OpenAI’s o3-Mini, Google’s Defense Shift, and Roads That Heal

Welcome to the fourth edition of our weekly newsletter.

We would like to thank every single one of you who read last week’s edition, gave us feedback and we encourage you to keep doing so.

As usual, we’re breaking down key digital changes in the past week:

• Google Removes Promise Not To Use AI For Weapons

• Simulations Help Researchers Develop Self-Healing Roads

• OpenAI Launches o3-mini Model

• Case Study: How a £5000 website redesign fueled a £5.2m business overhaul 

• Nevron’s Front-End Lead Reveals His Ultimate Home Office Setup

• Nevron x Lowlands: 5 Years of Flawless Festival Tech

Let’s dive in.

Google Removes Promise Not To Use AI For Weapons

After a decade of avoiding military work, Google just rewrote its AI guidelines to allow defense contracts—and the timing couldn’t be more calculated.

The Quiet Policy Shift

Buried in a February 2025 update, Google removed language banning AI use in “weapons or surveillance” from its ethics guidelines. The new rules permit partnerships with defense agencies if projects comply with “international law” – a term critics call dangerously vague.

What’s allowed now? Tools for cybersecurity, logistics, and infrastructure defense.

What’s still banned? AI that “automates offensive combat.” But the line blurs fast: missile detection systems could easily feed into targeting algorithms.

Behind the Reversal

Three forces drove the change:

1. Pentagon pressure: The U.S. Defense Department’s $1.8T tech overhaul needs AI for everything from drone swarms to hacker defenses.

2. China’s military-civil fusion: Beijing’s state-backed AI projects forced Washington’s hand.

3. Revenue gaps: Google Cloud trails Amazon and Microsoft in defense contracts—a market worth $12B/year by 2027.

Employees aren’t celebrating. Over 300 signed an open letter accusing leadership of abandoning “Don’t Be Evil” for defense dollars. This was Google’s original motto, which reflected its pledge to avoid harmful tech use.

“We’re helping build systems that could kill people,” wrote one engineer in an internal forum.

What’s Next For Google

• Project Maven 2.0: Google’s revived drone-targeting AI (shelved after 2018 protests) is already testing with NATO.

• AI-powered missile defense: Early talks with Raytheon for systems to track hypersonic weapons.

• Border surveillance: Pilot programs to monitor crossings in the U.S. and EU.

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) warns of “ethics washing” – using buzzwords like “international law” to greenwash controversial tech. But with rivals like Microsoft and Palantir already entrenched, Google’s playing catch-up.

“It’s not about evil—it’s about existing,” argues a Google VP. “If we don’t shape defense AI, others will.”

Read the full policy shift: Google erases promise not to use AI technology for weapons or surveillance

Simulations Help Researchers Develop Self-Healing Roads

Imagine roads that patch their own potholes in under an hour, using recycled cooking oil and AI. That future is being paved now in UK labs – and it could save millions while slashing emissions.

How?

A team from Swansea University and King’s College London has developed asphalt infused with microscopic plant spores filled with recycled oils. When cracks form, these spores burst open, releasing oils that “stitch” the asphalt back together. Lab tests show it heals microcracks in 60 minutes – no maintenance crews required.

Their secret? AI-driven simulations. Using Google Cloud’s Gemini and Vertex AI, researchers modeled how bitumen (asphalt’s sticky base) oxidizes and cracks. This let them reverse-engineer the process, designing materials that self-repair like human skin.

Sustainability Meets Savings

• Biomass waste: The asphalt uses recycled oils, algae biopolymers, and even old tires – cutting reliance on petroleum.

• Net-zero roads: Traditional asphalt production is a major carbon emitter. This innovation aligns with the UK’s 2050 net-zero target.

• Costs: The UK spends £143M/year fixing potholes. Self-healing roads could drastically reduce this.

“We’re mimicking nature,” explains Dr. Francisco Martin-Martinez (King’s College). “Just as trees heal wounds, our asphalt uses its own ‘biology’ to repair cracks.”

Google’s Role

Google Cloud provided tools to simulate bitumen behavior at atomic levels, accelerating R&D.

“AI lets us test decades of wear in days,” says Dr. Jose Norambuena-Contreras.

The collaboration began in 2022 via Google’s Research Innovators Programme.

Challenges Ahead

While promising, scaling remains tricky. Current prototypes work in labs, but real-world trials face UK budget constraints. The team urges government/private investment to hit 2050 goals.

Read More: AI-powered self-healing asphalt: A step toward sustainable net-zero roads

OpenAI Launches o3-mini Model

As the tech world watches DeepSeek, OpenAI has quietly introduced o3-mini—an ultra-fast, cost-efficient reasoning model that’s free for millions.

What’s New

o3-mini is OpenAI’s answer to the “brute force” era of AI. Unlike older models that relied on massive data/energy consumption, it uses dynamic reasoning during tasks – generating multiple logic paths, then picking the best one. The result?

• 24% faster than its predecessor (o1-mini)

• 87.5% ARC-AGI score (outpacing humans at 85%)

• Three intensity modes: Toggle between speed vs. depth for coding, math, or science problems

Available now via ChatGPT’s free tier (under “Reason”) or API, it targets developers and STEM professionals needing quick, precise answers.

Why the Rush?

The launch follows DeepSeek-R1’s surprise dominance in benchmarks last week. o3-mini isn’t just a response – it’s a strategic market reset.. By offering it free, OpenAI challenges rivals while funneling users toward paid tiers (o3-mini-high for enterprises).

