Delta Air Lines introduced an AI-powered assistant and expanded in-flight services during CES 2025. The Delta Concierge, built into the airline’s mobile app, will provide proactive travel updates like passport expiration alerts and visa requirements. Passengers can interact with the assistant using voice or text for added convenience.
SkyMiles members will soon enjoy free access to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music during flights. The new offering enhances Delta’s focus on passenger entertainment while adding exclusive perks for frequent flyers.
A next-generation in-flight entertainment system will begin rolling out in 2026, featuring 4K HDR QLED displays, Bluetooth connectivity, and 96 terabytes of storage for movies, TV shows, and music. Delta describes it as the first cloud-based system of its kind.
The company also announced a collaboration with Airbus on the fello’fly project, testing formation flying to conserve fuel. Regulatory hurdles could delay widespread adoption, but the energy-saving potential remains promising.
Faculty AI, a consultancy company with significant experience in AI, has been developing AI technologies for both civilian and military applications. Known for its close work with the UK government on AI safety, the NHS, and education, Faculty is also exploring the use of AI in military drones. The company has been involved in testing AI models for the UK’s AI Safety Institute (AISI), which was established to study the implications of AI safety.
While Faculty has worked extensively with AI in non-lethal areas, its work with military applications raises concerns due to the potential for autonomous systems in weapons, including drones. Though Faculty has not disclosed whether its AI work extends to lethal drones, it continues to face scrutiny over its dual roles in advising both the government on AI safety and working with defense clients.
The company has also generated some controversy because of its growing influence in both the public and private sectors. Some experts, including Green Party members, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Faculty’s widespread government contracts and its private sector involvement in AI, such as its collaborations with OpenAI and defence firms. Faculty’s work on AI safety is seen as crucial, but critics argue that its broad portfolio could create a risk of bias in the advice it provides.
Despite these concerns, Faculty maintains that its work is guided by strict ethical policies, and it has emphasised its commitment to ensuring AI is used safely and responsibly, especially in defence applications. As AI continues to evolve, experts call for caution, with discussions about the need for human oversight in the development of autonomous weapons systems growing more urgent.
A prominent technology trade group has urged the Biden administration to reconsider a proposed rule that would restrict global access to US-made AI chips, warning that the measure could undermine America’s leadership in the AI sector. The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), representing major companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, expressed concerns that the restrictions could unfairly limit US companies’ ability to compete globally while allowing foreign rivals to dominate the market.
The proposed rule, expected to be released as soon as Friday, is part of the Commerce Department’s broader strategy to regulate AI chip exports and prevent misuse, particularly by adversaries like China. The restrictions aim to curb the potential for AI to enhance China’s military capabilities. However, in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, ITI CEO Jason Oxman criticised the administration’s urgency in finalising the rule, warning of ‘significant adverse consequences’ if implemented hastily. Oxman called for a more measured approach, such as issuing a proposed rule for public feedback rather than enacting an immediate policy.
Industry leaders have been vocal in their opposition, describing the draft rule as overly broad and damaging. The Semiconductor Industry Association raised similar concerns earlier this week, and Oracle’s Executive Vice President Ken Glueck slammed the measure as one of the most disruptive ever proposed for the US tech sector. Glueck argued the rule would impose sweeping regulations on the global commercial cloud industry, stifling innovation and growth.
While the administration has yet to comment on the matter, the growing pushback highlights the tension between safeguarding national security and maintaining US dominance in the rapidly evolving field of AI.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a $11 billion investment to build new data centres in Georgia, aiming to support the growing demand for cloud computing and AI technologies. The facilities, located in Butts and Douglas counties, are expected to create at least 550 high-skilled jobs and position Georgia as a leader in digital innovation.
The move highlights a broader trend among tech giants investing heavily in AI-driven advancements. Last week, Microsoft revealed an $80 billion plan for fiscal 2025 to expand data centres for AI training and cloud applications. These facilities are critical for supporting resource-intensive AI technologies like machine learning and generative models, which require vast computational power and specialised infrastructure.
The surge in AI infrastructure has also raised concerns about energy consumption. A report from the Electric Power Research Institute suggests data centres could account for up to 9% of US electricity usage by 2030. To address this, Amazon has secured energy supply agreements with utilities like Talen Energy in Pennsylvania and Entergy in Mississippi, ensuring reliable power for its expanding operations.
Amazon’s commitment underscores the growing importance of AI and cloud services, as companies race to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
AI startup Anthropic is reportedly in advanced discussions to secure $2 billion in funding, potentially valuing the company at $60 billion. The funding round is being led by venture capital firm Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. The company, known for its Claude chatbot, was valued at around $18 billion in 2024 following a fundraising round led by Menlo Ventures.
Investor interest in Anthropic has grown significantly, with Amazon doubling its investment in the company to $8 billion last year as part of its push into generative AI. Alphabet has also pledged up to $2 billion in backing, further reinforcing the startup’s position as a key player in the AI sector. The company was founded by former OpenAI executives Dario and Daniela Amodei, who left the firm to develop their own AI models.
Competition in the AI industry remains fierce, with OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, leading the charge after launching ChatGPT in 2022. OpenAI recently secured $6.6 billion in funding, bringing its valuation to an estimated $157 billion. The race to dominate the AI market has intensified, with major tech firms investing heavily in developing next-generation AI models.
