This Week in AI: Europe's Sovereign Ambitions, Slaughterbot Fears, and the Coming Job Shock

From rising geopolitical tensions around AI infrastructure to dire warnings of autonomous weapon misuse, the past week has brought a fresh wave of developments that show artificial intelligence is moving fast—and not always in the same direction.

Europe Pushes Back Against AI Dependence

In a bold strategic move, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called for countries to pursue “sovereign AI”—the development of national AI infrastructure free from foreign influence. The announcement came as Nvidia partnered with French startup Mistral to launch a new EU-based AI data centre.

European governments have responded with urgency, allocating billions in public funding to ensure linguistic, cultural, and ethical independence in AI systems. Huang’s message was clear: AI must not become a monoculture.

“If you don't have your own AI, you will be a digital colony,” Huang said during a press briefing in Paris.

BT Says More Job Cuts Coming—AI to Blame

UK telecom giant BT signalled that its previously announced staff reduction of up to 55,000 roles by 2030 may be just the beginning. CEO Allison Kirkby cited AI-driven productivity as the main reason the company will require fewer workers.

The admission reflects a growing global trend: as AI automates administrative and technical roles, even large employers are shifting from workforce expansion to technological consolidation.

Gallup: Bosses Use AI Twice as Much as Employees

A new Gallup poll revealed that 33% of managers regularly use AI tools in the workplace—more than double the 16% usage rate among non-managers. The findings highlight a growing strategic divide between corporate leadership and front-line teams.

The report raises questions about equitable access to AI tools, training, and integration—particularly as productivity expectations begin to shift across industries.

UN Warns of 'Slaughterbots' and AI Terror Risks

A UN-backed report issued a chilling alert: autonomous AI systems may soon be weaponised by terrorist groups. These systems could include hijacked self-driving vehicles, drone swarms, or even bioengineering tools.

The report urged world governments to adopt urgent safeguards, warning that such threats could materialise within the next 5–10 years if international cooperation doesn’t improve.

Snap to Launch AI-Powered AR Glasses by 2026

On the consumer front, Snap Inc. announced that a next-generation version of its Spectacles smart glasses will debut in 2026. The new version will include AI assistant integration, 3D interface capabilities, and gesture-based controls—marking a significant step toward AI-enhanced wearable computing.

With Apple, Meta, and others racing toward immersive hardware, Snap’s move signals a push toward AI-first devices beyond mobile screens.

Apple’s AI Reveal Falls Flat

Despite teasing its new “Apple Intelligence” tools at WWDC, Apple’s keynote presentation left many investors underwhelmed. The much-anticipated Siri AI overhaul has been delayed, and its generative features—while sleek—lacked the wow factor expected from the company.

Shares dipped 1% following the presentation, with tech analysts describing the event as “a yawner”, according to The New York Post.

Summary: A Week of Acceleration and Anxiety

This week showcased the paradox at the heart of AI’s global ascent: immense opportunity colliding with existential uncertainty.

• Europe wants independence, but faces a fractured global landscape

• Employers want efficiency, but workers face displacement

• Technologists want progress, but the UN fears autonomous attacks

As Hinton might say, we’re no longer at the top of the intelligence chain. The question now is whether we can stay in the loop—before AI evolves beyond our reach.