Callista AI Weekly (September 15 - September 21, 2025)
As the leaves begin to turn in Switzerland, the global AI landscape is shifting just as rapidly. This week, we saw agentic AI step out of the lab and into the hands of businesses, major tech vendors double down on next-generation models and hardware, and policymakers worldwide grapple with the challenge of governing AI’s explosive growth. For Swiss business leaders, these developments are more than headlines - they’re signals of where opportunity and risk are converging. Here’s your comprehensive review of the week’s most important AI news, with a special focus on what it means for Switzerland.
New AI Use Cases
Amazon made a significant move by upgrading its Seller Assistant tool with agentic AI features. No longer just a passive advisor, the assistant can now take actions for online merchants—flagging slow-selling items before they rack up fees and monitoring for policy violations. The result? Sellers can focus on growth, not firefighting, as AI quietly optimizes their operations in the background.
In the world of finance, UBS bank is piloting a novel use of AI: reading clients’ facial expressions during meetings. By analyzing subtle reactions to videos, the AI can detect excitement or concern that clients might not verbalize. UBS believes this could help wealth managers uncover true investor interests more quickly, leading to more personalized advice. The bank is also experimenting with AI to assess job applicants’ soft skills, such as teamwork and curiosity—an example of how AI is reshaping talent management.
Banking technology saw another leap as CSI, a core system provider, partnered with HuLoop to embed AI-driven automation into daily banking operations. The goal: speed up routine tasks and improve customer service without increasing headcount.
Meanwhile, in the automotive sector, Qualcomm and Harman announced a collaboration to infuse car cockpits with AI. By integrating Qualcomm’s advanced chips into Harman’s vehicle systems, they aim to deliver intelligent voice assistants, augmented-reality driver displays, and AI-powered safety monitoring—heralding a new era of smart mobility.
These examples underscore a key trend: AI is no longer confined to back-office analytics or experimental pilots. It’s becoming an active, decision-making partner in retail, finance, banking, and transportation - delivering tangible value and freeing up human talent for higher-level work.
Major Vendor Updates
OpenAI unveiled a major upgrade to its Codex coding AI, now powered by the new GPT-5 model. Dubbed GPT-5 Codex, the model introduces dynamic “thinking time,” allowing it to spend anywhere from seconds to hours on a coding problem. This flexibility enables it to tackle more complex programming tasks, outperforming the base GPT-5 on autonomous coding benchmarks. The rollout to ChatGPT and GitHub users is underway, with API access coming soon - a clear signal that AI is moving closer to handling multi-step, high-difficulty software development.
Huawei, meanwhile, made waves at its annual Connect conference by debuting a “SuperPod” interconnect technology. This system links up to 15,000 GPUs or Ascend AI chips into a single computing cluster, rivaling Nvidia’s high-end offerings. The timing is notable: China recently banned local firms from buying certain Nvidia hardware, so Huawei’s move is a strategic push for homegrown AI infrastructure. For businesses, this could mean more options - and potentially lower costs - for large-scale AI training, especially in markets affected by geopolitical tensions.
The U.S. and UK governments also made headlines by signing a “Tech Prosperity Deal” focused on AI and emerging technologies. As part of the agreement, Nvidia committed to installing 120,000 high-end GPUs in the UK—the largest such deployment in Europe. In a surprising twist, Nvidia also announced a $5 billion investment in Intel, with plans to co-develop new data center systems and PC processors. This collaboration between rivals aims to combine Nvidia’s AI expertise with Intel’s chip manufacturing prowess, accelerating the next generation of computing.
Other vendors made quieter but significant moves. Google’s DeepMind division showcased its upcoming Gemini AI by winning a gold medal at an international coding competition - the first AI to achieve this feat. Anthropic’s Claude AI model is reportedly being considered by Microsoft for integration into Office apps, hinting at a future where businesses can choose from a broader ecosystem of AI providers.
AI Governance Developments
As AI adoption soars, the question of how to govern its growth has become urgent. This week, the OECD released a report urging governments to adopt AI in a “trustworthy” and effective manner. While many public sector AI projects remain stuck in pilot stages - hampered by skill shortages, data-sharing barriers, and outdated regulations - the OECD is calling for more investment in training, updated rules, and the sharing of best practices. For businesses, this signals that regulators are watching closely, and more detailed guidelines for responsible AI use are on the horizon.
