Digital business models

M&S technology chief steps down after cyberattack

Marks & Spencer’s technology chief, Rachel Higham, has stepped down less than 18 months after joining the retailer from BT.

Her departure comes months after a cyberattack in April by Scattered Spider disrupted systems and cost the company around £300 million. Online operations, including click-and-collect, were temporarily halted before being gradually restored.

In a memo to staff, the company described Higham as a steady hand during a turbulent period and wished her well. M&S has said it does not intend to replace her role, leaving questions over succession directly.

The retailer expects part of the financial hit to be offset by insurance. It has declined to comment further on whether Higham will receive a payoff.

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California moves to regulate AI companion chatbots to protect minors

The California State Assembly passed SB 243, advancing legislation making the state the first in the USA to regulate AI companion chatbots. The bill, which aims to safeguard minors and vulnerable users, passed with bipartisan support and now heads to the state Senate for a final vote on Friday.

If signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, SB 243 would take effect on 1 January 2026. It would require companies like OpenAI, Replika, and Character.AI to implement safety protocols for AI systems that simulate human companionship.

The law would prohibit such chatbots from engaging in conversations involving suicidal ideation, self-harm, or sexually explicit content. For minors, platforms must provide recurring alerts every three hours, reminding them they interact with AI and encouraging breaks.

The bill also introduces annual transparency and reporting requirements, effective 1 July 2027. Users harmed by violations could seek damages of up to $1,000 per incident, injunctive relief and attorney’s fees.

The legislation follows the suicide of teen Adam Raine after troubling conversations with ChatGPT, and amid mounting scrutiny of AI’s impact on children. Lawmakers nationwide and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are increasing pressure on AI companies to bolster safeguards in the USA.

Though earlier versions of the bill included stricter requirements, like banning addictive engagement tactics, those provisions were removed. Still, backers say the final bill strikes a necessary balance between innovation and public safety.

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AI smart glasses give blind users new independence

Smart glasses powered by AI give people with vision loss new ways to navigate daily life, from cooking to crossing the street.

Users like Andrew Tutty in Ontario say the devices restore independence, helping with tasks such as identifying food or matching clothes. Others, like Emilee Schevers, rely on them to confirm traffic signals before crossing the road.

The AI glasses, developed by Meta, are cheaper than many other assistive devices, which can cost thousands. They connect to smartphones, using voice commands and apps like Be My Eyes to describe surroundings or link with volunteers.

Experts, however, caution that the glasses come with significant privacy concerns. Built-in cameras stream everything within view to large tech firms, raising questions about surveillance, data use and algorithmic reliability.

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Broadcom lands $10bn AI chip order

Broadcom has secured a $10 billion agreement to supply custom AI chips, with analysts pointing to OpenAI as the likely customer.

The US semiconductor firm announced the deal alongside better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, driven by growing demand for its ASICs. It forecast a strong fourth quarter as cloud providers seek alternatives to Nvidia, whose GPUs remain costly and supply-constrained.

Chief executive Hock Tan said Broadcom is collaborating with four potential new clients on chip development, adding to existing partnerships with major players such as Google and Meta.

The company recently introduced the Tomahawk Ultra and next-generation Jericho networking chips, further strengthening its position in the AI computing sector.

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Moncler Korea fined over customer data breach

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission has fined Moncler Korea 88 million won ($63,200) over a large-scale customer data breach.

The regulator said a cyberattack in December 2021 exposed the personal details of about 230,000 customers. Hackers gained access by compromising an administrator account and installing malware on the company’s servers.

The stolen information of the South Korean customers included purchase-related data, though names, dates of birth, emails and card numbers were not part of the leak.

According to officials, Moncler Korea only became aware of the breach a month later and delayed reporting it to both customers and the regulator.

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CoreWeave scales rapidly to meet AI growth

Nvidia-backed CoreWeave says peak AI investment is still far off, as demand for compute capacity from OpenAI, hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments continues to surge. CEO Michael Intrator said CoreWeave is rapidly scaling to meet soaring global GPU demand.

CoreWeave shares have fallen around 20% despite strong market interest over the past month. The decline follows a higher-than-expected Q2 net loss, $1 billion in capital expenditure, and a projected $500 million this quarter, raising debt concerns.

