AI News

Follow the latest AI and automation news

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

AI data centre regulation just got a template that needs no new law

Governor Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 to regulate data centers in Pennsylvania. This order requires developers to sign a contract agreeing to specific conditions and secure local approval before their permit files can be opened. It applies to all new applications and operates through existing permitting authority. The order aims to ensure developers bear the full costs of their projects, including generation, transmission, and distribution, rather than passing these costs onto households and businesses. It also mandates early community consultations to shape design decisions, local hiring and training, and community benefit agreements.

Business

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Hong Kong drivers to renew vehicle licences in 1 day by year-end under AI system

The Transport Department of Hong Kong announced the launch of the "Easy Licence Application Approval" system by year-end, reducing vehicle license renewal processing time from 10 working days to just one. This new system will utilize large language models for automatic recognition and verification of information, streamlining the license renewal process. This change is part of AI initiatives aimed at enhancing transport services and traffic management.

Agents

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

HoneyBook bets on agentic AI to streamline small business operations with its new Claude connector

HoneyBook has launched HoneyBook MCP, a connector for Anthropic's AI assistant Claude, aimed at empowering small businesses with AI capabilities. According to McKinsey's survey, nearly 50% of large companies utilize AI daily, while smaller firms struggle with infrastructure gaps. Founded in 2013, HoneyBook offers a leading CRM application that helps small businesses manage customer relationships effectively. HoneyBook MCP aims to make valuable data more accessible, allowing small businesses to enhance their operations significantly.

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Dubai Chambers, India’s NASSCOM partner on Agentic AI growth

How might collaboration with NASSCOM impact innovation in Dubai?

Governance

Introducing AI Futures

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Governance

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Introducing AI Futures

OpenAI has announced the launch of a new blog titled AI Futures, aimed at exploring how AI could reshape power, governance, and the economy. The blog will cover various topics related to AI's impact on individual freedom and how this technology influences different aspects of life. It will serve as a platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the future. Through this initiative, OpenAI aims to enhance public understanding of AI and guide discussions on how to use this technology responsibly. This development could significantly impact how individuals interact with governments and markets.

Business

Office Connect Group accelerates enterprise transformation with AI, says Founder, MD

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Business

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Office Connect Group accelerates enterprise transformation with AI, says Founder, MD

Irfan Shaikh, Founder and Managing Director of Office Connect Group, discusses how artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming business operations. Through intelligent automation and advanced analytics, the company is creating an integrated digital ecosystem that fosters innovation and customer focus. Since its inception in 2015, Office Connect has expanded to eight business verticals, increasing operational complexity. AI has become the foundation that connects these functions, enhancing forecasting accuracy and optimizing procurement strategies.

Models

[AINews] Death of Params: Z.ai CEO Jie Tang on GLM 5.3 and the new Post-training Scaling Law

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Models

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

[AINews] Death of Params: Z.ai CEO Jie Tang on GLM 5.3 and the new Post-training Scaling Law

Professor Jie Tang has announced advancements in GLM 5.3, which now encompasses a broader range of production environments. The new updates go beyond just increasing parameter counts, focusing on enhancing post-training data and model depth. This development means the model can now take on substantial responsibilities in projects, transforming how users interact with artificial intelligence.

Arab AI Scene

Agentic AI execution trails spending; UAE gets OpenAI inference residency

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Arab AI Scene

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Agentic AI execution trails spending; UAE gets OpenAI inference residency

Saudi Arabia has announced the addition of 50 new AI learning units to its national curriculum. This initiative aims to enhance technical education and digital skills among students, contributing to the development of a future workforce. These units are part of the country's educational strategy, which seeks to improve students' readiness for a changing job market. The government aims to integrate AI technologies into education to enhance understanding and innovation.

Business

AI Now Makes Up Half of Baidu's Revenue: A 'New Baidu' Is Taking Shape

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Business

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

AI Now Makes Up Half of Baidu's Revenue: A 'New Baidu' Is Taking Shape

On August 18, Baidu reported its Q2 2026 results, with revenue reaching 31.3 billion yuan. AI business revenue hit 12.5 billion yuan, a 25% increase, accounting for 50% of the company's total revenue for the second consecutive quarter. Since 2023, Baidu has utilized large models to rebuild its search, Wenku, and Netdisk services, offering models and applications through Baidu AI Cloud. The full-year AI revenue for 2025 is projected at 40 billion yuan, up 48% from the previous year.

Models

DeepSeek Harness Ships First Major Post-Beta Update: 14 Changes Bring Multimodal and Subagent Upgrades

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

Models

20 Aug 20268 Rabiʻ I 1448 AH

DeepSeek Harness Ships First Major Post-Beta Update: 14 Changes Bring Multimodal and Subagent Upgrades

DeepSeek Harness has released its first major update after the public beta: v0.1.0-rc.8, highlighting its multimodal capabilities. The update includes 14 adjustments covering multimodal input, subagent collaboration, terminal experience, and developer support. It now supports native image requests and mixed text-image input, enhancing the system's ability to process information effectively.