Technology

• Fraud incidents continue climbing at US banks even with substantial spending on advanced detection tools and analytics. • The gap highlights limitations in current tech defenses against evolving fraudster tactics. • This trend matters as it pressures financial institutions to innovate faster, amid rising economic impacts from cyber fraud.

• JPMorgan Chase announced Thursday the acquisition of a fintech startup specializing in regional bank digitalization for $5.2 billion in cash, marking one of 2026's largest financial services M&A deals. • The acquisition will expand JPMorgan's capabilities in serving mid-sized regional banks, addressing a strategic gap as community lenders face increased competition from digital-native competitors. • JPMorgan executives stated the deal is expected to generate $200 million in annual cost synergies by 2028 and will close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

• Scientists warn that rapid advances in artificial intelligence and neurotechnology are advancing faster than our scientific understanding of consciousness, creating serious ethical risks. • The acceleration of AI capabilities and brain-computer interface technologies raises urgent questions about the nature of consciousness and ethical implications. • Researchers emphasize the need for parallel development of ethical frameworks to accompany technological progress.

• Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York, along with colleagues at the University of Virginia, published a study in Science Advances mapping innovation landscapes to identify disruptive studies and patents that challenge existing scientific paradigms. • The method, developed by Sadamori Kojaku and colleagues, helps pinpoint discoveries that reshape the course of science, such as the theory of evolution, atomic splitting, and antibiotic development. • The robust measure of disruptiveness provides a systematic way to identify simultaneous breakthroughs across scientific fields and could accelerate recognition of transformative research.

• Autozi Internet Technology (Global) Ltd. (AZI) received a Nasdaq notification on March 29, 2026, for failing to meet the minimum market value of listed securities requirement. • The company has been given 180 days to regain compliance by achieving a market value of listed securities of at least $35 million for 10 consecutive trading days. • This compliance issue highlights ongoing challenges for smaller Nasdaq-listed firms amid market volatility and economic pressures.

• Companies in the US are spending 93% of their AI budgets on technology and only 7% on preparing their workforce, leading to implementation bottlenecks. • Among executives surveyed, 78% report greater benefits from AI in revenue growth than cost-cutting, with experts predicting revenue gains will dwarf efficiency improvements. • Firms treating workforce as an afterthought risk failure despite advanced AI tools, as highlighted by insights from Deloitte, Wharton, and Harvard experts.

• The United States is broadening national security restrictions beyond telecommunications infrastructure to encompass consumer technology products such as routers and drones. • This expansion reflects growing concerns about foreign influence and vulnerabilities in consumer-grade technology that could pose risks to national security infrastructure. • The move represents an escalation in regulatory oversight of the tech sector as the government seeks to protect critical systems and supply chains from potential threats.