Development

AI drives Vietnam’s smart city expansion

AI is becoming central to Vietnam’s urban development as major cities adopt data-led systems. Leaders at the Vietnam–Asia Smart City Summit said AI now shapes planning, service delivery and daily operations nationwide.

Experts noted rising pressure on cities, with congestion, pollution and population growth driving demand for more innovative governance. AI is helping authorities shift towards proactive management, using forecasting tools, shared data platforms and real-time supervision.

Speakers highlighted deployments across transport control, environmental monitoring, disaster alerts and administrative oversight. Hanoi and Da Nang presented advanced models, with Da Nang recognised again for achievements in green development and digital operations.

Delegates agreed that long-term progress depends on strong data foundations, closer coordination and clear strategic roadmaps in Vietnam. Many stressed that technology must prioritise public benefit, with citizens placed at the centre of smart-city design.

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Italy fines Apple €98 million over App Store competition breach

Apple has been fined €98 million by Italy’s competition authority after regulators concluded that its App Tracking Transparency framework distorted competition in the app store market.

Authorities stated that the policy strengthened Apple’s dominant position while limiting how third-party developers collect advertising data.

The investigation found that developers were required to request consent multiple times for the same data processing purposes, creating friction that disproportionately affected competitors.

Regulators in Italy argued that equivalent privacy protections could have been achieved through a single consent mechanism instead of duplicated prompts.

According to the Italian authority, the rules were imposed unilaterally across the App Store ecosystem and harmed commercial partners reliant on targeted advertising. The watchdog also questioned whether the policy was proportionate from a data protection perspective under the EU law.

Apple rejected the findings and confirmed plans to appeal, stating that App Tracking Transparency prioritises user privacy over the interests of ad technology firms.

The decision follows similar penalties and warnings issued in France and Germany, reinforcing broader European scrutiny of platform governance.

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Digital gift cards signal TikTok Shop’s retail expansion

TikTok Shop has introduced digital gift cards as part of its wider push into e-commerce. Users can purchase cards for $10 to $500 and choose animated designs for occasions such as birthdays or weddings. Availability is currently limited to the United States.

Recipients must have a TikTok account to redeem a gift card, and the balance is added to their TikTok Wallet instantly. Users can reply with a thank-you message or send a gift card as a return gesture. The approach reinforces TikTok’s focus on social interaction alongside transactions.

The feature puts the digital shop in more direct competition with established e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and eBay, which have long offered digital gift cards. Moves into higher-end retail to broaden its ambitions. The social media powerhouse is positioning itself as a full-scale online marketplace.

Momentum has continued to build, with US sales exceeding $500 million during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday period. The results highlight rising consumer confidence in the platform’s ability to drive purchases. Engagement is increasingly translating into measurable commerce.

Further developments are planned, including video messages and an interactive unboxing experience, which are expected to be released in early 2026. Expansion continues despite uncertainty around the platform’s future in the US. Negotiations over a potential sale remain unresolved ahead of January 2026.

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5G network slicing strengthens Madrid emergency communications

Madrid has strengthened emergency response capabilities through a new collaboration between Orange and Ericsson, integrating a dedicated slice within Orange’s 5G Standalone network.

Advanced radio access and core technologies allow emergency teams to operate on prioritised connectivity during high network demand.

Police, fire and medical services benefit from guaranteed bandwidth and low-latency communications, ensuring uninterrupted coordination during incidents.

The infrastructure by Ericsson enables dynamic switching between public 5G and emergency spectrum, supporting rapid deployment when physical networks are compromised.

Resilience remains central to the design, with autonomous power systems and redundancy maintaining operations during outages. Live video transmission from firefighters’ helmets illustrates how real time data improves risk assessment and decision making on the ground.

By combining telecom innovation with public safety needs, the initiative reinforces Madrid’s role in the emergency communications leadership of the EU and demonstrates how 5G can support critical services at scale.

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New AI tool helps radiologists detect kidney tumours faster

Researchers at the University of Tartu and Better Medicine developed an AI tool that speeds up kidney cancer detection and aids radiologists in analysing CT scans. The system, BMVision, was validated in a study published in Nature Communications Medicine.

BMVision utilises machine learning to identify both malignant and benign lesions, enabling radiologists to detect tumours faster and more accurately. In trials at Tartu University Hospital, six radiologists reviewed 200 CT scans with and without AI assistance.

Results showed that AI reduced detection and reporting time by roughly one third, while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy.

The tool complements radiologists, letting them focus on complex cases and improve patient outcomes. CE marking confirms BMVision meets European standards, making it the first commercial AI tool for early kidney cancer detection.

BMVision is now being integrated into clinical workflows at Tartu University Hospital, with the potential to process all abdominal CT scans in the future. Experts say the system demonstrates how AI can make a meaningful impact in routine medical practice and improve early cancer diagnosis.

