AI News Weekly Roundup July 12th 2025

Global AI News Roundup for the weekend ending July 13, 2025, covering key developments across technology, geopolitics, governance, and infrastructure:

1. UN Calls for Global Deepfake Protections

The UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva, urged accelerated adoption of digital verification tools and watermarking standards to detect AI-generated deepfakes such as fabricated videos, images, and audio—highlighting risks to elections and financial security.

---

2. US Senators Warn Nvidia Amid China Visit

A bipartisan group led by Senators Jim Banks and Elizabeth Warren warned Nvidia’s Jensen Huang against meeting companies tied to China’s military or intelligence when visiting Shanghai. Concerns center on export control circumvention and aiding China’s AI/military advancemens.

---

3. AI Stocks Fuel Global Fund Inflows

Global equity funds saw $10.2 billion inflows last week—bolstered by an AI stock rally and delayed US tariffs. Tech funds led, while European and Asian funds also recorded healthy gains.

---

4. Huawei Targets Middle East & Southeast Asia AI Markets

Huawei is offering its Ascend 910B AI chips to customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. If successful, it could challenge Nvidia's dominance amid ongoing US export restrictions.

---

5. Power Grid Strain from AI Data Centres—US

America’s largest power grid (PJM Interconnection) is under pressure due to ramped-up electricity use from AI data centers and chatbots—driving summer electricity bills up over 20% in some areas.

---

6. AI Adoption Surges—Without Strategy

A global survey of 2,275 professionals revealed over 50% of organizations report ROIs from AI—but 40% lack coherent implementation strategies, increasing exposure to operational, regulatory, and privacy risks.

---

7. Global AI Defense Challenge Launched

The Global AI Defense Challenge 2025 was unveiled this weekend, pitting “good AI” against malicious systems designed to counter disinformation, cyberattacks, and rogue AI behaviors.

---

Why It Matters

• Integrity under threat: Deepfakes could sway elections, deceive citizens, and undermine democracy.
• Geopolitical chip wars: US-China chip rivalry intensifies—Huawei expansion and Nvidia diplomacy signal high-stakes competition.
• Economic momentum: AI still powers global investment inflows—driving markets, but carrying operational risks.
• Infrastructure risks: The energy demands of AI require urgent grid upgrades and sustainable deployment strategies.

What’s Next

Latest AI News