Asia Pacific leaders urge overhaul of scam defences

• The US government is considering extending export controls to cloud services to prevent China from accessing advanced AI models and computing power. • This move follows a surge in Chinese AI capabilities and aims to close loopholes that allow Chinese firms to bypass hardware restrictions via third-party cloud providers.

• Peeko raised $7 million in funding, while Tross secured an undisclosed pre-seed round led by All In Capital and DeVC to expand its US healthcare EHR and payer integrations. • In legal developments, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has moved to court against Beco, and Starlink has reapplied for necessary approval from IN-SPACe to operate.

• KPIT Technologies and Vietnam-based Vietsol have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advanced mobility software and engineering services. • The partnership targets Southeast Asian markets, specifically Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, to accelerate product development and engineering efficiency.

• Big Tech companies are shifting from self-funding to selling hundreds of billions of dollars in bonds to finance the massive infrastructure and data centers required for advanced AI. • Analysts suggest this "borrowing binge" is contributing to a rise in Treasury yields as investors anticipate that AI-driven economic growth will keep interest rates elevated.

• The author draws parallels between the current AI-fueled stock boom and the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s to warn of a potential market crash. • Key indicators include a period of insatiable demand and astonishing fundamental growth, similar to how millions of new users connected to the internet during the previous bubble.

• The EU has introduced an Action Plan on Cybersecurity and AI to establish a framework for integrating AI-powered approaches into IT security. • The plan emphasizes that organizations must first ensure their basic security foundations are robust before implementing these advanced AI tools.

• President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a five-part growth plan during an annual dialogue with entrepreneurs in Khiva, earmarking nearly €1bn to boost business and exports. • The initiative introduces lower energy prepayments, new credit guarantees, easier capital market access, and regulatory reforms that limit state inspections.

• OpenAI is launching advertisements across 31 European markets, including Germany, France, and Italy, starting August 24. • The rollout utilizes a two-tier GDPR privacy structure: contextual ads will run under "legitimate interest," while personalized targeting requires explicit user opt-in.

• European compliance startups are scaling up as the European Commission’s AI Act enforcement begins, with full implementation of certain mandates set for August 2, 2026. • Key players include Paris-based Rippletide, founded in 2024, which is building infrastructure to make enterprise AI agents more predictable and auditable through explicit decision rules.

• AI data centre developers in Europe are shifting away from major cities toward rural locations in regions like northern Sweden and Spain to secure cheaper energy and faster land access. • Data from DC Byte reveals that of nine proposed gigawatt-plus capacity projects, only one is planned near a major city (Paris), highlighting a broader trend toward decentralized infrastructure.

• OpenAI is expanding its ChatGPT advertising services to 31 European markets, including major economies such as Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. • This rollout represents the largest regional expansion of the service since initial ad trials launched in the United States in February.