Author: Art Ryan

Technology companies are turning to equity sales, bond offerings and bank loans to fund the next phase of artificial intelligence expansion, raising fresh concerns among investors about the growing cost of the AI boom. The latest wave of capital raising highlights a major shift in how the world’s biggest technology companies are financing AI infrastructure. For years, many large tech firms relied heavily on strong cash reserves and operating cash flow to support cloud growth, research and product development. Now, the scale of AI investment has become so large that companies are increasingly looking to financial markets for additional support.…

Global AI Show Riyadh 2026 is now only two days away. It brings one of the region’s major artificial intelligence gatherings to Saudi Arabia on June 29–30, 2026. The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention in Riyadh. Here, technology leaders, AI companies, investors, policymakers, startups and enterprise decision-makers are expected to gather for two days. These days will include discussions, exhibitions and networking. The conference arrives at a time when Saudi Arabia is accelerating its digital transformation agenda. It is also strengthening its position as a regional hub for artificial intelligence. Moreover, AI…

NVIDIA supercomputers now make up more than 400 of the world’s 500 fastest systems, marking another major milestone for accelerated computing, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. According to the latest TOP500 rankings released at ISC High Performance 2026 in Hamburg, Germany, NVIDIA technology now powers 81% of the TOP500 list. The company also said nearly 90% of the systems newly added to the ranking use NVIDIA technologies, showing how quickly AI-focused computing architectures are becoming the standard for scientific and industrial workloads. The latest figures highlight NVIDIA’s growing role in global supercomputing. The company’s platforms are no longer limited to…

NVIDIA AI for science software is opening new possibilities for researchers working in chemistry, materials discovery, experimental physics and astronomy. The company introduced new CUDA-X libraries, microservices and reference code designed to turn complex scientific workloads into faster GPU-accelerated pipelines. The announcement highlights NVIDIA DAQIRI, NVIDIA ALCHEMI NIM microservices and the upcoming NVIDIA cuPhoton reference code. Together, these tools aim to help scientists process massive data sets, run AI-powered simulations and analyze instrument data in real time. NVIDIA AI for Science Software Expands CUDA-X Capabilities The new NVIDIA AI for science software is part of CUDA-X, the company’s collection of…

NVIDIA Vera CPU is set to play a major role in the next phase of scientific computing at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where new supercomputers will support advanced simulation, molecular design and agentic AI for research. The systems, known as Mission, Vision and Veritas, are being developed with HPE and NVIDIA to accelerate scientific discovery. By combining NVIDIA Vera CPUs, NVIDIA Rubin GPUs and high-speed networking, the supercomputers aim to help researchers process complex workloads faster and explore new ways of using AI in science. NVIDIA Vera CPU Expands AI Supercomputing at Los Alamos Los Alamos National Laboratory is preparing…

Agoda is expanding its digital travel platform with a new suite of features designed to make trip planning faster, smarter, and less stressful for travelers. The latest update includes real-time flight alerts, improved hotel browsing, AI-powered review matching, expanded language support, and a more connected booking experience. The move shows how artificial intelligence is becoming more central to travel technology. Instead of only helping users search for hotels or flights, AI is now helping travelers make decisions, understand property details, and manage bookings with better timing and context. Agoda Adds Real-Time Flight Updates for Travelers One of the biggest updates…

Artificial intelligence is quickly changing how travelers search, compare and book trips. A new Accenture Consumer Pulse Research report shows that AI travel agents are no longer being viewed only as planning tools. Instead, travelers are becoming more comfortable allowing AI agents to influence decisions, compare brands and even make booking choices within set limits. The findings point to a major shift for airlines, hotels and travel platforms. Brand loyalty, once built through points, repeat stays and familiar experiences, may become more fragile as travelers rely on AI systems to find the best value, relevance and convenience at the moment…

Jamaica Tourism 3.0 is setting a new direction for the country’s tourism industry by moving beyond traditional visitor arrivals and hotel occupancy. Instead, the strategy positions tourism as a national development platform supported by artificial intelligence, innovation, workforce training, stronger regulation, and deeper local participation. The new framework reflects Jamaica’s ambition to turn tourism into a broader economic engine. While the country remains one of the Caribbean’s most recognized destinations, the next phase of growth focuses on how tourism can create more value for local communities, workers, entrepreneurs, and national industries. Jamaica Tourism 3.0 Signals a New Era for the…

The UAE Ministry of Education has launched NOVA, a new artificial intelligence initiative. It is aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the country’s education sector. The project is designed to improve the efficiency of education operations and services by using AI and advanced data technologies. Through NOVA, the Ministry aims to support better decision-making. Additionally, it seeks to streamline institutional workflows and enhance educational outcomes for students, teachers, schools, and parents. NOVA Brings AI Into UAE Education Services NOVA will use artificial intelligence to help modernize how education services are delivered across the UAE. The initiative is expected to improve…

The Linux Foundation has launched Akrites, a new industry-backed initiative. It is designed to protect critical open-source software from a rising wave of AI-enabled cyber threats. Announced on June 25, 2026, Akrites brings together some of the world’s biggest technology, AI, cybersecurity, finance, and infrastructure organizations. The goal is to coordinate how serious vulnerabilities in open-source software are found, fixed, and responsibly disclosed. The initiative arrives at a time when frontier AI models are making it faster and easier to identify software vulnerabilities. While that gives defenders powerful new tools, it also raises concerns. Attackers could use similar AI capabilities…

