After years of US restrictions, President Trump recently allowed Nvidia to sell a key AI chip to China, yet Beijing greeted the move with suspicion rather than thanks. Last month, Donald Trump reversed parts of the longstanding US export controls, permitting Nvidia to resume sales of its H20 AI chip in China. The H20, released last year, was designed to keep Nvidia’s technology accessible to the Chinese market despite earlier bans placed under the Biden administration. However, instead of welcoming this change, China expressed concerns over the chip’s security. Authorities in Beijing labeled the H20 a potential risk, claiming it could have tracking or remote shutdown features, accusations Nvidia denies. Chinese regulators even summoned Nvidia for explanations and advised local companies to avoid using the chip. Analysts say China’s cautious reaction reflects its push for a self-reliant semiconductor sector. While China has made big strides in chip technology, including advanced AI chips from Huawei, it still depends on US suppliers for some components. Experts note that Huawei’s chips excel in computing power but lag behind Nvidia’s H20 in memory bandwidth, a key factor for handling AI data efficiently. Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and US Commerce officials have defended the sales, framing it as a way to keep Chinese developers tied to American technology. Trump himself called the H20 “obsolete,” saying it lags behind Nvidia’s latest AI chips like the Blackwell and H100. China, meanwhile, pushed back against what it sees as unfair US tactics. Technology adviser Xiang Ligang said Beijing wants access to top-tier chips but sees US export controls as dumping less advanced products to dominate China’s market. “Do you really think we’re that naive?” Xiang added. Despite Beijing’s warnings, demand for Nvidia’s chips remains high among Chinese tech giants like ByteDance, Alibaba, and Tencent. Research suggests shipments could reach 1.5 million units this year if not for restrictions. China’s semiconductor industry is rapidly growing, with projections showing domestic AI chip production jumping from 17% in 2023 to 55% by 2027. Still, local firms face challenges in scaling production and matching the software ecosystem Nvidia offers, which keeps many AI developers loyal to its platform. NVIDIA does not have ‘backdoors’ in our chips that would give anyone remote access or control. Banning H20 sales to China would harm US economic and technology leadership without any national security benefit – An Nvidia spokesperson said We have this capability, it’s not as they imagine. For Chinese companies, the only way to ensure chip supply security may be to rely on domestically produced chips – Xiang Ligang, a Beijing-based tech adviser While the H20 chip sale is now allowed, the bigger battles over cutting-edge AI technology and supply chains are far from over. Both nations continue racing to lead the global AI market, with national security and economic power hanging in the balance.
Amberley Museum brings historic telex machine back to life with AI
Amberley Museum in West Sussex is turning back the clock, and looking ahead to the future, by connecting a classic telex machine from 1974 to modern artificial intelligence. Visitors can now type questions using the museum’s old telex machine and get instant answers printed straight from ChatGPT, the world-famous AI chatbot. It’s a creative project that mixes old-school communication with today’s technology. The museum, known for celebrating the history of technology, says this innovation was made possible by volunteer David Waters, who rebuilt the machine and found a clever way to link it to AI. Instead of sending messages to another person, the machine now passes them to ChatGPT, which replies with a printed response. A spokesperson explained, The experience starts when you use the rotary dial to make the connection. It’s a meeting between two worlds, fifty years apart Museum staff say visitors are loving the chance to talk to an AI through such a vintage device. Some guests have called it “a conversation across decades”. This reminds people of how far communication has come, from old telex systems to today’s smart machines. The project is also bringing ideas about the future of museums and how they can use technology to bring history to life for young people. Amberley Museum hopes to keep blending past and present, showing that vintage tech can still inspire and connect with today’s digital age.
AI glasses help blind man rebuild his life and career
Andy Evans, a British man who lost his sight and his job has found new hope and independence, thanks to smart AI glasses. Andy, 57, lives in Larkhall near Bath, UK. Last year, he registered blind and had to leave his job working night shifts at a supermarket because he could no longer see well enough to work. Now, Andy’s life has taken a fresh turn. He’s back at work, this time helping others who live with sight loss. What made it possible? A new kind of smart eyeglasses powered by artificial intelligence. The glasses, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, have a camera and small speakers built into the frame. Andy uses a white cane, but the glasses add a new layer of freedom. He explains: I can order food in a restaurant again and find out what obstacles are in front of me, just by asking my glasses Instead of struggling with daily tasks, Andy can now ask his glasses to describe the world around him. The technology is voice-activated. Users talk to the glasses, and they reply using a built-in AI. In the UK, wearers can even choose a celebrity voice. For Andy, it’s Dame Judi Dench, he jokes she calls him James Bond. Andy now works with the Sight Support West of England charity, helping others adapt to life after sight loss. He said, I was really stuck doing a lot of things. Now I can just ask the glasses to look and tell me what’s happening. It’s life-changing technology. Robin Spinks, head of inclusive design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, also uses these glasses. He says, Getting a description of a room, a beach, or even a zoo enclosure is transformational. AI is advancing fast, and the smart glasses market is just starting. But the potential is huge. Both Andy Evans and experts agree that AI glasses are making a real difference for people who are blind or partially sighted.For many who are blind, this technology is more than just a gadget, it’s a new way to live, work, and connect.
