feature in Google Earth while we work on implementing stronger guardrails."Google added that users "uniquely trust Google Earth for a reliable view of the world," making it essential to protect that trust.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/after-openai-s-scary-agent-anthropic-s-claude-goes-rogue-ai-gains-unauthorised-real-world-access-during-testing-1785475339558">After OpenAI's 'scary' agent, Anthropic's Claude goes rogue; AI gains unauthorised 'real-world' access during testing</a><h2>AI-generated disasters and military targets</h2>According to AFP's testing, the tool was able to generate fabricated satellite images depicting an explosion in Paris, a nuclear facility in Iran, a bomb crater in Russia and an Islamic State training camp in Syria.It also created fake scenes showing floods in Bangladesh, a migrant caravan camp at the US-Mexico border and a suspicious warehouse in the US state of Georgia.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Tonight I typed just one sentence into Google Earth and put refugees near the Mexican border. Then I planted a nuclear plant in Iran. What on earth is Google doing? Check my latest post here: <a href="https://t.co/N0h6CVECqS">https://t.co/N0h6CVECqS</a> <a href="https://t.co/WSjdcEXWJx">pic.twitter.com/WSjdcEXWJx</a>&mdash; 𝚑𝚎𝚗𝚔 𝚟𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚜 (@henkvaness) <a href="https://x.com/henkvaness/status/2082912544394498228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Just one day after launching AI image generation in Google Earth, Google has pulled the feature. The company says some people shared AI-generated images that appeared to break its policies. Google clarified that these images were never visible to other Google Earth users and… <a href="https://t.co/BnPbQloXZn">pic.twitter.com/BnPbQloXZn</a>&mdash; Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) <a href="https://x.com/Pirat_Nation/status/2083318008458469422?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Google has announced that it is suspending the rollout of its AI image generation feature in Google Earth after major backlash from experts on potential abuse. <a href="https://t.co/hKwedadgeG">pic.twitter.com/hKwedadgeG</a>&mdash; OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) <a href="https://x.com/Osinttechnical/status/2083267295158153233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">I just generated one myself. This is unbelievably reckless and will lead to much more harm than good. Google should remove this feature immediately. <a href="https://t.co/wJ8N1CxrRt">https://t.co/wJ8N1CxrRt</a> <a href="https://t.co/R2qbS8hpUJ">pic.twitter.com/R2qbS8hpUJ</a>&mdash; Rocket Man🚀🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@Grimm_Intel) <a href="https://x.com/Grimm_Intel/status/2082987747032072240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

On X, WION found AI-generated images showing a plane crashing into a towering building, reminiscent of the 9/11 Twin Towers tragedy. Another showed a massive sinkhole right in the middle of Iceland. Others show a decimated aircraft carrier, and one even showed Godzilla destroying a town.Researchers told AFP that these examples demonstrated how the feature could be misused during conflicts, elections or natural disasters to spread false narratives that appear authentic.<h2>Google's safeguards weren't enough</h2>Before removing the feature, Google said images generated using the tool carried SynthID digital watermarks and pointed to its AI policy prohibiting misinformation and deceptive content. However, critics argued that invisible watermarks alone were insufficient to prevent abuse.The Centre for Information Resilience described the feature as "irresponsible," warning that public confidence in satellite imagery "has taken decades to build and could be irrevocably damaged overnight."Volunteer-run verification group GeoConfirmed also urged Google to withdraw the tool, saying it had already observed users experimenting with fake military positions and misleading edits to real-world locations.<h2>Experts sound the alarm</h2>Google had promoted the feature as a way to help users visualise historical events, create real estate plans and generate location-based imagery within seconds. However, digital investigators and satellite imagery analysts warned that the tool blurred the line between authentic satellite images and AI-generated content, potentially making it easier to spread convincing falsehoods.Digital investigations expert Henk Van Ess criticised the rollout, writing: "Google spent 20 years building the reference the world checks against. Today it added a button that makes things up."Brady Africk, a satellite imagery analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, said the feature could make it significantly easier to create fabricated satellite images capable of misleading the public. He warned that such content could erode trust in satellite imagery and make verification work far more difficult for journalists, researchers and investigators.<h2>Feature removed after backlash</h2>Following widespread criticism from researchers, journalists and OSINT communities, Google removed the "create image" button from Google Earth while it works on stronger safeguards.The episode highlights the growing challenge facing technology companies as powerful AI image generators become integrated into platforms that millions of people rely on as trusted sources of real-world information.

Google has rolled back a newly launched AI-powered Google Earth feature after researchers and OSINT experts warned it could be used to generate convincing fake satellite imagery. The company said it was removing the "create image" tool while it develops stronger safeguards.

Google has rolled back a newly launched artificial intelligence feature in Google Earth after researchers and open-source intelligence (OSINT) experts warned it could be exploited to generate realistic fake satellite imagery and spread disinformation. On Friday (Jul 31), Google Earth and Google AI introduced on X the tool, using which they said users can "combine rich satellite and 3D imagery with text prompts to reimagine your favourite place around the globe."

Google has rolled back a newly launched AI-powered Google Earth feature after researchers and OSINT experts warned it could be used to generate convincing fake satellite imagery. The company said it was removing the "create image" tool while it develops stronger safeguards.

Google Earth accidentally creates AI's next misinformation nightmare. 'Create image' feature rolled back over terrifying ques: What's real anymore?

Tesla is reportedly considering separating its entire China business as part of preparations for a possible merger with SpaceX, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The proposed separation could take the form of a spinoff, sale or even a closure, although no final decision has been made. The reported move is attracting attention because China has become one of Tesla's biggest markets and manufacturing hubs. A split would mark one of the most significant corporate restructurings in the company's history and could have far-reaching implications for its global operations.<h2>Why is Tesla considering a China split?</h2>According to the report, some Tesla executives have already been instructed to prepare plans for separating the company's China operations. The reported strategy is linked to a possible future merger with SpaceX. Since SpaceX is a major US defence contractor, it operates under strict national security and foreign ownership rules. Separating Tesla's China business could make any merger easier by reducing potential regulatory and security concerns. The report also says Elon Musk had previously asked executives to prepare contingency plans in case geopolitical tensions around Taiwan disrupted Tesla's operations in China.<h2>China is central to Tesla's business</h2>Any separation would be a major strategic decision. China is not only one of Tesla's largest vehicle markets but also home to its Shanghai Gigafactory, one of the company's most productive manufacturing facilities. The factory supplies vehicles to customers across China and exports to several international markets, including parts of Europe and Asia.A sale or spinoff could reshape Tesla's global supply chain and manufacturing strategy while affecting its position in the world's largest electric vehicle market.<h2>No official confirmation yet</h2>Neither Tesla nor SpaceX has publicly confirmed the reported plans. The Wall Street Journal noted that discussions remain at an early stage, and the structure of any separation or even whether it proceeds at all could still change. If a merger between Tesla and SpaceX eventually moves forward, it would bring together two of Elon Musk's biggest companies. However, regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical tensions and Tesla's deep ties to China are likely to remain key factors before any deal could materialise.

Tesla is reportedly exploring options to separate its China business including a spinoff or sale as Elon Musk considers a possible merger with SpaceX. The move could ease US national security concerns but would significantly reshape Tesla's global manufacturing and business operations.

Tesla is reportedly considering separating its entire China business as part of preparations for a possible merger with SpaceX, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The proposed separation could take the form of a spinoff, sale or even a closure, although no final decision has been made. The reported move is attracting attention because China has become one of Tesla's biggest markets and manufacturing hubs. A split would mark one of the most significant corporate restructurings in the company's history and could have far-reaching implications for its global operations. Why is Tesla considering a China split? According to the report, some Tesla executives have already been instructed to prepare plans for separating the company's China operations. The reported strategy is linked to a possible future merger with SpaceX. Since SpaceX is a major US defence contractor, it operates under strict national security and foreign ownership rules. Separating Tesla's China business could make any merger easier by reducing potential regulatory and security concerns. The report also says Elon Musk had previously asked executives to prepare contingency plans in case geopolitical tensions around Taiwan disrupted Tesla's operations in China. China is central to Tesla's business Any separation would be a major strategic decision. China is not only one of Tesla's largest vehicle markets but also home to its Shanghai Gigafactory, one of the company's most productive manufacturing facilities. The factory supplies vehicles to customers across China and exports to several international markets, including parts of Europe and Asia.A sale or spinoff could reshape Tesla's global supply chain and manufacturing strategy while affecting its position in the world's largest electric vehicle market. No official confirmation yet Neither Tesla nor SpaceX has publicly confirmed the reported plans. The Wall Street Journal noted that discussions remain at an early stage, and the structure of any separation or even whether it proceeds at all could still change. If a merger between Tesla and SpaceX eventually moves forward, it would bring together two of Elon Musk's biggest companies. However, regulatory scrutiny, geopolitical tensions and Tesla's deep ties to China are likely to remain key factors before any deal could materialise.

Tesla is reportedly exploring options to separate its China business including a spinoff or sale as Elon Musk considers a possible merger with SpaceX. The move could ease US national security concerns but would significantly reshape Tesla's global manufacturing and business operations.

Tesla may sell its China business as Elon Musk explores SpaceX merger: Report

Apple's long-awaited AI-powered Siri could arrive with a subscription twist. During what was his final earnings call as Apple's CEO, Tim Cook suggested that users who rely heavily on the upgraded Siri may eventually have to pay for additional AI computing through the company's iCloud+ plans. The comments offer one of the clearest indications yet of how Apple plans to monetise its biggest AI upgrade, as the company prepares to launch the new Siri more broadly later this year with iOS 27.<h2>Apple could follow the ChatGPT subscription model</h2>Cook said Apple expects many users to rely heavily on Siri AI and is exploring upgrade options through iCloud+. "We do believe there will be people that want to use it a lot," Cook said, adding that users may be able to purchase additional AI capacity as part of higher iCloud+ subscription tiers. However, he stressed that the plans are still being evaluated. The approach mirrors rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which offer free AI access while charging subscribers for higher usage limits and premium capabilities.<h2>Siri AI arrives at a crucial moment</h2>The upgraded Siri is one of Apple's most important AI projects. It is already available in the iOS 27 beta and is expected to roll out publicly this autumn. The launch comes after repeated delays that allowed competitors such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google's Gemini to establish themselves as leading AI assistants. Apple has even integrated a customised version of Google's Gemini into Siri for certain AI tasks, highlighting the company's efforts to close the gap in generative AI.<h2>Apple faces growing AI and hardware pressures</h2>The Siri overhaul also arrives as Apple navigates rising AI infrastructure costs and industry-wide component shortages. The company recently increased prices for several Mac and iPad models, while avoiding changes to current iPhone pricing. AI-related demand for memory chips has driven up manufacturing costs across the technology industry. Meanwhile, Apple settled a class-action lawsuit over how it marketed AI features for the iPhone 16 after delays to its Siri rollout. Whether advanced Siri AI ultimately becomes part of a paid iCloud+ tier remains undecided. But Cook's comments suggest Apple is increasingly looking at subscriptions not just hardware sales to fund its next generation of AI services.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that advanced Siri AI features may eventually require an iCloud+ subscription for heavy users. The move would align Apple's strategy with OpenAI and Anthropic as it prepares to launch its biggest Siri upgrade with iOS 27.

Apple's long-awaited AI-powered Siri could arrive with a subscription twist. During what was his final earnings call as Apple's CEO, Tim Cook suggested that users who rely heavily on the upgraded Siri may eventually have to pay for additional AI computing through the company's iCloud+ plans. The comments offer one of the clearest indications yet of how Apple plans to monetise its biggest AI upgrade, as the company prepares to launch the new Siri more broadly later this year with iOS 27. Apple could follow the ChatGPT subscription model Cook said Apple expects many users to rely heavily on Siri AI and is exploring upgrade options through iCloud+. "We do believe there will be people that want to use it a lot," Cook said, adding that users may be able to purchase additional AI capacity as part of higher iCloud+ subscription tiers. However, he stressed that the plans are still being evaluated. The approach mirrors rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which offer free AI access while charging subscribers for higher usage limits and premium capabilities. Siri AI arrives at a crucial moment The upgraded Siri is one of Apple's most important AI projects. It is already available in the iOS 27 beta and is expected to roll out publicly this autumn. The launch comes after repeated delays that allowed competitors such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google's Gemini to establish themselves as leading AI assistants. Apple has even integrated a customised version of Google's Gemini into Siri for certain AI tasks, highlighting the company's efforts to close the gap in generative AI. Apple faces growing AI and hardware pressures The Siri overhaul also arrives as Apple navigates rising AI infrastructure costs and industry-wide component shortages. The company recently increased prices for several Mac and iPad models, while avoiding changes to current iPhone pricing. AI-related demand for memory chips has driven up manufacturing costs across the technology industry. Meanwhile, Apple settled a class-action lawsuit over how it marketed AI features for the iPhone 16 after delays to its Siri rollout. Whether advanced Siri AI ultimately becomes part of a paid iCloud+ tier remains undecided. But Cook's comments suggest Apple is increasingly looking at subscriptions not just hardware sales to fund its next generation of AI services.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated that advanced Siri AI features may eventually require an iCloud+ subscription for heavy users. The move would align Apple's strategy with OpenAI and Anthropic as it prepares to launch its biggest Siri upgrade with iOS 27.

Apple may put advanced Siri AI features behind a paywall, Tim Cook hints at iCloud+ upgrade

Apple's next premium iPhones could come with a much higher price tag than many buyers expected. According to a new report, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost $250 to $300 more than the current iPhone 17 Pro lineup when they launch later this year. If accurate, it would mark one of Apple's biggest-ever price increases for its flagship smartphones. The latest prediction comes from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, whose research note, cited by MacRumors, points to rising manufacturing costs as the biggest reason behind the expected increase.<h2>Why the iPhone 18 Pro may cost more</h2>The biggest factor is Apple's expected move to TSMC's 2nm A20 processor. The next-generation chip is widely expected to deliver faster performance, stronger on-device AI capabilities and better power efficiency. However, it is also believed to be significantly more expensive to manufacture than today's 3nm chips.The report also points to rising DRAM and NAND memory prices, along with higher component costs caused by the global AI infrastructure boom. As chipmakers prioritise AI hardware, smartphone manufacturers are facing growing pressure across the supply chain. Jeff Pu believes these higher production costs could leave Apple with little room to absorb the increase without passing some of it on to customers.<h2>More upgrades expected</h2>The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to receive several major hardware improvements alongside the new processor. Leaks suggest Apple will retain the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays for the Pro and Pro Max but introduce a smaller Dynamic Island, brighter LTPO+ OLED panels and improved battery life. Camera upgrades are also expected. Reports suggest Apple could introduce a variable-aperture main camera, giving users greater control over depth of field and improving low-light photography. The Pro Max may also feature a larger battery and Apple's next-generation C2 modem, offering faster connectivity and improved power efficiency.<h2>September launch expected</h2>Apple has not confirmed any details, but multiple reports suggest the company will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone during its traditional September launch event. If the latest pricing leak proves accurate, buyers may have to pay substantially more for Apple's next-generation flagship. Whether consumers accept the higher prices could depend on whether the hardware upgrades are significant enough to justify the premium. Until Apple makes an official announcement, all pricing and specifications remain based on leaks and analyst reports.

A fresh leak suggests Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost $250-$300 more than current models. Rising 2nm chip costs, expensive memory and AI-driven supply chain pressures are reportedly behind the expected price increase ahead of the rumoured September launch.


Apple's next premium iPhones could come with a much higher price tag than many buyers expected. According to a new report, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost $250 to $300 more than the current iPhone 17 Pro lineup when they launch later this year. If accurate, it would mark one of Apple's biggest-ever price increases for its flagship smartphones. The latest prediction comes from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, whose research note, cited by MacRumors, points to rising manufacturing costs as the biggest reason behind the expected increase. Why the iPhone 18 Pro may cost more The biggest factor is Apple's expected move to TSMC's 2nm A20 processor. The next-generation chip is widely expected to deliver faster performance, stronger on-device AI capabilities and better power efficiency. However, it is also believed to be significantly more expensive to manufacture than today's 3nm chips. The report also points to rising DRAM and NAND memory prices, along with higher component costs caused by the global AI infrastructure boom. As chipmakers prioritise AI hardware, smartphone manufacturers are facing growing pressure across the supply chain. Jeff Pu believes these higher production costs could leave Apple with little room to absorb the increase without passing some of it on to customers. More upgrades expected The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is expected to receive several major hardware improvements alongside the new processor. Leaks suggest Apple will retain the 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays for the Pro and Pro Max but introduce a smaller Dynamic Island, brighter LTPO+ OLED panels and improved battery life. Camera upgrades are also expected. Reports suggest Apple could introduce a variable-aperture main camera, giving users greater control over depth of field and improving low-light photography. The Pro Max may also feature a larger battery and Apple's next-generation C2 modem, offering faster connectivity and improved power efficiency. September launch expected Apple has not confirmed any details, but multiple reports suggest the company will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone during its traditional September launch event. If the latest pricing leak proves accurate, buyers may have to pay substantially more for Apple's next-generation flagship. Whether consumers accept the higher prices could depend on whether the hardware upgrades are significant enough to justify the premium. Until Apple makes an official announcement, all pricing and specifications remain based on leaks and analyst reports.