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Scientists develop fast AI tool for fusion energy

Scientists have developed an AI model capable of simulating complex fusion plasma in seconds, a process that previously took hours or even days. The tool, named GyroSwin, offers a faster, more cost-effective approach to designing future fusion power plants.

Traditional five-dimensional plasma simulations, which account for spatial dimensions and particle velocities, require immense supercomputing power and long computation times.

GyroSwin uses AI to learn plasma dynamics, producing accurate simulations up to 1,000 times faster than conventional methods. Faster modelling will help optimise turbulence management, a key challenge in achieving practical fusion energy.

The AI tool preserves crucial physical information, such as fluctuation scales and sheared flows, ensuring simulations remain physically interpretable.

Researchers at UK Atomic Energy Authority, Johannes Kepler University, and Emmi AI believe GyroSwin could transform the design and operation of next-generation fusion plants, including the UK’s STEP project.

GyroSwin demonstrates how AI and supercomputing can accelerate the path towards clean, abundant fusion energy while reducing the cost and complexity of plasma modelling, paving the way for a new era of fusion innovation.

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Cyber incident hits France’s postal and banking networks

France’s national postal service, La Poste, suffered a cyber incident days before Christmas that disrupted websites, mobile applications and parts of its delivery network.

The organisation confirmed a distributed denial of service attack temporarily knocked key digital systems offline, slowing parcel distribution during the busiest period of the year.

A disruption that also affected La Banque Postale, with customers reporting limited access to online banking and mobile services. Card payments in stores, ATM withdrawals, and authenticated online payments continued to function, easing concerns over wider financial instability.

La Poste stated there was no evidence of customer data exposure, although several post offices in France operated at reduced capacity. Staff were deployed to restore services while maintaining in-person banking and postal transactions where possible.

The incident added to growing anxiety over digital resilience in critical public services, particularly following a separate data breach disclosed at France’s Interior Ministry last week. Authorities have yet to identify those responsible for the attack on La Poste.

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UN report highlights AI opportunities for small businesses

AI is increasingly helping entrepreneurs in developing countries launch, manage, and grow their businesses, according to a new UNCTAD report. Start-ups and small businesses are using AI for marketing, customer service, logistics, finance, and product design.

Large language models are enabling smaller firms to adopt AI quickly and affordably, but adoption remains uneven. Many entrepreneurs struggle to see AI’s business value, and limited skills and talent slow adoption, especially in smaller firms.

Experts emphasise that supportive ecosystems, clear governance, and skills development are essential for meaningful AI integration.

Access to affordable technology and finance also plays a crucial role. Open-source platforms, collaborations, and phased adoption- from off-the-shelf tools to in-house capabilities, help firms experiment, learn, and grow while managing risk.

UNCTAD’s report highlights the importance of policy frameworks to foster AI adoption, recommending that governments provide clear, practical rules, accessible infrastructure, and targeted training.

Entrepreneurship support centres in several countries are already helping firms identify use cases and build hands-on AI skills, bridging the gap between strategy and practical implementation.

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Nvidia seeks China market access as US eases AI chip restrictions

The US tech giant NVIDIA has largely remained shut out of China’s market for advanced AI chips, as US export controls have restricted sales due to national security concerns.

High-performance processors such as the H100 and H200 were barred, forcing NVIDIA to develop downgraded alternatives tailored for Chinese customers instead of flagship products.

A shift in policy emerged after President Donald Trump announced that H200 chip sales to China could proceed following a licensing review and a proposed 25% fee. The decision reopened a limited pathway for exporting advanced US AI hardware, subject to regulatory approval in both Washington and Beijing.

If authorised, the H200 shipments would represent the most powerful US-made AI chips permitted in China since restrictions were introduced. The move could help NVIDIA monetise existing H200 inventory while easing pressure on its China business as it transitions towards newer Blackwell chips.

Strategically, the decision may slow China’s push for AI chip self-sufficiency, as domestic alternatives still lag behind NVIDIA’s technology.

At the same time, the policy highlights a transactional approach to export controls, raising uncertainty over long-term US efforts to contain China’s technological rise.

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AI agents set to reshape work in 2026

Google Cloud’s 2026 AI Agent Trends Report shows AI agents are moving from experimental tools to central business systems. Employees are shifting from routine execution to oversight and strategic decision-making.

The report highlights agents managing end-to-end workflows across teams, thereby improving efficiency and streamlining complex processes. Personalised customer service is becoming faster and more accurate thanks to these systems.

Security operations are seeing benefits as AI agents handle alerts, investigations and fraud detection more effectively. Human analysts can now focus on higher-value tasks while routine work is automated.

Companies are investing in continuous training to build an AI-ready workforce. The report emphasises that people, not just technology, will determine the success of AI adoption.

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