Nordic ministers for culture have approved funding for a new network dedicated to language models for AI. The decision, taken at a meeting in Stockholm on 29 October, aims to ensure AI development reflects the region’s unique linguistic and cultural traits.
It is one of the first projects for the recently launched Nordic-Baltic centre for AI, New Nordics AI.
The network will bring together national stakeholders to address shared challenges in AI language models. The initiative aims to protect smaller languages and ensure AI tools reflect Nordic linguistic diversity through knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Finland’s Minister for Research and Culture, Mari-Leena Talvitie, said the project is a key step in safeguarding the future of regional languages in digital tools.
Ministers also discussed AI’s broader cultural impact, highlighting issues such as copyright and the need for regional oversight. The network will identify collaboration opportunities and guide future investments in culturally and linguistically anchored Nordic AI solutions.
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Foxconn will add humanoid robots to a new Houston plant building Nvidia AI servers from early 2026. Announced at Nvidia’s developer conference, the move deepens their partnership and positions the site as a US showcase for AI-driven manufacturing.
Humanoid systems based on Nvidia’s Isaac GR00T N are built to perceive parts, adapt on the line, and work with people. Unlike fixed industrial arms, they handle delicate assembly and switch tasks via software updates. Goals include flexible throughput, faster retooling, and fewer stoppages.
AI models are trained in simulation using digital twins and reinforcement learning to improve accuracy and safety. On the line, robots self-tune as analytics predict maintenance and balance workloads, unlocking gains across logistics, assembly, testing, and quality control.
Texas, US, offers proximity to a growing semiconductor and AI cluster, as well as policy support for domestic capacity. Foxconn also plans expansions in Wisconsin and California to meet global demand for AI servers. Scaling output should ease supply pressures around Nvidia-class compute in data centres.
Job roles will shift as routine tasks automate and oversight becomes data-driven. Human workers focus on design, line configuration, and AI supervision, with safety gates for collaboration. Analysts see a template for Industry 4.0 factories running near-continuously with rapid changeovers.
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In a move reflecting its growing strategic ambitions, India is rapidly implementing AI across its defence forces. The country’s military has moved from policy to practice, using tools from real-time sensor fusion to predictive maintenance to transform how it fights.
The shift has involved institutional change. India’s Defence AI Council and Defence AI Project Agency (established 2019) are steering an ecosystem that includes labs such as the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
One recent example is the cross-border operation Operation Sindoor (May 2025), in which AI-driven platforms appeared in roles ranging from intelligence analysis to operational coordination.
This effort signals more than just a technological upgrade. It underscores a shift in warfare logic, where systems of systems, connectivity and rapid decision-making matter more than sheer numbers.
India’s incorporation of AI into its capabilities, drone swarming, combat simulation and logistics optimisation, is aligned with broader trends in defence innovation and digital diplomacy. The country’s strategy now places AI at the heart of its procurement demands and force design.
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In a legal move that underscores growing scrutiny of digital platforms, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court against Microsoft Corporation, accusing the company of misleading approximately 2.7 million Australian personal and family-plan subscribers of its Microsoft 365 service after integrating its AI assistant Copilot.
According to the ACCC, Microsoft raised subscription prices by 45 % for the Personal plan and 29 % for the Family plan after bundling Copilot starting 31 October 2024.
The regulator says Microsoft told consumers their only options were to pay the higher price with AI or cancel their subscription, while failing to clearly disclose a cheaper ‘Classic’ version of the plan without Copilot that remained available.
The ACCC argues Microsoft’s communications omitted the existence of that lower-priced plan unless consumers initiated the cancellation process. Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb described this omission as ‘very serious conduct’ that deprived customers of informed choice.
The regulator is seeking penalties, consumer redress, injunctions and costs, with potential sanctions of AUS $50 million (or more) per breach.
This action signals a broader regulatory push into how major technology firms bundle AI features, raise prices and present options to consumers, an issue that ties into digital economy governance, consumer trust and platform accountability.
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In a joint effort, Foxconn announced it will work with NVIDIA Corporation, Stellantis N.V. and Uber Technologies, Inc. on developing and deploying Level 4 (hands-off, eyes-off) autonomous vehicles for robotaxi services. Foxconn brings its expertise in high-performance computing, sensor integration and electronic control systems to the partnership.
The collaboration assigns distinct roles. Nvidia contributes its DRIVE AV software stack and DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 architecture, Stellantis provides vehicle platforms engineered for autonomy, Foxconn handles hardware and system integration, and Uber offers its global ride-service network to scale the deployment.
Foxconn chairman Young Liu described autonomous mobility as a strategic priority within its EV programme, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said this venture ‘is a leap in AI capability’.
This move underscores how hardware makers, AI firms and mobility service providers are converging around the autonomous-vehicle ecosystem.
It also highlights the expanding role of companies like Foxconn beyond traditional electronics manufacturing into mobility, AI and sensor integration, areas increasingly relevant for digital diplomacy, supply-chain resilience and global tech competition.