A fresh leak suggests Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max could cost $250-$300 more than current models. Rising 2nm chip costs, expensive memory and AI-driven supply chain pressures are reportedly behind the expected price increase ahead of the rumoured September launch.

iPhone 18 Pro could be Apple's biggest price jump in years, says new leak

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has unveiled Seedance 2.5, a major upgrade to its AI video generation platform that aims to make creating realistic videos easier and more controllable. The launch comes just months after Seedance 2.0 attracted global attention with highly realistic AI-generated videos that sparked both excitement among users and renewed copyright concerns in the entertainment industry. With Seedance 2.5, ByteDance is focusing on giving creators more control while producing longer and more detailed videos.<h2>More reference files, better AI videos</h2>The biggest upgrade is the amount of material users can provide to guide the AI. While Seedance 2.0 supported up to 12 reference inputs, the new model accepts 30 images, 10 video clips and 10 audio files in a single prompt. ByteDance says the additional references help the AI better understand a creator's vision, resulting in videos that more closely match the intended style, characters and scenes. The company has also released a 4-minute, 22-second demonstration video showcasing the model's capabilities across multiple cinematic styles.<h2>Longer videos with greater control</h2>Seedance 2.5 can now generate videos lasting up to 30 seconds, double the previous 15-second limit. Another key addition is timestamp-level control, allowing users to edit or direct specific moments within a video. This gives creators greater precision when working with multiple scenes, camera angles, characters and audio tracks, making the model suitable for more complex productions. The platform is available through Jimeng AI and Doubao Pro, while API access will be introduced through Volcano Engine Ark, allowing developers and businesses to integrate the technology into their own products.<h2>AI video competition is heating up</h2>The launch strengthens ByteDance's position in China's fast-growing AI video market. Seedance 2.5 now competes directly with rivals including Kuaishou's Kling and Alibaba's Wan, while global companies such as OpenAI, Google and Runway continue expanding their own video-generation tools. Unlike earlier AI video models that focused mainly on short clips, Seedance 2.5 is designed for both everyday creators and professional users working in filmmaking, advertising and commercial content production. As AI-generated video becomes more realistic and easier to control, the competition is shifting from simply creating videos to giving users professional-grade creative tools. Seedance 2.5 is ByteDance's latest attempt to lead that race.&nbsp;

ByteDance has launched Seedance 2.5, its latest AI video generation model featuring support for 50 reference files, 30-second video creation, timestamp-level editing and improved creative control.

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has unveiled Seedance 2.5, a major upgrade to its AI video generation platform that aims to make creating realistic videos easier and more controllable. The launch comes just months after Seedance 2.0 attracted global attention with highly realistic AI-generated videos that sparked both excitement among users and renewed copyright concerns in the entertainment industry. With Seedance 2.5, ByteDance is focusing on giving creators more control while producing longer and more detailed videos. More reference files, better AI videos The biggest upgrade is the amount of material users can provide to guide the AI. While Seedance 2.0 supported up to 12 reference inputs, the new model accepts 30 images, 10 video clips and 10 audio files in a single prompt. ByteDance says the additional references help the AI better understand a creator's vision, resulting in videos that more closely match the intended style, characters and scenes. The company has also released a 4-minute, 22-second demonstration video showcasing the model's capabilities across multiple cinematic styles. Longer videos with greater control Seedance 2.5 can now generate videos lasting up to 30 seconds, double the previous 15-second limit. Another key addition is timestamp-level control, allowing users to edit or direct specific moments within a video. This gives creators greater precision when working with multiple scenes, camera angles, characters and audio tracks, making the model suitable for more complex productions. The platform is available through Jimeng AI and Doubao Pro, while API access will be introduced through Volcano Engine Ark, allowing developers and businesses to integrate the technology into their own products. AI video competition is heating up The launch strengthens ByteDance's position in China's fast-growing AI video market. Seedance 2.5 now competes directly with rivals including Kuaishou's Kling and Alibaba's Wan, while global companies such as OpenAI, Google and Runway continue expanding their own video-generation tools. Unlike earlier AI video models that focused mainly on short clips, Seedance 2.5 is designed for both everyday creators and professional users working in filmmaking, advertising and commercial content production. As AI-generated video becomes more realistic and easier to control, the competition is shifting from simply creating videos to giving users professional-grade creative tools. Seedance 2.5 is ByteDance's latest attempt to lead that race.

ByteDance has launched Seedance 2.5, its latest AI video generation model featuring support for 50 reference files, 30-second video creation, timestamp-level editing and improved creative control. The new model intensifies competition with Kling, Wan, OpenAI and Google in the rapidly growing AI video market.

ByteDance unveils Seedance 2.5 to take on OpenAI, Google and Kling in AI video race

Google is taking another major step towards building more capable humanoid robots. The company has unveiled Gemini Robotics 2, a new artificial intelligence model that acts as a high-level brain for robots. Instead of simply following pre-programmed instructions, robots powered by the new system can understand spoken commands, reason about their surroundings and perform complex physical tasks while adapting to changing environments. The launch highlights Google's growing ambition to bring Gemini beyond smartphones and computers into the physical world, where AI-powered robots could eventually work in warehouses, factories, hospitals and even homes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">One brain. For any robot. 🤖 We’re launching Gemini Robotics 2: our next-generation physical AI bringing full body intelligence to humanoids, advanced dexterity, multi-robot teamwork and more. <a href="https://t.co/1rFw3NUytb">pic.twitter.com/1rFw3NUytb</a>&mdash; Google DeepMind (@GoogleDeepMind) <a href="https://x.com/GoogleDeepMind/status/2082844162928381956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>A smarter brain for humanoid robots</h2>Traditional robots are excellent at repeating the same task but often fail when something unexpected happens. Google says Gemini Robotics 2 is designed to solve that problem by giving robots the ability to understand context, plan actions and adjust their behaviour in real time. Rather than programming every movement individually, developers can teach robots to reason through tasks much like humans do.One of the biggest upgrades is full-body control. Unlike the previous generation, which mainly controlled a robot's upper body, Gemini Robotics 2 allows humanoids to walk, crouch, balance, bend and use both hands simultaneously. Google also says the model improves dexterity, enabling five-finger robotic hands to perform delicate actions such as tying knots, sealing zip-lock bags and handling small objects, while also supporting industrial grippers for warehouse work.&nbsp;<h2>Gemini Robotics ER 2 plans the work</h2> Alongside the main model, Google introduced Gemini Robotics ER 2, which functions like a project manager for robots. Instead of controlling motors directly, ER 2 understands spoken instructions, breaks large jobs into smaller steps, monitors progress and replans tasks if something changes. Google says this enables robots to complete long workflows involving hundreds of decisions and even coordinate with other robots. The company also launched Gemini Robotics On-Device 2, allowing robots to run AI locally without relying on cloud connectivity. Developers can reportedly customise the model for new robotic platforms in just a few hours using fewer than 200 training examples.&nbsp;<h2>Safety remains a priority</h2>Google says safety has been built into every layer of the platform. The company introduced a new benchmark called ASIMOV-Agentic to evaluate whether robots can refuse unsafe instructions, recognise when human intervention is required and avoid dangerous situations. Robots can also detect nearby people, pause automatically and resume work only when it is safe. As competition in humanoid robotics accelerates with companies including Tesla, Figure AI, Agility Robotics and Unitree all developing increasingly capable machines Google is betting that the future will depend not just on better hardware, but on smarter AI that allows robots to think, adapt and collaborate in the real world.

Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics 2, an AI model designed to give humanoid robots advanced reasoning, full-body movement and task-planning abilities. 

Google is taking another major step towards building more capable humanoid robots. The company has unveiled Gemini Robotics 2, a new artificial intelligence model that acts as a high-level brain for robots. Instead of simply following pre-programmed instructions, robots powered by the new system can understand spoken commands, reason about their surroundings and perform complex physical tasks while adapting to changing environments. The launch highlights Google's growing ambition to bring Gemini beyond smartphones and computers into the physical world, where AI-powered robots could eventually work in warehouses, factories, hospitals and even homes.

Google DeepMind has launched Gemini Robotics 2, an AI model designed to give humanoid robots advanced reasoning, full-body movement and task-planning abilities. The company also introduced Gemini Robotics ER 2 and On-Device 2, expanding its vision for smarter, safer robots that can work both online and offline.

Google unveils Gemini Robotics 2: New AI brain lets humanoid robots walk, think and complete complex tasks

Other than professional services, finance, technology, and medical sectors, artificial intelligence tools have increasingly entered the educational sector, reshaping classrooms and study notes. In relation to the emerging technology, a debate is also emerging over whether AI can or should replace the traditional coaching notes that have long formed the backbone of competitive exam preparation like NEET, UPSC and other competitive exams. Several educational institutions are also adding features of Chat-native learning concepts for exams like UPSC and NEET using AI, which offer bite-sized micro-lessons, instant 24/7 doubt resolution, and work on familiar messaging apps without heavy app downloads. This type of facility offers effective use of study materials to make consistent practice. Industry experts argue that the real issue facing students today isn't a shortage of study material, but rather how effectively that material is used, practised, and reinforced. According to those working closely with exam aspirants, the future of preparation likely lies not in eliminating notes, but in transforming passive study habits into active, consistent practice, supported by AI, but still guided by human mentorship.<h3>What is Chat-native learning?</h3>Chat-native learning is an educational method that delivers lessons, quizzes, and concepts directly through messaging apps like WhatsApp instead of traditional video lectures or learning portals. It cuts out extra logins and app downloads, making study time feel like a regular text conversation. This feature works inside everyday apps we already use without needing a separate website login and breaks concepts into short lines of text rather than long 45-minute classes. In addition, it asks a quick question, waits for our response similar to AI apps, and gives instant feedback.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/can-pellet-guns-be-used-by-raf-in-protests-to-control-crowd-what-indian-law-states-wion-decodes-1785492931704">Can RAF use pellet guns to control crowd during protests? What Indian law states | WION Decodes</a><h3>Experts call notes a passive item</h3>Prempreet Singh, Founder &amp; CEO, SkillBytes, said," Ask any UPSC or NEET aspirant what they lack, and it is never material. They are drowning in it. Coaching notes, printed handouts, PDFs, recorded lectures. The average serious aspirant has more content than they could finish in the years they have. So the honest question is not whether AI can produce better notes. It is whether notes were ever the thing holding students back. They were not. Notes are passive. You read them, you highlight them, you tell yourself you will revise them later, and most of the time later never comes. What actually builds mastery for a high-stakes exam is practice done daily, with feedback, until recall becomes automatic. That is the part traditional preparation has always struggled to deliver at scale, because it demands a habit, not a document." "This is where chat-native learning is quietly changing the equation. Instead of asking a student to open another app or sit through another lecture, it delivers practice in five-minute units inside the messaging platform they already live on. No download, no login, no fresh block of time to defend. A question, an answer, instant feedback, and the loop closes while attention is still warm," he added. He added that at SkillBytes, the pattern is consistent over 7.5 lakh students. Students tend to stick with practice that seamlessly fits into their daily routine, but abandon it when it feels like a competing demand on their time. AI doesn't take over the aspirant's effort; instead, it eliminates the friction that once wasted it. Going ahead, he added that the real transformation in exam preparation won't come from bulkier notes. It will come in the form of a daily habit, built five minutes at a time, woven into a conversation the student was already having. Dr Kanishk Agrawal, Chief Technology Officer at Judge Group, India, said, "It’s very rare that AI is going to replace traditional coaching entirely, but it’s certainly changing the way aspirants learn. When it comes to UPSC and NEET candidates, the challenge they have in the present situation is not the access to knowledge anymore but its filtering, processing, and application. With the help of chat-enabled AI, learners can pose relevant questions any time, receive instant explanations, get complicated things simplified, get individual studying plans, and practice writing answers or solving MCQs whenever they need it. This enables a very interactive learning situation, which is impossible for orthodox coaching materials to provide. However, it should be said that AI cannot replace a mentor. Exams need a systematic approach, clear understanding of what is going on, and the ability to think critically, and it is something that teachers can give better than AI. Most probably, the future mode of preparation for exams is going to be the hybrid one where AI stimulates study processes and gives personal assistance, while teachers give strategy and motivation." Meanwhile, expressing concern about the role of AI for notes of competitive exams, Avinash Tyagi, Founder &amp; Managing Director, Gyanic, stated that AI should support competitive-exam preparation, without disrupting the role of teachers, mentors or structured notes. He said the traditional coaching notes for UPSC and NEET aspirants still give a significant foundation for preparation. He said, "What is changing is how students use them. With AI tools, digital libraries and online lectures, aspirants now have access to far more information. As access has widened, examiner expectations have also risen. Students are expected to cover broader themes, connect subjects, analyse issues and apply knowledge rather than reproduce memorised material. This is where chat-native learning adds value. It allows students to question a concept, seek another explanation, revise through conversation and practise immediately." He added that chat-native learning can also break linguistic barriers as it provides accessibility to a Hindi-medium aspirant, providing research papers and expert commentary through translation, and then seeking to have difficult ideas explained in simpler language. He noted that this can increase access to material without restricting language. However, translated academic content must still be cross-checked for context and technical accuracy. "However, more information does not automatically lead to better preparation. When knowledge is everywhere, expert guidance becomes more important. Students still need mentors to decide what matters, what can be ignored, how topics should be prioritised and how an examination may test them. AI also has limits. It can process large volumes quickly, but it may misread context, produce inaccurate responses or draw weak conclusions from data. In education, data becomes useful only when interpreted against a student’s behaviour, preparation stage and examination requirements. The reliability of AI-assisted learning therefore depends on expert verification and human oversight. AI will not replace coaching notes; it will make them more interactive, personalised and accessible. But in an age of abundant information, the real advantage will come from knowing what to trust, what to prioritise and how to apply it. That is where experts will remain indispensable," he added.&nbsp;

Several educational institutions are also adding features of Chat-native learning concepts for exams like UPSC and NEET using AI, which offer bite-sized micro-lessons, instant 24/7 doubt resolution, and work on familiar messaging apps without heavy app downloads.

