Dubai-based fintech Alaan has closed a $48million Series A round, one of the largest in the Middle East and North Africa. Focused on leveraging AI for smarter corporate expense management, Alaan plans to use the funds on product innovation and regional expansion. This robust investment highlights sustained appetite for AI-powered fintech solutions and the growing significance of the MENA market in the global tech scene.
Read more: TechCrunch
The U.S. government has added OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to its list of approved AI vendors. Through a revamped Multiple Awards Schedule, federal agencies can now access these leading AI platforms using pre-negotiated contracts, easing procurement and accelerating digital transformation. This move signals a major shift in how governments work with cutting-edge AI tools and the growing recognition of generative AI’s transformative potential across public services.
Read more: TechCrunch
Tesla has asked shareholders to approve a $29 billion compensation package for CEO Elon Musk as the company faces an “AI talent war.” The proposal underscores Tesla’s priority to retain Musk’s leadership during a transformative period for the company, with AI playing a crucial role in autonomous driving, robotics, and manufacturing. The move comes as competition in AI innovation heats up, with rivals aggressively pursuing top technical talent worldwide.
Read more: TechCrunch
Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind, has stated that artificial intelligence is poised to create an impact that is potentially ten times greater and faster than the Industrial Revolution. In a recent interview, he emphasized AI’s vast ability to rapidly reshape both society and the business world. Hassabis also stressed the importance of implementing balanced regulations and forward-thinking strategies to manage these changes effectively. His remarks highlight the ongoing discussions around generative AI, underlining how its speed and magnitude of disruption surpass those of previous technological breakthroughs.
Read more: TheGuardian
Airtel has unveiled its new sovereign cloud and AI platform, targeting enterprise and government clients who require strict data localization and privacy compliance. The platform promises robust security, seamless deployment, and industry-leading AI capabilities designed for Indian regulatory standards. Airtel’s move underscores growing demand for local cloud solutions as businesses accelerate digital transformation and rely more on AI-driven insights. The telecom giant aims to position itself as a leading one-stop solution for cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence in the Indian market.
Read more: YourStory
Apple is gearing up to shake things up in the AI world with a brand-new ChatGPT-style AI feature launching alongside the iPhone 17. With tech giants like OpenAI and Google already making waves, Apple is ready to bring its own spin on smart, conversational AI right to your pocket.
Reports reveal that Apple has quietly set up a dedicated team—called the “Answers” or “AKI” team—tasked with creating an AI answer engine that goes beyond basic voice commands. This AI will make it easier and more natural for you to get answers, whether you’re chatting with Siri, searching with Spotlight, or browsing in Safari. Instead of typing keywords, you’ll be able to ask questions in everyday language and get detailed, helpful responses in real-time.
What sets Apple apart is its strong focus on privacy. Most of the AI work will happen directly on your iPhone, keeping your data safe and private. And if your question needs extra processing in the cloud, Apple will always ask for your consent before sending any personal info. This privacy-first approach is a game-changer compared to other AI tools that often send data to external servers.
While some of these AI upgrades will arrive gradually—Siri’s big AI overhaul is expected to roll out through 2026—the iPhone 17 will showcase some of Apple’s exciting new AI capabilities. This means your next iPhone won’t just be a phone; it will be your smart assistant, creative partner, and personal guide, all while keeping your privacy front and center.
In short, Apple’s AI on the iPhone 17 looks set to change how we interact with our devices, making things more intuitive, helpful, and secure. It’s an exciting leap toward smarter, more personal technology that just might redefine what we expect from our phones.
Read more: BusinessToday, Bloomberg
Indian mobile gaming platform STAN has raised $8.5 million in a Series A round led by Google’s AI Futures Fund and top Japanese gaming firms. With 25 million downloads and rapid product-driven growth, STAN now supports 5.5 million monthly users and has scaled revenues to $7.87 million in FY25. The funding will support expansion to other mobile-first markets and boost its AI-powered personalization and blockchain-based gamer profiles. In a booming Indian gaming market expected to hit $9.1 billion by 2029, STAN stands out with voice clubs and mobile-focused features targeting tier-2/3 cities.
Read more: Moneycontrol
Reddit is intensifying its ambition to become a primary search engine by unifying its traditional search with Reddit Answers, an AI-powered Q&A tool now serving 6 million users across a dozen countries. CEO Steve Huffman announced that a newly prominent search box and global rollout of Reddit Answers are core to this plan, leveraging Reddit’s vast community-generated knowledge. With over 70 million weekly search users, the company’s Q2 revenue soared 78% to $500 million, driven mainly by ads and new AI-powered marketing tools that let brands tap into real-time community trends and sentiments, strengthening Reddit’s position in the search and advertising landscape
Read more: TechCrunch
Google has launched Gemini 2.5 Deep Think, its most advanced multi-agent AI model, exclusively for AI Ultra subscribers. Priced at $249.99/month, Deep Think sets a new benchmark in parallel reasoning, outperforming OpenAI and xAI on tests like Humanity’s Last Exam and LiveCodeBench V6. The model’s unique parallel thinking allows it to explore multiple solutions at once, boosting problem-solving power, especially in math and coding challenges. While a research variant won gold at the 2025 International Mathematical Olympiad, the consumer version delivers faster, bronze-level performance on similar tasks.
Read more: TechCrunch
Italy’s antitrust regulator, AGCM, has launched a formal investigation into Meta Platforms for allegedly abusing its dominant market position by embedding its AI assistant directly into WhatsApp without explicit user consent. Integrated since March 2025, Meta AI appears in the app’s search bar, offering virtual assistant features. The authority suspects this practice forces users into Meta’s AI ecosystem, potentially stifling fair competition and disadvantaging rival AI providers. Inspections were conducted at Meta’s Italian offices. Meta defends the integration as user-friendly and cooperative with regulators. Violations could trigger EU fines up to 10% of global turnover
Read more: CNBC18
