Growing demand for AI assistants has pushed Amazon to open access to Alexa+ through a web browser for the first time.
Early-access users in the US and Canada can now sign in through Alexa.com, allowing interaction with the service without relying solely on Echo devices or the mobile app.
Amazon has positioned the move as part of a broader effort to keep pace with rivals such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic in the generative AI space.
Alexa+ is designed to operate as an intelligent personal assistant instead of a simple voice tool. Users can manage travel bookings, restaurant reservations, home automation and weekly meal planning while maintaining personalised preferences and chat history across devices.
Prime subscribers will eventually receive the paid service at no extra charge, and Amazon says tens of millions already have access.
Amazon expects availability to expand over time as the company places greater emphasis on AI-driven consumer services. Web-based access marks an effort to ensure the assistant is reachable wherever users connect, rather than being tied only to Amazon hardware.
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Siemens and NVIDIA have expanded their strategic partnership to build what they describe as an Industrial AI operating system.
The collaboration aims to embed AI-driven intelligence throughout the entire industrial lifecycle, from product design and engineering to manufacturing, operations and supply chains.
Siemens will contribute industrial AI expertise alongside hardware and software, while NVIDIA will provide AI infrastructure, simulation technologies and accelerated computing platforms.
The companies plan to develop fully AI-driven adaptive manufacturing sites, beginning in 2026 with Siemens’ electronics factory in Erlangen, Germany.
Digital twins will be used as active intelligence tools instead of static simulations, allowing factories to analyse performance in real time, test improvements virtually and convert successful adjustments directly into operational changes.
Both firms will also accelerate semiconductor design by combining Siemens’ EDA tools with NVIDIA’s GPU-accelerated computing and AI models. The goal is to shorten design cycles, improve manufacturing yields and support the development of advanced AI-enabled products.
The partnership also aims to create next-generation AI factories that optimise power, cooling, automation and infrastructure efficiency.
Siemens and NVIDIA intend to use the same technologies internally to improve their own operations before scaling them to customers. They argue the partnership will help industries adopt AI more rapidly and reliably, while supporting more resilient and sustainable manufacturing worldwide.
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The South Korean tech giant, Samsung, used CES 2026 to foreground a cross-industry debate about trust, privacy and security in the age of AI.
During its Tech Forum session in Las Vegas, senior figures from AI research and industry argued that people will only fully accept AI when systems behave predictably, and users retain clear control instead of feeling locked inside opaque technologies.
Samsung outlined a trust-by-design philosophy centred on transparency, clarity and accountability. On-device AI was presented as a way to keep personal data local wherever possible, while cloud processing can be used selectively when scale is required.
Speakers said users increasingly want to know when AI is in operation, where their data is processed and how securely it is protected.
Security remained the core theme. Samsung highlighted its Knox platform and Knox Matrix to show how devices can authenticate one another and operate as a shared layer of protection.
Partnerships with companies such as Google and Microsoft were framed as essential for ecosystem-wide resilience. Although misinformation and misuse were recognised as real risks, the panel suggested that technological counter-measures will continue to develop alongside AI systems.
Consumer behaviour formed a final point of discussion. Amy Webb noted that people usually buy products for convenience rather than trust alone, meaning that AI will gain acceptance when it genuinely improves daily life.
The panel concluded that AI systems which embed transparency, robust security and meaningful user choice from the outset are most likely to earn long-term public confidence.
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China’s cyberspace regulator has proposed new limits on AI ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend’ chatbots, tightening oversight of emotionally interactive artificial intelligence services.
Draft rules released on 27 December would require platforms to intervene when users express suicidal or self-harm tendencies, while strengthening protections for minors and restricting harmful content.
The regulator defines the services as AI systems that simulate human personality traits and emotional interaction. The proposals are open for public consultation until 25 January.
The draft bans chatbots from encouraging suicide, engaging in emotional manipulation, or producing obscene, violent, or gambling-related content. Minors would need guardian consent to access AI companionship.
Platforms would also be required to disclose clearly that users are interacting with AI rather than humans. Legal experts in China warn that enforcement may be challenging, particularly in identifying suicidal intent through language cues alone.
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UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has urged Elon Musk’s X to act urgently after reports that its AI chatbot Grok was used to generate non-consensual sexualised deepfake images of women and girls.
The BBC identified multiple examples on X where users prompted Grok to digitally alter images, including requests to make people appear undressed or place them in sexualised scenarios without consent.
Kendall described the content as ‘absolutely appalling’ and said the government would not allow the spread of degrading images. She added that Ofcom had her full backing to take enforcement action where necessary.
The UK media regulator confirmed it had made urgent contact with xAI and was investigating concerns that Grok had produced undressed images of individuals. X has been approached for comment.
Kendall said the issue was about enforcing the law rather than limiting speech, noting that intimate image abuse, including AI-generated content, is now a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.
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IBM and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have renewed their long-standing technology partnership under a new multi-year agreement to expand digital fan engagement at Wimbledon.
