Businesses

• U.S. businesses are increasingly shifting from American AI models to Chinese open-weight alternatives due to rising token costs and financial pressures. • This trend is evidenced by the rapid adoption of Z.ai’s GLM 5.2, which became the fastest-adopted model on its platform in 2026. • Within its first full week of launch, GLM 5.2 saw a 27-fold increase in daily token volume and an 80% growth in its customer base.

• Kingsoft Office demonstrated a new AI tool in Hong Kong on July 9, 2026, designed to automate complex business workflows. • The demo featured a product manager using a single command to stream CRM data and parse a 300-line procurement document for evaluation. • This shift toward "AI that actually does the work" aims to move beyond simple chatbots to functional automation that can win over Asian businesses.

• Kaspersky reports that Malaysian businesses are facing increased cybersecurity risks driven by the adoption of AI tools, poor password management, and the prevalence of hybrid work models. • The report highlights that these vulnerabilities create critical gaps in workplace security, making organizations more susceptible to data breaches and cyberattacks. • This trend is significant as digital transformation accelerates across the Asia Pacific region, leaving companies struggling to balance innovation with robust security protocols.

• Comcast's Sky has reached an agreement to acquire the networks and streaming businesses of UK media giant ITV in a deal valued at $2.13 billion. • The transaction excludes ITV Studios, the company's production arm, which is slated to become a standalone business following the acquisition. • This strategic move allows Sky to significantly expand its content distribution and streaming capabilities within the competitive UK television market.

• Primotech, a global IT solutions and AI consulting firm with operations in Mohali, India, and offices in Texas and California, is positioning itself as a key partner for businesses transitioning to AI-ready infrastructures. • The company argues that simply having a website or ranking on Google is no longer a competitive advantage as the business landscape evolves toward 2026. • This shift matters because businesses must now build foundational AI capabilities to maintain growth and operational efficiency in an increasingly automated market.

• Europe holds €37 trillion in savings, yet a significant portion fails to reach businesses due to a lack of integrated capital markets. • EU leadership views a comprehensive Capital Markets Union (CMU) as essential for competing with the US in strategic sectors, specifically AI and defense. • Despite this priority, member states remain reluctant to deepen integration, hindering the creation of a unified financial system.

President’s crypto ventures have eclipsed in revenue much of his property portfolio that took decades to accumulateDonald Trump raked in more than $1bn from his crypto businesses last year, a federal filing released Monday shows, giving a substantial boost to his annual income.In his second term, the president and his family have heavily invested in digital money and various crypto businesses with Trump announcing at the start of 2025 that he wanted the US to be the “crypto capital of the world”. Trump’s crypto earnings are in addition to profit from his legal settlements, real estate and royalty deals. Continue reading...

• The Five Eyes intelligence alliance issued a critical warning that AI-powered cyberattacks are accelerating and could target businesses within months. • Intelligence agencies signal that AI is evolving beyond productivity tools to become one of the most significant cybersecurity threats facing the private sector. • This shift matters as AI enables attackers to automate complex breaches and scale sophisticated threats more rapidly than traditional methods.

• The CEO of J2 argues that cybercrime poses a more significant threat to businesses than the inherent risks of artificial intelligence. • The primary danger lies in criminals leveraging AI to automate attacks, effectively removing the "human effort" that previously acted as a bottleneck for hackers. • This shift matters because businesses may be focusing their security concerns on the wrong targets, ignoring how AI empowers malicious actors to scale their operations.

• A record-breaking heat wave in 2026 is severely impacting European productivity, transport, retail, and tourism, turning extreme weather into a permanent corporate cost. • Rail operators in France, Belgium, and the UK have reduced services due to track buckling, while the Louvre implemented early closures from Wednesday through Saturday. • The human toll is significant, with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu reporting at least 40 drownings since June 18 as people sought relief in water.

• A recent report reveals that 65% of organizations believe a serious cyber attack could potentially threaten their business survival. • This heightened concern follows highly disruptive attacks on major companies such as M&S and Jaguar Land Rover, highlighting the vulnerability of large enterprises. • Cyber incidents remain the primary cause of IT downtime and data loss, with AI-driven attacks more than doubling in frequency over the last 12 months.

One Nation leader says she isn’t suggesting Australia get rid of taxpayer-funded parental leave entitlementsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPauline Hanson says small businesses will “fold” under the cost of providing paid parental leave, as Labor suggested the One Nation leader didn’t understand how the policy worked.It is not compulsory for employers to pay parental leave entitlements in Australia, though most businesses do provide it and employees are entitled to 12 months of unpaid leave. Continue reading...

• InCorp reports that AI is rapidly evolving the cybersecurity landscape, creating a "new reality" where businesses must balance technological opportunities against increasingly sophisticated threats. • The report highlights a critical vulnerability in vendor exposure, noting that cybersecurity has become a fundamental trust issue between companies and their clients. • Data shows that 65% of consumers immediately lose trust in a brand following a security breach, with recovery of that confidence taking significantly longer than the incident resolution.

Start-ups and testamentary trusts to receive carve-outs after criticism of Labor’s CGT changesAll of Australia’s 2.7m small businesses will receive “generous” exemptions from capital gains tax, as Anthony Albanese flagged startups and testamentary trusts would receive carve outs from the government’s contentious tax reforms.The prime minister’s announcement on Thursday follows weeks of sustained criticism from industry groups, who have labelled the move from a flat 50% CGT discount model to an inflation-linked approach as a “tax on growth”. Continue reading...

