Capgemini invests in AI-driven operations with WNS

Capgemini has announced it will acquire Indian IT firm WNS for $3.3 billion to accelerate its leadership in agentic AI. The acquisition will significantly enhance Capgemini’s business process services (BPS) by integrating advanced AI capabilities into core operations.

The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which offers WNS shareholders a 28% premium over the 90-day average share price. Completion is expected by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

The company sees strong potential in embedding AI into enterprise operations, with BPS becoming a key showcase. The integration will strengthen Capgemini’s US presence and unlock cross-selling opportunities across the combined client networks.

Both firms emphasised a shared vision of intelligent operations powered by agentic AI, aiming to help clients shift from automation to AI-driven autonomy. Capgemini’s existing partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft, Google and NVIDIA will support this vision.

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EU rejects delay for AI Act rollout

The EU has confirmed it will enforce its originally scheduled AI Act, despite growing calls from American and European tech firms to delay the rollout.

Major companies, including Alphabet, Meta, ASML and Mistral, have urged the European Commission to push back the timeline by several years, citing concerns over compliance costs.

Rejecting the pressure, a Commission spokesperson clarified there would be no pause or grace period. The legislation’s deadlines remain, with general-purpose AI rules taking effect this August and stricter requirements for high-risk systems following August 2026.

The AI Act represents the EU’s effort to regulate AI across various sectors, aiming to balance innovation and public safety. While tech giants argue that the rules are too demanding, the EU insists legal certainty is vital and the framework must move forward as planned.

The Commission intends to simplify the process later in the year, such as easing reporting demands for smaller businesses. Yet the core structure and deadlines of the AI Act will not be altered.

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BRICS calls for AI data regulations amid challenges with de-dollarisation

BRICS leaders in Rio de Janeiro have called for stricter global rules on how AI uses data, demanding fair compensation for content used without permission.

The group’s draft statement highlights growing frustration with tech giants using vast amounts of unlicensed content to train AI models.

Despite making progress on digital policy, BRICS once again stalled on a long-standing ambition to reduce reliance on the US dollar.

After a decade of talks, the bloc’s cross-border payments system remains in limbo. Member nations continue to debate infrastructure, governance and how to work around non-convertible currencies and sanctions.

China is moving independently, expanding the yuan’s international use and launching domestic currency futures.

Meanwhile, the rest of the bloc struggles with legal, financial and technical hurdles, leaving the dream of a unified alternative to the dollar on hold. Even a proposed New Investment Platform remains mired in internal disagreements.

In response to rising global debt concerns, BRICS introduced a Multilateral Guarantees Initiative within the New Development Bank. It aims to improve credit access across the Global South without needing new capital, especially for countries struggling to borrow in dollar-dominated markets.

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Council of Europe picks Jylo to power AI platform

The Council of Europe has chosen Jylo, a European enterprise AI provider, to support over 3,000 users across its organisation.

The decision followed a competitive selection process involving multiple AI vendors, with Jylo standing out for its regulatory compliance and platform adaptability.

As Europe’s leading human rights body, the Council aims to use AI responsibly to support its legal and policy work. Jylo’s platform will streamline document-based workflows and reduce administrative burdens, helping staff focus on critical democratic and legal missions.

Leaders from both Jylo and the Council praised the collaboration. Jylo CEO Shawn Curran said the partnership reflects shared values around regulatory compliance and innovation.

The Council’s CIO, John Hunter, described Jylo’s commitment to secure AI as a perfect fit for the institution’s evolving digital strategy.

Jylo’s AI Assistant and automation features are designed specifically for knowledge-driven organisations. The rollout is expected to strengthen the Council’s internal efficiency and reinforce Jylo’s standing as a trusted AI partner across the European public and legal sectors.

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Spotify hit by AI band hoax controversy

A band called The Velvet Sundown has gone viral on Spotify, gaining over 850,000 monthly listeners, yet almost nothing is known about the people behind it.

With no live performances, interviews, or social media presence for its supposed members, the group has fuelled growing speculation that both it and its music may be AI-generated.

The mystery deepened after Rolling Stone first reported that a spokesperson had admitted the tracks were made using an AI tool called Suno, only to later reveal the spokesperson himself was fake.

The band denies any connection to the individual, stating on Spotify that the account impersonating them on X is also false.

AI detection tools have added to the confusion. Rival platform Deezer flagged the music as ‘100% AI-generated’, although Spotify has remained silent.

While CEO Daniel Ek has said AI music isn’t banned from the platform, he expressed concerns about mimicking real artists.

The case has reignited industry fears over AI’s impact on musicians. Experts warn that public trust in online content is weakening.

Musicians and advocacy groups argue that AI is undercutting creativity by training on human-made songs without permission. As copyright battles continue, pressure is mounting for stronger government regulation.

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xAI gets Memphis approval to run 15 gas turbines

xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company, has secured permits to operate 15 natural gas turbines at its Memphis data centre, despite facing legal threats over alleged Clean Air Act violations.

The Shelby County Health Department approved the generators, which can produce up to 247 megawatts, provided specific emissions controls are in place.

Environmental lawyers say xAI had already been running as many as 35 generators without permits. The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), acting on behalf of the NAACP, has accused the company of serious pollution and is preparing to sue.

Even under the new permit, xAI is allowed to emit substantial pollutants annually, including nearly 10 tons of formaldehyde — a known carcinogen.

Community concerns about the health impact remain strong. A local group pledged $250,000 for an independent air quality study, and although the City of Memphis carried out its own tests, the SELC questioned their validity.

The tests missed ozone levels and were reportedly conducted in favourable wind conditions, with equipment placed too close to buildings.

