Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 25 of 669

Malaysia sees AI demand supporting economic growth

Malaysia’s economic growth outlook remains positive, supported by foreign and domestic investment and continued demand in AI, data centres and semiconductors, according to Finance Minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Amir Hamzah said Malaysia’s gross domestic product expanded by 5.4% in the first quarter, slightly above the earlier forecast of 5.3%, indicating continued economic momentum. He said foreign direct investment had started contributing to GDP, while domestic direct investment and public spending remained strong.

The minister linked the trend to the government’s MADANI Economy framework, saying the government is working to keep key economic drivers functioning smoothly. He also said Malaysia continues to attract investor interest as a trading nation, supported by digitalisation, data centres and AI.

AI and data centre activity remain strong, supported by Malaysia’s industrial ecosystem, particularly in the northern region. The government is also encouraging domestic investment from government-linked investment companies and government-linked companies, while focusing on income measures including civil service pay, the minimum wage and a transition towards living wages.

Infrastructure projects, including the Mutiara Line light rail transit, the expansion of the Juru interchange and upgrades to Penang International Airport, are expected to support worker and investor movement in the northern region. Utility improvements, including electricity transmission and water supply projects, are also being prioritised to support industrial activity.

Amir Hamzah also pointed to Intel’s expansion in Penang, including advanced packaging components, as further strengthening Malaysia’s position as a semiconductor hub.

Why does it matter?

Malaysia is linking AI and data centre demand to a wider industrial strategy built around semiconductors, infrastructure and investment flows. The remarks show how AI growth is increasingly tied to physical requirements such as power, water, transport and advanced manufacturing capacity, especially in regions trying to position themselves as hubs for digital and semiconductor investment.

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OpenAI tests financial data integration in ChatGPT

OpenAI has launched a preview of a personal finance experience in ChatGPT for Pro users in the United States. The feature allows users to connect financial accounts, view a dashboard, and ask questions based on their financial data.

The feature is available on web and iOS apps and supports more than 12,000 financial institutions. OpenAI said the preview will initially be available to a smaller group of users before expanding more broadly.

Users can connect accounts through Plaid, with Intuit support planned. Once authenticated, ChatGPT syncs and categorises financial data, allowing users to view portfolio performance, spending, subscriptions, upcoming payments, and other financial activity.

OpenAI said the feature supports questions related to budgeting, planning, subscriptions, investments, and spending activity. OpenAI said ChatGPT is intended to help users review financial information but is not a substitute for professional financial advice.

Users can also choose to save financial context as ‘Financial memories’ for future conversations, according to OpenAI. OpenAI says those memories are a dedicated type of memory used specifically for financial conversations and can be viewed or deleted from the Finances page.

OpenAI said connected accounts allow access to balances, transactions, investments, and liabilities, but not full account numbers or account controls. Users can disconnect accounts at any time, after which synced account data will be deleted from OpenAI’s systems within 30 days.

Conversations with connected financial accounts default to GPT-5.5 Thinking. OpenAI said it worked with finance professionals to evaluate the feature on personal finance tasks and response quality.

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South Korea expands international outreach on AI copyright guidance

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has released an English version of its guide on fair use for training generative AI models. The document outlines how copyrighted materials may be used under existing legal frameworks for AI training purposes.

The guide outlines four legal factors used to assess fair use, including purpose, type of work, amount used, and market impact. According to the guide, AI training may qualify as fair use in some cases where it creates new value and does not negatively affect existing markets.

The guide provides examples of uses that may or may not qualify as fair use under current copyright rules. According to the guide, systems that reproduce substantial copyrighted content without transformation are less likely to qualify as fair use.

The ministry said it plans to discuss the guide internationally, including through cooperation initiatives linked to the World Intellectual Property Organization, as part of broader policy engagement efforts in Seoul, South Korea.

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Indian science ministry outlines AI and quantum technology priorities

India’s Ministry of Science and Technology has outlined a strategy placing AI and quantum sovereignty at the centre of future growth, according to statements by Jitendra Singh. The announcement was made during a programme hosted by the Technology Development Board.

Minister Jitendra Singh said long-term progress in deep technology depends on a coordinated national approach. The minister linked the strategy to the Research, Development and Innovation Fund scheme, which aims to expand private-sector participation in research and innovation.

According to officials, five projects were approved under the scheme in areas including battery technology, satellite systems, healthcare, and unmanned aerial systems. Initial funding disbursement has begun, alongside the release of progress reports and outlining a national quantum safe ecosystem.

