artificial intelligence industry

US health insurers are claiming that artificial intelligence is already increasing healthcare costs, according to a TechCrunch report. The allegation puts the industry at odds with the common narrative that AI will make medicine cheaper and more efficient. Critics are likely to scrutinise how AI-driven tools, from prior authorisation to claims processing, affect patient care and medical spending.

The European Union is moving to restrict the energy and water use of data centres, as the sector's rapid growth strains power grids and water supplies across the bloc. The proposal targets the booming infrastructure behind cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and is drawing debate about how far regulators should go in limiting an industry seen as key to Europe's digital economy.

Telehealth company Hims & Hers Health has announced an AI-native weight loss care platform, aiming to deliver personalised treatment plans for patients seeking obesity care. The move builds on the company's fast-growing weight loss business and signals a broader push into artificial intelligence across its telehealth services. Investors and health industry watchers are following the announcement closely as competition in digital weight loss care intensifies.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 opened in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, bringing together artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony and ten themed "AI+" forums aimed at linking research with industry and investment. Commenters highlighted the city's push to position itself as a hub for China's growing AI and robotics sectors.

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged increased investment in artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. She positioned the sectors as key to India's economic and technological ambitions, aligning with the government's push to attract chip fabrication projects and build AI capacity. The remarks come as countries compete for investment in these strategic industries.

Law firms are using artificial intelligence to speed up legal research, document review and drafting, cutting the hours needed for many tasks. Corporate clients are now pushing back on bills, arguing that if AI makes legal work faster and cheaper to produce, the savings should be passed on to them rather than retained as higher firm margins.

Executives from leading artificial intelligence companies have been summoned to testify before a US Senate investigation examining the AI industry. The probe is expected to scrutinise how AI firms develop and deploy their technology, along with associated security risks. The summons signals growing congressional willingness to put the sector's most powerful figures under public questioning.

A new Forbes commentary argues that the greatest threat to American leadership is not moving too fast on artificial intelligence but slowing down. The piece contends that delays in AI development could cede technological ground to competitors, pushing back against calls for stricter limits on the industry.

Tensions are rising in US healthcare over the use of artificial intelligence, with insurance payers and care providers clashing over how AI is deployed. Insurers increasingly use algorithms for claims review and prior authorization, while providers argue the tools delay or deny care and add administrative burdens. Health system leaders are calling for oversight and regulation as both sides race to adopt AI.

Healthcare insurance companies are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence across novel areas of their business, according to a Forbes report. Insurers are exploring applications beyond traditional claims processing, though the article does not detail specific companies or deployments. The trend reflects broader adoption of AI across the healthcare sector, raising questions about efficiency gains and how automated decisions may affect patients and coverage outcomes.

Costa Rica is targeting India as it looks to attract new global services, technology, and artificial intelligence centers to the country. The outreach is part of the Central American nation's ongoing strategy to draw foreign investment in high-value industries and position itself as a hub for multinational corporate operations and emerging technology firms.