विज्ञान

(Reuters) -Opera on Tuesday launched Neon, an artificial intelligence-powered browser that can execute tasks and run code inside web pages, adding to the intensifying competition among technology firms to make web browsing more agentic. The move underscores the race to transform the browser into a productivity hub that acts on behalf of users rather than just delivering search results. Perplexity AI released its Comet browser earlier this year, while The Browser Company, the maker of Arc, launched Dia. OpenAI is poised to roll out a Chromium-based AI web browser potentially integrating its "Operator" agent to let users browse and transact without leaving a native chat interface, Reuters reported earlier this year. Opera said Neon can fill out forms, compare data across sites or draft code directly inside the browser. Its "Neon Do" feature allows the software to navigate pages on a user's behalf without routing information to external cloud services. The Norwegian company is pitching Neon as a subscription product aimed at power users. Early access begins Tuesday, with broader availability expected in the coming months. Other features include "Tasks", which create self-contained workspaces for AI to analyze multiple sources, and "Cards", reusable prompt templates that automate repetitive workflows. Opera said all actions occur locally, giving users control over when the AI model acts or pauses. The company's U.S.-listed shares have surged in the past three years on the back of consistent earnings beat and investor optimism around its push into AI-powered products. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oslo, Opera has more than 300 million active users across its desktop and mobile browsers. The company emphasized Neon's privacy-first design, arguing that on-device operation could appeal to European users as regulators tighten scrutiny over data use. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -Opera on Tuesday launched Neon, an artificial intelligence-powered browser that can execute tasks and run code inside web pages, adding to the intensifying competition among technology firms to make web browsing more agentic. The move underscores the race to transform the browser into a productivity hub that acts on behalf of users rather than just delivering search results. Perplexity AI released its Comet browser earlier this year, while The Browser Company, the maker of Arc, launched Dia. OpenAI is poised to roll out a Chromium-based AI web browser potentially integrating its "Operator" agent to let users browse and transact without leaving a native chat interface, Reuters reported earlier this year. Opera said Neon can fill out forms, compare data across sites or draft code directly inside the browser. Its "Neon Do" feature allows the software to navigate pages on a user's behalf without routing information to external cloud services. The Norwegian company is pitching Neon as a subscription product aimed at power users. Early access begins Tuesday, with broader availability expected in the coming months. Other features include "Tasks", which create self-contained workspaces for AI to analyze multiple sources, and "Cards", reusable prompt templates that automate repetitive workflows. Opera said all actions occur locally, giving users control over when the AI model acts or pauses. The company's U.S.-listed shares have surged in the past three years on the back of consistent earnings beat and investor optimism around its push into AI-powered products. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Oslo, Opera has more than 300 million active users across its desktop and mobile browsers. The company emphasized Neon's privacy-first design, arguing that on-device operation could appeal to European users as regulators tighten scrutiny over data use. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Christine Chen and Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -Optus's CEO will need more time to get its house in order, the boss of parent Singapore Telecommunications said on Tuesday, after back-to-back emergency call outages in Australia intensified scrutiny of the Australian telecom carrier's governance. The two outages that occurred less than a fortnight apart affected thousands of Australian customers and have been linked to four deaths. The incidents deepen Optus's reputational crisis following a 2022 cyberattack that compromised data on millions of customers, and an A$100 million ($65.8 million) penalty imposed this year for sales misconduct. Singtel boss Yuen Kuan Moon met with Australian authorities on Tuesday morning, amid calls from some analysts and lawmakers for Optus CEO Stephen Rue to resign and Optus to be stripped of its operating licence. Asked by journalists whether Rue still had his support, Yuen said it would take time to fix the problems at the No. 2 Australian telecoms firm. "We brought in Stephen 11 months ago to transform Optus, to really address the issues that we had since 2022-23," Yuen told reporters in Sydney after talks with Communications Minister Anika Wells. "It is very early days. It takes time to transform a company." Shares in Singtel, majority owned by Temasek Holdings, fell as much as 2% in early trade on Tuesday before recovering and were up 0.2% in the afternoon. The latest disruption to Optus' services interrupted emergency triple zero ("000") calls and affected around 4,500 people on Sunday. The company said it was caused by a faulty tower south of Sydney. It came just 10 days after a botched firewall upgrade triggered an outage lasting 13 hours that disrupted emergency calls in two states and the Northern Territory and was linked to four deaths. Optus Chairman John Arthur said the failures were not caused by a lack of investment from owner Singtel. Yuen said the deadly outage was due to a "people issue". "The 18 September incident is due to a people issue and it takes time to transform and change the people," Yuen said. 