Officials said post-quantum cryptography and secure digital infrastructure are emerging priorities under the National Quantum Mission. The announcements were made during a programme hosted by the Technology Development Board in New Delhi, India.

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SAIFA project launched to support AI and high-performance computing in Serbia

The School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Belgrade has announced the launch of SAIFA, the Serbian Artificial Intelligence Factory Antenna, supported by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. According to the organisers, the project forms part of a broader EU initiative focused on interconnected AI and high-performance computing environments.

SAIFA is intended to expand access to AI and computing resources for academia, public administration, startups, and industry. It also aims to integrate national expertise into the broader European AI ecosystem through collaboration, application development, and knowledge exchange.

Project leadership highlighted SAIFA as both a continuation of ongoing work in advanced computing and a step towards stronger regional cooperation within the EU. The initiative includes partners from research, innovation, and government sectors.

A consortium of institutions, including research institutes and government bodies, will support the project’s development and implementation. The launch event and initial meeting took place in Belgrade, Serbia.

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UNESCO expands online course on AI and digital citizenship

UNESCO has launched the second edition of its free Massive Open Online Course focused on digital citizenship and AI, following the first programme, which attracted more than 23,000 registered participants.

The course, titled ‘Educating in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Digital Citizenship from the Classroom’, is expanding internationally through the introduction of a new English-language version alongside its existing Spanish programme. Classes for both versions are scheduled to begin on 15 June 2026.

UNESCO said the initiative aims to help educators, schools, and broader communities better understand how AI systems affect everyday life, democratic participation, and digital environments. According to UNESCO, the course examines algorithms, digital ethics, online behaviour, information integrity, and societal aspects of AI.

The programme covers digital citizenship topics, including disinformation, digital footprints, online participation, and protection of rights in digital spaces.

UNESCO highlighted the importance of analytical skills, critical thinking, and ethical reflection in relation to emerging technologies.

The course includes five thematic modules covering algorithms, AI in education, and the role of digital systems in communication and public discourse. Participants will engage with videos, expert discussions, case studies, and collaborative forums throughout the programme.

Why does it matter?

Educational systems globally are increasingly under pressure to prepare citizens for digital environments shaped by AI, algorithmic recommendation systems, synthetic media, and automated decision-making. Digital literacy is gradually evolving beyond technical competence into a broader set of civic, ethical, and critical thinking skills connected to democratic participation and societal resilience.

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OECD paper examines competition effects of AI adoption in downstream markets

The OECD has published a competition policy paper examining how AI adoption, including generative and agentic systems, may affect competition in downstream markets.

The paper focuses on how firms use AI as an input into production, service delivery, logistics, and customer engagement, rather than on competition in AI infrastructure or foundation model development. The paper states that AI may support competition by lowering barriers to entry, reducing minimum efficient scale, and supporting product differentiation and innovation.

Generative AI can automate or accelerate cognitive tasks such as writing, coding, summarisation, translation, planning, image generation, and customer support. According to the paper, these tools may allow smaller firms and start-ups to operate with lower staffing and operational costs.

The paper identifies potential gains from AI-enabled personalisation, predictive analytics, and cost reduction. AI tools can help firms offer tailored services, reduce operating costs, and improve matching between consumers and suppliers.

The OECD said the effects of AI adoption may vary depending on factors such as firm size, sector exposure, access to data, and computing resources. Adoption costs, integration challenges, access to data and compute, firm size, and sector exposure can all shape whether AI strengthens competition or reinforces existing market advantages.

The paper identifies competition concerns, including algorithmic collusion, personalised pricing, bundling, and dependence on large model providers or cloud platforms. It also warns that dependence on a small number of model providers, cloud platforms, or proprietary data sources could limit downstream contestability.

The paper describes agentic AI as an emerging issue for competition authorities. Systems made up of multiple coordinated AI agents could reshape search, workflow automation, customer engagement, and consumer choice, while raising new questions about liability, auditability, oversight, and market structure.

The OECD said competition authorities may require a combination of enforcement, market monitoring, regulation, and cooperation to address AI-related market developments. It also identifies areas for further research, including sector-specific impacts in health, finance, professional services, platform services, search, logistics, and creative industries.

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Council of Europe highlights role of democracy and AI governance in security

The Council of Europe has called for a legal and democratic framework for European security in its 2026 annual report, warning that the continent cannot separate security from democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Secretary General Alain Berset presented his 2026 annual report, titled ‘The New Democratic Pact for Europe in times of rupture’, to foreign ministers from the Council of Europe’s 46 member states during the Committee of Ministers session in Chişinău on 15 May.

