Prominent personalities

UK ministers advance energy plans for AI expansion

The final AI Energy Council meeting of 2025 took place in London, led by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan alongside energy ministers Lord Vallance and Michael Shanks.

Regulators and industry representatives reviewed how the UK can expedite grid connections and support the necessary infrastructure for expanding AI activity nationwide.

Council members examined progress on government measures intended to accelerate connections for AI data centres. Plans include support for AI Growth Zones, with discounted electricity available for sites able to draw on excess capacity, which is expected to reduce pressure in the broader network.

Ministers underlined AI’s role in national economic ambitions, noting recent announcements of new AI Growth Zones in North East England and in North and South Wales.

They also discussed how forthcoming reforms are expected to help deliver AI-related infrastructure by easing access to grid capacity.

The meeting concluded with a focus on long-term energy needs for AI development. Participants explored ways to unlock additional capacity and considered innovative options for power generation, including self-build solutions.

The council will reconvene in early 2026 to continue work on sustainable approaches for future AI infrastructure.

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Thrive Holdings deepens AI collaboration with OpenAI for business transformation

OpenAI and Thrive Holdings have launched a partnership to accelerate enterprise adoption of AI. The work focuses on applying AI to high-volume business functions such as accounting and IT services. Both companies say these areas offer immediate gains in speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency.

OpenAI will place its teams inside Thrive Holdings’ companies to improve core workflows. The partners want a model they can replicate across other sectors. They say embedding AI in real operations delivers better results than external tools.

Executives say AI is reshaping how organisations deliver value in competitive markets. OpenAI’s Brad Lightcap described the collaboration as an example of rapid, organisation-wide transformation. He said the approach could guide other businesses seeking practical pathways to use advanced AI tools.

Thrive Holdings views the initiative as part of a broader shift in how technology is adopted. Founder Joshua Kushner said industry experts are now driving change from within their sectors. He added that Thrive’s portfolio offers the data and domain knowledge needed to refine AI for specialised tasks.

Both partners expect the model to scale into additional business areas as uptake grows. They see long-term opportunities to adapt the framework to more enterprise functions. The ambition is to demonstrate how embedded AI can boost performance and sustain operational improvements.

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Amar Subramanya takes over Apple AI as Giannandrea steps aside

Apple says its AI leadership is shifting as John Giannandrea prepares to leave the company. Amar Subramanya, a veteran of Google and Microsoft, will take over AI research and development. The move comes after delays to promised Siri upgrades.

Subramanya will report to software chief Craig Federighi and lead work on foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety. Apple says his arrival reflects the company’s push to accelerate progress in these areas. Giannandrea will remain an adviser until early next year.

Multiple reports say internal pressure had grown as deadlines for Apple Intelligence features slipped. Senior leaders held private discussions on the future direction of the organisation. The reshuffle followed concerns that Apple had fallen behind competitors in core AI capabilities.

Giannandrea had previously overseen both Siri and AI models before responsibilities were split. Vision Pro architect Mike Rockwell now leads the development of the voice assistant. Apple says Giannandrea played a key role in shaping the company’s early AI work.

Chief executive Tim Cook praised both executives and framed the transition as part of a broader strategy. Apple says it remains committed to delivering a more personalised Siri next year. The company is positioning the leadership change as a step toward faster progress.

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Cairo Forum examines MENA’s path in the AI era

The Second Cairo Forum brought together experts to assess how AI, global shifts, and economic pressures are shaping MENA. Speakers said the region faces a critical moment as new technologies accelerate. The discussion asked whether MENA will help shape AI or simply adopt it.

Participants highlighted global divides, warning that data misuse and concentrated control remain major risks. They argued that middle-income countries can collaborate to build shared standards. Several speakers urged innovation-friendly regulation supported by clear safety rules.

Officials from Egypt outlined national efforts to embed AI across health, agriculture, and justice. They described progress through applied projects and new governance structures. Limited data access and talent retention were identified as continuing obstacles.