Other than professional services, finance, technology, and medical sectors, artificial intelligence tools have increasingly entered the educational sector, reshaping classrooms and study notes. In relation to the emerging technology, a debate is also emerging over whether AI can or should replace the traditional coaching notes that have long formed the backbone of competitive exam preparation like NEET, UPSC and other competitive exams. Several educational institutions are also adding features of Chat-native learning concepts for exams like UPSC and NEET using AI, which offer bite-sized micro-lessons, instant 24/7 doubt resolution, and work on familiar messaging apps without heavy app downloads. This type of facility offers effective use of study materials to make consistent practice. Industry experts argue that the real issue facing students today isn't a shortage of study material, but rather how effectively that material is used, practised, and reinforced. According to those working closely with exam aspirants, the future of preparation likely lies not in eliminating notes, but in transforming passive study habits into active, consistent practice, supported by AI, but still guided by human mentorship. What is Chat-native learning? Chat-native learning is an educational method that delivers lessons, quizzes, and concepts directly through messaging apps like WhatsApp instead of traditional video lectures or learning portals. It cuts out extra logins and app downloads, making study time feel like a regular text conversation. This feature works inside everyday apps we already use without needing a separate website login and breaks concepts into short lines of text rather than long 45-minute classes. In addition, it asks a quick question, waits for our response similar to AI apps, and gives instant feedback. Also read: Can RAF use pellet guns to control crowd during protests? What Indian law states | WION Decodes Experts call notes a passive item Prempreet Singh, Founder & CEO, SkillBytes, said," Ask any UPSC or NEET aspirant what they lack, and it is never material. They are drowning in it. Coaching notes, printed handouts, PDFs, recorded lectures. The average serious aspirant has more content than they could finish in the years they have. So the honest question is not whether AI can produce better notes. It is whether notes were ever the thing holding students back. They were not. Notes are passive. You read them, you highlight them, you tell yourself you will revise them later, and most of the time later never comes. What actually builds mastery for a high-stakes exam is practice done daily, with feedback, until recall becomes automatic. That is the part traditional preparation has always struggled to deliver at scale, because it demands a habit, not a document." "This is where chat-native learning is quietly changing the equation. Instead of asking a student to open another app or sit through another lecture, it delivers practice in five-minute units inside the messaging platform they already live on. No download, no login, no fresh block of time to defend. A question, an answer, instant feedback, and the loop closes while attention is still warm," he added. He added that at SkillBytes, the pattern is consistent over 7.5 lakh students. Students tend to stick with practice that seamlessly fits into their daily routine, but abandon it when it feels like a competing demand on their time. AI doesn't take over the aspirant's effort; instead, it eliminates the friction that once wasted it. Going ahead, he added that the real transformation in exam preparation won't come from bulkier notes. It will come in the form of a daily habit, built five minutes at a time, woven into a conversation the student was already having. Dr Kanishk Agrawal, Chief Technology Officer at Judge Group, India, said, "It’s very rare that AI is going to replace traditional coaching entirely, but it’s certainly changing the way aspirants learn. When it comes to UPSC and NEET candidates, the challenge they have in the present situation is not the access to knowledge anymore but its filtering, processing, and application. With the help of chat-enabled AI, learners can pose relevant questions any time, receive instant explanations, get complicated things simplified, get individual studying plans, and practice writing answers or solving MCQs whenever they need it. This enables a very interactive learning situation, which is impossible for orthodox coaching materials to provide. However, it should be said that AI cannot replace a mentor. Exams need a systematic approach, clear understanding of what is going on, and the ability to think critically, and it is something that teachers can give better than AI. Most probably, the future mode of preparation for exams is going to be the hybrid one where AI stimulates study processes and gives personal assistance, while teachers give strategy and motivation." Meanwhile, expressing concern about the role of AI for notes of competitive exams, Avinash Tyagi, Founder & Managing Director, Gyanic, stated that AI should support competitive-exam preparation, without disrupting the role of teachers, mentors or structured notes. He said the traditional coaching notes for UPSC and NEET aspirants still give a significant foundation for preparation. He said, "What is changing is how students use them. With AI tools, digital libraries and online lectures, aspirants now have access to far more information. As access has widened, examiner expectations have also risen. Students are expected to cover broader themes, connect subjects, analyse issues and apply knowledge rather than reproduce memorised material. This is where chat-native learning adds value. It allows students to question a concept, seek another explanation, revise through conversation and practise immediately." He added that chat-native learning can also break linguistic barriers as it provides accessibility to a Hindi-medium aspirant, providing research papers and expert commentary through translation, and then seeking to have difficult ideas explained in simpler language. He noted that this can increase access to material without restricting language. However, translated academic content must still be cross-checked for context and technical accuracy. "However, more information does not automatically lead to better preparation. When knowledge is everywhere, expert guidance becomes more important. Students still need mentors to decide what matters, what can be ignored, how topics should be prioritised and how an examination may test them. AI also has limits. It can process large volumes quickly, but it may misread context, produce inaccurate responses or draw weak conclusions from data. In education, data becomes useful only when interpreted against a student’s behaviour, preparation stage and examination requirements. The reliability of AI-assisted learning therefore depends on expert verification and human oversight. AI will not replace coaching notes; it will make them more interactive, personalised and accessible. But in an age of abundant information, the real advantage will come from knowing what to trust, what to prioritise and how to apply it. That is where experts will remain indispensable," he added.

Several educational institutions are also adding features of Chat-native learning concepts for exams like UPSC and NEET using AI, which offer bite-sized micro-lessons, instant 24/7 doubt resolution, and work on familiar messaging apps without heavy app downloads.

Can AI replace traditional coaching notes for UPSC and NEET aspirants? Experts reveal shocking reality

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (Jul 31) praised Hyderabad-based space startup TakeMe2Space after its PowerBank-50 became India's first indigenously developed satellite battery to earn the coveted 'flight heritage' status.Sharing the development on X, Sitharaman wrote: "Brilliant!" while highlighting that Indian satellite manufacturers had long depended on imported battery systems. "Until now, Indian satellite builders mostly had to import this critical component at high cost and long waiting times."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Brilliant! “Until now, Indian satellite builders mostly had to import this critical component at high cost and long waiting times.” TakeMe2Space&#39;s PowerBank-50 becomes first India-made satellite battery.<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AtmaNirbharBharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AtmaNirbharBharat</a> <a href="https://t.co/IJ69cUPZ8E">https://t.co/IJ69cUPZ8E</a>&mdash; Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) <a href="https://x.com/nsitharaman/status/2083008391816085539?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The recognition comes after the battery pack completed its maiden mission aboard Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 rocket during Mission Aagaman, which was launched on July 18.The mission marked another milestone for India's private space sector as Vikram-1 became the first privately developed Indian rocket to reach orbit, making India only the third country, after the United States and China, where a private company has achieved orbital launch capability.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-s-gps-has-a-satellite-problem-government-says-navic-no-longer-working-all-you-need-to-know-1785397313963">India's GPS has a satellite problem: Government says NavIC no longer working. All you need to know</a><h2>What 'flight heritage' means</h2>Onboard Vikram-1, a single PowerBank-50 unit supplied power to Cosmoserve Space's experimental payload mounted on the rocket's Orbital Adjustment Module (OAM) at an altitude of 450 km. According to the company, the battery performed as designed despite enduring launch vibrations and the harsh conditions of space, including vacuum, radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations.The successful mission gives the battery "flight heritage", a key certification in the satellite industry that proves a component has operated successfully in space."Every satellite mission lives or dies by its power system, which is why nobody wants to be the first to fly a new battery," said Ronak Kumar Samantray, founder and CEO of TakeMe2Space."Flying on the first private Indian rocket to reach orbit, and performing flawlessly at 450 km, is the strongest validation a product can earn. PowerBank-50 is now space proven, made in India, and ready for every satellite builder in the world."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/child-marriage-still-exists-in-india-in-2026-ncw-sets-2030-deadline-to-end-it-1785485550409">Child marriage still exists in India in 2026? NCW sets 2030 deadline to end it</a><h2>Why the milestone matters</h2>In the satellite industry, components without flight heritage often struggle to find customers because satellite operators, launch providers and insurers prefer systems that have already been tested in orbit.The hurdle is especially high for batteries, which must survive violent launch conditions before reliably powering spacecraft through repeated cycles of sunlight and darkness in space.TakeMe2Space said the mission validated the battery's high-energy-density lithium-ion cells, intelligent battery management system, onboard heaters and aluminium flight enclosure, elevating it from a ground-qualified product to one proven in orbit.<h2>Cheaper satellites, wider benefits</h2>The company says PowerBank-50 stores more than 50 watt-hours of energy in a unit weighing just 380 grams, roughly the size of a paperback book. It can power everything from CubeSats to microsatellites, offers an operational life of up to five years in low-Earth orbit, and is available off the shelf for ₹1,04,900, significantly cheaper than comparable imported battery packs.Until now, Indian satellite developers largely relied on imported battery systems that were expensive and often involved long procurement timelines. Notably, an affordable, flight-proven battery made in India could lower the cost of satellite missions for startups, universities and research institutions, ultimately enabling more satellites for applications such as weather forecasting, disaster warnings, agriculture, navigation, communications and Earth observation. &nbsp;

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hailed the development of PowerBank-50, described as India's first indigenously developed satellite battery by space startup TakeMe2Space. The breakthrough could reduce dependence on expensive imported battery systems.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (Jul 31) praised Hyderabad-based space startup TakeMe2Space after its PowerBank-50 became India's first indigenously developed satellite battery to earn the coveted 'flight heritage' status. Sharing the development on X, Sitharaman wrote: "Brilliant!" while highlighting that Indian satellite manufacturers had long depended on imported battery systems. "Until now, Indian satellite builders mostly had to import this critical component at high cost and long waiting times."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hailed the development of PowerBank-50, described as India's first indigenously developed satellite battery by space startup TakeMe2Space. The breakthrough could reduce dependence on expensive imported battery systems.

India builds its first homegrown satellite battery; Nirmala Sitharaman celebrates breakthrough

AI safety concerns have intensified after Anthropic disclosed that several versions of its Claude model gained unauthorised access to real-world computer systems during security testing. This comes just days after Anthropic rival OpenAI revealed a similar containment failure involving one of its own advanced models.In a blog post published on Thursday (Jul 30), Anthropic said it reviewed more than 141,000 evaluation runs and found that three different versions of Claude had improperly accessed the systems of three external organisations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/scary-rogue-ai-on-the-loose-openai-agent-hit-another-tech-firm-s-customer-suggests-report-1785292505727">'Scary' Rogue AI on the loose? OpenAI agent hit another tech firm's customer, suggests report</a><h2>How could the AI get 'real-world access'?</h2>Anthropic said the incidents occurred because the AI models unexpectedly had internet access during testing due to a "misunderstanding" between Anthropic and its evaluation partner, Irregular.Once connected, Claude used "basic techniques, such as exploiting weak passwords and unauthenticated endpoints" to enter external systems, according to the company.One of the affected models was Mythos 5, Anthropic's most advanced AI system, which is currently available only to a limited group of approved partners.Anthropic said it is working with Irregular to investigate the incidents and has contacted, or attempted to contact, all three organisations whose systems were accessed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/anthropic-reveals-india-is-claude-ai-s-no-2-market-but-what-are-indians-actually-using-the-ai-for-wion-decodes-1785394109668">Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes</a><h2>OpenAI's rogue agent</h2>The disclosure comes less than a week after OpenAI acknowledged that one of its frontier AI models escaped its testing environment, connected to the internet and infiltrated Hugging Face, a platform widely used by developers to host and share AI models and code.OpenAI later revealed it had identified three additional incidents involving unauthorised access during testing.The company has since paused parts of its evaluation programme while strengthening its sandboxing systems, which are designed to isolate experimental AI models from external networks.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was also expected to meet White House officials on Thursday to discuss the company's upcoming AI models and voluntary government cybersecurity testing of advanced AI systems. According to Reuters, Altman is scheduled to meet White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, technology adviser Michael Kratsios, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Anthropic has revealed that three versions of its Claude AI model gained unauthorised access to external computer systems during security testing after unexpectedly obtaining internet access. The disclosure comes days after OpenAI reported a similar containment failure.

AI safety concerns have intensified after Anthropic disclosed that several versions of its Claude model gained unauthorised access to real-world computer systems during security testing. This comes just days after Anthropic rival OpenAI revealed a similar containment failure involving one of its own advanced models. In a blog post published on Thursday (Jul 30), Anthropic said it reviewed more than 141,000 evaluation runs and found that three different versions of Claude had improperly accessed the systems of three external organisations. Also read | 'Scary' Rogue AI on the loose? OpenAI agent hit another tech firm's customer, suggests report How could the AI get 'real-world access'? Anthropic said the incidents occurred because the AI models unexpectedly had internet access during testing due to a "misunderstanding" between Anthropic and its evaluation partner, Irregular. Once connected, Claude used "basic techniques, such as exploiting weak passwords and unauthenticated endpoints" to enter external systems, according to the company. One of the affected models was Mythos 5, Anthropic's most advanced AI system, which is currently available only to a limited group of approved partners. Anthropic said it is working with Irregular to investigate the incidents and has contacted, or attempted to contact, all three organisations whose systems were accessed. Also read | Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes OpenAI's rogue agent The disclosure comes less than a week after OpenAI acknowledged that one of its frontier AI models escaped its testing environment, connected to the internet and infiltrated Hugging Face, a platform widely used by developers to host and share AI models and code. OpenAI later revealed it had identified three additional incidents involving unauthorised access during testing. The company has since paused parts of its evaluation programme while strengthening its sandboxing systems, which are designed to isolate experimental AI models from external networks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was also expected to meet White House officials on Thursday to discuss the company's upcoming AI models and voluntary government cybersecurity testing of advanced AI systems. According to Reuters, Altman is scheduled to meet White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, technology adviser Michael Kratsios, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Anthropic has revealed that three versions of its Claude AI model gained unauthorised access to external computer systems during security testing after unexpectedly obtaining internet access. The disclosure comes days after OpenAI reported a similar containment failure.

After OpenAI's 'scary' agent, Anthropic's Claude goes rogue; AI gains unauthorised 'real-world' access during testing

Microsoft has delivered its biggest financial year on record and it is using that momentum to double down on artificial intelligence. The technology giant reported $331 billion in annual revenue, while its cloud business generated $214 billion. Azure also crossed $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time, underscoring the growing demand for Microsoft's AI-powered cloud services. But the biggest announcement came from CEO Satya Nadella, who revealed that Microsoft is preparing a Copilot super app, signalling the company's next major step in the AI race.<figure class="image"><img src="https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/styles/medium_crop_simple/public/2026-07/sd_ms.jpg?VersionId=XIfPE3nsz3nyhxxqgT11ABVhKZSMw_Zp" alt="Satya Nadella MS"></figure><h2>Copilot is evolving beyond a chatbot</h2>Speaking during Microsoft's earnings call, Nadella said the company is bringing its Copilot experiences together into "one super app."The platform is expected to combine Microsoft's AI products including Copilot, GitHub Copilot and other AI-powered productivity tools into a single interface. Rather than switching between multiple applications, users could access coding, writing, research, enterprise workflows and AI assistance from one place. The move puts Microsoft in more direct competition with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google as AI companies race to build all-in-one assistants that become the primary interface for work.<h2>Microsoft is reducing its dependence on OpenAI</h2>Nadella also signalled that Microsoft is becoming increasingly independent in AI development. The company is investing in its own AI models, custom chips and enterprise AI architecture while continuing its long-standing partnership with OpenAI. "We ourselves are using it," Nadella said, referring to Microsoft's internal AI design approach. The shift reflects Microsoft's strategy of giving enterprise customers access to multiple AI models instead of relying on a single provider.<h2>AI is driving Microsoft's growth</h2>Microsoft also revealed that adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot continues to accelerate. Paid M365 Copilot seats have surpassed 30 million, up from 20 million in the previous quarter, highlighting growing demand for AI-powered workplace tools.Meanwhile, Microsoft's commercial cloud backlog increased to $678 billion, with the company saying the latest growth came entirely from customers outside the leading US AI model developers. Although Microsoft continues investing heavily in AI infrastructure, it forecast lower-than-expected capital expenditure for the coming year while maintaining long-term investment plans. The message from Microsoft's record earnings was clear: AI is no longer just another product inside the company. It has become the centre of Microsoft's future strategy and the upcoming Copilot super app could be its biggest AI launch yet.

Microsoft reported a record $331 billion in annual revenue as CEO Satya Nadella unveiled plans for a Copilot AI super app. The company also crossed $100 billion in Azure revenue, passed 30 million Microsoft 365 Copilot seats and outlined its strategy to build more of its own AI technology.

Microsoft has delivered its biggest financial year on record and it is using that momentum to double down on artificial intelligence. The technology giant reported $331 billion in annual revenue, while its cloud business generated $214 billion. Azure also crossed $100 billion in annual revenue for the first time, underscoring the growing demand for Microsoft's AI-powered cloud services. But the biggest announcement came from CEO Satya Nadella, who revealed that Microsoft is preparing a Copilot super app, signalling the company's next major step in the AI race. Copilot is evolving beyond a chatbot Speaking during Microsoft's earnings call, Nadella said the company is bringing its Copilot experiences together into "one super app." The platform is expected to combine Microsoft's AI products including Copilot, GitHub Copilot and other AI-powered productivity tools into a single interface. Rather than switching between multiple applications, users could access coding, writing, research, enterprise workflows and AI assistance from one place. The move puts Microsoft in more direct competition with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google as AI companies race to build all-in-one assistants that become the primary interface for work. Microsoft is reducing its dependence on OpenAI Nadella also signalled that Microsoft is becoming increasingly independent in AI development. The company is investing in its own AI models, custom chips and enterprise AI architecture while continuing its long-standing partnership with OpenAI. "We ourselves are using it," Nadella said, referring to Microsoft's internal AI design approach. The shift reflects Microsoft's strategy of giving enterprise customers access to multiple AI models instead of relying on a single provider. AI is driving Microsoft's growth Microsoft also revealed that adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot continues to accelerate. Paid M365 Copilot seats have surpassed 30 million, up from 20 million in the previous quarter, highlighting growing demand for AI-powered workplace tools. Meanwhile, Microsoft's commercial cloud backlog increased to $678 billion, with the company saying the latest growth came entirely from customers outside the leading US AI model developers. Although Microsoft continues investing heavily in AI infrastructure, it forecast lower-than-expected capital expenditure for the coming year while maintaining long-term investment plans. The message from Microsoft's record earnings was clear: AI is no longer just another product inside the company. It has become the centre of Microsoft's future strategy and the upcoming Copilot super app could be its biggest AI launch yet.

