AI Journal 170th Edition

• EU Sets Ground Rules for Powerful AI Systems Ahead of 2026 Enforcement

• Bridging the AI Skills Gap: Only 20% of Indian Youth Equipped for the Future

• FlexOlmo: A New Era of Modular, Controllable AI Training

• Aon Launches Unified Insurance Solution for Data Centre Projects

• OpenAI–Microsoft Rift Deepens Over AGI, Revenue & Independence

• Huntress and Microsoft Partner to Maximize Security for All Businesses

• Coinbase and Perplexity AI Partner to Deliver Real-Time Crypto Insights

• AI in Funding

• AI in Retail

• AI Tools

• Interesting Posts

EU Sets Ground Rules for Powerful AI Systems Ahead of 2026 Enforcement
The EU has introduced new AI regulations targeting major players like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. These rules, effective from August 2024, mandate transparency, copyright safeguards, and public safety measures for general-purpose AI. Though penalties won't apply until 2026, the code of practice offers the first detailed look at how the EU will enforce last year’s landmark A.I. Act.
Source Link

Bridging the AI Skills Gap: Only 20% of Indian Youth Equipped for the Future
A new report supported by Google.org and ADB finds only 1 in 5 Indian youth have participated in AI-skilling programmes, exposing a vast majority to risks of job displacement and missed opportunities. Despite high enthusiasm, limited access, low digital literacy, and a disconnect between education and industry needs highlight a massive AI skills gap in India
Source Link

FlexOlmo: A New Era of Modular, Controllable AI Training
The Allen Institute for AI’s FlexOlmo model introduces modular training that lets data owners retain control—even after model deployment. Using a “mixture of experts” design, contributors train sub-models independently without sharing raw data. These can be added or removed later, allowing dynamic participation while preserving privacy and ownership—challenging current opaque, one-way data use in large language models.
Source Link

Aon Launches Unified Insurance Solution for Data Centre Projects
Aon has introduced its Data Centre Lifecycle Insurance Program (DCLP), offering seamless, multi-line coverage from construction to operations. Designed to support AI and cloud infrastructure growth, DCLP unifies construction, cyber, and operational risk insurance—boosting resilience, accelerating timelines, and enhancing investor confidence with advanced risk engineering and cyber impact modelling across digital and physical assets.
Source Link

OpenAI–Microsoft Rift Deepens Over AGI, Revenue & Independence
Tensions grow between OpenAI and Microsoft over AGI rights, revenue sharing, and data infrastructure. OpenAI eyes independence via Google Cloud, SoftBank funding, and restructuring, while Microsoft explores rival models and battles chip delays. Despite public reassurances, their $13B partnership faces strain as strategic interests and control over future AI dominance collide.
Source Link

Huntress and Microsoft Partner to Maximize Security for All Businesses
Huntress has partnered with Microsoft to help businesses fully utilize Microsoft’s security tools, including Defender and Microsoft 365. By integrating with Microsoft environments, Huntress delivers EDR, ITDR, SIEM, and SAT—backed by 24/7 SOC support. This collaboration aims to strengthen cybersecurity for organizations with limited resources, ensuring robust protection across endpoints, identities, and user environments.
Source Link

Coinbase and Perplexity AI Partner to Deliver Real-Time Crypto Insights
Coinbase has partnered with Perplexity AI to deliver real-time crypto market data via Perplexity’s AI-powered platform. Phase one integrates Coinbase’s COIN50 index and analytics into Perplexity’s tools. Future updates will embed data into Perplexity’s chat interface, enabling natural-language queries. The collaboration aims to streamline trading decisions by merging blockchain data with AI-driven insights in a single platform.
Source Link

 AI in Retail

Spanish menswear brand Scotta partners with AI platform Nextail to streamline inventory, boost margins, and scale efficiently—enhancing stock decisions, reducing inefficiencies, and supporting growth across stores and e-commerce channels. Link

According to Capgemini, 56% of retailers increased generative AI investments, with 18% adopting AI agents. Across industries, 40% expect positive AI ROI within one to three years. Link

Adobe predicts a 3,200% year-over-year surge in generative AI-driven retail traffic during Prime Day, as 92% of U.S. consumers say AI enhances shopping through recommendations, deal-finding, and research. Link

DIGITS partners with Coborn’s to launch a retail media network, featuring on-site display, programmatic ads, email, and coupons in 2025—expanding to in-store, social, and sponsored search in 2026. Link

AI Tools 

• Looking for smarter social media? Shadowbox.ai is an AI-native platform to schedule, optimize, and analyze posts across major channels.

• Mintly uses AI to instantly turn product photos into professional static or video ads with layouts inspired by top-performing campaigns.

• Quickads AI simplifies ad creation with multi-format support, virtual product photography, custom layouts, messaging variations, targeting, and built-in error detection for all businesses.

• Want to turn scripts into video ads fast? Arcads uses AI actors to create videos with B-roll, music, and captions.

• Trupeer’s AI lets you create polished product walkthroughs and user guides, generating multi-format, multilingual content from a single recording in minutes.

Interesting Posts

• MCPs simplify network management and security but pose risks like data breaches and loss of control, requiring careful evaluation. Link

• WPP appointed Microsoft’s Cindy Rose as CEO, replacing Mark Read, amid AI focus and a warning of weaker 2024 results. Link

• GlobalLogic reports 3x growth in VelocityAI rollouts, forecasting 5x impact as enterprise GenAI adoption accelerates across key industries. Link

• NinjaTech AI’s Super Agent, powered by Cerebras, automates entire workflows securely and 5x faster, revolutionizing enterprise AI productivity. Link

• Google’s open-source MedGemma AI models enable accessible, reliable medical image analysis, transforming global healthcare with affordable, scalable AI tools. Link

Have you explored Podcast Inc AI yet? 🎙️

Podcast Inc AI is an all‑in‑one platform that automates podcast production and content distribution. From transcription, show notes, and blog posts to social media captions, YouTube descriptions, and intelligent editing, it handles every step. Upload audio or video, and the CoPilot AI transforms it into polished branded content. Ideal for creators who want to focus on storytelling, not manual production.