Artificial intelligence Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit opens in Hong Kong

The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit has opened in Hong Kong, hosted by the World Internet Conference, organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau.

The Hong Kong government says the two-day summit is expected to bring together around 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions, including government and business leaders, representatives of international organisations, and experts and scholars.

The programme includes remarks by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and World Internet Conference Chairman and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China Zhuang Rongwen, alongside other invited speakers from government, industry, and international organisations.

A ministerial meeting was convened during the summit, with officials and representatives of international organisations discussing topics including how AI can support high-quality economic growth. The programme also includes a government-enterprise dialogue and a main forum focused on the digital economy, innovation, and technology development.

Six sub-forums are scheduled as part of the summit, covering innovation and application of AI agents, digital finance, AI security and governance, AI for a better life, digital and intelligent health, and digital transformation and dissemination of classical texts.

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Belgian DPA releases new AI harms information brochure

The Belgian Data Protection Authority has outlined the impact of AI on privacy in a new publication, highlighting growing concerns around data use and protection. The analysis forms part of its ongoing work on emerging technologies.

According to the Belgian Data Protection Authority, AI systems rely on large volumes of data, which can increase risks related to the processing of personal data and compliance with existing regulations. This raises questions about transparency and accountability.

The authority notes that AI can make it more difficult for individuals to understand how their data is used, particularly in complex or automated decision-making systems. This may challenge established data protection principles.

The Authority emphasises the need to adapt regulatory approaches and safeguards to ensure privacy rights remain protected as AI adoption expands in Belgium.

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UNESCO to unveil AI in education observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean

UNESCO will launch the Observatory on AI in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean at a high-level event during the 2026 Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The observatory is intended to support states in integrating AI into education systems across the region. UNESCO says the initiative is being developed with regional and international partners, including the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the National Centre for AI of Chile, the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society of Brazil, and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

UNESCO describes the observatory as a regional cooperation platform bringing together knowledge production, institutional strengthening, and technical assistance in response to the growing use of AI in teaching, learning, and educational management. Its work covers research and policy, capacity development, innovation, and regional collaboration.

The organisation says the observatory will support comparative analysis, identify opportunities and risks, and assist in the design of regulatory frameworks, national strategies, and pilot initiatives. It also presents the launch as a coordination space for ministries of education, universities, research centres, the technology sector, civil society, and multilateral organisations.

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South Korea warns on AI fake news risks

Reporting by The Korea Herald states that South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has warned of the risks of AI-generated fake news ahead of an upcoming election. Authorities are urging greater vigilance as digital content becomes harder to verify.

According to the report, AI technologies are increasingly capable of producing realistic false information, including manipulated images and videos. This raises concerns about their potential impact on public opinion and trust.

The government has called for precautionary measures to limit the spread of misinformation and protect the integrity of democratic processes. This includes encouraging awareness and responsible use of AI tools.

The warning reflects broader concerns about the influence of AI driven disinformation during election cycles in South Korea.

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Corporate AI governance gaps highlighted in UNESCO report

UNESCO and the Thomson Reuters Foundation have published ‘Responsible AI in practice: 2025 global insights from the AI Company Data Initiative‘, presenting findings from what the report describes as the largest global dataset of corporate responsible AI disclosures.

The report analyses 2,972 companies across 11 sectors and multiple regions using publicly available disclosures and company survey responses collected through the AI Company Data Initiative.

The report says AI is being embedded across companies’ products, services, and internal operations faster than governance and disclosure are developing. It states that 43.7% of companies publicly communicate having an AI strategy or guidelines, but only 13% publicly claim adherence to a formal AI governance framework.

Among those that do cite a framework, 53% refer to the EU AI Act, while the report says 43.6% cite ‘other’ frameworks, which it presents as weakening comparability across the wider AI governance ecosystem.

The publication also says many companies describe AI governance in conceptual terms while providing less evidence on operational controls, accountability pathways, monitoring, and remediation. It states that 40% report board- or committee-level oversight on AI, and 12.4% report having a policy to ensure a human oversees AI systems.

At the same time, the publication says 72% of companies do not report conducting any AI-related impact assessment. Of those that do, 11% report environmental impact assessments and 7% report human rights impact assessments. The key statistics on page 10 visually present these findings.

Regarding labour impacts, the report says companies do not provide adequate protection for workers as AI reshapes jobs. It states that while 31% of companies claim to have AI training programmes, only 12% offered structured training with comprehensive coverage. It also argues that effective worker protection requires stronger evidence of reskilling, retraining, redeployment, transition support, and access to remedy where AI affects workers’ rights.

Why does it matter?

The report further states that ethical issues, including human rights and environmental impacts, are being sidelined in AI governance and risk management, while transparency regarding training data, third-party systems, and user rights remains uneven. It presents the AI Company Data Initiative as a tool to help companies assess their governance practices against UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and to give investors more comparable information on how AI is governed in practice.

