AI - WORLDEF

Amazon Decides to Layoff Employees in Its Artificial Intelligence Unit

Amazon has eliminated some positions within its Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) organization, which works on advanced artificial intelligence models. The company did not disclose the number of employees affected by the layoff decision. It was reported that the restructuring was carried out to allocate more resources to artificial intelligence projects considered a priority in terms of customer needs.

Layoff Decision Linked to Customer-Focused Artificial Intelligence Projects

An Amazon spokesperson stated that developing large artificial intelligence models remains among the company’s most important areas of work. The spokesperson said Amazon aims to accelerate development in critical areas by focusing on initiatives that matter most to customers.

In its statement, the company noted that this focus required layoff decisions, including the elimination of certain roles in specific parts of the AGI organization. Amazon said that despite the layoff process, it would continue investing in areas it considers important for the future of its customers.

Management Structure in the AGI Unit Had Changed

Rohit Prasad, who led Amazon’s AGI efforts, left the company in late 2025. AGI Lab President David Luan also stepped down from his role in February 2026. In December, the company placed the AGI group under a broader organization led by Senior Vice President Peter DeSantis, which also includes chip development and quantum computing teams.

The latest layoff decision came after Amazon eliminated approximately 16,000 positions across the company in January 2026. According to Amazon’s statement, affected employees in the United States will be offered 90 days of pay and benefits, career transition support, temporary health coverage, and severance pay depending on eligibility.

Amazon Continues Its Artificial Intelligence Investments

Amazon said that despite the downsizing of its AGI team, it has not stepped back from its artificial intelligence investments. In June 2026, AWS announced a new $1 billion program for artificial intelligence engineers who will work within companies to help customers develop agentic AI systems.

Under the program, thousands of specialists are expected to work directly with customer teams. In a separate layoff process being carried out at two Amazon warehouse facilities in Florida, the number of affected employees is expected to exceed 1,000 due to facility renovation work.

Dtec Partners with JetBrains to Accelerate AI Innovation Across UAE Startups

Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), an initiative of the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ), has announced a strategic partnership with JetBrains to strengthen the UAE’s startup ecosystem by providing emerging technology companies with advanced AI-powered software development tools and technical expertise. The agreement was signed during Dtec’s Agentic AI Innovators Forum in Dubai.

JetBrains Brings AI-Powered Development Tools to Startups

Through the collaboration, startups within the Dtec community will gain access to JetBrains’ Incubator and Accelerator Partner Program, which has supported more than 55,000 startups globally, including unicorns such as Bolt, Canva, and Deel. Eligible companies will also receive complimentary access to JetBrains’ professional integrated development environments (IDEs) and AI-assisted coding solutions.

Selected startups can receive up to 10 commercial subscriptions to JetBrains’ intelligent developer tools free for six months, followed by a 50% discount for up to five years on key software solutions, including advanced AI packages. The initiative is designed to help founders automate repetitive coding tasks, improve software quality, and accelerate product development.

Training and Technical Support to Foster Innovation

Beyond software access, JetBrains will organize specialized workshops and technical training sessions covering AI adoption, developer best practices, and emerging software engineering trends. The educational component aims to help startup teams maximize the value of AI-assisted development while strengthening local technical capabilities.

Supporting Dubai’s Digital Economy Vision

Based in Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dtec has helped launch more than 1,000 startups and contributed to the creation of over 4,000 jobs by providing entrepreneurs with infrastructure, mentorship, investment opportunities, and global partnerships. The new collaboration supports Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to position the emirate as a leading global hub for digital innovation and the future economy.

Building a Stronger AI Startup Ecosystem

According to Dtec and JetBrains, the partnership extends beyond providing software licenses by creating a stronger developer ecosystem through knowledge sharing, practical guidance, and access to global expertise. As AI adoption continues to accelerate across the Middle East, both organizations aim to help UAE startups build innovative, globally competitive technology products more efficiently

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Alibaba Unveils Qwen 3.8 Max, Escalating the Global AI Race

Alibaba has officially unveiled a preview of Qwen 3.8 Max, describing it as its most capable artificial intelligence model to date and positioning it among the world’s leading foundation models. The announcement marks another significant milestone in China’s rapidly evolving AI landscape, where competition among major technology companies continues to intensify.

