Digital business models Archives | Page 386 of 581

Google Drive adds AI video summaries

Google Drive is gaining a new AI-powered tool that allows Workspace users to summarise and interact with video content using Gemini, Google’s generative AI assistant.

Instead of manually skipping through videos, users can now click the ‘Ask Gemini’ button to get instant summaries, key highlights, or action items from uploaded recordings.

The tool builds on Gemini 2.5 Pro’s strong video analysis capabilities, which recently scored 84.8% on the VideoMME benchmark. Gemini’s side panel, already used for summarising documents and folders, can now handle natural language prompts like ‘Summarise this video’ or ‘List key points from this meeting’.

However, the feature only works in English and requires captions to be enabled by the Workspace admin.

Google is rolling out the feature across various Workspace plans, including Business Standard and Enterprise tiers, with access available through Drive’s overlay preview or a new browser tab.

Instead of switching between windows or scrubbing through videos, users can now save time by letting Gemini handle the heavy lifting.

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Copilot for Gaming now in testing on Xbox app for iOS and Android

Microsoft has begun rolling out the beta version of its new AI-powered tool, Copilot for Gaming, designed to enhance the gaming experience through personalised assistance. Available now in the Xbox app for iOS and Android, the feature lets users ask game-related questions and receive tailored responses based on their gaming history, achievements, and account data.

The AI assistant can provide tips to improve a gamer’s score, suggest games based on user preferences, and answer account-specific questions like subscription details or recent in-game milestones. It operates on a second screen to avoid disrupting gameplay and uses player activity and Bing search data to craft responses.

Initially available in English for players aged 18 and older, the beta spans over 50 countries, including the US, Canada, Brazil, Serbia, and Japan. Microsoft says more features are on the way, including personalised coaching and deeper in-game support, with plans to expand the rollout to additional regions in the future.

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Bitcoin’s future tied to political engagement, warns J.D. Vance

US Vice President J.D. Vance stressed the importance of political involvement for the crypto community during his speech at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.

He warned policymakers may ignore Bitcoin without ongoing activism despite its growing importance.

Vance praised the crypto community’s impact and urged continued momentum after the 2024 elections. He stressed that political decisions will shape Bitcoin’s future, so the industry must stay engaged with policymakers.

Highlighting Bitcoin’s potential strategic value, Vance referenced the government-backed Bitcoin Reserve launched under former President Donald Trump.

The US stance contrasts with China’s rejection of Bitcoin. J.D. Vance said that America should deepen its commitment to the cryptocurrency to secure a competitive edge globally.

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Telegram partners with Musk’s xAI

Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, is partnering with Telegram to bring its AI assistant, Grok, to the messaging platform’s more than one billion users.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that Grok will be integrated into Telegram’s apps and distributed directly through the service.

Instead of a simple tech integration, the arrangement includes a significant financial deal. Telegram is set to receive $300 million in cash and equity from xAI, along with half of the revenue from any xAI subscriptions sold through the platform. The agreement is expected to last one year.

The move mirrors Meta’s recent rollout of AI features on WhatsApp, which drew criticism from users concerned about the changing nature of private messaging.

Analysts like Hanna Kahlert of Midia Research argue that users still prefer using social platforms to connect with friends, and that adding AI tools could erode trust and shift focus away from what made these apps popular in the first place.

The partnership also links two controversial tech figures. Durov was arrested in France in 2024 over allegations that Telegram failed to curb criminal activity, though he denies obstructing law enforcement.

Meanwhile, Musk has been pushing into AI development after falling out with OpenAI, and is using xAI to rival industry giants. In March, he valued xAI at $80 billion after acquiring X, formerly known as Twitter.

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Salesforce turns to Google Cloud in AI race

Salesforce has entered a multibillion-dollar agreement with Google Cloud, committing to spend at least US$2.5 billion over the next seven years.

The deal enables Salesforce products—including customer-management tools, Agentforce AI assistants, and Data Cloud services—to run directly on Google’s infrastructure.

The partnership reflects a broader effort by both companies to strengthen their position in the growing generative AI market.

While Microsoft currently dominates this space by offering AI services to a significant portion of Fortune 500 firms, Salesforce and Google are seeking to expand their reach in AI-powered productivity and customer experience solutions.

