South Korea’s finance minister, Koo Yun-cheol, has pledged urgent reforms to how government agencies manage digital assets following high-profile failures in state custody.
Recent incidents revealed that police and tax authorities mishandled seized cryptocurrency, highlighting weaknesses in oversight and security practices. Authorities will review current management methods and implement measures to prevent future losses.
Operational risks around securing crypto in public institutions have become increasingly apparent. A notable case involved Seoul police in Gangnam losing access to 22 BTC, worth around $1.4 million, after failing to retain private keys and allowing a third-party firm to manage the assets.
Prosecutors are now investigating potential bribery linked to the case.
The government says it holds only digital assets acquired through lawful enforcement, such as seizures for unpaid taxes or criminal cases. The reforms aim to strengthen security, improve operational controls, and restore confidence in the public sector’s handling of crypto amid growing scrutiny.
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The South Korean electronics corporation, Samsung, is preparing a major shift to autonomous manufacturing, converting global production sites into AI-driven factories by 2030.
As such, the company is moving toward a model in which AI systems understand on-site conditions and make operational decisions independently, rather than relying on fixed automation.
A transition that will use digital twin simulations across the whole manufacturing cycle, from materials warehousing to shipping.
Samsung will deploy AI agents for quality control, production and logistics, aiming for stronger data-driven verification and improved efficiency. Wider adoption of AI in environmental health and safety is expected to raise workplace safety standards.
The firm plans to integrate agentic AI, first introduced with the Galaxy S26, into industrial operations, enabling systems to set and execute their own tasks. Humanoid manufacturing robots will be rolled out in phases as Samsung builds fully optimised smart factories.
Samsung will present its manufacturing vision at Mobile World Congress 2026, followed by the Samsung Mobile Business Summit, where executives will detail governance strategies for managing the rise of agentic AI across industries.
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Microsoft and OpenAI have reaffirmed their long-standing collaboration after new funding and partnerships raised speculation about their relationship.
Both firms stressed that recent announcements leave their original agreements intact, preserving a framework built on technical integration, trust and shared ambitions for AI development.
Microsoft’s exclusive licence to OpenAI’s intellectual property remains untouched, as does its position as the sole cloud provider for stateless APIs powering OpenAI models.
These APIs can be accessed through either company. Yet all such calls, including those arising from third-party partnerships such as OpenAI’s work with Amazon, continue to run on Azure rather than on alternative clouds. OpenAI’s own products, including Frontier, also stay hosted on Azure.
Revenue-sharing arrangements are unchanged, alongside the contractual definition and evaluation process for artificial general intelligence.
OpenAI retains the freedom to secure additional compute capacity elsewhere, supported by large-scale initiatives such as the Stargate project.
Even with broader collaborations emerging across the industry, both firms present their alliance as central to advancing responsible AI and expanding access to powerful tools worldwide.
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Topshop has staged what it describes as a world-first AI-driven shoppable catwalk in Manchester, as part of its UK brand revival. The Manchester event combined physical runway looks with real-time digital purchasing through a bespoke Front Row AI app.
Guests in Manchester were able to buy outfits instantly as models walked, while also trying on virtual versions after the show. The experience was adjudicated by the World Record Certification Agency and positioned as a new model for immersive retail in the UK.
The Manchester showcase formed part of Topshop’s regional strategy beyond London, highlighting the North West’s role in the UK fashion sector. Students from the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University designed and presented the finale in Manchester.
Topshop’s broader comeback in the UK includes pop ups in John Lewis stores, a standalone website relaunch and a partnership with Liberty in London. Executives said Manchester marked a new phase where AI and commerce converge to reshape retail experiences.
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Agentic AI is set to transform banking operations in the US and Asia, according to a McKinsey podcast featuring senior partners from New York, Mumbai and London. The technology goes beyond traditional automation by handling less structured tasks and supporting end to end decision making.
Research cited in the discussion suggests many banks are experimenting with AI, yet few report material financial gains. Leaders in the US and Asia are urged to avoid narrow pilot projects and instead redesign workflows, teams and governance around AI at scale.
