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Judicial top brass introduces guidelines for use of AI The National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) on Wednesday formally issued national guidelines for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in judicial institutions. According to the statement issued by the Supreme Court, the NJPMC, in its 57th meeting, set up a "clear and forward-looking framework" for integrating AI into judicial processes across the country. “At a time when courts face mounting caseloads and increasing demands for efficiency and transparency, the guidelines position AI as a powerful assistive tool - one that enhances judicial performance while firmly preserving human judgment, constitutional safeguards, and judicial independence,” it said. The statement also highlighted that key guidelines included a human-centric approach that will “assist - not replace - judicial decision-making, ensuring judges remain the ultimate arbiters”. It added that ethical and transparent use was a priority, with str...

An experimental cafe run by AI opens in Stockholm The avocado toasts and baristas making foamy lattes make it look like any other cafe, except at this one, located in a Stockholm residential neighbourhood, artificial intelligence (AI) is running the place. The cafe features a minimalist design: a few tables decorated with small plants and grey walls. Behind the counter is barista Kajetan Grzelczak, who was hired by "Mona", the AI cafe manager, which is powered by Google's Gemini. Grzelczak told AFP that "ordering isn't really her best suit". "So, I made for her... a wall of shame," he said, pointing to shelves behind him. The wall display showcases some of Mona's unnecessary purchases, including 10 litres (2.6 gallons) of cooking oil or 15 kilogrammes (33 pounds) of canned tomatoes. Grzelczak laments that he can't use those for anything that "Mona" has put on the menu. Orders can either be placed with Mona or one of the employee...

Pentagon makes deal to expand use of Google AI: reports The Pentagon has arranged a deal to increase its use of Google's artificial intelligence in classified operations, US media outlets reported on Tuesday. The news comes as the US military looks to wean itself off Anthropic's AI due to the company's objection to its technology being used for mass domestic surveillance or autonomous killing machines. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In February, Trump instructed the US government to "immediately cease" using Anthropic's technology after Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic as a national security supply chain risk -- a label typically reserved for organizations from unfriendly foreign countries. The company is now fighting these measures in court. Anthropic's AI model, Claude, was the only one authorised for use in classified operations within the US military. Following the Anthropic crisis, rival OpenAI reached a...

OpenAI trial pitting Elon Musk against Sam Altman kicks off A trial that could help shape the future of artificial intelligence begins on Tuesday, with billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman at odds over the evolution of ChatGPT maker OpenAI from a nonprofit to a profit-seeking juggernaut worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Opening statements in Musk's civil lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman will take place in the Oakland, California, federal court, following the selection on Monday of nine jurors. Musk claims that Altman and Greg Brockman, respectively OpenAI's chief executive and president, betrayed him and the public by abandoning the company's mission to be a benevolent steward of AI for the benefit of humanity, and turning it into a "wealth machine" for themselves and investors. The world's richest person is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, one of its largest investors, with proceeds going to OpenAI’s charitable arm. He also ...

Google signs classified AI deal with Pentagon, The Information reports Alphabet's Google joined a growing list of technology firms to sign a deal with ​the US Department of Defence to use its artificial intelligence models ‌for classified work, The Information reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The agreement allows the Pentagon to use Google's AI for “any lawful government purpose”, the report added, ​putting it alongside OpenAI and Elon Musk's xAI, which also have deals to supply ​AI models for classified use. Classified networks are used to handle a ⁠wide range of sensitive work, including mission planning and weapons targeting. The Pentagon signed agreements worth up to $200 million each with major AI labs in 2025, including Anthropic, OpenAI, ​and Google. The Pentagon is seeking to preserve all flexibility in defence and not be limited by warnings from the technology's creators against powering weapons with unreliable AI. Read: EU tells...

EU tells Google to open Android to AI rivals The EU on Monday laid out measures it wants Google to take to open up its operating system to rival AI services, in a move slammed by the US tech giant. "The proposed measures aim to ensure that competing AI services can effectively interact with applications on users' Android devices and execute tasks accordingly, such as sending an email using the user's preferred email app, ordering food or sharing a photo with friends," the European Commission said. Under the EU's flagship Digital Markets Act (DMA), the world's biggest tech companies must open up to competition to give consumers more options and limit abuses linked to market dominance. US President Donald Trump's government has railed against the law and its sister content moderation law the Digital Services Act, accusing Brussels of unfairly targeting US firms. Brussels said that the proposals for Google "will provide Android users across the EU with...

