News/Europe
Older adults eager to learn AI but face access barriers amid $40B scam threat
Age UK workshops revealed that older adults are eager to learn about artificial intelligence but face accessibility barriers rather than disinterest in the technology. The findings challenge assumptions about senior digital literacy and highlight the need for inclusive AI education as deepfake scams targeting vulnerable populations are projected to cost $40 billion by 2027. What you should know: Workshop participants demonstrated surprising familiarity with AI technologies, ranging from sophisticated smart home setups to complete unfamiliarity with basic concepts. One attendee used 10 Alexa devices connected to his doorbell and voice commands for lighting control, showing high digital literacy among some...
read Jun 18, 2025Shrek-approved: AI app helps visitors identify adopted donkeys at sanctuary
University of Southampton researchers have developed an AI-powered mobile app that can identify individual donkeys at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary using smartphone cameras. The innovation solves a practical problem for visitors who adopt donkeys but can no longer identify their chosen animals after the sanctuary removed name collars for safety reasons in 2023. How it works: The app, called Ask ELVIS (Equine Long-range Visual Identification System), uses machine learning to distinguish between donkeys based on a library of hundreds of photographs taken from every angle. Visitors point their phone camera at a donkey, and the app identifies the...
read Jun 17, 2025UK’s “Humphrey” AI suite transforms government across 4 departments
In the corridors of Whitehall, where centuries of bureaucratic tradition meet cutting-edge technology, a quiet revolution is reshaping how government works. The UK has deployed Humphrey, a comprehensive suite of AI tools designed to accelerate planning decisions, analyze public consultation responses, and streamline the daily work of civil servants across the nation. Named after the fictional permanent secretary from the British political satire "Yes Minister," Humphrey represents more than just technological modernization. This initiative embodies a fundamental shift in how democratic societies balance AI efficiency with accountability—a challenge that's playing out very differently across the globe. The Humphrey suite includes...
read Jun 17, 2025Deutsche Telekom and Nvidia to build Europe’s first industrial AI cloud by 2026
Deutsche Telekom, Germany's largest telecommunications company, and Nvidia have announced plans to build what they describe as the world's first industrial AI cloud infrastructure specifically designed for European manufacturers. The ambitious project, expected to launch by 2026, represents a significant step in Europe's effort to establish technological independence in artificial intelligence while addressing growing concerns about data sovereignty. The partnership aims to create what Nvidia founder Jensen Huang calls a "second factory" for manufacturers—one dedicated to generating the artificial intelligence that powers modern industrial operations. This concept reflects a fundamental shift in manufacturing, where companies increasingly rely on AI-driven simulations...
read Jun 17, 2025Italy targets DeepSeek in 2nd regulatory probe over AI hallucination warnings
Italy's antitrust regulator AGCM has opened an investigation into Chinese AI startup DeepSeek for allegedly failing to adequately warn users about the risk of AI hallucinations in its responses. The probe represents the latest regulatory challenge for DeepSeek in Italy, following a February order from the country's data protection authority to block access to its chatbot over privacy concerns. What you should know: The Italian Competition and Market Authority (AGCM), which oversees both antitrust issues and consumer protection, is examining whether DeepSeek provides sufficient warnings about AI-generated misinformation. The regulator claims DeepSeek did not give users "sufficiently clear, immediate and...
read Jun 16, 2025Calling all concerned: EU recruits AI safety experts to enforce world’s first major AI law
The European Union Commission has opened applications for researchers to join an expert advisory panel that will guide the implementation of the AI Act, particularly focusing on the safety requirements for general-purpose AI systems. The initiative reflects the EU's commitment to establishing robust scientific oversight as it moves from AI regulation on paper to practical enforcement. What you should know: The EU AI Office is seeking qualified researchers to provide technical expertise on one of the world's most comprehensive AI regulatory frameworks. Applicants must hold a PhD or demonstrate equivalent professional experience in relevant fields. The panel will specifically advise...
read Jun 16, 2025AI steps out with LVMH awards for 3 innovative luxury retail startups
LVMH announced the winners of its ninth Innovation Award during Paris's Viva Tech conference, recognizing three AI-powered startups for solutions developed within the luxury conglomerate's ecosystem. The awards highlight how artificial intelligence is transforming luxury retail through hyper-personalization, content creation efficiency, and sustainability initiatives, with companies like L'Oréal simultaneously announcing major AI partnerships with NVIDIA. What you should know: This year's competition focused specifically on projects with measurable ROI within LVMH's brand portfolio, marking a shift toward more business-focused innovation. Best Business Prize went to US-based Kahoona for its collaboration with Dior, delivering real-time predictive audience segmentation that "took personalized...
read Jun 16, 2025British-Irish Council summit explores AI’s role in public administration
Political leaders from Jersey and Guernsey joined counterparts from across the British Isles at the 43rd British-Irish Council summit in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, to discuss artificial intelligence's role in public administration. The gathering brought together senior officials from the UK, Ireland, and Crown dependencies to explore both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into government operations. What you should know: The summit focused specifically on how AI could transform public administration across the British Isles region.• Jersey Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham and Guernsey's Policy and Resources President Lyndon Trott represented the Channel Islands at the Newcastle meeting.• Other attendees...
