Tools & Platforms
China’s Baidu beefs up search engine amid new AI threats
Chinese Big Tech player Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) has announced upgrades to its search engine, adding new artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities into the service, its biggest improvement in over a decade.
According to a CNBC report, Baidu is opting to innovate its search engine to remain viable, as studies highlight a trend of users turning to AI-powered chatbots for answers.
Baidu’s latest changes to its core search product will allow users to enter over a thousand characters in the search box. Previously, users were limited to only 28 characters, reducing search precision and requiring keyword prioritization.
Going forward, users can conversationally ask questions on the search engine, akin to how they interact with chatbots. Furthermore, Baidu is improving its voice search and image prompts.
Lastly, Baidu’s biggest upgrade is the integration of its AI chatbot into the search product. The integration will allow users to use AI to generate text, images, and video on Baidu Search.
Morning Star strategist Kai Wang disclosed that the changes to the Search product are designed to mirror how consumers interact with mainstream AI products. Baidu’s search users have fallen, with several users opting for AI chatbots for their search requirements.
Baidu Search faces stiff competition from China-based AI heavyweights like DeepSeek and Tencent (NASDAQ: TCTZF). Furthermore, short video platforms are turning their gaze to AI Search, slashing off a significant chunk of Baidu’s market share.
Despite the new pressure on Baidu from its rivals, the company took the lead with AI back in 2023 with the release of its Ernie Bot chatbot. In less than six months, Baidu racked up 100 million Chinese users to lead its peers, announcing several AI products to maintain its headstart in the local scene.
However, new entrants are catching up with Baidu with their range of AI products. The stiff competition has sent Baidu stock inching up by only 2.5% since the start of the year, while AI heavyweights Alibaba (NASDAQ: BABA) and Tencent have gained 30.5% and 20% respectively in the same window.
Google racing to innovate Search
Outside of China, Google Search (NASDAQ: GOOGL) is also facing challenges driven by the rapid adoption of AI chatbots. To stay ahead of the curve with emerging technologies, Google has rolled out new AI policies for its Search product, presenting AI summaries for queries ahead of website links.
Furthermore, Google says it integrates its AI mode directly into Search, allowing users to improve their queries and get conversational responses. The U.S.-based search giant has unfurled its independent AI chatbots, providing stiff competition to traditional AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
Beijing schools to integrate AI into learning curriculum
A new report has confirmed that primary and middle schools will adopt AI classes into their existing curriculum to keep up with digitization.
According to an official document released by the Beijing Education Commission, the AI classes will begin in September at the start of a new academic year. Dubbed the Curriculum Outline for Artificial Intelligence Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in Beijing, the report suggests that the new AI classes are a trial before a main rollout.
For each academic year, pupils across primary and middle school will have at least eight class hours on AI. Upon full rollout, there are suggestions that the number of hours may increase, matching the hours in secondary schools.
The curriculum will attempt to achieve three key objectives. The Beijing Education Commission will focus on AI awareness and cognitive abilities, AI applications and innovation capabilities, ethics, and social responsibility.
The new curriculum attempts to step up from basic IT knowledge to promote critical thinking skills in pupils. Furthermore, the report notes that AI skills will form part of the comprehensive assessments of Beijing students.
Schools in the capital city of China will be free to teach AI courses independently or merge them with other subjects. The report name-checks information technology, science, and emerging technologies as potential courses for schools to integrate with AI.
“We expect that under the new guidance, an integrated AI educational innovation scenario from primary schools to middle schools could be built, which will better help the education sector seize the opportunities brought by the AI technological reforms,” Li Yuxin, principal of Beijing Bright Horizon Foreign Language Primary School, said.
Pundits have hailed the curriculum for aligning with the goals of general AI education, given its tailor-made design for elementary students. In May, the Chinese Ministry of Education launched new guidelines for AI use in classrooms, prohibiting students from submitting AI-generated text as their original work.
AI to become mainstay in global classrooms
Across several jurisdictions, regulators are bracing for the adoption of AI tools in classrooms. Technology firms are leading the charge via launching innovative products for students and teachers, with Khanmigo and Speechify emerging as frontrunners.
However, Japan’s regulators are limiting the use via key guardrails, including age restrictions and a blanket ban against their use in examinations. The United Nations also urges tighter AI restrictions in schools, citing a raft of ethical considerations, including age restrictions and the emotional well-being of younger students.
In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek’s coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI.
Watch: AI is for ‘augmenting’ not replacing the workforce
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Tools & Platforms
What Research of 3,200 SMEs Revealed
A new report by the AI Chamber, based on insights from more than 3,200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), paints a striking picture of the region’s AI readiness: while over 75% of businesses say they are using artificial intelligence, only 25% are doing so at scale.
Titled “How Do SMEs in CEE Find Their Way in the World of AI?”, the study maps out how AI is reshaping operational workflows across 11 CEE countries – but also where gaps in leadership, talent, and regulatory awareness are holding many companies back.
The report uncovers four dominant mindsets shaping AI readiness in the region: Practical Optimists, Aware with Barriers, AI Indifferent, and Digitally Withdrawn. These categories reflect more than technological maturity – they reveal how vision, organizational structure, and risk appetite determine success or stagnation.
“This report challenges the prevailing myth that AI adoption is simply a matter of access to technology. The decisive factor is organizational maturity – leadership clarity, talent readiness, and strategic intent,” says Tomasz Snażyk, CEO of the AI Chamber.
“CEE’s SMEs could become global frontrunners in applied AI – if supported by the right regulatory frameworks and education initiatives. The opportunity is real. So is the risk of being left behind.”
Practical applications dominate, but strategic use remains rare
According to the report, the top three use cases of AI among SMEs in the region are data analysis (40%), automatic translation (35%), and task automation (28%) – indicating a focus on efficiency rather than transformation. More advanced applications like predictive analytics or AI-enhanced product development are far less common.