Nvidia has introduced Project Digits, a compact AI supercomputer designed for researchers, data scientists, and students. The system, unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, runs on Nvidia’s powerful Grace Blackwell Superchip and provides up to a petaflop of computing performance. CEO Jensen Huang described it as a “cloud computing platform that sits on your desk” and highlighted its ability to prototype and fine-tune AI models.
A single Project Digits unit can run AI models with up to 200 billion parameters, while two linked devices can handle models with up to 405 billion parameters. The machine is powered by a Blackwell GPU and a 20-core Grace CPU, supported by 128GB of memory and up to 4TB of storage. It can function as a standalone system or connect to a primary Windows or Mac PC, offering flexibility for AI development.
Pricing starts at $3,000, making it an investment primarily for professionals and institutions rather than casual users. Nvidia plans to launch Project Digits in May through select partners. Huang believes the device will bring AI supercomputing capabilities to millions of developers, accelerating advancements in AI.
Israeli cybersecurity companies raised $4 billion in 2024, more than doubling the previous year’s total, according to venture capital firm YL Ventures. The sector, a key driver of Israel’s economy, saw strong investment growth despite geopolitical challenges. Cloud security and AI played a significant role in attracting funding, with early-stage startups securing $400 million across 50 seed rounds.
Investment in later-stage cybersecurity firms also surged, with growth-stage funding rounds raising $2.9 billion—an increase of 300% from 2023. The expansion reflects growing global confidence in Israel’s cybersecurity industry, which is increasingly recognised as a leader in the field. YL Ventures highlighted the role of Israeli military intelligence units in fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that strengthens the sector.
The ongoing war following Hamas’s October 2023 attack has added pressure on tech founders, many of whom have been called into military service. Industry leaders have had to navigate operational challenges while maintaining business continuity. Looking ahead to 2025, venture capital firms anticipate continued investment growth, particularly in early and mid-stage funding rounds, as cybersecurity remains a global priority.
Microsoft will invest $3 billion to expand AI and cloud-computing infrastructure in India, CEO Satya Nadella announced during a conference in Bengaluru. The investment, the company’s largest expansion in the country, aims to strengthen its Azure cloud services and AI capabilities. Nadella also revealed plans to train 10 million people in AI by 2030, building on an earlier commitment to provide AI skilling opportunities for two million individuals by 2025, with a focus on smaller cities and rural areas.
India’s growing importance as a tech hub has attracted interest from major US technology firms, with recent visits from Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun. Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss technology, innovation, and Microsoft‘s ambitious plans for expansion in the country. India’s vast population and affordable internet access make it a key market for AI-driven growth.
Microsoft is making significant global investments in AI and cloud infrastructure, committing around $80 billion in fiscal 2025. More than half of that will be directed towards US data centers to support AI model training and cloud-based applications. With India positioned as a strategic market, Microsoft’s latest investment underscores the country’s growing role in the global AI ecosystem.
Apple is facing mounting criticism over its AI-generated news summaries, which have produced inaccurate and misleading alerts on its latest iPhones. Media organisations, including the BBC, have raised concerns that the feature, designed to summarise breaking news notifications, has fabricated details that contradict original reports. The National Union of Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have called for the product’s removal, warning it risks spreading misinformation at a time when trust in news is already fragile.
High-profile errors have fuelled demands for urgent action. In December, an Apple AI summary falsely claimed that a murder suspect had taken his own life, while another inaccurately announced Luke Littler as the winner of the PDC World Darts Championship before the event had even begun. Apple has pledged to update the feature to make it clearer that summaries are AI-generated, but critics argue this does not address the root problem.
Journalism watchdogs and industry experts have warned that AI-driven news aggregation remains unreliable. The BBC stressed that the errors could undermine public trust, while former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger described Apple’s technology as “out of control”. Similar concerns have been raised over generative AI tools from other tech firms, with Google’s AI-powered search summaries also facing scrutiny for producing incorrect responses. Apple insists the feature remains optional and is still in beta testing, with further improvements expected in an upcoming software update.
US stock markets climbed to one-week highs on Monday, driven by gains in semiconductor stocks and optimism over AI investments. Reports suggesting that Donald Trump’s incoming administration may adopt a more selective approach to tariffs, rather than broad measures, also helped boost investor confidence. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.41%, the S&P 500 gained 1.02%, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.53%, with automakers and tech stocks leading the rally.
Semiconductor shares saw strong gains after Microsoft announced an $80 billion investment in AI-enabled data centres, while Foxconn posted better-than-expected quarterly revenue. Nvidia climbed 3.5%, AMD gained 2.8%, and Micron Technology surged 9.6%, pushing the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index to a two-month high. Meanwhile, the Russell 2000 index, which tracks small-cap companies, added 0.7% as investors weighed economic data and Federal Reserve policy signals.
Investors are closely watching monetary policy developments, with the Federal Reserve expected to provide further guidance on interest rate cuts later in the week. While Trump’s proposals could support corporate earnings and economic growth, concerns remain over potential inflationary pressures. US markets will be closed on January 9 for a national day of mourning in honour of former President Jimmy Carter.