Digital business models

OpenAI ads in ChatGPT signal a shift in conversational advertising

The AI firm, OpenAI, plans to introduce advertising within ChatGPT for logged-in adult users, marking a structural shift in how brands engage audiences through conversational interfaces.

Ads would be clearly labelled and positioned alongside responses, aiming to replace interruption-driven formats with context-aware brand suggestions delivered during moments of active user intent.

Industry executives describe conversational AI advertising as a shift from exposure to earned presence, in which brands must provide clarity or utility to justify inclusion.

Experts warn that trust remains fragile, as AI recommendations carry the weight of personal consultation, and undisclosed commercial influence could prompt rapid user disengagement instead of passive ad avoidance.

Regulators and marketers alike highlight risks linked to dark patterns, algorithmic framing and subtle manipulation within AI-mediated conversations.

As conversational systems begin to shape discovery and decision-making, media planning is expected to shift toward intent-led engagement, authority-building, and transparency, reshaping digital advertising economics beyond search rankings and impression-based buying.

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The House of Lords backs social media ban for under-16s

The upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom,, the House of Lords has voted in favour of banning under-16s from social media platforms, backing an amendment to the government’s schools bill by 261 votes to 150. The proposal would require ministers to define restricted platforms and enforce robust age verification within a year.

Political momentum for tighter youth protections has grown after Australia’s similar move, with cross-party support emerging at Westminster. More than 60 Labour MPs have joined Conservatives in urging a UK ban, increasing pressure ahead of a Commons vote.

Supporters argue that excessive social media use contributes to declining mental health, online radicalisation, and classroom disruption. Critics warn that a blanket ban could push teenagers toward less regulated platforms and limit positive benefits, urging more vigorous enforcement of existing safety rules.

The government has rejected the amendment and launched a three-month consultation on age checks, curfews, and curbing compulsive online behaviour. Ministers maintain that further evidence is needed before introducing new legal restrictions.

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Greece selected for Binance’s EU crypto approval

Binance has applied for a pan-European MiCA licence in Greece, positioning the country as a key regulatory gateway into the EU. The MiCA framework harmonises oversight across member states, enabling licensed firms to operate EU-wide under a single approval.

Contrary to expectations that Malta or Latvia would host the filing, the exchange selected Athens, where it has already established a holding company. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission is reportedly fast-tracking the review with support from leading accounting firms.

Company representatives said the MiCA regime offers legal clarity, regulatory certainty, and a framework that supports responsible innovation. Approval could lead to Binance expanding its corporate presence in Greece, including the opening of new offices and local staffing.

Regulatory urgency is intensifying as the July deadline approaches, particularly for firms operating across multiple EU jurisdictions. A successful application would strengthen Binance’s European strategy, expanding market access and reinforcing regulatory compliance.

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Ransomware attack on Under Armour leads to massive customer data exposure

Under Armour is facing growing scrutiny following the publication of customer data linked to a ransomware attack disclosed in late 2025.

According to breach verification platform Have I Been Pwned, a dataset associated with the incident appeared on a hacking forum in January, exposing information tied to tens of millions of customers.

The leaked material reportedly includes 72 million email addresses alongside names, dates of birth, location details and purchase histories. Security analysts warn that such datasets pose risks that extend far beyond immediate exposure, particularly when personal identifiers and behavioural data are combined.

Experts note that verified customer information linked to a recognised brand can enable compelling phishing and fraud campaigns powered by AI tools.

Messages referencing real transactions or purchase behaviour can blur the boundary between legitimate communication and malicious activity, increasing the likelihood of delayed victimisation.

The incident has also led to legal action against Under Armour, with plaintiffs alleging failures in safeguarding sensitive customer information. The case highlights how modern data breaches increasingly generate long-term consequences rather than immediate technical disruption.

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AI Glasses Impact Grants by Meta aim to boost social projects

Meta has launched a new AI Glasses Impact Grants programme to support US-based organisations using its AI-powered glasses for social and economic benefit. The initiative aims to scale existing projects and encourage new applications through financial support and technical access.

Grant recipients will be selected under two tracks. Accelerator Grants target organisations already using Meta’s AI glasses to expand their impact, while Catalyst Grants support new use cases developed with the Wearables Device Access Toolkit.

More than 30 organisations will receive funding, with awards ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 depending on project scope. Successful applicants will also join the Meta Wearables Community, a network of developers, researchers, and innovators focused on advancing wearable technology.

Practical use cases already include agricultural monitoring, sports injury documentation, and film education. Farmers use the glasses for real-time crop diagnostics, athletic trainers capture injury data hands-free, and film students record footage and pre-visualise shoots more easily.

Meta says the grants are designed to help organisations turn experimental ideas into scalable solutions. The company aims to expand the real-world impact of its AI glasses across education, accessibility, and community development.

