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Sydney set to become hub for AI innovation with Oracle centre

Oracle has launched the AI Customer Excellence Centre (AI CEC) in Sydney to help organisations adopt and scale AI technologies across Australia and Oceania. The centre will act as a hub for collaboration and skills, letting businesses test AI solutions in real-world settings.

The AI CEC provides access to Oracle and partner technologies, with flexible deployment options through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Organisations can receive training, test early-stage AI innovations, and pilot proof-of-concept projects in secure cloud environments.

The centre supports industries such as healthcare, public sector, financial services, and telecommunications, helping companies accelerate AI adoption while improving efficiency and decision-making.

Experts highlight the centre’s potential to bridge the gap between AI experimentation and measurable business impact. Rising compute demand shows AI moving from pilots to production, while hands-on testing helps organisations reduce risk and validate initiatives.

Oracle plans to continue collaborating with governments, partners, and industry to ensure responsible, secure, and trustworthy AI adoption, reinforcing Australia’s position as a leader in the digital economy.

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Tokenised assets set to transform European capital markets

Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at an event on ‘Building Europe’s integrated digital asset ecosystem: from vision to implementation,’ highlighted Europe’s progress in tokenised financial markets.

Since 2021, European issuers have placed nearly €4 billion in DLT-based fixed-income instruments, including the first digital sovereign debt by EU Member States. Eurosystem trials in 2024 processed €1.6 billion in transactions, showing strong demand for central bank money settlement in digital markets.

Tokenisation enables the full lifecycle of transactions on distributed ledgers, often automated through smart contracts.

Fragmentation across DLT platforms and the absence of a widely accepted on-chain settlement asset are holding back market expansion. Private assets, including stablecoins, carry volatility and credit risks, making a central bank money anchor crucial.

The Pontes platform, launching in Q3 2026, is expected to provide secure settlement across DLT platforms and TARGET services, supporting features like smart contracts and 24/7 operation.

The Appia roadmap outlines a longer-term vision for an integrated European tokenised ecosystem by 2028, covering technical standards, interoperability, collateral management, and cross-border connectivity.

Collaboration between the public and private sectors is critical. Feedback from 64 industry participants shaped Pontes, while Appia engages stakeholders to establish standards and ensure interoperability.

Harmonised legal frameworks are equally important to reduce post-trade fragmentation and support seamless asset transfers across EU Member States. Without coordinated laws, tokenised markets risk inefficiency despite advanced technology.

Europe is building momentum but faces intense global competition. Secure settlement, stakeholder collaboration, and legal harmonisation could make the EU a leader in digital finance with a single tokenised market.

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Pinterest chief calls for stricter youth rules

The chief executive of Pinterest has voiced support for governments banning access to social media for people under 16. He cited rising concerns about mental health, screen addiction and online harms among young users.

He praised the Australian decision to ban social media for under-16s and urged other nations to adopt similar protections. He argued that existing tech safety measures have fallen short of keeping children secure online.

The executive warned that AI enhancements in social platforms may amplify behavioural influence on teens. He compared the inaction by tech companies to past resistance by harmful industries to public health safeguards.

He also highlighted surveys showing parental worries about explicit content and excessive screen time. Pinterest’s view supports calls for clear age limits, better tools for parents and stronger platform accountability.

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AI improves stroke care and reduces patient risks in major study

The system, which analyses medical scans and provides treatment recommendations, was associated with better outcomes compared with standard approaches to stroke care. Researchers said the tool offers a more efficient and scalable method for improving treatment, particularly in resource-constrained healthcare systems.

The findings are based on more than 21,000 patients treated across 77 hospitals in China. Patients supported by the AI-driven clinical decision support system experienced fewer new vascular events, including stroke recurrence, heart attack, or related death, over follow-up periods of up to 12 months.

At three months, new vascular events occurred in 2.9% of patients using the system, compared with 3.9% in those receiving usual care, representing a 26% reduction. The benefit persisted at 12 months, with rates of 4% in the intervention group versus 5.5% in the control group.

Patients receiving AI-supported treatment also showed improved performance on key stroke care quality measures, although no significant differences were observed in disability, mortality, or bleeding outcomes between the groups.

Researchers noted limitations, including the study design, which randomised hospitals rather than individual patients, and potential differences in follow-up care. However, they highlighted the system’s ease of integration into hospital workflows and its potential to strengthen stroke care delivery and long-term prevention strategies.

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AI added to St Helens council strategic risk register

In the UK, the St Helens Council has added AI and digital disruption to its strategic risk register as it seeks to strengthen governance and oversight. The change reflects growing concern about how emerging technologies could affect operations and services.

The updated register, now featuring 12 strategic risks, was presented ahead of the audit and governance committee meeting. UK officials said effective risk management is vital to meeting the council’s objectives and mitigating potential challenges.

