OpenAI’s rise fuels rivalries

12/25, Global, Research & Technology

Switzerland grapples with AI copyright

In Switzerland, there is ongoing debate about how the use of copyright-protected content by AI should be regulated. The specific cause for concern is journalists, artists and publishers accusing AI companies of data theft.

Trump’s attacks on science jeopardise ‘Genesis’

In 2025, President Trump launched the ambitious Genesis mission. This is an AI-supported project that aims to accelerate scientific breakthroughs using federal data and supercomputers, often described as a modern ‘moonshot’.

What might life look like in ten years?

By 2035, AI is likely to fundamentally change everyday life and have a significant impact on areas such as health, law, work and domestic routines. In medicine, it could often serve as the first point of contact and also take over the prioritisation of treatments.

Europe’s AI dilemma

Europe’s challenges with artificial intelligence stem from deep regulatory, cultural, and historical differences compared with the United States. Europe produces plenty of AI talent, but many startups move to the U.S.

AI is transforming marketing workflows

Marketing agencies are increasingly integrating AI into their daily operations, not just as an add-on tool, but as a core part of briefs, production, approvals, and media optimization.

Skills that will shape AI careers

Economist Robert Seamans believes that future AI jobs will primarily require people who understand artificial intelligence but can also explain it in a way that is understandable to non-specialists.

OpenAI and ChatGPT: Rise, challenges and current milestones

Since its launch in November 2022, OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT has evolved from a tool for writing and programming into a global AI platform with around 800 million weekly users. In 2025, the company faced increasing competition from Chinese providers.

AI in 2026

In the coming year, generative AI will evolve from the experimental phase to fully autonomous systems that can plan, control and execute complex workflows with minimal human supervision.

OpenAI’s coding agent optimises itself

OpenAI's AI coding agent Codex now independently creates most of the code it uses to improve itself. Since its introduction in May 2025, Codex has been performing tasks such as writing functions, fixing bugs and managing change proposals.

Opera turns browsers into workbenches

Opera, a Norwegian software company, is launching Neon, a paid, AI-powered browser. It goes beyond simple chatting and sees itself as an agent-based workspace. For $19.90 a month, it bundles leading AI models and offers three modes: Chat, Do and Make.

‘Always-on’ device

OpenAI and former Apple chief designer Jony Ive are reportedly working on a constantly active AI device. A prototype is already circulating internally, but it is unlikely that the ambitious vision will be fully realised in 2026.

Salesforce expands Agentforce

The US cloud computing company Salesforce is expanding its Agentforce 360 platform. The aim is to close the context gap for AI agents in companies. New features include deeper integration with Informatica, Data 360 and MuleSoft.

Time Magazine names ‘AI architects’ as Person of the Year

The US magazine Time has named the ‘architects of artificial intelligence’ as Person of the Year 2025, honouring the leading minds behind the rapid rise of AI. According to the editorial team, AI shaped the year like no other development.

12/25, Global, Security & Sustainability

EU investigates Google’s use of online content

The European Union has launched a competition investigation into Google. The investigation focuses on whether the company is unfairly using online content to train its AI models, such as Gemini.

12/25, Business & Management, EU & GER

Steps towards a positive net energy balance for AI

As AI is driving up demand for data centres, electricity consumption could double by 2030. This would have significant consequences for power grids, costs and emissions unless growth is strategically managed.

12/25, Global, Research & Technology

Canada and EU deepen AI partnership

Canada and the European Union have decided to significantly expand their cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence and digital services. The occasion was the first meeting of the EU-Canada Digital Partnership Council in Montreal.

AI co-pilot makes bionic hands easier to control

Researchers at the University of Utah have developed an AI co-pilot for bionic hands to make them more intuitive and easier to use. Conventional prostheses are often abandoned because controlling the individual joints and grips requires a high level of concentration.

OpenAI’s rise fuels rivalries

OpenAI declares “Code Red” in light of Gemini’s success

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared “Code Red” for ChatGPT following the success of Google's Gemini 3. Gemini 3 gained 200 million users in three months and outperformed ChatGPT in benchmark tests.

EY and NVIDIA drive physical AI forward

EY is launching a structured platform in collaboration with NVIDIA to support companies in planning, testing, and deploying physical AI. This includes robots, drones, and edge devices, among other things.

Companies winning with AI

A study by Japanese consulting firm NTT DATA shows that only 15% of the companies surveyed are considered AI pioneers. They are characterized by clear strategies, disciplined implementation, and company-wide adoption.

Yoodli increases valuation with human-centered AI

Yoodli, a Seattle-based communication training startup, has reached a valuation of over $300 million following a $40 million funding round led by WestBridge Capital. Founded by former Google and Apple engineers, the platform uses AI-powered role-playing scenarios for sales, leadership, interviews, and coaching.

OpenAI wins purely AI-based poker tournament

OpenAI's o3 model took first place in a five-day poker tournament featuring nine leading language models, ultimately winning $36,691. The event, organized by PokerBattle.ai, tested how AI handles uncertainty, adaptation, and strategic thinking.

Open-source solutions as an alternative

A study by the Fraunhofer Institute shows that the German federal administration can largely rely on its own open solutions instead of large foreign platforms. Through internal developments, the state avoids critical dependencies and maintains transparency, control, and the ability to act.

Age and geography shape attitudes toward AI

study by Cisco shows significant age and country differences in AI acceptance. Younger users are the most active in using AI, with many also completing relevant training courses.

AI as a demographic necessity

Fears that AI could replace jobs overlook a harsher reality: demographic change. Aging societies face a serious labor shortage that threatens economic stability.

