Ant International has announced a partnership with Google to support the launch of the Universal Commerce Protocol, a new open standard designed to enable agent-driven commerce across discovery, purchasing and post-purchase support.
A collaboration that aims to simplify how AI agents, merchants and payment providers interact across platforms.
The protocol establishes a shared language that enables agents to collaborate seamlessly without requiring bespoke integrations, while remaining compatible with existing industry frameworks. Google says alignment on common standards is essential for agentic commerce to scale across sectors and markets.
AI interfaces such as the Gemini app and AI Mode in Google Search are expected to support native purchasing within conversations. Users expressing shopping intent will receive curated product options and complete payments through integrated wallet services without leaving the chat environment.
Ant International is contributing payment expertise, alternative payment methods and AI-based risk management to ensure traceable transactions and consumer trust.
The company states that secure intent verification and fraud protection are crucial as users entrust purchasing decisions to intelligent agents.
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UK-based microcomputer manufacturer Raspberry Pi Holdings plc announced that surging demand for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) from AI data centres is tightening the supply of key components used in its products, leading to heightened uncertainty about future trading.
Investors reacted negatively, with shares sliding about 7.5 percent on the London Stock Exchange after the company’s warning that memory pricing and availability may remain constrained beyond the first half of 2026.
Raspberry Pi stressed that it has taken steps to mitigate the situation, including qualifying additional suppliers, developing lower-memory products and raising prices, and maintains sufficient inventory for the near term.
The company also reported that adjusted earnings for 2025 were ahead of market forecasts, supported by strong unit shipments. However, it highlighted ‘limited visibility’ for the second half of 2026 and beyond due to the unpredictable memory supply landscape.
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Körber Supply Chain and Sereact have formed a strategic partnership to bring AI-controlled pick-and-place robotics technology into automated production and distribution solutions.
The collaboration aims to overcome the limitations of conventional automation by using AI systems that analyse visual and object data in real-time and autonomously adjust picking strategies for a wide variety of products.
The Sereact solution is now part of Körber’s broader supply chain ecosystem, enabling companies to integrate flexible and scalable robot automation into their warehouse and logistics operations.
AI-enabled robots can handle unknown or complex items with precision and speed, making logistics processes more efficient and reducing reliance on manual labour.
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San Jose became the site of the inaugural Silicon Valley AI Film Festival (SVAIFF) on January 10–11, bringing together filmmakers, tech innovators and creatives to explore how AI is transforming cinema and creative expression.
The event featured AI-generated film trailers, such as “Revolutionary” and “Cosmic,” as well as panel discussions on industry trends and the economic implications of AI in film, and a competition that received over 2,000 entries.
Festival co-founder Cynthia Jiang highlighted how production companies are increasingly using AI in post-production and concept development, while acknowledging resistance remains among some traditional filmmakers.
Human and AI-assisted art appeared throughout the festival, including fashion shows that blended robotics with runway models and featured a humanoid robot performer.
The festival also celebrated creative achievements with awards, such as the Grand Prix for ‘White Night Lake’ and Best Animated Short for ‘A Tree’s Imagination.’ It premiered the feature-length film ‘The Wolves,’ directed by Bing He, who credited generative AI with enabling his vision without replacing his writing role.
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The Irish government plans to fast-track laws allowing heavy fines for AI abuse. The move follows controversy involving misuse of image generation tools.
Ministers will transpose an existing EU AI Act into Irish law. The framework defines eight harmful uses breaching rights and public decency.
Penalties could reach €35 million or seven percent of global annual turnover. AI systems would be graded by risk under the enforcement regime.
A dedicated AI office is expected to launch by August to oversee compliance. Irish and UK leaders have pressed platforms to curb harmful AI features.
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The European Commission has warned X to address issues related to its Grok AI tool. Regulators say new features enabled the creation of sexualised images, including those of children.
EU Tech Sovereignty Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has stated that investigators have already taken action under the Digital Services Act. Failure to comply could result in enforcement measures being taken against the platform.
X recently restricted Grok’s image editing functions to paying users after criticism from regulators and campaigners. Irish and EU media watchdogs are now engaging with Brussels on the issue.
