More than 100 organisations, including Amnesty International and the AI Now Institute, have called on the AI industry and regulators to address the technology’s growing environmental impact. In an open letter published ahead of a major AI conference in Paris, the signatories highlight concerns over emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and resource depletion caused by AI infrastructure.
The letter urges tech companies and governments to ensure that data centres operate without fossil fuels, warning that electricity demand from AI could double by 2026, reaching levels equivalent to Japan‘s annual consumption. The expansion of AI infrastructure is also straining water and land resources, with data centres requiring vast amounts of water for cooling and humidity control. Transparency on AI’s full environmental impact is another key demand.
Despite these warnings, the US government appears committed to AI expansion, with President Donald Trump pushing for faster approvals of new power stations, including those reliant on coal. The letter’s signatories stress that unchecked AI growth disproportionately affects communities most vulnerable to climate change and call for a shift towards responsible and sustainable AI development.
Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest carmaker, has announced an expanded partnership with French AI firm Mistral. The move aims to accelerate the company’s ability to analyse industry data, improving decision-making speed. The integration of AI is becoming more common in the automotive sector, with many manufacturers using the technology to assess customer feedback and monitor manufacturing quality.
Ned Curic, Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, noting that it enables the company to perform data analysis in minutes rather than weeks. This rapid processing allows for quicker decision-making, improving operational efficiency.
This strategic shift comes shortly after Stellantis underwent management changes following the unexpected departure of CEO Carlos Tavares in December. The restructuring appears to be part of a broader effort to streamline operations and better position the company for the future.
Britain’s security officials have reportedly ordered Apple to create a so-called ‘back door’ to access all content uploaded to the cloud by its users worldwide. The demand, revealed by The Washington Post, could force Apple to compromise its security promises to customers. Sources suggest the company may opt to stop offering encrypted storage in the UK rather than comply with the order.
Apple has not yet responded to requests for comment outside of regular business hours. The Home Office has served Apple with a technical capability notice, which would require the company to grant access to the requested data. However, a spokesperson from the Home Office declined to confirm or deny the existence of such a notice.
In January, Britain initiated an investigation into the operating systems of Apple and Google, as well as their app stores and browsers. The ongoing regulatory scrutiny highlights growing tensions between tech giants and governments over privacy and security concerns.
OpenAI announced on Thursday that it is evaluating US states as potential locations for data centres supporting its ambitious Stargate project, which aims to secure the US’s lead in the global AI race. The project is seen as crucial for ensuring that AI development remains democratic and open, rather than falling under authoritarian control, according to Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer.
Stargate, a venture backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, Oracle, and other investors, is set to receive up to $500 billion for AI infrastructure. A significant portion of this investment, $100 billion, will be deployed immediately, with the rest scheduled over the next few years. Texas has been designated as the flagship location for Stargate’s data centres. An initial site under construction in Abilene is expected to begin operations later this year.
The announcement follows the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that challenges the traditional view that AI development requires large, specialised data centres. DeepSeek’s use of cheaper chips has raised concerns among investors, leading to a significant drop in tech stock values, including a record $593 billion loss for Nvidia, the leading AI chipmaker.
OpenAI is considering data centre locations in approximately 16 states, with plans to expand the Stargate network to five to ten campuses in the coming months.
Tether and Reelly Tech have joined forces to integrate USDT into real estate transactions across the UAE. Their collaboration aims to enhance efficiency in property deals while educating real estate agents on the benefits of stablecoins. Reelly Tech, which connects over 30,000 agents globally, will work with Tether to launch an interactive educational series on USDT’s role in the market.
The initiative comes as the UAE’s real estate sector experiences record growth, with off-plan sales value reaching 283 billion AED in 2024, a 27.5% increase from the previous year. By positioning USDT as a reliable financial tool, the partnership seeks to provide seamless and secure property transactions for buyers, developers, and agents.
Tether has been expanding its presence in the region, supporting blockchain education and digital asset adoption through partnerships like its collaboration with RAK DAO. CEO Paolo Ardoino highlighted the UAE’s leadership in digital assets, calling it the ideal hub for innovation. In August 2024, Tether also announced plans to launch a stablecoin pegged to the UAE dirham, further strengthening its role in the region’s evolving financial landscape.
