Global Scans · Intelligence · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: There will be an increased demand for software and services that deliver intelligence, personalization, and specialization. Artificial intelligence could become a $15+ bn opportunity by 2025. Combining human and machine cognition for engagement decisions could yield the precision and reliability of automation without sacrificing the robustness and flexibility that humans bring. The first effect of machine intelligence will be to lower the cost of goods and services that rely on prediction.

• [New] The US has no specific federal law explicitly addressing agentic AI, though NIST will likely revise the AI Risk Management Framework (a voluntary set of guidelines) to include considerations for agentic AI. Passle
• [New] 2026 is poised to be a pivotal year for agentic commerce - the evolution from e-commerce to a-commerce where autonomous AI agents conduct transactions with minimal human input. Passle
• [New] Christmas 2025 will mark a turning point for agentic AI adoption, as consumers increasingly turn to intelligent digital agents to manage the stress, cost and complexity of peak-season shopping. Financial IT
• [New] The Transformational AI Models Consortium: Cornerstone of the Genesis Mission's AI models and data efforts, will build and deploy self-improving AI models that advance science, engineering, and energy missions by harnessing DOE's unique data, facilities, and expertise. Energy.gov
• [New] By understanding where AI is already generating measurable value and where it's still falling short of its potential, we can make better decisions about where to invest in 2026 to remain economically competitive. Knowledgeworker - knowledgeworker.com
• [New] TikTok has introduced a new control toggle that lets users decide how much AI-generated content appears in their feeds, a shift that could directly impact reach and engagement for creators using AI tools. Brandlective Communications Ltd
• [New] Recent surveys of AI researchers predict AGI around 2040. AIMultiple
• [New] The AI investment theme continues to gain strength, with hyperscaler capex expected to rise to $520 billion. Commonwealth Financial Network
• [New] 2026 will be a pivotal year when AI applications enter full-scale industry deployment. TechBullion
• [New] The AI sector, which accounted for nearly 30% of the S&P 500 by 2025, has become a barometer for both technological optimism and macroeconomic vulnerability. Ainvest
• [New] Industry forecasts from the IO Fund predict nuclear's re-emergence, with AI inference driving a 122% compound annual growth rate in power demand through 2028. WebProNews
• [New] Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta will spend more than $400bn on data centers in 2026, on top of more than $350bn in 2025, as they battle for supremacy in artificial intelligence. McAlvany Financial Group
• [New] The S&P 500 (SPY) is forecast to reach 7900 by end-2026, reflecting ongoing AI-driven investment and supportive fiscal and monetary policy. Seeking Alpha
• [New] By 2040, AI could increase exports of goods and services by nearly 40% above current trends. UNifeed
• [New] Axios (Madison Mills): Some of the world's biggest startups - including two AI darlings - have signaled possible IPOs in 2026, blockbuster offerings that would mint some $3 trillion worth of new public companies. McAlvany Financial Group
• [New] Google will launch its first AI glasses in 2026. MarketingProfs
• [New] Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI and license more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars for use in AI-generated videos. InsuranceIndustry.AI
• [New] Borrowing by the 10 largest AI companies, which will issue more than $120 billion in debt in 2025, represents a mounting potential threat to the financial system. InsuranceIndustry.AI
• [New] The $263 billion AI-driven e-commerce opportunity is not a distant forecast - it is unfolding now. Ainvest
• [New] AI-driven retail is projected to account for 21% of all global holiday orders in 2025, translating to a $263 billion opportunity. Ainvest
• [New] Agentic AI could drive around 30% of enterprise application software revenue by 2035, surpassing $450 billion, up from 2% in 2025. The Register
• [New] In 2026, more companies will deploy AI assistants that can isolate a compromised endpoint or disable a suspected malicious account within seconds, without waiting for human approval, a concept called autonomous containment. DeepStrike
• [New] Eindhoven's AI-chip startup Euclyd burst into the spotlight in 2025 with a bold promise: 100 × more energy-efficient AI compute and a clean-sheet chip architecture that could finally give Europe its own Nvidia. IO+

Last updated: 16 December 2025