Digital business models Archives | Page 108 of 549

EU moves to extend child abuse detection rules

The European Commission has proposed extending the Interim Regulation that allows online service providers to voluntarily detect and report child sexual abuse instead of facing a legal gap once the current rules expire.

These measures would preserve existing safeguards while negotiations on permanent legislation continue.

The Interim Regulation enables providers of certain communication services to identify and remove child sexual abuse material under a temporary exemption from e-Privacy rules.

Without an extension beyond April 2026, voluntary detection would have to stop, making it easier for offenders to share illegal material and groom children online.

According to the Commission, proactive reporting by platforms has played a critical role for more than fifteen years in identifying abuse and supporting criminal investigations. Extending the interim framework until April 2028 is intended to maintain these protections until long-term EU rules are agreed.

The proposal now moves to the European Parliament and the Council, with the Commission urging swift agreement to ensure continued protection for children across the Union.

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Mac users lose ChatGPT voice access in 2026

OpenAI has confirmed that Voice interactions will stop working in the ChatGPT macOS app as of 15 January 2026, affecting users who rely on spoken conversations instead of typing.

The company states that the change is part of a broader effort to streamline voice experiences across its platforms.

Currently, the Mac app allows hands-free, real-time conversations with ChatGPT. After the deadline, voice functionality will remain accessible through chatgpt.com, as well as on iOS, Android, and the Windows app. OpenAI stresses that no other macOS features will be removed.

According to OpenAI, recent updates have already brought Voice mode closer to standard chat interactions on mobile and the web, allowing users to review earlier messages and engage with visual content while speaking.

The company has suggested that the existing macOS Voice feature may not support its next-generation approach.

Mac users will be able to continue using Voice mode until mid-January 2026. After this date, voice-based interactions will require switching to other supported platforms until a potential macOS update is introduced.

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Civil servants and AI will work together in 2050

Public administrations worldwide are facing unprecedented change as AI reshapes automation, procurement, and decision-making. Governments must stay flexible, open, and resilient, preparing for multiple futures with foresight, continuous learning, and adaptability.

During World Futures Day, experts from the SPARK-AI Alliance and representatives from governments, academia, and the private sector explored four potential scenarios for public service in 2050.

Scenarios ranged from human-centred administrations that reinforce trust, to algorithmic bureaucracies focused on oversight, agentic administrations with semi-autonomous AI actors, and data-eroded futures that require renewed governance of poor-quality data.

Key insights highlighted the growing importance of anticipatory capacity, positioning AI as a ‘co-worker’ rather than a replacement, and emphasising the need to safeguard public trust.

Civil servants will increasingly focus on ethical reasoning, interpretation of automated processes, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, supported by robust accountability and transparent data governance.

The SPARK-AI Alliance has launched a Working Group on the Future of Work in the Public Sector to help governments anticipate and prepare for change. Its focus will be on building resilient public administrations, evolving civil-service roles, and maintaining trust in AI-enabled governance.

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EU sets course for digital euro adoption

The Council of the European Union has agreed on its negotiating position on legislation enabling a digital euro while reinforcing the legal status of euro cash.

An initiative that aims to strengthen the resilience of the EU payments system and support strategic autonomy by ensuring public money remains central in a rapidly digitising economy.

Under the proposal, the digital euro would complement cash, rather than replace it, offering a public payment option backed by the European Central Bank. It would function both online and offline, allow payments with a high degree of privacy, and operate in conjunction with private cards and applications.

Limits on holdings would apply to reduce risks to financial stability, with core services provided free to consumers.

The Council position also clarifies compensation rules for payment service providers and requires fair access to mobile device hardware and software. Interchange and merchant fees would be capped during a transitional period, with future pricing linked to actual operational costs.

At the same time, the Council has moved to strengthen the role of cash by safeguarding acceptance across the € area and guaranteeing access for citizens.

Member states would be required to monitor cash availability and prepare contingency measures for situations where electronic payments are disrupted.

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Dubai charities open doors to crypto donations

Dubai charities now accept donations in cryptocurrencies and virtual assets through a new service launched by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department. The move signals a shift towards modernised fundraising channels across the emirate.

The service supports Dubai’s wider digital transformation strategy and aims to improve efficiency within the charitable donation ecosystem. Donors can now use globally recognised payment options, highlighting the rising use of virtual assets as valid financial tools.

Regulation remains central to the initiative, with IACAD introducing clear policies to protect donors, enhance transparency, and ensure compliance with approved standards. Introductory workshops have also been organised to guide charities through operational and procedural requirements.

Officials stressed that charities need preliminary authorisation to ensure donations are processed securely and in accordance with regulations. The initiative further reinforces Dubai’s ambition to lead in innovative and technology-driven humanitarian work.

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Major IBM training programme to boost India’s AI, cybersecurity and quantum skills

Technology giant IBM has announced a major education initiative to skill 5 million people in India by 2030 in frontier areas such as AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing.

