uflypro - stock.adobe.com News Ireland sets out chip plan Ireland has a long history of attracting high-tech firms. Building on the EU Chip Act, it now aims to be a leader in semiconductors By Cliff Saran, Managing Editor Published: 20 May 2025 14:45 The Irish government has unveiled a semiconductor strategy in alignment with the European Chip Act. Silicon island: A national semiconductor strategy sets out a clear roadmap to grow Ireland’s semiconductor sector by creating high-value jobs, attracting major investment and deepening the country’s leadership in cutting-edge technology as a key player in Europe’s semiconductor future. The Irish government aims to become a leader in the semiconductor industry by building on its track record in technology development, capitalising on existing strengths and taking proactive, strategic actions to address emerging challenges. In 2023, the European Union (EU) set out plans to secure the supply of semiconductors and drive chip development across the region. The EU Chip Act commits €43bn of policy-driven investment until 2030, funding a number of initiatives including next-generation technologies and providing access across Europe to design tools and pilot lines for the prototyping, testing and experimentation of cutting-edge chips. Ireland – which is home to over 130 semiconductor companies, directly employing 20,000 people and generating €13.5bn in annual exports – is building on the EU Chip Act. The Irish strategy aims to foster the further growth of Ireland’s semiconductor ecosystem over the coming decade in support of the European Chips Act and Digital Decade ambitions through three strategic strands: strengthening the existing ecosystem, ensuring a robust national talent pipeline, and seizing industry opportunities. Key deliverables include publishing a comprehensive mapping of Ireland’s semiconductor ecosystem, fostering connections between research and innovation clusters, and engaging the education system to meet growing talent demands. Read more semiconductor stories EU looks to ramp up sovereign tech as Trump trade war begins: Trump’s trade war is now looking at the EU, with tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Could US tech be in the firing line? The challenges of securing a UK semiconductor supply chain: The UK’s national semiconductor strategy aims to establish the country's credentials as a leader in the sector. We look at how it stacks up. Speaking at the launch, minister for enterprise, tourism and employment Peter Burke said: “Ireland already has a strong semiconductor base. But with the right support, I believe we could do far more. By 2040, Ireland could support up to 34,500 new semiconductor roles.” The overall goal of the Irish chip strategy is to ensure there is a secure supply chain for semiconductors in Europe by building on Ireland’s already well-established semiconductor footprint. Integrated device manufacturers including Intel, Analog Devices and Infineon have facilities in Ireland. Fabless manufacturers including Apple, AMD and IBM also have sites in Ireland, as do firms like ARM, AutoCAD and Siemens, which provide chip design, and design and testing software for chipmakers. Photolithography equipment manufacturer ASML also has an Irish facility. The multi-faceted strategy involves securing major industrial investments, with ambitious plans to establish a leading-edge chip fabrication facility, two trailing-edge foundries and an advanced packaging facility. Ireland also aims to develop next-generation sites with the infrastructure needed to support large-scale manufacturing and support startups and spinouts with access to finance. The Irish government also aims to enhance research and development, by supporting both indigenous innovation and multinational collaboration and fostering an open ecosystem based on collaboration. Overall, it wants to ensure Ireland is regarded as a hub of excellence in semiconductor design, manufacturing and research. Ireland has established a national competence centre for semiconductors under the European Chips Act. It has also collaborated with Analog Devices and 14 EU member states as part of the EU’s €8.0bn Important Projects of Common European Interests initiative to support microelectronics and communications. In The Current Issue: UK critical systems at risk from ‘digital divide’ created by AI threats UK at risk of Russian cyber and physical attacks as Ukraine seeks peace deal Standard Chartered grounds AI ambitions in data governance Download Current Issue Starburst chews into the fruits of agentic – CW Developer Network Calm settles over digital identity market - for now... (Hark, is that Big Tech on the horizon?) – Computer Weekly Editors Blog View All Blogs

At Google I/O 2025, the company teased upcoming features coming to its latest AI assistant. Here's the rundown.

Explore how climate change, labor exploitation, and fair trade impact the global tea industry this International Tea Day and why sustainable tea matters now.

