Panasonic reveals AI-powered wellness assistant Umi at CES 2025
Panasonic has introduced Umi, a digital assistant designed to support family wellness, at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Developed in partnership with AI startup Anthropic, Umi uses the Claude AI model to help families set and achieve personal goals, such as improving fitness or spending more time together. The interactive platform allows users to engage with the AI through voice chat and a mobile app, where they can create routines, manage tasks, and communicate in group chats.
The assistant is also aimed at caregivers looking after aging parents, offering a way to stay informed about their well-being even when living apart. Panasonic has collaborated with AARP to enhance Umi’s ability to support older adults. Additionally, the platform will connect users with wellness experts and integrate with partners such as Calm, Blue Apron, SleepScore Labs, and Precision Nutrition to help families build healthy habits.
Umi is expected to launch in the United States in 2025, with Panasonic positioning it as part of a broader wellness initiative. The partnership with Anthropic extends beyond consumer products, as Panasonic plans to integrate the Claude AI model into its own operations to enhance customer service, marketing, and coding efficiency.
Russia seeks enhanced AI collaboration with China amidst Western sanctions challenges
Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the government and Sberbank, the nation’s largest bank, to deepen collaboration with China in the development of AI. The announcement, published on the Kremlin’s website, comes three weeks after Putin unveiled plans for Russia to work alongside BRICS nations and other partners to advance AI technologies. Sberbank, which leads Russia’s AI initiatives, has been tasked with fostering technological cooperation with China.
That move reflects Russia’s efforts to circumvent Western sanctions that have restricted its access to key technologies, including microchips essential for AI development. The sanctions have caused major global chip manufacturers to halt exports to Russia, creating significant hurdles for its AI ambitions.
Sberbank CEO German Gref admitted that replacing GPUs, the microchips vital to AI, remains a critical challenge for the country. By partnering with non-Western allies, Russia aims to counterbalance US dominance in the rapidly evolving AI sector, which Putin has described as a cornerstone of the 21st century.
As part of this strategy, a newly proposed AI Alliance Network will unite experts from BRICS nations and other interested states to bolster innovation and investment. However, Russia still lags behind its competitors, ranking 31st in the Global AI Index, far below leaders like the US, China, and even BRICS partners India and Brazil.
AI robot stuns with record-breaking basketball shot
A humanoid robot named CUE6 has captivated audiences in Japan with its basketball prowess, achieving a Guinness World Record for the longest shot by a humanoid robot. Developed by Toyota engineers, the robot’s achievement highlights the potential of AI in mimicking human precision and adapting to complex tasks.
CUE6’s journey began in 2017 as an experimental project. Starting with LEGO-based prototypes, the team gradually refined the robot’s capabilities, culminating in its ability to dribble, handle balls, and adapt its movements based on real-time analysis. By 2019, the robot had already achieved a remarkable milestone: 2,020 consecutive free throws. The latest version, CUE6, demonstrated the power of AI by recalibrating its shot after a miss to secure the record on its second attempt.
Toyota engineers view CUE6 as more than a novelty. The project serves as a testing ground for AI systems capable of dynamic learning and adaptation. While the immediate goal of creating a robot that can dunk like Michael Jordan remains aspirational, the technologies developed for CUE6 in Japan have far-reaching implications beyond sports, from automation to healthcare.
German parties outline technology policies ahead of election
As Germany prepares for national elections on February 23, political parties are outlining their tech policy priorities, including digitalisation, AI, and platform regulation. Here’s where the leading parties stand as they finalise their programs ahead of the vote.
The centre-right CDU, currently leading in polls with 33%, proposes creating a dedicated Digital Ministry to streamline responsibilities under the Ministry of Transport. The party envisions broader use of AI and cloud technology in German industry while simplifying citizen interactions with authorities through digital accounts.
Outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD, polling at 15%, focuses on reducing dependence on US and Chinese tech platforms by promoting European alternatives. The party also prioritises faster digitalisation of public administration and equitable rules for regulating AI and digital platforms, echoing EU-wide goals of tech sovereignty and security.
The Greens, with 14% support, highlight the role of AI in reducing administrative workloads amid labour shortages. They stress the need for greater interoperability across IT systems and call for an open-source strategy to modernise Germany’s digital infrastructure, warning that the country lags behind EU digitalisation targets.
The far-right AfD, projected to secure 17%, opposes EU platform regulations like the Digital Services Act and seeks to reverse Germany’s adoption of the NetzDG law. The party argues these measures infringe on free speech and calls for transparency in funding non-state actors and NGOs involved in shaping public opinion.
The parties’ contrasting visions set the stage for significant debates on the future of technology policy in Germany.
