Digital business models

Arm unveils Lumex mobile chips built for AI

UK-based chip designer Arm introduced Lumex, a next-generation chip design explicitly designed to power AI on smartphones, smartwatches, and next-generation PCs.

Arm, whose processor architecture underpins devices from Apple and Nvidia, described Lumex as its most advanced platform yet for real-time AI assistance, communication and on-device personalisation.

Arm’s senior vice-president Chris Bergey said consumers now expect instant, private, seamless AI features instead of gradual improvements.

The Lumex platform combines performance, privacy, and efficiency, allowing partners to use the design as delivered or configure it to their own requirements.

A brand that is part of a broader naming structure includes Neoverse for infrastructure, Niva for PCs, Zena for automotive, and Orbis for the internet of things.

Meanwhile, Arm is reportedly preparing to manufacture its chips, having recruited Amazon’s Rami Sinno, who helped build Trainium and Inferentia, to strengthen its in-house ambitions.

These moves mark a significant moment for Arm, as the company seeks to expand its influence in the AI hardware space and reduce reliance on licensing alone.

With the rise of generative AI, the push for high-performance chips designed around on-device intelligence is becoming central to the future of mobile technology.

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Senate Democrats propose framework for crypto market rules

A group of 12 Democratic US senators unveiled a crypto regulation plan, highlighting the need for bipartisan oversight. The proposal comes in response to Republicans’ plan to advance a market structure bill this month.

The Democrats’ framework outlines seven key pillars, including protections against illicit finance and measures to close gaps in the spot market for digital assets not classified as securities. It also calls for fair and effective regulation, highlighting concerns over the SEC, CFTC, and Treasury Department leadership.

The framework criticised Trump for removing Democratic commissioners and noted his family’s financial ties to crypto projects. Senators urged limits on elected officials and family members profiting from digital assets and reinforced disclosure requirements.

With the House passing the CLARITY Act and the GENIUS Act regulating stablecoins, the Senate is expected to prioritise crypto market structure legislation. However, Democrats remain uncertain whether Republicans will adopt their recommendations, with a final bill unlikely before 2026.

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AI in weather forecasting takes centre stage in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi hosted a Weather Summit that explored how AI could transform forecasting and support operations, such as cloud seeding. Experts emphasised that AI enhances analysis but must complement, rather than replace, human judgement.

Discussions focused on Earth-system forecasting using satellite datasets, IoT devices, and geospatial systems. Quality, interoperability, and equitable access to weather services were highlighted as pressing priorities.

Speakers raised questions about public and private sector incentives’ reliability, transparency, and influence on AI. Collaboration across sectors was crucial to strengthening trust and global cooperation in meteorology.

WMO President Dr Abdulla Al Mandous said forecasting has evolved from traditional observation to supercomputing and AI. He argued that integrating models with AI could deliver more precise local forecasts for agriculture, aviation, and disaster management.

The summit brought together leaders from UN bodies, research institutions, and tech firms, including Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Attendees highlighted the need to bridge data gaps, particularly in developing regions, to confront rising climate challenges.

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Kazakhstan to create state digital asset fund

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has announced plans to establish a State Digital Asset Fund to consolidate the country’s position in digital finance. The fund will accumulate a strategic crypto reserve through the National Bank’s Investment Corporation.

Crypto adoption in Kazakhstan has surged, doubling ownership from 4% in 2022 to 8% in 2024. Mining generated over $10 million in taxes, while licensed providers contributed $367,000 in the first eight months 2024.

Tokayev warned of rising online fraud, highlighting the need for anti-fraud centres, biometric ID systems, and enhanced legislation to protect citizens and state finances. He connected digital finance to urban development, unveiling Alatau City, a $7.2 billion fully digitalised smart city with crypto payments.

The initiative positions Kazakhstan as a regional leader in crypto strategy, combining economic growth, technological innovation, and digital infrastructure development.

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Japan and Taiwan deepen semiconductor collaboration beyond business

Experts from Japan and Taiwan have highlighted closer cooperation in semiconductors, stressing that ties extend beyond business into education and research.

At a forum in Taipei, SEMI’s Terry Tsao said Taiwan’s chip design and fabrication expertise complements Japan’s materials and manufacturing equipment strengths. He noted that TSMC’s Kumamoto expansion creates opportunities for talent development in partnership with local schools.

Tsao described Taiwanese growth as a golden semiconductor era, emphasising its success closely tied to Japanese collaboration. He argued that TSMC’s achievements in Japan also represent progress for Japan’s industry.