Industry voices stressed that trust, transparency, and skills must underpin the use of AI. They emphasised co-creation that fits regional languages and contexts. Training and governance frameworks were seen as essential for responsible deployment.

Closing remarks warned that rapid advances demand urgent decisions. Speakers said safety investment lags behind development, and global competition is intensifying. They agreed that today’s choices will shape the region’s AI future.

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Mixx and MVola services grow under Axian’s partnership with Mastercard

Axian Group has entered a strategic partnership with Mastercard to expand digital payment services across its mobile network markets. The collaboration covers virtual and physical cards under the Mixx and MVola brands. Both companies say the tools will enable safer, faster cross-border payments.

Consumers will activate and top up virtual cards via the Mixx and MVola apps in markets such as Madagascar and the Comoros. Axian says real-time monitoring features will simplify international transactions. The rollout is designed to broaden financial access through mobile channels.

Axian’s fintech lead, Erwan Gelebart, says the initiative will help SMEs and entrepreneurs in Senegal and Togo adopt secure mobile-payment tools. He argues the partnership strengthens local digital ecosystems. Mastercard sees the cooperation as part of wider financial-inclusion efforts.

Mastercard executive Mete Guney says the collaboration will expand secure digital-payment infrastructure in Tanzania and neighbouring regions. He says new services aim to improve how people pay and get paid. The companies plan phased deployment as demand grows.

Axian rebranded its mobile units to Yas in 2024 across Madagascar, Comoros, Senegal, Togo and Tanzania. Its financial services arms now operate as Mixx by Yas. The new merchant and card tools build on this unified-market strategy.

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Fraud and scam cases push FIDReC workloads to new highs

FIDReC recorded 4,355 claims in FY2024/2025, marking its highest volume in twenty years and a sharp rise from the previous year. Scam activity and broader dispute growth across financial institutions contributed to the increase. Greater public awareness of the centre’s role also drove more filings.

Fraud and scam disputes climbed to 1,285 cases, up more than 50% and accounting for nearly half of all claims. FIDReC accepted 2,646 claims for handling, with early resolution procedures reducing formal caseload growth. The phased approach encourages direct negotiation between consumers and providers.

Chief Executive Eunice Chua said rising claim volumes reflect fast-evolving financial risks and increasingly complex products. National indicators show similar pressures, with Singapore ranked second globally for payment card scams. Insurance fraud reports also continued to grow during the year.

Compromised credentials accounted for most scam-related cases, often involving unauthorised withdrawals or card charges. Consumers reported incidents without knowing how their details were obtained. The share of such complaints rose markedly compared with the previous year.

Banks added safeguards on large digital withdrawals as part of wider anti-scam measures. Regulators introduced cooling-off periods, stronger information sharing and closer monitoring of suspicious activity. Authorities say the goal is to limit exposure to scams and reinforce public confidence.

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Estonia invests in Germany to strengthen European tech independence

During an official visit to Germany, Prime Minister Kristen Michal joined Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer to open a new Skeleton Technologies factory near Leipzig, underlining Estonia’s long-term commitment to European technological development.

An investment of 220 million euros that marks the most significant industrial commitment an Estonian company has made in Germany and reflects a shift towards mutual economic engagement.

The factory produces supercapacitors that aim to reduce energy consumption in AI data centres while enhancing the reliability of the power grid.

Michal noted that the relationship between the two countries has entered a new phase, as Estonia is now investing in Germany, rather than only receiving investment. He pointed to Germany’s industrial capacity and Estonia’s digital expertise as complementary strengths.

The project benefited from financial and strategic support through programmes such as EUBatIn, while partnerships with Siemens and Marubeni strengthened the technological foundation of the initiative.

Cooperation between Estonia and Saxony already extends across innovation, microelectronics and digital public services.

Several Estonian technology firms operate in the region, while universities in both countries maintain active collaboration in engineering, IT and business administration. These links continue to grow and support talent, research and industrial development.