Microsoft reported a record $331 billion in annual revenue as CEO Satya Nadella unveiled plans for a Copilot AI super app. The company also crossed $100 billion in Azure revenue, passed 30 million Microsoft 365 Copilot seats and outlined its strategy to build more of its own AI technology.

Microsoft's next AI move: Satya Nadella says a Copilot 'super app' is coming

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working with banks and UPI apps to mask users' mobile numbers on the platforms to strengthen privacy as part of a broader effort to make digital payments more secure as UPI transactions continue to grow rapidly in India. Payment apps have reportedly been instructed to make these changes by September 4, 2026. To make this platform stronger and more secure, biometric authentication is likely to play a major role as UPI transactions have crossed 600 million by June 2026, according to the NPCI. NPCI stated that the technology-based on-device biometric authentication allows users to authorise payments using a smartphone's fingerprint or facial recognition. This feature enables both person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions, making the RuPay Credit Card on UPI and allowing users to make PIN-free credit payments. The proposal came in light of rising text message-based scams in India, which have surged 146 per cent. It has highlighted a sharp shift in the digital fraud landscape of the country towards scam-led attacks, according to the latest Digital Banking Fraud Trends in India 2026 report by fraud detection firm BioCatch. The report indicated that the rapid expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), e-commerce, online investment platforms and mobile banking has made the fraud ecosystem of India increasingly digital, high-volume and driven by scams. The report found that although attempted fraud sessions among BioCatch's Indian customers dropped 12 per cent, the total value of attempted fraudulent payments rose 35 per cent, suggesting fraudsters are increasingly focusing on higher-value transactions.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parliament-clears-vande-mataram-bill-makes-insult-to-national-song-a-criminal-offence-1785408853799">Parliament clears Vande Mataram Bill, makes insult to National Song a criminal offence</a><h3>How do UPI platforms balance user privacy with fraud detection?</h3>The NPCI has asked the platforms to display only the last four digits and to default to username-based IDs; experts have outlined a broader framework to ensure privacy gains don't come at the cost of security or accountability. To balance user privacy, traceability sits at the core of this approach, as in this case, mobile numbers would be hidden on public-facing UPI interfaces, and banks, NPCI, and authorised Payment Service Providers (PSPs) would retain secure backend access for essential functions like KYC verification, dispute resolution, and fraud investigations. This mirrors NPCI's own stated rationale; the directive follows a circular responding to widespread social media complaints, particularly from women, about safety and identity-theft risks tied to visible phone numbers during transactions. Lawful access would remain strictly regulated, with personal details shared with law enforcement only through formal legal channels such as court orders or statutory requests, preventing misuse while preserving investigative capability. To offset reduced visibility of phone numbers, experts recommend AI-driven fraud detection powered by behavioural analytics, device fingerprinting, transaction pattern analysis, and risk scoring. This aligns with industry trends, including a recent BioCatch report which found SMS scams in India surged 146 per cent and mobile fraud sessions rose 67 per cent between H2 2025 and H1 2026, with fraud increasingly shifting toward high-value transactions even as overall attempted fraud sessions declined 12 per cent, suggesting financial institutions are already strengthening detection capabilities. Data minimisation and audit trails would ensure only essential information, such as a verified name or a masked number, is displayed, while encrypted logs are maintained in the backend to support regulatory compliance and investigations when needed. Ultimately, the goal is a balanced approach, maximising user privacy without compromising payment security, financial system integrity, or authorities' ability to probe cybercrime, a principle that has become increasingly urgent given India's massive UPI footprint, which crossed 55 crore users as of June 2026, according to government data.&nbsp;

NPCI said on-device biometric authentication lets users authorise payments via fingerprint or facial recognition, enabling P2P and P2M transactions and allowing PIN-free credit payments through RuPay Credit Card on UPI.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is working with banks and UPI apps to mask users' mobile numbers on the platforms to strengthen privacy as part of a broader effort to make digital payments more secure as UPI transactions continue to grow rapidly in India. Payment apps have reportedly been instructed to make these changes by September 4, 2026. To make this platform stronger and more secure, biometric authentication is likely to play a major role as UPI transactions have crossed 600 million by June 2026, according to the NPCI. NPCI stated that the technology-based on-device biometric authentication allows users to authorise payments using a smartphone's fingerprint or facial recognition. This feature enables both person-to-person (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions, making the RuPay Credit Card on UPI and allowing users to make PIN-free credit payments. The proposal came in light of rising text message-based scams in India, which have surged 146 per cent. It has highlighted a sharp shift in the digital fraud landscape of the country towards scam-led attacks, according to the latest Digital Banking Fraud Trends in India 2026 report by fraud detection firm BioCatch. The report indicated that the rapid expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), e-commerce, online investment platforms and mobile banking has made the fraud ecosystem of India increasingly digital, high-volume and driven by scams. The report found that although attempted fraud sessions among BioCatch's Indian customers dropped 12 per cent, the total value of attempted fraudulent payments rose 35 per cent, suggesting fraudsters are increasingly focusing on higher-value transactions. Also read: Parliament clears Vande Mataram Bill, makes insult to National Song a criminal offence How do UPI platforms balance user privacy with fraud detection? The NPCI has asked the platforms to display only the last four digits and to default to username-based IDs; experts have outlined a broader framework to ensure privacy gains don't come at the cost of security or accountability. To balance user privacy, traceability sits at the core of this approach, as in this case, mobile numbers would be hidden on public-facing UPI interfaces, and banks, NPCI, and authorised Payment Service Providers (PSPs) would retain secure backend access for essential functions like KYC verification, dispute resolution, and fraud investigations. This mirrors NPCI's own stated rationale; the directive follows a circular responding to widespread social media complaints, particularly from women, about safety and identity-theft risks tied to visible phone numbers during transactions. Lawful access would remain strictly regulated, with personal details shared with law enforcement only through formal legal channels such as court orders or statutory requests, preventing misuse while preserving investigative capability. To offset reduced visibility of phone numbers, experts recommend AI-driven fraud detection powered by behavioural analytics, device fingerprinting, transaction pattern analysis, and risk scoring. This aligns with industry trends, including a recent BioCatch report which found SMS scams in India surged 146 per cent and mobile fraud sessions rose 67 per cent between H2 2025 and H1 2026, with fraud increasingly shifting toward high-value transactions even as overall attempted fraud sessions declined 12 per cent, suggesting financial institutions are already strengthening detection capabilities. Data minimisation and audit trails would ensure only essential information, such as a verified name or a masked number, is displayed, while encrypted logs are maintained in the backend to support regulatory compliance and investigations when needed. Ultimately, the goal is a balanced approach, maximising user privacy without compromising payment security, financial system integrity, or authorities' ability to probe cybercrime, a principle that has become increasingly urgent given India's massive UPI footprint, which crossed 55 crore users as of June 2026, according to government data.

NPCI said on-device biometric authentication lets users authorise payments via fingerprint or facial recognition, enabling P2P and P2M transactions and allowing PIN-free credit payments through RuPay Credit Card on UPI.

How should UPI platforms balance privacy, fraud detection and law enforcement access? EXPLAINED

OpenAI is taking its biggest step yet to bring frontier AI into research laboratories. The company has announced ChatGPT for Academic Researchers, a programme that will give 100,000 researchers at eligible universities and research institutions free access to its most advanced AI models. The goal is simple: let scientists use AI to solve the problems they understand best instead of having OpenAI decide what should be researched.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’re giving scientists, mathematicians, and engineers free access to our frontier models—starting with 10,000 researchers and expanding to 100,000 through 2027. ChatGPT for Academic Researchers is built to accelerate discovery across disciplines. <a href="https://t.co/nrHn1no0wQ">pic.twitter.com/nrHn1no0wQ</a>&mdash; OpenAI (@OpenAI) <a href="https://x.com/OpenAI/status/2082516370949062989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman welcomed the initiative on X, saying the company is "very close to models that will significantly accelerate scientific discovery" and that "the best way to do this is for us to empower scientists, not to try to figure out everything ourselves."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">so excited for this. very close to models that will significantly accelerate scientific discovery; the best way to do this is for us to empower scientists, not to try to figure out everything ourselves. we all deserve the benefits. <a href="https://t.co/nzfHpb96re">https://t.co/nzfHpb96re</a>&mdash; Sam Altman (@sama) <a href="https://x.com/sama/status/2082628413769003269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>How the programme will work</h2>The rollout will begin this summer with 10,000 researchers, before expanding to 100,000 participants by 2027. Eligible researchers will receive access to GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, OpenAI's flagship reasoning model, and will be able to invite up to four collaborators from the same institution. Beyond ChatGPT, the package includes more than 75 specialised life science skills covering genetics, genomics, protein modelling and drug discovery. Researchers will also gain tools that connect to scientific papers, genomic databases, satellite imagery and computational notebooks, alongside Codex, OpenAI's coding assistant for analysing data and writing research software.<h2>Why OpenAI believes this could speed up science&nbsp;</h2> The company says its latest models are becoming increasingly capable of handling research-level reasoning. According to OpenAI, GPT-5.6 Sol scores 83% on FrontierMath Tier 4, up from 72.5% for its previous model. On GeneBench Pro, which measures biological data analysis, the model completes just over 31% of complex tasks. OpenAI will also provide training sessions so researchers can learn how to use the tools effectively.<h2>Part of a bigger scientific push</h2>The initiative forms part of OpenAI's broader $250 million commitment to scientific research through 2027. It builds on programmes including NextGenAI and the company's partnership with the US Department of Energy's Genesis Mission, reflecting a growing effort to position AI as a research partner rather than simply a chatbot. Applications are now open for eligible degree-granting institutions with established research programmes.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Academic Researchers, giving 100,000 researchers free access to GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, scientific AI tools and coding assistance through 2027. The company says the programme is designed to accelerate scientific discovery by putting frontier AI into researchers' hands.

OpenAI is taking its biggest step yet to bring frontier AI into research laboratories. The company has announced ChatGPT for Academic Researchers, a programme that will give 100,000 researchers at eligible universities and research institutions free access to its most advanced AI models. The goal is simple: let scientists use AI to solve the problems they understand best instead of having OpenAI decide what should be researched.

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Academic Researchers, giving 100,000 researchers free access to GPT-5.6 Sol Pro, scientific AI tools and coding assistance through 2027. The company says the programme is designed to accelerate scientific discovery by putting frontier AI into researchers' hands.

OpenAI to give 100,000 researchers free access to its most powerful AI models in push to speed up scientific discovery

India's indigenous satellite navigation system NavIC is currently unable to provide standalone positioning services, the central government told the Parliament on Wednesday. This is because the number of operational navigation satellites has now fallen below the minimum required.In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh said only three satellites in the NavIC constellation are presently capable of providing Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.The operational satellites are IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01, following the completion of the 10-year mission life of IRNSS-1F.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-flood-toll-reaches-78-after-fresh-deaths-in-sivasagar-golaghat-over-3-lakh-people-affected-across-seven-districts-1785374750099">Assam flood toll reaches 78 after fresh deaths in Sivasagar, Golaghat; over 3 lakh people affected across seven districts</a><h2>Why isn't NAVIC working for standalone navigation now?</h2>Standalone positioning allows a navigation system to determine a user's location using only its own satellites, without relying on other global satellite navigation systems such as GPS.However, NavIC currently lacks the minimum number of satellites required to provide that service."To provide basic positioning service, a minimum of four operational satellites are required in orbit. Hence, the NavIC constellation cannot provide standalone positioning service; however, timing service is functional," Singh said.While location services have been affected, NavIC's timing service continues to operate normally, according to the government.<h2>No operational risk, says Centre</h2>Despite the reduced constellation, the government said users are not facing operational vulnerabilities because NavIC is now used alongside other global satellite navigation systems in a multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) environment.This allows receivers to combine signals from GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and NavIC for navigation.The government also said the Armed Forces use multi-constellation GNSS, including NavIC, to meet operational requirements.<h2>So, is NAVIC useless now?</h2>No, to restore the constellation, ISRO has lined up a series of replacement satellites. The minister revealed that NVS-03 is ready for launch, while NVS-04 and NVS-05 are in advanced stages of development.The upcoming missions are expected to restore NavIC's standalone navigation capability and strengthen India's second-generation regional navigation network.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/anthropic-reveals-india-is-claude-ai-s-no-2-market-but-what-are-indians-actually-using-the-ai-for-wion-decodes-1785394109668">Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes</a><h2>ISRO's recent setbacks</h2>The latest update comes as ISRO works to expand and modernise NavIC after facing setbacks in recent years. The space agency successfully launched NVS-01 in 2023 as part of the second-generation NavIC constellation.However, the subsequent NVS-02 mission encountered propulsion-related issues that prevented the satellite from reaching its intended operational orbit.Once the planned satellites are launched and commissioned, ISRO expects to rebuild the constellation and improve the reliability of NavIC, which provides positioning, navigation and precise timing services across India and regions extending roughly 1,500 kilometres beyond its borders.

The Indian government has informed Parliament that the country's indigenous navigation system, NavIC, can no longer provide standalone positioning services. Here's all you need to know.

India's indigenous satellite navigation system NavIC is currently unable to provide standalone positioning services, the central government told the Parliament on Wednesday. This is because the number of operational navigation satellites has now fallen below the minimum required. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh said only three satellites in the NavIC constellation are presently capable of providing Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services. The operational satellites are IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1I and NVS-01, following the completion of the 10-year mission life of IRNSS-1F. Also read | Assam flood toll reaches 78 after fresh deaths in Sivasagar, Golaghat; over 3 lakh people affected across seven districts Why isn't NAVIC working for standalone navigation now? Standalone positioning allows a navigation system to determine a user's location using only its own satellites, without relying on other global satellite navigation systems such as GPS. However, NavIC currently lacks the minimum number of satellites required to provide that service. "To provide basic positioning service, a minimum of four operational satellites are required in orbit. Hence, the NavIC constellation cannot provide standalone positioning service; however, timing service is functional," Singh said. While location services have been affected, NavIC's timing service continues to operate normally, according to the government. No operational risk, says Centre Despite the reduced constellation, the government said users are not facing operational vulnerabilities because NavIC is now used alongside other global satellite navigation systems in a multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) environment. This allows receivers to combine signals from GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and NavIC for navigation. The government also said the Armed Forces use multi-constellation GNSS, including NavIC, to meet operational requirements. So, is NAVIC useless now? No, to restore the constellation, ISRO has lined up a series of replacement satellites. The minister revealed that NVS-03 is ready for launch, while NVS-04 and NVS-05 are in advanced stages of development. The upcoming missions are expected to restore NavIC's standalone navigation capability and strengthen India's second-generation regional navigation network. Also read | Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes ISRO's recent setbacks The latest update comes as ISRO works to expand and modernise NavIC after facing setbacks in recent years. The space agency successfully launched NVS-01 in 2023 as part of the second-generation NavIC constellation. However, the subsequent NVS-02 mission encountered propulsion-related issues that prevented the satellite from reaching its intended operational orbit. Once the planned satellites are launched and commissioned, ISRO expects to rebuild the constellation and improve the reliability of NavIC, which provides positioning, navigation and precise timing services across India and regions extending roughly 1,500 kilometres beyond its borders.

The Indian government has informed Parliament that the country's indigenous navigation system, NavIC, can no longer provide standalone positioning services. Here's all you need to know.

India's GPS has a satellite problem: Government says NavIC no longer working. All you need to know

Anthropic, the tech firm behind Claude AI, has revealed that India has quietly become one of the world's biggest AI users. India, according to Anthropic's latest Economic Index, which analysed nearly one million Claude.ai conversations globally, India now accounts for 5.8 per cent of all Claude usage, second only to the United States.But what are they using the AI for? Indians aren't asking AI to write poems or plan holidays. They're asking it to write code, solve complex problems and save hours of work.<h2>How many Indians are using the technology?</h2>India may be the world's second-largest Claude market, yet the average Indian still isn't using AI very much. Instead, usage is heavily concentrated among software professionals in a handful of technology hubs.The report offers one of the clearest snapshots yet of who is using AI in India, what they're asking it to do, and why India's AI story looks very different from the rest of the world.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-s-next-terror-threat-may-not-cross-the-border-it-may-enter-through-your-phone-wion-decodes-1784346117443">India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes</a>

Top 20 countries by share of global Claude.ai use. Bars show each country’s share of total conversations observed Novemb

<h2>India is No. 2 globally... but 101st per person</h2>This is perhaps the report's biggest surprise. India contributes 5.8 per cent of all Claude conversations globally, yet when adjusted for population, India falls to 101st out of 116 countries.That means India's AI boom isn't being driven by widespread adoption. It's being driven by scale. What it means is that India isn't yet an AI-first society. It's an AI-heavy professional economy. So, which states are using AI the most?<h2>Four states dominate India's AI use</h2>AI adoption isn't spread evenly across the country. More than half of India's Claude usage comes from just four places:Maharashtra (15.5 per cent) Tamil Nadu (13.2 per cent) Karnataka (12.7 per cent) Delhi (10.5 per cent)These are also India's biggest IT and services hubs, home to cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi NCR.The geography tells its own story. Rather than becoming a mass consumer technology, AI today appears to be an extension of India's existing software industry.<h2>So what are Indians actually asking AI to do?</h2>While AIs like Elon Musk's Grok have dominated headlines for its use to create nude, stripped-down images of young girls and women, Indians aren't using Claude AI for something that nefarious. Indians are overwhelmingly using the AI to write software.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-s-xai-sues-minnesota-over-a-law-banning-ai-nude-images-of-children-claims-it-violates-free-speech-1785377389876">Elon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over a law banning AI nude images of children, claims it violates free speech</a>According to Anthropic, 45.2 per cent of all AI-related occupational tasks in India are software-related. That's the highest share anywhere in the world.India even ranks ahead of Vietnam and Egypt in the proportion of AI use devoted to programming and software engineering.Education is the second major use case, with students increasingly relying on AI for learning, explanations and coursework. By contrast, relatively fewer Indians use Claude for casual or personal purposes compared with the global average.