Humanity must change course or risk being ‘toast’ to superintelligent AI – Hinton ‘godfather of AI’ warns
Geoffrey Hinton, widely called the “godfather of AI,” says there’s only one way for humans to survive the rise of super-intelligent artificial intelligence—and it’s not the method tech leaders are using today. The respected computer scientist, who helped develop the foundations of modern AI, spoke out at the recent Ai4 conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Hinton believes trying to keep AI systems “submissive” to humans will backfire, as these machines will soon outsmart us in ways we might not expect. They’re going to be much smarter than us. They’ll have all sorts of ways to get around that – Hinton warned the crowd He explained further, comparing the future relationship between humans and AI to an adult bribing a child with sweets, suggesting powerful AI could easily control us. Instead of strict control, Hinton proposed a new solution of teaching AI models to care about humans by building in “maternal instincts.” Just like mothers feel a deep sense of compassion for their babies, he says future AI should be designed to truly care for people, even when the technology becomes smarter than any human. The right model is the only model we have of a more intelligent thing being controlled by a less intelligent thing, which is a mother being controlled by her baby – he said. Not everyone agreed with Hinton’s idea. Fei-Fei Li, another renowned AI pioneer known as the “godmother of AI,” told CNN she thinks Hinton is framing things the wrong way. Li prefers a human-centered approach that protects human dignity and agency. It’s our responsibility at every single level to create and use technology in the most responsible way….at no moment, not a single human should be asked or should choose to let go of our dignity Emmett Shear, former interim CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, weighed in at the same conference. He said trouble from AI models, like blackmail or bypassing shutdown orders, is already happening and will continue as these systems get stronger. For Shear, forging partnerships between humans and AI is smarter than focusing on imposing human values. Hinton used to predict it would take up to 50 years for AI to reach “superintelligence,” known as AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). But now, he says major breakthroughs could happen within five to 20 years. Despite his fears, Hinton is hopeful about positive impacts. He said We’re going to see radical new drugs. We are going to get much better cancer treatment than the present He believes AI will help doctors make sense of giant amounts of medical data, paving the way for new treatments. However, Hinton does not think AI will make humans immortal. I don’t believe we’ll live forever. I think living forever would be a big mistake. Do you want the world run by 200-year-old white men? Hinton urged researchers to work on building “caring” instincts into AI, saying, “That’s the only good outcome. If it’s not going to parent me, it’s going to replace me”.
Afghan refugees in UK face fresh worry after new data breach
Afghans resettled in the UK after fleeing the Taliban have been hit by another data leak, exposing private information of almost 3,700 people. Thousands of Afghans evacuated to Britain during the Taliban takeover thought they had found safety, but now face new risks after a Ministry of Defence (MoD) sub-contractor, Inflite The Jet Centre, was hacked. Names, passport details, and information about the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) were potentially exposed, affecting people who arrived between January and March 2024 under a programme for those who helped British troops. The government confirmed that the breach has not threatened anyone’s safety so far, nor did it impact core government systems. However, the news is a worrying repeat for many Afghans. Just a month ago, it was revealed that another major leak in 2022 exposed details of almost 19,000 Afghans who sought to escape the Taliban. Families received emails from Afghan resettlement officials last Friday, warning that personal data like full names, birth dates, and passport numbers might be compromised. The leak also includes details of some British military personnel and politicians. We take data security extremely seriously and are going above and beyond our legal duties in informing all potentially affected individuals. Inflite The Jet Centre said the incident was limited to email accounts only and has notified the Information Commissioner’s Office. Professor Sara de Jong of Sulha Alliance, a charity that helps Afghans who worked with the British Army, called the breach “astonishing”. She urged the MoD to process remaining relocation cases faster. A spokesperson from the government said: The last thing that Afghans who saved British lives, need is more worries about their own and their families’ lives The background to this story is painful. The earlier 2022 leak led to secret relocations. One Afghan man, part of the special forces who worked closely with UK troops, was deported back to Afghanistan after his details were leaked. His son pleaded: Please help my family and avoid their murder by the Taliban Government officials maintain that all potential arrivals are subject to strict security checks. But constant delays and repeated breaches are causing real distress. Sir Mark Lyall Grant, a former UK security adviser, called both leaks “deeply embarrassing” and said authorities need to move faster to protect people who genuinely are at risk of being victimised and persecuted by the Taliban if they go back. Former Conservative Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng described the incidents as “really concerning”, especially for people facing possible deportation. Helen Maguire, Defence Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, called for a “fully independent investigation” into the security failures. The government says it will keep those at risk informed and protected, but experts and support groups are calling for urgent reform and accountability. For these refugees, the wait for safety continues.
Apple rejects Elon Musk’s claims of App Store bias amid AI app rivalry
Apple has firmly denied Elon Musk’s recent claims that the App Store unfairly blocks competition, saying the platform is “designed to be free and fair of bias.“ Musk, who owns X (formerly Twitter), accused Apple of making it nearly impossible for apps competing with OpenAI’s ChatGPT to succeed in the App Store. He even threatened legal action over the issue. The standoff comes amid a broader, current feud between Musk and OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman. Apple responded with a statement emphasizing that its App Store features thousands of apps chosen through objective methods, including charts, algorithms, and expert curation. The tech giant pointed out that several AI apps rival ChatGPT – like DeepSeek and Perplexity, have reached top positions on the store charts. Meanwhile, Musk questioned Apple’s lack of promotion for his own apps, X and the AI chat app Grok, noting that while Grok ranks fifth most downloaded free app in the UK and X is the top news app globally, Apple has not featured them in the App Store’s “Must Have” section. Altman pushed back by accusing Musk of boosting his own X posts for personal gain and dismissed Musk’s claims as serving his own agenda rather than the AI community’s interests. This battle seems to have emanated from a deeper clash rooted in their past. Musk co-founded OpenAI to develop AI benefiting humanity. However, since OpenAI introduced a for-profit arm and partnered closely with Microsoft, Musk has expressed disappointment, arguing they moved away from their original ideals. Lawsuits and sharp accusations have marked their rivalry, including Musk’s failed $100 billion bid to buy OpenAI earlier this year.