The collaboration, which dates back 36 years, has supported milestones ranging from the launch of the Wimbledon website in 1995 to the introduction of AI-powered features across digital platforms in recent seasons.
Teams from both organisations work year-round to develop fan-facing tools, such as Live Likelihood to Win and Match Chat, that combine tournament data with IBM Watsonx capabilities. Engagement across Wimbledon’s app and website rose 16 per cent year on year in 2025.
The partnership has also received industry recognition, including the All England Club being named Sports Organisation of the Year at the 2025 Sports Technology Awards for its use of AI.
Both organisations said the renewed agreement will focus on delivering more personalised and immersive experiences, as research shows strong demand among tennis fans for AI-driven insights and real-time content.
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The United Arab Emirates has launched an AI-driven ecosystem to help climate-vulnerable agricultural regions adapt to increasingly volatile weather. The initiative reinforces the country’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for applied AI in climate resilience and food security.
Unveiled in Abu Dhabi, the programme builds on a US$200m partnership with the Gates Foundation announced during COP28. It reflects a shift from climate pledges toward deployable technology as droughts, floods and heat stress intensify pressure on agriculture, particularly in the Global South.
At the core is an integrated ecosystem linking scientific research, AI model development and digital advisory tools with large-scale deployment. Rather than isolated pilots, the programmes are designed to translate data into practical tools used directly by governments, NGOs and farmers.
Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a hub for agricultural AI through the CGIAR AI Hub and a new institute at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The ecosystem also includes AgriLLM, an open-source model trained on agricultural and climate data.
Delivery is supported by AIM for Scale, a joint UAE–Gates Foundation initiative expanding AI-powered weather forecasting in data-scarce regions. In India, AI-enabled monsoon forecasts reached an estimated 38 million farmers in 2025, with further deployments planned.
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Nvidia used CES in Las Vegas to signal its next push in AI hardware, with chief executive Jensen Huang unveiling a new AI chip designed to deliver more computing power with lower energy use. The chip, named Vera Rubin, is scheduled to ship in the second half of the year.
Huang said the Rubin platform would let companies train AI models with far fewer chips than earlier generations. The redesign is also intended to lower the cost and energy demands of running AI services.
The move comes as demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, straining power supplies and intensifying competition. Rivals and major customers developing their own chips are putting pressure on Nvidia to improve efficiency.
Alongside chips, Nvidia highlighted its growing focus on autonomous vehicles. The company said new AI software would support self-driving development for carmakers and mobility firms, with vehicles using the chipmaker’s technology expected to ship later this year.
Huang said AI, robotics, and autonomy are central to the company’s long-term strategy, as the company seeks to expand beyond data centres. Rising competition and geopolitical scrutiny remain challenges, but Nvidia is betting that more efficient chips will keep it at the centre of the AI boom.
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AMD used CES 2026 to position AI as a default feature of personal and commercial computing. The company said AI is no longer limited to premium systems. Instead, it is being built directly into processors for consumer PCs, business laptops, compact desktops, and embedded platforms.
Executives described the shift as a new phase in AI adoption. CEO Lisa Su said usage has grown from early experimentation to more than one billion active users worldwide. Senior vice president Jack Huynh added that AI is redefining the PC by embedding intelligence, performance, and efficiency across devices.
The strategy centres on the Ryzen AI 400 Series and Ryzen AI PRO 400 Series processors. These chips integrate neural processing units delivering up to 60 TOPS of local AI compute. Built on Zen 5 architecture and XDNA 2 NPUs, they target Copilot+ PCs and enterprise deployments.
AMD also expanded its Ryzen AI Max+ portfolio for ultra-thin laptops, mini-PCs, and small workstations. The processors combine CPU, GPU, and NPU resources in a unified memory design. Desktop users saw the launch of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, while developers were offered the Ryzen AI Halo platform.
Beyond PCs, AMD introduced a new Ryzen AI Embedded processor lineup for edge deployments. The chips are aimed at vehicles, factories, and autonomous systems. AMD said single-chip designs will support real-time AI workloads in robotics, digital twins, smart cameras, and industrial automation.
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More players are now turning to AI tools to help manage their Fantasy Premier League squads. Several popular apps use AI to rate teams, predict player points, and suggest transfers, with developers reporting rapid growth in both free and paid users.
Fantasy football has long allowed fans to test their instincts by building virtual teams and competing against friends or strangers. In recent years, the game has developed a large ecosystem of content creators offering advice on transfers, tactics, and player performance.
Supporters of the tools say they make the game more engaging and accessible. Some players argue that AI advice is no different from following tips on podcasts or social media and see it as a way to support decision-making rather than replace skill.
Critics, however, say AI removes key elements of instinct, luck, and banter. Some fans describe AI-assisted play as unfair or against the spirit of fantasy football leagues, while others worry it leads to increasingly similar teams driven by the same data.
Despite the debate, surveys suggest a growing share of fantasy players plan to use AI this season. League organisers and game developers are experimenting with incentives to reward creative picks, as the role of AI in fantasy football continues to expand.
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