Speaking at the Bengaluru GAFX Conference, a major event for the Games, Animation, Visual Effects and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sector, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah positioned AI as a tool to augment artistic work rather than replace human creators.
He highlighted the importance of ethical AI adoption, respect for intellectual property, data privacy, and ensuring fair compensation for artists and creative professionals as the sector grows.
Siddaramaiah underscored that the ‘soul of storytelling’ and human emotion cannot be fully replicated by algorithms, stressing that technology should amplify human potential without erasing it.
He also urged industry leaders to invest in original content, educational institutions to modernise curricula, and global partners to collaborate with Karnataka’s burgeoning creative ecosystem.
The remarks came amid efforts to develop the AVGC-XR sector through policy support, infrastructure, skill development, and the creation of digital creative clusters beyond Bengaluru in cities like Mysuru, Mangaluru and Hubballi-Dharwad.
Siddaramaiah framed this approach as both an economic and cultural opportunity that must be inclusive and ethically grounded.
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South Wales Police has deployed live facial recognition technology in Cardiff to help prevent and detect crime. The operation is designed to identify suspects, wanted individuals and high-risk missing persons.
The deployment forms part of the force’s broader strategy to integrate advanced technologies into policing across South Wales. Officers will operate in clearly marked vehicles and designated recognition zones during the initiative.
Facial Recognition Technology compares faces captured from live camera feeds or digital images against a database of stored images. The system analyses key facial features and converts them into a mathematical representation using NEC’s NeoFace M40 algorithm before generating potential matches for officer review.
South Wales Police uses three types of facial recognition tools. Live Facial Recognition scans faces in real time against a pre-set watchlist, while Retrospective Facial Recognition analyses still images after incidents. Operator-Initiated Facial Recognition allows officers to take a photo on a mobile device and compare it against a watchlist to confirm identity.
Members of the public are encouraged to approach officers to learn more about how the technology works. Where possible, demonstrations will be provided to explain its operation and purpose.
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AI is expanding across healthcare systems in Asia, particularly in diagnostics and hospital operations. Adoption is increasing, but governance frameworks and institutional guidance remain uneven.
In South Korea, a survey by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute(KHIDI) found that nearly half of registered doctors have used AI, mainly for medical image interpretation in diagnosis and screening. However, only a small proportion of medical institutions have formal AI guidelines, and limited training and legal uncertainty remain key barriers.
In response, KHIDI has indicated it will prioritise legal clarity, trust-building, and structured education in future policy development. Follow-up assessments are expected to inform regulatory approaches to medical AI.
Digital health integration is also advancing elsewhere in the region. The National Taiwan University Hospital has launched an electronic prescription system linked to telemedicine, enabling QR code-based dispensing at community pharmacies.
In India, Yashoda Medicity has introduced an AI-enabled e-ICU connected to a public district hospital. The system centralises clinical data and uses AI-driven analytics to support risk monitoring and specialist oversight.
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Topshop has staged what it describes as a world-first AI-driven shoppable catwalk in Manchester, as part of its UK brand revival. The Manchester event combined physical runway looks with real-time digital purchasing through a bespoke Front Row AI app.
Guests in Manchester were able to buy outfits instantly as models walked, while also trying on virtual versions after the show. The experience was adjudicated by the World Record Certification Agency and positioned as a new model for immersive retail in the UK.
The Manchester showcase formed part of Topshop’s regional strategy beyond London, highlighting the North West’s role in the UK fashion sector. Students from the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University designed and presented the finale in Manchester.
Topshop’s broader comeback in the UK includes pop ups in John Lewis stores, a standalone website relaunch and a partnership with Liberty in London. Executives said Manchester marked a new phase where AI and commerce converge to reshape retail experiences.
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Agentic AI is set to transform banking operations in the US and Asia, according to a McKinsey podcast featuring senior partners from New York, Mumbai and London. The technology goes beyond traditional automation by handling less structured tasks and supporting end to end decision making.
Research cited in the discussion suggests many banks are experimenting with AI, yet few report material financial gains. Leaders in the US and Asia are urged to avoid narrow pilot projects and instead redesign workflows, teams and governance around AI at scale.
McKinsey partners said successful banks in the US and Asia are aligning chief executives, technology leaders and risk officers behind a shared strategy. Operations, risk management and frontline services are seen as areas where AI could deliver significant productivity and quality gains.
Banks in India and other Asian markets are also benefiting from regulatory engagement, including guidance from the Reserve Bank of India. Speakers argued that workforce training, cross functional collaboration and clear accountability will determine whether AI delivers lasting impact in the US.
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AI agents are evolving from demos into autonomous tools, with OpenClaw emerging as a leading example. Unlike chatbots, these agents execute tasks directly, interacting with software and systems without constant human input.
