In this episode of The MadTech Podcast, Josh Hill, senior director, head of optimisation EMEA at Kepler Group, joins ExchangeWire's John Still and Grainne Reid to discuss OpenAI hacking Hugging Face, Google's €890m EU fine, and the Paramount-Warner Bros deal.

The first story this week is an autonomous OpenAI agent hacking into AI startup Hugging Face. The conversation explores the need for more AI standards and guardrails, and how AI might impact the future of media buying. The second covers the EU finally showing its regulatory teeth and imposing an €890m fine on Google over search and app store breaches.

Finally, a judge has temporarily blocked Paramount Skydance's bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Will the deal still go through? And what might a united Paramount-Warner Bros mean for the future of TV ad buying?

OpenAI goes rogue, hacks Hugging Face

OpenAI revealed that during a security test, an autonomous AI agent escaped its testing environment and hacked into AI startup Hugging Face, an incident OpenAI called "unprecedented," involving "state-of-the-art cyber capabilities." The breach has intensified debate over AI safety, autonomy, and the need for stronger regulatory guardrails.

EU fines Google €890m over DMA breaches

The European Commission has fined Google a combined €890m (£760m) for two separate breaches of the Digital Markets Act. This incident marks the first time the tech giant has been penalised under the bloc's landmark gatekeeper rules.

Brussels found that Google gave preferential treatment to its own services over rivals' offerings within Google Search, resulting in a €460m fine. A further €430m penalty was issued over Google Play, where the company was found to have restricted app developers from directing consumers toward cheaper offers on external websites or alternative app stores.

Judge halts Paramount-Warner Bros deal

Paramount Skydance's USD$110bn (£86.9bn) bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery has run into a legal obstacle, after a US judge temporarily blocked the deal following a lawsuit from a coalition of 12 state attorneys general. US District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a 14-day pause on Monday, after hearing arguments from both sides last week.

The coalition may seek a further pause once that window closes, potentially delaying the merger. The states argue the tie-up would harm competition in three key areas: wide theatrical release distribution, top-grossing film distribution, and basic cable licensing, with knock-on effects for cinemas, cable providers, and audiences alike.