E-commerce and trade

Betterment confirms data breach after social engineering attack

Fintech investment platform Betterment has confirmed a data breach after hackers gained unauthorised access to parts of its internal systems and exposed personal customer information.

The incident occurred on 9 January and involved a social engineering attack connected to third-party platforms used for marketing and operational purposes.

The company said the compromised data included customer names, email and postal addresses, phone numbers and dates of birth.

No passwords or account login credentials were accessed, according to Betterment, which stressed that customer investment accounts were not breached.

Using the limited system access, attackers sent fraudulent notifications to some users promoting a crypto-related scam.

Customers were advised to ignore the messages instead of engaging with the request, while Betterment moved quickly to revoke the unauthorised access and begin a formal investigation with external cybersecurity support.

Betterment has not disclosed how many users were affected and has yet to provide further technical details. Representatives did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication, while the company said outreach to impacted customers remains ongoing.

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AI reshapes Europe’s labour market outlook

European labour markets are showing clear signs of cooling after a brief period of employee leverage during the pandemic.

Slower industrial growth, easing wage momentum and increased adoption of AI are encouraging firms to limit hiring instead of expanding headcounts, while workers are becoming more cautious about changing jobs.

Economic indicators suggest employment growth across the EU will slow over the coming years, with fewer vacancies and stabilising migration flows reducing labour market dynamism.

Germany, France, the UK and several central and eastern European economies are already reporting higher unemployment expectations, particularly in manufacturing sectors facing high energy costs and weaker global demand.

Despite broader caution, labour shortages persist in specific areas such as healthcare, logistics, engineering and specialised technical roles.

Southern European countries benefiting from tourism and services growth continue to generate jobs, highlighting uneven recovery patterns instead of a uniform downturn across the continent.

Concerns about automation are further shaping behaviour, as surveys indicate growing anxiety over AI reshaping roles rather than eliminating work.

Analysts expect AI to transform job structures and skill requirements, prompting workers and employers alike to prioritise adaptability instead of rapid expansion.

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Robot vacuum market grows as AI becomes central to cleaning technology

Consumer hardware is becoming more deeply embedded with AI as robot vacuum cleaners evolve from simple automated devices into intelligent household assistants.

New models rely on multimodal perception and real-time decision-making, instead of fixed cleaning routes, allowing them to adapt to complex domestic environments.

Advanced AI systems now enable robot vacuums to recognise obstacles, optimise cleaning sequences and respond to natural language commands. Technologies such as visual recognition and mapping algorithms support adaptive behaviour, improving efficiency while reducing manual input from users.

Market data reflects the shift towards intelligence-led growth.

Global shipments of smart robot vacuums increased by 18.7 percent during the first three quarters of 2025, with manufacturers increasingly competing on intelligent experience rather than suction power, as integration with smart home ecosystems accelerates.

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Eli Lilly and NVIDIA invest in AI-driven pharmaceutical innovation

NVIDIA and Eli Lilly have announced a joint AI co-innovation lab aimed at advancing drug discovery by combining AI with pharmaceutical research.

The partnership combines Lilly’s experience in medical development with NVIDIA’s expertise in accelerated computing and AI infrastructure.

The two companies plan to invest up to $1 billion over five years in research capacity, computing resources and specialist talent.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the lab will support large-scale data generation and model development using NVIDIA platforms, instead of relying solely on traditional laboratory workflows.

Beyond early research, the collaboration is expected to explore applications of AI across manufacturing, clinical development and supply chain operations.

Both NVIDIA and Eli Lilly claim the initiative is designed to enhance efficiency and scalability in medical production while fostering long-term innovation in the life sciences sector.

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Google expands AI shopping through Gemini

Google is expanding shopping features inside its Gemini chatbot through partnerships with Walmart and other retailers. Users will be able to browse and buy products without leaving the chat interface.

An instant checkout function allows purchases through linked accounts and selected payment providers. Walmart customers can receive personalised recommendations based on previous shopping activity.

The move was announced at the latest National Retail Federation convention in New York. Tech groups are racing to turn AI assistants into end-to-end retail tools.

Google said the service will launch first in the US before international expansion. Payments initially rely on Google-linked cards, with PayPal support planned.

