Google Investment Funds AI Tech While Microsoft Faces EU Regulations

The artificial intelligence sector continues to draw significant investment and innovation, while also prompting discussions around regulation, ethics, and energy demands. Korea Investment Management recently launched new ACE Exchange Traded Funds, specifically targeting AI, big tech, and semiconductor industries. Their ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industry Active ETF saw a rapid uptake, securing 28 billion Korean won in net purchases on its first day and 76 billion Korean won within five days of its October 28, 2025 launch. This fund, along with the ACE U.S. Big Tech TOP7 Plus ETF, includes major U.S. tech players such as Google, NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft, highlighting the strong market interest in these companies. The ACE Global Semiconductor TOP4 Plus ETF also manages a substantial 632.7 billion Korean won. Meanwhile, Cisco is preparing to release a powerful new AI security model with 17 billion parameters, designed to leverage three decades of threat intelligence from Cisco Talos to detect and remediate cyber threats. This model, announced by Raj Chopra, is expected to launch shortly after Christmas, building on the company's existing AI tools like SecureBERT. The broader implications of AI were a central theme at Duke University's 10th annual Energy Week from November 4-8, 2025, where leaders discussed AI's impact on the energy transition, data centers, and grid resilience. Duke President Vincent Price noted the challenges posed by AI's energy demands and the aging U.S. grid, with Microsoft's Bobby Hollis suggesting that improved electricity transmission could significantly transform the energy landscape. Globally, regulatory bodies are also adapting to AI's rapid expansion. The European Commission is considering relaxing certain privacy laws, including GDPR, to foster AI growth, potentially allowing AI companies to process special data and redefine personal data. This move comes as major tech firms like Google and Microsoft have encountered difficulties with current EU regulations. Separately, TikTok Shop reported impressive global sales of $13 billion in the third quarter, approaching eBay's figures. Utilities, too, are navigating the dual challenges and opportunities presented by AI. While AI offers immense promise for unlocking insights from vast amounts of unstructured data, it requires careful human oversight, clear rules, and audit trails due to its probabilistic nature. In the biopharma sector, Montserrat Dabban from Biocat urged Europe at the CPHI 2025 conference to leverage its extensive health data with AI to accelerate clinical trials and address issues like drug resistance and affordability, focusing on areas such as aging populations, brain health, cancer, and rare diseases. AI is also reshaping higher education, with many universities in Spain integrating AI into teaching and academic life, though faculty training remains a key need. Tools like MIT's virtual tutors and Khan Academy's Khanmigo exemplify how AI can personalize learning. On the more controversial side, Elon Musk faced criticism for sharing a video of a lifelike AI woman on X, which many users found "cringeworthy." In a move towards greater creative freedom, HackAIGC launched an "uncensored AI" image generator, aiming to provide unrestricted image creation by fine-tuning open-source models and using "abliteration" to bypass the content policies that often restrict mainstream tools like DALL·E 3 or Midjourney.

Key Takeaways

• Korea Investment Management launched new AI tech ETFs, with the ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industry Active ETF attracting 76 billion Korean won in net purchases within five days of its October 28, 2025 launch.
• These new ETFs include investments in major U.S. tech companies such as Google, NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft.
• Cisco plans to release a new AI security model with 17 billion parameters, utilizing 30 years of Cisco Talos threat intelligence to detect and suggest fixes for cyber threats.
• Duke Energy Week highlighted AI's significant role in the energy transition, data centers, and strengthening the power grid, with Microsoft's Bobby Hollis suggesting improved electricity transmission could transform the energy landscape.
• The European Commission is considering relaxing privacy laws, including GDPR, to stimulate AI growth, a move that could impact companies like Google and Microsoft.
• TikTok Shop generated $13 billion in global sales during the third quarter, nearing eBay's sales figures.
• Utilities face a critical juncture with AI, needing human oversight and clear rules for its probabilistic nature, yet AI can also unlock valuable insights from unstructured data.
• Europe's biopharma industry is urged to leverage AI with its health data to accelerate clinical trials and innovation in areas like aging, brain health, cancer, and rare diseases.
• AI is transforming university classrooms and learning, with tools like AI tutors (e.g., Khan Academy's Khanmigo) personalizing education, though faculty training is needed.
• HackAIGC introduced an "uncensored AI" image generator to offer more creative freedom than mainstream tools like DALL·E 3 or Midjourney, which often block user prompts.

Korea Investment Management launches new AI tech ETFs

Korea Investment Management introduced new ACE Exchange Traded Funds. These ETFs focus on artificial intelligence, big tech, and semiconductor industries. They aim to give investors a way to invest in companies driving innovation in these fast-growing sectors. The launch shows more people want to invest in technology, especially AI and its related fields.