The company stated that Qwen 3.8 Max delivers major improvements in reasoning, coding, multilingual understanding, and agentic capabilities, enabling AI systems to perform increasingly complex tasks with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Strong Focus on Agentic AI

According to Alibaba’s latest announcements, Qwen 3.8 Max has been designed for the next generation of AI applications, where intelligent agents can independently plan, reason, and execute multi-step workflows.

The company highlighted advances across several areas, including:

More advanced logical reasoning
Enhanced software development and coding performance
Improved long-context understanding
Better multilingual capabilities
Stronger AI agent execution

Alibaba also emphasized that the new model is intended to support both enterprise deployments and developer ecosystems through its expanding Qwen platform.

Benchmark Results Target Global Competitors

Alibaba claims Qwen 3.8 Max achieves competitive results across multiple industry benchmarks, placing it among the strongest AI models currently available.

While independent evaluations are still emerging, the company says the model has demonstrated significant improvements over previous Qwen releases in coding, mathematical reasoning, scientific knowledge, and complex instruction following.

The launch further intensifies competition with leading AI developers including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, xAI, Meta, and other Chinese AI companies.

Open Ecosystem Remains a Strategic Priority

Alongside the model preview, Alibaba reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the Qwen ecosystem through continued investment in developers, enterprise AI adoption, and open innovation.

Recent updates shared by the Qwen team highlight ongoing improvements to model capabilities, infrastructure, and deployment options aimed at accelerating real-world AI applications across industries.

The strategy reflects Alibaba’s broader ambition to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading AI technology providers while supporting businesses building AI-powered products and services.

China’s AI Competition Continues to Accelerate

The release of Qwen 3.8 Max comes as Chinese technology companies are accelerating investments in large language models and enterprise AI infrastructure.

With increasingly capable models entering the market, competition is shifting beyond chatbot performance toward AI agents capable of automating business workflows, software development, research, customer service, and enterprise productivity.

As global AI innovation continues to accelerate, Alibaba’s latest model signals that competition among leading AI companies is entering an even more advanced phase.

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29 Nations Launch Global AI Cooperation Organization as Shanghai Emerges as New Hub for AI Governance

New international body aims to shape global AI governance with a focus on safety, fairness, and multilateral cooperation

A coalition of 29 countries has formally signed an agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), marking one of the most significant multilateral initiatives in artificial intelligence governance to date. The agreement, signed in Shanghai, positions the Chinese financial and technology hub as the headquarters of the newly created intergovernmental organization, reflecting Beijing’s growing ambitions to play a leading role in shaping the global AI policy landscape.

The move comes as governments worldwide race to establish regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence while balancing innovation, economic competitiveness, and national security concerns. WAICO is designed to provide a platform for international collaboration on AI governance, encouraging member states to coordinate policies and promote responsible technological development.

Global Coalition Forms Around AI Governance

The founding agreement was signed by representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Laos, and Russia, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signing on behalf of China. The signing ceremony was also attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres alongside representatives from international organizations, underscoring the global significance of the initiative.

According to the agreement, WAICO will operate as an independent intergovernmental organization committed to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Its mission centers on strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence while encouraging inclusive participation and shared technological benefits among member nations.

A New Framework for Responsible AI

The organization’s mandate extends beyond policy coordination. WAICO aims to promote the development of AI systems that are safe, trustworthy, fair, and people-centered while supporting international standards for responsible innovation.

As AI adoption accelerates across industries ranging from healthcare and manufacturing to finance and public services, governments have increasingly emphasized the need for common governance frameworks capable of addressing ethical risks, data security, transparency, and cross-border collaboration. WAICO seeks to become a platform where these issues can be discussed through multilateral cooperation rather than fragmented national approaches.