read Jun 13, 2025Benvenuto a bordo: Italian newspaper adds ChatGPT as permanent editorial team member
Italian newspaper Il Foglio has integrated ChatGPT as a permanent editorial contributor, running a month-long experiment with daily AI-written inserts before committing to regular AI-generated content. Editor Claudio Cerasa treats the chatbot as a colleague rather than a replacement tool, positioning the publication at the forefront of transparent AI adoption in journalism while other outlets struggle with undisclosed AI usage and fabrication scandals. The big picture: Il Foglio's approach demonstrates how news organizations can harness AI transparently rather than hiding its use, contrasting sharply with recent disasters like American papers publishing AI-generated content filled with fake sources and fabricated information....
read Jun 12, 2025AI startup Moments Lab bypasses data wranglers and interns, raises $24M to automate film editing
Moments Lab, a French AI video startup, has raised $24 million in Series B funding to develop AI tools that automate film editing and production workflows. The company's technology threatens to eliminate entry-level creative jobs while prioritizing revenue generation over artistic integrity, reflecting broader concerns about AI's impact on the entertainment industry. What you should know: Moments Lab's core product, MXT-2, functions as an AI film librarian that automatically categorizes footage by subject, actor, and location—tasks traditionally performed by data wranglers and assistant editors. The company has raised over $37 million total, with the latest funding aimed at developing an...
read Jun 12, 2025Maverick: AI system autonomously pilots fighter jet in first real-world combat test
Swedish defense contractor Saab and German AI company Helsing successfully conducted the first real-world test flights of an AI-powered combat aircraft, with their Centaur AI system taking control of a Gripen-E fighter jet's long-range maneuvers over the Baltic Sea in late May. The milestone represents a significant advancement in autonomous military aviation, as the AI agent independently managed flight paths, recommended missile targeting, and executed evasive maneuvers during three test flights. What you should know: The AI system demonstrated autonomous combat capabilities that traditionally require human pilot intervention. Helsing's Centaur AI pilot took control of long-range flight maneuvers from human...
read Jun 11, 2025Belgian artist launches dating app that matches users by browser history
Browser Dating, a new experimental platform created by Belgian artist Dries Depoorter, matches singles based on their browser histories rather than curated profiles. Users upload up to 5,000 recent searches, which AI transforms into "browsing personality profiles" for compatibility matching, challenging the heavily curated nature of modern dating apps with radical transparency about users' private online behaviors. What you should know: Browser Dating requires users to share their complete recent search history through a Chrome or Firefox extension, creating matches based on genuine internet behavior rather than self-selected profile information. Users download an extension to export and upload their browser...
read Jun 11, 2025Mistral AI launches cloud platform with 18K Nvidia chips
Mistral AI, the French artificial intelligence startup, has announced a sweeping expansion into AI infrastructure with Mistral Compute, a comprehensive platform built in partnership with Nvidia to compete directly with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. The Paris-based company simultaneously unveiled new reasoning models called Magistral that rival OpenAI's most advanced systems, marking a strategic shift from purely developing AI models to controlling the entire technology stack while positioning itself as Europe's answer to American cloud computing dominance. The big picture: Mistral's dual announcement signals Europe's most ambitious challenge yet to American AI infrastructure dominance, combining sovereign cloud...
read Jun 11, 2025NVIDIA partners with European broadcasters to build sovereign AI for 1B viewers
NVIDIA and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have announced a partnership to develop sovereign AI frameworks for European public service media, targeting more than 110 member organizations across 50+ countries that reach over 1 billion viewers. The collaboration aims to ensure AI technologies are governed by European policies and values while preserving cultural identity and enhancing public trust in media services. What you should know: The partnership focuses on building AI and cloud infrastructure that operates exclusively under European governance and data protection standards. • Sovereign AI allows nations to develop artificial intelligence using local infrastructure, datasets, and expertise rather...
read Jun 11, 2025ETH Zurich’s badminton-playing robot suggests ESPN for physical AI isn’t coming soon
Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed ANYmal, a quadruped robot that can play badminton using AI-powered perception and movement skills. The robot represents a breakthrough in combining real-time visual processing with physical agility, though its performance against human players reveals significant limitations that highlight ongoing challenges in robotics. How it works: ANYmal resembles a miniature giraffe holding a badminton racket in its teeth, built on a 50-kilogram industrial platform originally designed for oil and gas applications by ANYbotics, an ETH Zurich spinoff company. The robot uses a stereoscopic camera (which creates depth perception like human eyes) for shuttlecock tracking and...
read Jun 11, 2025Germany builds Europe’s first industrial AI cloud with 10K NVIDIA GPUs
Germany is deploying NVIDIA's full-stack AI technology across its economy through massive infrastructure projects, enterprise partnerships, and educational initiatives designed to maintain the country's engineering leadership in the AI era. The comprehensive strategy includes building Europe's first industrial AI cloud, deploying tens of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs in AI factories, and establishing research centers that position Germany as a sovereign AI powerhouse while supporting its critical Mittelstand companies that comprise 99% of German enterprises. What you should know: Germany is building multiple AI factories powered by NVIDIA technology to support both public and private sector AI development. NVIDIA is constructing...
