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BRAHMA AI, Hakuhodo Technologies Partner to Scale High-Fidelity Digital Humans Across Japan and APAC

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LONDON and TOKYO, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BRAHMA AI and Hakuhodo Technologies today announced a strategic partnership to develop, commercialize, and deploy high-fidelity digital humans at enterprise scale across Japan and the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Formalized under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the partnership establishes a joint framework to combine BRAHMA AI’s advanced AI-driven digital human technology with Hakuhodo DY Group’s deep creative expertise, client network, and market leadership in Japan and APAC.

Strategic Collaboration

The partnership will focus on:

Developing and deploying advanced AI-powered digital human technologies (including Interactive models)Delivering AI products, and services tailored to the Japanese marketCommercializing lifelike digital humans called ATMANs for enterprise clientsCreating new storytelling formats, branded content, and immersive customer experiencesIntegrating digital humans, ATMANs, into Hakuhodo DY Group-led campaigns and platformsExpanding applications across industries and intellectual property (IP) owners in Japan and APAC

Core creative and technical teams from both organizations will work in close collaboration to drive concept development and deliver high-quality, culturally nuanced content.

A Proven Foundation

This partnership builds on a successful prior collaboration, most notably the debut of the digital likeness of Hibari Misora, created using proprietary AI models, ATMANs, trained on historical footage and audio.

The digital performer was featured in a BS Nippon TV special program “Hibari Misora brought back in the Reiwa Era” (broadcast January 7–8, 2026), appearing alongside contemporary artists. The project demonstrated both the creative and commercial potential of high-fidelity digital humans, ATMANs in modern media.

Strategic Objectives

Through this partnership, the Parties aim to:

Accelerate enterprise adoption of digital human technologiesEstablish a new category of AI-driven communication through digital humans, ATMANs.Deliver culturally adaptive, high-fidelity digital humans, ATMANs, tailored to regional marketsUnlock scalable commercial opportunities across media, entertainment, retail, and communications

Roles and Contributions

BRAHMA AI

Provides core AI technology and digital human, ATMAN, systemsLeads innovation in high-fidelity digital human, ATMAN, developmentSupports enterprise deployment and scaling

Hakuhodo Technologies

Lead client integration, creative direction, and market deploymentProvide access to enterprise clients across Japan and APACContribute creative strategy, production capabilities, and localization expertise

Future Outlook

Looking ahead, the partnership will expand joint initiatives across Japan and the broader APAC region, focusing on:

New visual formats and creative applicationsDeeper integration into enterprise workflows in order to implement digital humans, ATMANsCo-development and co-commercialization opportunitiesScalable, content-driven business models leveraging digital humans, ATMANs

Executive Commentary

Prabhu Narasimhan, CEO, BRAHMA AI:
“Digital humans, ATMANs represent a fundamental shift in how brands and audiences connect. Our partnership with Hakuhodo enables us to deliver culturally nuanced, high-fidelity digital humans, ATMANs, at enterprise scale across APAC.”

Jo Plaete, CTO, BRAHMA AI:
“By combining Hakuhodo DY Group’s creative heritage with BRAHMA AI’s technological innovation, we are establishing a new category of communication. This partnership empowers brands to explore entirely new methods of expression through digital humans.”

Ken Matsuzaki, Creative Technologist, Hakuhodo Technologies:
“BRAHMA AI’s exceptional digital human technology has played a pivotal role in advancing our creative initiatives. By integrating this innovation with our expertise, we look forward to strengthening our collaboration and delivering greater value to clients across Japan and APAC.”

About BRAHMA AI

BRAHMA AI is an enterprise AI content platform enabling organisations to create, manage and distribute AI-driven media through BRAHMA AI Studio and BRAHMA AI Core, guided by its Mind² foundation and delivering industry-leading fidelity, trust and governance. BRAHMA AI is founded on technology which has won eight Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, including for Interstellar, Tenet and Dune Parts One and Two. Its goal is to bring Hollywood-grade AI content to enterprise, setting the standard for quality, fidelity and trust.

Visit: www.brahma.io

About Hakuhodo Technologies Inc.

A technology strategy company that plans and develops various technology strategies, including full-funnel marketing, the consumer interface market, media, and creative domains. Established in April 2022 for the purpose of consolidating the development structure of the Hakuhodo DY Group, and strengthening and evolving that structure.

Visit: https://www.hakuhodo-technologies.co.jp

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/brahma-ai-hakuhodo-technologies-partner-to-scale-high-fidelity-digital-humans-across-japan-and-apac-302813164.html

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IGEL Appoints James Millington as Field CTO for Healthcare in EMEA

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The move strengthens IGEL’s healthcare leadership in EMEA and expands support for customers and partners across the region.

