ChatGPT to launch ads in 31 European countries

• OpenAI has announced the expansion of its ChatGPT Ads service and product to 31 European countries. • The rollout includes major markets such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria.

• OpenAI will begin displaying in-chat advertisements to ChatGPT Free and Go plan users across 31 European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Italy. • The rollout is scheduled to take place during the week of August 24 to 30, 2026.

• Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) reported record first-half 2026 results, with profits increasing 24% to HK$10.6 billion. • Growth was primarily driven by record trading volumes and a surge in IPO activity, specifically among technology and AI-focused companies.

• The PCI Security Standards Council is hosting its Asia-Pacific Community Meeting in Kuala Lumpur to commemorate the organization's 20th anniversary. • The gathering focuses on the evolving landscape of payment security, specifically addressing how artificial intelligence is altering the industry.

• Anthropic released a 186-page alignment report revealing the existence of "Model 2," an unreleased AI more capable than Claude Mythos 5. • The new model is currently being utilized by internal staff to automate software development and engineering tasks.

• U.S. tech companies are expanding their recruitment efforts beyond Silicon Valley to secure specialized talent capable of building and maintaining advanced AI systems. • This shift stems from a labor-market contradiction where AI automates routine software and back-office tasks while simultaneously increasing the demand for high-level experts.

• OpenAI will begin serving advertisements to ChatGPT users across 31 European markets starting Monday, August 24. • The rollout includes major economies such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

• OpenAI announced on August 19 that it is expanding its advertising pilot program to 31 new European markets. • The expansion includes major economies such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, among others.

• Five economists and researchers from the European Central Bank (ECB) have warned that the current generative AI boom could lead to a market bubble burst. • The ECB compares the current AI surge to historical precedents like the 19th-century railway boom and the dot-com era, where transformative technologies initially caused extreme stock price inflation.

• OpenAI's president recently published a blog post promoting "agentic AI," though analysts argue the piece omitted critical discussions on safety and control. • Mark Tauschek of Info-Tech Research Group notes that major AI labs are deprioritizing early ethics guardrails in favor of cybersecurity capabilities to attract investment.

• Vietnam remained the fastest-growing major economy in Southeast Asia during the second quarter, while Thailand experienced the slowest growth in the region. • Malaysia and Singapore followed as the second- and third-fastest expanding economies, driven by strong global demand for semiconductors and tech supply chain components.