Facepalm: Like many electric vehicles, Teslas feature fully electric doors with emergency manual release mechanisms in case the car loses power. However, enough owners find Tesla's manual door openers insufficiently accessible that a market for custom escape latches has emerged. Numerous deadly incidents have occurred in which Tesla drivers and passengers were trapped inside their vehicles following a crash or fire. In many cases, survivors were rescued only after bystanders or first responders broke the windows, as power loss had rendered the doors inoperable. As a result, cautious Tesla owners have turned to various DIY solutions to make the vehicles' emergency release systems easier to access or more visible. These modifications have become so popular that some companies now mass-produce and sell them, highlighting a widespread concern over the accessibility of Tesla's emergency exits. Electric vehicles often use buttons to operate doors via electric motors, keeping the handles flush with the body. Although eliminating analog door handles increases the risk of being locked in or out of the vehicle, multiple manufacturers have told Consumer Reports that the design offers several advantages. Flush, motorized door handles improve aerodynamics and reduce weight, which enhances overall performance. Additionally, electronic safety systems can automatically open doors after a crash or prevent them from opening into the path of oncoming objects. However, users may struggle to open the doors due to software glitches or unfamiliarity with the technology. Many Tesla owners also complain that the emergency latches are too well hidden. While locations vary by model, users can consult the owner's manual for guidance. For instance, the Model Y's front door release mechanism is located beneath an unmarked tab in front of the driver-side window switches. The rear door latches are even more obscure, tucked behind a small access door underneath the mat at the bottom of the door pocket. // Related Stories Owners often address the issue by tying ripcords to the manual release handles, sometimes attaching clearly marked eject tabs for visibility. One company, EV Dynamics, sells a cable with Velcro and snap-on attachments for $22. In contrast, some other vehicles with electric doors offer more intuitive emergency release systems. For example, models from Audi, Ford, Fisker, and others allow the doors to open when users pull the handles forcefully or pull them twice. Entering a vehicle with fully electric doors can also become difficult if the car loses power or the handles freeze. Manufacturers differ in how they address this problem. Some include traditional manual keys, while Tesla advises owners to use the mobile app to force the handle open.

Google’s latest I/O event, which took place on Tuesday, showcased a striking expansion of AI across its growing range of products, with new generative tools like Imagen 4 for images, Veo 3 for video, and Flow for AI-driven filmmaking, taking center stage alongside a revamped AI-powered search experience and the premium Google AI Ultra subscription. The all-new Flow editing tool enables AI-powered movie creation and — at least at first glance — marks a significant leap in Google’s creative AI capabilities. Flow incorporates Veo, Imagen, and Gemini AI models, and the new editing tool is designed to help storytellers develop their ideas and create cinematic clips and scenes for their stories. Notably, the AI tool lets you easily produce video content by combining generated visuals and audio, which is supposed to enable a rapid workflow to arrive at the desired results. Google said that Flow is aimed at “professionals or those just getting started,” which means pretty much everyone with an interest in filmmaking. Features include camera controls that let you create precisely the kind of shot you’re after, bringing direct control of camera motion, angles, and perspectives. Other Flow features include scenebuilder, which lets you seamlessly edit and extend your existing shots, so you can reveal more of the action or smoothly transition to what happens next with continuous motion and consistent characters. Google’s new AI tool is a wake-up call for OpenAI’s Sora, which is one of Flow’s high-profile competitors. Both are designed for filmmakers and creatives to generate cinematic video scenes from text prompts, but Flow distinguishes itself by integrating native audio generation. Established creatives and those on film crews will be looking at these new tools with some trepidation, with Google’s latest AI-powered content creation products having even greater potential to disrupt traditional filmmaking, advertising, and similar industries. But some filmmakers are embracing the profound changes heading their way, with Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky, for one, announcing a partnership with Google for a new generative-AI storytelling initiative to create short films using some of Google’s newly announced tools, IndieWire reported. “Filmmaking has always been driven by technology,” Aronofsky said in a statement. “After the Lumiere Brothers and Edison’s ground-breaking invention, filmmakers unleashed the hidden storytelling power of cameras. Later technological breakthroughs — sound, color, VFX — allowed us to tell stories in ways that couldn’t be told before. Today is no different. Now is the moment to explore these new tools and shape them for the future of storytelling.” Flow is available today for Google AI Pro and Ultra plan subscribers in the U.S., with more countries coming soon.

