Artificial intelligence

Crypto.com CEO launches ai.com AI agent platform

Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, has launched ai.com, a platform enabling users to create personal AI agents for everyday digital tasks. The rollout marks Marszalek’s expansion beyond crypto infrastructure into autonomous AI systems.

The beta debut was promoted through a high-profile television commercial aired during Super Bowl 60 on NBC, leveraging one of the world’s largest broadcast audiences. Early access lets users reserve usernames while waiting for their customised AI agents to be deployed.

Marszalek said the long-term goal is a decentralised network of self-improving AI agents that handle email, scheduling, shopping, and travel planning. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of artificial general intelligence through distributed AI agent networks.

The launch arrives amid intensifying competition in the AI agent sector. Major tech firms are launching agent platforms and large ad campaigns, signalling rising commercial momentum behind autonomous digital assistants.

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Sainsbury’s ejects shopper after facial recognition misidentification

A data professional, Warren Rajah, was escorted out of a Sainsbury’s supermarket in south London after staff incorrectly believed he matched an offender flagged by Facewatch facial recognition technology.

Facewatch later confirmed that there were no alerts or records associated with him, and Sainsbury’s attributed the incident to human error rather than a software fault.

Rajah described the experience as humiliating and ‘Orwellian’, criticising the lack of explanation, absence of a transparent appeals process, and the requirement to submit personal identification to a third party to prove he was not flagged.

He expressed particular concern about the impact such incidents could have on vulnerable customers.

The case highlights broader debates around the deployment of facial recognition in retail, where companies cite reductions in theft and abuse. At the same time, civil liberties groups warn of misidentification, insufficient staff training and the normalisation of privatised biometric surveillance.

UK regulators have reiterated that retailers must assess misidentification risks and ensure robust safeguards when processing biometric data.

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AI assistants drive a powerful shift in modern work

AI assistants have become a standard feature of modern working life, increasingly used across business, education, and government for writing, analysis, research, and learning tasks. Their widespread adoption reflects a broader shift in how digital tools support productivity and knowledge work.

As their use expands, AI literacy is emerging as a key professional competence. Understanding how to work effectively with AI assistants is becoming essential for workforce readiness, skills development, and long-term employability.

The growing reliance on AI assistants also raises important questions around responsibility and oversight. While these tools can significantly improve efficiency, they generate content rather than verified facts, making human judgment, accountability, and fact-checking indispensable.

Understanding how AI assistants function is therefore critical. Built on large language models, they predict language patterns rather than think or reason like humans. This technical reality underpins discussions on transparency, reliability, and appropriate use in professional contexts.

In parallel, AI assistants are moving from standalone chatbots into embedded features within workplace software, including documents, spreadsheets, and collaboration platforms. This shift strengthens their role as in-context work tools, while also increasing the need for clear organisational guidelines on their use.

The AI assistant ecosystem is also expanding globally, with platforms offering different approaches to privacy, integration, and governance. This diversity gives users more choice but complicates alignment across regulatory and organisational environments.

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Agentic AI drives structural change in customer care

Customer care is undergoing structural change as agentic AI moves from experimental pilots to large-scale deployment. Advances in AI capabilities, combined with growing organisational readiness, are enabling companies to integrate AI systems directly into core customer service operations, particularly in call centres.

The increasing use of agentic AI is elevating customer care to a strategic management issue. Senior leadership, including CEOs, is paying closer attention to customer operations as a source of resilience, efficiency, and competitive differentiation, rather than viewing it solely as a support function.

At the same time, a growing divide is emerging between organisations that can scale AI effectively and those that remain at an early stage of adoption. AI leaders are investing in internal capabilities, governance structures, and workforce readiness, allowing them to deploy AI consistently across customer interactions.

Agentic AI is increasingly shaping end-to-end customer care models. Instead of being used for isolated automation tasks, AI systems are becoming the coordinating layer for customer service, managing interactions across channels and supporting more complex service processes.

Automation levels in customer care are rising rapidly. Some organisations are automating a majority of customer contacts, driven by improvements in natural language processing, decision-making, and integration with enterprise systems. This trend is changing how customer demand is managed at scale.

Human roles in customer care are evolving alongside automation. AI tools are being used to support agents in decision-making, reduce handling time, and improve service consistency. As a result, human agents are increasingly focused on cases requiring judgement, empathy, and contextual understanding.

Despite the rapid adoption of AI, customer satisfaction remains the primary objective. Efficiency gains, cost reduction, and revenue growth are important outcomes, but they are increasingly assessed based on their impact on customer experience and service quality.

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Robots edge closer to human-like movement

Engineers are working to make robots move with greater balance and fluidity, bringing machines closer to human-like motion. Progress depends heavily on actuators, the components that convert energy into precise physical movement.

Traditional electric motors have enabled many robotic breakthroughs, yet limitations in efficiency, safety and responsiveness remain clear. Machines often consume too much power, overheat at small sizes and lack the flexibility needed for smooth interaction.

