The European Parliament approves the first ever regulatory framework governing the use of AI systems

In March, The European Parliament passed the AI Act, establishing the first regulatory framework for AI usage. This act puts AI systems into four categories based on societal risk, with strict controls for high-risk tech like self-driving cars and lighter regulations for less risky AI. The rules take effect in May 2025, but high-risk AI regulations will apply three years later. Despite sparking debate, the act is broadly seen as a key measure to safeguard people from reckless AI development and to increase consumer trust in AI technologies.

Meta goes down for two hours

Meta goes down for two hours
Meta experienced a global outage lasting over two hours due to a technical issue, affecting hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. Despite appearing minor, the outage saw over 550,000 disruption reports for Facebook and about 92,000 for Instagram, as tracked by Downdetector.com. In today’s world increasingly dominated by AI and new tech, where Meta's often considered as ‘old school’, this incident highlights the significant role its apps still play in daily life.

Google Introduces a new privacy-focused measurement tool for marketers

This move comes as Google prepares to eliminate third-party cookies later this year. Meridian, which is an open-source Marketing Mix Model (MMM), allows advertisers to evaluate their campaign's effectiveness without compromising user privacy. Initially available to a limited number of users, Google intends to make Meridian accessible to all marketers and data scientists soon.

Starbucks sunsets global CMO role to focus on regional units

Starbucks has decided to phase out its global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) position as it shifts focus towards regional operations. This move follows the promotion of former global marketing leader Brady Brewer to CEO of international operations. Instead of a single global marketing role, Starbucks will support marketing efforts through regionally based units. Additionally, the company introduced two new executive positions to steer marketing and innovation. Known for blending global branding with local execution— a strategy often termed 'glocal '— Starbucks aims to continue adapting to local customer preferences while maintaining its core brand values.