Many small businesses in the US are facing a sharp rise in cyber attacks, yet large numbers still try to manage the risk on their own.
A recent survey by Guardz found that more than four in ten SMBs have already experienced a cyber incident, while most owners believe the overall threat level is continuing to increase.
Rather than relying on specialist teams, over half of small businesses still leave critical cybersecurity tasks to untrained staff or the owner. Only a minority have a formal incident response plan created with a cybersecurity professional, and more than a quarter do not carry cyber insurance.
Phishing, ransomware and simple employee mistakes remain the most common dangers, with negligence seen as the biggest internal risk.
Recovery times are improving, with most affected firms able to return to normal operations quickly and very few suffering lasting damage.
However, many still fail to conduct routine security assessments, and outdated technology remains a widespread concern. Some SMBs are increasing cybersecurity budgets, yet a significant share still spend very little or do not know how much is being invested.
More small firms are now turning to managed service providers instead of trying to cope alone.
The findings suggest that preparation, professional support and clearly defined response plans can greatly improve resilience, helping organisations reduce disruption and maintain business continuity when an attack occurs.
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OpenAI is said to be testing a new feature for ChatGPT that would mark a shift from Custom GPTs toward a more modular system of Skills.
Reports suggest the project, internally codenamed Hazelnut, will allow users and developers to teach the AI model standalone abilities, workflows and domain knowledge instead of relying only on role-based configurations.
The Skills framework is designed to allow multiple abilities to be combined automatically when a task requires them. The system aims to increase portability across the web version, desktop client and API, while loading instructions only when needed instead of consuming the entire context window.
Support for running executable code is also expected, providing the model with stronger reliability for logic-driven work, rather than relying entirely on generated text.
Industry observers note similarities to Anthropic’s Claude, which already benefits from a skill-like structure. Further features are expected to include slash-command interactions, a dedicated Skill editor and one-click conversion from existing GPTs.
Market expectations point to an early 2026 launch, signalling a move toward ChatGPT operating as an intelligent platform rather than a traditional chatbot.
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Italy’s competition authority has ordered Meta to halt restrictions limiting rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp. Regulators say the measures may distort competition as Meta integrates its own AI services.
The Italian watchdog argues Meta’s conduct risks restricting market access and slowing technical development. Officials warned that continued enforcement could cause lasting harm to competition and consumer choice.
Meta rejected the ruling and confirmed plans to appeal, calling the decision unfounded. The company stated that WhatsApp Business was never intended to serve as a distribution platform for AI services.
The case forms part of a broader European push to scrutinise dominant tech firms. Regulators are increasingly focused on the integration of AI across platforms with entrenched market power.
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Fraudulent investment platform Nomani has surged, spreading from Facebook to YouTube. ESET blocked tens of thousands of malicious links this year, mainly in Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, and Poland.
The scam utilises AI-generated videos, branded posts, and social media advertisements to lure victims into fake investments that promise high returns. Criminals then request extra fees or sensitive personal data, and often attempt a secondary scam posing as Europol or INTERPOL.
Recent improvements make Nomani’s AI videos more realistic, using trending news or public figures to appear credible. Campaigns run briefly and misuse social media forms and surveys to harvest information while avoiding detection.
Despite overall growth, detections fell 37% in the second half of 2025, suggesting that scammers are adapting to more stringent law enforcement measures. Meta’s ad platforms earned billions from scams, demonstrating the global reach of Nomani fraud.
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Deutsche Bank has warned that surging AI investment is helping to prop up US economic growth. Analysts say that broader spending would have stalled without the heavy outlays on technology.
The bank estimates hyperscalers could spend $4 trillion on AI data centres by 2030. Analysts cautioned returns remain uncertain despite the scale of investment.
Official data showed US GDP grew at a 4.3% annualised rate in the third quarter. Economists linked much of the momentum to AI-driven capital expenditure.
Market experts remain divided on risks, although many reject fears of a bubble. Corporate cash flows, rather than excessive borrowing, are funding the majority of AI infrastructure.
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Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has called for punitive fines of up to 10 percent of company sales for repeated and serious data breaches, as public anger grows over large-scale leaks.
The government is seeking swift legislation to impose stronger sanctions on firms that fail to safeguard personal data, reflecting President Lee Jae Myung’s stance that violations require firm penalties instead of lenient warnings.
