E-commerce and trade

Travel industry in UAE shifts toward hybrid AI‑human experience

The use of AI for travel planning has surged in the UAE, with six in ten travellers reporting they use AI to manage flights, hotels, itineraries, and dining. Tourism Economics and ATM data show that the UAE’s adoption rate significantly exceeds the global average.

Tools like Sabre’s SynXis Concierge and Miral’s Majd Al are now integrated into hotel and attraction services to speed up queries and offer personalised suggestions.

Despite the technological appeal, travel professionals stress the importance of human contact. Automated agents may optimise logistics, but UAE customers continue to value emotionally intelligent service, especially for complex or premium experiences.

As Al Rais Travel puts it, a hybrid approach, where AI performs background analysis and humans provide real connection, is ideal.

Industry dialogue at ATM 2025 underscored trust as key: AI can generate draft itineraries and administrative support, but travellers still rely on agents to uncover hidden gems, accommodate cultural preferences, and fine-tune experiences.

Experts such as Naomi Ekberg argue that in the UAE’s cosmopolitan market, AI should free up staff to deliver memorable human moments rather than replace them.

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WhatsApp shuts down 6.8 million scam accounts

As part of its anti-scam efforts, WhatsApp has removed 6.8 million accounts linked to fraudulent activity, according to its parent company, Meta.

The crackdown follows the discovery that organised criminal groups are operating scam centres across Southeast Asia, hacking WhatsApp accounts or adding users to group chats to lure victims into fake investment schemes and other types of fraud.

In one case, WhatsApp, Meta, and OpenAI collaborated to disrupt a Cambodian cybercrime group that used ChatGPT to generate fake instructions for a rent-a-scooter pyramid scheme.

Victims were enticed with offers of cash for social media engagement before being moved to private chats and pressured to make upfront payments via cryptocurrency platforms.

Meta warned that these scams often stem from well-organised networks in Southeast Asia, some exploiting forced labour. Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, enable features such as WhatsApp’s two-step verification, and be wary of suspicious or unsolicited messages.

It should be mentioned that these scams have also drawn political attention in the USA. Namely, US Senator Maggie Hassan has urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to act against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia that use Starlink satellite internet to run massive online fraud schemes targeting Americans.

Despite SpaceX’s policies allowing service termination for fraud, Starlink remains active in regions where these scams, often linked to forced labour and human trafficking, operate.

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News Corp CEO warns AI could ‘vandalise’ creativity and IP rights

News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson has warned that AI could damage creativity by undermining intellectual property rights.

At the company’s full-year results briefing in New York, he described the AI era as a historic turning point. He called for stronger protections to preserve America’s ‘comparative advantage in creativity’.

Thomson said allowing AI systems to consume and profit from copyrighted works without permission was akin to ‘vandalising virtuosity’.

He cited Donald Trump’s The Art of the Deal, published by News Corp’s book division, questioning whether it should be used to train AI that might undermine book sales. Despite the criticism, the company has rolled out its AI newsroom tools, NewsGPT and Story Cutter.

News Corp reported a two percent revenue rise to US$8.5 billion ($A13.1 billion), with net income from continuing operations climbing 71 percent to US$648 million.

Growth in the Dow Jones and REA Group segments offset news media subscriptions and advertising declines.

Digital subscribers fell across several mastheads, although The Times and The Sunday Times saw gains. Profitability in news media rose 15 percent, aided by editorial efficiencies and cost-cutting measures.

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Chinese nationals accused of bypassing US export controls on AI chips

Two Chinese nationals have been charged in the US with illegally exporting millions of dollars’ worth of advanced Nvidia AI chips to China, violating the export controls.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang operated California-based ALX Solutions, which allegedly shipped restricted hardware without the required licences over the past three years.

The DOJ claims that the company exported Nvidia’s H100 and GeForce RTX 4090 graphics processing units to China via transit hubs in Singapore and Malaysia, concealing their ultimate destination.

Payments for the shipments allegedly came from firms in Hong Kong and mainland China, including a $1 million transfer in January 2024.

Court documents state that ALX falsely declared shipments to Singapore-based customers, but US export control officers could not confirm the deliveries.

One 2023 invoice for over $28 million reportedly misrepresented the buyer’s identity. Neither Geng nor Yang had sought export licences from the US Commerce Department.

Yang was arrested on Saturday, and Geng surrendered soon after. Both appeared in a Los Angeles federal court on Monday and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Nvidia and Super Micro, a supplier, said they comply with all export regulations and will cooperate with authorities.

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Google Gemini AI creates personalised illustrated storybooks from your photos and ideas

Google has introduced a new feature in its Gemini AI that allows users to create short, illustrated storybooks from prompts, essays, photos, and drawings. The tool can transform everyday materials into customised children’s books with art and narration.

The company demonstrated how a mother’s CV could be reimagined as a colouring book to explain her career to her children. Gemini can also turn vacation photos, children’s sketches, or personal life events into unique 10-page books in over 45 languages.

Users can select from various visual styles, including pixel art, claymation, crochet, comics, and colouring books.

People describe their desired story and upload optional images or files to use the feature. Gemini then generates a personalised book with illustrations and audio. The service is available worldwide on desktop and mobile through the Gemini app in all supported languages.

