When humans communicate through writing—whether by email, on social media, or in casual conversation—we often imply more than we say outright. Beneath the surface of our words lies latent meaning: subtext, emotion, intent, and even political bias. Traditionally, we rely on the reader to interpret this subtext. But what happens when the reader is not a person, but an artificial intelligence system?

As conversational AI becomes more advanced, researchers are beginning to explore whether these systems can grasp what’s left unsaid. The emerging field of latent content analysis focuses on uncovering deeper meanings and subtle cues in text, including emotional tone, sarcasm, and ideological leanings. This kind of analysis is important across many domains—from mental health and public safety to customer service and journalism.

Visitors to the Palace of Versailles can now engage in real-time conversations with its iconic garden statues, thanks to a new collaboration with artificial intelligence companies OpenAI and French startup Ask Mona. The initiative replaces traditional audio guides with interactive, multilingual AI experiences designed to deepen engagement with the historic site.

The experience is simple: visitors scan a QR code next to one of around 20 statues throughout the gardens. This launches an AI-powered conversation available in French, English, or Spanish, offering historical insights and stories tied to the statues and the palace’s rich heritage.

Breaking new ground in data transmission, Europe has achieved a record-setting 1.2 terabit-per-second quantum-safe data transfer over 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers). This milestone was made possible through a collaborative effort by CSC – IT Center for Science (Finland), SURF (Netherlands), and Nokia, showcasing the future of secure, high-speed, cross-border research connectivity.

The successful trial connected Amsterdam and Kajaani using quantum-safe, high-capacity fibre-optic infrastructure. The data—both real and synthetic—was transferred directly disk-to-disk across five operational research and education networks: NORDUnet (Nordic backbone), Sunet (Sweden), SIKT (Norway), and Funet (CSC’s Finnish network). This trial not only tested the technical feasibility but also laid a foundation for operational deployment.

South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has developed advanced AI technology capable of generating hyper-realistic avatars that can speak and interact naturally using only a single portrait photo. This breakthrough is positioned as a next-generation interface for intuitive communication between humans and machines, particularly in the context of fully autonomous vehicles.

Unlike conventional AI assistants, which typically follow scripted commands with minimal facial movement, ETRI’s avatars feature detailed facial expressions and precise mouth synchronization. This enables the avatars to engage in lifelike, conversational interactions, transforming the experience of in-vehicle communication. The avatars can simulate realistic communication not only with drivers but also with pedestrians, supporting more natural and human-centered dialogue.