McKinsey partners said successful banks in the US and Asia are aligning chief executives, technology leaders and risk officers behind a shared strategy. Operations, risk management and frontline services are seen as areas where AI could deliver significant productivity and quality gains.
Banks in India and other Asian markets are also benefiting from regulatory engagement, including guidance from the Reserve Bank of India. Speakers argued that workforce training, cross functional collaboration and clear accountability will determine whether AI delivers lasting impact in the US.
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OpenAI is turning its London office into its largest research hub outside the US, marking a strategic shift towards deeper engagement with the UK’s rapidly developing AI landscape. The move places the company in direct competition with Google DeepMind for scientific talent.
An expansion that strengthens OpenAI’s long-term presence in Europe by building a substantial research base rather than relying on satellite operations. The firm aims to attract researchers seeking strong academic links, regulatory clarity and access to the UK’s growing AI ecosystem.
The enlarged London team is expected to support frontier model development and experimental work that aligns with OpenAI’s international ambitions. Senior leadership framed the decision as a vote of confidence in the UK’s capacity to become one of the most influential centres for advanced AI research.
The announcement intensifies debate over global competition for expertise, as major labs seek locations that balance research freedom with responsible oversight.
OpenAI’s investment signals a belief that the UK can offer such conditions while positioning itself as a key player in shaping the next generation of AI capabilities.
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Autonomous AI agents are transforming finance by executing transactions independently and speeding up workflows in digital assets and programmable finance. Software can manage wallets and move funds across blockchains in seconds, narrowing detection windows.
AI agents don’t create new crimes but increase speed and complexity, making accountability essential. Responsibility rests with developers, operators, and beneficiaries, with investigators tracing control, configuration, and economic benefit to determine liability.
Weak oversight or misconfigured rules can lead to significant compliance and enforcement consequences.
Investigations face new challenges as autonomous agents operate across multiple blockchains, decentralised exchanges, and global jurisdictions.
Real-time analytics and automated tracing are essential to link transactions to accountable actors before funds move. Governance architecture and monitoring systems increasingly serve as evidence in regulatory or criminal actions.
Institutions and law enforcement are using AI monitoring, anomaly detection, and automated containment systems. Autonomous AI impacts sanctions and national security, emphasising the need for human oversight alongside automation.
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European governments are renewing pressure to scale back industrial AI rules rather than expand regulatory demands.
Ten countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland, have urged the EU to clarify how the AI Act overlaps with machinery law and to adopt more realistic implementation deadlines. Their position is even more surprising, given that the legislation already outlines its relationship with existing industrial frameworks.
Parliament’s centre and centre-right groups are pushing for deeper cuts. The European People’s Party wants all industrial sectors to move to a lighter regime, while Renew is advocating broad exemptions for industrial and business-to-business AI.
The European Conservatives and Reformers are also seeking reductions for non-safety-related systems. Together, the three groups edge close to a parliamentary majority, signalling momentum for a broader deregulation push.
No sweeping changes have been added to the AI omnibus so far, yet policymakers expect more adjustments ahead. The package must be finalised by August, so legislators are focused on meeting the deadline instead of reopening primary debates.
Broader revisions to industrial AI rules are likely to reappear in the Commission’s forthcoming Digital Fitness Check, which will reassess how multiple EU tech laws interact.
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Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has launched an investigation into Microsoft in Tokyo over suspected antitrust violations. Authorities conducted an on-site inspection of Microsoft’s Japanese subsidiary in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to sources.
Regulators are examining whether Microsoft charged higher licensing fees to customers running Microsoft 365 and Windows on rival cloud platforms rather than on Microsoft Azure. The inquiry centres on concerns that software dominance may have restricted competition in Japan’s cloud market.
Microsoft’s Japanese unit said it would cooperate fully with the Fair Trade Commission in Tokyo. The watchdog is assessing whether pricing practices unfairly hindered rivals such as Amazon and Google, which also compete in Japan’s expanding cloud sector.
Japan’s Fair Trade Commission has intensified oversight of major technology firms in recent years. Previous actions in Japan include investigations into Amazon Japan and a 2025 order requiring Google to end certain preinstallation practices.
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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.
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