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UK government applies AI to improve efficiency in transport policy consultations

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced generative AI tools to speed up the analysis of public consultations, significantly reducing time and operational costs. Managing 55 consultations yearly, the department often handles over 100,000 responses per process, previously requiring months of manual review.

A new Consultation Analysis Tool, built with Google Cloud and the Alan Turing Institute, processes large datasets within hours using advanced AI. The system identifies key themes with up to 90% accuracy, enabling faster policy responses while delivering estimated annual savings of £4 million.

Beyond consultation analysis, the department has expanded its use of AI across infrastructure planning and public communication. Cloud-based tools support sustainable transport decisions and help draft public inquiry responses by retrieving policy data and generating structured replies.

Human oversight remains central to the framework. AI-generated outputs are reviewed for accuracy, fairness, and bias, ensuring that final decisions stay with policy experts while maintaining transparency and public trust in government processes.

At a wider level, this reflects how AI can strengthen evidence-based policymaking, improve administrative efficiency, and free up expert capacity for higher-value decision-making, provided that transparency, accountability, and human oversight remain embedded in the process.

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Global data governance efforts expand as UNESCO supports policy capacity for AI systems

UNESCO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have launched a joint initiative to support governments in developing rights-based data governance frameworks for AI. The programme reflects growing global efforts to align digital transformation with public interest objectives.

The Data governance for inclusive digital and AI futures initiative provides policymakers with practical tools to design transparent and accountable data systems, with a focus on safeguarding rights and enabling inclusive AI deployment.

It responds to increasing demand for structured governance approaches as countries expand the use of data-driven technologies.

Participants from multiple regions applied governance frameworks to areas including healthcare, digital identity, and social protection. These projects demonstrate how data governance can improve public service delivery while strengthening accountability and citizen trust.

Hosted at ITU Academy and supported by the EU Global Gateway initiative, the programme also promotes cross-country collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing international coordination in data governance.

An initiative by UNESCO that highlights the importance of building institutional capacity to ensure that AI systems operate within clear legal and ethical frameworks.

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AI reshapes classrooms and universities across Vietnam education system

AI is becoming a central part of education in Vietnam, changing how schools are managed, how students learn, and how research is carried out. Officials say the shift is part of the country’s wider digital transformation in education.

Nguyễn Sơn Hải of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training said earlier reforms focused on digitising activities, while AI is now reshaping teaching and administration more broadly. The ministry is also preparing legal and policy frameworks to support safe and controlled AI use in education.

Authorities have identified priorities, including AI skills for learners, shared digital platforms, and stronger infrastructure. An AI education programme for junior secondary pupils is being piloted and is expected to begin officially in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Universities are also adapting their strategies as AI changes higher education. Hanoi University of Science and Technology said it is redesigning training, assessment, and digital systems to reflect these changes.

At the same time, institutions, including Thai Nguyen University, are linking research more closely with business and local development needs. Officials say wider access to internet services and devices remains essential to ensure equal access to digital education.

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EU AI Continent Action Plan shows progress in infrastructure, data and governance

The European Commission has reported significant progress under its AI Continent Action Plan, marking one year of implementation aimed at strengthening Europe’s position in AI. The strategy focuses on infrastructure, data, talent, adoption and trustworthy AI.

Investment in computational capacity has expanded, with AI factories deployed across European supercomputers and further large-scale facilities in development. These initiatives aim to increase access to advanced computing resources for researchers and emerging companies.

On data governance, the Commission introduced the Data Union Strategy and complementary regulatory measures to improve data sharing and provide legal certainty for businesses.

Efforts to support talent development and mobility, alongside new training initiatives in the EU, form another central component of the plan.

The programme also promotes AI adoption across public and industrial sectors through targeted funding and coordinated initiatives. The overall approach reflects a policy framework designed to balance innovation with regulatory oversight and alignment with European values.

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Serpro joins Brazil-China AI cooperation protocol

Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Serpro, and the Chinese company iFlytek have signed a cooperation protocol on AI focused on building national capabilities for the functioning of the state.

According to Serpro, the protocol forms part of broader Brazil–China cooperation in science and technology. Acting Minister Luis Fernandes said the initiative aims to foster joint technology development and knowledge transfer with Brazil, with implications for digital sovereignty.

The protocol sets guidelines for cooperation in research, development, and capacity-building in AI, with a focus on large language models adapted to Brazilian Portuguese, translation and accessibility systems, cybersecurity applications, and AI infrastructure in Brazil. Serpro said the initiative also covers data centres, secure cloud, and interoperable data platforms.

Serpro will lead the technical execution of the initiative. The company said its role is to connect research, public policy, and delivery of public services, and added that it already has more than 300 AI-based solutions in its portfolio. The protocol also provides for training measures, including researcher exchanges, courses, technical visits, and scholarships.

The Serpro announcement states that initiatives under the protocol will depend on specific instruments to be concluded between the participants. It also presents the partnership as part of a broader effort to strengthen Brazil’s AI technical capacity through international cooperation.

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