Digital business models Archives | Page 43 of 567

Galaxy S26 series brings powerful AI and privacy features

Samsung Electronics has unveiled the Galaxy S26 series, featuring advanced AI experiences, powerful performance, and an industry-leading camera system designed to simplify everyday smartphone tasks.

The series, which includes the Galaxy S26, S26+, and S26 Ultra, handles complex processes in the background, allowing users to focus on results rather than device operations.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra introduces the world’s first built-in Privacy Display, a redesigned chipset, and improved thermal management. Together, these upgrades enhance AI performance, graphics, and CPU efficiency, while ensuring faster, cooler, and more reliable operation throughout the day.

Photography and videography are also upgraded with wider apertures, Nightography Video, Super Steady video, and AI-powered editing tools that make professional-quality content accessible to all users.

Galaxy AI streamlines daily experiences by proactively suggesting actions, organising information, and automating tasks. Features such as Now Nudge, Now Brief, Circle to Search, and upgraded Bixby allow users to interact naturally with their devices.

Integrated AI agents, including Gemini and Perplexity, support multi-step tasks across apps, from booking services to advanced searches, all with minimal input.

Samsung has embedded multiple layers of security and privacy in the Galaxy S26 series. From AI-powered Call Screening and Privacy Alerts to Knox Vault, Knox Matrix, and post-quantum cryptography, users can control data access and protect personal information.

With long-term security updates, seamless software, and Galaxy Buds4 integration, the S26 series aims to combine performance, convenience, and safety in a single, intuitive device.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Uni.lu expert urges schools to embrace AI

AI should be integrated into classrooms in Luxembourg rather than avoided, according to Gilbert Busana of the University of Luxembourg. Speaking to RTL Today in Luxembourg, he said ignoring AI would be a disservice to pupils and teachers alike.

Busana argued that AI should be taught both as a standalone subject and across disciplines in Luxembourg schools. Clear guidelines are needed to define when and how pupils may use AI, alongside transparency about its role in assignments.

He stressed that developing AI literacy in Luxembourg is essential to protect critical thinking. Assessment methods may shift away from focusing solely on final outputs towards evaluating the learning process itself.

Teachers in Luxembourg are increasingly becoming coaches rather than simple transmitters of knowledge. Busana said continuous professional training and collaboration within schools in Luxembourg will be vital as AI reshapes education.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI misuse in online scams involving OpenAI models

OpenAI has reported new instances of its models being exploited in online scams and coordinated information campaigns. The company detailed actions to remove offending accounts and strengthen safeguards, highlighting misuse in fraud and deceptive content creation.

Several cases involved romance and ‘task’ scams, in which AI-generated messages built emotional engagement before requesting payment. One network, dubbed ‘Operation Date Bait,’ used chatbots to promote a fictitious dating service targeting young men in Indonesia.

Another, ‘Operation False Witness,’ saw actors posing as legal professionals to solicit advance fees for non-existent recovery services.

The report also outlined coordinated campaigns leveraging AI to produce articles, social media posts, and comments on geopolitical topics. In ‘Operation Trolling Stone,’ AI-generated content on a Russian arrest in Argentina was shared widely in multiple languages to mimic grassroots engagement.

OpenAI stressed that AI was sometimes used, but reach and account size largely drove engagement.

The company continues monitoring misuse and collaborates with partners and authorities to curb fraudulent or deceptive activity. Systems have been updated to decline policy-violating requests, and not all suspicious content online was generated using its tools.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Binance targets Greece as EU gateway

Efforts to secure a foothold in Europe have led Binance to select Greece as its entry point for operating under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework. A licence would let the exchange offer services across the European Union when the rules take effect in July 2026.

Strategic considerations outweigh speed in the decision. Co-chief executive Richard Teng cited workforce quality, safety, and long-term growth potential as decisive factors, even though several larger EU economies have already issued more licences.

Regulatory attention continues to shape the company’s trajectory. Founder Changpeng Zhao remains a shareholder, as leadership says reforms aim to make the platform one of the most regulated exchanges globally.

Expansion plans unfold amid turbulent market conditions. Bitcoin’s prices remain well below last year’s highs, dampening retail sentiment, yet institutional participation has remained resilient, supporting liquidity amid volatility.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Heineken appoints new technology chief to lead AI transformation

Brewer Heineken has appointed Romain Apert as chief digital and technology officer, placing AI at the forefront of efforts to simplify operations and drive transformation. He will join the company’s executive team on 15 May.

Apert joins from Mars, where he served as chief information officer for the petcare division, bringing extensive experience in global technology leadership. He succeeds Ronald den Elzen, who leaves the company after a 31-year career.

The appointment forms part of Heineken’s strategy to use technology and data to streamline processes and strengthen efficiency across the business. AI is expected to play a central role in supporting these ambitions.

Company leadership views digital innovation as essential to future growth as the brewer continues modernising its operations worldwide. The transition marks a new phase in embedding technology deeper into Heineken’s organisational strategy.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Vietnamese AI firm Namitech provides live translation support at Nikkei Digital Forum in Asia 2026

At the Nikkei Digital Forum in Asia 2026, held in Vietnam, local technology company Namitech showcased its AI-powered translation platform to deliver real-time language support for delegates, speakers and international attendees.

