Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 3 of 619

Brazil links AI and technical standards in competitiveness push

Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade said the integration of AI and technical standardisation should be treated as a strategic issue for the country’s competitiveness.

The position was presented during a meeting organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, which brought together public bodies and specialists to discuss AI governance and its effects on the productive sector and on the state.

Pedro Ivo, secretary for Competitiveness and Regulatory Policy at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, said technical standards can help reduce costs, facilitate trade, and improve competitiveness. He also said linking that process to AI could support a more predictable regulatory environment.

According to the ministry, the discussion also highlighted the international dimension of the issue and Brazil’s efforts to expand its role in shaping AI-related standards and guidelines. The programme included discussions of global AI impacts, regulatory challenges, and the role of international organisations in technical regulation for information and communication technologies.

Tiago Munk, the ministry’s coordinator-general for quality infrastructure, said technical standards can play a central role in AI governance by defining criteria, requirements, and good practices for systems, products, and services. He added that Brazil should take an active role in developing international standards.

The meeting was presented as part of a broader government effort to strengthen coordination on AI, with attention to policy direction, institutional coordination, and the country’s position in the digital economy.

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

Google pushes partnerships to shape AI economic impact

A new initiative from Google highlights growing efforts to shape how AI will affect jobs and the wider economy.

Announced alongside a policy forum in Washington D.C., the programme brings together economists, policymakers and industry leaders to assess risks, identify knowledge gaps and support coordinated responses to technological change.

Fresh investment in research forms a central pillar of the strategy. Through its AI and Economy Research Program, Google is funding academic collaboration and global studies focused on labour markets, productivity and sector-specific transformation.

Partnerships aim to generate insights on AI’s impact on work, with the strongest results seen where it supports learning, reduces routine tasks and improves collaboration.

Workforce preparation represents a parallel priority. Google has already trained millions in digital skills and is expanding efforts through AI-focused certification programmes and a $120 million global fund for education initiatives.

New partnerships target practical applications, including training healthcare workers, expanding apprenticeships and equipping manufacturing employees with AI capabilities across multiple regions.

Long-term impact will depend on coordination between the public and private sectors. Google’s approach reflects a broader shift towards structured governance, combining investment, research and policy engagement to manage both opportunities and risks.

Outcomes will hinge on how effectively stakeholders align innovation with workforce readiness and economic resilience.

Growing investment in AI research and workforce training directly shapes how economies absorb technological change and whether workers benefit or fall behind. Without alignment, skills gaps, uneven adoption and regulatory uncertainty could limit AI’s potential and widen labour market inequalities.

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

AI reshapes cybersecurity access as defenders gain new tools

OpenAI has expanded its Trusted Access for Cyber programme and introduced a more permissive AI model designed specifically for cybersecurity work. The initiative reflects a broader shift in digital security, in which advanced AI tools are increasingly integrated into both defensive and offensive cyber operations.

The development highlights a structural change in cybersecurity, where defenders are no longer relying solely on traditional tools but are instead incorporating AI systems capable of analysing code, identifying vulnerabilities and accelerating incident response.

At the same time, the same technological capabilities are becoming accessible to malicious actors, intensifying the need for controlled and verified access.

New automated vulnerability tools are being deployed to detect and fix security flaws at scale, moving towards continuous AI-assisted protection. Rather than periodic security reviews, development environments are gradually shifting towards real-time monitoring and automated remediation.

The broader implication is a tightening link between AI capability growth and cyber risk management. Access frameworks based on identity verification and trust signals aim to balance the wider availability of defensive tools with safeguards against misuse.

The expansion of AI-driven cybersecurity tools reflects a structural shift in how digital infrastructure is protected at scale. As software systems become more complex and interconnected, traditional periodic security checks are increasingly insufficient to manage fast-evolving threats.

Cybersecurity is moving towards an always-on, automated model where the balance between openness and restriction will directly shape global digital resilience. The outcome of this approach will influence how resilient digital infrastructure becomes as AI-driven threats and defences evolve in parallel.

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

Pakistan approves AI education authority and virtual schools

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved the establishment of an AI Education Authority during a meeting on education reforms. The meeting reviewed progress on virtual schools and AI-based teaching systems across the province.

The initiative includes plans to launch Pakistan’s first public sector virtual school and an AI Teacher programme. Authorities were directed to complete preparations to operationalise the new body.

Officials said online learning systems have been introduced in 46 government schools on a pilot basis. Plans are in place to convert 175 additional schools into virtual schools as part of a new development programme.

The AI Teacher system currently supports subjects including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. A central digital teaching studio has been established to deliver live interactive classes and recorded lectures.

The chief minister said AI-based technologies would support personalised learning and reduce teachers’ workload. He added that virtual education systems would expand access for students in remote and underdeveloped areas.

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

Sussex police deploy AI cameras to detect traffic offences

Sussex Police has introduced AI cameras to detect drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. The technology is being deployed to support enforcement and reduce road safety risks.

The rollout follows a 2024 trial by National Highways in Sussex, during which 458 offences were detected in 7 days. Most cases involved seatbelt violations, while others included mobile phone use or both offences combined.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner said the cameras are intended to support policing rather than replace it. She added that AI cameras help monitor driver behaviour and enable action where necessary.

Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said the technology would strengthen enforcement and allow resources to be used more effectively. She noted that collisions linked to phone use and lack of seatbelts continue to cause injuries.