The report states that Europe is increasing defence spending and argues that military measures alone cannot provide lasting security. Berset said democratic security depends on legal safeguards, resilient institutions, and public trust.

The report links Europe’s security challenges to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, foreign information manipulation, and declining trust in democratic systems. It also stresses that safeguards for human rights and democratic principles must keep pace with rapid technological change, including digital technology and AI.

Berset argues that social rights, health, education, and institutional trust have too often been treated as ‘soft security’. He said security depends on public trust in institutions and resilient democratic systems.

The report presents the state of play of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, launched in 2025 to identify integrated responses to democratic backsliding and renew democratic governance across the continent. Its first consultation phase runs until December 2026.

The annual report is structured around six areas: countering information manipulation and disinformation; promoting social rights; defending equal rights and inclusion; safeguarding elections and democratic processes; supporting civic space and fundamental freedoms; and promoting positive use of digital technology and AI, including action against cyber-enabled threats.

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WEF highlights cybersecurity as a strategic economic priority in the AI era

The World Economic Forum said cybersecurity is rapidly evolving into a strategic economic and national security priority as AI systems, geopolitical tensions, and increasingly interconnected digital ecosystems reshape global cyber risks.

During the Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity 2026 held in Geneva, participants discussed how cyber threats are increasingly affecting economic activity, supply chains, financial systems, and critical infrastructure.

The forum said large-scale cyber incidents can disrupt national economies and critical infrastructure. The report referenced a major 2025 cyberattack that disrupted UK automotive production and reportedly contributed to weaker GDP growth, with estimated economic losses reaching approximately £1.9 billion.

WEF argued that organisations are increasingly abandoning compliance-driven cybersecurity models in favour of measurable resilience strategies focused on rapid recovery, operational continuity, incident response readiness, and stronger governance structures.

AI featured heavily throughout the discussions. The forum warned that attackers are using AI almost universally, allowing cyber operations to become faster, more autonomous, and more scalable. Leaders also highlighted emerging risks linked to agentic AI systems, software supply chain vulnerabilities, and quantum computing developments.

Participants stressed that cyber resilience now requires far broader coordination between governments, regulators, businesses, insurers, and infrastructure operators. Public-private cooperation, information-sharing systems, interoperable intelligence frameworks, and cross-border regulatory coordination were described as increasingly necessary to manage systemic cyber risks.

The discussions also focused on cyber-enabled fraud, scams, and online criminal operations that increasingly target both institutions and ordinary citizens across digital ecosystems. Experts argued that cybersecurity strategies must combine technological protection, digital literacy, public awareness, and platform-level safeguards instead of relying solely on reactive responses.

WEF concluded that cybersecurity is becoming inseparable from economic security and strategic stability in the AI era, with future resilience depending heavily on how effectively governments and industries align incentives, quantify cyber risk, and strengthen cooperation across interconnected systems.

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YouTube expands AI likeness detection tool to more creators

YouTube said it is expanding its AI likeness detection tool to all eligible creators over 18, allowing more users to identify and request the removal of unauthorised AI-generated videos that use their facial likeness.

The company said the feature, available through YouTube Studio, is intended to detect altered or synthetic videos that may depict a user’s face. Once enrolled, users can review detected matches and request the removal of content that violates YouTube’s Privacy Guidelines.

The platform said likeness detection had recently been introduced as a pilot for creators in the YouTube Partner Program and will now roll out gradually over the coming weeks to all eligible creators aged 18 or older.

YouTube said the tool is intended to help users understand where their likeness appears, safeguard their identity, and protect audiences from being misled by AI-generated depictions.

To enrol, users must grant the platform permission to use likeness-detection technology and complete a one-time verification process. According to YouTube, the tool works only on facial likeness and does not cover other identifying features such as voice.

YouTube said removal requests will be assessed under YouTube’s privacy policy, including whether the content is realistic, whether it is labelled as AI-generated, and whether the person can be uniquely identified. The company also provides exceptions for content such as parody or satire.

YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon said:

‘With this expansion, we’re making clear that whether creators have been uploading to YouTube for a decade or are just starting, they’ll have access to the same level of protection.’

The expansion follows earlier testing with creators and broader availability for groups including public officials, politicians, journalists, and the entertainment industry. It comes amid growing concern about deepfakes affecting both public figures and private individuals.

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