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Digital Cyprus Conference 2026 Puts AI At The Heart Of Business Transformation

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 2, 2026

Artificial intelligence and digital transformation took centre stage this week as the 5th Digital Cyprus Conference 2026 brought together business leaders, policymakers, technology experts and internationally recognised speakers in Nicosia to discuss how emerging technologies are reshaping the future of business.

AI Takes Centre Stage In Cyprus’ Digital Agenda

Organised by the Cyprus Information Technology Enterprises Association (CITEA) and IMH, the conference explored how artificial intelligence is transforming industries, changing the way businesses operate and creating new opportunities for growth across the economy.

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Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou highlighted the strategic role of digital transformation and AI adoption in strengthening Cyprus’ long-term competitiveness.

Business Leaders Examine The Next Wave Of Transformation

Building on that theme, speakers from Cyprus and abroad shared insights into the latest developments in digital technologies, focusing on the strategies businesses can adopt to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven marketplace.

Alongside the conference programme, participants also explored an outdoor technology exhibition showcasing innovative products, services and digital solutions from companies across the sector.

CITEA Says AI Is No Longer Optional

Reflecting on the discussions, CITEA President Giorgos Malekkos said the conference demonstrated not only how rapidly artificial intelligence is evolving, but also how businesses are already putting the technology into practice while preparing for the opportunities it is expected to create in the years ahead.

“AI is here to stay and was the central theme of the conference, a topic that will continue to be highly relevant in the years ahead,”
he said.

Malekkos added that CITEA and its members stand ready to help businesses take the next step by supporting the adoption and effective use of artificial intelligence.

A Growing Platform For Cyprus’ Digital Ecosystem

This year’s event once again reinforced the conference’s role as one of Cyprus’ leading forums for the business and technology community. By bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and technology providers, it provided a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing expertise and building new partnerships across Cyprus’ growing digital ecosystem.

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Relay Shuts Down As Its Founder Returns To Google To Shape The Future Of Chrome

by News Editor

August 18, 2026

AI workflow automation startup Relay is shutting down, with founder and CEO Jacob Bank returning to Google as vice president of product for Chrome. Some other Relay employees are also joining Google’s Chrome team.

Relay launched in 2021 with ambitions to challenge automation platforms such as Zapier. Its platform helped businesses automate repetitive work, including document creation, copyediting and project management.

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According to Relay’s announcement, free users lost access on August 15, while paying customers will be able to use the service until September 14. The shutdown was first announced in July.

Relay Founder Returns To Google

Bank previously spent more than six years at Google. He joined the company in 2015 after Google acquired his scheduling startup Timeful, later working on products including Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Chat.

Now back at Google, Bank will lead Chrome’s product and developer relations teams. He said the role will focus on helping people use AI in Chrome while preserving their creativity and decision-making.

Bank described Chrome as a strong platform for working with AI agents and said he would share more about Google’s plans in the future.

Chrome Becomes A Bigger AI Platform

Bank’s return comes as Google continues expanding AI across its consumer products. Gemini is already integrated into Search and Chrome, where it can act as an in-browser assistant and support more agentic tasks.

The company’s AI push is also reaching a growing user base. Google recently said the Gemini app had surpassed 1 billion users.

For Relay, the shutdown marks the end of an attempt to build an AI-powered alternative to established workflow automation platforms. For Google, bringing Bank and members of his team into Chrome could strengthen its efforts to make AI agents a more central part of the browser experience.