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Google brings AI to personalised shopping

Google is working with major retailers to use AI in guiding customers from product discovery to checkout. The company has launched the Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard for seamless agentic commerce that keeps retailers in control of customer relationships.

The Universal Commerce Protocol works with existing systems and partners, including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart.

Customers can receive personalised offers, loyalty rewards, and recommendations in Google Search or Gemini, completing purchases via Google Pay without leaving the platform.

To support retailers, Google has launched Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, which unifies search, commerce, and service touchpoints across all channels.

Early partners, such as The Home Depot and McDonald’s, are already utilising AI-powered agents to enhance service, provide proactive recommendations, and improve customer engagement.

Logistics also feature prominently, with Wing expanding delivery capabilities alongside Walmart, doubling operations in existing markets, and rolling out to Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, and other cities.

Google aims to create an end-to-end shopping ecosystem where AI, agentic protocols, and seamless delivery elevate both customer and retailer experiences.

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India mandates live identity checks for crypto users

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit has tightened crypto compliance, requiring live identity checks, location verification, and stronger Client Due Diligence. The measures aim to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and misuse of digital asset services.

Crypto platforms must now collect multiple identifiers from users, including IP addresses, device IDs, wallet addresses, transaction hashes, and timestamps.

Verification also requires users to provide a Permanent Account Number and a secondary ID, such as a passport, Aadhaar, or voter ID, alongside OTP confirmation for email and phone numbers.

Bank accounts must be validated via a penny-drop mechanism to confirm ownership and operational status.

Enhanced due diligence will apply to high-risk transactions and relationships, particularly those involving users from designated high-risk jurisdictions and tax havens. Platforms must monitor red flags and apply extra scrutiny to comply with the new guidelines.

Industry experts have welcomed the updated rules, describing them as a positive step for India’s crypto ecosystem. The measures are viewed as enhancing transparency, protecting users, and aligning the sector with global anti-money laundering standards.

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Tether and UN join to boost digital security in Africa

Tether has joined the UN Office on Drugs and Crime to enhance cybersecurity and digital asset education across Africa. The collaboration aims to reduce vulnerabilities to cybercrime and safeguard communities against online scams and fraud.

Africa, emerging as the third-fastest-growing crypto region, faces increasing threats from digital asset fraud. A recent Interpol operation uncovered $260 million in illicit crypto and fiat across Africa, highlighting the urgent need for stronger digital security.

The partnership includes several key initiatives. In Senegal, youth will participate in a multi-phase cybersecurity education programme featuring boot camps, mentorship, and micro-grants to support innovative projects.

Civil society organisations across Africa will receive funding to support human trafficking victims in Nigeria, DRC, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Uganda. In Papua New Guinea, universities will host competitions to promote financial inclusion and prevent digital asset fraud using blockchain solutions.

Tether and UNODC aim to create secure digital ecosystems, boost economic opportunities, and equip communities to prevent organised crime. Coordinated action across sectors is considered vital to creating safer and more inclusive environments for vulnerable populations.

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UK outlines approval process for crypto firms

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has confirmed that all regulated crypto firms must obtain authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Act. Both new market entrants and existing operators will be required to comply.

No automatic transition will be available for firms currently registered under anti-money laundering rules. Companies already authorised for other financial services must apply to extend permissions to cover crypto activities and ensure compliance with upcoming regulations.

Pre-application meetings and information sessions will be offered to help firms understand regulatory expectations and enhance the quality of their applications.

An official application window is expected to open in September 2026 and remain active for at least 28 days. Applications submitted during that period are intended to be assessed before the regime formally begins, with further procedural details to be confirmed by the FCA.

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AI sovereignty test in South Korea reaches a critical phase

South Korea’s flagship AI foundation model project has entered a decisive phase after accusations that leading participants relied on foreign open source components instead of building systems entirely independently.

The controversy has reignited debate over how ‘from scratch’ development should be defined within government-backed AI initiatives aimed at strengthening national sovereignty.

Scrutiny has focused on Naver Cloud after developers identified near-identical similarities between its vision encoder and models released by Alibaba, alongside disclosures that audio components drew on OpenAI technology.

The dispute now sits with the Ministry of Science and ICT, which must determine whether independence applies only to a model’s core or extends to all major components.

An outcome that is expected to shape South Korea’s AI strategy by balancing deeper self-reliance against the realities of global open-source ecosystems.

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