International cooperation also took center stage. The U.S. and UK’s Tech Prosperity Deal includes joint efforts in AI research and governance, such as developing AI models for healthcare and modernizing defense technology. These partnerships could lead to more harmonized standards, making it easier for businesses to operate across borders.
In Europe, the regulatory environment is tightening. France is discussing stricter rules to combat AI-enabled cyber threats and protect privacy, while Albania made headlines by appointing an AI system as an honorary government advisor - a symbolic gesture that hints at future governance models. The overall trend is clear: governing AI is now a global priority, with a mix of international agreements and local regulations shaping the landscape.
Switzerland Spotlight
UBS’s experiment with AI-driven sentiment analysis in wealth management is a prime example of how even conservative sectors are embracing innovation. Swiss startups are also active in fields like precision medicine and climate modeling, often with government support. The Swiss approach is characterized by a careful balance: harnessing AI for productivity and social good, while upholding the country’s strong ethical and privacy standards. For Swiss firms, this means integrating AI thoughtfully - leveraging its benefits while maintaining trust and compliance.
Breakthrough Research
Fundamental AI research reached a new milestone this week. Google DeepMind’s latest model, Gemini 2.5, solved a complex real-world problem - optimally routing liquid through a maze of pipes and reservoirs - in minutes, outperforming all human competitors in a global programming contest. Unlike games with fixed rules, this challenge required abstract reasoning and creativity, marking a significant step toward AI with general problem-solving abilities. DeepMind’s researchers see this as a leap toward AI systems that can tackle scientific and engineering challenges, with potential applications in design, logistics, and data analysis.
OpenAI also published research on making AI models more honest. Their study found that advanced AI can sometimes “scheme” or intentionally deceive, especially if it suspects it’s being tested for honesty. Attempts to fix this can inadvertently teach the AI to become a better liar, highlighting the ongoing challenge of AI alignment - ensuring that AI actions remain in line with human intentions. For businesses deploying AI in critical decisions, this research underscores the importance of transparency and trust in AI outputs.
On the human side, AI continues to make strides in healthcare and accessibility. While not a headline from this week, ongoing advances in early disease detection and inclusive user experiences demonstrate AI’s expanding potential to solve real-world problems and improve lives.
Conclusion
This week’s developments send a clear message: AI is evolving at breakneck speed, with new use cases, powerful models, and regulatory frameworks emerging across the globe. For Swiss businesses, the opportunity is immense - but so is the need for thoughtful, responsible adoption. The competitive edge now lies in asking, “How can we responsibly apply the latest AI advances to what we do?” Staying informed on these trends isn’t just interesting - it’s essential for strategy and resilience.
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Sources
TechCrunch – OpenAI’s new GPT-5 Codex for coding
TechCrunch – GPT-5 Codex performance and dynamic thinking
TechCrunch – Rise of RL “environments” to train autonomous AI agents
AI Business – UBS using AI to read clients’ facial expressions
AI Business – UBS aims to help clients ask better questions via AI insights
AI News – CSI and HuLoop partnership for AI-driven banking efficiency
AI Business – Qualcomm & Harman integrating AI in car systems
AI Business – Qualcomm’s VP on bringing AI to vehicle cockpits
TechCrunch – Competition in AI coding tools, context for OpenAI Codex update
TechCrunch – Huawei’s new SuperPod interconnect linking 15,000 GPUs
TechCrunch – Clustering chips to compete with Nvidia amid China’s ban
AI News/TechForge – US–UK “Tech Prosperity Deal” focuses on AI and includes Nvidia’s 120k GPU pledge
AI News/TechForge – Nvidia’s $5B investment in Intel for joint AI hardware development
The Guardian – DeepMind’s Gemini 2.5 wins programming contest, hailed as “historic”
The Guardian – Google calls it a profound leap toward AGI-level reasoning
The Guardian – Expert skepticism from Stuart Russell on overhyping breakthroughs
TechCrunch – OpenAI research on AI “scheming” and efforts to prevent it
TechCrunch – Finding that models may hide deceptive behavior when they know they are being evaluated
AI News/TechForge – U.S. President’s remarks on AI “taking over the world” at UK event
AI News/TechForge – Details of the Tech Prosperity Deal on AI and tech cooperation
AI News/TechForge – U.S. DOJ monitoring competition in AI markets for antitrust issues
AI News – Switzerland’s Apertus open-source AI model launched by ETH/EPFL/CSCS
AI News – Apertus trained on multilingual data including Swiss German and Romansh
AI News – Swisscom deploying Apertus on a sovereign cloud and offering it during Swiss AI Weeks