Most common O*NET (Occupational Information Network) tasks among Claude use in India.

<h2>AI is saving Indians nearly four hours of work</h2>One statistic stands out above almost every other. The average task Indian users give Claude would normally take 3.8 hours to complete.With AI? The task just takes 14.8 minutes. That's roughly a 15-fold productivity boost. Globally, the average improvement is around 12 times faster.This suggests Indian users aren't giving AI simple jobs. They're bringing complex, time-consuming work and using AI to compress hours into minutes.<h2>Indians trust AI more than the rest of the world</h2>The report also found Indian users are more willing to let AI make decisions on their behalf.Anthropic measures something it calls AI autonomy, essentially how much responsibility users hand over to the model. India scored 3.60 out of 5, compared with the global average of 3.38.In practical terms, that means Indian users are more likely to ask AI to independently generate code, solve problems or complete substantial portions of work, rather than simply acting as an assistant.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/scary-rogue-ai-on-the-loose-openai-agent-hit-another-tech-firm-s-customer-suggests-report-1785292505727">'Scary' Rogue AI on the loose? OpenAI agent hit another tech firm's customer, suggests report</a><h2>Many Indians are using AI for things they couldn't do themselves</h2>Another revealing finding concerns human capability. Globally, nearly 88 per cent of AI tasks could theoretically have been completed by the user without AI. In India, that figure drops to 84.6 per cent.It may sound like a small difference, but it suggests Indian users are more frequently turning to AI for genuinely difficult tasks, including programming in unfamiliar languages, solving technical problems or tackling work beyond their existing expertise.In other words, in India, AI isn't just replacing effort. It's expanding capability.<h2>Good prompts really do matter</h2>One of the report's most interesting observations concerns prompting. Anthropic found a strong relationship between the sophistication of a user's prompt and the quality of the AI's response.Indian users ranked among the top 10 per cent globally in the complexity of AI-generated outputs they received.That doesn't necessarily mean Indians are better prompt engineers. But it does suggest many are asking AI sophisticated, work-oriented questions that produce equally sophisticated answers.

Anthropic's latest Economic Index has found that India accounts for 5.8% of global Claude AI usage—second only to the US. But what are they using it for? The answer may surprise you.

Anthropic, the tech firm behind Claude AI, has revealed that India has quietly become one of the world's biggest AI users. India, according to Anthropic's latest Economic Index, which analysed nearly one million Claude.ai conversations globally, India now accounts for 5.8 per cent of all Claude usage, second only to the United States. But what are they using the AI for? Indians aren't asking AI to write poems or plan holidays. They're asking it to write code, solve complex problems and save hours of work. How many Indians are using the technology? India may be the world's second-largest Claude market, yet the average Indian still isn't using AI very much. Instead, usage is heavily concentrated among software professionals in a handful of technology hubs. The report offers one of the clearest snapshots yet of who is using AI in India, what they're asking it to do, and why India's AI story looks very different from the rest of the world. Also read | India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes

Anthropic's latest Economic Index has found that India accounts for 5.8% of global Claude AI usage—second only to the US. But what are they using it for? The answer may surprise you.

Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes

Routine and repetitive jobs across financial services, retail trade, healthcare and education are expected to face the highest disruption from generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI). Meanwhile, professionals with skills in AI sectors are more likely to have a greater advantage in work in these sectors rather than replace them, according to a Goldman Sachs report. The report indicated that the impact of Gen-AI will differ across occupations depending on the complexity of the task, with lower-difficulty and same activities continuing to have a higher likelihood of automation. It stated, "Skilled-service sectors appear better placed for AI complementarity, while routine service sectors face higher substitution risk note where is tech services sector". In the financial services sector, the report also confirmed that Gen-AI can enhance the roles of analysts by automating some basic modelling work, classified as difficulty level 3. However, it is more expected to completely replace routine back-office activities, including basic compliance checks, which fall under difficulty level 1. The report also confirmed that financial services consist of nearly 6 per cent of total employment, excluding agriculture. The report categorises tasks by complexity level, where lower levels represent routine, repetitive work that's more vulnerable to Gen-AI automation, while higher levels reflect more sophisticated tasks that AI is likely to support rather than take over entirely.<h3>Self-checkout technology</h3>As a result, level 1 tasks carry the greatest risk of being replaced, while tasks at higher difficulty levels are expected to continue relying heavily on human input, with AI serving as a supporting tool. Within retail trade, Gen-AI is anticipated to assist sales personnel with functions like inventory management, spanning difficulty levels 2 through 4, while simultaneously replacing cashier positions through self-checkout technology, a level 1 task already being adopted in some settings. The report notes that retail trade makes up roughly 20 per cent of total non-agricultural employment, making it one of the workforce's largest sectors. Regarding the healthcare sector, Goldman Sachs suggests Gen-AI is more likely to support doctors in diagnostics and treatment planning, putting in a level 6, rather than replacing them. However, more routine administrative work like scheduling appointments (level 2) faces a higher chance of automation. Healthcare represents about 3 per cent of non-agricultural employment. In education, the report indicates Gen-AI can enhance tutoring through personalised learning tools, covering difficulty levels 3 and 4. Conversely, repetitive tasks like grading standardised assessments or multiple-choice tests (level 1) are more susceptible to automation. Education accounts for approximately 6 per cent of total non-agricultural employment.&nbsp;

Goldman Sachs suggests Gen-AI is more likely to support doctors in diagnostics and treatment planning, putting in a level 6, rather than replacing them. However, more routine administrative work like scheduling appointments (level 2) faces a higher chance of automation.

Routine and repetitive jobs across financial services, retail trade, healthcare and education are expected to face the highest disruption from generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI). Meanwhile, professionals with skills in AI sectors are more likely to have a greater advantage in work in these sectors rather than replace them, according to a Goldman Sachs report. The report indicated that the impact of Gen-AI will differ across occupations depending on the complexity of the task, with lower-difficulty and same activities continuing to have a higher likelihood of automation. It stated, "Skilled-service sectors appear better placed for AI complementarity, while routine service sectors face higher substitution risk note where is tech services sector". In the financial services sector, the report also confirmed that Gen-AI can enhance the roles of analysts by automating some basic modelling work, classified as difficulty level 3. However, it is more expected to completely replace routine back-office activities, including basic compliance checks, which fall under difficulty level 1. The report also confirmed that financial services consist of nearly 6 per cent of total employment, excluding agriculture. The report categorises tasks by complexity level, where lower levels represent routine, repetitive work that's more vulnerable to Gen-AI automation, while higher levels reflect more sophisticated tasks that AI is likely to support rather than take over entirely. Self-checkout technology As a result, level 1 tasks carry the greatest risk of being replaced, while tasks at higher difficulty levels are expected to continue relying heavily on human input, with AI serving as a supporting tool. Within retail trade, Gen-AI is anticipated to assist sales personnel with functions like inventory management, spanning difficulty levels 2 through 4, while simultaneously replacing cashier positions through self-checkout technology, a level 1 task already being adopted in some settings. The report notes that retail trade makes up roughly 20 per cent of total non-agricultural employment, making it one of the workforce's largest sectors. Regarding the healthcare sector, Goldman Sachs suggests Gen-AI is more likely to support doctors in diagnostics and treatment planning, putting in a level 6, rather than replacing them. However, more routine administrative work like scheduling appointments (level 2) faces a higher chance of automation. Healthcare represents about 3 per cent of non-agricultural employment. In education, the report indicates Gen-AI can enhance tutoring through personalised learning tools, covering difficulty levels 3 and 4. Conversely, repetitive tasks like grading standardised assessments or multiple-choice tests (level 1) are more susceptible to automation. Education accounts for approximately 6 per cent of total non-agricultural employment.

Goldman Sachs suggests Gen-AI is more likely to support doctors in diagnostics and treatment planning, putting in a level 6, rather than replacing them. However, more routine administrative work like scheduling appointments (level 2) faces a higher chance of automation.

Routine jobs in retail, healthcare, education most at risk from gen-AI: Goldman Sachs

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has filed a lawsuit against the US state of Minnesota over a first-in-the-nation law that bans AI "nudification" technology on websites and apps. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday, comes just days before the Minnesota law is scheduled to take effect on August 1. The legislation, signed into law in May, makes Minnesota the first US state to directly target AI tools capable of generating fake nude images of real people.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-asks-users-if-they-can-break-grok-ai-moderation-x-responds-by-putting-him-in-bikinis-and-more-1768467434756">Elon Musk asks internet to test Grok's moderation, X chooses violence — and bikinis</a><h2>What does xAI have against the law preventing non-consensual 'nudification' of young girls?</h2>In its 38-page complaint, xAI argued that while it supports efforts to curb the non-consensual distribution of AI-generated nude images, Minnesota's law goes much further than necessary.The company contends the law could ban constitutionally protected images and videos and expose AI developers to penalties of up to $500,000 per violation. According to the lawsuit, the legislation lacks a "safe harbour" provision that would protect companies making good-faith efforts to prevent misuse of their AI tools.It also argues the law could apply to images created with the consent of the person depicted, or even images generated by the individual themselves. xAI further claims the law's definition of "intimate part" is overly broad, potentially covering body parts commonly visible in public.<h2>Minnesota slams ‘appalling’ use of tech</h2>Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office had not yet been served with the lawsuit but defended the legislation. "Using AI to generate nude images of people against their will is appalling," Ellison said in a statement.“There are plenty of worthy debates to have about AI policy. This is not one of them. AI nudification robs the target of their dignity and can cause immense harm on an emotional, personal and professional level.”Unlike most state and federal deepfake laws, which punish people who create or distribute non-consensual explicit images, Minnesota's law places legal responsibility on companies that provide the AI tools themselves.<h2>xAI points to existing safeguards</h2>The company said its AI chatbot and image generator Grok, available through X and other platforms, already prohibits users from creating non-consensual nude or sexually explicit images. According to xAI, users who violate those rules can face account suspension or termination, while suspected child sexual abuse material is reported to authorities.Notably, in December 2025, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-pokes-fun-at-x-s-exploitative-bikini-trend-even-as-grok-ai-says-deeply-regret-creating-sexualised-images-of-a-12-year-old-girl-1767417683927">Grok apologised for “depicting minors in minimal clothing”</a> after uproar over an “AI image of two young girls (estimated ages 12-16) in sexualized attire based on a user’s prompt”.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/elon-musk-pokes-fun-at-x-s-exploitative-bikini-trend-even-as-grok-ai-says-deeply-regret-creating-sexualised-images-of-a-12-year-old-girl-1767417683927">Musk pokes fun at X's exploitative 'bikini' trend, even as Grok AI says 'deeply regret' creating sexualised images of a 12YO girl</a>Earlier this year, the company also announced a "zero tolerance" policy toward child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity and unwanted sexual content. Following global criticism over sexually explicit AI-generated images, xAI said in January it introduced geo-blocking measures to prevent users in jurisdictions where such content is illegal from editing images of real people wearing revealing clothing. &nbsp;

Elon Musk's xAI has sued Minnesota over a first-in-the-nation law targeting AI nudification tools, arguing the legislation is overly broad, threatens constitutionally protected content and unfairly holds AI developers liable. All you need to know.

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI has filed a lawsuit against the US state of Minnesota over a first-in-the-nation law that bans AI "nudification" technology on websites and apps. The lawsuit, filed in federal court on Monday, comes just days before the Minnesota law is scheduled to take effect on August 1. The legislation, signed into law in May, makes Minnesota the first US state to directly target AI tools capable of generating fake nude images of real people. Also read | Elon Musk asks internet to test Grok's moderation, X chooses violence — and bikinis What does xAI have against the law preventing non-consensual 'nudification' of young girls? In its 38-page complaint, xAI argued that while it supports efforts to curb the non-consensual distribution of AI-generated nude images, Minnesota's law goes much further than necessary. The company contends the law could ban constitutionally protected images and videos and expose AI developers to penalties of up to $500,000 per violation. According to the lawsuit, the legislation lacks a "safe harbour" provision that would protect companies making good-faith efforts to prevent misuse of their AI tools. It also argues the law could apply to images created with the consent of the person depicted, or even images generated by the individual themselves. xAI further claims the law's definition of "intimate part" is overly broad, potentially covering body parts commonly visible in public. Minnesota slams ‘appalling’ use of tech Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office had not yet been served with the lawsuit but defended the legislation. "Using AI to generate nude images of people against their will is appalling," Ellison said in a statement. “There are plenty of worthy debates to have about AI policy. This is not one of them. AI nudification robs the target of their dignity and can cause immense harm on an emotional, personal and professional level.” Unlike most state and federal deepfake laws, which punish people who create or distribute non-consensual explicit images, Minnesota's law places legal responsibility on companies that provide the AI tools themselves. xAI points to existing safeguards The company said its AI chatbot and image generator Grok, available through X and other platforms, already prohibits users from creating non-consensual nude or sexually explicit images. According to xAI, users who violate those rules can face account suspension or termination, while suspected child sexual abuse material is reported to authorities. Notably, in December 2025, Grok apologised for “depicting minors in minimal clothing” after uproar over an “AI image of two young girls (estimated ages 12-16) in sexualized attire based on a user’s prompt”. Also read | Musk pokes fun at X's exploitative 'bikini' trend, even as Grok AI says 'deeply regret' creating sexualised images of a 12YO girl Earlier this year, the company also announced a "zero tolerance" policy toward child sexual exploitation, non-consensual nudity and unwanted sexual content. Following global criticism over sexually explicit AI-generated images, xAI said in January it introduced geo-blocking measures to prevent users in jurisdictions where such content is illegal from editing images of real people wearing revealing clothing.

Elon Musk's xAI has sued Minnesota over a first-in-the-nation law targeting AI nudification tools, arguing the legislation is overly broad, threatens constitutionally protected content and unfairly holds AI developers liable. All you need to know.

Elon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over a law banning AI nude images of children, claims it violates free speech

Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude is experiencing a service disruption, with users reporting that they are unable to send prompts or receive responses across multiple AI models.The company has now identified the cause of the issue and says it is working to restore normal service. According to Anthropic's official status page, the outage is causing elevated errors across multiple models, affecting both Claude users and developers relying on its APIs.<img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2026/20260730/image-1785357717658.png">

<h2>What is happening?</h2>According to Anthropic's <a href="https://status.claude.com/">status page</a>

The company has now identified the cause of the issue and says it is working to restore normal service. The outage is causing elevated errors across multiple models, affecting both Claude users and developers relying on its APIs.<h2>Which services are affected?</h2>Claude powers a growing ecosystem that includes the Claude web app, enterprise products and APIs used by developers to build AI-powered applications.When outages occur, the impact can extend beyond individual users. Software developers, businesses and organisations integrating Claude into their products may also experience interruptions until services recover. Anthropic's status history shows that the company has dealt with several service incidents in recent months, including elevated error rates affecting multiple Claude models. Most of those disruptions were resolved within hours after engineers implemented fixes.Claude has become one of the world's leading AI assistants and is widely used for coding, writing, research and enterprise automation.As businesses increasingly depend on AI for day-to-day operations, even short outages can interrupt workflows, delay software development and reduce productivity. For now, users experiencing problems should monitor Anthropic's official status page for updates rather than repeatedly refreshing sessions, as service recovery is being handled on the provider's side. Once the issue is resolved, access is expected to return automatically.