12/25, Ethics & Regulations, Global

Setbacks in AI regulations affect EU and Switzerland

The EU plans to postpone and simplify parts of its AI law and the GDPR in order to give companies easier access to data and more time for implementation. Critics warn that this would weaken data protection and security.

12/25, Business & Management, EU & GER

Republicans back down on AI legislation

An initiative supported by Trump to block the adoption of AI regulations by the states for ten years has failed due to opposition from both parties. Leading Republicans acknowledged that they lacked the support to include the nationwide preemption provision in the National Defense Authorization Act.

Frankfurt’s data centers drive regional growth

Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region have developed into a central digital hub in Europe. The GDP of the data center industry has doubled in five years, while the overall economy has grown by only 16 percent.

12/25, EU & GER, Research & Technology

A new gold rush in the American West

The former gold mining region in the Nevada desert is currently undergoing a profound transformation as technology companies build one of the world's highest concentrations of data centers there.

The UK and Germany promote quantum computing

The UK and Germany are cooperating to accelerate the commercial use of quantum computing and bridge the gap between research and practical applications in computing, sensor technology, and time measurement.

Meta reviews AI chip deal with Google

Meta is reportedly in advanced talks to secure large quantities of Google’s Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for AI development. The plan involves renting the hardware in 2026, with a possible direct purchase in 2027.

The Resonance Machine: Why ChatGPT Feels Therapeutic

Many users find conversations with ChatGPT surprisingly therapeutic, often describing the AI as calming and deeply understanding. Experts attribute this phenomenon not to actual machine empathy, but to the "resonance machine" effect.

How ChatGPT is currently being used

On ChatGPT’s third birthday, OpenAI shared insights into how its 800 million weekly users interact with the tool. About 75% of conversations revolve around practical guidance, information gathering, and writing.

Anthropic unveils faster, cheaper Opus 4.5

Anthropic has launched Opus 4.5, its latest flagship model, improving coding performance, efficiency, and the overall user experience. The model fixes previous conversation cut-offs in Claude by summarizing key points when the context limit is reached.

SAP launches EU AI Cloud

SAP is advancing its European sovereignty strategy with the EU AI Cloud, designed to give companies greater control over how they run AI and cloud services. The platform supports SAP’s own data centers, other European providers, and on-premise setups.

12/25, EU & GER, Society & Education

Risks of AI-generated ads on social media

Scammers are increasingly using AI to create fake ads and deepfake videos on social media, making it harder to spot fraud. These ads often mimic celebrities or well-known brands, luring shoppers to counterfeit websites to steal personal and payment information.

Britain expands support for domestic AI hardware

The UK government has announced a £100 million initiative to strengthen the country’s AI sector. As part of the plan, it will guarantee the purchase of newly developed British AI chips.

12/25, Ethics & Regulations, Global

AI can already take on 12% of current U.S. jobs

A recent MIT study shows that AI is already capable of performing tasks currently handled by nearly 12% of the U.S. workforce. Using the “Iceberg Index,” researchers analyzed more than 150 million workers across 1,000 occupations and compared their skills with over 13,000 AI tools.

12/25, Global, Security & Sustainability

New rules for AI-assisted inventions

The U.S. Patent Office has issued new rules clarifying how inventions developed with the help of AI can be patented. AI systems like ChatGPT or Gemini are now explicitly treated as tools, similar to lab equipment or software, and cannot be named as inventors.

Project Management drives AI-powered sustainability

Sustainability has become a central business priority, and AI offers significant opportunities to enhance it. However, this requires that AI is deeply integrated within the organization through effective project management.

12/25, Business & Management, EU & GER

AI is transforming go-to-market strategies

AI is changing how startups approach go-to-market strategies by enabling teams to achieve more with fewer resources while maintaining focus and precision. Experts from OpenAI and Google emphasize that traditional marketing knowledge remains essential.

12/25, EU & GER, Research & Technology

Europe ready for €1.2 trillion AI boost

Europe could achieve a €1.2 trillion economic boost from AI, thanks to its top-tier talent, scientific excellence, and strong infrastructure. While currently only 14% of companies are using AI, early adopters show the transformative potential in sectors such as healthcare, automotive, and cybersecurity.

11/25, AI Models & Tools, EU & GER

European robotaxis with Chinese support

The Estonian mobility provider Bolt is partnering with the Chinese company Pony.ai to introduce Level 4 self-driving vehicles in Europe. The collaboration will initially focus on real-world testing, safety validation, and user experience.

Munich company unveils its first humanoid robot

Munich-based company Agile Robots has introduced its first humanoid robot, the Agile One. Designed for safe collaboration with humans in industrial environments, the robot stands 174 cm tall, weighs 69 kg, and can carry up to 20 kg at a walking speed of 2 m/s.

11/25, AI Models & Tools, EU & GER

ChatGPT Group Chats transform teamwork

OpenAI has introduced group chats in ChatGPT, allowing up to 20 participants to interact together with the AI in a shared space. The feature supports daily planning, project brainstorming, and collaborative team tasks.

France investigates AI chatbot Grok

France has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok after it published French-language claims denying the genocide carried out in Auschwitz, suggesting the gas chambers were used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.”

Human-guided AI for sustainable quality assurance

Generative AI is transforming software quality by shifting QA from manual test creation to reviewing machine-generated results. While AI can speed up testing and analysis, one-shot tools often prioritize volume over accuracy, which can create additional work.

The most noteworthy AI wearables right now

A new wave of AI-powered wearables is bringing artificial intelligence into our everyday lives, ranging from pendants and rings to wristbands and compact handheld devices. Products like Bee, Friend, Limitless, Omi, and Plaud’s NotePin record conversations, create reminders and more.