Economic

SK Telecom introduces South Korea’s first hyperscale AI model

The telecommunications firm, SK Telecom, is preparing to unveil A.X K1, Korea’s first hyperscale language model built with 519 billion parameters.

Around 33 billion parameters are activated during inference, so the AI model can keep strong performance instead of demanding excessive computing power. The project is part of a national initiative involving universities and industry partners.

The company expects A.X K1 to outperform smaller systems in complex reasoning, mathematics and multilingual understanding, while also supporting code generation and autonomous AI agents.

At such a scale, the model can operate as a teacher system that transfers knowledge to smaller, domain-specific tools that might directly improve daily services and industrial processes.

Unlike many global models trained mainly in English, A.X K1 has been trained in Korean from the outset so it naturally understands local language, culture and context.

SK Telecom plans to deploy the model through its AI service Adot, which already has more than 10 million subscribers, allowing access via calls, messages, the web and mobile apps.

The company foresees applications in workplace productivity, manufacturing optimisation, gaming dialogue, robotics and semiconductor performance testing.

Research will continue so the model can support the wider AI ecosystem of South Korea, and SK Telecom plans to open-source A.X K1 along with an API to help local developers create new AI agents.

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Trust Wallet urges update after $7 million hack

Trust Wallet has urged users to update its Google Chrome extension after a security breach affecting version 2.68 resulted in the theft of roughly $7 million. The company confirmed it will refund all impacted users and advised downloading version 2.69 immediately.

Mobile users and other browser extension versions were unaffected.

Blockchain security firms revealed that malicious code in version 2.68 harvested wallet mnemonic phrases, sending decrypted credentials to an attacker‑controlled server.

Around $3 million in Bitcoin, $431 in Solana, and more than $3 million in Ethereum were stolen and moved through centralised exchanges and cross‑chain bridges for laundering. Hundreds of users were affected.

Analysts suggest the incident may involve an insider or a nation-state actor, exploiting leaked Chrome Web Store API keys.

Trust Wallet has launched a support process for victims and warned against impersonation scams. CEO Eowyn Chen said the malicious extension bypassed the standard release checks and that investigation and remediation are ongoing.

The incident highlights ongoing security risks for browser-based cryptocurrency wallets and the importance of user vigilance, including avoiding unofficial links and never sharing recovery phrases.

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New AI directorates signal Türkiye’s push for AI

Türkiye has announced new measures to expand its AI ecosystem and strengthen public-sector adoption of the technology. The changes were published in the Official Gazette, according to Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir.

The Ministry’s Directorate General of National Technology has been renamed the Directorate General of National Technology and AI. The unit will oversee policies on data centres, cloud infrastructure, certification standards, and regulatory processes.

The directorate will also coordinate national AI governance, support startups and research, and promote the ethical and reliable use of AI. Its remit includes expanding data capacity, infrastructure, workforce development, and international cooperation.

Separately, a Public AI Directorate General has been established under the Presidency’s Cybersecurity Directorate. The new body will guide the use of AI across government institutions and lead regulatory work on public-sector AI applications.

Officials say the unit will align national legislation with international frameworks and set standards for data governance and shared data infrastructure. The government aims to position Türkiye as a leading country in the development of AI.

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Phishing scam targets India’s drivers in large-scale e-Challan cyberattack

Cybercriminals are exploiting trust in India’s traffic enforcement systems by using fake e-Challan portals to steal financial data from vehicle owners. The campaign relies on phishing websites that closely mimic official government platforms.

Researchers at Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs say the operation marks a shift away from malware towards phishing-based deception delivered through web browsers. More than 36 fraudulent websites have been linked to the campaign, which targets users across India through SMS messages.

Victims receive alerts claiming unpaid traffic fines, often accompanied by warnings of licence suspension or legal action. The messages include links directing users to fake portals displaying fabricated violations and small penalty amounts, with no connection to government databases.

