PayPal has launched its tap-to-pay feature for iPhone users in Germany, allowing contactless payments at terminals that support Mastercard.
The rollout follows pressure from the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, which forced Apple to open up its NFC chip to third-party apps.
Currently, the feature is exclusive to iPhones and does not support Apple Watch. It mirrors earlier moves by other apps like Norway’s Vipps, which began using Apple’s newly accessible NFC hardware late last year.
Apple has also started expanding NFC access globally, enabling developers to integrate in-app payments and allowing businesses to accept contactless payments via iPhones using third-party apps like Venmo and PayPal Zettle.
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Amazon has announced a new partnership with Humain, an AI company launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to invest over $5 billion in creating an ‘AI Zone’ in the kingdom.
The project will feature Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, including servers, networks, and training programmes, while Humain will develop AI tools using AWS and support Saudi startups with access to resources.
A move like this adds Amazon to a growing list of tech firms—such as Nvidia and AMD—that are working with Humain, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. American companies like Google and Salesforce have also recently turned to the PIF for funding and AI collaborations.
Under a new initiative supported by former US President Donald Trump, US tech firms can now pursue deals with Saudi-based partners more freely.
Instead of relying on foreign data centres, Saudi Arabia has required AI providers to store data locally, prompting companies like Google, Oracle, and now Amazon to expand operations within the region.
Amazon has already committed $5.3 billion to build an AWS region in Saudi Arabia by 2026, and says the AI Zone partnership is a separate, additional investment.
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TikTok has launched ‘AI Alive,’ its first image-to-video feature that allows users to transform static photos into animated short videos within TikTok Stories.
Accessible only through the Story Camera, the tool applies AI-driven movement and effects—like shifting skies, drifting clouds, or expressive animations—to bring photos to life.
Unlike text-to-image tools found on Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok’s latest feature takes visual storytelling further by enabling full video generation from single images. Although Snapchat plans to introduce a similar function, TikTok has moved ahead with this innovation.
All AI Alive videos will carry an AI-generated label and include C2PA metadata to ensure transparency, even when shared beyond the platform.
TikTok emphasises safety, noting that every AI Alive video undergoes several moderation checks before it appears to creators.
Uploaded photos, prompts, and generated videos are reviewed to prevent rule-breaking content. Users can report violations, and final safety reviews are conducted before public sharing.
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Coinbase has invested an undisclosed amount in Canadian stablecoin issuer Stablecorp. The move aims to strengthen the local stablecoin market and make tokenised Canadian dollars more accessible.
During the Blockchain Futurist Conference in Toronto, Coinbase Canada’s Chief Executive Officer, Lucas Matheson, discussed how the exchange would support Stablecorp’s fiat-collateralised stablecoin, QCAD.
Matheson highlighted the need for a Canadian stablecoin due to the country’s lack of peer-to-peer payment systems and costly wire transfers. Stablecoins, he argued, could enable 24/7, instant, and borderless payments, which are already feasible with current technology.
However, adoption faces regulatory challenges in Canada. The country has yet to define a clear framework for fiat-backed stablecoins. Coinbase has urged the government to classify these assets as payment instruments, not securities, in line with US regulations.
Coinbase’s investment comes as Canada continues to navigate its digital asset stance under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who remains critical of cryptocurrencies.
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Harvey, the fast-growing legal AI startup backed early by the OpenAI Startup Fund, is now embracing foundation models from Google and Anthropic instead of relying solely on OpenAI’s.
In a recent blog post, the company said it would expand its AI model options after internal benchmarks showed that different tools excel at different legal tasks.
The shift marks a notable win for OpenAI’s competitors, even though Harvey insists it’s not abandoning OpenAI. Its in-house benchmark, BigLaw, revealed that several non-OpenAI models now outperform Harvey’s original system on specific legal functions.
For instance, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro performs well at legal drafting, while OpenAI’s o3 and Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet are better suited for complex pre-trial work.
Instead of building its own models, Harvey now aims to fine-tune top-tier offerings from multiple vendors, including through Amazon’s cloud. The company also plans to launch a public legal benchmark leaderboard, combining expert legal reviews with technical metrics.
While OpenAI remains a close partner and investor, Harvey’s broader strategy signals growing competition in the race to serve the legal industry with AI.