The company is rolling out a feature that will answer search queries in a chatbot-style conversation without the classic blue links.

New print jobs How 3D printing is personalizing health care Prosthetics are becoming increasing affordable and accessible thanks to 3D printers. Anne Schmitz and Daniel Freedman, The Conversation – May 20, 2025 5:43 pm | 20 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shakes hands with the prosthetic hand of a worker of the German med-tech company Ottobock. Credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shakes hands with the prosthetic hand of a worker of the German med-tech company Ottobock. Credit: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only   Learn more Three-dimensional printing is transforming medical care, letting the health care field shift from mass-produced solutions to customized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs. For instance, researchers are developing 3D-printed prosthetic hands specifically designed for children, made with lightweight materials and adaptable control systems. These continuing advancements in 3D-printed prosthetics demonstrate their increasing affordability and accessibility. Success stories like this one in personalized prosthetics highlight the benefits of 3D printing, in which a model of an object produced with computer-aided design software is transferred to a 3D printer and constructed layer by layer. We are a biomedical engineer and a chemist who work with 3D printing. We study how this rapidly evolving technology provides new options not just for prosthetics but for implants, surgical planning, drug manufacturing, and other health care needs. The ability of 3D printing to make precisely shaped objects in a wide range of materials has led to, for example, custom replacement joints and custom-dosage, multidrug pills. Better body parts Three-dimensional printing in health care started in the 1980s with scientists using technologies such as stereolithography to create prototypes layer by layer. Stereolithography uses a computer-controlled laser beam to solidify a liquid material into specific 3D shapes. The medical field quickly saw the potential of this technology to create implants and prosthetics designed specifically for each patient. One of the first applications was creating tissue scaffolds, which are structures that support cell growth. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital combined these scaffolds with patients’ own cells to build replacement bladders. The patients remained healthy for years after receiving their implants, demonstrating that 3D-printed structures could become durable body parts. As technology progressed, the focus shifted to bioprinting, which uses living cells to create working anatomical structures. In 2013, Organovo created the world’s first 3D-bioprinted liver tissue, opening up exciting possibilities for creating organs and tissues for transplantation. But while significant advances have been made in bioprinting, creating full, functional organs such as livers for transplantation remains experimental. Current research focuses on developing smaller, simpler tissues and refining bioprinting techniques to improve cell viability and functionality. These efforts aim to bridge the gap between laboratory success and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of providing viable organ replacements for patients in need. Three-dimensional printing already has revolutionized the creation of prosthetics. It allows prosthetics makers to produce affordable custom-made devices that fit the patient perfectly. They can tailor prosthetic hands and limbs to each individual and easily replace them as a child grows. Three-dimensionally printed implants, such as hip replacements and spine implants, offer a more precise fit, which can improve how well they integrate with the body. Traditional implants often come only in standard shapes and sizes. Some patients have received custom titanium facial implants after accidents. Others had portions of their skulls replaced with 3D-printed implants. Additionally, 3D printing is making significant strides in dentistry. Companies such as Invisalign use 3D printing to create custom-fit aligners for teeth straightening, demonstrating the ability to personalize dental care. Scientists are also exploring new materials for 3D printing, such as self-healing bioglass that might replace damaged cartilage. Moreover, researchers are developing 4D printing, which creates objects that can change shape over time, potentially leading to medical devices that can adapt to the body’s needs. For example, researchers are working on 3D-printed