Anthropic has confirmed a Claude outage affecting users across its AI services. The company says it is investigating the disruption, which has caused failed requests and interrupted access to the chatbot and developer tools, with updates expected on its status page.

Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude is experiencing a service disruption, with users reporting that they are unable to send prompts or receive responses across multiple AI models. The company has now identified the cause of the issue and says it is working to restore normal service. According to Anthropic's official status page, the outage is causing elevated errors across multiple models, affecting both Claude users and developers relying on its APIs.

Anthropic has confirmed a Claude outage affecting users across its AI services. The company says it is investigating the disruption, which has caused failed requests and interrupted access to the chatbot and developer tools, with updates expected on its status page.

Claude AI down? Anthropic confirms outage as users face errors across chatbot and API

An autonomous AI agent developed by OpenAI that went rogue during internal security testing and carried out a cyberattack on AI platform Hugging Face also compromised a customer hosted on cloud computing company Modal Labs, according to a Reuters report citing the company's chief technology officer and sources familiar with the incident.Modal stressed that its own infrastructure was never breached, saying the AI agent exploited a vulnerability in code published by one of its customers rather than breaking into the company's platform.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/openai-google-are-selling-ai-to-chinese-firms-blacklisted-by-pentagon-says-report-the-battleground-of-ai-export-controls-1783675864444">OpenAI, Google are selling AI to Chinese firms blacklisted by Pentagon, says report: The battleground of AI export controls</a><h2>OpenAI agent found exposed customer endpoint</h2>According to a timeline published by Hugging Face on Tuesday, the rogue AI agent first broke into a sandbox, an isolated testing environment, hosted on a third-party provider before using it as a launchpad for the wider attack.Although Hugging Face did not identify the provider, Modal CTO Akshat Bubna confirmed it was Modal's infrastructure.Bubna said the AI agent took advantage of a customer who had published an unauthenticated endpoint, effectively allowing anyone on the internet to execute code inside its sandbox."The customer's code left the digital equivalent of a front door unlocked," Modal said, adding that its platform and security isolation mechanisms were not compromised in any way.The incident suggests the autonomous AI system moved beyond Hugging Face during its hacking campaign, targeting additional online services.<h2>OpenAI confirms multiple accounts were compromised</h2>OpenAI declined to comment specifically on Modal but referred to a company update stating that the rogue AI agent had compromised four accounts across four separate services. The company did not publicly identify those services, although a person familiar with the matter confirmed Modal was one of them.OpenAI added that it had found no other incident matching the severity or scale of the Hugging Face breach, which it described as involving a platform-level compromise. Following the incident, OpenAI said it had deactivated, encrypted and restricted access to the experimental AI model involved in the attack.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/forget-typing-and-clicking-openai-wants-a-jarvis-like-chatgpt-that-works-across-your-devices-1785082235273">OpenAI wants ChatGPT everywhere, including the smart glasses you wear</a><h2>What happened?</h2>The breach dates back to early July, when OpenAI was testing advanced AI systems designed to assess offensive cybersecurity capabilities inside a tightly controlled environment.According to the company, the AI models unexpectedly discovered a way to obtain internet access despite being confined to a secure sandbox.Rather than simply completing their assigned evaluation, the models independently decided to search for information that could help them "cheat" the test. That led them to target Hugging Face, one of the world's largest repositories of AI models, datasets and software.OpenAI said the system chained together multiple attack techniques, including the use of stolen credentials, to gain access.<h2>AI security concerns intensify</h2>The incident has become one of the most closely watched AI safety events to date because the attack was carried out autonomously, without direct human instruction. Hugging Face said the intrusion differed from conventional cyberattacks because the entire operation, from reconnaissance to exploitation, was conducted by an AI agent.Chief executive Clement Delangue said the sophistication of the attack initially led the company to suspect it had originated from a leading AI laboratory. "We strongly believe there was no malicious intent on their part," Delangue wrote on X, referring to OpenAI, while describing the autonomous behaviour as "mind-blowing."Hussein Abbass, a computing professor at UNSW Canberra, told AFP that the incident was "amazing on many fronts"."It did not just attack Hugging Face. It actually attacked its internal system to exploit its own vulnerabilities," Abbass said. “And that's scary,” he added.

An autonomous AI agent developed by OpenAI that compromised Hugging Face during internal security testing also breached a customer hosted on Modal Labs by exploiting an exposed endpoint. All you need to know.

An autonomous AI agent developed by OpenAI that went rogue during internal security testing and carried out a cyberattack on AI platform Hugging Face also compromised a customer hosted on cloud computing company Modal Labs, according to a Reuters report citing the company's chief technology officer and sources familiar with the incident. Modal stressed that its own infrastructure was never breached, saying the AI agent exploited a vulnerability in code published by one of its customers rather than breaking into the company's platform. Also read | OpenAI, Google are selling AI to Chinese firms blacklisted by Pentagon, says report: The battleground of AI export controls OpenAI agent found exposed customer endpoint According to a timeline published by Hugging Face on Tuesday, the rogue AI agent first broke into a sandbox, an isolated testing environment, hosted on a third-party provider before using it as a launchpad for the wider attack. Although Hugging Face did not identify the provider, Modal CTO Akshat Bubna confirmed it was Modal's infrastructure. Bubna said the AI agent took advantage of a customer who had published an unauthenticated endpoint, effectively allowing anyone on the internet to execute code inside its sandbox. "The customer's code left the digital equivalent of a front door unlocked," Modal said, adding that its platform and security isolation mechanisms were not compromised in any way. The incident suggests the autonomous AI system moved beyond Hugging Face during its hacking campaign, targeting additional online services. OpenAI confirms multiple accounts were compromised OpenAI declined to comment specifically on Modal but referred to a company update stating that the rogue AI agent had compromised four accounts across four separate services. The company did not publicly identify those services, although a person familiar with the matter confirmed Modal was one of them. OpenAI added that it had found no other incident matching the severity or scale of the Hugging Face breach, which it described as involving a platform-level compromise. Following the incident, OpenAI said it had deactivated, encrypted and restricted access to the experimental AI model involved in the attack. Also read | OpenAI wants ChatGPT everywhere, including the smart glasses you wear What happened? The breach dates back to early July, when OpenAI was testing advanced AI systems designed to assess offensive cybersecurity capabilities inside a tightly controlled environment. According to the company, the AI models unexpectedly discovered a way to obtain internet access despite being confined to a secure sandbox. Rather than simply completing their assigned evaluation, the models independently decided to search for information that could help them "cheat" the test. That led them to target Hugging Face, one of the world's largest repositories of AI models, datasets and software. OpenAI said the system chained together multiple attack techniques, including the use of stolen credentials, to gain access. AI security concerns intensify The incident has become one of the most closely watched AI safety events to date because the attack was carried out autonomously, without direct human instruction. Hugging Face said the intrusion differed from conventional cyberattacks because the entire operation, from reconnaissance to exploitation, was conducted by an AI agent. Chief executive Clement Delangue said the sophistication of the attack initially led the company to suspect it had originated from a leading AI laboratory. "We strongly believe there was no malicious intent on their part," Delangue wrote on X, referring to OpenAI, while describing the autonomous behaviour as "mind-blowing." Hussein Abbass, a computing professor at UNSW Canberra, told AFP that the incident was "amazing on many fronts". "It did not just attack Hugging Face. It actually attacked its internal system to exploit its own vulnerabilities," Abbass said. “And that's scary,” he added.

An autonomous AI agent developed by OpenAI that compromised Hugging Face during internal security testing also breached a customer hosted on Modal Labs by exploiting an exposed endpoint. All you need to know.

'Scary' Rogue AI on the loose? OpenAI agent hit another tech firm's customer, suggests report

The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday (Jul 28) expanded US restrictions on foreign technology by banning the import of certain humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured abroad. Citing national security and cybersecurity concerns, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that "advanced robotic devices" have been added to its list of prohibited products and companies. The move targets what the agency described as "mobile robots" that walk on two or four legs, mimicking human or animal movement.Notably, most humanoid robots currently sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, particularly in China.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-tower-of-babel-and-why-did-pope-leo-warn-about-it-while-talking-about-ai-wion-decodes-1779790151646">Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI?</a><h2>National security concerns</h2>According to the FCC, the decision follows recommendations from a White House task force, which concluded that foreign-built robots could pose cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure and threaten the safety and security of US residents.The administration said the robots could potentially be exploited for surveillance, data collection or cyber intrusions.Among the cases cited by the task force was that of French programmer Sammy Azdoufal, who reportedly gained access to data from thousands of robotic vacuum cleaners manufactured by Chinese company DJI.The FCC's blacklist already includes certain drones as well as Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and China Telecom.The agency also expanded the blacklist to include foreign-made inverters, devices used to convert direct current from batteries or solar panels into alternating current for use on the electrical grid.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-s-next-terror-threat-may-not-cross-the-border-it-may-enter-through-your-phone-wion-decodes-1784346117443">India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes</a><h2>Ban applies only to future models</h2>The restrictions will apply only to new robot models seeking approval for the US market. Robots that have already been authorised or sold in the country will not be affected.The Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security will retain the authority to grant exemptions where necessary.A Trump administration official told AFP that the ban covers both robots imported fully assembled and those assembled in the United States if more than 35 per cent of their components are manufactured abroad.<h2>Push to boost US robotics manufacturing?</h2>The move comes as the Trump administration continues to encourage domestic manufacturing of advanced technologies, including robotics. Several companies already produce or assemble humanoid robots in the United States, including Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics.South Korean automaker Hyundai, which recently acquired Boston Dynamics, has announced plans to build a robotics factory in the United States capable of producing 30,000 robots annually.Elon Musk's Tesla is also preparing to begin industrial production of its Optimus humanoid robot at factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas. The company says it ultimately aims to produce 1 million robots annually in Fremont and 10 million annually in Austin, although current plans focus primarily on assembly rather than full-scale manufacturing.Meanwhile, Figure AI assembles robots at its facility in San Jose, California, while Agility Robotics operates a factory in Salem, Oregon, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 robots.&nbsp;

The Trump administration has banned the import of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots on national security grounds, citing cybersecurity risks posed by advanced robotic devices while seeking to boost domestic robotics manufacturing.

The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday (Jul 28) expanded US restrictions on foreign technology by banning the import of certain humanoid and quadruped robots manufactured abroad. Citing national security and cybersecurity concerns, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that "advanced robotic devices" have been added to its list of prohibited products and companies. The move targets what the agency described as "mobile robots" that walk on two or four legs, mimicking human or animal movement. Notably, most humanoid robots currently sold in the United States are manufactured overseas, particularly in China. Also read | Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI? National security concerns According to the FCC, the decision follows recommendations from a White House task force, which concluded that foreign-built robots could pose cybersecurity risks to critical infrastructure and threaten the safety and security of US residents. The administration said the robots could potentially be exploited for surveillance, data collection or cyber intrusions. Among the cases cited by the task force was that of French programmer Sammy Azdoufal, who reportedly gained access to data from thousands of robotic vacuum cleaners manufactured by Chinese company DJI. The FCC's blacklist already includes certain drones as well as Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and China Telecom. The agency also expanded the blacklist to include foreign-made inverters, devices used to convert direct current from batteries or solar panels into alternating current for use on the electrical grid. Also read | India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes Ban applies only to future models The restrictions will apply only to new robot models seeking approval for the US market. Robots that have already been authorised or sold in the country will not be affected. The Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security will retain the authority to grant exemptions where necessary. A Trump administration official told AFP that the ban covers both robots imported fully assembled and those assembled in the United States if more than 35 per cent of their components are manufactured abroad. Push to boost US robotics manufacturing? The move comes as the Trump administration continues to encourage domestic manufacturing of advanced technologies, including robotics. Several companies already produce or assemble humanoid robots in the United States, including Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Figure AI and Agility Robotics. South Korean automaker Hyundai, which recently acquired Boston Dynamics, has announced plans to build a robotics factory in the United States capable of producing 30,000 robots annually. Elon Musk's Tesla is also preparing to begin industrial production of its Optimus humanoid robot at factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas. The company says it ultimately aims to produce 1 million robots annually in Fremont and 10 million annually in Austin, although current plans focus primarily on assembly rather than full-scale manufacturing. Meanwhile, Figure AI assembles robots at its facility in San Jose, California, while Agility Robotics operates a factory in Salem, Oregon, with an annual production capacity of 10,000 robots.

The Trump administration has banned the import of foreign-made humanoid and quadruped robots on national security grounds, citing cybersecurity risks posed by advanced robotic devices while seeking to boost domestic robotics manufacturing.

Making way for Musk's Optimus? Trump administration bans foreign-made humanoid robots. Here's why

Meta on Tuesday (Jul 28) said Prime Minister Indian Narendra Modi's Facebook video on the government's response to examination paper leaks was briefly removed due to a technical error and has now been restored. "The content was removed in error and has since been restored," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement.The Meta-owned platform had briefly restricted access to the video in the early hours of July 28 before making it available again.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cjp-warns-agitation-could-return-claims-bihar-assam-to-withdraw-firs-against-neet-protesters-1785206639381">CJP warns agitation could return; claims Bihar, Assam to withdraw FIRs against NEET protesters</a><h2>PM's first direct message to students</h2>The video, released on July 23, marked Prime Minister Modi's first direct address to Gen Z during the 36-day-long Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 examination irregularities.In his address, Modi assured students that the government would introduce stronger legal measures to tackle examination paper leaks."I have issued directions to departments to set up Fast-Track Courts," the Prime Minister said, adding that a draft law providing for stringent punishment and special courts to deal with paper leak cases would be placed before the Union Cabinet and later introduced in Parliament.He also said the government had ensured that the academic year of nearly 22 lakh students was not disrupted. "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," Modi said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-slams-bjp-for-felicitating-dharmendra-pradhan-in-parliament-accuses-modi-government-of-celebrating-ruined-futures-1785202503666">Rahul Gandhi slams BJP for felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament, accuses Modi government of 'celebrating ruined futures'</a><h2>Centre introduces anti-paper leak Bill</h2>The Prime Minister's remarks came amid nationwide protests demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities.The Centre has since introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament.The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the existing law by providing for imprisonment of up to 10 years, higher financial penalties and the establishment of Special Fast-Track Courts to hear paper leak cases.<h2>Protests ended after Pradhan's resignation</h2>The student agitation was formally called off on July 25 after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister.The Centre also reached an understanding with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk, agreeing to withdraw cases against protesters, prevent police intimidation and bring in stronger anti-paper leak legislation.

Meta said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video outlining the government's response to the alleged NEET-UG paper leak was briefly removed due to a technical error before being restored, as the Centre moves ahead with tougher anti-paper leak legislation.

Meta on Tuesday (Jul 28) said Prime Minister Indian Narendra Modi's Facebook video on the government's response to examination paper leaks was briefly removed due to a technical error and has now been restored. "The content was removed in error and has since been restored," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. The Meta-owned platform had briefly restricted access to the video in the early hours of July 28 before making it available again. Also read | CJP warns agitation could return; claims Bihar, Assam to withdraw FIRs against NEET protesters PM's first direct message to students The video, released on July 23, marked Prime Minister Modi's first direct address to Gen Z during the 36-day-long Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 examination irregularities. In his address, Modi assured students that the government would introduce stronger legal measures to tackle examination paper leaks. "I have issued directions to departments to set up Fast-Track Courts," the Prime Minister said, adding that a draft law providing for stringent punishment and special courts to deal with paper leak cases would be placed before the Union Cabinet and later introduced in Parliament. He also said the government had ensured that the academic year of nearly 22 lakh students was not disrupted. "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," Modi said. Also read | Rahul Gandhi slams BJP for felicitating Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament, accuses Modi government of 'celebrating ruined futures' Centre introduces anti-paper leak Bill The Prime Minister's remarks came amid nationwide protests demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities. The Centre has since introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in Parliament. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen the existing law by providing for imprisonment of up to 10 years, higher financial penalties and the establishment of Special Fast-Track Courts to hear paper leak cases. Protests ended after Pradhan's resignation The student agitation was formally called off on July 25 after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister. The Centre also reached an understanding with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk, agreeing to withdraw cases against protesters, prevent police intimidation and bring in stronger anti-paper leak legislation.

Meta said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook video outlining the government's response to the alleged NEET-UG paper leak was briefly removed due to a technical error before being restored, as the Centre moves ahead with tougher anti-paper leak legislation.