The cameras, supplied by Acusensus, will operate for several weeks before evaluation. Officials said the system will contribute to wider road safety efforts and ongoing monitoring initiatives.

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

UN experts focus on human-centred AI governance

UN’s Independent International Scientific Panel on AI has begun work on a global study examining how AI is reshaping economies and societies. The 40-member panel aims to assess AI’s risks and opportunities, with a focus on maintaining human oversight in decision-making.

Human-centred design stands at the core of the panel’s approach. Members are exploring how AI can complement rather than replace human capabilities, an idea often described as ‘augmented intelligence’.

Research will examine impacts across key sectors, including labour markets and healthcare, while also addressing inclusivity challenges such as language diversity and access to digital infrastructure.

Concerns over trust, ethics and accountability are driving the initiative. Warnings from UN leadership have highlighted the dangers of unregulated AI, reinforcing the need for governance frameworks that reflect social and human rights principles.

Proposals under consideration include tools such as AI watermarking to improve transparency and distinguish between human and machine-generated content.

Findings from the study are expected to inform global policy discussions, with a first report scheduled for presentation at an international dialogue on AI governance in Geneva. Long-term outcomes will depend on aligning technological innovation with ethical safeguards and inclusive development goals.

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

Canada and Finland set out sovereign technology and AI cooperation agenda

Canada and Finland have issued a joint statement setting out a new phase of bilateral cooperation focused on Arctic and maritime issues, defence and resilience, and advanced technologies, including sovereign technology, AI, quantum computing, and high-performance computing.

The statement says the two countries met in Ottawa to advance bilateral cooperation amid strategic competition and an emerging international order.

On technology, the statement welcomes a Canada–Finland joint statement on sovereign technology and AI cooperation, aimed at expanding collaboration on advanced technologies that deliver shared economic benefits.

It also says the two countries will deepen coordination to strengthen sovereign technology, grow capacity, and reduce dependencies in what it describes as an increasingly contested digital landscape. Finland’s participation in the Sovereign Technology Alliance is also to be explored.

The two governments also say they will collaborate on research and innovation in high-performance computing and AI, including support for AI adoption across industry and government and the identification of investment opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The statement adds that they will continue cooperation on network communication technologies that will underpin sovereign AI infrastructure and promote opportunities for their telecommunications industries through multilateral initiatives, including the Global Coalition on Telecommunications.

The text also refers to AI gigafactories, facilities designed to provide the computing power needed to develop, train, and deploy advanced AI models and applications. In that context, it welcomes the longstanding cooperation between Export Development Canada and Nokia and notes a memorandum of understanding signed this week to support Nokia’s efforts to build AI gigafactories.

Beyond AI, the statement says Canada and Finland will explore cooperation in quantum research, innovation, commercialisation, and workforce development, including through a Canadian quantum trade mission to Finland. It also links bilateral technology cooperation to critical minerals, trusted supply chains, and wider economic and security cooperation.

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

Civil society urges stronger EU AI Act protections

ARTICLE 19, alongside more than 40 civil society organisations, has raised concerns about proposed changes to the European Union AI Act under the so-called AI Omnibus package. The groups argue the revisions could weaken existing protections.

According to ARTICLE 19, the proposal risks reducing safeguards for people affected by high-risk AI systems, including areas such as biometric identification and education. The organisations say the changes could leave individuals without adequate protection.

The publication also criticises the legislative process, stating that the European Commission did not follow standard procedures such as impact assessments or public consultation. This raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the legislative process.

ARTICLE 19 is calling on the European Union‘s institutions to restore key safeguards, particularly transparency requirements and oversight powers, to ensure fundamental rights are protected across the European Union.

This contrasts with representatives of leading industry businesses, who call for more relaxed AI Act rules so as to ensure the EU businesses remain competitive. This highlights a shared struggle between innovation and legislation.

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

Nigeria Customs Service begins AI training

The Nigeria Customs Service has begun a capacity development programme focused on AI-driven processes, according to an official social media post. The initiative aims to strengthen operational efficiency in key areas.

The Nigeria Customs Service stated that the training covers revenue generation, remittances and reconciliation processes. AI tools are being introduced to improve accuracy and streamline financial operations.

The programme is part of broader efforts to enhance technical skills within the service and align operations with evolving digital practices. It reflects a focus on improving internal systems and data management.

The Nigeria Customs Service positions the initiative as a step towards modernising customs processes and strengthening institutional capacity in Nigeria.

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

UK tests AI transcripts to improve access to justice and reduce court costs

The UK Ministry of Justice, alongside HM Courts & Tribunals Service, has launched a study examining how AI can be used to generate court transcripts more efficiently.

The initiative aims to reduce the cost and time required for accessing official court records.

Currently, transcript fees can be prohibitively expensive, limiting access for victims seeking clarity on court proceedings. The proposed use of AI-based systems, including in-house tools such as Justice Transcribe, could lower these barriers while maintaining required accuracy standards.

The policy forms part of broader efforts in the UK to modernise the justice system and enhance transparency. It aligns with legislative developments, including the Victims and Courts Bill, and plans to provide free access to sentencing remarks in Crown Court cases from 2027.

By improving access to legal records, the initiative seeks to strengthen accountability and support victims’ understanding of judicial processes, contributing to a more accessible and responsive justice system.

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