The sites restrict payments to credit and debit cards, prompting users to enter full card details. Investigators found that repeated payment attempts allow attackers to collect multiple sets of sensitive information from a single victim.

Researchers say the infrastructure is shared with broader phishing schemes that impersonate courier services, banks, and transportation platforms. Security experts advise users to verify fines only through official websites and to avoid clicking on links in unsolicited messages.

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La Poste suffers DDoS attack as Noname057 claims responsibility

Authorities in France are responding to a significant cyber incident after a pro-Russian hacker group, Noname057, claimed responsibility for a distributed denial-of-service attack on the national postal service, La Poste.

The attack began on 22 December and forced core computer systems offline, delaying parcel deliveries during the busy Christmas period instead of allowing normal operations to continue.

According to reports, standard letter delivery was not affected. However, postal staff lost the ability to track parcels, and customers experienced disruptions when using online payment services connected to La Banque Postale.

Recovery work was still underway several days later, underscoring the increasing reliance of critical services on uninterrupted digital infrastructure.

Noname057 has previously been linked to cyberattacks across Europe, mainly targeting Ukraine and countries seen as supportive of Kyiv instead of neutral states.

Europol led a significant operation against the group earlier in the year, with the US Department of Justice also involved, highlighting growing international coordination against cross-border cybercrime.

The incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of essential logistics networks and public-facing services to coordinated cyber disruption. European authorities continue to assess long-term resilience measures to protect citizens and core services from future attacks.

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How AI in 2026 will transform management roles and organisational design

In 2026, AI will transform management structures and automate tasks as companies strive to demonstrate real value. By 2026, AI is expected to move beyond experimentation and pilot projects and begin reshaping how companies are actually run.

According to researchers and professors at IMD, the focus will shift from testing AI tools to redesigning organisational structures, decision-making processes, and management roles themselves. After several years of hype-driven investment, many companies are now under pressure to show clear returns from AI.

Those that remain stuck in proof-of-concept mode risk falling behind competitors who are willing to make more significant operational changes. Several corporate functions are set to become AI native by the end of the year.

Human roles in these areas will focus more on interpersonal judgement, oversight and complex decision-making, while software forms the operational backbone. Workforce structures are also likely to change. Middle management roles are expected to shrink gradually as AI systems take over reporting, forecasting and coordination tasks.

At the same time, risks associated with AI are growing. Highly realistic synthetic media is expected to fuel a rise in misinformation, exposing organisations to reputational and governance challenges. To respond, companies will need faster monitoring systems, clearer crisis-response protocols and closer cooperation with digital platforms to counter fabricated content.

Economic uncertainty is adding further pressure. Organisations that remain stuck in pilot mode may be forced to scale back, while those committing to bigger operational change are expected to gain an advantage.

Operational areas are expected to deliver the highest returns on investment. Supply chains, core operations and internal processes are expected to outperform customer-facing applications in efficiency, resilience and cost reduction.

As a result, chief operating officers may emerge as the most influential leaders of AI within executive teams. Ultimately, by 2026, competitive advantage will depend less on whether a company uses advanced AI and more on how deliberately it integrates these systems into everyday decision-making, roles, and organisational structures.

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EU targets addictive gaming features

Video gaming has become one of Europe’s most prominent entertainment industries, surpassing a niche hobby, with over half the population regularly engaging in it.

As the sector grows, the EU lawmakers are increasingly worried about addictive game design and manipulative features that push players to spend more time and money online.

Much of the concern focuses on loot boxes, where players pay for random digital rewards that resemble gambling mechanics. Studies and parliamentary reports warn that children may be particularly vulnerable, with some lawmakers calling for outright bans on paid loot boxes and premium in-game currencies.

The European Commission is examining how far design choices contribute to digital addiction and whether games are exploiting behavioural weaknesses rather than offering fair entertainment.

Officials say the risk is higher for minors, who may not fully understand how engagement-driven systems are engineered.