LONDON, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IGEL, a global software company delivering the Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform™ for modern digital workspaces and secure access, today announced the expansion of its CTO bench with the appointment of James Millington as Field CTO for Healthcare, EMEA. The appointment reflects IGEL’s continued investment in healthcare and other strategic growth areas.

As Field CTO, Healthcare EMEA, Millington will work closely with healthcare customers, field teams, and partners across the region to drive adoption of IGEL’s immutable endpoint platform in clinical and care delivery environments. His appointment complements the work of Jason Mafera, who leads IGEL’s healthcare Field CTO efforts in North America, giving IGEL dedicated healthcare Field CTO leadership on both sides of the Atlantic.

Millington brings extensive experience working with healthcare providers globally, including leadership roles at Armis, VMware, Imprivata, and Citrix. He takes on the Field CTO role after nearly three years leading Product Marketing at IGEL, where he helped shape the company’s market positioning and platform narrative alongside CEO Klaus Oestermann. He now brings that strategic and healthcare-focused experience directly to customers and partners across the EMEA market.

“Healthcare organizations across EMEA are increasingly seeking modern, resilient, and secure endpoint strategies that enable better patient care while reducing operational risk. James brings the healthcare expertise, strategic insight, and customer focus needed to help organizations navigate this transformation. His appointment reinforces IGEL’s commitment to the healthcare sector and our mission to deliver a more secure and resilient digital healthcare experience through our Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform, preventative security approach, and business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities. We are excited to have James leading this effort as we deepen our investment in healthcare and help organizations across EMEA build secure, resilient, and future-ready digital workspaces,” said Matthias Haas, Managing Director & CTO, IGEL.

The announcement reflects IGEL’s continued focus on healthcare as a strategic vertical. Through the IGEL Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform™, IGEL helps healthcare organizations support secure, reliable clinician access while simplifying endpoint management and improving resilience across distributed care environments.

“Healthcare is entering a defining period of innovation across EMEA. Providers must find new ways to lower operational costs, improve care quality, support digital and virtual care models, and bring services closer to patients — all while defending clinical environments against an increasingly complex cybersecurity threat landscape. IGEL has a unique role to play in that transformation. With IGEL, healthcare organizations can establish an immutable, secure-by-design endpoint foundation that helps protect access to critical systems, strengthen resilience, and reduce complexity at scale. I’m excited to help customers and partners across EMEA apply that approach to the realities of modern care delivery,” said James Millington, Field CTO, Healthcare EMEA, IGEL.

In his new role, Millington will focus on deepening IGEL’s partner ecosystem across EMEA and helping healthcare organizations align IGEL within broader secure access and resilience strategies.

Learn more about IGEL solutions for healthcare:  IGEL | HealthcareExplore healthcare customer success stories:  IGEL | Case Studies

About IGEL

IGEL is a global software company delivering the Adaptive Secure Endpoint Platform™ for modern digital workspaces and secure access. Through its secure endpoint OS, Universal Management Suite (UMS), and IGEL App Portal, IGEL enables a Preventative Security Model™ that helps organizations strengthen security, improve resilience, and centrally govern endpoint access across distributed environments.

The platform delivers the IGEL Adaptive Secure Desktop™, providing secure, reliable access to SaaS, DaaS, VDI, and enterprise applications across distributed environments. Backed by more than 130 validated technology partners, IGEL extends Zero Trust and SASE frameworks to the endpoint. Founded in 2001, IGEL is headquartered in Germany and has operations in the United States. Learn more at www.igel.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/igel-appoints-james-millington-as-field-cto-for-healthcare-in-emea-302813505.html

SOURCE IGEL

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INTA Publishes Groundbreaking Study on the Use of AI in Likelihood of Confusion Analysis

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Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Likelihood of Confusion Analysis

NEW YORK, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Trademark Association (INTA) has released its latest research study, Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Likelihood of Confusion Analysis. As intellectual property (IP) offices and professionals face increasing application volumes and growing complexity, this Report provides timely and deep insights into how AI could enhance efficiency, consistency, and data-driven analysis, while preserving the critical role of human judgment.

INTA chose to study likelihood of confusion because that analysis is a routine task central to trademark law and, importantly, assessed through the eyes of the “average consumer.” It is therefore a representative example of how artificial intelligence (AI) could be applied to subjective, as well as objective, AI legal analysis. The Association undertook this research in collaboration with business consulting firm FTI Consulting.

“AI is reshaping how brands are created, searched, examined, and protected, and INTA has an important role to play in helping the global IP community navigate this shift responsibly,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo. “We are putting this work forward because likelihood of confusion sits at the heart of trademark law and as AI becomes more entrenched in legal and commercial decision-making. This Report provides IP offices and our members with a practical, forward-looking resource grounded in both legal analysis and technical understanding.”