The programme will be delivered via IBM’s SkillsBuild ecosystem, which offers over 1,000 courses and has already reached more than 16 million learners globally.

The initiative will span students and adult learners across schools, universities and vocational training ecosystems, with partnerships planned with bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to integrate hands-on learning, curriculum modules, faculty training, hackathons and internships.

IBM also plans to strengthen foundational AI skills at the school level by co-developing curricula, teaching resources and explainers to embed computational thinking and responsible AI concepts early in education.

The CEO of IBM has described India as having the talent and ambition to be a global leader in AI and quantum technologies, with broader access to these skills seen as vital for future economic competitiveness and innovation.

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Japan’s mobile competition law forces Apple to adjust iOS app payments

Apple has announced changes to how iOS apps are distributed and monetised in Japan, bringing its platform into compliance with the country’s Mobile Software Competition Act. The updates introduce new options for alternative app marketplaces and payment methods for digital goods.

Under the revised framework, developers in Japan can distribute apps outside the App Store and offer alternative payment processing alongside the In-App Purchase. Apple said the changes aim to meet legal requirements while limiting new risks linked to fraud, malware, and data misuse.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. The measures are aimed at protecting users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. Apple said the measures aim to protect users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Additional controls are being rolled out with iOS 26.2, including browser and search engine choice screens, new default app settings, and expanded developer APIs. Apple said it will continue engaging with Japanese regulators as the new framework takes effect.

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UK report quantifies rapid advances in frontier AI capabilities

For the first time, the UK has published a detailed, evidence-based assessment of frontier AI capabilities. The Frontier AI Trends Report draws on two years of structured testing across areas including cybersecurity, software engineering, chemistry, and biology.

The findings show rapid progress in technical performance. Success rates on apprentice-level cyber tasks rose from under 9% in 2023 to around 50% in 2025, while models also completed expert-level cyber challenges previously requiring a decade of experience.

Safeguards designed to limit misuse are also improving, according to the report. Red-team testing found that the time required to identify universal jailbreaks increased from minutes to several hours between model generations, representing an estimated forty-fold improvement in resistance.

The analysis highlights advances beyond cybersecurity. AI systems now complete hour-long software engineering tasks more than 40% of the time, while biology and chemistry models outperform PhD-level researchers in controlled knowledge tests and support non-experts in laboratory-style workflows.

While the report avoids policy recommendations, UK officials say it strengthens transparency around advanced AI systems. The government plans to continue investing in evaluation science through the AI Security Institute, supporting independent testing and international collaboration.

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Strong AI memory demand boosts Micron outlook into 2026

Micron Technology reported record first-quarter revenue for fiscal 2026, supported by strong pricing, a favourable product mix and operating leverage. The company said tight supply conditions and robust AI-related demand are expected to continue into 2026.

The Boise-based chipmaker generated $13.64 billion in quarterly revenue, led by record sales across DRAM, NAND, high-bandwidth memory and data centres. Chief executive Sanjay Mehrotra said structural shifts are driving rising demand for advanced memory in AI workloads.

Margins expanded sharply, setting Micron apart from peers such as Broadcom and Oracle, which reported margin pressure in recent earnings. Chief financial officer Mark Murphy said gross margin is expected to rise further in the second quarter, supported by higher prices, lower costs and a favourable revenue mix.

Analysts highlighted improving fundamentals and longer-term visibility. Baird said DRAM and NAND pricing could rise sequentially as Micron finalises long-term supply agreements, while capital expenditure plans for fiscal 2026 were viewed as manageable and focused on expanding high-margin HBM capacity.

Retail sentiment also turned strongly positive following the earnings release, with Micron shares jumping around 8 per cent in after-hours trading. The stock is on track to finish the year as the best-performing semiconductor company in the S&P 500, reinforcing confidence in its AI-driven growth trajectory.

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Natural language meets robotics in MIT’s on-demand object creation system

MIT researchers have developed a speech-to-reality system that allows users to create physical objects by describing them aloud, combining generative AI with robotic assembly. The system can produce simple furniture and decorative items in minutes using modular components.

The workflow translates spoken instructions into a digital design using a large language model and 3D generative AI. The design is then broken into voxel-based parts and adapted to real-world fabrication constraints before being assembled by a robotic arm.

Researchers have demonstrated the system by producing stools, shelves, chairs, tables and small sculptures. The approach aims to reduce manufacturing complexity by enabling rapid construction without specialised knowledge of 3D modelling or robotics.

Unlike traditional fabrication methods such as 3D printing, which can take hours or days, the modular assembly process operates quickly and allows objects to be disassembled and reused. The team is exploring stronger connection methods and extensions to larger-scale robotic systems.

The research was presented at the ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication in November. The team said the work points toward more accessible, flexible and sustainable ways to produce physical objects using natural language and AI-driven design.

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