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China expands AI adoption across consumer economy

China’s Ministry of Commerce and seven other government departments have issued guidelines to accelerate the integration of AI into consumer markets.

The implementation document sets out 17 measures in five areas under an ‘AI plus consumption’ strategy. It aims to expand smart product consumption, support AI-enabled services and create new consumer scenarios.

For goods consumption, the guidelines call for a wider supply of AI products, upgrades to consumer electronics, household appliances and home products, and the development of smart wearable devices. They also promote AI-powered robots for elderly care, companionship and daily assistance.

For services, the measures encourage the use of AI in home services, elderly care, tourism, accommodation, catering and education. Examples include smart elderly-care facilities, AI-enabled tourism services and smart canteens in offices, schools and hospitals.

The guidelines also call for faster development of smart retail, deeper integration of AI with e-commerce and improved smart logistics networks at county, township and village levels. Authorities also want to expand delivery coverage in remote areas.

China will support ‘AI plus consumption’ clusters and AI experience centres, while encouraging rental, sharing and trial use of AI products in public venues. Local authorities are also encouraged to introduce subsidies for next-generation smart terminals and other AI-related consumer products under existing consumer goods trade-in policies.

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Mavenir and Red Hat launch AI platform for telecom monetisation

Mavenir has announced an integrated AI platform developed with Red Hat that aims to help network operators monetise AI services through token-based consumption plans.

The platform is designed to allow operators to offer AI services in a manner similar to mobile data plans, with token-based usage billed through existing customer billing systems. Mavenir says operators will retain control over pricing, service-level agreements, and the models powering AI interactions.

According to Mavenir, the platform supports three operating models. Operators can use it to deliver their own branded AI services to subscribers, provide an AI infrastructure layer for AI grid deployments, or offer managed AI capabilities to enterprise customers on a token-based consumption basis.

The system uses Red Hat AI and Kubernetes infrastructure powered by Red Hat OpenShift. Mavenir says the architecture is designed to provide operators with a flexible, sovereignty-focused platform capable of running on-premises models and customised small language models for routine workloads.

The platform also supports policy-governed access to external frontier AI models for tasks requiring advanced reasoning or multimodal capabilities. Mavenir says operators can decide which model handles each request, who pays for it, and how it is billed.

Mavenir argues that operators can leverage existing billing and service-management systems to create new AI revenue streams, as token-based AI consumption mirrors familiar data-usage models. It said monthly AI token plans, enterprise quotas, and SLA-backed AI service tiers could create a new monetisation layer on top of connectivity.

The integrated AI platform combines Mavenir’s AI software platform with Red Hat’s enterprise Kubernetes and AI capabilities, delivered on validated hardware from third-party partners. The platform includes intelligent model routing, token optimisation, AI platform-as-a-service and MLOps capabilities, token charging, billing integration, closed-loop service assurance, zero-trust identity controls, and AI-specific security.

For enterprise customers, the platform enables operators to offer metered access to AI models, compute resources and AI tools as value-added services. For AI grid deployments, operators can use it as the compute and AI fabric for network-embedded AI applications and third-party workloads.

Operators can also use the platform to provide AI-powered products directly to subscribers, including AI assistant plans billed by token consumption, AI-enhanced network services, and operator-branded AI applications.

Mavenir says the platform is designed to support new AI revenue streams, predictable AI economics, data sovereignty, contractual SLAs for operator-managed AI services, and enterprise-grade security. The company will showcase the platform at DTW Ignite 2026 from 23 to 25 June.

Why does it matter?

Telecom operators are looking for ways to move beyond connectivity revenue as demand for AI services grows. Token-based billing could let operators package AI services in a familiar commercial model, using existing customer relationships, billing systems, and service-level agreements.

The announcement also points to a broader shift in AI infrastructure. By combining on-premises models, sovereign data controls, and selective access to frontier models, operators could position themselves as AI service providers for consumers, enterprises, and network-embedded applications rather than only as connectivity providers.

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Italian competition authority investigates Apple over DMA interoperability rules

The Italian Competition Authority has launched an investigation into Apple Inc., Apple Distribution International Ltd and Apple Italia S.r.l. over their compliance with interoperability requirements under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

According to the authority, the Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party consumer cloud service providers with free and effective interoperability with its iOS and iPadOS operating systems under conditions equivalent to those available to iCloud.

The authority said there are indications that alternative cloud providers may not have access to the same hardware and software functionalities available to iCloud. As an example, the authority cited device backup functions on iOS and iPadOS, which appear to be unavailable to competing cloud services.

The investigation marks the first time the authority has exercised its powers under Italy’s 2022 Annual Law on Pro-competitive Reforms to support preliminary investigations under the DMA. The authority said its findings will be shared with the European Commission following the launch of the investigation in Rome.

Why does it matter?

The investigation highlights the growing role of national authorities in supporting enforcement of the Digital Markets Act, the EU’s flagship competition framework for large digital platforms. Interoperability requirements are a central element of the DMA, aiming to ensure that dominant platform operators do not unfairly favour their own services over competitors.

