Gemini Robotics ER 2 marks a significant leap forward in video analysis, tool orchestration, and cooperative multi-robot systems, enhancing the capabilities of robotic applications significantly.
The European Union started discussions with Japan about joining the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework in 2024. This partnership marks a significant step in collaborative scientific and technological endeavors between Japan and the EU.
Professor Martin Hayes of UL discusses his research in systems theory, highlighting the future of engineering with 'pi-shaped' graduates and emphasizing the need for patience in developing reliable AI solutions for safety-critical environments.
The European Commission aims to mobilize a combined €30 billion from both public and private sources to support the development of seven state-of-the-art AI gigafactories. This ambitious effort is designed to enhance Europe's position in the global AI sector and stimulate technological growth across the continent.
Experts from IAS and Rent the Runway discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping research and development within organizations. Their insights highlight the significant role AI plays in accelerating innovation and improving R&D processes.
Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the European Commission, indicated to Reuters that it is quite likely ChatGPT and Roblox will be classified under the strictest provisions of the EU Digital Services Act. This move could result in enhanced regulatory requirements for these platforms.
Whether you operate a medical practice or a law firm, getting recognized by AI search engines hinges on three key strategies. Surprisingly, most businesses fail to implement any of these crucial steps.
Samsung Electronics, the South Korean tech giant, reported an unprecedented operating profit of 89.5 trillion won ($62 billion) for Q2, fueled mainly by soaring demand for semiconductors powering AI infrastructure. Despite this historic surge, their shares fell sharply amid investor worries over aggressive capacity expansion plans and rising competition from China. Samsung’s chip division led the growth thanks to higher prices and shipments of advanced memory chips for AI servers, outweighing losses in mobile and home appliance sectors. The company anticipates continued strong demand for AI-related memory products through the second half of 2024, supported by long-term supply deals with global data center giants. Meanwhile, Samsung and peer SK Hynix together dominate about two-thirds of the global memory chip market and recently outlined a massive $554 billion investment to strengthen South Korea’s position as an AI semiconductor hub. However, concerns remain over whether this hefty spending will generate sufficient returns amidst ongoing market volatility and competitor pressures from China’s emerging chip technologies.
OpenAI has drastically cut the prices of its GPT-5.6 Luna and Terra models, with Luna's cost dropping by 80% and Terra's by 20%. Luna now costs $1.40 per million tokens, making it one of the lowest-cost commercial AI models and directly competing with Google's lower-priced Gemini models. Terra's pricing aligns with Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, while OpenAI introduces a premium Fast mode for its Sol model, priced at double the standard rate. These price cuts come shortly after Google's launch of cost-efficient Gemini 3.6 Flash and 3.5 Flash-Lite models and Anthropic's release of Claude Opus 5, highlighting a shift in the AI market focus towards cost-efficiency alongside performance. OpenAI's Luna targets high-throughput, low-latency applications, while Terra balances capability and cost for general use. The move signals that AI competition is no longer just about access to powerful models but also about making them economically viable for high-volume production workloads.
Every Mastercard transaction undergoes a split-second fraud assessment, with 175 billion transactions analyzed last year. Chief AI and Data Officer Greg Ulrich revealed at VB Transform 2026 that Mastercard’s risk system, once designed to block bots, is now evolving to accommodate them. This shift requires a new framework that balances security with enabling bot transactions. Mastercard’s Safety Net has already prevented over 70 billion fraudulent transactions, leveraging AI to identify 300-400% more fraud without disrupting genuine purchases. Beyond consumer fraud, AI powers a third of Mastercard’s services, driving faster growth in marketing, security, and business intelligence. Ulrich detailed five security layers—identity verification, verifiable intent, controls, execution via Mastercard Agent Pay, and intelligence monitoring—that ensure trust in agent-driven commerce. As AI agents gain autonomy in complex transactions, especially in B2B procurement, Mastercard is building scalable trust infrastructures that link multiple agents across organizations. Learning from initial models, Mastercard prioritizes embedded security and continuous monitoring to prevent vulnerabilities. Identity verification, including emerging standards for agentic identity, remains pivotal. The company is already re-engineering its AI systems to handle the new reality where bots do the buying, not just the stealing.