AI and digital disruption were cited for the first time alongside risks linked to extreme weather and community cohesion. The council noted that ethical, data privacy and workforce confidence issues are among the challenges associated with integrating AI into public services.

Leaders said other risks, including cybersecurity threats and budget pressures, remain under review. The move comes as local authorities across the UK weigh the impacts of new technologies on service delivery and strategic planning.

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Scotland sets up national AI agency

The Scottish government has launched a dedicated national agency to drive AI strategy and support local tech companies. Leaders say this effort could help boost the economy and establish the nation as a hub for AI development.

Scotland’s strategy highlights existing tech firms and data projects, including plans for major computing campuses and partnerships with global technology companies. Several research institutions and supercomputing initiatives are contributing to innovation.

Healthcare is a focus for AI adoption, with studies showing that AI tools could improve cancer detection, speed up diagnoses, and reduce workload. Academic projects also aim to develop tools to detect early signs of dementia.

Scottish government officials have acknowledged ethical, workforce and environmental concerns around AI deployment. They say policies will include responsible use, job planning and efforts to maximise renewable energy in support of data infrastructure.

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Europe boosts AI, talent and investment to compete with US and China

Efforts to strengthen technological competitiveness in Europe focus on advancing AI capabilities, developing new forms of talent and improving access to investment.

Discussions at the CTx Tech Experience in Seville highlighted a growing consensus that innovation must scale more effectively if the region is to compete globally.

Participants emphasised that Europe continues to face structural challenges, including fragmented markets, regulatory complexity and limited capital for high-growth companies.

These constraints have made it more difficult for startups to expand, prompting calls for stronger coordination between public institutions and private investors.

AI is increasingly viewed as the foundation of the transformation. Industry leaders pointed to the emergence of new business opportunities driven by AI, alongside the need to translate innovation into scalable commercial outcomes.

At the same time, labour market dynamics are shifting towards hybrid skillsets that combine technical expertise with business understanding and critical thinking.

In such a context, strengthening Europe’s innovation capacity is seen as essential to competing with global powers such as the US and China.

As technological competition intensifies, the ability to align talent, capital and policy frameworks will play a decisive role in shaping the region’s position within the global digital economy.

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US releases national AI policy framework

The Trump Administration unveiled a national AI framework to boost competitiveness, security, and benefits for Americans. The plan seeks to ensure that AI innovation supports all citizens while maintaining public trust in the technology.

Six key objectives form the foundation of the policy. These include protecting children online, empowering parents with tools to manage digital safety, strengthening communities and small businesses, respecting intellectual property, defending free speech, and fostering innovation.

The framework also prioritises workforce development to prepare Americans for AI-driven job opportunities.

Federal uniformity is considered critical to the plan’s success. The Administration warns that a patchwork of state regulations could stifle innovation and reduce the United States’ ability to lead globally.

Congress is encouraged to collaborate closely to implement the framework nationwide.

The Administration emphasises that the United States must lead the AI race, ensuring the benefits of AI reach all Americans while addressing challenges such as privacy, security, and equitable access to opportunities.

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Terafab initiative from Elon Musk targets AI and space computing

Elon Musk unveiled his ambitious Terafab project in Austin, describing it as the ‘most epic chip-building exercise in history.’ The initiative, led by Tesla, xAI, and SpaceX, aims to produce 1 trillion watts of compute power annually, much of it intended for space applications.

The project will start with a state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility in Austin, supporting AI development, humanoid robotics, and space data centres. Musk highlighted current supply chain limitations, stating that building Terafab is essential to secure the chips his companies need.

Musk also shared his vision for a future shaped by ‘amazing abundance.’ Plans include launching satellites from the lunar surface and enabling civilian space travel to destinations such as Saturn, blending cutting-edge technology with long-term space ambitions.

Terafab represents a bold attempt to merge AI, robotics, and space exploration, positioning Musk’s companies at the forefront of next-generation technology and extraterrestrial innovation.

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EU lawmakers call for faster enforcement of digital competition rules

Members of the European Parliament are calling for more rapid progress in implementing the bloc’s digital competition framework, with particular focus on the Digital Markets Act.

In a recent resolution, lawmakers urged the European Commission to ensure timely and effective enforcement of the rules designed to regulate large online platforms. The legislation aims to address concerns around market dominance and promote fair competition across the digital economy.

The discussions reflect ongoing concerns that delays in enforcement could undermine the framework’s effectiveness, particularly as major technology companies continue to expand their influence. Platforms such as Google, Apple and Meta are among those expected to comply with the new obligations.

At the same time, policymakers are balancing regulatory oversight with the need to maintain innovation and competitiveness. The debate forms part of a broader effort in the EU to strengthen digital governance and reinforce the region’s position in global technology markets.

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