ChatGPT Atlas is OpenAI’s new AI-native browser that puts ChatGPT directly into every page you visit, turning browsing into a conversational, context-aware experience. It can read and summarise sites instantly and, with agent mode, it can directly interact with the web and handle multi-step tasks like booking, comparing, or filling forms by itself. Instead of switching tabs or copying content, Atlas brings the assistant into the browser, making everyday web use faster and more automated.

In the accelerating race for dominance in Artificial Intelligence, OpenAI has made a big leap forward with the release of Sora 2, its most advanced video generation model to date. Capable of turning text or images into hyper-realistic videos, Sora 2 powers Sora, a new invite-only iOS app that blends AI creation with a Tiktok-like video feed. The app has already gone viral for the AI's realism but also stirred heated debate over copyright, consent, and the rise of deepfakes.

Human-like dialogue between customers and machines is becoming a cornerstone of modern banking. Leveraging natural language processing, chatbots and virtual assistants now deliver instant, personalised support across both voice and text. These AI-driven systems cut response times, lower operational costs, and provide uninterrupted 24/7 service. With customer demand for seamless, real-time interactions rising, banks are making conversational AI a strategic priority to maintain a competitive edge. Institutions such as N26 and Mashreq Bank already handle millions of engagements through these tools, while technology leaders such as Microsoft and IBM continue to push innovation forward. Conversational AI is quickly establishing itself as a key driver of digital transformation across financial services.

AI agents are redefining how banks operate by acting as autonomous systems capable of executing complex, multi-step tasks with minimal supervision. From automating fraud detection and loan processing to delivering personalised financial advice, these digital workers increase operational efficiency, cut costs, and improve accuracy. With the ability to learn and adapt, AI agents function around the clock, scaling services without compromising compliance or privacy. Global banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, alongside fintech innovators, are leading the charge in deploying and investing in these intelligent systems. The growing momentum is supported by a surge in capital from major investors, signaling that agentic AI is not just a trend, but a strategic transformation in financial services.

Grok is an advanced AI chatbot developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, and is deeply integrated into the X platform. Unlike conventional AI assistants, it combines large language model capabilities with real-time data from X, enabling highly contextual and timely responses to news, trends, and cultural developments. Its ability to deliver immediate, unfiltered insights addresses common limitations of traditional chatbots, such as restricted live data access and overly cautious output. Since its launch in 2023, Grok has demonstrated steady adoption, recording approximately 180 million uses in May 2025—positioning it ahead of some competitors, despite trailing ChatGPT. xAI, valued at $80 billion in early 2025, is supported by leading investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital. However, substantial operating costs, reportedly nearing $1 billion per month, raise questions regarding the company’s long-term financial sustainability.

The AI chip industry is experiencing rapid growth as artificial intelligence applications demand ever-greater processing power. Unlike traditional CPUs, specialised AI chips such as GPUs, FPGAs, and ASICs are designed to efficiently handle the complex computations required for training and running large-scale machine learning models. This surge in demand has driven massive investments from both private tech giants and governments. Companies like NVIDIA, which dominates the AI GPU market with its H100 chips, and firms like Google, Intel, AMD, and TSMC are expanding production and research. Simultaneously, public initiatives such as the U.S. CHIPS Act ($52B), EU Chips Act (€43B), and China's $150B program reflect the strategic importance of AI chip leadership. The global market, valued at $40 billion in 2024, is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of over 30%.

Perplexity is an AI-powered search assistant that combines large language models with real-time web access to deliver fast, accurate answers supported by source citations. Unlike general-purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity is designed with transparency and factual reliability in mind, making it particularly useful for research, journalism, and academic work. Users can ask questions and receive clear, sourced responses, with the ability to follow up conversationally. As of 2025, the platform has surpassed 15 million monthly active users. Founded by former engineers from OpenAI, Meta, and Quora, Perplexity has raised $73.6 million from investors including Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA, with a current valuation exceeding $9 billion. The company is steadily expanding and positioning itself as a practical, citation-first alternative in the growing field of AI-powered information tools.

Aisera is a pioneering generative AI platform that automates IT, HR, customer service, and sales tasks by utilizing conversational AI and automation technology. It empowers organizations to deliver self-service experiences across various channels, significantly improving resolution times and customer satisfaction while reducing operational costs. Aisera's AI understands and processes user requests in natural language, offering solutions and executing tasks with remarkable accuracy and speed, making it an indispensable tool for enhancing efficiency and productivity.

AI as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society was a key theme at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting, which took place from 15 to 19 January 2024. Here are some of the key quotes on AI that came up during panel discussions and sessions at Davos: - “We have our own nervousness, but we believe that we can manage through it, and the only way to do that is to put the technology in the hands of people.”- Sam Altman (CEO at OpenAI) - "If we enter into a world where all the banks are using this major technology, are we going to see supercharged herding behaviour? Are we going to see AI bots that are sentiment-driven and feed off each other, and you then end up with much bigger amplitudes in the financial cycle – so big credit booms and busts. I'm not saying it's imminent, but this is something we're paying attention to.“ – Gita Gopinath (IMF First Deputy Managing Director)