The new partnership is designed to deliver a technology showcase at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, establishing the venue as an Advanced Connectivity Innovation Centre, with the objective of promoting the future of connected and autonomous vehicles, drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, and entertainment technologies. 

The partnership will host innovation projects at multiple locations around the circuit to support different technology use cases. 

The showcase will be managed by GSMA Foundry, GSMA’s innovation hub, to serve as a venue for testing and experiencing live demonstrations of connectivity, automotive and smart drone technologies, as well as innovative new fan experiences. 

Positioned at the forefront of technological innovation, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the first demonstrations at MWC26 Barcelona, followed by dedicated events for fans at motor racing, e-sports and music events throughout 2026.  

John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd., said: “We are delighted to support Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya’s transformation strategy and technology roadmap. The GSMA Foundry thrives on delivering successful outcomes with valued partners, including more than 70 highly innovative projects since its launch in 2021. This new partnership is no exception, and our work with Mobile World Capital and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya promises to provide some truly immersive experiences for visitors to future MWC events and at dates throughout the motor racing calendar.” 

Francesc Fajula de Quintana, CEO, Mobile World Capital, said: “This exciting partnership allows us to support the development of innovative digital services and enhance the circuit’s operations. In addition, by leveraging our digital talent program, we will offer reskilling opportunities and foster the circuit’s connection with Barcelona’s digital ecosystem, as well as manage its participation in events such as MWC, Talent Arena and 4YFN, showcasing how technology reshapes our lives and creates new opportunities.” 

Ignasi Armengol, general manager, Fira Circuit, said: “Our strategy for the circuit focuses on digitalisation, sustainability and diversification. Our goal is to develop the infrastructure around the circuit to deliver new and exciting fan and visitor experiences, not only for motorsport but other sporting, music and business events, such as MWC. We aim to deliver a long-term vision and leave a legacy that replicates the success model of Fira Barcelona.” 

In addition to showcasing connected and autonomous vehicle technologies, GSMA Foundry and GSMA Fusion will also leverage the new partnership to display enterprise applications based on open APIs. By integrating these open API-based solutions, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya demonstrates the versatility and potential of enterprise applications in a real-world environment. 

GSMA Fusion is a GSMA Open Gateway initiative facilitating collaboration between enterprises and the mobile industry to create new network-based solutions for the automotive, aviation, financial services, manufacturing, media and broadcast sectors. 

GSMA Fusion announced that it has signed a number of partnerships with leading automotive groups, including the 5G Automotive Association, Automotive Edge Computing Consortium and JASPAR. 

GSMA Foundry’s Richard Cockle will host a panel discussion alongside Eduard Marin from Mobile World Capital and Ignasi Armengol from Fira Circuit, to discuss the new partnership and how the venue will bring connectivity use cases to life. 

The session will take place during the Connected Industries Networking Reception at 17:00 on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

The device, which will be priced under $1,000, is set for release in the second half of the year, with sales expected to begin in 2026.

Claudia Nemat, DT’s board member in charge of technology and innovation, emphasised that while the company is not building large language models, it is focusing on AI agents. “We are becoming an AI company,” she stated during a press conference at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

Perplexity, known for its AI-powered search engine, will be a huge part of the phone’s AI features. The company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, explained its approach: “Perplexity is transitioning from just being an answer machine to an action machine. It is going to start doing things for you, not just answering questions. It’s going to be able to book flights for you, book reservations for you, send emails for you, send messages, place phone calls for you, and all those sorts of things, like set smart reminders.”

Although specific details about the device’s hardware and operating system remain undisclosed, Nemat noted that the phone would incorporate AI features directly into its core functionality, including lock screen interactions. It will also integrate services from Google Cloud AI, ElevenLabs, and Picsart.

T-Mobile’s AI assistant, Magenta AI, will be available as an app for Android and iOS users, but only for existing T-Mobile customers. 