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SoftBank Group reported a 124% surge in quarterly profit, driven by booming AI demand that lifted chip sales and startup valuations. Net income reached ¥517.18 billion ($3.5 billion) in the fiscal fourth quarter, with the Vision Fund swinging back to a profit of ¥26.1 billion.
The results provide momentum for SoftBank’s ambitions to invest heavily in OpenAI and US-based AI infrastructure. Plans include a $30 billion stake in OpenAI and leading a $100 billion push into data centres under the Stargate project, which could eventually grow to $500 billion.
However, investor caution amid tariffs and tech protectionism has delayed detailed financing discussions. Despite these hurdles, SoftBank’s chip unit Arm Holdings has benefited from rising global AI investments, even as near-term forecasts remain mixed.
For the full year, SoftBank earned ¥1.15 trillion, reversing a significant loss from the previous year. The company continues to navigate risks tied to the volatile tech start-up market, especially as Vision Fund portfolio firms go public in India.
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Chinese start-up AgiBot is leading the charge in humanoid robotics, using data-intensive training to develop machines capable of everyday tasks like folding clothes and making sandwiches.
Backed by strong government support and over $20 billion in recent subsidies, China sees these AI-powered robots as a way to maintain its manufacturing edge amid demographic decline and global trade tensions. President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to AgiBot underlined the political significance of this push.
Humanoid robots in China are rapidly advancing beyond demonstration, with models already performing somersaults and quality checks on production lines. With the cost of components falling and state-backed funding expanding, firms like Unitree and UBTech are entering or preparing for mass production.
Analysts predict global sales of humanoid robots could reach one million annually by 2030, with China dominating both manufacturing and the underlying supply chains. The rise of humanoids has raised concerns over job displacement in a nation with over 120 million factory workers.
Lawmakers are debating AI-related unemployment insurance, while others argue robots can fill roles that are dull, dangerous or undesirable. The technology is also being positioned as a solution for elderly care, with firms like Ant Lingbo developing service robots for ageing populations.
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Google is internally testing an advanced AI tool designed to support software engineers through the entire development cycle, according to The Information. The firm is also expected to demonstrate integration between its Gemini chatbot in voice mode and Android-powered XR headsets.
The agentic AI assistant is said to handle tasks such as code generation and documentation, and has already been previewed to staff and developers ahead of Google’s I/O conference on 20 May. The move reflects a wider trend among tech giants racing to automate programming.
Amazon is developing its own coding assistant, Kiro, which can process both text and visual inputs, detect bugs, and auto-document code. While AWS initially targeted a June launch, the current release date remains uncertain.
Microsoft and Google have claimed that around 30% of their code is now AI-generated. OpenAI is also eyeing expansion, reportedly in talks to acquire AI coding start-up Windsurf for $3 billion.
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Marks & Spencer has confirmed that hackers accessed personal customer information in a cyber-attack that began in late April. The retailer stated that no payment details or account passwords were compromised, and there is currently no evidence the stolen data has been shared.
Customers will be prompted to reset their passwords as a precaution. Chief executive Stuart Machin called the breach a result of a sophisticated attack and apologised for the disruption, which has impacted online orders, app functionality, and some in-store services.
Although stores remain open, the company has been unable to process online purchases since 25 April. A hacking group known as Scattered Spider is believed to be behind the incident.
M&S has contacted affected customers and provided guidance on online safety. The company said it is working ‘around the clock’ to resolve the issue and restore normal operations. Customers are thanked for their patience and continued support.
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The US Department of Commerce has scrapped the Biden administration’s Artificial Intelligence Diffusion Rule just days before it was due to come into force.
Introduced in January, the rule would have restricted the export of US-made AI chips to many countries for the first time, while reinforcing existing controls.
Rather than enforcing broad restrictions, the Department now intends to pursue direct negotiations with individual countries.
The original rule divided the world into three tiers, with countries like Japan and South Korea spared restrictions, middle-tier countries such as Mexico and Portugal facing new limits, and nations like China and Russia subject to tighter controls.
According to Bloomberg, a replacement rule is expected at a later date.
Instead of issuing immediate new regulations, officials released industry guidance warning companies against using Huawei’s Ascend AI chips and highlighted the risks of allowing US chips to train AI in China.
Secretary Jeffrey Kessler criticised the Biden-era policy, promising a ‘bold, inclusive’ AI strategy that works with allies while limiting access for adversaries.
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