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New AI method boosts reasoning without extra training

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have introduced a technique that improves AI reasoning without requiring additional training data. Called Test-Time Matching, the approach enhances AI performance by enabling dynamic model adaptation.

The method addresses a persistent weakness in multimodal AI systems, which often struggle to interpret unfamiliar combinations of images and text. Traditional evaluation metrics rely on isolated comparisons that can obscure deeper reasoning capabilities.

By replacing these with a group-based matching approach, the researchers uncovered hidden model potential and achieved markedly stronger results.

Test-Time Matching lets AI systems refine predictions through repeated self-correction. Tests on SigLIP-B16 showed substantial gains, with performance surpassing larger models, including GPT-4.1, on key reasoning benchmarks.

The findings suggest that smarter evaluation and adaptation strategies may unlock powerful reasoning abilities even in smaller models. Researchers say the approach could speed AI deployment across robotics, healthcare, and autonomous systems.

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Adobe upgrades Premiere and After Effects with new AI features

New AI-powered upgrades have been unveiled for video creators, expanding tools in Premiere, After Effects, and Firefly Boards ahead of the Sundance Film Festival. The updates, introduced by Adobe, aim to streamline post-production, improve collaboration, and enhance creative control.

Premiere now offers AI-assisted object selection, redesigned shape masks, and tighter integration with Firefly Boards. Editors can brainstorm ideas, explore visuals, and move assets into workflows using AI models from Adobe, Google, OpenAI, and others.

After Effects is also receiving major updates, including native 3D parametric meshes, access to more than 1,300 Substance 3D materials, improved vector workflows, and expanded variable-font animation tools. The additions are designed to support more advanced motion design and visual storytelling.

Alongside the product upgrades, Adobe announced an extra $10 million in funding through its Film & TV Fund to support emerging filmmakers from underserved communities. New partners include Rideback RISE and Dimz Inc., with existing collaborations continuing.

According to the Sundance Institute, 85% of films submitted to the 2026 festival were created using Creative Cloud tools. Adobe said it will continue investing in AI-driven workflows, professional training, and industry partnerships to support the next generation of storytellers.

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AI tools reshape legal research and court efficiency in India

AI is rapidly reshaping India’s legal sector, as law firms and research platforms deploy conversational tools to address mounting caseloads and administrative strain.

SCC Online has launched an AI-powered legal research assistant that enables lawyers to ask complex questions in plain language, replacing rigid keyword-based searches and significantly reducing research time.

The need for speed and accuracy is pressing. India’s courts face a backlog exceeding 46 million cases, driven by procedural delays, documentation gaps, and limited judicial capacity.

Legal professionals routinely lose hours navigating precedents, limiting time for strategy, analysis, and client engagement.

Law firms are responding by embedding AI into everyday workflows. At Trilegal, AI supports drafting, document management, analytics, and collaboration, enabling lawyers to prioritise judgment and case strategy.

Secure AI platforms process high-volume legal material in minutes, improving productivity while preserving confidentiality and accuracy.

Beyond private practice, AI adoption is reshaping court operations and public access to justice. Real-time transcription, multilingual translation, and automated document analysis are shortening timelines and improving comprehension.

Incremental efficiency gains are beginning to translate into faster proceedings and broader legal accessibility.

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Siri to receive major AI upgrade with powerful enhancements

Apple is reportedly preparing a major overhaul of Siri by replacing the current system with an AI chatbot powered by Google’s Gemini technology. The change could mark the most significant upgrade to the assistant since its original launch.

Internal reports suggest the project aims to make Siri more conversational, capable of handling complex requests and sustained dialogue, rather than simple commands.

Future versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are expected to introduce the new system. Users would still activate Siri with familiar voice commands or device buttons, regardless of the underlying technology.

Improved understanding of personal data could allow the assistant to manage calendars, photos, files, and settings more intuitively. Content creation features such as email drafting and note summarisation are also expected.

Growing competition from AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini has increased pressure on Apple to modernise its digital assistant. Reports suggest a formal reveal could take place at a future developer event, followed by a broader rollout with upcoming iPhone releases.

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AI expands healthcare access in Africa

Health care in Africa is set to benefit from AI through a new initiative by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI. Horizon1000 aims to expand AI-powered support across 1,000 primary care clinics in Rwanda by 2028.

Severe shortages of health workers in Sub-Saharan Africa have limited access to quality care, with the region facing a shortfall of nearly six million professionals. AI tools will assist doctors and nurses by handling administrative tasks and providing clinical guidance.

Rwanda has launched an AI Health Intelligence Centre to utilise limited resources better and improve patient outcomes. The initiative will deploy AI in communities and homes, ensuring support reaches beyond clinic walls.

Experts believe AI represents a major medical breakthrough, comparable to vaccines and antibiotics. By helping health workers focus on patient care, the technology could reduce preventable deaths and transform health systems across low- and middle-income countries.

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