Artificial intelligence

Independent UN AI panel formed to guide evidence-based global governance

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has formally submitted, for consideration and appointment by the United Nations General Assembly, the proposed composition of a new Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, marking a step towards evidence-based global AI governance.

The panel brings together 40 experts from across regions and disciplines, selected through an open global call that attracted more than 2,600 applications, and members serve in a personal and independent capacity.

In his submission to the General Assembly, Guterres said the body would act as the first fully independent global scientific authority focused on closing the AI knowledge gap and assessing real-world impacts across economies and societies.

According to the UN chief, a reliable and unbiased understanding of AI has become essential as technologies reshape governance, labour markets, and social systems at an accelerating speed.

The panel will operate for an initial three-year term, aiming to provide a shared scientific foundation for international cooperation amid rising geopolitical tension and technological competition.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Tinder tests AI Chemistry feature to cut swipe fatigue and revive engagement

The dating platform is expanding its reliance on AI, with Tinder experimenting with a feature designed to ease swipe fatigue among users.

A tool, known as Chemistry, that builds a picture of each person through optional questions and by reviewing their Camera Roll with permission, offering a more personalised route toward potential matches instead of repetitive browsing.

Match is currently testing the feature only in Australia. Executives say the system allows people to receive a small set of tailored profiles rather than navigating large volumes of candidates.

Tinder hopes the approach will strengthen engagement during a period when registrations and monthly activity remain lower than last year, despite minor improvements driven by AI-based recommendations.

Developers are also refocusing the broader discovery experience to reflect concerns raised by Gen Z around authenticity, trust and relevance.

The platform now relies on verification tools such as Face Check, which Match says cut harmful interactions by more than half instead of leaving users exposed to impersonators.

These moves indicate a shift away from the swipe mechanic that once defined the app, offering more direct suggestions that may improve outcomes.

Marketing investment is set to rise as part of the strategy. Match plans to allocate $50 million to new campaigns that will position Tinder as appealing again, using creators on TikTok and Instagram to reframe the brand.

Strong quarterly revenue failed to offset weaker guidance, yet the company argues that AI features will help shape a more reliable and engaging service for users seeking consistent matches.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI rollout gains momentum through UK’s Tech Town initiative

UK policymakers are advancing a national strategy to expand the use of AI across public services and the wider economy. The goal is to improve productivity, education, and service delivery while building public confidence in the practical benefits of AI.

As part of this approach, Barnsley has been designated as the UK’s first ‘Tech Town’. The South Yorkshire town will act as a pilot site and blueprint for how AI can be deployed locally and scaled nationwide.

AI integration in Barnsley will focus on public services such as schools and NHS facilities. These applications are intended to show how the technology can support learning, enhance efficiency, and improve service outcomes.

Alongside deployment, skills development and job creation are central to the initiative. Training schemes and AI-focused roles are expected to build local talent and support the government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.

Delivery of the programme will rely on collaboration between central government, local authorities, public sector workers, and industry partners. Major technology firms, including Microsoft and Cisco, have indicated support, highlighting the role of public–private cooperation in scaling AI adoption.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Adobe Firefly unlocks powerful unlimited AI generation in 2026

Adobe has updated its Firefly platform to allow unlimited AI image and video generation for paid subscribers, removing the monthly credit limits that previously capped usage. The move marks a shift toward more flexible access to generative AI tools and is positioned as a way to support high-volume creative workflows.

The update reinforces Firefly’s role as an all-in-one creative AI studio. Users can generate images and videos using Adobe’s own Firefly models alongside third-party AI models, bringing multiple generation tools into a single platform.

Unlimited generation is available across the Firefly ecosystem, including the web interface, mobile apps, Firefly Boards, and the browser-based video editor. This expanded access supports collaboration and end-to-end content creation, from ideation to final editing.

The offer applies to Firefly Pro and Firefly Premium subscribers, including plans that previously operated under monthly credit limits. Users who sign up before March 16 will have access to unlimited image and video generation, with video output supported up to 2K resolution.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Gemini growth narrows gap in chatbot race

Google’s AI chatbot Gemini has surpassed 750 million monthly users, signalling rapid consumer adoption, according to fourth-quarter 2025 earnings. The figure jumped from 650 million in the previous quarter, reinforcing Gemini’s rapid expansion in the generative AI market.

Competitive positioning remains solid. Meta AI has nearly 500 million users, while ChatGPT leads globally with about 810 million. Ongoing product upgrades and ecosystem integration across Google services have sustained Gemini’s growth momentum.

