E-commerce and trade

AWS commits $50bn to US government AI

Amazon Web Services plans to invest $50 billion in high performance AI infrastructure dedicated to US federal agencies. The programme aims to broaden access to AWS tools such as SageMaker AI, Bedrock and model customisation services, alongside support for Anthropic’s Claude.

The expansion will add around 1.3 gigawatts of compute capacity, enabling agencies to run larger models and speed up complex workloads. AWS expects construction of the new data centres to begin in 2026, marking one of its most ambitious government-focused buildouts to date.

Chief executive Matt Garman argues the upgrade will remove long-standing technology barriers within government. The company says enhanced AI capabilities could accelerate work in areas ranging from cybersecurity to medical research while strengthening national leadership in advanced computing.

AWS has spent more than a decade developing secure environments for classified and sensitive government operations. Competitors have also stepped up US public sector offerings, with OpenAI, Anthropic and Google all rolling out heavily discounted AI products for federal use over the past year.

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NVIDIA powers a new wave of specialised AI agents to transform business

Agentic AI has entered a new phase as companies rely on specialised systems instead of broad, one-size-fits-all models.

Open-source foundations, such as NVIDIA’s Neuron family, now allow organisations to combine internal knowledge with tailored architectures, leading to agents that understand the precise demands of each workflow.

Firms across cybersecurity, payments and semiconductor engineering are beginning to treat specialisation as the route to genuine operational value.

CrowdStrike is utilising Nemotron and NVIDIA NIM microservices to enhance its Agentic Security Platform, which supports teams by handling high-volume tasks such as alert triage and remediation.

Accuracy has risen from 80 to 98.5 percent, reducing manual effort tenfold and helping analysts manage complex threats with greater speed.

PayPal has taken a similar path by building commerce-focused agents that enable conversational shopping and payments, cutting latency nearly in half while maintaining the precision required across its global network of customers and merchants.

Synopsys is deploying agentic AI throughout chip design workflows by pairing open models with NVIDIA’s accelerated infrastructure. Early trials in formal verification show productivity improvements of 72 percent, offering engineers a faster route to identifying design errors.

The company is blending fine-tuned models with tools such as the NeMo Agent Toolkit and Blueprints to embed agentic support at every stage of development.

Across industries, strategic steps are becoming clear. Organisations begin by evaluating open models before curating and securing domain-specific data and then building agents capable of acting on proprietary information.

Continuous refinement through a data flywheel strengthens long-term performance.

NVIDIA aims to support the shift by promoting Nemotron, NeMo and its broader software ecosystem as the foundation for the next generation of specialised enterprise agents.

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ChatGPT unveils new shopping research experience

Since yesterday, ChatGPT has introduced a more comprehensive approach to product discovery with a new shopping research feature, designed to simplify complex purchasing decisions.

Users describe what they need instead of sifting through countless sites, and the system generates personalised buyer guides based on high-quality sources. The feature adapts to each user by asking targeted questions and reflecting previously stored preferences in memory.

The experience has been built with a specialised version of GPT-5 mini trained for shopping tasks through reinforcement learning. It gathers fresh information such as prices, specifications, and availability by reading reliable retail pages directly.

Users can refine the process in real-time by marking products as unsuitable or requesting similar alternatives, enabling a more precise result.

The tool is available on all ChatGPT plans and offers expanded usage during the holiday period. OpenAI emphasises that no chats are shared with retailers and that search results are sourced from public data sources, rather than sponsored content.

Some errors may still occur in product details, yet the intention is to develop a more intuitive and personalised way to navigate an increasingly crowded digital marketplace.

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Japan boosts Rapidus with major semiconductor funding

Japan will inject more than one trillion yen (approximately 5.5 billion €) into chipmaker Rapidus between 2026 and 2027. The plan aims to fortify national economic security by rebuilding domestic semiconductor capacity after decades of reliance on overseas suppliers.

Rapidus intends to begin producing 2-nanometre chips in late 2027 as global demand for faster, AI-ready components surges. The firm expects overall investment to reach seven trillion yen and hopes to list publicly around 2031.

Japanese government support includes large subsidies and direct investment that add to earlier multi-year commitments. Private contributors, including Toyota and Sony, previously backed the venture, which was founded in 2022 to revive Japan’s cutting-edge chip ambitions.

Officials argue that advanced production is vital for technological competitiveness and future resilience. Critics to this investment note that there are steep costs and high risks, yet policymakers view the Rapidus investment as crucial to keeping pace with technological advancements.

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LSEG data and LG’s EXAONE model combine in new AI-driven stock prediction service

LG AI Research and LSEG have launched an AI forecasting tool that scores around 5,000 NYSE stocks daily. It combines LSEG’s financial data with LG’s EXAONE model. The service was presented to Korean financial institutions in Seoul.

The AI Equity Forecasting Score provides a numeric outlook and a short explanation for each stock. It analyses structured market data and unstructured filings and news. LG says this improves transparency in automated research.

LSEG says the partnership combines its global data infrastructure with LG’s modelling capabilities. According to LG, the system can uncover patterns that traditional analysis often misses. Daily scores and weekly commentary are already available.

Pilot testing is underway in the US, Europe, Japan and Korea. Analysts say wider adoption will depend on clear performance metrics and independent validation. They also note the lack of disclosure on trading frictions.

