Iberian AI gigafactory proposal allocates $14 billion across Portugal and Spain - The Tech Capital

• OpenAI is repositioning Codex as a marketing tool, while Google is introducing an opt-out mechanism for website owners to prevent their content from appearing in AI-driven search results. • AdCP is expanding its operations beyond programmatic advertising to broaden its service offerings.

• SEALSQ, a listed cybersecurity firm, has acquired a majority stake in Wecan Group and provided 5 million Swiss francs to scale its AI-supported compliance platform. • British CleanTech startup DEScycle secured over 10 million euros in funding within ten months to develop advanced metal recycling infrastructure for critical raw materials.

• The European Union is introducing a "tech sovereignty" package designed to prioritize European firms in the AI and cloud computing sectors. • This initiative is part of a broader set of EU rules aimed at increasing domestic manufacturing to better compete with dominant tech companies from the U.S. and China.

• Technology spending in Europe is projected to reach USD $1.3 trillion by 2026, driven largely by a surge in infrastructure investments. • Businesses are aggressively expanding data centers to support the growing demands of artificial intelligence integration.

• Tim Urbanowicz, chief investment strategist at Innovator from Goldman Sachs Asset Management, is analyzing the current AI boom to identify the next major investment cycle. • The analysis focuses on moving beyond the initial "big wave" of hardware and infrastructure to find emerging opportunities within the AI trade.

• Tech executives and U.S. officials are debating whether to implement a "pause" or voluntary vetting process to keep artificial intelligence development under control. • Former CISA director Jen Easterly described a recent executive order by Donald Trump as a positive first step toward creating a safer technological ecosystem.

• The European Union is launching a strategic plan to reduce its technological dependence on the United States by strengthening its own domestic tech sector. • The initiative focuses on expanding data center capacity, boosting semiconductor chip production, and incentivizing the use of local suppliers.

• Thi Lam, founder and CCO of Garnish Studios, appeared on a Heritage Radio Network episode of "ITS" to discuss content strategy for 2026. • The conversation focused on how emerging consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands in the food, beverage, and wellness sectors should approach creative assets.

• The European Union has proposed a new sovereignty package designed to reduce its strategic dependence on non-EU suppliers for critical technologies, including semiconductors, AI, and cloud computing. • Key measures include the creation of Experience and Acceleration Centres to coordinate AI adoption across member states and the implementation of a framework to assess cloud and AI sovereignty.

• The European Commission is developing new standards under the Cloud and AI Development Act to enhance Europe's competitiveness in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. • These rules aim to address the significant power costs and energy demands associated with the expansion of data centers required for AI infrastructure.

• The European Union has launched a new technology sovereignty package focused on enhancing capabilities in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and cloud infrastructure. • The initiative is designed to strategically reduce the EU's reliance on foreign technology suppliers and strengthen internal digital autonomy.