stents that can respond to changes in blood flow. These stents are designed to expand or contract as needed, reducing the risk of blockage and improving long-term patient outcomes. Simulating surgeries Three-dimensionally printed anatomical models often help surgeons understand complex cases and improve surgical outcomes. These models, created from medical images such as X-rays and CT scans, allow surgeons to practice procedures before operating. For instance, a 3D-printed model of a child’s heart enables surgeons to simulate complex surgeries. This approach can lead to shorter operating times, fewer complications, and lower costs. Personalized pharmaceuticals In the pharmaceutical industry, drugmakers can three-dimensionally print personalized drug dosages and delivery systems. The ability to precisely layer each component of a drug means that they can make medicines with the exact dose needed for each patient. The 3D-printed anti-epileptic drug Spritam was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 to deliver very high dosages of its active ingredient. Drug production systems that use 3D printing are finding homes outside pharmaceutical factories. The drugs potentially can be made and delivered by community pharmacies. Hospitals are starting to use 3D printing to make medicine on-site, allowing for personalized treatment plans based on factors such as the patient’s age and health. However, it’s important to note that regulations for 3D-printed drugs are still being developed. One concern is that postprinting processing may affect the stability of drug ingredients. It’s also important to establish clear guidelines and decide where 3D printing should take place – whether in pharmacies, hospitals or even at home. Additionally, pharmacists will need rigorous training in these new systems. Printing for the future Despite the extraordinarily rapid progress overall in 3D printing for health care, major challenges and opportunities remain. Among them is the need to develop better ways to ensure the quality and safety of 3D-printed medical products. Affordability and accessibility also remain significant concerns. Long-term safety concerns regarding implant materials, such as potential biocompatibility issues and the release of nanoparticles, require rigorous testing and validation. While 3D printing has the potential to reduce manufacturing costs, the initial investment in equipment and materials can be a barrier for many health care providers and patients, especially in underserved communities. Furthermore, the lack of standardized workflows and trained personnel can limit the widespread adoption of 3D printing in clinical settings, hindering access for those who could benefit most. On the bright side, artificial intelligence techniques that can effectively leverage vast amounts of highly detailed medical data are likely to prove critical in developing improved 3D-printed medical products. Specifically, AI algorithms can analyze patient-specific data to optimize the design and fabrication of 3D-printed implants and prosthetics. For instance, implant makers can use AI-driven image analysis to create highly accurate 3D models from CT scans and MRIs that they can use to design customized implants. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms can predict the long-term performance and potential failure points of 3D-printed prosthetics, allowing prosthetics designers to optimize for improved durability and patient safety. Three-dimensional printing continues to break boundaries, including the boundary of the body itself. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have developed a technique that uses ultrasound to turn a liquid injected into the body into a gel in 3D shapes. The method could be used one day for delivering drugs or replacing tissue. Overall, the field is moving quickly toward personalized treatment plans that are closely adapted to each patient’s unique needs and preferences, made possible by the precision and flexibility of 3D printing. Anne Schmitz, Associate Professor of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Stout and Daniel Freedman, Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management, University of Wisconsin-Stout. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Anne Schmitz and Daniel Freedman, The Conversation The Conversation is an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community. Our team of editors work with these experts to share their knowledge with the wider public. Our aim is to allow for better understanding of current affairs and complex issues, and hopefully improve the quality of public discourse on them. 20 Comments