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OpenAI targets $500 billion valuation ahead of potential IPO

OpenAI is in early discussions over a share sale that could value the company at around $500 billion, according to a source familiar with the talks.

The transaction would occur before a possible IPO and let current and former employees sell several billion dollars’ worth of shares.

The valuation marks a steep rise from the $300 billion figure attached to its most recent funding round earlier in the year. Backed by Microsoft, OpenAI has seen rapid growth in users and revenue, with ChatGPT attracting about 700 million weekly active users, up from 400 million in February.

Revenue doubled in the first seven months of the year, reaching an annualised run rate of $12 billion, and is on track for $20 billion by year-end.

The potential sale comes as competition for AI talent intensifies.

Meta has invested billions in Scale AI to lure its chief executive, Alexandr Wang, to head its superintelligence unit. At the same time, firms such as ByteDance and Databricks have used private share sales to update valuations and reward staff.

Thrive Capital and other existing OpenAI investors are discussing joining the deal.

OpenAI is also preparing a major corporate restructuring that could replace its capped-profit model and clear the way for an eventual public listing.

However, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said any IPO would only happen when the company and the markets are ready.

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Google DeepMind launches Genie 3 to create interactive 3D worlds from text

Google DeepMind has introduced Genie 3, an AI world model capable of generating explorable 3D environments in real time from a simple text prompt.

Unlike earlier versions, it supports several minutes of continuous interaction, basic visual memory, and real-time changes such as altering weather or adding characters.

The system allows users to navigate these spaces at 24 frames per second in 720p resolution, retaining object placement for about a minute.

Users can trigger events within the virtual world by typing new instructions, making Genie 3 suitable for applications ranging from education and training to video games and robotics.

Genie 3’s improvements over Genie 2 include frame-by-frame generation with memory tracking and dynamic scene creation without relying on pre-built 3D assets.

However, the AI model still has limits, including the inability to replicate real-world locations with geographic accuracy and restricted interaction capabilities. Multi-agent features are still in development.

Currently offered as a limited research preview to select academics and creators, Genie 3 will be made more widely available over time.

Google DeepMind has noted that safety and responsibility remain central concerns during the gradual rollout.

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Malaysia tackles online scams with AI and new cyber guidelines

Cybercrime involving financial scams continues to rise in Malaysia, with 35,368 cases reported in 2024, a 2.53 per cent increase from the previous year, resulting in losses of RM1.58 billion.

The situation remains severe in 2025, with over 12,000 online scam cases recorded in the first quarter alone, involving fake e-commerce offers, bogus loans, and non-existent investment platforms. Losses during this period reached RM573.7 million.

Instead of waiting for the situation to worsen, the Digital Ministry is rolling out proactive safeguards. These include new AI-related guidelines under development by the Department of Personal Data Protection, scheduled for release by March 2026.

The documents will cover data protection impact assessments, automated decision-making, and privacy-by-design principles.

The ministry has also introduced an official framework for responsible AI use in the public sector, called GPAISA, to ensure ethical compliance and support across government agencies.

Additionally, training initiatives such as AI Untuk Rakyat and MD Workforce aim to equip civil servants and enforcement teams with skills to handle AI and cyber threats.

In partnership with CyberSecurity Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the ministry is also creating an AI-powered application to verify digital images and videos.

Instead of relying solely on manual analysis, the tool will help investigators detect online fraud, identity forgery, and synthetic media more effectively.

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ChatGPT checkout could sideline major platforms

OpenAI is preparing to add a payment system into ChatGPT, allowing users to complete purchases without ever leaving the chatbot. Retail leaders are calling it a turning point in e-commerce, as it may significantly simplify how people shop online.

The company is expected to take a cut of transactions and work with platforms such as Shopify to streamline operations. With over 77 million users, ChatGPT has the reach to become a dominant shopping tool, potentially bypassing platforms like Amazon.

Executives worry visibility could depend on revenue-sharing, forcing brands to pay for prominence in the chatbot. Some fear this pay-to-play model could leave smaller retailers behind and limit consumer choice.

At the same time, personalised AI-driven recommendations may enhance user experiences while raising questions about data use and bias. Entrepreneurs on X are already predicting widespread AI-led shopping within a year.

Retailers are now adjusting strategies to remain visible in this new market. While some early adopters show success using AI to complete purchases, others highlight technical challenges in integration and website compatibility.

Observers say search engines could lose relevance as shoppers turn to AI instead. Regulators remain cautious, particularly in markets like Australia, where many consumers are open to AI-led transactions.

The industry faces a shift where chatbots may evolve into full-scale digital marketplaces. Brands are urged to act quickly, or risk losing out as AI commerce becomes the norm.

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EU delays tariffs on US amid ongoing trade talks

The European Union has postponed its planned tariffs on the United States by six months to allow more time for negotiations. Originally set for this week, the tariffs will now be suspended from Tuesday under a political agreement between Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump.

The move follows Trump’s imposition of 15% tariffs on most EU goods, including cars, announced last month. In return, the EU pledged to drop tariffs on US industrial exports and commit $1.35 trillion to energy purchases and investments, though financial details remain unclear.

Both parties are working on a Joint Statement to finalise the deal, which is currently not legally binding.

Trump also delayed his next round of global tariffs from 1 August to 7 August, which will impact over 60 countries. While the EU’s countermeasures are paused for six months, the situation remains fluid, with further negotiations expected before any final agreement.

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