• A report by team.blue, based on a survey of 10,059 businesses across 32 European markets, identifies a growing "Visibility Gap" affecting how companies reach customers. • The study highlights that the rise of AI, evolving search algorithms, and increasing advertising costs are fundamentally redefining the process of customer discovery. • This shift matters because traditional search methods are becoming less effective, potentially leaving smaller European businesses unable to compete for online visibility.

A year ago it was the hot topic, but business owners have seen there’s a limit to the president’s royal decreesIn two weeks, I’m speaking to a group of companies in the packaging industry about issues affecting their businesses this year. I’m going to discuss the economy, navigating higher costs, leveraging new tax legislation, AI and what companies are doing to find and retain workers in a volatile job market.You know what I won’t be talking about? Tariffs. Continue reading...

• UK businesses are facing a potential average revenue loss of £83,000 due to a shift in how users interact with AI-driven search engines. • Data reveals that over 80% of Google searches now result in "zero-click" outcomes, where users find answers directly on the search page without visiting external websites. • This trend threatens firms heavily reliant on organic search traffic, as AI-generated summaries reduce the necessity for users to click through to original content.

• A Leamington-based startup has announced its support for UK Small Business Week, a national campaign initiated by Entrepreneurs Circle to honor the impact of small businesses on local communities. • The startup has developed a specialized AI system designed to transform occupational health services, addressing long-standing challenges faced by providers globally. • This initiative highlights the intersection of technological innovation and small business growth, emphasizing how AI can streamline health services for smaller enterprises.

Greater Manchester mayor’s proposals amount to a notable criticism of Keir Starmer’s policy in the areaUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has proposed a 20% cut to business rates for pubs with many smaller, family-run enterprises taken out of paying the levy altogether, in his first major policy initiative during the Makerfield byelection.Burnham’s plans amount to a notable criticism of Keir Starmer’s policy in the area, with the Greater Manchester mayor saying: “Labour have got it wrong on small businesses.” Continue reading...

Labour should also drill for oil and gas in North Sea, says former health secretary and leadership candidateWes Streeting has called for national insurance tax cuts for businesses, and for the government to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea.The former health secretary and Labour leadership candidate told the Sunday Times there should be a “targeted reduction” of employers’ national insurance contribution as a way to “actively incentivise” hiring, particularly of young people. Continue reading...

• Barclays' Q1 2026 Business Prosperity Index shows that 85% of UK businesses remain confident in their strength despite ongoing geopolitical instability. • Approximately 80% of surveyed businesses reported a negative impact resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. • To mitigate risks and improve efficiency, companies are significantly increasing investments in both artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

• Indian companies increased their outbound acquisitions in 2025, completing 162 deals worth over $18 billion, representing a 34% year-on-year rise. • The BBC reported on this trend with a headline suggesting these purchases are driven by slowing economic growth within India rather than financial strength. • OpIndia criticizes the BBC's framing, arguing that the broadcaster is pushing a narrative of "domestic failure" to overshadow the success of Indian balance sheets.

• Eurostat's 2025 data reveals that European businesses are struggling to adopt AI tools due to a lack of technical expertise, data privacy concerns, and legal uncertainty. • Technical expertise is the most cited barrier overall at 10.51%, with particularly high rates of concern in Denmark (15.44%), Germany (14.63%), and Finland (13.99%). • This trend is significant because it persists even though most companies acknowledge the potential value of AI, and it is especially prominent in nations like Denmark and Finland that typically lead in AI adoption.

• OpenAI's revenue chief identified "capability overhang" as the primary challenge for European businesses, where the potential of AI models exceeds the current ability of companies to implement them. • Businesses in Germany, France, and the UK have emerged as some of the top global adopters of OpenAI's technology, signaling strong regional interest in AI integration. • This gap matters because it suggests that while adoption rates are high, organizations are struggling to translate technical capabilities into tangible operational value.

• Ciridae has raised $20 million in seed funding led by venture capital firm Accel to develop AI operating systems tailored for mid-market businesses in industrial and services sectors. • The funding will enable Ciridae to build and deploy AI-powered operational platforms designed to streamline processes across manufacturing and service-oriented industries. • The investment reflects growing market demand for accessible AI solutions that address specific vertical market challenges beyond general-purpose AI platforms.

• Startup TextWeave secured $10 million in seed funding last month to leverage LLMs for generating marketing copy for small shops. • The platform addresses niche needs in content creation, demonstrating how specialized AI fixes fuel startup growth. • This funding aligns with enterprise adoption trends, where generative AI tops technology startup news for tasks like automated writing.

Scheme cutting bills by up to 25% expanded to cover 10,000 firms, but they will not be paid until next yearRachel Reeves has announced an expansion of support for the most energy-intensive UK businesses, as they face soaring bills as a result of the Middle East conflict.The chancellor said the long-promised British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) would be expanded to cover 10,000 companies, up from the 7,000 originally announced. Continue reading...

Oil-driven inflation is big challenge to world economy, lifting inflation and depressing growth, says bank’s chairBusiness live – latest updatesHSBC bosses have said the Iran war is already hitting global economic confidence, as a string of business leaders warned over the impact of the conflict.Georges Elhedery, the Lebanon-born chief executive of the bank, told Bloomberg Television at a HSBC conference in Hong Kong: “We’re saddened and concerned with what’s happening in the Middle East, and we’re concerned not just with what’s happening but also with how long this will take. Continue reading...