Digital business models

UAE launches first AI clinical platform

A Pakistani American surgeon has launched what is described as the UAE’s first AI clinical intelligence platform across the country’s public healthcare system. The rollout was announced in Dubai in partnership with Emirates Health Services.

Boston Health AI, founded by Dr Adil Haider, introduced the platform known as Amal at a major health expo in Dubai. The system conducts structured medical interviews in Arabic, English and Urdu before consultations, generating summaries for physicians.

The company said the technology aims to reduce documentation burdens and cognitive load on clinicians in the UAE. By organising patient histories and symptoms in advance, Amal is designed to support clinical decision making and improve workflow efficiency in Dubai and other emirates.

Before entering the UAE market, Boston Health AI deployed its platform in Pakistan across more than 50 healthcare facilities. The firm states that over 30,000 patient interactions were recorded in Pakistan, where a local team continues to develop and refine the AI system.

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Quebec examines AI debt collection practices

Quebec’s financial regulator has opened a review into how AI tools are being used to collect consumer debt across the province. The Autorité des marchés financiers is examining whether automated systems comply with governance, privacy and fairness standards in Quebec.

Draft guidelines released in 2025 require institutions in Quebec to maintain registries of AI systems, conduct bias testing and ensure human oversight. Public consultations closed in November, with regulators stressing that automation must remain explainable and accountable.

Many debt collection platforms now rely on predictive analytics to tailor the timing, tone and frequency of messages sent to borrowers in Quebec. Regulators are assessing whether such personalisation risks undue pressure or opaque decision making.

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Security flaws expose ‘vibe-coding’ AI platform Orchids to easy hacking

BBC technology reporting reveals that Orchids, a popular ‘vibe-coding’ platform designed to let users build applications through simple text prompts and AI-assisted generation, contains serious, unresolved security weaknesses that could let a malicious actor breach accounts and tamper with code or data.

A cybersecurity researcher demonstrated that the platform’s authentication and input handling mechanisms can be exploited, allowing unauthorised access to projects and potentially enabling attackers to insert malicious code or exfiltrate sensitive information.

Because Orchids abstracts conventional coding into natural-language prompts and shared project spaces, the risk surface for such vulnerabilities is larger than in traditional development environments.

The report underscores broader concerns in the AI developer ecosystem: as AI-driven tools lower technical barriers, they also bring new security challenges when platforms rush to innovate without fully addressing fundamental safeguards such as secure authentication, input validation and permission controls.

Experts cited in the article urge industry and regulators to prioritise robust security testing and clear accountability when deploying AI-assisted coding systems.

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Five lesser-known SPACs tapping AI, quantum and digital asset innovation

In a recent episode of Ticker Take, financial analysts spotlight five SPACs that fly under the radar but are linked with next-generation tech sectors such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence infrastructure, tokenised assets and genomics/health tech.

The list reflects renewed investor interest in SPACs as an alternative route to public markets for early-stage innovators outside mainstream IPO pipelines.

Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp (CHAC) is targeting Xanadu Quantum Technologies, a Canadian quantum computing company planning to go public via SPAC, aiming to accelerate quantum hardware development.

Churchill Capital Corp X (CCCX) is set to merge with Infleqtion, a firm building quantum computers and precision sensing systems, in an ~$1.8 billion deal.

Cantor Equity Partners II (CEPT) is associated with Securitize, a digital securities platform enabling regulated tokenisation of real-world assets (including potentially AI/tech-linked assets).

Willow Lane Acquisition (WLAC) is linked to Boost Run, an AI-enabled delivery-optimization platform, offering exposure to logistics tech with generative and predictive capabilities.

Perceptive Capital Solutions Corp (PCSC) is connected to Freenome, a company focused on AI-driven early cancer detection and genomics, blending AI with life-science innovation.

Together, these SPAC deals illustrate how blank-check vehicles are resurfacing in markets for AI, quantum and digital transformation, offering investors early access to companies that might otherwise take longer to reach public markets.

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AI startup raises $100m to predict human behaviour

Artificial intelligence startup Simile has raised $100m to develop a model designed to predict human behaviour in commercial and corporate contexts. The funding round was led by Index Ventures with participation from Bain Capital Ventures and other investors.

The company is building a foundation model trained on interviews, transaction records and behavioural science research. Its AI simulations aim to forecast customer purchases and anticipate questions analysts may raise during earnings calls.

Simile says the technology could offer an alternative to traditional focus groups and market testing. Retail trials have included using the system to guide decisions on product placement and inventory.

Founded by Stanford-affiliated researchers, the startup recently emerged from stealth after months of development. Prominent AI figures, including Fei-Fei Li and Andrej Karpathy, joined the funding round as it seeks to scale predictive decision-making tools.