The case could also have broader implications for cloud competition and platform ecosystems. If regulators conclude that third-party providers do not have access to the same functionalities as Apple’s own services, the findings may influence how gatekeeper obligations are interpreted and enforced across the EU’s digital markets.

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Thailand updates legal framework to modernise capital markets

Thailand is advancing amendments to the Securities and Exchange Act to create a legal framework for electronic securities and support the digitalisation of its capital markets.

The draft bill has passed its first reading in the House of Representatives, with a special committee appointed to review the details before the second and third readings. The proposal would allow securities to be issued, held, transferred and used as collateral in electronic form with legal effect.

Government officials said the reform is intended to improve access to capital, reduce transaction costs and make capital market processes more efficient. The initiative forms part of Thailand’s broader effort to modernise financial infrastructure and support the digital economy.

The framework would apply to existing capital market instruments, including shares, bonds and investment units. Authorities have presented the measure as a way to digitise securities processes under a clearer legal and regulatory framework, rather than as a move to create a new category of unregulated digital assets.

The proposal also includes safeguards for investors and market integrity, including rules on securities registries, client assets and regulatory oversight of electronic securities transactions.

Why does it matter?

The reform shows how digital finance policy is moving beyond cryptocurrencies and payment systems into the core infrastructure of capital markets. By giving electronic securities legal effect, Thailand could reduce paperwork, lower transaction costs, and make fundraising more efficient. The practical impact will depend on the final text, regulatory implementation and whether market participants adopt the new digital processes at scale.

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Manchester tops UK AI city ranking for third consecutive year

Manchester has ranked as the UK’s most AI-ready city outside London for the third consecutive year, according to the SAS AI Cities 2026 Index.

The index, produced by data and AI company SAS, assesses cities using indicators including AI-related jobs, business activity, innovation funding, education opportunities and digital infrastructure.

Manchester received the highest overall score in the 2026 index, supported by strong AI employment, education and business activity. SAS said the city recorded the highest number of AI businesses in the ranking, with 655 organisations operating in the sector.

The city also performed strongly in Innovate UK funding for AI and data economy projects, while skills and training initiatives have supported Greater Manchester’s wider AI ecosystem.

Recent regional initiatives include the expansion of technology learning hubs for secondary school students and the Future of Work Alliance, a five-year programme focused on AI research, training, internships and scholarships.

Bristol, Glasgow, Oxford, Birmingham, Southampton, Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool and Cambridge completed the top ten cities in the 2026 ranking.

Why does it matter?

The ranking points to the growing importance of regional AI ecosystems beyond London. Cities competing for AI investment increasingly need a mix of skills, education, research links, digital infrastructure, business activity and public-sector support. Manchester’s position suggests that local AI strategies are becoming part of wider economic development and workforce planning, although the ranking should be read as a private-sector index rather than an official measure of national AI capacity.

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Anthropic launches Claude Corps AI fellowship for US nonprofits

Anthropic has announced Claude Corps, a fellowship programme intended to help early-career professionals develop AI skills while supporting nonprofit organisations in the United States.

The company said it is committing an initial $150 million to the initiative, which aims to train 1,000 fellows to use Claude and place them in nonprofit organisations over the coming years. Fellows will spend one year working full-time and in person with host organisations.

Claude Corps will be delivered through a partnership between Anthropic, CodePath and Social Finance. Anthropic will fund the programme, provide Claude expertise and lead its overall strategy. CodePath will act as the fellows’ employer of record and lead fellowship programming, while Social Finance will oversee measurement and evaluation.

Each fellow will receive a salary of $85,000, benefits, mentoring support, ongoing training and access to Claude resources. Anthropic said at least 400 nonprofits will host fellows over the next 12 months, including organisations working on education, workforce development, public services, food security, environmental conservation and community support.

Applications are open for the first cohort of 100 fellows, which is scheduled to begin in October 2026. Anthropic said the programme could later expand beyond the initial 1,000 fellows and may serve as a model for similar initiatives outside the United States.

Why does it matter?

Claude Corps is relevant because it frames AI adoption as a workforce and capacity-building challenge, not only a product deployment issue. The programme links private-sector AI development with labour transition, nonprofit digital capacity and AI literacy. It also reflects growing pressure on frontier AI companies to show how the benefits of AI can be shared more widely as automation reshapes entry-level work and organisational practices.

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Google DeepMind launches robotics accelerator for European startups

Google DeepMind has launched a three-month robotics accelerator for early-stage startups across Europe, offering technical mentorship, product guidance and access to AI tools, including Gemini robotics models.

The first cohort includes 15 companies working on robotics and embodied AI applications in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, waste sorting, marine robotics and industrial automation. The selected founders began the programme in London this week.

According to Google, the accelerator is intended to help startups integrate advanced AI capabilities into physical systems and turn robotics research into deployable products. Participants will receive support from Google DeepMind and Google experts, as well as access to technical resources and partner networks.

