Crypto

• Editors from major media outlets, including Forbes, Digiday, and Business Insider, convened at the Cannes Lions festival to debate the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism. • The roundtable focused on the significant loss of web traffic caused by AI-generated summaries and the evolving strategies needed to combat this decline. • The discussion highlights a critical tension in the industry as media giants struggle to maintain audience reach and revenue while AI tools increasingly bypass traditional news sites.

• ASML has increased its financial guidance due to surging global demand for AI chips, signaling continued growth in semiconductor investments. • OpenAI is reportedly exploring the launch of a screen-free AI speaker, potentially expanding the company's reach into consumer hardware. • New reports have highlighted the highest-paying degrees and the rise of "founder factories" in Europe designed to accelerate startup growth.

• Blockchain networks are facing an existential threat as quantum computing advances may soon allow attackers to break the decades-old cryptography securing cryptocurrencies. • Google research indicates that quantum computers capable of breaking encryption could arrive by 2029, significantly shortening the previously expected decade-long timeline. • This acceleration is attributed to rapid progress in quantum systems and breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, as noted by research from Google and Citigroup.

• Israeli startup QIZ Security announced on Thursday that it has raised $17 million in seed funding to develop its cryptographic governance platform. • The funding round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners and Merlin Ventures, with additional support from Evolution Equity Partners, Qbeat Ventures, Singtel Innov8, and Qino Cyber Capital. • The company's platform focuses on cryptographic posture and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) management, which is critical for protecting data against future quantum computing threats.

• The European Parliament failed to pass a motion to reject "EU Chat Control," allowing the scanning of private messages for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to continue. • This decision extends the implementation and potential surveillance capabilities of the rules until 2028. • The move has triggered widespread criticism from privacy advocates who argue that scanning private communications undermines encryption and fundamental digital rights.

• The $2 trillion global cryptocurrency market faces a growing security threat as quantum computing and AI breakthroughs accelerate the timeline for hackers to break current blockchain encryption. • In response to these risks, U.S. President Donald Trump recently issued executive orders aimed at strengthening the quantum capabilities of the United States. • To mitigate vulnerabilities, some blockchain developers and crypto firms are beginning the complex process of upgrading networks with quantum-resistant cryptography.

Exclusive: Andrew Bailey says no policy changes were made as a result of pressure from crypto tycoon-backed Reform leaderUK politics live – latest updatesThe governor of the Bank of England has broken his silence about the pressure Nigel Farage put on him to drop a cryptocurrency policy that could be costly for Reform UK’s billionaire backer, saying he is “able to spot” and resist lobbying.Andrew Bailey’s comments, in a letter seen by the Guardian, come as Farage’s decision not to disclose a £5m gift from the Thailand-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne has triggered the biggest crisis of his political career. Continue reading...