From Call Trees to Agentic AI - How Kingfisher Is Winning Back Employee Time for Customers
Kingfisher has upgraded its ServiceNow virtual agent, Vita, from a structured call‑tree to a generative‑AI powered assistant (Now Assist) called Vita version two. Within 18 months, the original bot logged 200,000 interactions, and the new AI interface now offers natural‑language ticketing, knowledge retrieval and cross‑brand support for 1,000 technology staff, with rollout to B&Q imminent. The shift exposed data‑quality challenges, prompting a dedicated knowledge‑SWAT team, while the company targets “touchless resolution” agents that autonomously fix issues within six months. Kingfisher measures ROI as 500 employee hours reclaimed for direct customer interaction.
How Travel Apps Are Stirring up Wanderlust Among Youngsters in Asia
Travel apps are exploding across Asia as Generation Z, now 32% of the global population, prioritize experiential, budget‑conscious trips. Mobile platforms like Traveloka and Klook have captured the majority of young travelers, with 83% of APAC smartphone owners already installing...
I Asked Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini to Build a Simulation, and One Winner Was Obvious
The author tasked Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT with building a browser‑based solar‑system explorer using a single prompt. Claude Sonnet 4.6 delivered a fully functional, visually rich simulation with procedural textures and an asteroid belt. Gemini 3 Thinking produced a quick Three.js...
Why AI Augmentation and Up-Skilling Are the Secrets to Boosting Staff Productivity
Deploying AI without putting employees at the centre delivers only modest productivity gains. Pearson’s report estimates that an AI‑augmentation strategy combined with workforce upskilling could add $4.8‑$6.6 trillion to the U.S. economy by 2034 – roughly 15 % of current GDP. Experts...
Why Event Log Archiving Is Critical For Timeline Reconstruction
Event log archiving is essential for accurate timeline reconstruction in digital forensics because operating systems routinely rotate and overwrite logs. Relying solely on selective SIEM collection leaves gaps that can cripple investigations. An automated batch script using Windows tools like...
As AI Boosts Collaboration, Employees Resist Office Mandates
Artificial intelligence tools are reshaping workplace collaboration, making remote interactions nearly as effective as in‑person meetings. A Byteiota survey shows 80% of employers have lost talent due to return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates, and 41% of workers would consider leaving if forced...
Googleâs AI Mode Checking For Personalized Information
Google’s AI Mode, introduced in August, now personalizes generative search results using a user’s recent queries, clicks, and location data from Search and Maps. The interface flags this activity with a “Checking for personalized info” notice and provides a “Try...
More Consumers Using AI Tools but Still Lots of Mistrust
U.S. consumers are rapidly embracing AI, with 71% reporting usage and 37% engaging daily or several times a week, according to Numerator’s survey of over 5,000 adults. Frequent users are predominantly high‑income, urban Gen Z and Millennials, while non‑users skew low‑income...
Dallas Cowboys’ CIO Breaks Down Data Silos Amid Modernization
Dallas Cowboys CIO Matt Messick is finalizing a multi‑year IT overhaul that includes a Lenovo device refresh, a migration to Microsoft Dynamics 365, and a new data strategy aimed at breaking silos. The team is preparing an AI‑driven dashboard to...
Nordic Semiconductor Adds Lifetime Flat-Rate FOTA Licensing to nRF Cloud as CRA Compliance Looms
Nordic Semiconductor introduced a lifetime, flat‑rate firmware‑over‑the‑air (FOTA) and device‑management license within its nRF Cloud platform to help IoT makers meet the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) requirements. The CRA, effective in 2027, mandates continuous security updates and auditability for...
Mambu Powers Nyla’s Islamic Neobank Launch in Ghana
Mambu has partnered with Nyla, Africa’s first Islamic neobank, to supply an API‑first, AWS‑hosted core banking platform for its Ghana launch slated for June 2026. The collaboration enables Nyla to roll out digital wallets, peer‑to‑peer transfers and bill payments without...
9-Year-Old Shows Joy of the New in AMV Ad for Decathlon
Decathlon has launched a new global advertising campaign created by AMV BBDO, co‑written and voiced by 9‑year‑old Frida. The film celebrates the thrill of first‑time sporting experiences, featuring families, beginners and seasoned athletes across a range of activities. By showcasing...
Lilly Warns of Impurity Risk in Certain Compounded Forms of Mounjaro and Zepbound
Eli Lilly warned that compounded versions of its GLP‑1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, when mixed with vitamin B12, may contain unsafe impurities. The alert follows growing off‑label compounding as demand outpaces supply. Lilly’s notice urges clinicians and patients to verify product sources...