UK ministers also plan laws banning non-consensual intimate images and tools enabling their creation. Several digital rights groups argue that existing laws already permit criminal investigations and fines.
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Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek will launch a customised Italian version of its online chatbot following a probe by the Italian competition authority, the AGCM. The move follows months of negotiations and a temporary 2025 ban due to concerns over user data and transparency.
The AGCM had criticised DeepSeek for not sufficiently warning users about hallucinations or false outputs generated by its AI models.
The probe ended after DeepSeek agreed to clearer Italian disclosures and technical fixes to reduce hallucinations. The regulator noted that while improvements are commendable, hallucinations remain a global AI challenge.
DeepSeek now provides longer Italian warnings and detects Italian IPs or prompts for localised notices. The company also plans workshops to ensure staff understand Italian consumer law and has submitted multiple proposals to the AGCM since September 2025.
The start-up must provide a progress report within 120 days. Failure to meet the regulator’s requirements could lead to the probe being reopened and fines of up to €10 million (£8.7m).
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The creators of Stranger Things have been accused by some fans of using ChatGPT while writing the show’s fifth and final season, following the release of a behind-the-scenes Netflix documentary.
The series ended on New Year’s Eve with a two-hour finale that saw (SPOILER WARNING) Vecna defeated and Eleven apparently sacrificing herself. The ambiguous ending divided viewers, with some disappointed by the lack of closure.
A documentary titled One Last Adventure: The Making Of Stranger Things 5 was released shortly after the finale. One scene showing Matt and Ross Duffer working on scripts drew attention after a screenshot circulated online.
Some viewers claimed a ChatGPT-style tab was visible on a laptop screen. Others questioned the claim, noting the footage may predate the chatbot’s mainstream use.
Netflix has since confirmed two spin-offs are in development, including a new live-action series and an animated project titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.
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Spain’s government has approved draft legislation that would tighten consent rules for AI-generated content, aiming to curb deepfakes and strengthen protections for the use of people’s images and voices. The proposal responds to growing concerns in Europe about AI being used to create harmful material, especially sexual content produced without the subject’s permission.
Under the draft, the minimum age to consent to the use of one’s own image would be set at 16, and stricter limits would apply to reusing images found online or reproducing a person’s voice or likeness through AI without authorisation. Spain’s Justice Minister Félix Bolaños warned that sharing personal photos on social media should not be treated as blanket approval for others to reuse them in different contexts.
The reform explicitly targets commercial misuse by classifying the use of AI-generated images or voices for advertising or other business purposes without consent as illegitimate. At the same time, it would still allow creative, satirical, or fictional uses involving public figures, so long as the material is clearly labelled as AI-generated.
Spain’s move aligns with broader EU efforts, as the bloc is working toward rules that would require member states to criminalise non-consensual sexual deepfakes by 2027. The push comes amid rising scrutiny of AI tools and real-world cases that have intensified calls for more precise legal boundaries, including a recent request by the Spanish government for prosecutors to review whether specific AI-generated material could fall under child pornography laws.
The bill is not yet final. It must go through a public consultation process before returning to the government for final approval and then heading to parliament.
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European labour markets are showing clear signs of cooling after a brief period of employee leverage during the pandemic.
Slower industrial growth, easing wage momentum and increased adoption of AI are encouraging firms to limit hiring instead of expanding headcounts, while workers are becoming more cautious about changing jobs.
Economic indicators suggest employment growth across the EU will slow over the coming years, with fewer vacancies and stabilising migration flows reducing labour market dynamism.
Germany, France, the UK and several central and eastern European economies are already reporting higher unemployment expectations, particularly in manufacturing sectors facing high energy costs and weaker global demand.
Despite broader caution, labour shortages persist in specific areas such as healthcare, logistics, engineering and specialised technical roles.
Southern European countries benefiting from tourism and services growth continue to generate jobs, highlighting uneven recovery patterns instead of a uniform downturn across the continent.
Concerns about automation are further shaping behaviour, as surveys indicate growing anxiety over AI reshaping roles rather than eliminating work.
Analysts expect AI to transform job structures and skill requirements, prompting workers and employers alike to prioritise adaptability instead of rapid expansion.
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