In today’s Digest, we cover Amazon in talks to invest over USD$10bn in OpenAI, and OpenAI hiring George Osborne to lead its global ‘Stargate’ expansion. We also discuss the Trump administration threatening Spotify over EU tech rules, and an IAB report highlighting how digital ads shape today’s media.

Amazon in talks to invest $10bn+ in OpenAI; OpenAI hires George Osborne 

Amazon is reportedly in advanced talks to invest more than $10bn (£7.5bn) in OpenAI. If the talks succeed, OpenAI’s market valuation could climb beyond USD$500bn (£370bn), according to The Information The move would mark a significant deepening of ties between the two companies, as Amazon seeks to position itself at the heart of the AI infrastructure race.

Meanwhile, OpenAI is bolstering its political and global outreach. The company has appointed former UK chancellor George Osborne to lead its international government engagement strategy, a move that signals the firm’s ambition to shape policy as well as technology. Osborne will spearhead OpenAI for Countries, a new initiative designed to partner with governments worldwide on AI deployment, spanning infrastructure, education, and workforce training. 

Trump admin threatens Spotify over EU tech rules

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has accused the European Union of pursuing a sustained campaign of discriminatory and harassing measures against American service providers, escalating tensions over digital regulation. In a post on X, the USTR cited lawsuits, taxes, fines, and regulatory directives as evidence of what it described as unfair treatment of US firms. The agency pointed to the recent €140m (£123.2m) fine imposed on X under the EU’s Digital Services Act as the latest example of what it views as disproportionate enforcement.

Responding to the accusations, European Union spokesperson Thomas Regnier told the New York Times and AFP: “As we have made clear many times, our rules apply equally and fairly to all companies operating in the EU. We will continue to enforce our rules fairly, and without discrimination.”

Digital ads shape today’s media

IAB Europe has released Beyond Reach: Mapping the Social Impact of Digital Advertising and Media, a report that shifts the sustainability conversation in advertising beyond carbon footprints to the broader social consequences of media investment. The study described as the first of its kind examines how the digital advertising ecosystem is beginning to grapple with issues such as media plurality, misinformation, accessibility, and diversity. While environmental reporting has dominated industry debate, the report argues that social impacts remain poorly defined, inconsistently measured, and undervalued, despite growing awareness of their importance.

The research draws on stakeholder submissions, expert interviews, and a mapping of emerging initiatives. Its findings highlight a fragmented landscape: no shared definitions, benchmarks, or KPIs currently exist to guide responsible media planning and buying. The report concludes that coordinated standards and metrics capturing qualitative public value are urgently needed if the industry is to make meaningful progress.