Whisky aromas decoded by AI
Researchers have achieved a milestone in AI, teaching it to predict the complex aromas of whiskies and even identify their origins. The study, conducted in Germany, utilised AI to analyse the molecular makeup of 16 American and Scottish whiskies. It then predicted the five strongest aroma notes and distinguished between the two countries of origin with remarkable accuracy.
The AI surpassed human experts in consistency and precision, identifying aromas like menthol and citronellol for US whiskies and smoky, medicinal notes for Scotch. This innovation could ensure flavour consistency in whisky production, detect counterfeit goods, and even find applications in blending recycled materials to reduce odours.
While promising, the study was limited to a small selection of whiskies, raising questions about its performance on broader varieties or aged batches. Experts also noted that flavour perception depends on external factors, highlighting room for further exploration in this emotive domain. Nonetheless, this blend of technology and tradition signals a new step for the whisky industry.
Microsoft expands AI beyond OpenAI models
Microsoft is taking steps to diversify the AI powering its flagship product, Microsoft 365 Copilot. While OpenAI’s GPT-4 model has been a cornerstone of the AI assistant since its launch in March 2023, Microsoft is now integrating internal and third-party AI models, including its proprietary Phi-4, to reduce costs and improve efficiency. This move reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy to lessen reliance on OpenAI, its long-time partner, as it looks to offer faster, more cost-effective solutions to enterprise customers.
The shift is driven by concerns over the high costs and slower speeds associated with OpenAI’s technology for enterprise users. A company spokesperson confirmed that OpenAI remains a partner for advanced models but emphasised that Microsoft customises and incorporates a range of AI models depending on the product. Beyond its collaboration with OpenAI, Microsoft is also customising open-weight models to make its services more accessible and affordable, with potential cost savings for customers.
Microsoft’s approach mirrors similar changes in its other business units. For example, GitHub, acquired by Microsoft in 2018, has started incorporating AI models from Anthropic and Google as alternatives to OpenAI’s offerings. These efforts align with Microsoft’s goal of demonstrating the return on investment for its AI tools, particularly as some enterprises remain cautious about adopting 365 Copilot due to concerns over pricing and utility.
Despite these challenges, Microsoft reports growing adoption of 365 Copilot. The company states that 70% of Fortune 500 companies are using the AI assistant, and analysts predict that more than 10 million users will adopt it this year. As Microsoft continues refining its AI technology, leaders like CEO Satya Nadella are keeping a close watch, underscoring the company’s commitment to innovation in enterprise AI.
stc Bahrain and Huawei to drive digital innovation and talent development
Stc Bahrain has partnered with Huawei to launch the fourth edition of its successful Technical Capacity Program, aligning with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 to foster digital innovation and talent development. The program aims to advance Bahrain’s digital economy by providing extensive training in critical ICT sectors, including networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, and emerging technologies.
Participants will gain hands-on experience through technology showcases, engaging with the latest industry advancements and best practices. This year, the program will expand across stc Bahrain’s entire technology divisions, including Digital, Business, Wholesale, Consumer, and Customer Experience, reflecting the company’s commitment to empowering its workforce and driving the country’s digital transformation.
The initiative plays a key role in stc Bahrain’s broader digital transformation strategy by equipping employees with the skills necessary to innovate and lead in the telecommunications sector. The program is vital for nurturing a culture of continuous learning and talent development.
Through this collaboration, stc Bahrain is contributing to developing a highly skilled ICT workforce in Bahrain and supporting the kingdom’s goal of achieving sustainable economic growth and leadership in the digital space.
Pocket FM taps AI tools to expand content library and boost quality
India-based audio platform Pocket FM is leveraging AI to enrich its content offerings and scale its production capabilities. Despite hosting over 200,000 hours of content, CEO Rohan Nayak emphasised the need for deeper genre coverage and original content. The company has partnered with ElevenLabs to convert written stories into audio series, achieving faster production and significant cost savings. AI models are also being used to adapt stories for diverse regions by handling cultural nuances, ensuring broader appeal across geographies.
Pocket FM is testing AI tools to enhance its creative process. These include a writing assistant that provides alternative plot ideas and insights based on platform data, aiming to empower solo writers with a ‘writer’s room’ experience. A ‘blockbuster engine’ is under development to analyse trends and identify potential hit shows, underscoring the platform’s focus on producing popular content. AI has already contributed to more than 40,000 series on the platform, generating $3 million in revenue.
Despite the benefits, Pocket FM acknowledges challenges in maintaining quality while accelerating production. Industry experts caution that reliance on AI might undermine creativity, with artists needing to ensure authenticity in their work. Nayak affirmed that AI tools are intended to complement rather than replace human creativity. Pocket FM, backed by $197 million in funding, competes with platforms such as Audible and Kuku FM while striving to strike a balance between innovation and content excellence.