Proton VPN has become the UK’s most downloaded free app, as Britons rush to bypass a new law requiring users to verify their age before accessing websites hosting adult content. Proton VPN reported a staggering 1,400% surge in UK sign-ups almost immediately after the Online Safety Act came into effect. It is now Britain’s most downloaded free app, overtaking ChatGPT, according to Apple’s App...
For the first time, a satellite has used onboard AI to autonomously decide where and when to capture a scientific image — all in under 90 seconds, with no human input. The technology, called Dynamic Targeting, was tested by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) earlier this month. It was installed aboard a briefcase-sized satellite built and operated by UK-based startup Open Cosmos, and carried...
Swiss startup Jua has launched an AI weather model it says outperforms leading systems from tech giants — potentially making it the most accurate forecaster in the world. Jua claims its model — dubbed EPT-2 — is faster and more accurate than both Microsoft’s Aurora and Google DeepMind’s Graphcast. In separate, peer-reviewed studies, both of those models were shown to be more accurate than the...
Swedish AI startup Lovable says it has surpassed $100mn in annual recurring revenue (ARR) just eight months after launch. This makes it the fastest-ever software company to reach the milestone — eclipsing the historically rapid growth rates of companies such as Cursor and Wiz. Lovable’s rise stems from the popularity of its generative AI platform. The system allows non-technical users to build...
Europe’s deep tech future hinges on evolving investment strategies. The reason for this is that traditional funding models cannot support the long-term financial commitments that innovation demands. There is a European paradox where, despite substantial scientific research, early commercialisation and a focus on shorter-term goals prevent the region from realising the full potential of deep tech...
Spotify has been hit with another AI controversy after publishing computer-generated songs under the names of dead musicians. An investigation by 404 Media found that Spotify is releasing AI-generated songs on the pages of deceased artists — without approval from their estates or labels. One such track, “Together,” recently appeared on the official page of Blake Foley, a country singer who was...
As we move into the second half of 2025, the global tech ecosystem is navigating a heady mix of unpredictability and promise. Funding into newer tech firms remains complex, with Startup Genome reporting that while the Beijing, Los Angeles and Tokyo startup landscapes are seeing YoY growth, Paris is flat and the rest of the European ecosystem is in decline. Meanwhile, the technology landscape...
Funding focus is a new series analysing cash flow into the European tech ecosystem. Last week, we looked at the largest investment rounds in fusion energy this year, and now we’re honing in on Europe’s booming defence tech arena. Europe’s defence tech startups secured $971mn in funding in the first half of this year, as VCs look to capitalise on the continent’s push to rearm amid heightened...
The UK has just launched its most advanced supercomputer — the 11th most powerful in the world. Isambard-AI, hosted at the University of Bristol, officially went live this week. The machine was built by Hewlett-Packard Enterprises (HPE) using its Cray EX architecture and fitted with over 5400 NVIDIA Grace Hopper superchips. Its raw computing power is measured at 216.5 petaflops, with a peak...
Denmark is aiming to stake a bold claim in the global quantum race with plans to build the world’s most powerful quantum computer. Backed by €80mn from EIFO (Denmark’s export and investment fund) and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the new initiative — dubbed QuNorth — aims to deploy the Nordic region’s first “Level 2” quantum system. Microsoft and California-based Atom Computing will deliver the...