'VERY SERIOUS' Wells, the communications minister, said there was a "very serious lack of confidence" in Optus to deliver triple zero calls. "The CEO of Optus now needs to work with their parent company Singtel on the systems and holistic change required within their own company to give that confidence back to Australians," she said. She called for an external party to review its systems "so Australians can take advice not just from Optus themselves". In a later statement, Optus said consulting firm Kearney had been appointed to immediately begin providing external oversight, quality assurance and verification of its mobile network. Former Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin was ousted over the nationwide outage of Optus services in 2023. Rue took the reins in November 2024 and was tasked with improving service standards for customers. ($1 = 1.5191 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Christine Chen and Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Stephen Coates and Susan Fenton)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Niket Nishant and Manya Saini (Reuters) -Visa said on Tuesday it will start testing a new way for businesses to fund international payments by allowing them to use stablecoins instead of pre-depositing cash in local accounts. The move signals growing acceptance of these digital tokens among major businesses, who have been emboldened by the United States passing the Genius Act, a law that set clear rules for stablecoin issuers. "The Genius Act changed everything. It made everything so much more legitimate. Before that regulatory clarity, all the big institutions were sort of on the fence," Mark Nelsen, head of product for Visa's commercial and money movement solutions, said in an interview with Reuters. The company is working with some unnamed partners and plans to expand the pilot program next year, it said. The pilot initiative will allow banks, remittance firms and other financial institutions to pre-fund accounts with stablecoins instead of traditional currencies. Such a move could make cross-border transactions faster and free up cash, as companies often have to lock funds in multiple currencies worldwide to cover local payouts. Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to keep a constant value. They are often backed by traditional assets such as the U.S. dollar or Treasuries. Their utility in moving money quickly across borders has fueled concerns that they could erode the market dominance of some payment companies and regional banks. "Stablecoins are moving from crypto gimmick to financial plumbing. It's one of the reasons we launched an inverse regional bank exchange-traded fund as I think the regionals are in trouble," said Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital Management, referring to a fund designed to profit when regional bank stocks decline. Visa's pilot program, however, highlights how some incumbents are focusing on collaboration instead of competition, turning stablecoins into a tool to reinforce their own infrastructure. "The amount of software and technology that's been deployed globally for payments is hard to recreate. So it seems more likely to just incorporate stablecoin technology into existing flows," Nelsen said. (Reporting by Niket Nishant and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Niket Nishant and Manya Saini (Reuters) -Visa said on Tuesday it will start testing a new way for businesses to fund international payments by allowing them to use stablecoins instead of pre-depositing cash in local accounts. The move signals growing acceptance of these digital tokens among major businesses, who have been emboldened by the United States passing the Genius Act, a law that set clear rules for stablecoin issuers. "The Genius Act changed everything. It made everything so much more legitimate. Before that regulatory clarity, all the big institutions were sort of on the fence," Mark Nelsen, head of product for Visa's commercial and money movement solutions, said in an interview with Reuters. The company is working with some unnamed partners and plans to expand the pilot program next year, it said. The pilot initiative will allow banks, remittance firms and other financial institutions to pre-fund accounts with stablecoins instead of traditional currencies. Such a move could make cross-border transactions faster and free up cash, as companies often have to lock funds in multiple currencies worldwide to cover local payouts. Stablecoins are digital tokens designed to keep a constant value. They are often backed by traditional assets such as the U.S. dollar or Treasuries. Their utility in moving money quickly across borders has fueled concerns that they could erode the market dominance of some payment companies and regional banks. "Stablecoins are moving from crypto gimmick to financial plumbing. It's one of the reasons we launched an inverse regional bank exchange-traded fund as I think the regionals are