An illustration shows how the WindRunner aircraft will be able to carry smaller planes as cargoWindrunner / Radia The US military is exploring uses for a proposed aircraft that will be the largest plane ever built – even though the flyer is primarily designed to carry giant wind turbine blades. The WindRunner, currently under development by the company Radia in Colorado, is planned to have an 80-metre wingspan and a 108-metre length. That’s roughly the dimensions of a FIFA-regulation football field, giving the aircraft about 12…

Google cofounder Sergey Brin played a key role in the development of Google's Gemini AI model. Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images 2025-05-21T00:04:07Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Google cofounder Sergey Brin just made a surprise appearance at the company's I/O conference. Brin said he's back at Google "pretty much every day now," where he's been developing AI products. Brin also spoke about why Google Glass failed, though he's bullish about Google's new XR glasses. Google cofounder Sergey Brin made a surprise appearance onstage at the company's flagship I/O developer conference Tuesday, where he explained why he's returned to the tech giant and what he's learned from the failure of Google Glass over a decade ago.It's the latest sign that Google is going hardcore on AI. Brin has been back at Google to help develop its AI products since 2023 as the search giant races against OpenAI's ChatGPT, and he shared about what he's been up to since returning to the trenches.Brin wasn't expected to speak at the talk, which Google billed solely as an interview of its DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. He joked, "I torture people like Demis, who is pretty amazing. He tolerated me crashing this fireside."In the chat with Hassabis, Brin said he comes into Google "pretty much every day now" to chip in on training the latest models from Gemini. It's something that naturally interests him, the famously technical co-founder said."I tend to be pretty deep in the technical details," Brin said. "And that's a luxury I really enjoy, fortunately, because guys like Demis are minding the shop. And that's just where my scientific interest is."Since returning to Google, Brin also attended last year's I/O, where he fielded reporters' questions about AI.Learning from Google GlassAt the 2012 Google I/O conference, Brin famously demoed a video in which he wore Google Glass while skydiving to show off the tech giant's previous foray into wearables. This year, he also addressed Google Glass, which it stopped selling a decade ago. At the Tuesday fireside, Brin said Google Glass's failure stemmed partly from his lack of knowledge about manufacturing and supply chains."I just didn't know anything about consumer electronic supply chains, really, and how hard it would be to build that and have it at a reasonable price point," he said.Brin is far more bullish on Google's latest wearables venture: "XR," or Extended Reality, glasses. At the fireside chat, he said he thinks AI is far more capable now for such a product.Business Insider was able to snap a picture of the normally reclusive billionaire trying the XR glasses on before the fireside chat, too: Brin trying on XR glasses at I/O in 2025. Charles Rollet / Business Insider

Gamers across the world are stuck without access to Steam following an outage as status monitoring service Downdetector reported a sudden surge of people being unable to access the networkTech23:32, 20 May 2025Updated 00:48, 21 May 2025Steam seems to be down for people across the UK Online video game streaming service Steam has gone down, according to reports, affecting gamers around the world.Almost 4000 reports of people being unable to access the service were logged on Tuesday night, according to Downdetector.‌The majority of the issues so far appear to be reported from users across the UK and Europe, though some based in the United States are also having problems connecting.‌Gamers across the world have flocked to X to voice their frustration. Many simply ranting that "Steam is down again".However, according to some X users, the shutdown is for "maintenance". One user wrote: "Lovely, Steam is down for maintenance again. hey Steam why don't you guys do this s*** when idk ppl are asleep? Just a thought. any how don't matter."The Steam outage happened around 11pm on Tuesday May 20Article continues belowThis comes after PC gamers urged to change Steam password following a breach of 89 million users' data.According to the Underdark post, "a threat actor going by Machine1337 posted on a well-known dark web forum claiming to have breached Steam, offering a dataset of over 89 million user records for $5,000.""The implications here are serious — Steam isn’t just a game platform; it's a treasure trove of personal and financial data tied to users worldwide. If this breach is verified, it could lead to widespread phishing, account takeovers, and targeted attacks across the gaming community."‌The post urges users to enable 2FA if they haven't already, update their passwords, and monitor their emails for suspicious activity.It's worth stressing that Valve's own service has not been breached, but that wherever the leak has come from, it could lead to phishing attempts that could have big consequences for users.If the breach is from a 2FA service, it could allow a bad actor to hijack those requests and gain access to a user's Steam account.‌It's common practice for these kinds of data purchasers to try the same login details on multiple accounts, meaning they could gain access to your email, shopping, or even banking accounts.As a result, we'd suggest changing your Steam account password, while also ensuring it isn't reused elsewhere.Password manager apps can be an ideal tool in these kinds of situations, letting you see at a glance how often you've reused a string of characters.‌A Twilio spokesperson said: "There is no evidence to suggest that Twilio was breached. We have reviewed a sampling of the data found online, and see no indication that this data was obtained from Twilio."The computer game distribution service was first launched in 2003 for games made by Valve. It expanded to include third-party games in 2005. Popular current titles available on Steam include Diablo 4 and Apex Legends.By 2017, game purchases through Steam totaled about US$4.3 billion, or at least 18% of global PC game sales according to Steam Spy.Article continues belowFor the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.