Rare 17th-century astrolabe from Jaipur royal collection to be auctioned in London A rare 17th-century brass astrolabe from the royal collection of Jaipur in western India will be offered at auction by Sotheby’s in London on April 29, with specialists citing its size, craftsmanship and historical value. The piece is known to have formed part of the royal holdings of Sawai Man Singh II, the maharaja of Jaipur, and was inherited by his wife, Maharani Gayatri Devi—widely regarded as one of the most elegant women of her era—following his death. It was later transferred into a private collection during her lifetime. Astrolabes are metallic disks made up of multiple interlocking layers that were historically used to tell the time, map the stars, determine the direction of Mecca and track the motion of the sky. Originally conceived by ancient Greek astronomers around the 2nd century BCE, the instrument later spread into the Islamic world by the 8th century, where it was significantly refine...

Pakistan marks major milestone with launch of EO-3 satellite to boost Earth observation capability Pakistan on Saturday achieved a "major milestone" in its space programme with the successful launch of an indigenous Electro-Optical Satellite (EO-3), the military’s media wing said. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the satellite was launched from China's Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre with the support of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission. According to Xinhua, the satellite lifted off at 8:15pm (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket and successfully entered its planned orbit. The launch marked the 640th flight mission of the Long March carrier rocket series. China launched a Pakistani satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Saturday. The satellite, named PRSC-EO3, was lifted off at 8:15 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-6 carrier rocket and successful...

DeepSeek unveils long-awaited low-cost AI model amid US-China tech tensions Chinese startup DeepSeek on Friday released a new artificial intelligence model with “drastically reduced” costs, more than a year after it stunned the world with a low-cost reasoning system that matched the capabilities of US rivals. The AI race has intensified rivalry between China and the United States, with the White House on Thursday accusing Chinese entities of a massive effort to steal artificial intelligence technology. Beijing dismissed the allegation as “baseless”. Hangzhou-based DeepSeek burst onto the scene in January last year with a generative AI chatbot powered by its R1 reasoning model, upending assumptions of US dominance in the strategic sector. DeepSeek-V4 “features an ultra-long context”, the company said in a statement on WeChat, hailing it as “world-leading... with drastically reduced compute (and) memory costs” in a separate announcement on X. 🚀 DeepSeek-V4 Preview is officially live ...

Used imported mobiles become costlier after 175% FBR hike The federal government has increased taxes on used imported mobile phones after raising their customs valuation by up to 175%, making 62 models of various brands more expensive. According to documents available to The Express Tribune, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has revised the customs valuation of imported mobile phones through its Directorate General of Customs Valuation, issuing a new valuation ruling under which taxes will henceforth be collected based on revised values. Officials said the increase in customs valuation has directly raised the tax burden on imported mobile phones. Following the new ruling, 62 models of various well-known brands have become costlier. The new framework applies to all used mobile phones regardless of their condition. It further requires that imported mobile phones must have been activated at least six months before import, and importers are required to provide activation details, which ...

PM Shehbaz meets astronauts selected for human space mission, calls it historic milestone Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Pakistani astronauts Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, selected for a human space mission by China, and described their participation in space research as a landmark achievement for the country and a matter of national pride. China selected the two Pakistani ‌astronauts as candidates for ​its manned ​space programme. Both ​will travel to China for training, ​and ​one will participate in ‌a ⁠flight mission as a payload specialist ​and ​become ⁠the first foreign astronaut ​in China's ​space ⁠station. Upon completing all training courses and passing relevant assessments, one of them will be selected for a mission crew as a payload specialist to participate in a spaceflight, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station. The Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity, which span area...

Two Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China space programme China has ​selected two Pakistani ‌astronauts as candidates for ​its manned ​space programme, ⁠CCTV ​reported on Wednesday. The candidates are Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud. Both ​will travel to China for training, ​and ​one will participate in ‌a ⁠flight mission as a payload specialist ​and ​become ⁠the first foreign astronaut ​in China's ​space ⁠station, CCTV said. "Upon completing all training courses and passing relevant assessments, one of them will be selected for a mission crew as a payload specialist to participate in a spaceflight, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station," the statement said as per China Daily. Pakistan's Information Ministry also announced the selection of the candidates in an X post, terming it a "landmark advancement in Pakistan's Manned Space Mission Program." The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission ...

NASA says new space telescope will create 'atlas of the universe' NASA unveiled a new telescope on Tuesday to scan vast swathes of the universe for planets outside our solar system and probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. The Roman space telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of planets, possibly offering clarity about how many could be out there. "Roman will give the Earth a new atlas of the universe," NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told a news conference at the Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland, where the telescope went on display. The 12-metre, silvery contraption with massive solar panels will be transported to Florida ahead of a launch into space aboard a SpaceX rocket planned for September at the earliest. Roman, which took more than $4 billion and over a decade to build, is named after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, nicknamed the "Mother of Hubble" for her role in developing the landmark space telescope. 36 years ...

