Australian cybersecurity startup Dam Secure has secured $6.1 million in seed funding to address logic vulnerabilities in AI-generated software. Led by Paladin Capital Group, the investment supports the development of a platform designed to validate code correctness and security through plain English rules and a proprietary knowledge graph. The company aims to mitigate "verification debt" as organizations increasingly adopt AI coding assistants.

Sydney-based Morse Micro has announced the general availability of HaLowLink 2, a Wi-Fi HaLow platform designed to extend wireless connectivity for IoT and edge AI networks. The device functions as a router, access point, and extender, utilizing sub-1 GHz spectrum (IEEE 802.11ah) to provide longer range and better signal penetration than standard Wi-Fi. Powered by the MM8108 chipset and running OpenWrt software, the gateway targets developers and integrators requiring reliable connections for agricultural, logistics, and smart city deployments.

A December 2025 ABC report examines the integration of AI, robots, and data analytics in the tourism sector, detailing how "smart tourism" is evolving from a concept to an operational reality. The article discusses end-to-end automation in hotels, the use of smart city data for crowd management, and the shift toward chat-based trip planning interfaces. It further notes the challenges regarding user preference for human interaction and the potential visibility risks for small businesses relying on search traffic.

NBN Co and RMIT University have established a new research collaboration under the ASTRID program to develop a digital twin of the nbn network. The project aims to utilize AI and large datasets to model future network scenarios, enhance resilience against extreme weather, and optimize long-term infrastructure planning.

The University of Queensland has launched the iMOVE MND trial to evaluate a wearable robotic exoskeleton for individuals living with Motor Neurone Disease. Led by Associate Professor Taylor Dick, the project focuses on providing personalized mechanical assistance at the ankle joint to reduce fatigue and support walking. Early findings presented at the 2025 PACTALS meeting indicate potential improvements in walking speed and reduced exertion, with ongoing research targeting machine learning integration for daily use.

OpenAI and NEXTDC have announced a collaboration to develop a "sovereign" AI campus at the S7 site in Western Sydney. Targeted for delivery in 2027, the project is designed to support critical government and enterprise workloads with onshore processing. The facility will prioritize sustainability through closed-loop liquid cooling technology.

Mark Zuckerberg has appointed longtime Apple executive Alan Dye to head a new creative studio at Meta Reality Labs. Tasked with treating artificial intelligence as a core "design material," Dye will oversee the development of next-generation smart glasses and wearables intended to rival the smartphone as a primary computing interface.

Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun has confirmed he will depart Meta Platforms at the end of 2025, concluding a 12-year tenure to establish an independent research company. The new Paris-based venture will focus on developing "world models" capable of physical reasoning. Meta will serve as a partner but will not invest in the startup, marking a divergence between LeCun’s research goals and Meta’s product-focused superintelligence strategy.

Fibocom has unveiled a USB-powered AI dongle powered by the Qualcomm QCS6490 octa-core system-on-chip, designed to bring local large language model (LLM) processing to standard laptops and network storage devices. The release targets the expanding edge AI sector by offering a plug-and-play solution for offline AI tasks, such as transcription and search, without relying on cloud infrastructure.

As the death toll rises to 128 in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court fire, investigators focus on flammable bamboo scaffolding and faulty safety systems. Police and the ICAC have arrested 11 suspects connected to the estate’s ongoing renovation works, while search operations for approximately 200 missing residents continue.

Even Realities has released its second-generation smart glasses, the Even G2, priced at US599, alongside the US249 R1 smart ring. Weighing just 36g, the camera-free G2 utilises a monochrome micro-LED display for privacy-conscious users, offering tools like live translation and teleprompting. A launch promotion offers the ring at 50 per cent off when bundled with the glasses through 26 December 2025.

Reflection AI has raised $2 billion at an $8 billion valuation, marking one of the largest AI funding rounds of 2025. The company will use the capital to expand compute resources and train its first open-weights frontier model, expected in early 2026.

Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business has launched the Freeman Futurist Series, a quarterly event exploring how AI, robotics and quantum computing are reshaping work and industry. The inaugural session on 16 October examined why 95% of companies report no measurable return on AI investments, how robots could help address an expected shortfall of up to 85 million blue-collar jobs, and what current 1,000+ qubit quantum systems may mean for fields such as finance and drug discovery. Speakers also highlighted a five to ten-year horizon in which AI skills, automation and quantum-enabled analytics are expected to play a growing role in business strategy.

Intel has unveiled its Crescent Island data-center GPU, aimed at improving efficiency in AI inference workloads. Presented at the 2025 OCP Global Summit, the accelerator uses LPDDR5X memory and is designed for standard air-cooled server environments. Customer sampling is planned for the second half of 2026.

Google and Magic Leap presented a new smart glasses prototype at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, demonstrating how Android XR and multimodal AI can deliver real-time contextual overlays. The design emphasizes lightweight optics, everyday usability, and enterprise-ready mixed reality functions.

Yichao “Peak” Ji, cofounder of Manus AI, has been recognized by MIT Technology Review as one of the 2025 Innovators Under 35 for his contributions to autonomous AI agents. Ji’s team developed the Manus system, designed to bridge conceptual reasoning and real-world task execution. The recognition highlights ongoing industry efforts to create more capable and accessible AI tools.

Lepro’s AI Lighting Pro series, unveiled at IFA 2025, brings voice and sound-responsive control to smart lighting through built-in microphones and onboard AI. Designed to work with Alexa and Google Home, the system highlights new possibilities in ambient intelligence while sparking discussion on privacy and connected living.

NVIDIA has introduced the AI Aerial platform, a system that applies artificial intelligence to wireless networks to improve spectral efficiency and performance. Developed in collaboration with telecom firms and researchers, it integrates GPU-accelerated RAN software, AI signal processing, and digital twin simulations. The initiative positions NVIDIA as a key player in advancing AI-native 6G networks.

Coflex, a newly released open-source framework from researchers at SUTD and A*STAR, applies artificial intelligence to streamline the optimization of neural network accelerators and ASIC designs. By integrating sparse Gaussian processes with multi-objective Bayesian optimization, it significantly reduces runtime in hardware-aware neural architecture search, delivering up to 9.5× speed improvements across image, language, and segmentation benchmarks.

Technology review outlet PCMag has unveiled its list of the top AI-enhanced smart home devices for 2025. Covering more than 20 product categories, the guide highlights how artificial intelligence supports features such as predictive automation, personalized user experiences, and energy efficiency. Devices span security cameras, smart displays, autonomous cleaners, and thermostats, reflecting a market increasingly shaped by AI-driven functionality.