Artificial intelligence

SAP expands sovereign cloud vision with EU AI Cloud

SAP introduced the EU AI Cloud as part of a unified plan that aims to support Europe’s digital sovereignty goals.

The offering consolidates SAP’s existing sovereign cloud work under one structure and provides organisations with a way to meet strict regulatory and operational needs, ensuring full EU data residency.

Customers can select deployment options that match their level of required control, ranging from SAP’s European data centres to on-site infrastructure.

SAP is also expanding its partnership with Cohere to integrate advanced multimodal and agentic AI features through Cohere North.

Incorporation into SAP Business Technology Platform enables enterprises with data residency constraints to apply AI within core processes without undermining compliance or performance.

A collaboration that is intended to improve insight generation and decision support across a wide range of industries.

EU AI Cloud is backed by a broad ecosystem that includes Cohere, Mistral AI, OpenAI and other partners whose models and applications can be accessed through SAP BTP.

European enterprises and public bodies gain access to routes for developing and deploying AI tools while maintaining flexibility and sovereignty.

The range of options includes SAP Sovereign Cloud, customer-operated on-site deployments and, where chosen, commercial services on selected hyperscalers with sovereignty controls. The approach also includes Delos Cloud for organisations in Germany that require dedicated public sector safeguards.

SAP positions the initiative as a means to advance AI adoption in Europe, aligning with regional standards on data protection and operational independence.

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EU faces new battles over digital rights

EU policy debates intensified after Denmark abandoned plans for mandatory mass scanning in the draft Child Sexual Abuse Regulation. Advocates welcomed the shift yet warned that new age checks and potential app bans still threaten privacy.

France and the UK advanced consultations on good practice guidelines for cyber intrusion firms, seeking more explicit rules for industry responsibility. Civil society groups also marked two years of the Digital Services Act by reflecting on enforcement experience and future challenges.

Campaigners highlighted rising concerns about tech-facilitated gender violence during the 16 Days initiative. The Centre for Democracy and Technology launched fresh resources stressing encryption protection, effective remedies and more decisive action against gendered misinformation.

CDT Europe also criticised the Commission’s digital omnibus package for weakening safeguards under laws, including the AI Act. The group urged firm enforcement of existing frameworks while exploring better redress options for AI-related harms in the EU legislation.

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New ChatGPT Voice design aims to smooth AI conversations

OpenAI has rolled out an update to ChatGPT Voice that unifies voice and text in a single interface. Users can now speak, type or mix both without switching screens mid-conversation.

The redesigned chat window displays live transcriptions and responses in real-time. Users can scroll through earlier messages and view images, maps and other visuals while the exchange continues in one place.

Previously, voice required a separate mode that hid the main chat history and shared content. OpenAI says the unified layout should make longer, mixed-mode conversations feel more natural and less fragmented.

Voice and text can still be used interchangeably, but ending a voice session requires tapping ‘End’ before returning to text-only use. Those who prefer the old layout can re-enable a separate voice view in settings.

The revamped Voice experience is becoming the default on web and mobile apps as the update rolls out. OpenAI aims to make ChatGPT feel more like a flexible conversational assistant across various devices.

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South Korea accelerates AI adoption as NVIDIA strengthens national ecosystem

NVIDIA AI Day Seoul drew more than 1,000 visitors who gathered to explore sovereign AI and the rapid progress shaping South Korea’s digital landscape.

Attendees joined workshops, technical sessions and startup showcases designed to highlight the country’s expanding ecosystem instead of focusing only on theoretical advances.

Five finalists from the Inception Grand Challenge also presented their work, reflecting the growing strength of South Korea’s startup community.

Speakers outlined how AI now supports robotics, industrial production, entertainment and public administration.

Conglomerates from South Korea, such as Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and NAVER Cloud, have intensified their investment in AI, while government agencies rely on accelerated computing to process documents and policy information at scale.

South Korea’s ecosystem continues to expand with hundreds of Inception startups, sovereign LLM initiatives and major supercomputing deployments.

Developers engaged directly with NVIDIA engineers through workshops and a Q&A area covering AI infrastructure, LLMs, robotics and automotive technologies. Plenary sessions examined agentic AI, reasoning models and the evolution of AI factories.

Partners presented advances in training efficiency, agentic systems and large-scale AI infrastructure built with NVIDIA’s platforms instead of legacy hardware.

South Korea’s next phase of development will be supported by access to 260,000 GPUs announced during the APEC Summit. Officials expect the infrastructure to accelerate startup growth, stimulate national AI priorities and attract new collaboration across research and industry.

The Seoul event marks another step in the country’s effort to reinforce its digital foundation while expanding its role in global AI innovation.

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Mixpanel breach exposes limited OpenAI API metadata

OpenAI says a security incident at Mixpanel exposed limited metadata linked to the API interface. Mixpanel’s systems, not OpenAI’s, were compromised during the intrusion. No chat content, passwords, API keys, or payment information was affected.

Mixpanel told OpenAI that an attacker exported a dataset containing basic user profile fields. The information includes names, email addresses, coarse location data, and browser details. OpenAI has removed Mixpanel from production and is notifying impacted users.

OpenAI maintains that its internal infrastructure remains secure with no evidence of unauthorised access. Wider reviews across the vendor ecosystem are underway to assess potential risks. The company has raised security requirements for partners and continues to monitor for misuse.

Security teams warn that the leaked data could fuel phishing or social-engineering attempts. Users are urged to treat unsolicited messages with caution and verify communications sent under the OpenAI name. Multi-factor authentication remains strongly recommended for all accounts as an added safeguard.