Kazuhito Hashimoto, head of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, said joint projects with Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council are underway. He pledged support for expanded research exchanges between the two partners.

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Russian lawmaker pushes for creation of national crypto bank

A senior Russian policymaker has proposed the creation of a national crypto bank, arguing it would raise state revenues and help curb financial crime.

Yevgeny Masharov, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, said a national crypto bank would bring vast sums of crypto into the legal economy. He added that lawmakers also aim to ban quasi-legal exchanges while exploring the launch of state-run trading platforms.

Masharov suggested that a crypto bank could be a tool against online fraud, particularly schemes involving ‘droppers’ who launder cash and crypto for criminals. He argued that by keeping transactions within an official system, authorities would have more control over illicit flows.

The initiative follows similar moves in Belarus, where President Alexander Lukashenko has instructed officials to accelerate work on a national crypto bank. Moscow also views such a project as a way to support miners, enable safer cross-border payments, and reduce reliance on Western-controlled financial networks.

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New project expands AI access for African languages

Africa is working to close the AI language gap, as most global tools remain trained on English, Chinese, and European languages.

The African Next Voices project has created the continent’s largest dataset of spoken African languages, covering 18 tongues across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Supported by a $2.2m Gates Foundation grant, the dataset includes 9,000 hours of speech in farming, health, and education settings.

Languages such as Hausa, Yoruba, isiZulu, and Kikuyu are now available for developers to build translation, transcription, and conversational AI tools. Farmers like South Africa’s Kelebogile Mosime already use local-language apps to solve agricultural challenges.

Start-ups, including Lelapa AI, are building products in African languages for banks and telecoms. Researchers warn that without such initiatives, millions risk exclusion from vital services and cultural knowledge could be lost.

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UK publishers fear Google AI summaries hit revenues

UK publishers warn that Google’s AI Overviews significantly cut website traffic, threatening fragile online revenues.

Reach, owner of the Mirror and Daily Express, said readers often settle for the AI summary instead of visiting its sites. DMG Media told regulators that click-through rates had fallen by up to 89% since the rollout.

Publishers argue that they provide accurate reporting that fuels Google’s search results, yet they see no financial return when users no longer click through. Concerns are growing over Google’s conversational AI Mode, which displays even fewer links.

Google insists that search traffic has remained stable year-on-year and claims that AI overviews offer users more opportunities to find quality links. Still, a coalition of publishers has filed a complaint with the UK Competition and Markets Authority, alleging misuse of their content.

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AI job losses could leave many workers behind, experts warn

Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton warned AI could increase unemployment and profits as companies replace workers with machines. Hinton told the Financial Times the effects stem from capitalism, with few becoming richer while many are left behind.

Evidence is already emerging that AI is reducing opportunities at the entry level, particularly for recent college graduates. A New York Fed survey shows companies using AI tend to retrain staff rather than lay them off, though layoffs may rise soon.

Hinton highlighted that jobs performing mundane tasks are most at risk, while skilled professions like healthcare are likely to be safer.

Hinton also dismissed universal basic income proposals, arguing they fail to address human dignity or the value derived from work. He warned AI could be misused, including for bioweapons, and noted some governments take the risks more seriously than others.

Despite the potential threats, Hinton acknowledged the enormous possibilities of AI. He uses OpenAI’s ChatGPT for research and humorously recalls personal anecdotes demonstrating its versatility.

Hinton retired from Google in 2023, citing age and personal priorities rather than concerns over speaking freely about AI’s dangers.

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Google boosts Gemini with audio uploads and NotebookLM upgrades

The US tech giant has expanded the capability of its Gemini app by allowing users to upload audio files for AI analysis across Android, iOS, and the web. The upgrade enables transcription of interviews, voice memos and lecture recordings instead of relying solely on typed or spoken prompts.

Free-tier users can upload clips of up to ten minutes with five prompts daily, while paid subscribers have access to three hours of uploads across multiple files. According to Gemini vice president Josh Woodward, the feature is designed to make the platform more versatile and practical for everyday tasks.

Google has also enhanced its Search AI mode with five new languages, including Hindi, Japanese and Korean, extending its multilingual reach.

NotebookLM, the company’s research assistant powered by Gemini, can now generate structured reports such as quizzes, study guides and blog posts from uploaded content, available in more than 80 languages.

These improvements underline Google’s ambition to integrate AI more deeply into everyday applications instead of leaving the technology confined to experimental tools. They also highlight growing competition in the AI market, with Google using Gemini 2.5 to expand its services for global users.

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