Major manufacturers including Schaeffler and Hyundai Mobis are now designing advanced actuators that provide better control, real-time feedback and improved energy efficiency. Such innovations could allow humanoid robots to operate safely alongside workers and perform practical industrial tasks.

Researchers are also experimenting with softer materials and air-powered systems that behave more like muscles than rigid machinery. Continued advances could eventually produce robots capable of natural, graceful movement, opening new possibilities for everyday use.

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New Cyber Startup Programme unveiled as Infosecurity Europe boosts early innovation

Infosecurity Europe has launched a new Cyber Startup Programme to support early-stage cybersecurity innovation and strengthen ecosystem resilience. The initiative will debut at Infosecurity Europe 2026, offering founders and investors a dedicated experience focused on emerging technologies and growth.

The programme centres on a new Cyber Startups Zone, an exhibition area showcasing young companies and novel security solutions. Founders will gain industry visibility, along with tailored ticket access and curated networking.

Delivery will take place in partnership with UK Cyber Flywheel, featuring a dedicated founder- and investor-focused day on Tuesday 2 June. Sessions will cover scaling strategies, go-to-market planning, funding, and live pitching opportunities.

Infosecurity Europe will also introduce the Cyber Startup Award 2026, recognising early-stage firms with live products and growth potential. Finalists will pitch on stage, with winners receiving exhibition space, PR support, and a future-brand workshop.

Alongside the programme, the Cyber Innovation Zone, delivered with the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, will spotlight innovative UK cybersecurity businesses and emerging technologies.

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European tech strategy advances with Germany’s new AI factory

Germany has launched one of Europe’s largest AI factories to boost EU-wide sovereign AI capacity. Deutsche Telekom unveiled the new ‘Industrial AI Cloud’ in Munich, in partnership with NVIDIA and Polarise.

Designed to deliver high-performance AI computing for industry, research, and public institutions, the platform keeps data operations under European jurisdiction. Company executives described the project as proof that Europe can build large-scale AI infrastructure aligned with its regulatory and sovereignty goals.

The AI factory runs on nearly 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, providing up to 0.5 exaFLOPS of computing power. Telekom said the capacity would be sufficient to support hundreds of millions of users accessing AI services simultaneously across the EU.

Officials in Germany framed the AI factory initiative as a strategic investment in technological leadership and digital independence. The infrastructure operates under German and EU data protection rules, positioning compliance and security as core competitive advantages.

Industrial applications are central to the project, with companies such as Siemens integrating simulation tools into the platform. The AI factory also runs on renewable energy, uses river water cooling, and plans to reuse waste heat within Munich’s urban network.

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Agentic AI transforms finance systems

Organisations undergoing finance transformations are discovering that traditional system cutovers rarely go as planned. Hidden manual workarounds and undocumented processes often surface late, creating operational risks and delays during ERP migrations.

Agentic AI is emerging as a solution by deploying autonomous software agents that discover real workflows directly from system data. Scout agents analyse transaction logs to uncover hidden dependencies, allowing companies to build more accurate future systems based on actual operations.

Simulator agents to stress test new systems by generating thousands of realistic transactions continuously. When problems arise, agents analyse errors and automatically recommend fixes, turning testing into a continuous improvement process rather than a one-time checkpoint.

Sentinel agents monitor financial records in real time to detect discrepancies before they escalate into compliance risks. Leaders say the approach shifts focus from single go-live milestones to ongoing resilience, with teams increasingly managing intelligent systems instead of manual processes.

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New AI training platform for Olympians unveiled by Google Cloud

Google Cloud has launched an AI-powered video analysis platform designed to help US Ski & Snowboard athletes refine performance ahead of major international competitions.

Built using Gemini and advanced Google DeepMind models, the system analyses the biomechanics behind high-speed freestyle skiing and snowboarding manoeuvres.

Traditional motion capture required specialised suits and controlled lab environments. Google’s platform converts smartphone footage into biomechanical analysis, mapping body positioning, trick amplitude, and edge control within minutes.

Coaches and athletes can query performance data conversationally for immediate insight.

Near real-time delivery marks a significant shift in training methodology. Analysis can be reviewed on the slopes shortly after a run, enabling faster technical adjustments.

The technology is also supporting athlete preparation for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where marginal gains can determine podium outcomes.

Applications extend beyond winter sports. Similar AI biomechanics systems could support physical rehabilitation, robotics engineering, and industrial safety environments where precision movement analysis is essential.

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Dubai hosts launch of AI tools for university students

The UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has partnered with Microsoft to develop AI agents to help university students find jobs. The initiative was announced in Dubai during a major policy gathering in the UAE.

The collaboration in the UAE will use Microsoft Azure to build prototype AI agents supporting personalised learning and career navigation. Dubai-based officials said the tools are designed to align higher education with labour market needs in the UAE.

Four AI agents are being developed in the UAE, covering lifelong skills planning, personalised learning, course co creation and research alignment. Dubai remains central to the project as a hub for higher education innovation in the UAE.

Officials in the UAE said the partnership reflects national priorities around innovation and a knowledge based economy. Microsoft said Dubai offers an ideal environment to scale AI driven education tools across the UAE.

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