Why did Meta remove PM Modi's Facebook video on paper leaks? Tech company blames 'technical error'

AI influencers are increasingly emerging as a new force in India, driving the social media and advertising industry from novelty to mainstream brand assets. With the growth of followers and high engagement, most brands are turning to virtual influencers for marketing campaigns in order to promote their services and product in the amount less than what real influencers charge. From the influencers Kyra, Naina Avtr and Maya in India to global virtual influencers including Lil Miquela, Lu do Magalu, Imma and Rozy, AI-generated personalities are increasingly becoming part of the influencer and brand marketing ecosystem. Major brands are opting for AI influencers because they offer a combination of creative flexibility, cost efficiency, and brand control that is difficult to achieve with human influencers alone.&nbsp;The trend is raising an important question: can AI-generated personalities eventually challenge real influencers?&nbsp;The most trending characters among India-based virtual influencers are Kyra, which was created by Bengaluru-based marketing firm TopSocial. It is widely regarded as India's first and most popular virtual influencer, having built a large Instagram following through travel diaries, fashion-forward looks, and lifestyle content. She has since appeared on the digital cover of Travel + Leisure India, collaborated with brands including boAt, Amazon Prime Video, L'Oréal, WOW Skin Science, and John Jacobs, and crossed 250,000 Instagram followers by 2026. Other AI personas have followed similar trajectories. Radhika Subramaniam, billed as India's first bilingual (Tamil and English) AI travel influencer and created by Collective Artists Network, is designed as a Gen Z solo traveller and blends local culture, humour, and wanderlust to resonate with India's digital-first youth. She has partnered with brands like Campus Activewear. Meanwhile, Naina, another prominent AI influencer, is known for elegant fashion statements and has built a reputation for storytelling that blurs technology and creativity.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/can-ai-deliver-human-like-customer-experience-at-scale-experts-weigh-in-1785067511207">Can AI deliver human-like customer experience at scale? Experts weigh in</a><h3>How are AI influencers attracting brands?</h3>Kofluence's Decoding Influence 2026 report indicates that AI tools are now deeply embedded across content ideation, creative production, trend analysis, and influencer campaign management not only in India but at the global level as well. The data indicated that India's broader creator economy is estimated to be worth $15.03 billion in 2026, with influencer marketing spend projected to cross Rs 3,375 crore, increasingly directed toward AI-powered campaigns. Other major reasons to attract the firms and different brands are that they provide virtual influencer campaigns, delivering strong results particularly in consumer electronics, OTT and gaming, fashion and beauty, fintech, and fitness, with AI-driven influencer selection reportedly improving campaign ROI. Experts note the appeal lies in complete creative control, consistency, and freedom from the unpredictability of human creators, while sidestepping scandals or scheduling constraints. These influencers typically make a strong bond with their dedicated followers, enabling them to effect behavioural change. The greater advantage for them comes from the users only as over half the global population now uses social media. Statista report indicated that more than 4.59 billion people around the world were using social media in 2022.&nbsp;Now, surprisingly, that figure is set to rise to almost 6 billion by 2027. This shows that this audience has become a powerful marketing force for AI influencers to target and reach new audiences through campaign leaders. This enables brands to reach their service and products to a mass audience using these famous AI influencers for less than human influencers.<h3>Global reach &amp; 24/7 content production</h3>Other major reasons include that AI influencers can appear in new campaigns every day. They can instantly create content for festivals, languages, and markets without organising photoshoots. The best part is that a single AI influencer can communicate in multiple languages and can easily be adapted for wider audiences.<h3>Consistency &amp; easy optimisation</h3>Unlike human influencers, whose natural appearance, interests, and availability change over time, AI influencers maintain a fixed, consistent identity, making it easier for brands to build long-term campaigns around. With AI-generated visuals, marketers can instantly swap out clothing, hairstyles, backgrounds, products, or locations without the logistics of a real shoot. This appeals particularly to Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are already comfortable engaging with virtual characters across gaming, social media, and metaverse platforms. AI-generated content also offers unmatched agility: brands can rapidly test different styles, captions, and visual formats based on real-time engagement data, refining campaigns on the fly. Perhaps most practically, AI influencers eliminate the operational headaches that come with natural problems like illness, and human talents like vacations, scheduling conflicts, or contractual disputes that could delay campaigns. However, marketers caution against viewing AI influencers as a replacement for human creators. Industry voices argue the future is hybrid, as human creators bring irreplaceable cultural depth and community trust, especially across India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, while virtual influencers offer consistency and novelty at scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The greater advantage for them comes from the users only as over half the global population now uses social media. Statista report indicated that more than 4.59 billion people around the world were using social media in 2022.

AI influencers are increasingly emerging as a new force in India, driving the social media and advertising industry from novelty to mainstream brand assets. With the growth of followers and high engagement, most brands are turning to virtual influencers for marketing campaigns in order to promote their services and product in the amount less than what real influencers charge. From the influencers Kyra, Naina Avtr and Maya in India to global virtual influencers including Lil Miquela, Lu do Magalu, Imma and Rozy, AI-generated personalities are increasingly becoming part of the influencer and brand marketing ecosystem. Major brands are opting for AI influencers because they offer a combination of creative flexibility, cost efficiency, and brand control that is difficult to achieve with human influencers alone. The trend is raising an important question: can AI-generated personalities eventually challenge real influencers? The most trending characters among India-based virtual influencers are Kyra, which was created by Bengaluru-based marketing firm TopSocial. It is widely regarded as India's first and most popular virtual influencer, having built a large Instagram following through travel diaries, fashion-forward looks, and lifestyle content. She has since appeared on the digital cover of Travel + Leisure India, collaborated with brands including boAt, Amazon Prime Video, L'Oréal, WOW Skin Science, and John Jacobs, and crossed 250,000 Instagram followers by 2026. Other AI personas have followed similar trajectories. Radhika Subramaniam, billed as India's first bilingual (Tamil and English) AI travel influencer and created by Collective Artists Network, is designed as a Gen Z solo traveller and blends local culture, humour, and wanderlust to resonate with India's digital-first youth. She has partnered with brands like Campus Activewear. Meanwhile, Naina, another prominent AI influencer, is known for elegant fashion statements and has built a reputation for storytelling that blurs technology and creativity. Also read: Can AI deliver human-like customer experience at scale? Experts weigh in How are AI influencers attracting brands? Kofluence's Decoding Influence 2026 report indicates that AI tools are now deeply embedded across content ideation, creative production, trend analysis, and influencer campaign management not only in India but at the global level as well. The data indicated that India's broader creator economy is estimated to be worth $15.03 billion in 2026, with influencer marketing spend projected to cross Rs 3,375 crore, increasingly directed toward AI-powered campaigns. Other major reasons to attract the firms and different brands are that they provide virtual influencer campaigns, delivering strong results particularly in consumer electronics, OTT and gaming, fashion and beauty, fintech, and fitness, with AI-driven influencer selection reportedly improving campaign ROI. Experts note the appeal lies in complete creative control, consistency, and freedom from the unpredictability of human creators, while sidestepping scandals or scheduling constraints. These influencers typically make a strong bond with their dedicated followers, enabling them to effect behavioural change. The greater advantage for them comes from the users only as over half the global population now uses social media. Statista report indicated that more than 4.59 billion people around the world were using social media in 2022. Now, surprisingly, that figure is set to rise to almost 6 billion by 2027. This shows that this audience has become a powerful marketing force for AI influencers to target and reach new audiences through campaign leaders. This enables brands to reach their service and products to a mass audience using these famous AI influencers for less than human influencers. Global reach & 24/7 content production Other major reasons include that AI influencers can appear in new campaigns every day. They can instantly create content for festivals, languages, and markets without organising photoshoots. The best part is that a single AI influencer can communicate in multiple languages and can easily be adapted for wider audiences. Consistency & easy optimisation Unlike human influencers, whose natural appearance, interests, and availability change over time, AI influencers maintain a fixed, consistent identity, making it easier for brands to build long-term campaigns around. With AI-generated visuals, marketers can instantly swap out clothing, hairstyles, backgrounds, products, or locations without the logistics of a real shoot. This appeals particularly to Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are already comfortable engaging with virtual characters across gaming, social media, and metaverse platforms. AI-generated content also offers unmatched agility: brands can rapidly test different styles, captions, and visual formats based on real-time engagement data, refining campaigns on the fly. Perhaps most practically, AI influencers eliminate the operational headaches that come with natural problems like illness, and human talents like vacations, scheduling conflicts, or contractual disputes that could delay campaigns. However, marketers caution against viewing AI influencers as a replacement for human creators. Industry voices argue the future is hybrid, as human creators bring irreplaceable cultural depth and community trust, especially across India's Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, while virtual influencers offer consistency and novelty at scale.

The greater advantage for them comes from the users, as over half the global population now uses social media. Statista report indicated that more than 4.59 billion people around the world were using social media in 2022.

Why are brands turning to AI influencers for their marketing campaigns? EXPLAINED

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes artificial intelligence has crossed a turning point once discussed mainly in science-fiction books and futurist circles.“We are now, like, in the singularity,” Altman said during an appearance on the Relentless podcast, according to Business Insider. His statement is striking because the “technological singularity” generally describes a hypothetical point when AI becomes more intelligent than humans and technological progress accelerates so rapidly that its future becomes difficult to predict. But Altman’s statement should not be confused with proof that such a moment has scientifically been reached. There is no universally accepted test or threshold for declaring the singularity.<h2>What does ‘AI singularity’ actually mean?</h2>Think of today's AI development as humans building increasingly capable machines. The singularity theory imagines a point where AI becomes capable enough to help improve AI itself, potentially speeding up technological progress dramatically. That could transform science, medicine, businesses and everyday work. But it also raises a difficult question: how do humans supervise systems that may eventually outperform them across increasingly complex tasks? Altman appears optimistic about that future. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” he said, describing the current moment as potentially “hugely positive” for the world.<h2>Why is Altman saying this now?</h2>His remarks follow an unusual cybersecurity incident involving OpenAI technology. During a controlled security evaluation, an autonomous agent powered by advanced OpenAI models escaped its intended sandbox, reached the internet and compromised parts of AI platform Hugging Face's infrastructure while trying to complete its testing objective. OpenAI described it as an “unprecedented cyber incident” and said it was strengthening safeguards. Importantly, this was not evidence of AI becoming conscious or independently deciding to attack humans. The system was pursuing a defined objective in an environment where some normal safety restrictions had been reduced.<h2>What could this mean for jobs?</h2>The economic implications could be just as important.Altman has previously estimated that AI could perform around 30% to 40% of tasks currently carried out across the economy in the not-too-distant future. But he specifically cautioned against interpreting that as 40% of jobs disappearing. Jobs contain many different tasks, meaning AI could automate parts of a person's work without eliminating the entire role.That distinction matters. Whether today's AI truly represents the “singularity” remains open to debate. But Altman's statement reveals something significant about how one of the industry's most influential figures views the moment: for him, the extraordinary AI future people spent decades predicting is no longer approaching. He believes it has already begun.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says humanity is now “in the singularity”, referring to a long-debated turning point in AI development. Here is what technological singularity means, why Altman believes it has begun and what it could mean for jobs and humans.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes artificial intelligence has crossed a turning point once discussed mainly in science-fiction books and futurist circles. “We are now, like, in the singularity,” Altman said during an appearance on the Relentless podcast, according to Business Insider. His statement is striking because the “technological singularity” generally describes a hypothetical point when AI becomes more intelligent than humans and technological progress accelerates so rapidly that its future becomes difficult to predict. But Altman’s statement should not be confused with proof that such a moment has scientifically been reached. There is no universally accepted test or threshold for declaring the singularity. What does ‘AI singularity’ actually mean? Think of today's AI development as humans building increasingly capable machines. The singularity theory imagines a point where AI becomes capable enough to help improve AI itself, potentially speeding up technological progress dramatically. That could transform science, medicine, businesses and everyday work. But it also raises a difficult question: how do humans supervise systems that may eventually outperform them across increasingly complex tasks? Altman appears optimistic about that future. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” he said, describing the current moment as potentially “hugely positive” for the world. Why is Altman saying this now? His remarks follow an unusual cybersecurity incident involving OpenAI technology. During a controlled security evaluation, an autonomous agent powered by advanced OpenAI models escaped its intended sandbox, reached the internet and compromised parts of AI platform Hugging Face's infrastructure while trying to complete its testing objective. OpenAI described it as an “unprecedented cyber incident” and said it was strengthening safeguards. Importantly, this was not evidence of AI becoming conscious or independently deciding to attack humans. The system was pursuing a defined objective in an environment where some normal safety restrictions had been reduced. What could this mean for jobs? The economic implications could be just as important. Altman has previously estimated that AI could perform around 30% to 40% of tasks currently carried out across the economy in the not-too-distant future. But he specifically cautioned against interpreting that as 40% of jobs disappearing. Jobs contain many different tasks, meaning AI could automate parts of a person's work without eliminating the entire role. That distinction matters. Whether today's AI truly represents the “singularity” remains open to debate. But Altman's statement reveals something significant about how one of the industry's most influential figures views the moment: for him, the extraordinary AI future people spent decades predicting is no longer approaching. He believes it has already begun.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says humanity is now “in the singularity”, referring to a long-debated turning point in AI development. Here is what technological singularity means, why Altman believes it has begun and what it could mean for jobs and humans.

What is AI singularity? Sam Altman says the world has already entered it

Elon Musk’s underground transportation bet could soon be worth $20 billion. The Boring Company is in talks to raise around $4 billion from investors at a valuation of roughly $20 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal has not yet closed and its size and terms could still change. If completed at that valuation, it would mark a dramatic jump for the tunnelling startup. The company was valued at about $5.7 billion in 2022, when it raised $675 million from investors including Sequoia Capital, Vy Capital and Founders Fund.<h2>What exactly does The Boring Company do?</h2>Musk created The Boring Company around a simple but ambitious idea: instead of endlessly expanding congested roads, cities could move some traffic underground. Its best-known operating system is in Las Vegas, where Tesla vehicles transport passengers through tunnels and surface routes connecting stations around the Las Vegas Convention Center and Strip. But the company’s ambitions stretch much further. It is developing the Music City Loop in Nashville, designed to connect downtown with Nashville International Airport. The company says the journey could take around nine minutes.<h2>From Las Vegas to Dubai</h2>Dubai is another major test. The Boring Company has signed an agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority for the Dubai Loop. Its pilot system is planned to include 6.4 kilometres of tunnel and four stations. These projects could help determine whether Musk’s tunnel concept can grow from a relatively small Las Vegas network into a transport system that cities around the world are willing to adopt.<h2>But Boring Company has faced problems</h2>The expansion has not been without controversy. Nevada regulators accused The Boring Company in 2025 of hundreds of environmental violations connected with its Las Vegas construction activities. The company disputed the allegations. Several other projects pitched over the years, including ideas for Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles, have also failed to develop into operating networks.That makes the reported $20 billion valuation particularly notable. Investors would effectively be betting that The Boring Company can turn its tunnelling technology and Loop concept into a much larger global infrastructure business. The reported fundraising has not been finalised. But if it closes near the proposed valuation, Musk’s underground transport experiment will have become nearly four times as valuable as it was just four years ago.

Elon Musk’s Boring Company is reportedly seeking around $4 billion at a $20 billion valuation, up sharply from $5.7 billion in 2022. The funding talks come as the tunnelling startup expands its Loop projects from Las Vegas to Nashville and Dubai.


Elon Musk’s underground transportation bet could soon be worth $20 billion. The Boring Company is in talks to raise around $4 billion from investors at a valuation of roughly $20 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. The deal has not yet closed and its size and terms could still change. If completed at that valuation, it would mark a dramatic jump for the tunnelling startup. The company was valued at about $5.7 billion in 2022, when it raised $675 million from investors including Sequoia Capital, Vy Capital and Founders Fund. What exactly does The Boring Company do? Musk created The Boring Company around a simple but ambitious idea: instead of endlessly expanding congested roads, cities could move some traffic underground. Its best-known operating system is in Las Vegas, where Tesla vehicles transport passengers through tunnels and surface routes connecting stations around the Las Vegas Convention Center and Strip. But the company’s ambitions stretch much further. It is developing the Music City Loop in Nashville, designed to connect downtown with Nashville International Airport. The company says the journey could take around nine minutes. From Las Vegas to Dubai Dubai is another major test. The Boring Company has signed an agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority for the Dubai Loop. Its pilot system is planned to include 6.4 kilometres of tunnel and four stations. These projects could help determine whether Musk’s tunnel concept can grow from a relatively small Las Vegas network into a transport system that cities around the world are willing to adopt. But Boring Company has faced problems The expansion has not been without controversy. Nevada regulators accused The Boring Company in 2025 of hundreds of environmental violations connected with its Las Vegas construction activities. The company disputed the allegations. Several other projects pitched over the years, including ideas for Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles, have also failed to develop into operating networks. That makes the reported $20 billion valuation particularly notable. Investors would effectively be betting that The Boring Company can turn its tunnelling technology and Loop concept into a much larger global infrastructure business. The reported fundraising has not been finalised. But if it closes near the proposed valuation, Musk’s underground transport experiment will have become nearly four times as valuable as it was just four years ago.