Florida launches criminal probe into OpenAI and ChatGPT over deadly shooting Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Tuesday the state was launching a criminal probe into OpenAI and its artificial intelligence app ChatGPT over a deadly shooting last year that killed two people at Florida State University. A gunman killed two people and wounded six others at Florida State University in April last year before he was shot by officers and hospitalized. The suspect was charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. "The chatbot advised the shooter on what type of gun to use, on which ammo went with which gun, on whether or not a gun would be useful at short range," Uthmeier said in a press briefing. "If it was a person on the other end of that screen, we would be charging them with murder." Uthmeier's office said the investigation will determine whether "OpenAI bears criminal responsibility for ChatGPT's actions in the shooting."...

Australian social media ban marred by weak platform checks, tech providers say Problems enforcing Australia's teen social media ban reflect social media platforms' weak deployment of tools available to run age checks rather than the limits of the ​technology, an industry body representing the tech suppliers said. The comments come as ‌regulators step up enforcement warnings against some of the world's largest technology companies regarding Australia's social media ban of users younger than 16, since December, the world's first such measure. "The issue is not ​capability, it is application," Iain Corby, executive director of the Age Verification Providers ​Association (AVPA), in a statement. Early shortcomings showed a need for stronger expectations and ⁠enforcement, rather than that age assurance technology did not work, it added. Read: ‘Addiction is profitable’: Meta, Google stand trial over social media effects on children Australia's eSafety Commi...

Jeff Bezos' AI lab nears $38 billion valuation in funding deal, FT reports Jeff Bezos' artificial intelligence lab is close to raising $10 billion in a new funding round, valuing the new startup called Project Prometheus at $38 billion, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing sources. The fundraising comes amid strong investor enthusiasm for AI companies as heavy technology spending reshapes businesses across sectors. JPMorgan and BlackRock are among the investors in the new round, the newspaper said, adding that the fundraising was expected to close soon but had not been finalised. Read: Jeff Bezos's Washington Post guts staff, shrinks news coverage The startup is focused on AI for engineering and manufacturing computers, automobiles and spacecraft, according to media reports. Amazon.com founder Bezos is among the initial investors in the venture and has been leading the fundraising effort alongside co-chief executive Vikram Bajaj, the report said. BlackRock decli...

Apple withholds data in India antitrust case, watchdog sets final hearing Apple has not submitted data sought by India's antitrust body after an investigation found ‌the US firm abused its dominant position in the iPhone apps market, prompting the watchdog to fast-track a decision on penalties to a final hearing next month, an order shows. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said in an April 8 order that Apple has not submitted details of its financials ​and its views on the investigation since October 2024, and instead cited a separate case pending in the ​Delhi High Court where the company has challenged India's entire antitrust penalty law. The CCI typically requires financial ⁠information from companies to calculate penalties when they are found to have contravened the law. Apple, which denies any wrongdoing ​in the case, has said it fears it could be fined up to $38 billion if the watchdog uses its global turnover ​to calculate penalties in the case. Apple has ...

Humanoid robots race past humans in Beijing half-marathon, showing rapid advances Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots showed off their fast-improving athleticism and autonomous navigation skills as they whizzed past ​human runners in a half-marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, highlighting the sector's rapid technical advances. The race's inaugural edition last year was riddled with ‌mishaps, and most robots were unable to finish. Last year's champion robot recorded a time of 2 hours 40 minutes, more than double the time of the human winner of the conventional race. This year's contrast was stark. Not only had the number of participating teams increased from 20 to more than 100, but several robot frontrunners were noticeably faster than professional athletes, beating the ​human winners by more than 10 minutes. Unlike last year, nearly half of the robot entrants navigated the tougher terrain autonomously instead of being directed by ​remote control during the 21-km (...

Five tech leaders make TIME 100's most influential people of 2026 Five major technology leaders have made it onto TIME 100's list of the most influential people of 2026, showing just how important the industry has become, not just for innovation, but also for global politics. The annual list highlights the world’s most influential leaders, artists, and innovators. This year, figures from the technology and digital world stand out for their roles in expanding digital platforms, advancing computing, and navigating challenges tied to the industry.         View this post on Instagram                       One of the names is Neal Mohan, who took over as YouTube’s CEO in 2023. Mohan has helped push the video sharing platform even further into the mainstream, turning it into a dominant force in United States television. A big part of that success has come from stronger partnerships with sports leagues,...

