Round table report: 'Deploy it or disappear' - financial services leaders warn AI is becoming a business survival issue

• 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.

• Ant International has decided to establish its Global Operations Centre in Kuala Lumpur, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 1. • The initiative aims to create new employment opportunities and strengthen local capabilities in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology.

• Japan has announced plans to develop a sovereign AI model and deploy 10 million AI-equipped robots across more than a dozen sectors by 2040. • The government will invest approximately $6 billion in the domestic AI model, which will be created by Noetra, a consortium featuring major firms like Sony and SoftBank.

• 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.

• Enterprises are shifting from AI experimentation to the deployment of "agentic AI," where thousands of autonomous agents operate across multiple systems alongside human staff. • This transition is creating significant operational challenges, specifically regarding rising costs and critical governance gaps in enterprise environments.

• UN Secretary General António Guterres warned that artificial intelligence is advancing more rapidly than the scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks needed to manage it. • With over one billion people using conversational AI weekly, the UN highlighted that development is heavily concentrated in the US and China, threatening to widen global inequalities.

• The GITEX AI EUROPE 2026 event took place in Berlin, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and the role of start-ups in shaping Europe's future. • Industry experts and participants discussed strategies to enhance European competitiveness through the adoption of modern technologies and the fostering of new international partnerships.

• The UK has reached a record 80 "unicorn" businesses—startups valued at $1 billion or more—ranking it third globally. • According to a report by the Hurun Research Institute, 23 new unicorns were created in the UK over the past year.