Global Scans · AI & Automation · Weekly Summary

• [New] As one of the most disruptive QA Trends in 2025, hyperautomation brings a strategic intersection of AI, machine learning, robotic process automation, and low-code capabilities to rethink quality assurance at scale. Qualityze
• [New] The Quality Assurance Trends for 2025 are being shaped by executive mandates for operational efficiency, product stability, and risk governance-all underpinned by next-generation automation and AI. Qualityze
• [New] 95% of U.S. industrial companies expect to introduce new automation by 2028. Modern Materials Handling
• [New] One distinct path will characterize enterprise digital transformation between 2025 and 2030: the convergence of Industry 4.0 automation, IoT ecosystems, AR/VR interfaces, and no-code/low-code development. Codeready
• [New] Worldwide IT spending will surge 14% in 2025 to $4.25 trillion, its strongest annual performance in nearly three decades as massive artificial intelligence infrastructure investments drive a worldwide tech super cycle. Techstrong IT
• [New] Apple will double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund, create a training academy in Detroit, and grow its domestic R&D investments to support cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and silicon engineering. Assembly
• [New] China's major internet platforms are sharply increasing investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure, fueling expectations that domestic semiconductor and optical module suppliers will be key beneficiaries. Balfour Capital Group
• [New] AI could reduce banking-industry costs by up to 20% in the near term, driven by automation in customer service, fraud detection, payments, and back-office operations. Acceleron Bank
• [New] The expanded tie-up will see Synopsys use Nvidia's developer tools and libraries to build AI-powered applications for chip design, verification, and other electronic design automation tasks. MarketingProfs
• [New] US data center electricity demand is projected to skyrocket 36% to 106 gigawatts by 2035, driven almost entirely by artificial intelligence training and deployment. blockchainreporter
• [New] About 40% of jobs in the United States could be carried out by artificial intelligence and robots if organizations chose to redesign how work is done. Workplace Insight
• The primary artificial intelligence hyperscalers - Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle - are projected to spend $520 billion to build out AI infrastructure in 2026, potentially 30% above 2025 levels. The Plan Advocate
• The release of the European Medicines Agency's Annex 22 on artificial intelligence represents a seismic shift in how AI will be governed in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Forbes
• Global LNG demand is projected to rise by approximately 60% by 2040, driven by economic growth in Asia and the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence. FinancialContent
• One infrastructure-adjacent area we expect automation to really make its mark in 2026 is to improve the mean-time-to-recovery for organizations that experience cyber incidents. iTWire
• Between 1 and 3 million UK jobs, mostly in declining occupations like secretarial work, basic admin, and machine operation, could vanish over the next decade due to AI and automation. ContentGrip
• Automation and artificial intelligence could eliminate up to three million low-skilled jobs in the UK by 2035. ContentGrip
• The clear direction is more private investments, often via third-party specialists, with a sharp increase in operating spending earmarked for risk / data systems and artificial intelligence investment models in 2026 and beyond. AXA IM UK
• We see clear opportunities in Asia first, in markets such as Japan and Thailand where consumers are already familiar with food automation and vending culture. FoodNavigator-Asia.com
• Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI is expected to close a $15 billion round at a $230 billion pre-money valuation next month. CNBC
• Geopolitical tensions, cyberattacks and risks related to artificial intelligence are emerging as new sources of liability claims against directors and officers. Business Insurance
• With Windows 365 for Agents, organizations can accelerate AI adoption and scale workloads with the compliance protections you would expect from Microsoft. Microsoft 365 Blog

Last updated: 13 December 2025