The selected companies are developing technologies ranging from robotic welding and construction systems to autonomous underwater robots, neurosurgical microrobots, humanoid systems, robotic sensing and industrial AI tools.

The programme reflects growing commercial interest in embodied AI, where advances in language, vision and action models are being applied to machines that operate in physical environments.

Why does it matter?

Robotics is becoming an important test case for how advanced AI moves from digital tools into physical systems. As foundation models are integrated into manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, construction and infrastructure, questions around safety, reliability, liability, labour impact and deployment standards will become more important. Google DeepMind’s accelerator is not a regulatory development, but it signals growing industry investment in Europe’s embodied AI ecosystem.

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EU expands InvestEU funding for startups and transformative industries

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group have signed an agreement to add €22 billion in strategic financing to the InvestEU programme to support transformative investments in the EU economy.

The amendment follows the adoption of the Omnibus II Regulation and is intended to accelerate financing for priority sectors, including clean technologies, biotechnology, digital advancement and high-potential start-ups and scale-ups.

According to the EIB Group, the projects supported through the amendment are expected to generate a total financial impact of around €70 billion by the end of the current Multiannual Financial Framework. The wider Omnibus II package set a minimum target of €55 billion in additional public and private investment.

The expanded InvestEU programme is expected to benefit more than 130,000 small and medium-sized enterprises by improving access to finance and simplifying administrative procedures. The EIB said all SMEs supported under InvestEU will benefit from streamlined processes and reduced reporting requirements.

The amendment also lays the groundwork for a future InvestEU instrument under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, as part of the planned European Competitiveness Fund. The Commission and EIB said the expanded programme is intended to support Europe’s green and digital transitions, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience.

Why does it matter?

The agreement shows how the EU is using public guarantees and EIB Group financing to address investment gaps in strategic sectors. For digital policy, the relevant signal is the focus on digital advancement, high-growth start-ups and scale-ups, and technological sovereignty. Access to finance remains a central challenge for European companies trying to commercialise and scale technologies in areas such as digital infrastructure, advanced industry and deep tech.

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New York moves to curb undisclosed news scraping by AI bots

New York lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at restricting ‘stealth crawlers’, automated bots that access and scrape content from news websites without identifying themselves. If signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, New York would become the first US state to impose such transparency requirements.

The bill would require companies operating such bots to identify themselves when accessing the websites of news organisations. It would also prohibit activity that damages, impairs or places undue burdens on news websites, or otherwise causes economic harm to publishers.

Supporters, including the New York State Broadcasters Association and the New York News Publishers Association, argue that undisclosed scraping allows technology companies to use journalistic content for AI and other automated services while reducing traffic and revenue opportunities for publishers.

The legislation would authorise the New York Attorney General’s office to take enforcement action against non-compliant companies, with civil penalties of up to $15,000 per day for violations. The measure was passed by lawmakers in New York and now awaits the governor’s decision.

Why does it matter?

The legislation reflects growing tensions between news publishers and technology companies over the use of online content for AI training, search services and other automated applications. Publishers increasingly argue that large-scale content scraping can generate commercial value for technology firms while undermining the business models that support journalism.

If enacted, the measure could establish one of the first state-level transparency frameworks governing automated content collection in the United States. It may also influence broader debates about AI training data, web scraping practices, publisher rights and the relationship between technology platforms and news organisations.

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Anthropic launches Claude Fable 5 with advanced safety safeguards

Anthropic has launched Claude Fable 5, a new general-purpose AI model, alongside Claude Mythos 5, a more capable version reserved for selected cyber defence and infrastructure partners.

The company described Fable 5 as its most capable generally available model to date, with strong performance across software engineering, knowledge work, vision and scientific research. Anthropic said the model’s advanced capabilities pose misuse risks, particularly in cybersecurity and research biology.

To reduce those risks, Fable 5 includes additional safety classifiers designed to detect potential misuse, including attempts to bypass safeguards. When certain high-risk requests are detected, users may receive a response from Anthropic’s next-most-capable model, Claude Opus 4.8, rather than Fable 5.

Anthropic said the safeguards have been tuned conservatively and may sometimes block benign requests. According to the company, the fallback mechanism is triggered in less than 5% of sessions on average.

Claude Mythos 5 uses the same underlying model as Fable 5, but with some safeguards lifted in specific areas. Anthropic said it will initially deploy Mythos 5 through Project Glasswing, in collaboration with the US government, for a limited group of cyber defenders and critical software infrastructure providers.

The launch highlights a growing model governance approach in which access to frontier AI capabilities is tiered according to use case and risk. Anthropic said it plans to expand trusted access to Mythos 5 while continuing to refine safeguards for broader public use.

Why does it matter?

The release shows how frontier AI providers are increasingly linking capability deployment to access controls, model routing and domain-specific safeguards. As advanced systems become more useful for software engineering, cybersecurity and scientific research, companies face pressure to provide broad access while limiting misuse in dual-use areas. Anthropic’s split between Fable 5 and Mythos 5 reflects a wider governance question: who should receive access to the most capable AI systems, under what conditions, and with what oversight.

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