Apple is doubling down on immersive storytelling with a new slate of films and series for its Vision Pro headset. Partnerships with global brands like Red Bull, CNN, BBC, and HYBE are bringing viewers into unique experiences — from MotoGP racing and K-pop rehearsals to penguin expeditions in Antarctica. Leveraging Blackmagic’s new URSA Cine Immersive camera and DaVinci Resolve, creators are pushing technical and creative boundaries. For entrepreneurs, this signals a fast-growing market in immersive content, blending entertainment, culture, and technology. As adoption rises, opportunities will expand for businesses exploring AR/VR storytelling, content creation, and next-gen audience engagement.

Spotify just made life easier for DJs. Premium users can now access their entire music libraries directly in rekordbox, Serato, and djay — available across 51 markets. This integration means DJs can instantly pull tracks and playlists from Spotify, blending them into real-time sets without leaving their software. Beyond professional use, casual fans can also curate playlists and experiment with transitions, making music mixing more accessible than ever. For entrepreneurs, this highlights how digital platforms are expanding into creative tools, blurring the lines between streaming, performance, and user-generated content — creating new opportunities for events, tech, and music-driven businesses.

Spotify is tightening its policies to protect artists from the downsides of generative AI. Over the past year, it removed 75 million spammy tracks, and now it’s rolling out stricter impersonation rules, a new spam filter, and industry-standard AI disclosures. Vocal deepfakes and fraudulent uploads will face tougher enforcement, while labels and distributors will be able to disclose how AI was used in track creation. For entrepreneurs, this is a signal that platforms will increasingly demand transparency and authenticity in content. Opportunities lie in building tools and services that help artists navigate AI responsibly while protecting their creative identity.

Samsung-backed TagHive Inc’s flagship product, Class Saathi, has been inducted into the first cohort of the UNICEF Learning Cabinet, a platform showcasing impactful, scalable EdTech solutions. Class Saathi, the world’s first AI-powered learning and assessment tool using Bluetooth clickers, is already deployed in 15,000 classrooms, reaching over 500,000 students globally. In India, it has boosted scores by up to 15% and cut assessment times by 70%. The UNICEF endorsement opens new doors for global collaboration, giving Class Saathi visibility among policymakers and educators. For entrepreneurs, this highlights the growing demand for evidence-based, scalable EdTech solutions that address systemic learning gaps.

Mastercard has announced 11 startups joining its Start Path program, a global accelerator for fintech and commerce innovation. The new cohort includes AraxaTech, Hyperlayer, Kamina, firmly, amnis, Qawn, Save Your Wardrobe, MoovnPay, Pentatonic, Circulae, and Circulayo. These ventures span critical sectors such as AI-powered credit access, programmable financial products, seamless cross-border payments, and chat-based banking. A key highlight is Mastercard’s focus on circular commerce, backing startups like Pentatonic, Circulae, and Circulayo to advance sustainability through resale, recycling, and reusable packaging systems. For entrepreneurs, this reflects how scalable fintech meets environmental responsibility—a major trend shaping the future of global commerce.

The US and UK are preparing to announce closer cooperation on crypto regulation, with stablecoins at the forefront. At a high-level London meeting, officials from both governments joined industry leaders, including Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple, to discuss regulatory alignment and joint digital securities sandboxes. For Britain, the partnership offers access to US capital markets and a chance to regain competitiveness as firms migrate to New York. For the US, it consolidates leadership in digital finance. By embedding crypto into broader economic strategy, Washington and London are signalling that digital assets have shifted from the fringes to the core of global markets.

Boston Consulting Group’s Global Payments Report 2025 warns of slower growth in global payments revenues — just 4% annually through 2029 versus nearly 9% in the past five years. Yet disruption is accelerating. Stablecoins have surged to a $270B market cap, with Nigeria and Turkey leading adoption, while corporations like SpaceX and JPMorgan are integrating them into operations. Meanwhile, agentic AI could drive $1T in online spending, handling autonomous purchases and reshaping commerce. SaaS platforms embedding finance are disrupting acquirers, while real-time payments grow rapidly worldwide. For entrepreneurs, the message is clear: AI, embedded finance, and digital currencies are the new frontiers.

MIT researchers have developed SCIGEN, a new tool that teaches AI to design materials with specific geometric structures linked to quantum properties. Traditional generative models from companies like Google and Microsoft focus on stable materials, but SCIGEN pushes AI toward creating candidates with traits vital for breakthroughs like quantum computing and superconductivity. In tests, the system generated millions of novel materials, two of which were successfully synthesised with exotic magnetic properties. While experimentation remains essential, SCIGEN could dramatically accelerate the discovery of rare, high-impact materials—opening doors to advances in electronics, clean energy, and quantum technologies.

SchoolAI, founded by former teacher Caleb Hicks, is reshaping education with AI tools that keep teachers at the centre of learning. Built on OpenAI’s models, the platform provides personalised support for students while giving educators real-time insights into progress and engagement. Already in 1 million classrooms across 80+ countries, SchoolAI’s tools like Dot (lesson creator) and Sidekick (AI tutor) help teachers save 10+ hours a week, intervene earlier, and support students more effectively. By prioritising coaching over quick answers, SchoolAI is proving how AI can strengthen—not replace—the human side of teaching while scaling globally at record speed.

Google has expanded its AI Plus plan to 40 more countries after a successful launch in Indonesia. The subscription offers users affordable access to Google’s AI-powered creativity and productivity tools. Benefits include higher limits for Nano Banana (image generation), expanded access to Veo 3 Fast (video generation), and integration of Gemini AI into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more. Subscribers also enjoy higher limits in NotebookLM, plus 200 GB of storage across Photos, Drive, and Gmail. Designed to be accessible, the plan can be shared with up to five family members, making advanced AI tools more affordable worldwide.

Spain’s tourism industry is facing a major crisis as anti-tourism sentiment grows in popular destinations like Barcelona, Benidorm, and Majorca. Once-bustling areas now report empty streets, quieter beaches, and declining visitor numbers. Locals, frustrated by overtourism’s impact on housing, infrastructure, and quality of life, have become increasingly hostile—some even labelling tourists “cancerous.” The backlash is driving travellers to reconsider future trips, choosing alternative destinations instead. While the decline threatens Spain’s reputation as a world-class destination, the crisis highlights the urgent need for sustainable tourism policies, including stricter rental regulations, off-season travel promotion, and stronger dialogue between locals and visitors.

Starting in 2026, Hawaii will introduce a “Green Fee” tourist tax to support environmental protection and climate adaptation. Visitors will pay an additional 0.75% on overnight stays, raising the statewide lodging tax to nearly 19%—one of the highest in the U.S. The tax, expected to generate $100M annually, will fund projects like beach restoration, wildfire prevention, and disaster resilience. While cruise lines are contesting the move, Hawaii’s leaders see it as a long-term investment in sustainable tourism. With surveys showing 75% of travellers willing to pay more for eco-friendly travel, Hawaii’s approach could set a precedent for other destinations.

South Africa has cemented its status as Africa’s packaged food powerhouse, generating $18.5 billion in retail sales in 2024, far ahead of Nigeria ($4.7B) and Kenya ($5.1B). North Africa shows promise, with Morocco ($11.5B) and Egypt ($11.2B) emerging as regional contenders. South Africa’s edge lies in its vertically integrated supply chains and efficient supermarket sector, which enable scale, private-label growth, and cross-border exports. In contrast, most African markets remain fragmented, constrained by weak logistics, inflation, and price-sensitive consumers. For entrepreneurs and investors, Africa offers vast potential, but success depends on overcoming infrastructure gaps and adapting to local market realities.

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