Gemini 3 has driven adoption, with Google calling it its most advanced model, offering deeper reasoning and more nuanced responses. Leadership called the release a key growth driver, with further investment and updates expected to sustain expansion.

Broader AI demand is also lifting Alphabet’s financial performance. Annual revenue has topped $400 billion for the first time, driven by enterprise API demand and infrastructure growth, including the Ironwood TPU rollout.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Harvard researchers highlight contextual risks in medical AI systems

Medical AI promises faster analysis, more accurate pattern detection, and continuous availability, yet most systems still struggle to perform reliably in real clinical environments beyond laboratory testing.

Researchers led by Marinka Zitnik at Harvard Medical School identify contextual errors as a key reason why medical AI often fails when deployed in hospitals and clinics.

Models frequently generate technically sound responses that overlook crucial factors, such as medical speciality, geographic conditions, and patients’ socioeconomic circumstances, thereby limiting their real-world usefulness.

The study argues that training datasets, model architecture, and performance benchmarks must integrate contextual information to prevent misleading or impractical recommendations.

Improving transparency, trust, and human-AI collaboration could allow context-aware systems to support clinicians more effectively while reducing harm and inequality in care delivery.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Facial recognition AI supports passenger security in India

Indian Railways has deployed an AI powered Rail Robocop at Visakhapatnam Railway Station in India to strengthen passenger security. The system is designed to patrol platforms and monitor crowds in Visakhapatnam.

The robot, named ASC Arjun, uses facial recognition to compare live images with a database of known criminals in India. Officials said the system recently identified a suspect during routine surveillance in Visakhapatnam.

Once a match was detected, the AI system sent an instant alert to the Railway Protection Force CCTV control room in Visakhapatnam. Officers were able to respond quickly using the automated notification.

Authorities in India say the Rail Robocop will support human staff rather than replace them. Similar AI deployments are expected at other major railway stations in India following trials in Visakhapatnam.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

AI traffic cameras change driver behaviour

Cape Town is preparing to introduce AI-assisted cameras to monitor motorists for cellphone use and seatbelt violations. Approval is awaited from the National Director of Public Prosecutions before the technology can be fully deployed.

Similar systems have been in operation in Australia for several years, where drivers face fines and demerit points for offences. Authorities report a noticeable decline in illegal phone use, showing that AI can effectively influence driver behaviour.

The cameras allow law enforcement to focus on other priorities instead of constantly monitoring mobile phone offences. Each AI-detected violation is reviewed by a human before fines are issued, adding a layer of accuracy and transparency.

Motorists retain the right to request camera images if they believe fines were unfairly applied. The Australian model demonstrates that combining technology with human oversight can improve road safety while maintaining accountability for drivers.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI investment shows strong momentum beyond bubble fears

AI investment is not showing signs of a speculative bubble, according to the Alibaba Group chairman. Instead, he argued at the World Governments Summit in Dubai that current spending is driven by expectations of sustained growth in future computing demand rather than short-term market hype.

At the same time, capital expenditure on AI infrastructure is accelerating rapidly as hyperscalers and model developers expand their capacity. As a result, major companies have almost doubled their annual spending, while projections indicate that global AI-related investment will surpass $500 billion this year and continue to rise.

Moreover, continued confidence in AI scaling laws is reinforcing this investment momentum. Consequently, funding is increasingly channelled towards inference-time scaling to enhance reasoning and accuracy, as well as towards multimodal AI systems that generate video and images and require significant GPU resources.

However, despite strong belief in long-term demand, financial returns remain uncertain. In this context, the Alibaba group chairman noted that many companies are still struggling to clearly demonstrate return on investment, underscoring the tension between long-term AI strategies and short-term financial accountability.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Carbon Robotics launches plant identification AI for agricultural robots

Carbon Robotics has introduced a new artificial intelligence system designed to identify plant species in real time, changing how weeds are managed in agriculture. The model allows farmers to decide what should be removed directly in the field without retraining machines.

Called the Large Plant Model, the system is trained on more than 150 million plant images gathered from farms across 15 countries. The technology now powers Carbon AI, which controls the company’s autonomous LaserWeeder robots.

Earlier systems required new data labelling whenever unfamiliar weeds appeared or conditions changed. With the new model, farmers can instantly flag unwanted plants through the robot interface, even if the species has never been seen before.

Carbon Robotics says continuous data from its machines will further improve accuracy over time. Backed by more than $185 million in funding, the company aims to scale AI-driven weed control while reducing reliance on herbicides.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!