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AI adoption reshapes UK scale-up hiring policy framework

AI adoption is prompting UK scale-ups to recalibrate workforce policies. Survey data indicates that 33% of founders anticipate job cuts within the next year, while 58% are already delaying or scaling back recruitment as automation expands. The prevailing approach centres on cautious workforce management rather than immediate restructuring.

Instead of large-scale redundancies, many firms are prioritising hiring freezes and reduced vacancy postings. This policy choice allows companies to contain costs and integrate AI gradually, limiting workforce growth while assessing long-term operational needs.

The trend aligns with broader labour market caution in the UK, where vacancies have cooled amid rising business costs and technological transition. Globally, the technology sector has experienced significant layoffs in 2026, reinforcing concerns about how AI-driven efficiency strategies are reshaping employment models.

At the same time, workforce readiness remains a structural policy challenge. Only a small proportion of founders consider the UK workforce prepared for widespread AI adoption, underscoring calls for stronger investment in skills development and reskilling frameworks as automation capabilities advance.

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Ethical governance at centre of Africa AI talks

Ghana is set to host the Pan African AI and Innovation Summit 2026 in Accra, reinforcing its ambition to shape Africa’s digital future. The gathering will centre on ethical artificial intelligence, youth empowerment and cross-sector partnerships.

Advocates argue that AI systems must be built on local data to reflect African realities. Many global models rely on datasets developed outside the continent, limiting contextual relevance. Prioritising indigenous data, they say, will improve outcomes across agriculture, healthcare, education and finance.

National institutions are central to that effort. The National Information Technology Agency and the Data Protection Commission have strengthened digital infrastructure and privacy oversight.

Leaders now call for a shift from foundational regulation to active enablement. Expanded cloud capacity, high-performance computing and clearer ethical AI guidelines are seen as critical next steps.

Supporters believe coordinated governance and infrastructure investment can generate skilled jobs and position Ghana as a continental hub for responsible AI innovation.

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Tokyo semiconductor profits surge amid AI boom

Major semiconductor companies in Tokyo have reported strong profit growth for the April to December period, buoyed by rising demand for AI related chips. Several firms also raised their full year forecasts as investment in AI infrastructure accelerates.

Kioxia expects net profit to climb sharply for the year ending in March, citing demand from data centres in Tokyo and devices equipped with on device AI. Advantest and Tokyo Electron also upgraded their outlooks, pointing to sustained orders linked to AI applications.

Industry data suggest the global chip market will continue expanding, with World Semiconductor Trade Statistics projecting record revenues in 2026. Growth is being driven largely by spending on AI servers and advanced semiconductor manufacturing.

In Tokyo, Rapidus has reportedly secured significant private investment as it prepares to develop next generation chips. However, not all companies in Japan share the optimism, with Screen Holdings forecasting lower profits due to upfront capacity investments.

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AI visibility becomes crucial in college search

Growing numbers of students are using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT to guide their college search, reshaping how institutions attract applicants. Surveys show nearly half of high school students now use artificial intelligence tools during the admissions process.

Unlike traditional search engines, generative AI provides direct answers rather than website links, keeping users within conversational platforms. That shift has prompted universities to focus on ‘AI visibility’, ensuring their information is accurately surfaced by chatbots.

Institutions are refining website content through answer engine optimisation to improve how AI systems interpret their programmes and values. Clear, updated data is essential, as generative models can produce errors or outdated responses.

College leaders see both opportunity and risk in the trend. While AI can help families navigate complex choices, advisers warn that trust, accuracy and the human element remain critical in higher education decision-making.

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AI governance becomes urgent for mortgage lenders

Mortgage lenders face growing pressure to govern AI as regulatory uncertainty persists across the United States. States and federal authorities continue to contest oversight, but accountability for how AI is used in underwriting, servicing, marketing, and fraud detection already rests with lenders.

Effective AI risk management requires more than policy statements. Mortgage lenders need operational governance that inventories AI tools, documents training data, and assigns accountability for outcomes, including bias monitoring and escalation when AI affects borrower eligibility, pricing, or disclosures.

Vendor risk has become a central exposure. Many technology contracts predate AI scrutiny and lack provisions on audit rights, explainability, and data controls, leaving lenders responsible when third-party models fail regulatory tests or transparency expectations.

Leading US mortgage lenders are using staged deployments, starting with lower-risk use cases such as document processing and fraud detection, while maintaining human oversight for high-impact decisions. Incremental rollouts generate performance and fairness evidence that regulators increasingly expect.

Regulatory pressure is rising as states advance AI rules and federal authorities signal the development of national standards. Even as boundaries are debated, lenders remain accountable, making early governance and disciplined scaling essential.

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