The rise of action-capable AI introduces new security challenges. Agents can be manipulated through untrusted input or prompt injection. Persistent memory can also prolong mistakes or unintended behaviour.
The combination of access to sensitive data, external actions, and unverified content, sometimes called the ‘lethal trifecta’, amplifies risks, making careful configuration and oversight essential.
Self-hosted agents offer more control, while cloud-based versions simplify setup but shift security responsibility. Experts recommend running agents in isolated environments, limiting permissions, and requiring approval for sensitive actions.
These precautions reduce the chance of accidental or malicious harm while allowing users to experiment safely.
OpenClaw illustrates the potential of AI agents to automate workflows, handle repetitive tasks, and act proactively rather than passively advising. These tools show the future of consumer AI, but broader adoption requires stronger safety measures and awareness of risks.
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OpenAI is turning its London office into its largest research hub outside the US, marking a strategic shift towards deeper engagement with the UK’s rapidly developing AI landscape. The move places the company in direct competition with Google DeepMind for scientific talent.
An expansion that strengthens OpenAI’s long-term presence in Europe by building a substantial research base rather than relying on satellite operations. The firm aims to attract researchers seeking strong academic links, regulatory clarity and access to the UK’s growing AI ecosystem.
The enlarged London team is expected to support frontier model development and experimental work that aligns with OpenAI’s international ambitions. Senior leadership framed the decision as a vote of confidence in the UK’s capacity to become one of the most influential centres for advanced AI research.
The announcement intensifies debate over global competition for expertise, as major labs seek locations that balance research freedom with responsible oversight.
OpenAI’s investment signals a belief that the UK can offer such conditions while positioning itself as a key player in shaping the next generation of AI capabilities.
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For most of the past decade, data governance was treated as a legal issue. IT built networks and bought tools, while regulators were someone else’s problem. That division no longer holds. Cloud adoption and AI have turned data sovereignty into a core infrastructure and strategy question.
Regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, NIS2, and DORA are expanding and being enforced more strictly. Governments are also scrutinising foreign cloud providers and cross-border access. Local data storage no longer ensures absolute data sovereignty if critical control layers remain outside national jurisdiction.
Traditional SASE and SSE models were not built for this environment. Many still separate outbound cloud traffic from inbound controls. That split creates blind spots in distributed architectures and complicates consistent policy enforcement.
AI workloads intensify the pressure. Retailers, banks, and manufacturers are deploying models locally, not just in hyperscale clouds. Securing east-west traffic across systems and APIs without undermining data sovereignty is becoming a central architectural challenge.
Managed sovereign infrastructure is one response. It reduces reliance on external cloud paths while preserving operational scale. Ultimately, organisations must align security, AI deployment, and governance with long-term resilience goals.
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Google has introduced Nano Banana 2, branded Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, combining Flash speed with advanced reasoning. The update narrows the gap between rapid generation and visual quality, enabling faster edits. Improved instruction-following enhances the handling of complex prompts.
Nano Banana 2 integrates real-time web grounding to improve subject accuracy and contextual awareness. The model supports more precise text rendering and in-image translation for marketing and localisation tasks. It can also assist with diagrams, infographics, and data visualisations.
Upgrades include stronger subject consistency across multiple characters and objects within a single workflow. Users can create assets in aspect ratios and resolutions from 512px to 4K. Google highlighted improvements in lighting, textures, and photorealism while maintaining Flash-level speed.
The model is rolling out across the Gemini app, Search, Lens, AI Studio, Vertex AI, Flow, and Google Ads. In Gemini, Nano Banana 2 replaces Nano Banana Pro by default, though Pro remains available for specialised tasks. Availability is expanding to additional countries and languages.
Google also reinforced its provenance strategy by combining SynthID watermarking with C2PA Content Credentials. The company said verification tools in Gemini have been used millions of times to identify AI-generated media. C2PA verification will be added to the app in a future update.
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German, French, and Spanish language support is live, with more languages planned. The update is part of Workday’s EU Sovereign Cloud strategy, targeting the CLM market, which is set to grow to $1.9 billion by 2033.
The platform uses AI agents to automate contracts. The Contract Intelligence Agent extracts terms, obligations, and renewal dates to create a searchable repository, while the Contract Negotiation Agent flags deviations, drafts redlines, and speeds approvals.
Multilingual support ensures smooth workflows across Europe’s largest commercial languages, improving compliance and efficiency.
GDPR compliance remains critical, with fines up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover. EU-hosted CLM removes offshore data risks, which are crucial for the finance, healthcare, and defence sectors. Workday combines AI efficiency with full legal compliance.
Decision-makers should focus on three priorities: EU data residency, leveraging AI agents to accelerate contracts, and integrating CLM with HR and finance systems to maximise value. Workday aims to capture market share in Europe against competitors such as Icertis and DocuSign.
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