Chip, chip ... boom? South Korea tech makers join the trillion-dollar club but some fear a short-circuit looms | South Korea

• The European Union's €20 billion initiative to establish five AI data centers is facing significant delays and funding gaps, with the bidding process pushed back to July. • Interest from potential partners has plummeted, with the number of interested companies dropping from 70 to just 10, leading some consortia to reconsider their involvement.

• A recent drone strike in Romania has intensified concerns that Russia's conflict in Ukraine is expanding into European territory. • Over the past year, numerous NATO and EU member states—including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Belgium—have reported drone incursions over cities, ports, and critical infrastructure.

• The State of Integration & AI 2026 regional roadshow was held across Europe, discussing AI adoption and integration maturity. • The research, conducted by Sapio Research, surveyed 611 IT and business decision-makers across six countries, including Germany, Finland, and Sweden.

• Cyber threats are escalating to a 'high level' with the increasing use of AI. • Ireland is leading in cybersecurity innovation, with 24 Irish cyber startups showcasing their work.

• In early 2026, the EU and UK have issued updated regulatory signals for AI start-ups, with EU policymakers working to simplify specific elements of the AI Act. • The UK government is actively encouraging firms to utilize regulatory sandboxes, live testing environments, and formal consultation processes.

• Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence into its security operations to better combat evolving cyber threats and hacker activity. • The strategy utilizes an AI model revealed by Anthropic in April, which has demonstrated a high proficiency in identifying vulnerabilities within major operating systems and web browsers.

• The European Union's €20 billion ($23.3 billion) investment plan to establish five massive AI data centers is currently floundering. • The initiative, which aimed to create "gigafactories" to accelerate private sector investment in AI infrastructure, is facing significant delays and funding complications.

• The EU's Energy Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, is urging Big Tech to adopt sustainable AI practices. • Energy-hungry data centers must support the EU's shift to carbon-free power, according to Jørgensen.

• SoftBank announced plans on Saturday to construct 3.1 GW of AI data centers in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France by 2031. • The surge in AI ambitions is driving Big Tech toward alternative energy sources, such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to meet massive power demands.

• Global markets saw mixed reactions as the S&P 500 hit a new record high of 7,599.96, while spot gold dropped 1.16% to $4,483.29 per ounce. • Market volatility was driven by escalating tensions between the US and Iran after Iran shot down a US MQ-1 drone over international waters.

• Europe's AI ecosystem is rapidly maturing, with significant developments in May. • Mistral's acquisition of Emmi AI is a landmark moment, marking a major milestone for the continent's AI ambitions.

• ServiceNow (NOW) shares surged 9% following an endorsement from Nvidia regarding the future of AI-driven enterprise software. • The company has set an ambitious financial target to exceed $30 billion in subscription revenue by the year 2030.