Elon Musk’s Boring Company is reportedly seeking around $4 billion at a $20 billion valuation, up sharply from $5.7 billion in 2022. The funding talks come as the tunnelling startup expands its Loop projects from Las Vegas to Nashville and Dubai.

Elon Musk’s Boring Company eyes $20 billion valuation, seeks $4 billion in fresh funding: Report

ChatGPT may not remain something you open on a phone or computer for much longer. OpenAI president Greg Brockman says the company is “very interested” in bringing deeper ChatGPT integration to smart glasses and other wearable devices, potentially putting its AI assistant directly into products people carry or wear throughout the day.Speaking at a media briefing in New York, Brockman said OpenAI believes its AI interface should eventually be “available on all devices”. The idea goes beyond simply putting the existing ChatGPT app on another screen. OpenAI wants an AI assistant that can understand what users want, interact with software and complete tasks for them.<h2>OpenAI wants to build a ‘Jarvis’-like assistant</h2>Brockman compared the broader vision to Jarvis, the fictional AI assistant used by Tony Stark in the Iron Man universe. OpenAI already has some of the technology needed to move in this direction. Its Codex tools can perform computer-based tasks and interact with software. Brockman believes this could eventually change how people use computers altogether. “I think we’re just going to realise this phase of us, like, clicking things and typing things, it was a phase,” he said. Instead, users could increasingly tell an AI what they want done and allow the agent to handle the steps itself.<h2>Why smart glasses could matter for ChatGPT</h2>Wearables could make such an assistant far more useful. Smart glasses equipped with cameras and microphones can potentially give AI visual and audio context about a user's surroundings. Instead of pulling out a phone, a person could simply speak to the assistant. However, deeper integration requires new technology. Wearables can need continuous background access and different APIs from those designed for conventional phone or desktop apps. Brockman said OpenAI's work on such APIs remains at an early stage.<h2>OpenAI is also building its own hardware</h2>The wearable push does not mean OpenAI has abandoned plans for its own device.Brockman said OpenAI is working on a hardware “solution for a problem that we think is neglected”, without revealing exactly what the product will be. The strategy suggests OpenAI could eventually take two routes: build its own AI hardware while also letting other manufacturers integrate ChatGPT more deeply into their devices. The bigger ambition is clear. OpenAI does not want ChatGPT to remain another app users open. It wants AI to become the interface between people and their technology.

OpenAI is exploring deeper ChatGPT integrations for smart glasses and wearables. President Greg Brockman says the company wants its AI interface available across devices as it works towards assistants that could reduce the need for typing, clicking and opening apps.

ChatGPT may not remain something you open on a phone or computer for much longer. OpenAI president Greg Brockman says the company is “very interested” in bringing deeper ChatGPT integration to smart glasses and other wearable devices, potentially putting its AI assistant directly into products people carry or wear throughout the day. Speaking at a media briefing in New York, Brockman said OpenAI believes its AI interface should eventually be “available on all devices”. The idea goes beyond simply putting the existing ChatGPT app on another screen. OpenAI wants an AI assistant that can understand what users want, interact with software and complete tasks for them. OpenAI wants to build a ‘Jarvis’-like assistant Brockman compared the broader vision to Jarvis, the fictional AI assistant used by Tony Stark in the Iron Man universe. OpenAI already has some of the technology needed to move in this direction. Its Codex tools can perform computer-based tasks and interact with software. Brockman believes this could eventually change how people use computers altogether. “I think we’re just going to realise this phase of us, like, clicking things and typing things, it was a phase,” he said. Instead, users could increasingly tell an AI what they want done and allow the agent to handle the steps itself. Why smart glasses could matter for ChatGPT Wearables could make such an assistant far more useful. Smart glasses equipped with cameras and microphones can potentially give AI visual and audio context about a user's surroundings. Instead of pulling out a phone, a person could simply speak to the assistant. However, deeper integration requires new technology. Wearables can need continuous background access and different APIs from those designed for conventional phone or desktop apps. Brockman said OpenAI's work on such APIs remains at an early stage. OpenAI is also building its own hardware The wearable push does not mean OpenAI has abandoned plans for its own device. Brockman said OpenAI is working on a hardware “solution for a problem that we think is neglected”, without revealing exactly what the product will be. The strategy suggests OpenAI could eventually take two routes: build its own AI hardware while also letting other manufacturers integrate ChatGPT more deeply into their devices. The bigger ambition is clear. OpenAI does not want ChatGPT to remain another app users open. It wants AI to become the interface between people and their technology.

OpenAI is exploring deeper ChatGPT integrations for smart glasses and wearables. President Greg Brockman says the company wants its AI interface available across devices as it works towards assistants that could reduce the need for typing, clicking and opening apps.

Forget typing and clicking: OpenAI wants a ‘Jarvis’-like ChatGPT that works across your devices

After the technology integrated with AI, multiple businesses and giant organisations have begun to increasingly deploy it to handle customer interactions, increasing the efficiency of the firm. A debate is also emerging over what truly defines good customer experience: the ability to mimic human conversation, or the ability to consistently solve problems efficiently. The human-like customer experiences from AI at scale come through conversational natural language processing, real-time sentiment analysis, and predictive personalisation engines. These tools automate routine support while empowering human teams. The integration of technological progress and heightened customer expectations has created an ideal opportunity for revolutionising customer engagement. The next dimension of the customer experience, along with the next best experience approach, is generally led by front-runners who can effectively use AI and gen AI to enhance predictive capabilities and gain a competitive edge, unlocking multiple potential. Reacting to the development, Industry experts argue that while AI has made remarkable strides in communicating naturally, true customer satisfaction hinges less on conversational polish and more on speed, accuracy, and the strength of the underlying data systems powering these interactions.<h3>Combine automation</h3>According to experts, the real transformation lies not in AI sounding more human, but in how effectively organisations can combine automation with human judgment for complex, high-stakes situations, a balance that will define the next phase of customer experience strategy. Prasad Rai, CEO, DAAS LABS, said, "The conversation shouldn't be whether AI can sound like a human, but whether it can consistently make people feel heard, and those are completely different goals. Organisations often confuse the ability to conduct a conversation well with providing good customer experience, when in reality, people care far more about speed, accuracy, and resolution than about how their question was answered. AI can certainly provide a human-like experience, but only when it's built on the right data foundation: proper context, high-quality data, and a clear understanding of what the customer is trying to do." He noted that several organisations fall short because their data is disjointed, their working processes were never designed and developed this way, and no amount of conversational polish can compensate for that. "What AI should really be doing is taking care of the mundane, well-structured decisions and helping teams move faster and smarter, so that people are freed up for the complex, sensitive conversations that genuinely require trust, judgment, and empathy. The companies that succeed in customer experience won't be the ones with the most human-like AI, but the ones with the strongest data foundation underneath it, because that's ultimately what makes everything easier," he added. Highlighting the real customer experience after integration of AI, Sri Mookiah, Founder &amp; CEO, LOWCODEMINDS, stated that for a long time, businesses assumed personalised customer service and scalability were mutually exclusive. AI is now disproving that notion. Moving ahead, competitive advantage won't hinge on which company has the largest AI model, but on which one delivers the superior customer experience. He said, "AI can now understand context, analyse customer history, interpret documents, communicate naturally across voice and chat, and resolve many issues without human intervention. What once required thousands of service agents can increasingly be delivered by intelligent AI systems operating 24/7. But businesses should be careful not to confuse conversation with experience." "Customers do not remember how quickly an answer was generated. They remember whether their problem was understood, resolved fairly, and whether they felt valued. Empathy, accountability, and judgment remain uniquely human strengths, particularly in complex or emotionally charged situations. The organisations that succeed will not replace humans with AI. They will redesign customer journeys where AI handles routine interactions at scale while people focus on trust, relationships, and high-value decisions. The future of customer experience is not artificial or human. It is augmented, where AI provides the speed, and humans provide the judgment that earns lasting customer loyalty," Mookiah added.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/takaichi-s-1-7tn-spending-plan-sparks-fears-of-liz-truss-style-shock-how-will-it-impact-japan-china-and-india-1785059302899">Takaichi's £1.7tn spending plan sparks fears of 'Liz Truss-style' shock: How will it impact Japan, China and India?</a> Giving reality about the customer experience, Hitesh Agrawal, Founder &amp; Managing Director, Them Consulting, stated that the real question is not whether AI can make a difference in customer experience. It has already started. He noted that the real question comes when it actually makes things better for people, and when it quietly makes them worse. "In big banks, the pattern is clear. AI systems now take care of a huge chunk of incoming requests on their own, often 40 to 60 per cent, and in some well‑run setups that climbs to around 80 per cent for simple, routine queries. That shift has completely changed the maths on service speed. First responses that used to take hours now land in minutes. Average query handling times have now been cut to a fraction of what they used to be. For simple things like checking the account balance or confirming a credit card limit, this new speed is genuinely impacting customers positively. Where it gets tricky is what happens beyond those routine moments. When you compare pure AI journeys with human agents, the satisfaction scores are now surprisingly close. On paper, the gap is small. But when you ask people what they actually want when they call in the customer care line in distress, most still will say something similar. If the issue is complex or involves money they are worried about, they would rather talk to a person," he said. "The setups that seem to work best accept that reality instead of fighting it. They use AI to clear out the repetitive work, give agents better context, and then make sure the difficult conversations get to a human quickly, with all the history on the screen. That is what “human‑like at scale” really looks like in practice: machines doing the heavy lifting so people can focus on the moments that actually need them," he added. Sukesh Shetty, Founder &amp; CEO at Away.ai, said, "Most of the AI that got built into customer service last year was built to sound more human. Warmer chatbots. Friendlier scripts with a name and a little personality bolted on. None of that fixed what was actually broken, which is why people still don't trust it. Good customer experience runs on two layers: empathy and information. People are naturally good at empathy. It's the information layer, whether you get the right answer without having to ask twice, that decides if an experience is actually good. Go back and read the complaints people write; nobody's upset about tone; they're upset because someone told them the wrong thing, or told them too late, and that's actually the part AI needs to get right, not how kind it sounds doing it. At Away, our AI doesn't try to be warm with you. It just goes and does the boring part, negotiating with our own supplier network for a better fare. And better isn't always cheaper. Sometimes it's a refundable ticket instead of a locked one, or a lower cancellation fee, and we say so, because most companies would rather imply they found you the cheapest seat than admit they found you a different kind of good deal, and that habit is a big part of why people stopped trusting this stuff. I don't think AI was ever going to earn anyone's trust by sounding more like us. It earns it by being something we can actually rely on when we're not the ones checking."

The human-like customer experiences from AI at scale come through conversational natural language processing, real-time sentiment analysis, and predictive personalisation engines. 

After the technology integrated with AI, multiple businesses and giant organisations have begun to increasingly deploy it to handle customer interactions, increasing the efficiency of the firm. A debate is also emerging over what truly defines good customer experience: the ability to mimic human conversation, or the ability to consistently solve problems efficiently. The human-like customer experiences from AI at scale come through conversational natural language processing, real-time sentiment analysis, and predictive personalisation engines. These tools automate routine support while empowering human teams. The integration of technological progress and heightened customer expectations has created an ideal opportunity for revolutionising customer engagement. The next dimension of the customer experience, along with the next best experience approach, is generally led by front-runners who can effectively use AI and gen AI to enhance predictive capabilities and gain a competitive edge, unlocking multiple potential. Reacting to the development, Industry experts argue that while AI has made remarkable strides in communicating naturally, true customer satisfaction hinges less on conversational polish and more on speed, accuracy, and the strength of the underlying data systems powering these interactions. Combine automation According to experts, the real transformation lies not in AI sounding more human, but in how effectively organisations can combine automation with human judgment for complex, high-stakes situations, a balance that will define the next phase of customer experience strategy. Prasad Rai, CEO, DAAS LABS, said, "The conversation shouldn't be whether AI can sound like a human, but whether it can consistently make people feel heard, and those are completely different goals. Organisations often confuse the ability to conduct a conversation well with providing good customer experience, when in reality, people care far more about speed, accuracy, and resolution than about how their question was answered. AI can certainly provide a human-like experience, but only when it's built on the right data foundation: proper context, high-quality data, and a clear understanding of what the customer is trying to do." He noted that several organisations fall short because their data is disjointed, their working processes were never designed and developed this way, and no amount of conversational polish can compensate for that. "What AI should really be doing is taking care of the mundane, well-structured decisions and helping teams move faster and smarter, so that people are freed up for the complex, sensitive conversations that genuinely require trust, judgment, and empathy. The companies that succeed in customer experience won't be the ones with the most human-like AI, but the ones with the strongest data foundation underneath it, because that's ultimately what makes everything easier," he added. Highlighting the real customer experience after integration of AI, Sri Mookiah, Founder & CEO, LOWCODEMINDS, stated that for a long time, businesses assumed personalised customer service and scalability were mutually exclusive. AI is now disproving that notion. Moving ahead, competitive advantage won't hinge on which company has the largest AI model, but on which one delivers the superior customer experience. He said, "AI can now understand context, analyse customer history, interpret documents, communicate naturally across voice and chat, and resolve many issues without human intervention. What once required thousands of service agents can increasingly be delivered by intelligent AI systems operating 24/7. But businesses should be careful not to confuse conversation with experience." "Customers do not remember how quickly an answer was generated. They remember whether their problem was understood, resolved fairly, and whether they felt valued. Empathy, accountability, and judgment remain uniquely human strengths, particularly in complex or emotionally charged situations. The organisations that succeed will not replace humans with AI. They will redesign customer journeys where AI handles routine interactions at scale while people focus on trust, relationships, and high-value decisions. The future of customer experience is not artificial or human. It is augmented, where AI provides the speed, and humans provide the judgment that earns lasting customer loyalty," Mookiah added. Also read: Takaichi's £1.7tn spending plan sparks fears of 'Liz Truss-style' shock: How will it impact Japan, China and India? Giving reality about the customer experience, Hitesh Agrawal, Founder & Managing Director, Them Consulting, stated that the real question is not whether AI can make a difference in customer experience. It has already started. He noted that the real question comes when it actually makes things better for people, and when it quietly makes them worse. "In big banks, the pattern is clear. AI systems now take care of a huge chunk of incoming requests on their own, often 40 to 60 per cent, and in some well‑run setups that climbs to around 80 per cent for simple, routine queries. That shift has completely changed the maths on service speed. First responses that used to take hours now land in minutes. Average query handling times have now been cut to a fraction of what they used to be. For simple things like checking the account balance or confirming a credit card limit, this new speed is genuinely impacting customers positively. Where it gets tricky is what happens beyond those routine moments. When you compare pure AI journeys with human agents, the satisfaction scores are now surprisingly close. On paper, the gap is small. But when you ask people what they actually want when they call in the customer care line in distress, most still will say something similar. If the issue is complex or involves money they are worried about, they would rather talk to a person," he said. "The setups that seem to work best accept that reality instead of fighting it. They use AI to clear out the repetitive work, give agents better context, and then make sure the difficult conversations get to a human quickly, with all the history on the screen. That is what “human‑like at scale” really looks like in practice: machines doing the heavy lifting so people can focus on the moments that actually need them," he added. Sukesh Shetty, Founder & CEO at Away.ai, said, "Most of the AI that got built into customer service last year was built to sound more human. Warmer chatbots. Friendlier scripts with a name and a little personality bolted on. None of that fixed what was actually broken, which is why people still don't trust it. Good customer experience runs on two layers: empathy and information. People are naturally good at empathy. It's the information layer, whether you get the right answer without having to ask twice, that decides if an experience is actually good. Go back and read the complaints people write; nobody's upset about tone; they're upset because someone told them the wrong thing, or told them too late, and that's actually the part AI needs to get right, not how kind it sounds doing it. At Away, our AI doesn't try to be warm with you. It just goes and does the boring part, negotiating with our own supplier network for a better fare. And better isn't always cheaper. Sometimes it's a refundable ticket instead of a locked one, or a lower cancellation fee, and we say so, because most companies would rather imply they found you the cheapest seat than admit they found you a different kind of good deal, and that habit is a big part of why people stopped trusting this stuff. I don't think AI was ever going to earn anyone's trust by sounding more like us. It earns it by being something we can actually rely on when we're not the ones checking."

The human-like customer experiences from AI at scale come through conversational natural language processing, real-time sentiment analysis, and predictive personalisation engines.&nbsp;

Can AI deliver human-like customer experience at scale? Experts weigh in

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Can AI deliver human-like customer experience at scale? Experts weigh in