By deepening integration with Google Cloud, Salesforce aims to give its enterprise customers access to more scalable and efficient AI services. The collaboration positions both firms to compete more aggressively with Microsoft, particularly in AI-driven business software and cloud solutions.

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Ripple calls for legal test on digital asset classification

Ripple has urged US regulators to define when a digital asset should no longer be considered a security. In a new letter to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, the firm responded to questions raised by Commissioner Hester Peirce on asset classification.

The move seeks greater clarity for market participants amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.

The company referenced its 2023 legal victory, where a court ruled XRP was not inherently a security. Ripple also cited a 2022 legal paper. The paper claims most fungible tokens on secondary markets lack ongoing obligations between buyers and issuers.

It proposed a two-part test to determine when a token becomes independent from its original investment contract.

Rip ple says a crypto asset stays a security only if promises remain and holders have enforceable rights. It warned against vague standards like ‘sufficient decentralisation,’ backing clearer criteria such as trading history and absence of centralised control.

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Luxembourg marks crypto companies as high risk for money laundering

Luxembourg has classified virtual asset service providers (VASPs) as high-risk for money laundering in its 2025 National Risk Assessment.

The report highlights concerns about the crypto industry’s exposure to financial crime, citing factors such as transaction volumes, client reach, and international operations.

The assessment builds on 2020 and 2022 reports that flagged crypto risks linked to their internet-based and cross-border nature. Meanwhile, the European Union is advancing regulation with the MiCA framework to harmonise rules across member states.

Several crypto firms have recently secured licenses to operate within the EU. However, some, like Tether, resist new stablecoin regulations and were delisted on major platforms.

Money laundering using cryptocurrencies remains a challenge worldwide. The incidents highlight ongoing concerns about illicit activity in the growing crypto market.

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Trump Media plans $2.5 billion Bitcoin treasury

Trump Media & Technology Group has announced plans to raise approximately $2.5 billion through a private placement. The aim is to create one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries.

The company operates Truth Social and Truth+. It intends to acquire significant Bitcoin holdings alongside its reported $759 million in cash and equivalents as of the first quarter of 2025.

Capital raising round comprises $1.5 billion in common stock and $1 billion in convertible notes, priced at a 35% premium. Transaction should conclude by 29 May, with funds used to buy Bitcoin and grow company’s crypto holdings.

Trump Media’s CEO, Devin Nunes, described Bitcoin as a ‘financial freedom’ asset and a strategic hedge against what he referred to as ‘harassment and discrimination’ by traditional financial institutions.

The company plans to integrate its Bitcoin strategy across its platforms, including subscription fees and a potential utility token.

The development places Trump Media among few public companies investing heavily in Bitcoin, reflecting a rising trend of corporates adopting crypto in their treasury.

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PREVAIL to offer advanced Edge AI chip design tools across Europe

The European Union’s PREVAIL project is preparing to open its Edge AI services to external users in June 2025.

Coordinated by Europe’s top research and technology organisations, the initiative offers a shared, multi-hub infrastructure designed to speed up the development and commercialisation of next-generation Edge AI technologies.

Through its platform, European designers will gain access to advanced chip prototyping capabilities and full design support using standard commercial tools.

PREVAIL combines commercial foundry processes with advanced technology modules developed in partner clean rooms. These include embedded non-volatile memories (eNVM), silicon photonics, and 3D integration technologies such as silicon interposers and packaging innovations.

Initial demonstrators, already in development with industry partners, will serve as test cases to ensure compatibility with a broad range of applications and future scalability.

From July 2025, a €20 million EU-funded call under the ‘Low Power Edge AI’ initiative will help selected customers co-finance their access to the platform. Whether supported by EU funds or independently financed, users will be able to design chips using one of four shared platforms.

The consortium has also set up a user interface team to manage technical support and provide access to Process Design Kits and Design Rule Manuals.

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El Salvador removes Bitcoin mandate

El Salvador has officially amended its Bitcoin law, making acceptance of the cryptocurrency voluntary rather than mandatory.

The move reverses a key element of the 2021 law that made Bitcoin legal tender alongside the US dollar.

The reform was approved by Congress on 29 January, with 55 votes in favour and just two against. The chamber is currently dominated by President Nayib Bukele’s New Ideas Party.

According to officials, the amendment responds to requirements set by the International Monetary Fund as part of a US$1.4 billion loan agreement reached in December 2024.

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