China Expands Its Global AI Influence

The establishment of WAICO also highlights China’s broader strategy to strengthen its role in global technology governance. With Shanghai serving as the organization’s permanent headquarters, China positions itself at the center of international AI dialogue during a period when competition over artificial intelligence leadership continues to intensify among major economies.

While many Western countries have focused on domestic AI regulations and regional initiatives, WAICO introduces another institutional framework aimed at expanding international cooperation, particularly among emerging and developing economies seeking greater participation in shaping global AI standards.

Whether the organization evolves into a major global governance institution will largely depend on future membership expansion, policy implementation, and its ability to foster practical collaboration across increasingly complex AI ecosystems. Nevertheless, the creation of WAICO marks an important milestone in the evolving architecture of international artificial intelligence governance and signals that multilateral AI diplomacy is entering a new phase.

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PixVerse Raises $439M as AI Video Startup Surpasses $2 Billion Valuation

Singapore-based AI startup PixVerse has raised $439 million in a Series C extension, pushing its valuation above $2 billion as investor appetite for generative AI and video creation technologies continues to grow.

Funding Reflects Strong Investor Confidence

Singapore-based artificial intelligence startup PixVerse has raised $439 million in a Series C extension, lifting its valuation beyond $2 billion as investors continue backing companies building the next generation of generative AI technologies.

The funding highlights sustained confidence in AI-powered video generation, one of the fastest-growing segments of the artificial intelligence industry. As businesses increasingly adopt AI tools for content production, advertising, entertainment and e-commerce, companies capable of generating high-quality video at scale have become attractive investment targets.

Expanding World Model Capabilities

PixVerse said the fresh capital will be used to accelerate development of its world model technology, a class of AI systems designed to better understand and simulate real-world environments, object interactions and physical movement.

The company also plans to strengthen its global footprint by expanding product development, increasing research investments and growing both its engineering and commercial teams. The funding is expected to support broader international expansion as demand for AI-powered creative tools continues to increase.

Competition Intensifies in AI Video Generation

The latest financing comes as competition among AI video developers accelerates. Technology companies and startups alike are racing to improve video realism, generation speed and production quality while reducing costs for enterprise and consumer users.

AI-generated video is rapidly moving beyond experimental use cases into mainstream business applications, including digital marketing, social media campaigns, product demonstrations, customer engagement and enterprise communications. This growing commercial adoption has fueled investor interest in companies with scalable AI infrastructure and differentiated technology.

Asia Strengthens Its Position in Global AI

The investment also underscores Asia’s growing influence in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. While several of the world’s largest foundation model developers are based in the United States, venture capital continues to flow toward Asian startups developing specialized AI platforms with international ambitions.

Investors are increasingly focusing on companies that combine proprietary AI models with clear commercialization strategies, particularly those capable of generating recurring enterprise revenue and expanding across multiple markets.

A Growing AI Unicorn

For PixVerse, the latest funding provides additional resources to compete in an increasingly crowded AI landscape, where innovation cycles are becoming shorter and customer expectations continue to rise. Maintaining technological differentiation while scaling internationally will be critical as competition intensifies across the generative AI market.

With its valuation now exceeding $2 billion, PixVerse joins a growing list of AI unicorns benefiting from sustained investor enthusiasm for generative AI. The latest funding round reinforces the view that capital remains readily available for companies demonstrating both technological innovation and strong commercial potential, even as competition across the AI sector continues to intensify.

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Shahbandr Rebrands as “Komrz”: Global E-Commerce Expansion with AI Assistant Komi

Saudi Arabia-based e-commerce platform Shahbandr announced that it will continue its operations under the “Komrz” brand. As part of the rebranding process, the company is transitioning from its regional operations in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to a global growth model covering Gulf Cooperation Council countries and European markets. The company also introduced Komi, an artificial intelligence assistant that enables merchants to manage their daily operations through text commands.