This launch aligns with telecom companies’ focus on regaining influence in the smartphone sector, which has long been filled up by manufacturers and software giants like Apple and Google.

Perplexity’s involvement in the project comes as it seeks to differentiate itself in the competitive AI space, where companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google continue to push boundaries. “These are the kinds of things that earlier you would have to do in your own way, learning how to use these different apps,” Srinivas noted. 

“All these things are going to start becoming easier so that you can focus your time and energy on problem-solving.”

Telecom providers are looking to leverage new technology to strengthen their market position and T-Mobile seeks to disrupt the smartphone market.

This AI-powered agent is designed to execute tasks directly within the browser, enabling users to complete various online activities with minimal manual effort. 

The announcement was made at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona on 3rd March 2025.

With the introduction of Browser Operator, Opera is enhancing the traditional role of web browsers, shifting from only displaying web pages to actively performing tasks based on user commands. 

The feature allows users to instruct the browser in natural language, requesting actions such as purchasing products, booking flights, or securing event tickets. 

Unlike similar AI solutions from competitors, Opera’s technology processes these tasks locally on the user’s device rather than relying on cloud servers, ensuring greater privacy and security.

How It Works

Users can leverage the Browser Operator by typing or speaking their requests, and the AI agent takes over the task, completing the necessary steps on their behalf. 

For instance, a user could ask the browser to buy “a pack of 10 white tennis socks in size 12 from Nike,” and the AI would navigate online stores, select the appropriate product, and facilitate the purchase process. 

Throughout the process, users retain full control—they can monitor progress, intervene if needed, or cancel the operation at any time.

Opera notes that this technology removes the need for constant user engagement in repetitive online tasks, allowing for a more efficient browsing experience. 

Unlike some AI-powered browsing tools that rely on screen recording or cloud-based processing, Browser Operator integrates directly within the browser itself, ensuring that all data remains on the user’s device.

Opera has a history of pioneering browser innovations, having introduced features such as tabbed browsing, address bar search, a built-in VPN, and AI-powered web interactions. 

The company sees Browser Operator as a continuation of this legacy, strengthening its competitive edge in the AI-driven browsing space.

Krystian Kolondra, executive vice president at Opera, commented on the significance of this development:

“For more than 30 years, the browser gave you access to the web, but it has never been able to get stuff done for you. Now it can. This is different from anything we’ve seen or shipped so far. The Browser Operator we’re presenting today marks the first step towards shifting the role of the browser from a display engine to an application that is agentic and performs tasks for its users.”

Unlike other AI-powered browsers under development, such as OpenAI’s Operator and Dia from The Browser Company, Opera’s approach is distinguished by its privacy-focused, device-native execution. 

The AI does not require external cloud computing or virtual machines, reducing security risks and ensuring a more seamless user experience.

Availability 

Currently, Browser Operator is available as a preview feature, with a full rollout expected as part of Opera’s AI Feature Drops programme. This initiative allows users to test and experience experimental AI capabilities before they are fully integrated into the browser. 

Opera has not disclosed a specific release date for the general public but has confirmed ongoing refinements to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of the AI agent.

These updates, announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, aim to enhance user experience by making Gemini more interactive and visually responsive. 

With the new “Screenshare” feature, users can share their phone screens with Gemini and receive instant feedback. For example, during the demonstration, a user browsing for a pair of baggy jeans asked Gemini for style recommendations. The AI assistant analysed the screen and provided suggestions on complementary clothing items.

Another addition is a video-based search function, enabling users to film their surroundings while asking Gemini questions. This feature, initially teased at Google I/O last year, allows Gemini to interpret live video feeds and provide relevant responses in real time. 

A demonstration video released by Google showcased a ceramic artist seeking advice on suitable glazes for freshly fired vases.

The video and screen-sharing features will be available later this month to users subscribed to Gemini Advanced through the Google One AI Premium plan on Android devices. 

Google is continually enhancing what Gemini can do, making it a more dynamic tool for everyday interactions.