Future of work

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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Indonesia and Malaysia restrict access to Grok AI over content safeguards

Malaysia and Indonesia have restricted access to Grok, the AI chatbot available through the X platform, following concerns about its image generation capabilities.

Authorities said the tool had been used to create manipulated images depicting real individuals in sexually explicit contexts.

Regulatory bodies in Malaysia and Indonesia stated that the decision was based on the absence of sufficient safeguards to prevent misuse.

Requests for additional risk mitigation measures were communicated to the platform operator, with access expected to remain limited until further protections are introduced.

The move has drawn attention from regulators in other regions, where online safety frameworks allow intervention when digital services fail to address harmful content. Discussions have focused on platform responsibility, content moderation standards, and compliance with existing legal obligations.

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AI race shows diverging paths for China and the US

The US administration’s new AI action plan frames global development as an AI race with a single winner. Officials argue AI dominance brings economic, military, and geopolitical advantages. Experts say competition is unfolding across multiple domains.

The United States continues to lead in the development of advanced large language and multimodal models by firms such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. American companies also dominate global computing infrastructure. Control over high-end AI chips and data-centre capacity remains concentrated in US firms.

Chinese companies are narrowing the gap in the practical applications of AI. Models from Alibaba, DeepSeek, and Moonshot AI perform well in tasks such as translation, coding, and customer service. Performance at the cutting edge still lags behind US systems.

Washington’s decision to allow limited exports of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips to China reflects a belief that controlled sales can preserve US leadership. Critics argue the move risks weakening America’s computing advantage. Concerns persist over long-term strategic consequences.

Rather than a decisive victory for either side in the AI race, analysts foresee an era of asymmetric competition in AI. The United States may dominate advanced AI services, but China is expected to lead in large-scale industrial deployment within the evolving AI race.

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OpenAI and SoftBank back a $1 billion AI data centre energy partnership

SoftBank Group and OpenAI announced a strategic partnership with SB Energy, involving a combined investment of $1 billion to support the development of large-scale AI data centres and energy infrastructure in the US.

The agreement forms part of the broader Stargate initiative, which aims to expand domestic AI computing capacity.

As part of the arrangement, OpenAI signed a lease for a 1.2 gigawatt data centre project in Milam County, Texas, with SB Energy selected to develop and operate the facility.

The partners stated that the project is designed to support the rising demand for AI computing while minimising water usage and enhancing local energy supply.

SB Energy also secured an additional $800 million in redeemable preferred equity from Ares, strengthening its financial position for further expansion.

The companies stated that the collaboration is expected to generate construction employment, long-term operational roles and investment in grid modernisation, while establishing a scalable model for future AI-focused data centre developments.

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Meta backs US nuclear projects for AI growth

A series of agreements has been announced by Meta to support nuclear energy projects in the US, aiming to secure up to 6.6 gigawatts of clean and reliable electricity for data centres and AI infrastructure by 2035. The company said the move supports grid stability while reinforcing domestic energy capacity.

The agreements include support for existing nuclear facilities operated by Vistra in Ohio and Pennsylvania, as well as commitments to advanced reactor developers TerraPower and Oklo.

Meta stated that the arrangements are intended to extend the operational life of current plants while accelerating the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.

According to Meta, the projects are expected to generate thousands of construction roles and hundreds of long-term operational jobs, while contributing to the firm’s power to regional electricity grids.

The company added that energy costs associated with its data centres are fully covered through corporate agreements, instead of being passed on to US consumers.

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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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xAI plans $20 billion data centre investment in Mississippi

The US AI company, xAI, plans to establish a large-scale data centre in Southaven, Mississippi, representing an investment of more than $20 billion. The project is expected to create several hundred permanent jobs across DeSoto County.

xAI has acquired an existing facility that will be refurbished to support data centre operations, located near additional energy and computing infrastructure already linked to xAI.

Once operational, the Southaven site in the US is expected to expand the company’s overall computing capacity significantly.

State and local authorities approved incentive measures for the project, including tax exemptions available to certified data centres.

Officials indicated that the investment is expected to contribute to local tax revenues supporting public services and infrastructure, while operations are scheduled to begin in February 2026.

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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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BBC launches media literacy series for teenagers

BBC Children’s and Education has launched Solve The Story, a new series tackling online misinformation among teenagers. The six-part programme is designed for classroom use across UK schools.

The British series follows research showing teachers lack resources to teach critical thinking effectively. Surveys found teenagers struggle with online content volume, while one in three teachers find media literacy difficult to deliver.

Solve The Story uses mystery-style storytelling to help pupils question sources, spot deepfakes and challenge viral claims. Each episode includes practical classroom guides supporting teachers and lesson planning.

BBC figures say two thirds of teenagers worry about fake news causing confusion and stress. Educators argue AI-driven misinformation makes structured media literacy support increasingly urgent.

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