The new factory is presented as a practical step towards European technological resilience, as the components used in the supercapacitors are sourced from European suppliers.

Estonian officials argue that Europe must develop and produce key technologies instead of relying on external suppliers. The opening of the plant is seen as the beginning of broader cooperation in IT, green technology, defence and advanced manufacturing.

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Salesforce expands investment in Greece with Greek AgentForce

The presence in Greece is expanding as Salesforce increases its investment and introduces AgentForce in the Greek language.

Salesforce works with major Greek groups such as Motor Oil and OPAP and plans to enter more sectors, including banking and insurance. Senior executives view Greece as a market with strong potential for broader adoption of AI tools.

Executives at the company highlighted growing interest among Greek firms that are already testing or deploying AI agents to support customer services and internal operations.

Robin Fisher, Senior Vice President for the EMEA Growth Markets, noted that the organisation has doubled the number of staff supporting the Greek market over the past two years and intends to continue increasing its investment every three years or sooner.

He also pointed to the presence of Energy Cloud in Greek enterprises and the rapid development of new AI agents for local clients.

The introduction of AgentForce in the Greek language is expected to help companies manage processes more efficiently and support a more profound digital transformation. The initial release covers AgentForce Service and Employee Agent, with broader availability planned for the future.

AgentForce Service operates as a constantly available customer service platform that can be adapted to any sector, offering faster issue resolution and more personalised assistance based on real-time data.

Its design enables full cooperation between employees and AI agents, providing a more effective service model.

Employee Agent functions as a proactive digital assistant that supports staff with daily tasks inside familiar environments, such as Slack or mobile devices. It can manage meetings, assist with onboarding, access internal knowledge and prepare summaries before client discussions.

Salesforce emphasises that the broader rollout of Greek language support will help organisations improve productivity and achieve greater efficiency by combining human expertise with automated capabilities.

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Utah governor urges state control over AI rules

Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, has again argued that states should retain authority over AI policy, warning that centralised national rules might fail to reflect local needs. He said state governments remain closer to communities and, therefore, better placed to respond quickly to emerging risks.

Cox explained that innovation often moves faster than federal intervention, and excessive national control could stifle responsible development. He also emphasised that different states face varied challenges, suggesting that tailored AI rules may be more effective in balancing safety and opportunity.

Debate across the US has intensified as lawmakers confront rapid advances in AI tools, with several states drafting their own frameworks. Cox suggested a cooperative model, where states lead, and federal agencies play a supporting role without overriding regional safeguards.

Analysts say the governor’s comments highlight a growing split between national uniformity and local autonomy in technology governance. Supporters argue that adaptable state systems foster trust, while critics warn that a patchwork approach could complicate compliance for developers.

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South Korea’s Hopae boosts EU presence with €5 million investment

Hopae is expanding into Europe with a €5M investment as the region prepares for mandatory EUDI Wallet adoption. The company aims to help businesses navigate multiple electronic identity systems before new requirements take effect in 2026 and 2027.

The firm plans to offer an intermediary platform that unifies eIDs and wallet-based verification. It says the model can ease compliance for regulated sectors and Very Large Online Platforms, which will need to accept EUDI Wallets under the EU rules.

Hopae has already signed a partnership with Luxembourg’s INCERT, becoming the first officially registered intermediary service. It secured OIDC certification and opened a Luxembourg office, naming Bertrand Bouteloup to lead its European expansion and trust-service ambitions.

The company says its system already integrates more than 50 eIDs and wallets, to reach 100 by mid-2026. CEO Ace Jaehoon Shim says demand for secure, wallet-based identity verification will require further investment across the continent.

Founded in 2022, Hopae previously developed the national vaccination pass in South Korea and has expanded into the United States. It is now contributing to the Korean Architecture Reference Framework while operating offices in Seoul, San Francisco, Paris, and Luxembourg.

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