Since the IPO lockup expiry, insider stock sales have added to the downward pressure.

Intrator defended the company’s strategy, describing debt as the most efficient way to fund growth. Analysts warn CoreWeave shares could stay volatile, though strong AI infrastructure demand supports long-term optimism.

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BingX introduces world’s first AI-powered crypto trading tool

BingX, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 AI company, has unveiled BingX AI Master, the world’s first AI-powered crypto trading strategist. The tool makes trading more innovative and more accessible, using AI optimisation with strategies from five leading digital investors.

BingX AI Master guides users through the entire trading process, from generating ideas to executing trades and reviewing results. Key features include 24/7 strategy ideas, instant alerts, AI backtesting, dynamic orders, and transparent performance reviews.

BingX has introduced a trading competition with a 3,000,000 USDT prize pool to mark the launch. Users can compete directly against BingX AI Master, with additional rewards from task-based lucky draws, trading volume contests, and the AI 1v1 Arena.

Founded in 2018, BingX serves over 20 million users worldwide and offers a full suite of AI-driven trading tools. The company expands its AI portfolio with BingX AI Master and AI Bingo, reinforcing its role in AI-driven crypto trading.

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Meta and TikTok win court challenge over EU fee

Europe’s General Court has backed challenges by Meta Platforms and TikTok against an EU supervisory fee imposed under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The companies argued that the levy was calculated unfairly and imposed a disproportionate financial burden.

The supervisory fee, introduced in 2022, requires large platforms to pay 0.05% of their annual global net income to cover monitoring costs. Meta and TikTok said the methodology relied on flawed data, inflated their fees, and even double-counted users.

Their lawyers told the court the process lacked transparency and produced ‘implausible’ results.

Lawyers for the European Commission defended the fee, arguing that group-wide financial resources justified the calculation method. They said the companies had adequate information about how the levy was determined.

The ruling reduces pressure on the two firms as they continue investing in the EU market. A final judgement from the General Court is expected next year and may shape how supervisory costs are applied to other major platforms.

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Cyberattack hits LNER passenger data, investigation under way

The contact details of rail passengers have been stolen in a cyberattack affecting London North Eastern Railway (LNER). The company stated that it had been notified of unauthorised access to files managed by a third-party supplier and advised customers to be vigilant against phishing attempts.

LNER stressed that no bank details, card numbers, or passwords had been compromised. The York-based operator stated that it was collaborating with cybersecurity experts and the supplier to investigate the breach and ensure necessary safeguards.

The company did not confirm the number of passengers affected. The incident comes as LNER reported revenues exceeding £1 billion, yet it continues to rely on government support since its nationalisation in 2018.

Passenger complaints rose 12.2 percent in 2025, reaching 24,015, and competition from private operators is driving losses—online ticket platforms such as Trainline direct passengers to cheaper rivals, costing LNER significant revenue.

The breach follows other attacks on UK transport services, including a 2024 incident in which the bank details of 5,000 Transport for London customers were exposed, resulting in weeks of disrupted online services.

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AI-generated film sparks copyright battle as it heads to Cannes

OpenAI has taken a significant step into entertainment by backing Critterz, the first animated feature film generated with GPT models.

Human artists sketch characters and scenes, while AI transforms them into moving images. The $30 million project, expected to finish in nine months, is far cheaper and faster than traditional animation and could debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026.

Yet the film has triggered a fierce copyright debate in India and beyond. Under India’s Copyright Act of 1957, only human works are protected.

Legal experts argue that while AI can be used as a tool when human skill and judgement are clearly applied, autonomously generated outputs may not qualify for copyright at all.

The uncertainty carries significant risks. Producers may struggle to combat piracy or unauthorised remakes, while streaming platforms and investors could hesitate to support projects without clear ownership rights.

A recent case involving an AI tool credited as a co-author of a painting, later revoked, shows how untested the law remains.

Global approaches vary. The US and the EU require human creativity for copyright, while the UK recognises computer-generated works under certain conditions.

In India, lawyers suggest contracts provide the safest path until the law evolves, with detailed agreements on ownership, revenue sharing and disclosure of AI input.

The government has already set up an expert panel to review the Copyright Act, even as AI-driven projects and trailers rapidly gain popularity.

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