The Bank of Papua New Guinea has completed its trial for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and is now exploring the next steps for digital payments. The project, conducted with partners including Soramitsu, Mitsubishi, and the Japanese government, aimed to improve financial inclusion, strengthen security, and modernise the country’s payment system.
The trial took place in a controlled environment, allowing authorities to assess both the benefits and challenges of a CBDC. While the results were promising, the central bank highlighted the need to address legal and regulatory gaps before considering a wider rollout. Governor Elizabeth Genia emphasised the importance of engaging more financial institutions and expanding research into cross-border transactions.
Papua New Guinea has been actively exploring blockchain technology since 2018, previously testing digital identity solutions and fintech regulations. Soramitsu, who played a key role in Cambodia’s successful CBDC launch, believes a state-backed digital currency could provide a traceable and efficient financial system. The central bank is now looking at international partnerships to further develop its digital payment infrastructure.
French AI company Mistral has partnered with US chipmaker Cerebras Systems to achieve what it claims is a record-breaking AI response speed. Backed by UAE tech conglomerate G42, Cerebras is providing the computing power behind Mistral’s new AI assistant, which reportedly delivers responses at 1,000 words per second.
The newly launched app, Le Chat, positions Mistral as a major competitor to OpenAI, Meta, and China’s DeepSeek in the open-source AI race. Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman highlighted that delivering faster and more accurate responses is now a key focus for AI development, requiring more computing power during inference.
Cerebras, known for challenging Nvidia in AI model training, has been expanding its presence in AI applications despite delays in its initial public offering due to US government reviews. Its collaboration with Mistral marks a significant milestone, as it is the first major partnership with a leading AI model developer.
Potential candidates for Donald Trump’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets have emerged, with leading crypto executives vying for spots on the advisory council. Figures such as Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, and Circle’s Jeremy Allaire are reportedly in the running, though the final list remains uncertain.
Trump’s executive order establishing the council was seen as a major shift in the US government’s stance on digital assets. The order also calls for research into a strategic digital asset reserve—potentially including Bitcoin—while explicitly banning the development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
The advisory group will include officials from key government agencies, such as the Treasury and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, but will exclude personnel from the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. The decision was welcomed by crypto advocates, who have accused these institutions of stifling the industry. Meanwhile, the FDIC recently released hundreds of pages of documents revealing its scrutiny of crypto firms, further fuelling debate over regulatory policies.
France and the United Arab Emirates have reached an agreement to develop a 1 gigawatt artificial intelligence data centre, with investments estimated between $30 billion and $50 billion. President Emmanuel Macron met with Emirati leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Paris to discuss the project, ahead of an upcoming AI summit.
The February 10-11 summit will bring together representatives from around 100 countries, aiming to highlight France and Europe’s role in the AI sector. The initiative is part of broader efforts to compete with the US and China, which currently dominate the industry. Both nations expressed their commitment to strategic AI collaboration and future investments in the sector.
Planned investments will cover AI advancements in France and the UAE, including high-performance chips, data centres, and talent development. The agreement also involves creating virtual data embassies to strengthen cloud and AI sovereignty. The first investment announcements are expected at the Choose France summit later this year.
The French government has identified 35 potential sites for AI data centres, supporting the country’s ambition to become a major AI hub.
Czech President Petr Pavel recently signed a bill that exempts cryptocurrency users from paying taxes on long-term gains. Under the new legislation, crypto assets held for over three years will not be taxed when sold, and transactions up to CZK 100,000 (around $4,136) annually won’t require reporting on tax declarations, similar to securities.
The reform is part of the Czech Republic’s Digitalization of the Financial Markets Act, which is nearing its final stages. The bill will be officially published within the next week or two. As a member of the European Union, this move is seen as a significant step for the country’s crypto sector.
In a related development, the Czech National Bank recently approved a proposal by its governor to consider adding assets like Bitcoin to its reserves. However, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed her opposition, stating that she doesn’t foresee Bitcoin entering the reserves of EU central banks.