Kim said corporate responses to recent breaches had fallen far short of public expectations and stressed that companies must take full responsibility for protecting customer information.
Under the proposed framework, affected individuals would receive clearer notifications that include guidance on their rights to seek damages.
The government of South Korea also plans to strengthen investigative powers through coercive fines for noncompliance, while pursuing rapid reforms aimed at preventing further harm.
The tougher line follows a series of major incidents, including a leak at Shinhan Card that affected around 190,000 merchant records and a large-scale breach at Coupang that exposed the data of 33.7 million users.
Officials have described the Coupang breach as a serious social crisis that has eroded public trust.
Authorities have launched an interagency task force to identify responsibility and ensure tighter data protection across South Korea’s digital economy instead of relying on voluntary company action.
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UNCTAD has launched the first global database to consolidate national estimates of e‑commerce value, aiming to provide clearer insights and highlight major gaps in digital economy data.
The announcement was made during the sixth meeting of the UN Trade and Development Working Group on Measuring E-commerce, with representatives from 42 countries participating.
E-commerce and digitally delivered services are among the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy, yet most countries lack robust statistics to capture online transactions, cross-border trade, and social-media-based commerce.
Experts warned that inadequate data hinders policymaking, masks inequalities in digital access, and limits the benefits of digital transformation.
The working group recommended a 2026 review of indicators, including AI, platform business models, remote work, and fully digital services. Guidelines will be promoted via expanded capacity-building programmes, supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Cooperation between governments, the private sector, and international organisations is vital for consistent global measurement and to avoid duplication.
Experts called for technology-neutral, comparable frameworks and innovative tools, such as payment records and data mining, to improve global e‑commerce measurement.
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The growing demand for AI is reshaping the fortunes of the memory chip industry, according to leading manufacturers, who argue that the scale of AI investment is altering the sector’s typical boom-and-bust pattern.
The technology is creating more structural demand, rather than the sharp cyclical spikes that previously defined the market.
AI workloads depend heavily on robust memory systems, particularly as companies expand data centre capacity worldwide. Major chipmakers now expect steadier growth because AI models require vast data handling rather than one-off hardware surges.
Analysts suggest it could reduce the volatility that has often led to painful downturns for the industry.
Additionally, some reports claim that Japanese technology group Rakuten is prioritising low-cost AI development to improve profitability across its businesses.
Its AI leadership stresses the need to deploy systems that maximise margins instead of simply chasing capability for its own sake.
The developments underscore how AI is not only transforming software and services but also reshaping the economics of the hardware required to power them, from memory chips to cloud infrastructure on a global scale.
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ByteDance plans a major jump in AI spending next year as global chip access remains uncertain. The firm is preparing heavier investment in processors and infrastructure to support demanding models across its apps and cloud platforms.
The company is budgeting nearly nine billion pounds for AI chips despite strict US export rules. A potential trial purchase of Nvidia H200 hardware could expand its computing capacity if wider access is approved for Chinese firms.
Rivals in the US continue to outspend ByteDance, with large tech groups pouring hundreds of billions into data centres. Chinese platforms face tighter limits and are developing models that run efficiently with fewer resources.
ByteDance’s consumer AI ecosystem keeps accelerating, led by its Doubao chatbot and growing cloud business. Private ownership gives the firm flexibility to invest aggressively while placing AI at the heart of its long-term strategy.
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The Central Bank of Russia has introduced a detailed proposal aimed at bringing cryptocurrencies under a unified regulatory framework, marking a significant step towards formal legal recognition of digital assets.
Under the proposal, both qualified and non-qualified investors would be permitted to purchase cryptocurrencies. Investor status would be determined by factors such as education, professional background, income level, and asset holdings.
Non-qualified investors would be restricted to buying up to 300,000 roubles worth of crypto per year through authorised intermediaries.
Digital currencies and stablecoins would be classified as currency values under Russian law, yet their use as a means of payment for goods and services would remain prohibited. The framework maintains the state’s long-standing opposition to domestic crypto payments.
Russian residents would also gain the right to purchase and transfer crypto assets abroad, provided such transactions are reported to the Federal Tax Service. The central bank aims to finalise the legislative groundwork by 1 July 2026.
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