Student Loans Company Names Experienced Finance Sector Exec Kath Moore as New Digital Chief
Student Loans Company (SLC) has appointed Kath Moore, a veteran finance‑sector technologist, as its executive director and chief digital and data officer. Moore arrives from Alba, a Scottish SME‑focused start‑up bank, after senior stints at HSBC, Barclays, Prudential and Halifax....
SchoolStatus Launches Literacy Solution to Help Districts Engage Families in Improving Reading Outcomes
SchoolStatus announced a new Literacy solution aimed at helping K‑12 districts engage families around reading progress, launching during National Reading Month. Recent state assessment data show reading gaps have widened since the pandemic, with only 11 % of students in districts...
Karnataka Constitutes Committee on Responsible AI to Develop Comprehensive Framework
Karnataka’s government has set up a Responsible AI Committee, chaired by Infosys co‑founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and co‑chaired by Secretary N Manjula, to draft a comprehensive policy framework for ethical AI use in public services. The panel, comprising industry, academic, legal...
What Is Lead Generation? Top Strategies for Scaling Teams
Modern B2B lead generation has shifted from sheer volume to targeting the right accounts with verified, compliant data, turning interest into predictable pipeline. The article outlines a ten‑step funnel—from market definition and awareness to scoring, handover, and retention—highlighting the critical...
From Two Trials to One, Sponsors Face a Higher Standard
The FDA announced that a single pivotal trial can now satisfy efficacy requirements for new drug applications, replacing the previous two‑study mandate. This change raises expectations for data depth, quality, and risk‑based management throughout the trial lifecycle. Guests Oxana Iliach...
Amazon’s AI Push Leaves Employees Spending More Time Fixing Errors
Amazon’s rapid rollout of internal AI tools is backfiring, with employees across engineering, supply chain and operations spending more time correcting flawed outputs than accelerating work. The generative systems frequently produce incomplete, inaccurate or fabricated code and data, forcing staff...
TD Bank Expands Embedded Banking with Workday Integration for U.S. Business Clients
TD Bank announced a new embedded banking solution that integrates directly with Workday’s cloud‑based ERP for U.S. business clients. The service lets companies access credit, payments and cash‑management tools within Workday’s workflow, reducing manual hand‑offs. Early adopters will receive a...
The Impact of Visual Media on Brand Authenticity in Digital Marketing Strategy by Actual SEO Media, Inc.
High-quality visual media has become the primary driver of brand authenticity, shaping how consumers judge professionalism and reliability within seconds of first contact. Consistent design elements—colors, typography, layout—across websites, ads, and social platforms reinforce trust and encourage deeper engagement. Conversely,...
Fintech Firms Accelerate Account Wins as Digital Momentum Reshapes Banking Competition
Fintech challengers are adding new banking and investment accounts faster than traditional banks, driven by streamlined digital onboarding and mobile‑first experiences. The J.D. Power report shows mass‑market customers gravitating toward neobanks, with Chime leading checking‑account acquisition and SoFi posting the...
Olympus Unveils VISERA ELITE III Platform to Improve Surgical Visualisation
Olympus has introduced the VISERA ELITE III surgical imaging platform in the United States, the third joint offering from the Sony‑Olympus Medical partnership. The system combines continuous auto‑focus, true 4K, 3D, narrow‑band and fluorescence (IR/ICG) imaging in a single software‑driven unit that...
Ormat Achieves Higher Electricity Prices: Ormat Extends Power Purchase Agreements for Geothermal Power Plant in California
Ormat Technologies has renegotiated its power purchase agreements for the 15 MW portion of the Casa Diablo IV geothermal plant, extending the contracts to 2037. The new "blend‑and‑extend" deals raise the electricity price by roughly 27 percent and increase each off‑taker’s commitment...
Listen to the RF Podcast #8: ‘Battery/Electric Locos Are the Way to Go’
At RailTech Europe 2026, Nexrail’s Chief Business Development Officer Mark Remie discussed a hybrid battery‑electric locomotive strategy on RF Podcast #8. The approach combines on‑board batteries with grid electricity to capture regenerative braking energy and reduce fuel consumption by up...
The EU-Startups Podcast | Interview with Refurbed Founder Kilian Kaminski
The EU‑Startups Podcast featured Kilian Kaminski, co‑founder of Refurbed, a Vienna‑based marketplace that resells professionally refurbished electronics. Since its 2017 launch, Refurbed has become one of Europe’s fastest‑growing platforms for sustainable consumption, operating in multiple markets and securing more than €120 million...
