NEWS YOU CAN’T MISS

90% of China’s Industries to Run on AI

China is moving quickly to expand AI and to regulate it at the same time.

Firstly, the government has just launched its “AI Plus” plan. Think of it as a roadmap to put AI everywhere: in factories, hospitals, classrooms, public services, even international projects.

The goals: 70% of key industries using AI by 2027, 90% by 2030. By 2035, China wants what it calls a fully “intelligent economy.”

Tech giants like Alibaba and Tencent are investing heavily, while startups such as DeepSeek are drawing investor buzz with new open-source models and IPO plans.

Secondly, regulators are adding tighter rules. The most visible change: as of Sept. 1, all AI-generated content must be labeled. That means if a chatbot writes it, or an AI tool creates a voice, face swap, or synthetic scene - it needs a mark or watermark showing it came from AI.

Platforms are required to monitor content and add labels themselves if needed. Those who don’t comply risk fines, shutdowns, or even criminal charges.

Bottom line: China’s coordinated push to both mainstream and regulate AI signals a future where every country will expect innovation and accountability to go hand in hand.

Nano Banana Craze: Have You Joined In?

This may be the closest I get to a Vogue magazine cover. ☺️

• If you want to try it, go to Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app 

• Pick 2.5Pro from the top left. Then upload a picture of yourself (click on the + sign below the prompt).

• Put this prompt into the box: “A glossy magazine cover for Vogue Paris. The woman from the reference image is the star, exuding powerful confidence. She is wearing a sharp, impeccably tailored black velvet suit from Tom Ford's latest collection. The setting is a minimalist grey studio backdrop with dramatic, high-contrast lighting. A striking close-up shot focusing on her determined expression and the luxurious texture of the fabric. Photorealistic, incredibly detailed, professional fashion photography.”

It takes a whopping 5 seconds to generate the image.

It’s Google's new Nano Banana AI image generator (yes, it’s really called that).

Since launch last week, people have already edited more than 200M images. I’m having fun experimenting, but my dad nailed it: it’s also scary how effortless deepfakes are now.

Meet Chandra Donelson, Chief Data & AI Officer at US Space Force

Celebrating this week’s Woman in Tech 🥳: Meet Chandra Donelson, Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAO) for the US Space Force and a trailblazer in federal data and AI strategy.

In her role with the Space Force, she shapes enterprise data policy, accelerates digital transformation, and ensures AI is used responsibly to safeguard U.S. and allied interests in space.

Her leadership journey spans the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, where she advanced the use of data and AI to strengthen decision-making, mission readiness, and operational efficiency.

Donelson holds an MBA from Texas A&M University and an MS in Data Science & Analytics from the University of Missouri–Columbia.

Her career began in the U.S. Air Force, supporting fighter and cargo missions. She later took a leap into entrepreneurship, opening a bridal shop in Texas, before returning to national defense, this time focused on leading major tech initiatives at the Pentagon.

Beyond government, Donelson co-founded a local chapter of Women in Data, where she mentors women in tech. She is also the author of The Data Detective, a children’s book series inspired by her son that helps kids learn about data in a fun and simple way. ♥️

Her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed: she’s been named a 40 Under 40 Data Leader, received the 2024 Authentic Leader Award and the 2023 Leader of Tomorrow Award.

Donelson is a powerful reminder that women are leading the future of AI at the highest levels of defense and national security. 😎

AI Around The World:

In the UK, investment in AI has surged to a record £2.9B in 2024, driving the sector’s growth 150 times faster than the general economy since 2022. The boom has pushed AI revenues to nearly £24B and created over 86,000 jobs, with startups making up more than 90% of new entrants.

In India, edtech giant PhysicsWallah is gearing up for a $434M IPO after a surge in growth. It serves millions across school prep, exams, and skills, and offers an AI suite including “AI Guru” tutor for 24/7 personalized help via text, speech, and images, with more AI tutors coming.

In Russia, Yandex has built ARGUS, a new AI system that makes online recommendations much smarter. Unlike older tools that only look at your last few clicks, ARGUS can remember thousands of actions over months like seasonal music habits or shopping patterns. Tested on Yandex Music, it boosted music likes by 6.37%.