Are gaming cafes making a return? The room was never designed for ambition. It has a few rows of ageing computers, their screens glowing in a dimly lit space, fans whirring louder than the voices around them. Someone shouting instructions, someone else arguing over a missed shot, a queue forming behind a chair as another hour came to an end. Time here moved quickly. You paid, you played, you lost, and you tried again. Across cities like Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, these small gaming zones became more than just places to pass time. For many, they were the first real introduction to competition. It was in spaces like these that players such as Arslan Ash and Sumail Hassan first developed their craft, without any coaches, or a structured system. They honed their skill through repetition, instinct, and the constant presence of someone better sitting a few seats away. Over time, these gaming spaces began to fade. As internet access improved, gaming shifted to mobile screens, and many c...

Scientists decipher the geological history of the Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is a marvel on the landscape of North America, a breathtaking geological feature in the southwestern US state of Arizona, presenting dramatic contours and richly colored vistas. Research is now providing insight into how and when the Colorado River, whose continuous might has carved out the canyon over millions of years, came to flow ​through the region. By studying tiny grains of the mineral zircon in sandstone made up of sediments carried by the river and particles of ash ‌from volcanic eruptions long ago, the researchers managed to trace paths that the river took in the past. The study indicated that the river, around 6.6 million years ago, began to flow into a large depression in the Earth's surface, called a basin, in northeastern Arizona, forming a wide and shallow lake east of where the Grand Canyon later took shape. The lake water built up over time and eventually spilled over ​a low poin...

AI Seekho launched with Rs2.5m prize pool Pakistan's national AI roadmap is rapidly positioning artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of its economic future, with the government declaring AI a national priority sector and committing to a $1 billion investment by 2030, according to a statement issued on Wednesday. At the foundation of this transformation is a nationwide effort to build a robust AI education pipeline. At school level, the government has directed the introduction of AI curriculum across federal institutions, with a roadmap to include remote regions. Plans are under way to support 1,000 fully funded AI scholarships by 2030, alongside scaling advanced research pathways to develop AI engineers and specialists. Complementing this is a mass upskilling initiative targeting one million non-IT professionals. These efforts were recently demonstrated by the Ministry of IT and Telecom's National AI Trainings Programme during Indus AI Week, where participation expan...

Amazon signs $11.57b deal for satellite firm Globalstar to challenge Musk's Starlink Amazon.com said ​on Tuesday it would acquire Globalstar in an $11.57 billion deal, bolstering its fledgling satellite business as it tries to catch ‌up with Elon Musk's Starlink. Tech companies are pouring in billions of dollars to capture the lucrative market for satellite-based connectivity, but it will be a tall order to match Starlink's 10,000-unit-strong network. Through the deal, Amazon adds Globalstar's two dozen satellites to its existing network of more than 200. Amazon has been working to ramp up its network ​by deploying about 3,200 satellites in Earth's low orbit by 2029, with roughly half required to be in place by a July ​regulatory deadline. It is also preparing to roll out its satellite internet services later this year. Globalstar's satellite network is ⁠designed for reliable, low-data connections directly to mobile devices, or Direct-to-Device (D2D). The tech...

Government to provide free SIM cards with data packages for Hajj pilgrims The government announced on Tuesday that this year's Hajj pilgrims would be provided free local SIM cards, along with call and internet packages, for use during their stay in Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony spokesperson Umer Butt, told The Express Tribune that under the arrangement, pilgrims would receive free connectivity services to help them stay in touch throughout the pilgrimage period. Those travelling under the long package of 40 days would be given 600 local and international minutes along with 40GB of internet data, while those under the short package would receive 300 minutes and 25GB of data. The allocated minutes can be used for both incoming and outgoing calls. Butt advised that pilgrims only use the SIM card issued by the government, warning that only one SIM would be issued per passport and obtaining an additional SIM may lead to cancella...

UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic’s latest AI model: report British financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cybersecurity agency ​and major banks to assess risks posed by the ‌latest artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Officials at the Bank of England (BoE), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and HM Treasury ​are in talks with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) ​to examine potential vulnerabilities in critical IT systems highlighted ⁠by Anthropic’s latest AI model, the newspaper said. Representatives from major ​British banks, insurers and exchanges are expected to be briefed ​on the cybersecurity risks posed by the model, Claude Mythos Preview, at a meeting with regulators in the next fortnight, it said, citing two ​people briefed on the talks. Reuters could not immediately verify the ​report. Anthropic did not respond to Reuters' request for comment, while the ‌Bo...