Samsung Appoints Agency for CRM Transformation Task
Samsung Electronics Europe has signed a three‑year contract with Dentsu’s Merkle to revamp its customer‑relationship‑management (CRM) across 16 European markets. The initiative will deploy AI‑driven automation and advanced tools to streamline activation, improve scalability and future‑proof Samsung’s marketing operations. A...
Regulatory Compliance for Enterprise Email
Enterprise email is now a security perimeter, and regulatory compliance has shifted from a checkbox to a strategic imperative. Certifications such as SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 provide the architectural blueprints that turn email into a trust asset rather than...
Cisco Patches High-Severity IOS XR Vulnerabilities
Cisco issued its semiannual IOS XR security advisory, addressing four high‑severity vulnerabilities. Two CVEs (CVE‑2026‑20040 and CVE‑2026‑20046) each score 8.8 and enable privilege escalation to root via crafted CLI commands. A third flaw (CVE‑2026‑20074) can cause an IS‑IS process restart,...
Microsoft Authenticator Could Leak Login Codes—Update Your App Now
A critical vulnerability (CVE‑2026‑26123) in Microsoft Authenticator for iOS and Android can expose one‑time passwords or deep‑link data to a malicious app on the same device. The exploit requires a user‑installed malicious application and the user inadvertently selecting it to...
Healthcare Under Attack? Why Is Cybersecurity Now Critical?
African hospitals, labs and digital health platforms are experiencing a surge in cyberattacks as they digitise services. In 2025 the continent saw an average of 3,575 weekly attacks—a 38% rise—affecting institutions like Mediclinic, the National Health Laboratory Service and Kenya’s...
Scintil Releases DWDM Laser Source Evaluation Kit for Scale-Up AI Networks
Scintil Photonics unveiled the LEAF Light Evaluation Kit (EVK), enabling customers to test its single‑chip DWDM laser source for AI scale‑up networks. The LEAF Light chip promises up to 50% power reduction and lower latency compared with traditional single‑wavelength co‑packaged...
ICAO Invites Applicants for TAB 2026 Assessment Cycle and Stricter LOA Requirements to Affect CORSIA Phase 2 Supply
ICAO’s Technical Advisory Body (TAB) has opened applications for its 2026 assessment cycle, introducing substantially stricter host‑party attestation (Letter of Authorization) requirements and tighter integrity criteria. The TAB will no longer consider first‑phase programs for new eligibility, though successful 2026...
Butterly Trust Index Maps AI-Era Product Reviews
Butterly’s 2026 Trust Index, based on 2,100 Canadian shoppers, highlights that authentic, balanced reviews are essential for AI-driven product discovery. The report finds that specific, honest feedback—not polished star ratings—enhances AI interpretation, boosts consumer trust, and can even increase conversion...
EscaTEQ Develops Cleaning Framework
Netherlands‑based EscaTEQ unveiled the EscaTEQ Method, a voluntary structured framework for escalator tread cleaning. Refined over ten years and deployed globally, the low‑moisture, surface‑controlled approach uses an ABC condition classification and defined restoration paths. EscaTEQ estimates more than 500,000 cleaning...
European Fintechs Remain Reliant on US Investors, but Sovereignty Gap Is Closing
Finch Capital’s latest report reveals that Europe’s fintechs remain heavily dependent on US investors for later‑stage financing, with all rounds above €1 bn in the past five years led by US capital. Without that support, a €9 bn funding gap would emerge,...
SK Telecom Wants to Export the Sovereign AI Playbook
SK Telecom is building a 1 GW AI data‑center campus in Ulsan, positioning itself as a sovereign AI partner that combines telecom connectivity, SK Group’s semiconductor strength and full‑stack AI services. The operator is leveraging SK Hynix memory chips and partnerships...
Exotec and Komar Launch ‘Next-Generation’ Automated Fulfilment Centre in Savannah
Exotec is deploying its Skypod robotic system at Komar Distribution Services' 760,000‑square‑foot Savannah fulfillment centre. The modular solution promises up to 50% higher throughput and 30% greater storage density while handling both case and single‑item picking. Full automation is slated...
FAST‐CRISPR: Fusogenic Association and Secured Transfection of CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins Using Lipid‐Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Genome Editing
Researchers introduced FAST‑CRISPR, a lipid‑silica hybrid nanoparticle that fuses directly with cell membranes to deliver CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. By combining a 1:1 weight ratio of cationic DOTAP and ionizable DODMA lipids with large‑pore silica cores, the platform achieves high RNP loading...