The system aimed to automatically translate speeches and discussions across languages such as Vietnamese, English and Japanese, enhancing accessibility and communication in a multilingual business context.

Namitech’s AI solution combines speech-to-text, natural language processing and translation models to provide near-instant interpretation, reducing reliance on traditional human interpreters and lowering language barriers at high-profile forums.

Organisers and participants highlighted the convenience and effectiveness of the tool, noting smoother engagement for non-native speakers and more inclusive participation.

The deployment reflects broader regional interest in AI-driven language technologies to support business, diplomacy and cross-border collaboration in Asia.

It also highlights Vietnam’s growing role in domestic AI development and its integration into international platforms, aligning with efforts to adopt digital tools that facilitate global dialogue and economic integration.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger urges playful approach to AI coding

Peter Steinberger, creator of the viral AI agent OpenClaw and now at OpenAI, urged developers to approach AI experimentation with curiosity rather than rigid plans. On the Builders Unscripted podcast, he said progress often comes from exploration rather than expertise.

He said OpenClaw began without a roadmap. Early tests included a WhatsApp integration he paused, expecting major labs to build similar tools. When that did not happen, he developed his own prototype and refined it through real-world use.

Using the tool in low-connectivity environments helped clarify its value. Through trial and iteration, he observed how modern AI models can generate workable solutions without explicit programming, reshaping how developers think about problem-solving and workflows.

He cautioned that coding with AI is a skill that requires practice. Comparing it to learning guitar, Steinberger said early frustration is common, but persistence leads to improved intuition and efficiency over time.

Steinberger argued that developers who focus on solving problems and creating useful tools will remain in demand. Treating AI as a collaborative instrument rather than a shortcut, he said, is essential in a rapidly shifting technology landscape.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AT&T data breach settlement wins preliminary approval in $177 million deal

A federal judge in Texas has preliminarily approved a $177 million settlement resolving claims that AT&T failed to safeguard consumer data in two separate breaches. The company denies wrongdoing but agreed to establish compensation funds covering affected customers nationwide.

The agreement creates two non-reversionary funds: $149 million for individuals whose personal data appeared on the dark web, and $28 million for customers whose call and text logs were accessed. It covers a March 2024 breach and a separate incident between May 2022 and early 2023.

Eligible class members may submit claims for cash payments, with amounts depending on the number of valid submissions, and may also receive up to 24 months of credit monitoring. The deadline to opt out or object is 17 October 2025, with a final approval hearing set for 3 December 2025.

Legal and administrative costs, attorneys’ fees, and service awards will be paid from the settlement funds. The case resolves claims brought on behalf of all living US residents whose data was exposed in the two AT&T breaches.

The settlement follows other recent legal challenges facing AT&T, including class actions filed by New York pensioners alleging the company misled investors about the environmental impact of its lead-sheathed cables.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Italy orders Amazon to stop processing sensitive employee data after privacy ruling

The Italian data protection authority has ordered Amazon Italia Logistics to halt processing of sensitive employee data after investigators found that the company gathered details ranging from health conditions to union involvement.

Information about workers’ private lives and family members had also been collected, often retained for a decade through internal tracking systems rather than being limited to what labour rules in Italy allow.

Regulators discovered that some data originated from cameras positioned near restrooms and staff break areas, a practice that breached EU privacy standards.

The watchdog concluded that the company’s monitoring went far beyond what employers are permitted to compile when assessing staff performance or workplace needs.

Amazon responded by stressing that protecting employee information remains a priority and said that internal rules and training programmes are designed to ensure compliance. The company added that any findings from the Italian authority would prompt a review of its procedures instead of being dismissed.

An order that arrives as Amazon attempts to regain its lobby badges at the European Parliament.

Access was suspended in 2024 after senior representatives declined to attend hearings on warehouse working conditions, and opposition from MEPs continues to place pressure on Parliament President Roberta Metsola to reject reinstatement.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU moves to enforce digital fairness rules with stronger consumer oversight

Regulatory scrutiny of the EU’s digital fairness framework is set to begin on 1 July as the European Commission moves to tighten its supervision of online platforms.

An initiative that forms part of a broader effort to ensure stronger consumer protection across digital markets, with officials signalling stricter oversight of commercial practices that disadvantage users.

The Commission is preparing a major upgrade of its consumer protection framework, expected by December 2026.

The reforms aim to reinforce enforcement tools under the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation, allowing regulators to intervene more effectively when platforms breach fairness standards.

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law, has highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability as digital markets expand rapidly.

The forthcoming scrutiny focuses on ensuring that platforms respect transparency obligations, avoid manipulating users and provide fair conditions in online transactions.

Regulators seek to replace fragmented enforcement with a more coordinated model that reflects the increasingly cross-border nature of digital commerce.

Stronger consumer safeguards are becoming central to the digital agenda of the EU.

The next phase of reforms is expected to streamline investigations across member states and deliver more predictable outcomes for affected consumers, offering steadier enforcement instead of reactive measures taken after violations escalate.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!