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The United States and South Korea agreed on a broad science and technology memorandum to deepen alliance ties and bolster Indo-Pacific stability. The non-binding pact aims to accelerate innovation while protecting critical capabilities. Both sides cast it as groundwork for a new Golden Age of Innovation.
AI sits at the centre. Plans include pro-innovation policy alignment, trusted exports across the stack, AI-ready datasets, safety standards, and enforcement of compute protection. Joint metrology and standards work links the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation with the AI Safety Institute of South Korea.
Trusted technology leadership extends beyond AI. The memorandum outlines shared research security, capacity building for universities and industry, and joint threat analysis. Telecommunications cooperation targets interoperable 6G supply chains and coordinated standards activity with industry partners.
Quantum and basic research are priority growth areas. Participants plan interoperable quantum standards, stronger institutional partnerships, and secured supply chains. Larger projects and STEM exchanges aim to widen collaboration, supported by shared roadmaps and engagement in global consortia.
Space cooperation continues across civil and exploration programmes. Strands include Artemis contributions, a Korean cubesat rideshare on Artemis II, and Commercial Lunar Payload Services. The Korea Positioning System will be developed for maximum interoperability with GPS.
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Speaking at the CNBC Technology Executive Council Summit in New York, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has expressed scepticism about Elon Musk’s new AI-powered Grokipedia, suggesting that large language models cannot reliably produce accurate wiki entries.
Wales highlighted the difficulties of verifying sources and warned that AI tools can produce plausible but incorrect information, citing examples where chatbots fabricated citations and personal details.
He rejected Musk’s claims of liberal bias on Wikipedia, noting that the site prioritises reputable sources over fringe opinions. Wales emphasised that focusing on mainstream publications does not constitute political bias but preserves trust and reliability for the platform’s vast global audience.
Despite his concerns, Wales acknowledged that AI could have limited utility for Wikipedia in uncovering information within existing sources.
However, he stressed that substantial costs and potential errors prevent the site from entirely relying on generative AI, preferring careful testing before integrating new technologies.
Wales concluded that while AI may mislead the public with fake or plausible content, the Wiki community’s decades of expertise in evaluating information help safeguard accuracy. He urged continued vigilance and careful source evaluation as misinformation risks grow alongside AI capabilities.
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China has pledged to expand its high-tech industries over the next decade. Officials said emerging sectors such as quantum computing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, and brain-computer interfaces will receive major investment and policy backing.
Development chief Zheng Shanjie told reporters that the coming decade will redefine China’s technology landscape, describing it as a ‘new scale’ of innovation. The government views breakthroughs in science and AI as key to boosting economic resilience amid a slowing property market and demographic decline.
The plan underscores Beijing’s push to rival Washington in cutting-edge technology, with billions already channelled into state-led innovation programmes. Public opinion in Beijing appears supportive, with many citizens expressing optimism that China could lead the next technological revolution.
Economists warn, however, that sustained progress will require tackling structural issues, including low domestic consumption and reduced investor confidence. Analysts said Beijing’s long-term success will depend on whether it can balance rapid growth with stable governance and transparent regulation.
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Tech firms now spend a record €151 million a year on lobbying at EU institutions, up from €113 million in 2023, according to transparency-register analysis by Corporate Europe Observatory and LobbyControl.
Spending is concentrated among US giants. The ten biggest tech companies, including Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Qualcomm and Google, together outspend the top ten in pharma, finance and automotive. Meta leads with a budget above €10 million.
Estimates calculate there are 890 full-time lobbyists now working to influence tech policy in Brussels, up from 699 in 2023, with 437 holding European Parliament access badges. In the first half of 2025, companies declared 146 meetings with the Commission and 232 with MEPs, with artificial intelligence regulation and the industry code of practice frequently on the agenda.
As industry pushes back on the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act and the Commission explores the ‘simplification’ of EU rulebooks, lobbying transparency campaigners fear a rollback on the progress made to regulate the digital sector. On the contrary, companies argue that lobbying helps lawmakers grasp complex markets and assess impacts on innovation and competitiveness.
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OpenAI has introduced new features in ChatGPT to encourage healthier use for people who spend extended periods chatting with the AI. Users may see a pop-up message reading ‘Just checking in. You’ve been chatting for a while, is this a good time for a break?’.
Users can dismiss it or continue, helping to prevent excessive screen time while staying flexible. The update also guides high-stakes personal decisions.
ChatGPT will not give direct advice on sensitive topics such as relationships, but instead asks questions and encourages reflection, helping users consider their options safely.
OpenAI acknowledged that AI can feel especially personal for vulnerable individuals. Earlier versions sometimes struggled to recognise signs of emotional dependency or distress.
The company is improving the model to detect these cases and direct users to evidence-based resources when needed, making long interactions safer and more mindful.
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