SME AI Training: The Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting free AI workshops for small businesses through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Small Business B(AI)sics program, aiming to train 40,000 entrepreneurs over three years. Big-Firm Innovation for Clients: KPMG is launching a Silicon Valley-style Client Technology & Innovation unit to speed up AI, data, and product development—an interesting signal for how fast services firms want to move. Robotics Funding Push: Massachusetts robotics and automation leaders are urging lawmakers to add more investment, arguing current robotics and AI allocations won’t keep the state competitive. Tech Platform Race: Qualcomm plans to use its Modular acquisition to build a unified AI development platform that can run across chip types, positioning it as a CUDA rival. Banking Oversight Shift: The U.S. Fed is considering raising bank oversight thresholds to reduce costly compliance burdens and potentially spur consolidation. SME Market Access: Assam launched NESFIC 2026 to connect young innovators with government and industry challenges, with a focus on making it easier for startups to sell to public agencies. Digital Finance Expansion: VEON and Square Group received Bangladesh Bank approval for a digital bank license, extending mobile payments into full digital banking. Consumer Protection Update: The UK FCA refreshed its Consumer Duty priorities, pushing firms to prove “good outcomes” rather than rely on checklists. Halal Support for Small Industry: Indonesia’s industry ministry is expanding halal-certification support, targeting small businesses with facilitation, training, and inspection capacity.