Komrz Reached More Than 20,000 Merchants in Three Years

Founded in 2023 under the name “Shahbandr,” the company built a network of more than 20,000 merchants across Saudi Arabia and Egypt during its three years of operations. During this period, the platform developed built-in video commerce features and early-stage agentic commerce infrastructure for merchants.

Komrz CEO Shady Abdelshaheed stated that they had earned the trust of thousands of merchants under the Shahbandr brand and said that the company’s ambitions had grown. Abdelshaheed noted that the new name represents a new phase focused on artificial intelligence, international expansion, and next-generation infrastructure for global merchants.

Komrz Introduces AI Assistant Komi

As part of the rebranding, Komrz introduced Komi, an artificial intelligence assistant that enables merchants to manage their daily operations through text commands. Komi was developed to help merchants automate routine tasks using simple text commands, accelerate their operations, and communicate more effectively with customers. The company aims to transform artificial intelligence into a commercial tool that business owners can use directly.

Abdelshaheed stated that Komi was not developed merely for the sake of innovation, adding that artificial intelligence would serve as a daily assistant for e-commerce merchants and support operational efficiency and decision-making processes.

Video Commerce, Marketing, and Analytics on a Single Platform

Komrz will enable traditional retailers, entrepreneurs, and digital brands to establish online stores through ready-to-use e-commerce infrastructure that requires no technical expertise. Merchants will be able to integrate video commerce and live-streaming features into their stores.

The artificial intelligence tools available on the platform will offer functions such as creating store designs, preparing marketing content, and generating product images and videos. Real-time analytics will be used to monitor market conditions and retail trends.

Payment and Logistics Integrations Expanded

Komrz will offer connections to payment and buy-now-pay-later providers including Moyasar, Tabby, Tamara, and EdfaPay in the MENA region, as well as Stripe, PayPal, and Klarna in Europe. Logistics processes will be supported through integrations with DHL, Aramex, FedEx, UPS, Zajil, and SMSA. As part of the expansion process launched in July 2026, the company plans to combine artificial intelligence, global payment solutions, and integrated logistics services within a single e-commerce ecosystem.

Shahbandr and Tamara Partner to Empower Over 18,000 Online Stores with BNPL Solutions

Khalifa Fund Launches No-Code Artificial Intelligence Program

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development has launched the second edition of its Prompt Engineering Program, enabling entrepreneurs to develop AI-powered business ideas without requiring coding experience. Designed for members of the Abu Dhabi Chamber in Al Ain, the program aims to equip entrepreneurs with practical digital skills at a time when artificial intelligence adoption is rapidly expanding across industries.

Prompt Engineering Takes Centre Stage in the Khalifa Fund Program

Under the program, participants receive training on understanding emerging artificial intelligence trends, creating effective prompts, and making use of AI-powered tools. Entrepreneurs can structure innovative business ideas using the Lean AI Canvas methodology.

Developed as an intensive and hands-on training initiative, the program supports participants in generating startup concepts, evaluating their commercial viability, and establishing AI-powered businesses. No prior coding or software development experience is required to participate. The training approach is built around the principle that “prompt engineering is the new coding.”

Business Ideas Will Be Transformed into Functional Prototypes

During the training process, participants will develop a functional project prototype. They will also prepare a go-to-market toolkit that can be used to introduce products or services to the market.

The process aims to accelerate product development and transform early-stage ideas into commercially viable ventures. No-code artificial intelligence tools provide e-commerce and retail entrepreneurs with new opportunities to test digital business models within a shorter period.

Digital Economy Support for E-Commerce Entrepreneurs

In addition to the Prompt Engineering Program, Khalifa Fund carries out various initiatives designed to support the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the digital economy. Developed in collaboration with Amazon, the e-Empower training program provides businesses with tools and educational content to expand their customer base and improve online sales through Amazon.ae.

