Ohio Senator Niraj Antani has introduced a bill to allow residents to pay their state and local taxes using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Announced at the end of September, the proposal aims to push Ohio into the digital age by embracing cryptocurrencies for government transactions, giving taxpayers a modern option to settle their obligations. Senator Antani emphasised the importance of keeping the state’s economy innovative, stating that cryptocurrencies represent both the present and the future.
The new proposal follows a similar attempt in 2018, which was short-lived due to bureaucratic issues. Antani’s bill is designed to avoid the hurdles that caused the previous initiative to fail. By explicitly mandating the acceptance of crypto payments for taxes, the legislation seeks to establish Ohio as a leader in crypto integration for public services. The bill also proposes allowing state universities and pension funds to invest in digital assets, offering more financial flexibility.
However, concerns have emerged about potential privacy risks, with critics arguing that the move could expose taxpayers’ crypto transactions to government scrutiny. The bill is currently awaiting committee assignment and must navigate the legislative process before being enacted. If successful, Ohio would follow in the footsteps of states like Colorado, which introduced a similar programme in 2022.
Mobily is leveraging AI to revolutionise the telecommunications industry, particularly in the Middle East. By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Mobily is using AI to drive growth and innovation. The company’s AI-driven solutions improve network efficiency, enhance customer experience, and boost business agility, positioning Mobily as a leader in the region’s telecom sector.
Through predictive maintenance, Mobily ensures network reliability, while AI-powered customer service chatbots and analytics platforms optimise performance and provide personalised services to meet the growing demands of digital consumers. Mobily also places a strong emphasis on enhancing the customer experience through AI. The company uses AI to offer personalised support, analyse customer data to deliver tailored recommendations, anticipate needs, and provide proactive service. AI-powered tools like chatbots and virtual assistants streamline customer service, resulting in faster response times and improved satisfaction.
Additionally, Mobily ensures its use of AI adheres to strict ethical standards, prioritising data privacy, transparency, and fairness. With robust encryption, user consent practices, and bias mitigation strategies, Mobily safeguards customer information while building trust through ethical AI use.
Mobily also focuses on building and developing AI talent. The company collaborates with universities to create internship programs and invests in continuous learning initiatives for its employees, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that the organisation stays ahead in AI advancements. Furthermore, Mobily emphasises cross-departmental collaboration to integrate AI effectively across marketing, operations, and other business units.
AI is currently a hot topic in the K-Pop community, as several top groups, including Seventeen, have begun using the technology to create music videos and write lyrics. Seventeen, one of the most successful K-Pop acts, has incorporated AI-generated scenes in their latest single, ‘Maestro,’ and experimented with AI in songwriting. Band member Woozi expressed a desire to develop alongside technology rather than resist it.
The use of AI has divided fans. Some, like super fan Ashley Peralta, appreciate AI’s ability to help artists overcome creative blocks but worry it might disconnect fans from the artists’ authentic emotions. Podcaster Chelsea Toledo shares similar concerns, fearing AI-generated lyrics might dilute Seventeen’s reputation as a self-producing group known for their personal touch in songwriting and choreography.
Industry professionals, such as producer Chris Nairn, recognise South Korea’s progressive approach to music production. While he acknowledges AI’s potential, he doubts its ability to match top-tier songwriting’s innovation and uniqueness. Music journalist Arpita Adhya points out the immense pressure on K-Pop artists to produce frequent content, which may drive the adoption of AI.
The EU has long sought to position itself as a leading player on the global innovation scene. A fresh initiative from the European Commission – the New European Innovation Agenda – outlines 25 actions that contribute to achieving this goal.
The proposed actions relate to: mobilising funding for scale-ups; enabling innovation through experimentation spaces (such as regulatory sandboxes and innovation test beds) and public procurement; accelerating and strengthening innovation in European innovation ecosystems (through initiatives such as supporting the creation of regional innovation valleys and launching the AI-based platform Innospace to serve as a one-stop shop for innovation players); fostering, attracting, and retaining tech talent; and improving policymaking tools.