The upcoming Digital Fairness Act aims to strengthen consumer protection across online services, rather than leaving families to navigate the risks alone. However, as negotiations continue, the debate over how tightly gaming should be regulated is only just beginning.

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IMF calls for stronger AI regulation in global securities markets

Regulators worldwide are being urged to adopt stronger oversight frameworks for AI in capital markets after an IMF technical note warned that rapid AI adoption could reshape securities trading while increasing systemic risk.

AI brings major efficiency gains in asset management and high-frequency trading instead of slower, human-led processes, yet opacity, market volatility, cyber threats and model concentration remain significant concerns.

The IMF warns that AI could create powerful data oligopolies where only a few firms can train the strongest models, while autonomous trading agents may unintentionally collude by widening spreads without explicit coordination.

Retail investors also face rising exposure to AI washing, where financial firms exaggerate or misrepresent AI capability, making transparency, accountability and human-in-the-loop review essential safeguards.

Supervisory authorities are encouraged to scale their own AI capacity through SupTech tools for automated surveillance and social-media sentiment monitoring.

The note highlights India as a key case study, given the dominance of algorithmic trading and SEBI’s early reporting requirements for AI and machine learning. The IMF also points to the National Stock Exchange’s use of AI in fraud detection as an emerging-market model for resilient monitoring infrastructure.

The report underlines the need for regulators to prepare for AI-driven market shocks, strengthen governance obligations on regulated entities and build specialist teams capable of understanding model risk instead of reacting only after misconduct or misinformation harms investors.

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Agentic AI, digital twins, and intelligent wearables reshape security operations in 2026

Operational success in security technology is increasingly being judged through measurable performance rather than early-stage novelty.

As 2026 approaches, Agentic AI, digital twins and intelligent wearables are moving from research concepts into everyday operational roles, reshaping how security functions are designed and delivered.

Agentic AI is no longer limited to demonstrations. Instead of simple automation, autonomous agents now analyse video feeds, access data and sensor logs to investigate incidents and propose mitigation steps for human approval.

Adoption is accelerating worldwide, particularly in Singapore, where most business leaders already view Agentic AI as essential for maintaining competitiveness. The technology is becoming embedded in workflows rather than used as an experimental add-on.

Digital twins are also reaching maturity. Instead of being static models, they now mirror complex environments such as ports, airports and high-rise estates, allowing organisations to simulate emergencies, plan resource deployment, and optimise systems in real time.

Wearables and AR tools are undergoing a similar shift, acting as intelligent companions that interpret the environment and provide timely guidance, rather than operating as passive recording devices.

The direction of travel is clear. Security work is becoming more predictive, interconnected and immersive.

Organisations most likely to benefit are those that prioritise integration, simulation and augmentation, while measuring outcomes through KPIs such as response speed, false-positive reduction and decision confidence instead of chasing technological novelty.

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Drones and AI take over Christmas tree farms

Across Christmas tree farms, drones and AI are beginning to replace manual counting and field inspections.

Growers in Denmark and North Carolina are now mapping plantations using AI-driven image analysis instead of relying on workers walking the fields for days.

Systems can recognise and measure each tree, give it a digital ID and track health and growth over time, helping farmers plan harvests and sales more accurately.

The technology is proving particularly valuable in large or difficult terrain. Some plantations in North Carolina sit on steep slopes where machinery and people face higher risks, so farmers are turning to laser-scanning drones and heavy-duty robotic mowers instead of traditional equipment.

Experts say the move saves time, improves safety and reduces labour needs, while accuracy rates can reach as high as 98 percent.

Adoption still depends on cost, aviation rules and staff training, so smaller farms may struggle to keep pace. Yet interest continues to rise as equipment becomes cheaper and growers grow more comfortable with digital tools.

Many industry specialists now see AI-enabled drones as everyday agricultural equipment rather than experimental gadgets.

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