Korea Investment Management sees huge demand for AI ETF

Korea Investment Management launched its ACE U.S. AI Tech Core Industry Active ETF on October 28, 2025. This ETF quickly saw 28 billion Korean won in net purchases on its first day and 76 billion Korean won within five days. The fund invests across the entire AI industry, including computing, hardware, energy, and software. It also focuses on major U.S. tech companies like Google, NVIDIA, Apple, and Microsoft through its ACE U.S. Big Tech TOP7 Plus ETF. Another product, the ACE Global Semiconductor TOP4 Plus ETF, manages 632.7 billion Korean won and has shown strong returns.

Cisco unveils powerful new AI security model

Cisco plans to release a new artificial intelligence model with 17 billion parameters. This model will use 30 years of threat information from Cisco Talos to detect cyber threats and suggest ways to fix them. Raj Chopra announced the unnamed model at Cisco Live Asia-Pacific in Melbourne, stating it will launch soon after Christmas. Cisco is also developing other AI tools and recently improved its SecureBERT model. The company uses small AI models built on high-quality data to help businesses protect their systems.

Duke Energy Week explores AI and clean energy future

Duke University hosted its 10th annual Energy Week from November 4-8, 2025, bringing together leaders to discuss the energy transition. Experts talked about artificial intelligence, data centers, and making the power grid stronger. Duke President Vincent Price highlighted challenges like AI's role in energy and the aging US grid. Microsoft's Bobby Hollis suggested improving electricity transmission could transform the energy landscape. Rebecca Kujawa also spoke about AI's impact on energy's importance globally.

EU may ease privacy rules for AI growth

The European Commission plans to relax some privacy laws, including GDPR, to boost artificial intelligence growth. This could allow AI companies to process special data and redefine personal data. Major tech companies like Google and Microsoft have faced issues with current EU regulations. Meanwhile, the UK government is investigating if China's Yutong can remotely deactivate 700 electric buses in the country. Separately, TikTok Shop generated $13 billion in global sales during the third quarter, nearing eBay's sales figures.

Utilities face AI challenges and opportunities

Utilities are at a critical point, facing challenges like uncertain load growth and rising rates. While artificial intelligence offers great promise, utilities need to be careful because AI is probabilistic and can make mistakes. Utility-grade AI requires human oversight, clear rules, and audit trails to ensure reliability. However, AI can also be a "Gutenberg moment" for computers, making it cheaper for software to process information. This can help utilities unlock valuable insights from their vast amounts of unstructured data.

Europe uses AI data to boost biopharma innovation

At the CPHI 2025 conference in Frankfurt, Montserrat Dabban from Biocat urged Europe's biopharma industry to use AI for innovation. She highlighted challenges like drug resistance and affordability. Dabban believes leveraging Europe's vast health data with AI can lead to faster, more focused clinical trials. Key areas for improvement include aging populations, brain health, cancer, and rare diseases. This approach aims to help Europe compete better with other regions in biopharma.

AI transforms university classrooms and learning

Artificial intelligence is changing higher education, with many universities in Spain already using AI in teaching and daily academic life. However, most faculty lack specific AI training, highlighting a need for better educational frameworks. AI acts as a major driver for innovation in learning, research, and university management. Tools like AI tutors, such as MIT's virtual tutors and Khan Academy's Khanmigo, personalize learning for students. Other AI applications include simulations, gamification, virtual assistants, and tools for accessibility and content creation.

Elon Musk's AI video draws widespread criticism

Elon Musk faced strong criticism on his X platform after sharing a video of a lifelike AI woman saying "I will always love you." Many users called the post "the saddest thing ever" and "cringeworthy." Critics mocked the billionaire, suggesting the post showed a lack of human connection. They also commented on his wealth and perceived god-complex.

HackAIGC launches uncensored AI image generator

HackAIGC introduced an "uncensored AI" image generator to offer more creative freedom than mainstream tools like DALL·E 3 or Midjourney. These popular generators often block user prompts due to strict content policies. HackAIGC aims to provide unrestricted image creation while maintaining security and privacy. It achieves this by fine-tuning open-source AI models and using a technique called "abliteration" to remove refusal mechanisms. This allows the model to respond to all prompts without censoring, unlike other AI image tools.

Sources

• Korea Investment Management launches ACE ETF lineup targeting AI, big tech, semiconductors
• South Korea debuts AI ETF to tap surging investor demand | Nvidia Google
• Cisco to release AI model with three decades of security knowledge
• Industry leaders discuss AI, accelerating energy transition at Duke’s 10th annual Energy Week
• Fortune Tech: Pump the brakes
• How can utilities navigate the promise and pitfalls of AI?
• CPHI 2025: directing AI-driven innovation to harness Europe’s data edge
• Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
• Elon Musk’s AI ‘Always Love You’ Post Mocked As ‘Saddest Thing Ever’
• HackAIGC의 ‘무검열’ AI 이미지 생성기 실사용기 – 2025년 체험 리뷰