in trouble," said Matthew Tuttle, CEO of Tuttle Capital Management, referring to a fund designed to profit when regional bank stocks decline. Visa's pilot program, however, highlights how some incumbents are focusing on collaboration instead of competition, turning stablecoins into a tool to reinforce their own infrastructure. "The amount of software and technology that's been deployed globally for payments is hard to recreate. So it seems more likely to just incorporate stablecoin technology into existing flows," Nelsen said. (Reporting by Niket Nishant and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Florence Loeve GDANSK/PARIS (Reuters) -Satellite operator Eutelsat must secure investment from more European countries to bolster its efforts to challenge billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, EU lawmakers and analysts say following a commitment by France. The debt-laden Franco-British company has gained unprecedented attention this year from European governments as the policies of President Donald Trump have raised concern about their reliance on U.S. satellite companies. A 1.5-billion-euro ($1.8 billion) investment in Eutelsat led by France is set to be approved by shareholders on Tuesday, after which the company hopes other countries will follow suit. President Emmanuel Macron has urged other countries and companies to invest, framing the decision as a matter of European sovereignty. EUROPE'S AMBITION IN SPACE Christophe Grudler, a French member of the European Parliament who has urged the European Commission to find alternatives to Starlink for Ukraine as the war with Russia drags on, said Eutelsat is one of Europe's best responses to Starlink but it requires political commitment.  "France’s decision to strengthen its stake is a strong political act. But it cannot stop there. Germany, and other member states, should also step in. One country alone cannot carry this continental ambition in space," he told Reuters. In the latest fundraising, France will commit 750 million euros for a 29.65% stake, while Britain will contribute 163 million euros to retain a 10.89% share in a two-stage investment plan. Other investors are Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal's Bharti Space, shipping group CMA CGM, and Fonds Strategique de Participations, a French insurer-backed investment fund. UKRAINE TALK REVIVES EUTELSAT STOCK  Eutelsat – which has introduced a new CEO, chairman and a revamped brand identity – confirmed to Reuters its aim to involve more European countries, though discussions remained in early stages. Initial talks between France and Germany took place at the Franco-German council of ministers on August 29, the company said in an emailed statement. The German and French governments did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Shareholders involved in the current capital increase declined to comment. Eutelsat's stock has rebounded from all-time lows on talks with the European Union to potentially replace Starlink in Ukraine. Operational planning and coordination with member states and relevant stakeholders on Ukraine continue, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told Reuters in an emailed response to queries. Germany already pays for Ukraine's access to Eutelsat and Eutelsat has delivered thousands of user terminals to Kyiv. FRANCE GIVES VITAL LIFELINE TO EUTELSAT Eutelsat told Reuters that it was not directly affected by the collapse on September 8 of the French government. However, the company – which is dependent on France pledging immediate financial relief – underlined the need for stability and continuity. Asked about the risk of political turmoil possibly delaying France's 2026 budget, Eutelsat said it would only affect the next fiscal year. "In terms of timing, it's unlikely to be impacted by a deadlock at this stage." The funding is expected to reduce Eutelsat's 2.6-billion-euro debt and help deploy 340 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for its OneWeb constellation costing over 2 billion euros. Eutelsat acquired OneWeb in 2023 to capitalise on growing demand for satellite internet.  But the gap with Starlink is stark. OneWeb has over 650 satellites compared with Starlink's nearly 8,000. Eutelsat has downplayed Starlink's lead, maintaining it stays competitive with government and corporate customers. Bernstein analyst Aleksander Peterc said French and UK backing has already made a significant difference but funding into the next decade will be contingent on Eutelsat's improved profitability and cash generation. "The addition of Germany as a core shareholder would further solidify Eutelsat’s position as the prime sovereign European LEO connectivity provider," he said. Stifel analyst Antoine Lebourgeois was more cautious, saying the capital increase was a short-term lifeline and not a long-term cure. "Support from European governments is a crucial first step and a strong signal, but it may not be sufficient on its own to secure OneWeb's long-term viability," he said.  "Given the intense competition and economies of scale of players like Starlink, OneWeb will likely need a more substantial and sustained commitment from the public sector to truly thrive as a European alternative." ($1 = 0.8557 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk, Florence Loève in Paris, Additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

