Google unveils Gemini 3.5, new AI tools, and an upgraded shopping assistant

• Europe has launched a €200 billion initiative to establish at least five AI gigafactories, creating high-performance ecosystems to provide essential computing power. • Spain is positioning itself as a strategic hub within this framework, focusing on sovereign cloud efforts to reduce reliance on overseas technology providers.

• The EU and UK are implementing "sovereign-tech" measures to counter US dominance in AI and reduce the risk of foreign "kill switches" affecting their infrastructure. • This industrial policy aims to bridge a massive $2 trillion revenue gap between European tech firms and their American counterparts.

• European venture capital fundraising in 2026 is increasingly concentrated in specialist funds targeting high-growth sectors including DeepTech, AI, DefenceTech, FinTech, quantum, BioTech, and climate. • A significant trend involves funds specifically targeting growth-stage European DeepTech companies, with a strategic focus on Series B and Series C investment rounds.

• Researchers report that Russia conducted a concerted drone surveillance campaign targeting nuclear sites in the UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands over an 18-month period. • The operation involved 144 separate incidents, including flights over RAF Lakenheath, with drones launched from "shadow fleet" vessels to avoid detection.

• The Startup Genome 2026 report highlights a strategic shift in India's startup ecosystem, moving beyond Bengaluru's rankings toward AI, DeepTech, and scientific research. • The trend emphasizes a transition from traditional software to original AI models, robotics, semiconductor technologies, and specialized software.

• Portugal has launched Amalia, its first open-source artificial intelligence model, developed by a consortium of national universities and research institutions. • The project was supported by the Portuguese government and funded with €5.5 million ($6.26 million) from EU recovery funds.

• The rapid integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) into critical infrastructure has introduced a new attack surface where AI is used to target other AI systems. • This emerging threat involves the use of adaptive malware and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) to disrupt essential technology and civil infrastructure.

• Amsterdam-based cybersecurity startup Dawnguard has publicly launched its AI-native security architecture automation platform. • The company secured €2.8 million ($3.3 million) in pre-Seed funding from BNVT Capital, Curiosity VC, and eCAPITAL.

• Bitdefender's 2026 Cybersecurity Assessment Report, surveying over 1,200 professionals across six countries, identifies internal AI systems, LLMs, and cloud infrastructure as the top security concerns for 45% and 44% of respondents, respectively. • Over the last year, 41.8% of organizations suffered cloud breaches, while 59.2% confirmed AI-driven social engineering attacks; U.S. firms were particularly hit by business email compromise at a rate of 54.7%.

• Factory activity in several Asian emerging economies, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, expanded or remained steady in June. • Specific data shows the Philippines' activity index held at 50.9, while Malaysia's rose to 50.7 from 49.9 in May.

• The global artificial intelligence in agriculture market is projected to reach USD 24.55 billion by 2035, with the U.S. and Europe expected to hit $6.63 billion and $6.08 billion respectively. • The Asia Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market, fueled by food security needs and government initiatives in India, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

• Enterprises are facing escalating costs and governance gaps as thousands of agentic AI agents are deployed across multiple corporate systems to work alongside human staff. • To address these challenges, Kong is developing a new system that matches specific AI workloads with the most appropriate models based on the complexity of the task.