The organisation’s AI Mentor platform also offers digital advisory services to entrepreneurs during the business planning and funding application stages.

The UAE’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Will Be Strengthened

Through the new program, Khalifa Fund plans to prepare entrepreneurs for an AI-driven economy and support them in building competitive businesses amid rapid digital transformation.

The program also highlights the role of collaboration between national institutions in expanding AI adoption, encouraging innovation, and strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the United Arab Emirates. The initiative is being implemented in line with the country’s goal of developing a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy supported by advanced technologies.

UAE and Google Launch Gemini AI Program

Samsung Accelerates Yongin Chip Fab Launch to 2029 as AI Demand Reshapes Semiconductor Investment

Samsung Electronics is bringing forward the launch of its first semiconductor fabrication facility in Yongin, South Korea, underscoring the growing urgency to expand production capacity as demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips continues to accelerate.

According to industry sources, the company now plans to begin operations at the plant in 2029-earlier than previously expected-as competition intensifies across the global semiconductor market. The move reflects Samsung’s broader strategy to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities while responding to rising customer demand for high-performance chips used in AI infrastructure, cloud computing and advanced data centers.

AI Boom Drives Manufacturing Expansion

The decision comes as AI applications fuel unprecedented investment in semiconductor production worldwide. Rapid adoption of generative AI, large language models and high-performance computing has significantly increased demand for advanced memory and logic chips, encouraging major manufacturers to expand fabrication capacity.

Samsung has been investing heavily in its semiconductor business despite cyclical weakness in parts of the memory market. By accelerating construction of the Yongin facility, the company aims to better position itself for the next wave of AI-driven growth while reinforcing South Korea’s role as one of the world’s leading semiconductor production hubs.

The Yongin semiconductor cluster is expected to become one of Samsung’s flagship manufacturing locations, supporting the production of next-generation chips for both domestic and international customers.

Global Competition Intensifies

Samsung’s accelerated timeline also reflects mounting competition among leading chipmakers seeking to capture growing opportunities in AI. Governments across Asia, Europe and North America have introduced incentives to strengthen domestic semiconductor production, while technology companies continue investing billions of dollars in AI infrastructure.

The race to secure advanced chip manufacturing capacity has become increasingly strategic as cloud providers, AI developers and enterprise customers expand investments in high-performance computing platforms.

Industry analysts expect semiconductor manufacturers capable of rapidly increasing advanced production capacity to benefit from sustained long-term demand driven by AI adoption across multiple industries.

Strategic Importance for South Korea

The Yongin semiconductor complex forms part of South Korea’s long-term strategy to maintain its global leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. The project is expected to support high-value investment, strengthen supply chain resilience and create new opportunities across the country’s technology ecosystem.

For Samsung, bringing the project forward represents more than a construction milestone. It signals confidence in the long-term outlook for AI-related semiconductor demand and highlights the company’s commitment to remaining competitive in an industry where production scale and technological leadership increasingly determine market position.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate globally, investments in advanced semiconductor manufacturing are expected to remain a defining trend shaping the future of the technology sector.

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Türkiye Introduces New Rules to Combat Misleading Advertising and Strengthen Consumer Protection

Türkiye has enacted comprehensive amendments to its advertising regulations, introducing stricter rules for digital advertising, influencer marketing, AI-generated content, and discount campaigns. The new framework aims to protect consumers from misleading advertising practices and increase transparency across digital commerce channels.

The Turkish Ministry of Trade has announced a series of regulatory changes designed to address the growing influence of digital advertising and safeguard consumers against deceptive marketing practices. Published in the Official Gazette, the updated rules introduce new obligations for advertisers, social media creators, and online platforms operating in Türkiye.

New Standards for Targeted and Digital Advertising

Under the revised regulations, businesses using targeted advertising based on consumers’ online behavior and personal data must clearly explain why specific advertisements are being shown and provide accessible information on how these targeting criteria can be modified. The measures aim to increase transparency and give consumers greater control over personalized advertising experiences.