By Gianluca Lo Nostro and Florence Loeve GDANSK/PARIS (Reuters) -Satellite operator Eutelsat must secure investment from more European countries to bolster its efforts to challenge billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, EU lawmakers and analysts say following a commitment by France. The debt-laden Franco-British company has gained unprecedented attention this year from European governments as the policies of President Donald Trump have raised concern about their reliance on U.S. satellite companies. A 1.5-billion-euro ($1.8 billion) investment in Eutelsat led by France is set to be approved by shareholders on Tuesday, after which the company hopes other countries will follow suit. President Emmanuel Macron has urged other countries and companies to invest, framing the decision as a matter of European sovereignty. EUROPE'S AMBITION IN SPACE Christophe Grudler, a French member of the European Parliament who has urged the European Commission to find alternatives to Starlink for Ukraine as the war with Russia drags on, said Eutelsat is one of Europe's best responses to Starlink but it requires political commitment.  "France’s decision to strengthen its stake is a strong political act. But it cannot stop there. Germany, and other member states, should also step in. One country alone cannot carry this continental ambition in space," he told Reuters. In the latest fundraising, France will commit 750 million euros for a 29.65% stake, while Britain will contribute 163 million euros to retain a 10.89% share in a two-stage investment plan. Other investors are Indian billionaire Sunil Mittal's Bharti Space, shipping group CMA CGM, and Fonds Strategique de Participations, a French insurer-backed investment fund. UKRAINE TALK REVIVES EUTELSAT STOCK  Eutelsat – which has introduced a new CEO, chairman and a revamped brand identity – confirmed to Reuters its aim to involve more European countries, though discussions remained in early stages. Initial talks between France and Germany took place at the Franco-German council of ministers on August 29, the company said in an emailed statement. The German and French governments did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Shareholders involved in the current capital increase declined to comment. Eutelsat's stock has rebounded from all-time lows on talks with the European Union to potentially replace Starlink in Ukraine. Operational planning and coordination with member states and relevant stakeholders on Ukraine continue, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told Reuters in an emailed response to queries. Germany already pays for Ukraine's access to Eutelsat and Eutelsat has delivered thousands of user terminals to Kyiv. FRANCE GIVES VITAL LIFELINE TO EUTELSAT Eutelsat told Reuters that it was not directly affected by the collapse on September 8 of the French government. However, the company – which is dependent on France pledging immediate financial relief – underlined the need for stability and continuity. Asked about the risk of political turmoil possibly delaying France's 2026 budget, Eutelsat said it would only affect the next fiscal year. "In terms of timing, it's unlikely to be impacted by a deadlock at this stage." The funding is expected to reduce Eutelsat's 2.6-billion-euro debt and help deploy 340 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for its OneWeb constellation costing over 2 billion euros. Eutelsat acquired OneWeb in 2023 to capitalise on growing demand for satellite internet.  But the gap with Starlink is stark. OneWeb has over 650 satellites compared with Starlink's nearly 8,000. Eutelsat has downplayed Starlink's lead, maintaining it stays competitive with government and corporate customers. Bernstein analyst Aleksander Peterc said French and UK backing has already made a significant difference but funding into the next decade will be contingent on Eutelsat's improved profitability and cash generation. "The addition of Germany as a core shareholder would further solidify Eutelsat’s position as the prime sovereign European LEO connectivity provider," he said. Stifel analyst Antoine Lebourgeois was more cautious, saying the capital increase was a short-term lifeline and not a long-term cure. "Support from European governments is a crucial first step and a strong signal, but it may not be sufficient on its own to secure OneWeb's long-term viability," he said.  "Given the intense competition and economies of scale of players like Starlink, OneWeb will likely need a more substantial and sustained commitment from the public sector to truly thrive as a European alternative." ($1 = 0.8557 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro in Gdansk, Florence Loève in Paris, Additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris; Editing by Matt Scuffham and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)

(Reuters) -OpenAI generated around $4.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025, about 16% more than it generated all of last year, The Information reported on Monday, citing financial disclosures to shareholders. OpenAI said it burned $2.5 billion, in a large part due to its research and development costs for developing artificial intelligence and for running ChatGPT, the report added. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. (Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

(The article has been published through a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has been published verbatim. Liability lies with original publisher.)