read Jun 11, 2025Jupiter supercomputer puts Europe in global AI computing race
Nvidia and the Julich Supercomputing Centre have launched Jupiter, Europe's fastest supercomputer, powered by nearly 24,000 Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips. The system marks Europe's entry into exascale computing, delivering over one quintillion calculations per second while positioning the continent as a major player in AI research and scientific discovery. What you should know: Jupiter represents a significant leap forward in European high-performance computing capabilities and energy efficiency. The supercomputer delivers more than twice the performance of Europe's next-fastest system and ranks among the top five globally on the latest TOP500 list. Built on Nvidia's GH200 Grace Hopper platform and...
read Jun 10, 2025UK launches £17M Sparck AI scholarships for 100 master’s students
The UK government has launched the Sparck AI scholarships, a £17 million program that will provide fully-funded master's degrees to students at nine universities, including the University of Bristol. Named after pioneering British computer scientist Karen Sparck Jones, the scholarships aim to develop the next generation of AI "pioneers" and strengthen the UK's position in artificial intelligence. What you should know: The program combines academic study with direct industry experience to create a comprehensive AI talent pipeline. Applications open in spring 2026, with the first cohort beginning studies in autumn 2026. All 100 scholars receive full funding covering both tuition...
read Jun 10, 2025UK approves AI for teachers to mark quizzes and write letters
The UK government has released new guidance allowing teachers in England to use artificial intelligence for routine tasks like marking quizzes and writing letters to parents. The Department for Education's training materials, distributed to schools, aim to reduce teacher workloads by automating administrative duties so educators can focus on direct instruction and student support. What you should know: The guidance establishes clear boundaries for AI use in educational settings while emphasizing transparency and human oversight. Teachers can use AI for "low-stakes" marking such as quizzes or homework, but must always verify the results before relying on them. AI is approved...
read Jun 9, 2025What’s not to love about vibe coding? Swedish AI startup Lovable seeks $100M at $1.5B valuation
Lovable, a Swedish AI startup that enables non-programmers to build apps and websites, is in early-stage discussions to raise at least $100 million at a $1.5 billion valuation. The funding round would position the company as one of Europe's largest AI newcomers, reflecting growing investor appetite for AI tools that democratize software development. What you should know: The startup has been holding talks with US investors for a significant funding round that could value the company at $1.5 billion or higher. The discussions are still in early stages and terms could change, according to people familiar with the matter who...
read Jun 9, 2025Getty vs Stability AI trial in London begins first major copyright case for generative AI
Getty Images and artificial intelligence company Stability AI are facing off in London's High Court in the first major copyright trial targeting the generative AI industry. The three-week trial, which began Monday, centers on Getty's claims that Stability's widely-used Stable Diffusion image generator constitutes "brazen infringement" of Getty's photography collection "on a staggering scale," potentially setting crucial precedents for how AI companies can legally train their models on copyrighted content. What you should know: Getty Images, a Seattle-based stock photography company, filed copyright infringement lawsuits in both the US and UK in early 2023, challenging the common tech industry practice...
read Jun 9, 2025London AI Summit 2025 spotlights autonomous agents as next tech frontier
London's premier AI conference is positioning autonomous agents as the technology story of 2025, bringing together government officials, tech giants, and industry pioneers to explore how artificial intelligence is evolving from helpful assistant to independent decision-maker. AI Summit London 2025, taking place June 11-12 at the historic Tobacco Dock, serves as the centerpiece of London Tech Week and promises to illuminate the rapidly expanding world of agentic AI. Unlike traditional AI systems that respond to prompts and generate content, agentic AI represents sophisticated systems capable of independent decision-making and autonomous operation without constant human oversight. Think of it as the...
read Jun 6, 20257 artists at NVIDIA GTC Paris redefine AI as creative collaborator
NVIDIA GTC Paris will feature an AI art gallery showcasing seven exhibitors who use artificial intelligence as a creative partner, from French artist aurèce vettier who trains AI on personal data to create dreamlike oil paintings to Senegalese artist Linda Dounia Rebeiz who documents extinct West African flora. The exhibition, taking place June 10-12 at VivaTech, demonstrates how AI is evolving from a simple tool into what artists describe as "a poetic counterpart in the act of creation," offering new methods for exploring memory, identity, and creative expression. What you should know: The gallery brings together diverse artistic practices that...
read Jun 6, 2025VivaTech 2025 to showcase leadership and startups boosting AI across Europe
VivaTech 2025, Europe's largest technology and innovation event, takes place June 11-14 in Paris, featuring 160,000 delegates and high-profile speakers including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Meta's Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun. The event highlights a critical leadership gap in corporate AI strategy, with Forrester research showing that technology teams—rather than business leaders—are driving AI initiatives in over two-thirds of organizations. What you should know: VivaTech has evolved into a massive showcase for technology innovation since its 2016 debut, bringing together 13,000+ startups and 3,000+ investors at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. This year's speaker lineup includes Jensen Huang (Nvidia...
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