UAE investors are emerging as global leaders in the use of artificial intelligence. New HSBC survey findings show that AI is becoming a major part of how affluent and high-net-worth individuals research, assess, and manage financial decisions. According to HSBC’s Human-AI Advantage report, 98% of UAE investors use AI tools in their daily lives. The figure places the UAE at the top of global AI adoption among the 10 markets surveyed. It is alongside India. More importantly for the financial sector, 83% of UAE investors said they use AI specifically for finance and investment decisions. This is compared with a…

Perplexity is expanding deeper into professional AI tools with the launch of Computer for Counsel, a legal-focused version of its agentic AI platform. This version is designed to help lawyers move beyond simple chatbot-style research. The new platform is built for legal teams that need more than quick answers. Instead of only summarizing information or responding to legal research prompts, Computer for Counsel is designed to handle multi-step workflows. These include contract review, legal research, document preparation, regulatory monitoring, and matter management. The launch signals a broader shift in the legal technology market. In particular, AI companies are moving from…

Amazon is making a major new bet on India’s artificial intelligence future. The company announced plans to invest an additional $13 billion in the country by 2030. This investment is aimed at expanding AI and cloud infrastructure through Amazon Web Services. In particular, Amazon has a strong focus on growing data center capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The move reinforces India’s growing role as a global hub for AI development, cloud computing, digital services, and enterprise technology. Additionally, as demand for generative AI, machine learning tools, and scalable cloud infrastructure rises, Amazon is positioning AWS as a key platform for…

Google appears to be preparing a major upgrade for Gemini on macOS, with new features that could make the AI assistant more useful across everyday desktop workflows. The latest reported tests include system-wide voice dictation, cursor-aware assistance through a feature called Magic Pointer, and device linking that may help users continue their work across multiple screens. These updates suggest Google wants Gemini to become more than a chatbot inside a separate window. Instead, the company seems to be moving toward a desktop AI assistant that can understand what users are doing, respond to voice commands, and provide contextual help inside…

The countdown continues. Global AI Show Riyadh 2026 is now only 4 days away. This brings Saudi Arabia closer to one of the most important artificial intelligence conferences in the Middle East. The event will take place on June 29–30, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is expected to bring together AI leaders, technology companies, startups, investors, government representatives, enterprise decision-makers, and industry experts for two days of exhibitions, networking, and high-level discussions. As artificial intelligence becomes a major driver of economic growth, digital transformation, smart infrastructure, and enterprise innovation, Global…

GEMS Education has partnered with Oracle to prepare more than 11,000 secondary students and alumni for the growing AI-driven economy. The UAE-based private school network has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oracle to deliver training in artificial intelligence, generative AI, data analytics, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. The programme will run over three years and will be delivered through Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative. The partnership makes GEMS the first private school network globally to join Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, a programme traditionally designed for university students, professionals, governments, and workforce development partners. AI Training Begins Earlier…

Dubai is taking another major step toward the future of construction as AI-powered robots are set to enter a live building environment at the Ghaf Woods development. Innovo Group has partnered with FieldAI to deploy general-purpose physical AI robots to the Dubai project, marking a milestone for the region’s construction industry. As a result, the move brings robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation directly into one of the UAE’s most ambitious real estate developments. The deployment is expected to improve safety, productivity, and operational efficiency on site. At the same time, it will give the industry a closer look at how…

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia- The Global AI Show Riyadh 2026, taking place June 29-30, has unveiled its first lineup of thought leaders, policymakers, innovators, and global AI experts set to drive the direction of artificial intelligence and put it on the edge of innovation until 2026. Organized by VAP Group and powered by Times of AI, this event will feature more than 100 unique speakers from 80+ countries with backgrounds in government digital transformation, AI strategy, and startups dedicated to developing cutting-edge technology. This exhibition in Riyadh’s major areas of innovation includes how to practically implement artificial intelligence on a large…

TikTok is raising the bar in AI-driven marketing with the introduction of new agentic AI tools designed to assist brands in rapidly creating, scaling, and optimizing advertising content. TikTok has announced its latest creative solutions at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2026, including Symphony Agent, an AI-powered system that seeks to support advertisers in campaign planning, creator discovery, content creation and creative optimization. The announcement underscores TikTok’s increasing emphasis on the convergence of artificial intelligence, creator collaborations and cultural trends to enable brands to convert creative ideas into quantifiable business results. The biggest AI news from Cannes Lions…

Generative AI is no longer just a tool for speeding up repetitive marketing tasks. According to Google’s Laura O’Connell, Head of U.S. Agency Partnerships for Independent Agencies, the technology is beginning to reshape how brands, agencies, and creators think about the future of advertising. Speaking at Cannes Lions 2026, O’Connell said generative AI is the beginning of a new creative language for the marketing industry. Marketers are no longer simply using AI to automate basic workflows, but are being encouraged to ask a bigger question: what can this technology make possible that was difficult or impossible before? That shift could…