Emerging Atomically Engineered RuNi‐Zn‐ZIF‐8 Catalyst for Remarkably High Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia and Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Researchers have engineered a RuZn‑based carbon‑nitrogen framework decorated with atomically dispersed nickel and minor Ni clusters, creating a bifunctional electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia and oxygen evolution. The catalyst delivers an ammonia yield of 10,199 µg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹ cat with 84% Faradaic...
A Red Brick‐Derived Fe2P‐Based Cocatalyst Sheet Enables Monolithic Photocatalysts for Efficient Solar Hydrogen Production
Researchers have converted common red brick into a Fe2P‑based cocatalyst sheet that serves as a scaffold for semiconductor particles, creating monolithic photocatalysts for solar water splitting. The CdS‑Fe2P/RB monolith delivers a visible‑light hydrogen evolution rate of 7.7 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and an apparent...
A Balloon Electrochemical Sensor for Conformal Interfacing With Intestinal Wall and Real‐Time Monitoring of Serotonin Release
Researchers have created a balloon‑shaped electrochemical sensor using gold nanotubes that expands to conform to the soft curvature of the intestinal lumen. The device is inserted endoluminally, inflates to mimic physiological distension, and records real‑time serotonin (5‑HT) release from the...
Iron Incorporation‐Induced Phosphorus Vacancies in MoP: A Dual‐Functional Strategy Toward Efficient Solar Driven Hydrogen Production
Researchers introduced iron atoms into molybdenum phosphide (MoP) to generate phosphorus vacancies, forming a dual‑functional catalyst for solar‑driven hydrogen production. The Fe substitution replaces Mo sites, creating electron‑trapping vacancies while Mo atoms serve as hole traps, markedly improving charge separation....
FAST‐CRISPR: Fusogenic Association and Secured Transfection of CRISPR/Cas9 Ribonucleoproteins Using Lipid‐Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles for Therapeutic Genome Editing (Small 15/2026)
Researchers at UNIST and collaborators introduced FAST‑CRISPR, a lipid‑silica hybrid nanoparticle system designed to ferry CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins into cells. The platform leverages a fusogenic lipid coating that promotes rapid endosomal escape, securing high‑efficiency genome editing while preserving RNP integrity. Preclinical...
Mechanically Responsive Microwave Absorption and Shielding in Hierarchical Heterogeneous Architectures for Electromagnetic Interference Protection
Researchers have created a mechanically responsive composite (FPCEL) that combines Fe3O4‑functionalized cellulose nanofibers, polypyrrole, liquid metal, and Ecoflex silicone. The hierarchical, asymmetric architecture yields strain‑dependent microwave absorption and shielding, shifting from reflection‑dominated to absorption‑enhanced behavior as the material is stretched...
Formation Mechanism of BN Flakes on MWCNTs
Researchers have developed a CVD method to coat multi‑wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with hexagonal boron nitride (h‑BN) flakes, creating a three‑layer heterostructure of CNT core, coaxial BN nanotubes, and outer BN flakes. Experiments and molecular dynamics simulations reveal a two‑step...
India Launches Tender for 1 GW Round-the-Clock Renewable Power
Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) has opened a tender for 1 GW of round‑the‑clock renewable power projects, mandating integrated energy‑storage systems. The projects will follow a build‑own‑operate (BOO) model and attract 25‑year power purchase agreements with Indian distribution companies. Bidders...
The Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad of 2026: Expert Tested
The 2026 roundup evaluates the top iPad note‑taking apps, highlighting Notability as the overall winner for its media‑rich capabilities and flexible subscription plans. The review tested over a dozen apps, weighing cost, functionality, design, and cross‑device continuity. Alternatives such as...
The Bystander Effect Applies to Virtual Agents, New Psychology Research Shows
A new study in Consciousness and Cognition shows that working alongside a virtual AI partner reduces people’s explicit sense of control while simultaneously boosting their unconscious sense of agency, measured via temporal binding. In two online experiments participants either acted...
Exclusive: Panzura Updates Global File System to Cut Storage Costs and Prepare for Agentic AI
Panzura released CloudFS version 8.7, a hybrid‑cloud file platform designed to lower storage infrastructure costs and ready enterprise data for emerging agentic AI workloads. The update introduces adaptive snapshot retention, a unified namespace for AI pipelines, and self‑service admin tools that...