“We’re shifting the cost-intelligence curve,” tweeted OpenAI’s Noam Brown. “Same smarts, lower price.”

Under the Hood

Traditional AI improved by eating more data. o3-mini does something different:

1. Splits tasks into logic branches during problem-solving

2. Backtracks from dead ends (like a chess player)

3. Stores pathways in a “context window” – no extra training needed

This slashes compute costs, making advanced reasoning accessible to startups. But there’s a tradeoff: no chain-of-thought visibility. Unlike DeepSeek-R1, o3-mini hides its work, which critics argue limits transparency.

^{Image not loading? See it here}

Real-World Impact

• Coding: Generates cleaner code with function calling and structured outputs

• Education: Solves complex math problems in seconds (tested up to calculus II)

• Research: Integrates with search tools to pull latest scientific data

GitHub’s already testing it in Copilot, promising quicker fixes without GPU upgrades.

Dive Deeper: OpenAI begins releasing its next generation of reasoning models with o3-mini

Case Study: How a £5000 website redesign fueled a £5.2m business overhaul 

Kirklees-based TimberTight proves even traditional industries can’t ignore digital tools. A £4,950 grant and website revamp drove a 38% revenue surge, turning a timber specialist into a sustainability leader.

The Problem

TimberTight’s PassivHaus-certified timber frames (ultra-efficient, eco-friendly homes) were hidden behind a website stuck in the 2010s. Grainy photos, no 3D renders, and zero SEO meant:

• Missed leads: Eco-conscious buyers couldn’t find them.

• Mismatched image: Premium craftsmanship looked amateurish online.

• Stagnant growth: Revenue plateaued despite booming green construction demand.

What They Did

“Your website isn’t optional – it’s your first sales pitch,” says Suzanne Bradbury of Digital Enterprise. The grant-funded overhaul prioritized:

• 3D interactive tours: Clients explore frames virtually, boosting confidence pre-purchase.

• Carbon impact dashboards: Show emissions saved vs. concrete builds.

• SEO for self-builders: Blogs targeting “sustainable homes UK” and “PassivHaus costs.”

Results? 23% longer site visits, 17% higher conversions, and inquiries from buyers who’d never considered timber.

Why Digital Presence Drives Modern Growth

TimberTight’s leap from £3.75M to £5.2M hinges on one truth: Digital Presence is essential to your survival as a business.

• Trust: A polished site signals professionalism (critical for £50k+ purchases).

• Discovery: 82% of self-builders start their search online.

• Authority: Features like carbon calculators justify premium pricing.

“We went from local craftsmen to UK sustainability advisors,” says co-founder Tamsyn. “The grant didn’t just fund a website – it funded our future.”

The Ripple Effect

• Two new hires: Technical designer + factory operative.

• Industry authority: Cited in The Guardian’s 2025 green building guide.

• Policy clout: Advising the UK’s Net-Zero Taskforce on timber adoption.

Explore Their Journey: Building Strong Foundations with Timber and Technology

Nevron’s Front-End Lead Reveals His Ultimate Home Office Setup

Nevron’s front-end lead Peter Georgiou (aka @peterpandev) just dropped a video breaking down his meticulously crafted home office – perfect for coders, creators, or anyone craving a productivity-boosting workspace.

Why Watch?

Get a masterclass in ergonomic efficiency:

• Monitors: 40" LG UltraWide + 28" LG DualUp for multitasking.

• Workflow hacks: Thunderbolt dock, mechanical keyboard (Keychron Q5 Max), and floating MagSafe charger.

• Mental health focus: Tips on combating remote-work isolation

^{Image blocked? Check out the video}

“Your environment shapes your output,” says Peter, who codes for Nevron by day and edits content by night.

The video is pure actionable insights for remote workers and hybrid teams.

Perfect for: Developers, content creators, or anyone stuck in a “dining table desk” rut.

Nevron x Lowlands: 5 Years of Flawless Festival Tech

For half a decade, Nevron has powered the digital backbone of Lowlands Festival – one of Europe’s largest music events – ensuring its website thrives under crushing traffic surges.

Lowlands’ website faces three annual traffic tsunamis:

1. Lineup reveal: Millions rush to see headliners.

2. Ticket drop: 65,000+ passes sell out in minutes.

3. Festival weekend: Real-time updates for 130k+ daily users.

A single crash could have significant financial and trust related consequences.

Nevron’s Role

Our team ensures the site:

• Stays online: 100% uptime during critical peaks.

• Responds instantly: Optimized for speed even as traffic spikes.

• Scales effortlessly: Handles millions of concurrent users.

2025 Launch Success

We succesfully launched the 2025 Lowlands Festival just yesterday morning. We’re looking forward to seeing how our knowledge, expertise and what we learned from last year can help digitally optimize and host the website even better.

Interesting Links

• Apple Invites: Apple’s new app for crafting invitations with integrated Shared Albums and Apple Music playlists.

• Dating App Secrets: A candid peek at user ratios, retention tricks, and why your matches might not be what they seem.

• WikiTok: A crowdsourced vault of TikTok trends, creators, and meme archaeology.

Thinking About Tackling a Big Project or Adopting New Tools?

We’d love to help you plan and make it happen. Let’s talk about what’s next: Reach Out to Us.

Thanks for reading! If you have ideas or topics you’d like us to cover, drop us a message.

Stay in touch: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
Don’t want to hear from us? You can unsubscribe anytime below.