Key Internet developments

Young people worry about jobs and inflation

Rising living costs and economic instability are the biggest worries for young people worldwide. A World Economic Forum survey shows inflation dominates personal and global concerns.

Many young people fear that AI-driven automation will shrink entry-level job opportunities. Two-thirds expect fewer early career roles despite growing engagement with AI tools.

Nearly 60 per cent already use AI to build skills and improve employability. Side hustles and freelance work are increasingly common responses to economic pressure.

Youth respondents call for quality jobs, better education access and affordable housing. Climate change also ranks among the most serious long-term global risks.

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Concerns grow over planned EU-US biometrics deal

The EU has agreed to open talks with the US on sharing sensitive traveller data. The discussions aim to preserve visa-free travel for European citizens.

The proposal is called ‘Enhanced Border Security Partnership‘, and it could allow transfers of biometric data and other sensitive personal information. Legal experts warn that unclear limits may widen access beyond travellers alone.

EU governments have authorised the European Commission to negotiate a shared framework. Member states would later settle details through bilateral agreements with Washington.

Academics and privacy advocates are calling for stronger safeguards and transparency. EU officials insist data protection limits will form part of any final agreement.

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Google expands AI shopping through Gemini

Google is expanding shopping features inside its Gemini chatbot through partnerships with Walmart and other retailers. Users will be able to browse and buy products without leaving the chat interface.

An instant checkout function allows purchases through linked accounts and selected payment providers. Walmart customers can receive personalised recommendations based on previous shopping activity.

The move was announced at the latest National Retail Federation convention in New York. Tech groups are racing to turn AI assistants into end-to-end retail tools.

Google said the service will launch first in the US before international expansion. Payments initially rely on Google-linked cards, with PayPal support planned.

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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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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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Robotics industry sets out key trends for 2026

The global market for industrial robot installations has reached a record value of $16.7bn in 2025. The International Federation of Robotics expects further growth through technological change and labour pressures.

AI-driven autonomy is becoming central to robotics development, enabling machines to learn tasks and operate independently. Agentic AI combines analytical and generative models to improve decision-making in complex environments.

Robots are also becoming more versatile as IT and operational systems converge across factories and logistics. Humanoid robots are moving beyond prototypes, with reliability and efficiency now critical for industrial adoption.

Safety, cybersecurity and workforce acceptance remain key challenges for the sector. Industry leaders see robots as allies addressing labour shortages while governments expand skills and retraining programmes.

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CES 2026 showcases AI and robotics innovations

CES 2026 has already revealed a range of groundbreaking technologies, from AI-powered holograms to autonomous vehicles. The event highlights how AI and robotics are increasingly shaping both entertainment and everyday life.

Razer introduced an all-in-one anime waifu hologram for desktops, while ASUS showcased extended reality glasses that act as a 240Hz gaming monitor. LEGO unveiled a Smart Brick capable of lighting up, playing sounds, and detecting characters.

Robotics took centre stage, with Boston Dynamics revealing its next-generation Atlas robot integrated with Google DeepMind AI, signalling rapid progress in humanoid robotics.

NVIDIA announced Alpamayo, a reasoning AI for autonomous vehicles, while Lucid partnered with Uber and Nuro to showcase a robotaxi.

Health and lifestyle innovations were also prominent. Withings launched Body Scan 2, an at-home longevity station offering AI-powered insights on blood pressure and over 60 biomarkers. Gaming hardware included the 8BitDo FlipPad, a flip-style controller optimised for mobile gaming.

Samsung teased a slim 3D display that delivers depth without bulky hardware, signalling a new generation of immersive screens. Alongside it, a pen with three cameras showed advanced spatial tracking for precise motion capture and object scanning.

CES 2026 emphasises the blending of AI, robotics, and interactive devices, highlighting how technology is increasingly personal, intelligent, and integrated into everyday life.

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Global AI adoption reaches record levels in 2025

Global adoption of generative AI continued to rise in the second half of 2025, reaching 16.3 percent of the world’s population. Around one in six people now use AI tools for work, learning, and problem-solving, marking rapid progress for a technology still in its early years.

Adoption remains uneven, with the Global North growing nearly twice as fast as the Global South. Countries with early investments in digital infrastructure and AI policies, including the UAE, Singapore, and South Korea, lead the way.

South Korea saw the most significant gain, rising seven spots globally due to government initiatives, improved Korean-language models, and viral consumer trends.

The UAE maintains its lead, benefiting from years of foresight, including early AI strategy, dedicated ministries, and regulatory frameworks that foster trust and widespread usage.

Meanwhile, open-source platforms such as DeepSeek are expanding access in underserved markets, including Africa, China, and Iran, lowering financial and technical barriers for millions of new users.

While AI adoption grows globally, disparities persist. Policymakers and developers face the challenge of ensuring that the next wave of AI users benefits broader communities, narrowing divides rather than deepening them.

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Gmail enters the Gemini era with AI-powered inbox tools

Google is reshaping Gmail around its Gemini AI models, aiming to turn email into a proactive assistant for more than three billion users worldwide.

With inbox volumes continuing to rise, the focus shifts towards managing information flows instead of simply sending and receiving messages.

New AI Overviews allow Gmail to summarise long email threads and answer natural language questions directly from inbox content.

Users can retrieve details from past conversations without complex searches, while conversation summaries roll out globally at no cost, with advanced query features reserved for paid AI subscriptions.

Writing tools are also expanding, with Help Me Write, upgraded Suggested Replies, and Proofread features designed to speed up drafting while preserving individual tone and style.

Deeper personalisation is planned through connections with other Google services, enabling emails to reflect broader user context.

A redesigned AI Inbox further prioritises urgent messages and key tasks by analysing communication patterns and relationships.

Powered by Gemini 3, these features begin rolling out in the US in English, with additional languages and regions scheduled to follow during 2026.

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Netomi shows how to scale enterprise AI safely

Netomi has developed a blueprint for scaling enterprise AI, utilising GPT-4.1 for rapid tool use and GPT-5.2 for multi-step reasoning. The platform supports complex workflows, policy compliance, and heavy operational loads, serving clients such as United Airlines and DraftKings.

The company emphasises three core lessons. First, systems must handle real-world complexity, orchestrating multiple APIs, databases, and tools to maintain state and situational awareness across multi-step workflows.

Second, parallelised architectures ensure low latency even under extreme demand, keeping response times fast and reliable during spikes in activity.

Third, governance is embedded directly into the runtime, enforcing compliance, protecting sensitive data, and providing deterministic fallbacks when AI confidence is low.

Netomi demonstrates how agentic AI can be safely scaled, providing enterprises with a model for auditable, predictable, and resilient intelligent systems. These practices serve as a roadmap for organisations seeking to move AI from experimental tools to production-ready infrastructure.

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