Here's what you need to know about from the world of technology this week

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Tools by AI smut websites pose a serious threat

Researchers at the University of Florida and partner institutions are warning of the rise of AI-powered "nudification" websites that generate fake sexually explicit images without consent. These tools are cheap, fast, and require no skill, posing grave privacy and psychological risks, especially to women and minors. The team coined the term SNEACI (Synthetic Non-Consensual Explicit AI-Created Imagery) to describe this growing abuse. Of 20 sites analysed, most lacked age verification and used major cloud services like AWS and Cloudflare, operating with near-total impunity. The technology is now being exploited to extort, and shame victims, celebrities and everyday folk. Researchers are calling for regulation, transparency. The study marks the start of a broader campaign to inform lawmakers and protect vulnerable populations from digital exploitation.

Sodium-air fuel cell may spark EV revolution

An H-cell modified with electrodes and an ion-conducting ceramic membrane. Pic/Gretchen Ertl

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled a sodium-air fuel cell that could transform electric transportation, including aviation. This new cell delivers over three times the energy per kilogram compared to today's lithium-ion EV batteries, potentially reaching the 1,000 watt-hours/kg, which is almost equivalent to the energy needed for regional electric flight. Unlike batteries, the sodium-air system operates as a refillable fuel cell, using liquid sodium metal and ambient air. It's lighter, safer, and emits sodium compounds that can even capture carbon dioxide. The byproduct, sodium bicarbonate, may help neutralise ocean acidity.