INTA Chief Policy Officer Heather Steinmeyer served on the internal project team that drafted the Report. Underscoring why this issue is especially timely, she said: “AI has the potential to become an important decision-support tool for trademark examination, but its responsible use will depend on transparency, accountability, high-quality data, and continued human expertise.”

The Report spotlights and provides deep analysis into several key issues at the intersection of AI and trademark law, including the following:

AI is poised to reshape trademark examination at scale: The Report finds that, as global filings continue to rise, AI can help IP offices and professionals analyze growing volumes of trademark applications, compare large datasets, and uncover potential conflicts faster.

AI isn’t replacing human judgment: While AI can enhance speed, consistency, and data-driven insight, the Report underscores that likelihood of confusion analysis remains deeply contextual, requiring an examiner’s legal reasoning, cultural understanding, and discretion. This is demonstrated in the context of determining the “average consumer,” as noted above.

Multimodal AI could unlock more sophisticated likelihood of confusion analysis: The Report highlights how AI tools may support visual, phonetic, conceptual, audio, and even motion-based comparisons, offering new ways to evaluate traditional and non-traditional marks in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Trustworthy AI requires guardrails: Emphasizing the need for explainability, auditability, continuous validation, and human oversight, the Report spotlights risks in the use of AI in likelihood of confusion analysis, including biased training data, model drift, opaque outputs, and over-reliance on automation.

“Written without the intention of advocating for or against AI in this context, the Report emphasizes that AI should function as a supportive tool, not a replacement for examiners or legal professionals,” emphasized Ms. Steinmeyer.

INTA unveiled the Report during a virtual launch event earlier today. Close to 500 participants from 60+ jurisdictions participated in the event, including IP office and government officials, IP professionals, academics, and members of the press.

The Report is part of INTA’s ongoing effort to support its members and the global IP community in navigating emerging technologies and their impact on IP law and practice.

Learn more and access the Report

About the International Trademark Association:
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and intellectual property (IP) professionals committed to elevating the understanding of and respect for IP rights to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and societal transformation. Members include more than 6,600 organizations, representing more than 38,000 individuals (trademark owners, professionals, and academics) from 182 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Santiago, Singapore, and the Washington, D.C., Metro Area, and representatives in Nairobi and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.

Reporting on intellectual property? See INTA’s Media Toolkit for guidance and resources.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inta-publishes-groundbreaking-study-on-the-use-of-ai-in-likelihood-of-confusion-analysis-302813338.html

SOURCE International Trademark Association

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Vertex Adds Chad Paulin as new AI Strategy Officer

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NEW YORK, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Vertex Companies, LLC (“Vertex”), a global consulting firm that provides strategic advisory, project management, and dispute resolution services for organizations facing complex challenges in a world of risk, today announced Chad Paulin will join the company in mid-August as AI Strategy Officer. In this role, Paulin will be responsible for developing Vertex’s artificial intelligence strategy, guiding the firm in how to maximize the use of this technology to deliver impactful results for clients, and continue to work directly with clients to address their project needs.

“Artificial intelligence will continue to play a major role in the consulting industry, and it’s important to Vertex that we stay ahead of the curve to serve as a true strategic partner to our clients,” said David Tortorello, CEO, Vertex. “Hiring an experienced industry leader like Chad to develop and innovate AI technology will ensure this remains a priority for our organization and in our client services.”

With over 25 years of experience, Paulin has deep experience working with organizations across industries on complex themes and issues. His prior roles have included experience developing proprietary tools that advance the consulting industry and improve client delivery.

“Not only is Chad a proven leader, but he is also a true innovator in the consulting industry with experience creating tools and solutions with meaningful impacts for clients. As AI continues to rapidly evolve and its full capabilities are uncovered, it’s crucial Vertex is developing and executing a strategy for our firm and our clients,” said Mary Beth Edwards, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Global Business, Vertex. “While we have already integrated AI into some of our technology, Vertex will benefit from having Chad’s creative, strategic mindset on our leadership team helping to propel us forward.”

About Vertex

The Vertex Companies, LLC is a global consulting firm that provides strategic advisory, project management, and dispute resolution services for organizations that face complex challenges in a world full of risk. Our multidisciplinary teams, 360-degree approach, and deep bench make us an ideal partner for businesses that need measurable results, fast. For more information, visit vertexeng.com.

Media Contact:
Dawn Hancock
Vice President of Marketing
The Vertex Companies, LLC
vertexmarketing@Vertexeng.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vertex-adds-chad-paulin-as-new-ai-strategy-officer-302813548.html

SOURCE The Vertex Companies, LLC

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