Officials previously argued that the turbines were exempt from regulation due to their ‘mobile’ status, a claim the SELC refuted as legally flawed. Meanwhile, xAI has recently raised $10 billion, split between debt and equity, highlighting its rapid expansion, even as regulatory scrutiny grows.

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Europe must break free from US tech giants

For years, a few US tech giants have dominated Europe’s digital infrastructure, threatening both its economy and democracy. Despite talk of ‘tech sovereignty,’ leaked reports suggest EU enforcement may be weakened in trade talks, risking public backing.

Surveys show strong support across the EU for tougher regulation of Big Tech, even at the cost of US tensions. The Digital Markets Act provides tools to challenge monopolies like Google, but enforcement remains slow and under-resourced.

Europe must take coordinated action: break up monopolies harming local media and jobs, strengthen enforcement, and invest in homegrown digital platforms. Redirecting funds from tech giants could empower startups and businesses dependent on these platforms.

Decisive political will is essential to turn tech sovereignty from rhetoric into reality. Effective regulation and strategic investment can restore Europe’s control over its digital future.

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Canada’s telecoms face a key choice between competition and investment

Canada is preparing to finalise a critical policy decision regarding internet affordability and competition. The core policy, reaffirmed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), mandates that the country’s three major telecom providers, Bell, Telus, and Rogers, must grant wholesale access to their fibre optic networks to smaller internet service providers (ISPs).

The ruling aims to increase consumer choice and stimulate competition by allowing smaller players to use existing infrastructure rather than building their own. The policy also notably expands Telus’s ability to enter new markets, such as Ontario and Quebec, without additional infrastructure investment.

Following concerns raised by major telecom companies, the federal government has been asked to review and potentially overturn the decision. The CRTC warns that reversing the policy could undo competition gains and limit future ISP options.

Meanwhile, Telus and other supporters argue that maintaining the ruling protects regulatory independence and encourages further investment by creating market certainty. Major telecom companies in Canada argue that this policy discourages investment and creates unfair competition, with Bell reporting significant cuts to planned infrastructure spending.

Smaller providers worry about losing market share as big players expand using shared networks. The decision will strongly influence Canada’s future internet competition and investment landscape.

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Judge allows US antitrust case against apple to proceed

A US federal judge has rejected Apple’s attempt to dismiss a major antitrust lawsuit, allowing the case to move forward. The ruling, issued Monday by District Judge Xavier Neals in New Jersey, marks a significant step in the Justice Department’s ongoing challenge to Apple’s business practices.

The lawsuit, filed 15 months ago, accuses Apple of building an illegal monopoly around the iPhone by erecting barriers that prevent competition and inflate profits. Neals’ 33-page opinion found the case strong enough to proceed to trial, which could begin as early as 2027.

Apple had argued the case was flawed, claiming the government misunderstood the smartphone market and distorted legal standards. But Judge Neals ruled there was sufficient evidence for the Justice Department’s claims to be tested in court.

At the heart of the lawsuit is Apple’s so-called ‘walled garden’ — a tightly controlled ecosystem of hardware and software. While Apple says this approach enhances user experience, the government claims it stifles innovation and raises prices.

The court agreed the case contained ‘several allegations of technological barricades that constitute anticompetitive conduct.’ Neals also warned of the ‘dangerous possibility’ that Apple’s control over the iPhone has crossed into illegal monopoly territory.

In response, Apple maintained its position, stating: ‘The DOJ’s case is wrong on the facts and the law.’
The company pledged to continue defending itself in court against the accusations.

The lawsuit is one of several legal threats confronting Apple, whose 2023 profits totalled $94 billion on $295 billion in revenue. In April, another judge barred Apple from charging fees on in-app purchases processed through alternative payment methods.

That ruling could cost the company billions in commission revenue, previously collected at rates of 15% to 30%. Additionally, a separate antitrust case may impact Apple’s agreement with Google, which is worth over $20 billion per year.

Under that deal, Google is the default search engine on Apple devices — a setup under scrutiny for its alleged anticompetitive effects. A Washington, DC judge is now considering whether to outlaw the arrangement as part of a broader case against Google.

On the same day as Neals’ ruling, Apple was also hit with a new lawsuit by app developer Proton.
The case seeks class-action status and accuses Apple of monopolistic behaviour that harms smaller developers and app creators.

Proton’s suit demands punitive damages and a court order to dismantle the walled garden approach central to Apple’s ecosystem. Combined with the DOJ case, the new lawsuit deepens Apple’s mounting legal pressures over its dominance in the digital economy.

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AI training with pirated books triggers massive legal risk

A US court has ruled that AI company Anthropic engaged in copyright infringement by downloading millions of pirated books to train its language model, Claude.

Although the court found that using copyrighted material for AI training could qualify as ‘fair use’ under US law when the content is transformed, it also held that acquiring the content illegally instead of licensing it lawfully constituted theft.

Judge William Alsup described AI as one of the most transformative technologies of our time. Still, he stated that Anthropic obtained millions of digital books from pirate sites such as LibGen and Pirate Library Mirror.

He noted that buying the same books later in print form does not erase the initial violation, though it may reduce potential damages.

The penalties for wilful copyright infringement in the US could reach up to $150,000 per work, meaning total compensation might run into the billions.

The case highlights the fine line between transformation and theft and signals growing legal pressure on AI firms to respect intellectual property instead of bypassing established licensing frameworks.

Australia, which uses a ‘fair dealing’ system rather than ‘fair use’, already offers flexible licensing schemes through organisations like the Copyright Agency.

CEO Josephine Johnston urged policymakers not to weaken Australia’s legal framework in favour of global tech companies, arguing that licensing provides certainty for developers and fair payment to content creators.

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