Notably, Estonia and Poland show more mature use cases, particularly in areas like customer behavior tracking and forecasting – suggesting that a small but growing cohort of regional players are moving beyond basic AI adoption into more data-driven decision-making.
However, only 8% of all SMEs surveyed are ready for an upcoming AI audit – a key requirement under the EU AI Act. In fact, just 39% of AI-using companies report even being familiar with the legislation, dropping to 29% among smaller and lower-tech firms.
Size matters – and so does vision
The data highlights a strong correlation between company size and AI maturity. SMEs with between 50–250 employees are far more likely to use AI strategically, have regulatory awareness, and invest in upskilling their teams. At the opposite end, micro-enterprises (under 10 employees) often lack the capacity, leadership bandwidth, or digital talent to take full advantage of AI opportunities.
Encouragingly, 61% of employees across the region are actively experimenting with AI tools in their day-to-day work. This bottom-up momentum is strongest in Poland and the Czech Republic, pointing to a grassroots wave of innovation that could help close the readiness gap – if matched by investment from leadership.
Still, one in four firms has taken no steps to upskill their workforce in AI-related competencies. That training gap is a red flag for policymakers, particularly as generative AI continues to reshape white-collar industries.
Fragmented AI landscape across CEE
Perhaps the most urgent takeaway from the report is the stark digital divide within CEE itself.
- Estonia emerges as the clear frontrunner, with 67% of companies reporting a positive AI impact and 65% familiar with the EU’s AI Act. Estonian firms also report among the lowest internal barriers to implementation, thanks to strong digital governance and high awareness.
- Slovakia and Poland also rank high in AI ambition: 70% and 65% of SMEs, respectively, want to expand their use of AI in the near future.
- In contrast, Croatia, Latvia, and Bulgaria show significantly lower levels of adoption and readiness. In Croatia, nearly a third of SMEs express no interest in using AI at all, while in Bulgaria, over half cite a lack of knowledge as a major barrier.
Even within high-growth markets like Poland, the ambition-execution gap is visible. While over half of SMEs there see AI as a competitive advantage, 35% report no current intent to adopt it, despite employee enthusiasm.
Regional crossroads
The timing of the report is critical. As global investment in AI is projected to soar from $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033 (UNCTAD), the world’s economic power centers are already shifting. More than 60% of AI patents and R&D funding are now concentrated in the U.S. and China, putting pressure on Europe—and CEE in particular – to define its AI trajectory.
For the AI Chamber, this moment represents both a risk and an opportunity.
“The window for CEE to define its digital future is open – but not indefinitely. The question facing governments, investors, and SMEs alike is no longer whether to embrace AI, but how quickly, how safely, and how strategically it can be done – before the gap with global leaders becomes irreversible.” – concludes Tomasz Snażyk.
Download the Full Report
👉 aichamber.eu/report/how-do-smes-in-cee-find-their-way-in-the-world-of-ai
Tools & Platforms
Mindsprint enhances ProcureSPRINT™ with Agentic AI to unlock up to 15% in procurement cost efficiencies
SINGAPORE, July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mindsprint, a technology firm offering purpose-built AI-led solutions to modernize enterprise operations, today announced significant advancements to ProcureSPRINT™, its enterprise-grade AI platform designed to optimize procurement operations, accelerate decision-making, and deliver measurable cost efficiencies.
Building on its proven foundation, ProcureSPRINT™ now integrates advanced Agentic AI capabilities, empowering organizations to automate complex procurement processes, enhance supplier collaboration, and unlock hidden value levers that can drive procurement cost reductions of up to 15 percent.
ProcureSPRINT™ is built on a secure, scalable cloud infrastructure and offers a modular, plug-and-play architecture that meets the needs of procurement teams at varying maturity levels. Its Agentic AI-powered recommendation engine provides actionable insights to both operational teams and C-level leaders, ensuring organizations can achieve faster cycle times, improved supplier performance, and greater procurement transparency.
“As enterprises evolve, so must their procurement function. The latest enhancements to ProcureSPRINT™ reflect our commitment to strengthening the platform with advanced AI & intelligent automation to deliver practical insights that help organizations reduce costs, improve compliance, and achieve operational resilience,” said G Venkataramanan (GV), Head of Intelligence Enterprise Operations, Mindsprint. “Our Agentic AI approach allows teams to shift from manual execution to more autonomous, insight-driven procurement, delivering faster outcomes with reduced effort.”
ProcureSPRINT™’s suite of intelligent agents supports every stage of the procurement process, including:
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The Onboarding Assistant Agent streamlines supplier registration through a self-service portal.
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The RFx Agent simplifies competitive bidding and reverse auctions.
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The Deal Advisor Agent provides AI-enabled recommendations for award decisions that maximize savings and minimize risk.
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The Shipment Sentinel Agent offers real-time visibility into shipments and supplier performance.
In addition, the platform offers an advanced, digitized invoice processing system that supports omnichannel document capture, multi-lingual intelligent data extraction, real-time validation, and seamless ERP integration. Organizations using ProcureSPRINT™ achieve over 70 percent touchless invoice processing, significantly reducing manual workload and processing time.
Tools & Platforms
Impostor uses AI to impersonate Rubio and contact foreign and US officials : NPR
Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the State Department, June 27, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
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Mark Schiefelbein/AP
WASHINGTON — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.
The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.
The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.
“The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.”
She declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation.
It’s the latest instance of a high-level Trump administration figure targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign.
The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.
The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said.
The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.
This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service. Ukraine’s government later rebutted the false claim.
Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human.
The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves.
Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage.
“The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”
The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.
Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.
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