LG plans to expand the service to more markets and add tools for portfolio construction and commodities. Deeper integration with LSEG’s APIs is also being explored. LG describes the system as a daily, automated investment memo.

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Spain opens inquiry into Meta over privacy concerns

Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has announced that an investigation will be launched against Meta following concerns over a possible large-scale violation of user privacy.

The company will be required to explain its conduct before the parliamentary committee on economy, trade and digital transformation instead of continuing to handle the issue privately.

Several research centres in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands uncovered a concealed tracking tool used on Android devices for almost a year.

Their findings showed that web browsing data had been linked to identities on Facebook and Instagram even when users relied on incognito mode or a VPN.

The practice may have contravened key European rules such as the GDPR, the ePrivacy Directive, the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, while class action lawsuits are already underway in Germany, the US and Canada.

Pedro Sánchez explained that the investigation aims to clarify events, demand accountability from company leadership and defend any fundamental rights that might have been undermined.

He stressed that the law in Spain prevails over algorithms, platforms or corporate size, and those who infringe on rights will face consequences.

The prime minister also revealed a package of upcoming measures to counter four major threats in the digital environment. A plan that focuses on disinformation, child protection, hate speech and privacy defence instead of reactive or fragmented actions.

He argued that social media offers value yet has evolved into a space shaped by profit over well-being, where engagement incentives overshadow rights. He concluded that the sector needs to be rebuilt to restore social cohesion and democratic resilience.

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Binance Japan integrates PayPay Money for crypto

Binance Japan and PayPay have launched a new service that enables users to purchase crypto assets using PayPay Money and PayPay Points. The integration allows funds deposited from PayPay Money to be used directly for spot trading on Binance Japan.

Users can also withdraw proceeds from crypto sales back into their PayPay Balance. Previously, trading and withdrawals were restricted to Japanese yen transfers via domestic banks or external wallets.

The new system allows one-click deposits and withdrawals, starting from JPY 1,000.

The service works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, offering a smoother trading experience for both mobile and web users. To activate the integration, users enable the linkage via the PayPay icon within Binance Japan’s trading platform.

The initiative reflects growing collaboration between PayPay and Binance Japan, aiming to enhance convenience and accessibility for both first-time traders and experienced users while expanding crypto adoption in Japan.

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AI use rises among Portuguese youth

A recent survey reveals that 38.7% of Portuguese individuals aged 16 to 74 used AI tools in the three months preceding the interview, primarily for personal purposes. Usage is particularly high among 16 to 24-year-olds (76.5%) and students (81.5%).

Internet access remains widespread, with 89.5% of residents going online recently. Nearly half (49.6%) placed orders online, primarily for clothing, footwear, and fashion accessories, while 74.2% accessed public service websites, often using a Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key for authentication.

Digital skills are growing, with 59.2% of the population reaching basic or above basic levels. Young adults and tertiary-educated individuals show the highest digital proficiency, at 83.4% and 88.4% respectively.

Household internet penetration stands at 90.9%, predominantly via fixed connections.

Concerns about online safety are on the rise, as 45.2% of internet users reported encountering aggressive or discriminatory content, up from 35.5% in 2023. Reported issues include discrimination based on nationality, politics, and sexual identity.

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Google launches Nano Banana Pro image model

Google has launched Nano Banana Pro, a new image generation and editing model built on Gemini 3 Pro. The upgrade expands Gemini’s visual capabilities inside the Gemini app, Google Ads, Google AI Studio, Vertex AI and Workspace tools.

Nano Banana Pro focuses on cleaner text rendering, richer world knowledge and tighter control over style and layout. Creators can produce infographics, diagrams and character consistent scenes, and refine lighting, camera angle or composition with detailed prompts.

The AI model supports higher resolution visuals, localised text in multiple languages and more accurate handling of complex scripts. Google highlights uses in marketing materials, business presentations and professional design workflows, as partners such as Adobe integrate the model into Firefly and Photoshop.

Users can try Nano Banana Pro through Gemini with usage limits, while paying customers and enterprises gain extended access. Google embeds watermarking and C2PA-style metadata to help identify AI-generated images, foregrounding safety and transparency around synthetic content.

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Smart glasses by Meta transform life for disabled users

Meta has presented a new generation of AI glasses designed to increase independence for people with disabilities. The devices support hands-free calls, messages and translations while offering voice-activated photography and video capture.

Users can rely on spoken prompts instead of phones when they want to explore their surroundings or capture important moments.

The glasses help blind and low-vision individuals identify objects, read documents and understand scenes through detailed AI descriptions. Meta partnered with the Blinded Veterans Association to produce a training guide that explains how to activate voice commands and manage daily tasks more easily.

Veterans Affairs rehabilitation centres have adopted the glasses to support people who need greater autonomy in unfamiliar environments.

Creators and athletes describe how the technology influences their work and daily activities. A filmmaker uses first-person recording and AI-assisted scene guidance to streamline production. A Paralympic sprinter relies on real-time updates to track workouts without pausing to check a phone.

Other users highlight how hands-free photography and environmental awareness allow them to stay engaged instead of becoming distracted by screens.

Meta emphasises its collaboration with disabled communities to shape features that reflect diverse needs. The company views AI glasses as a route to improved participation, stronger confidence and wider digital access.

An approach that signals a long-term commitment to wearable technology that supports inclusion in everyday life.

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