One of the most significant changes is a ban on targeted advertising directed at children through profiling methods that rely on personal data. The regulation seeks to provide stronger protection for minors in increasingly data-driven digital environments.

Influencers and AI-Generated Advertising Face New Disclosure Requirements

The new framework also tightens rules around social media marketing. Content creators who receive payments, free products, discounts, or other benefits in exchange for promoting products or services will now be required to clearly indicate that their posts constitute advertising or promotional content.

Additionally, the regulations address the growing use of artificial intelligence in advertising. Advertisers must clearly disclose AI-generated digital characters that cannot be easily distinguished from real individuals. The rules also prohibit the use of AI-generated personas that could create the false impression that a real person has used or endorsed a product.

Stricter Rules for Discount Campaigns and Consumer Reviews

The revised regulation extends discount advertising requirements to conditional sales campaigns, where discounts or benefits depend on fulfilling specific conditions. For discounted products, advertisers may only display as the pre-discount price the lowest price applied within the previous ten days before the campaign began. Exceptions apply to perishable goods and certain services.

The Ministry has also shortened the period granted to sellers and service providers to respond to consumer complaints before publication, reducing the timeframe from 72 hours to 48 hours. If no response is submitted within this period, consumer evaluations may be published directly.

The new regulations, which come into force on 1 August 2026, form part of Türkiye’s broader effort to strengthen oversight of digital commerce and advertising practices while improving consumer trust in online marketplaces and promotional content.

Flipkart Builds Proprietary E-Commerce LLMs as AI Generates Up to 40% of Its Code

Walmart-owned Flipkart is deepening its artificial intelligence strategy by developing specialised e-commerce large language models (LLMs), with AI now generating nearly 40% of the company’s software code. The move highlights the growing role of AI as a core operating layer in modern commerce platforms.

India’s e-commerce giant has deployed more than 250 AI models across its ecosystem, according to Chief Product and Technology Officer Balaji Thiagarajan. The company is integrating AI across customer experiences, seller services, engineering processes, and operational workflows, positioning itself at the forefront of AI-driven retail innovation.

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Thiagarajan revealed that approximately 35–40% of Flipkart’s software code is already being generated by AI-powered tools. The company is also building what it describes as an “agentic e-commerce platform,” combining frontier AI technologies with proprietary models tailored specifically for commerce use cases.

How Flipkart Is Applying AI Across Its E-Commerce Ecosystem

Flipkart believes its long-term competitive advantage will come from specialised e-commerce models trained on its own data and operational expertise rather than relying solely on general-purpose AI systems. The company is using AI to enhance product discovery, conversational shopping experiences, catalogue enrichment, seller tools, customer support, and internal productivity systems.

Among its AI-powered initiatives is Seller Lens, a platform that helps merchants manage and grow their businesses through AI-driven insights. Flipkart is also deploying voice-based AI agents that currently make around 90,000 personalised calls each month to sellers for payment reminders, operational updates, and business recommendations. The company expects these volumes to increase significantly in the future.

To accelerate its AI transformation, Flipkart has strengthened its leadership team by recruiting senior executives from companies including Amazon, Coupang, Tata Digital, Razorpay, Swiggy, and Mastercard. The hires span engineering, product, supply chain, and data science functions, reflecting the company’s ambition to scale AI capabilities across the organisation.

Despite the substantial investments required for generative AI, Flipkart says its current priority is governance rather than immediate financial returns. The company is focusing on areas such as content moderation, response quality, human oversight, and reinforcement learning while measuring success through business metrics including conversion rates, customer engagement, basket sizes, demand forecasting accuracy, and inventory performance.

Flipkart’s AI push comes amid intensifying competition across the global e-commerce sector, where retailers are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, personalise shopping experiences, and automate operations. The company’s strategy signals a broader industry shift toward specialised, domain-specific AI systems that can reshape how commerce platforms are built and operated in the years ahead.

Source: Moneycontrol