OpenAI reiterates that trust and privacy remain core to its products and operations. The organisation has ended its use of Mixpanel and is reviewing supporting services to prevent similar issues. Impacted organisations will receive direct notifications as the investigation continues.

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Australia moves to curb nudify tools after eSafety action

A major provider of three widely used nudify services has cut off Australian access after enforcement action from eSafety.

The company received an official warning in September for allowing its tools to be used to produce AI-generated material that harmed children.

A withdrawal that follows concerns about incidents involving school students and repeated reminders that online services must meet Australia’s mandatory safety standards.

eSafety stated that Australia’s codes and standards are encouraging companies to adopt stronger safeguards.

The Commissioner noted that preventing the misuse of consumer tools remains central to reducing the risk of harm and that more precise boundaries can lower the likelihood of abuse affecting young people.

Attention has also turned to underlying models and the hosting platforms that distribute them.

Hugging Face has updated its terms to require users to take steps to mitigate the risks associated with uploaded models, including preventing misuse for generating harmful content. The company is required to act when reports or internal checks reveal breaches of its policies.

eSafety indicated that failure to comply with industry codes or standards can lead to enforcement measures, including significant financial penalties.

The agency is working with the government on further reforms intended to restrict access to nudify tools and strengthen protections across the technology stack.

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Coinbase Ventures reveals top areas to watch in 2026

Coinbase Ventures has shared the ideas its team is most excited about for 2026, highlighting areas with high potential for innovation in crypto and blockchain. Key sectors include asset tokenisation, specialised exchanges, next-generation DeFi, and AI-driven robotics.

The firm is actively seeking teams to invest in these emerging opportunities.

Perpetual contracts on real-world assets are set to expand, enabling synthetic exposure to private companies, commodities, and macroeconomic data. Specialised exchanges and trading terminals aim to consolidate liquidity, protect market makers, and improve the prediction market user experience.

Next-gen DeFi will expand with composable perpetual markets, unsecured lending, and privacy-focused applications. These developments could redefine capital efficiency, financial infrastructure, and user confidentiality across the ecosystem.

AI and robotics are also a focus, with projects targeting advanced robotic data collection, proof-of-humanity solutions, and AI-driven innovative contract development. Coinbase Ventures emphasises the potential for these technologies to accelerate on-chain adoption and innovation.

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As AI agents proliferate, human purpose is being reconsidered

As AI agents rapidly evolve from tools to autonomous actors, experts are raising existential questions about human value and purpose.

These agents, equipped with advanced reasoning and decision-making capabilities, can now complete entire workflows with minimal human intervention.

The report notes that in corporate settings, AI agents are already being positioned to handle tasks such as client negotiations, quote generation, project coordination, or even strategic decision support. Some proponents foresee these agents climbing organisational charts, potentially serving as virtual CFOs or CEOs.

At the same time, sceptics warn that such a shift could hollow out traditional human roles. Research from McKinsey Global Institute suggests that while many human skills remain relevant, the nature and context of work will change significantly, with humans increasingly collaborating with AI rather than directly doing classical tasks.

The questions this raises extend beyond economics and efficiency: they touch on identity, dignity, and social purpose. If AI can handle optimisation and execution, what remains uniquely human, and how will societies value those capacities?

Some analysts suggest we shift from valuing output to valuing emotional leadership, creativity, ethical judgement and human connection.

The rise of AI agents thus invites a critical rethink of labour, value, and our roles in an AI-augmented world. As debates continue, it may become ever more crucial to define what we expect from people, beyond productivity.

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New AI and 5G technology transforms stadium experience

Fans attending live football matches in the UK can now enjoy uninterrupted connectivity with a new technology combining AI and 5G.

Trials at a stadium in Milton Keynes demonstrated that thousands of spectators can stream high-quality live video feeds directly to their mobile devices.

Developed collaboratively by the University of Bristol, AI specialists Madevo, and network experts Weaver Labs, the system also delivers live player statistics, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and real-time queue navigation. Traditional mobile networks often struggle to cope with peak demand at large venues, leaving fans frustrated.

The innovation offers clubs an opportunity to transform their stadiums into fully smart-enabled venues. University researchers said the successful trial represents a major step forward for Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab as it celebrates a decade of pioneering connectivity solutions.

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 by Qualcomm brings faster AI performance to flagship phones

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Mobile Platform, positioning it as a premium upgrade that elevates performance, AI capability, and gaming. The company says the new chipset responds to growing demand for more advanced features in flagship smartphones.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 includes an enhanced sensing hub that wakes an AI assistant when a user picks up their device. Qualcomm says the platform supports agentic AI functions through the updated AI Engine, enabling more context-aware interactions and personalised assistance directly on the device.

The system is powered by the custom Oryon CPU, reaching speeds up to 3.8 GHz and delivering notable improvements in responsiveness and web performance. Qualcomm reports a 36% increase in overall processing power and an 11% boost to graphics output through its updated Adreno GPU architecture.

Qualcomm executives say the refreshed platform will bring high-end performance to more markets. Chris Patrick, senior vice-president for mobile handsets, says Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is built to meet rising demands for speed, efficiency, and intelligent features.

Qualcomm confirmed that the chipset will appear in upcoming flagship devices from manufacturers including iQOO, Honor, Meizu, Motorola, OnePlus, and vivo. The company expects the platform to anchor next-generation models entering global markets in the months ahead.

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