Qiddiya City, a purpose-built entertainment, sports and cultural destination covering nearly three times the area of Paris, involves more than 700 companies and 22,000 workers, with thousands of assets and complex data flowing across teams.
Microsoft 365 Copilot has been integrated into Qiddiya Investment Company’s project dashboards to help employees query data in natural language, saving time on reporting, email summarisation and document creation.
The technology also helps harmonise information across 20 different systems used by design and execution teams, simplifying tasks such as matching asset names and identifying discrepancies.
Copilot can extract insights that static dashboards miss, for example, flagging overdue invoices without engineer comments, enabling more informed decision-making.
QIC’s workforce has adopted Copilot for productivity beyond construction management, with the tool generating hundreds of thousands of emails and meeting summaries.
AlAli emphasises that careful planning and implementation are key to realising the benefits of AI at scale, underscoring how AI can provide an ‘unfair advantage’ when properly embedded into workflows for data-intensive projects.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Swedish streaming giant Spotify reported a record 751 million monthly active users (MAUs) in the fourth quarter of 2025, an 11 per cent year-on-year increase that marks the biggest quarterly net growth in the company’s history.
The growth was led by the annual Spotify Wrapped campaign, which engaged over 300 million users and generated 630 million social media shares, as well as new free-tier features that improved discovery and user interaction.
Premium subscribers also rose 10 per cent to 290 million, helping lift total revenue to about €4.53 billion ($5.39 billion). Spotify saw gross margin expand to a record 33.1 per cent, reflecting stronger profitability driven by subscription growth and increased podcast and music ad sales, even as ad-supported revenue dipped slightly.
The surge comes as Spotify broadens its platform beyond music streaming to include podcasts, audiobooks, video content, social sharing and AI-driven features like interactive DJ tools and AI playlists.
The company expects continued user growth, forecasting 759 million MAUs and 293 million paying subscribers in the current quarter.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The Olympic ice dance format combines a themed rhythm dance with a free dance. For the 2026 season, skaters must draw on 1990s music and styles. While most competitors chose recognisable tracks, the Czech siblings used a hybrid soundtrack blending AC/DC with an AI-generated music piece.
Katerina Mrazkova and Daniel Mrazek, ice dancers from Czechia, made their Olympic debut using a rhythm dance soundtrack that included AI-generated music, a choice permitted under current competition rules but one that quickly drew attention.
The International Skating Union lists the rhythm dance music as ‘One Two by AI (of 90s style Bon Jovi)’ alongside ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC/DC. Olympic organisers confirmed the use of AI-generated material, with commentators noting the choice during the broadcast.
Criticism of the music selection extends beyond novelty. Earlier versions of the programme reportedly included AI-generated music with lyrics that closely resembled lines from well-known 1990s songs, raising concerns about originality.
The episode reflects wider tensions across creative industries, where generative tools increasingly produce outputs that closely mirror existing works. For the athletes, attention remains on performance, but questions around authorship and creative value continue to surface.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Strict new rules have been introduced in India for social media platforms in an effort to curb the spread of AI-generated and deepfake material.
Platforms must label synthetic content clearly and remove flagged posts within three hours instead of allowing manipulated material to circulate unchecked. Government notifications and court orders will trigger mandatory action, creating a fast-response mechanism for potentially harmful posts.
Synthetic media has already raised concerns about public safety, misinformation and reputational harm, prompting the government to strengthen oversight of online platforms and their handling of AI-generated imagery.
The measure forms part of a broader push by India to regulate digital environments and anticipate the risks linked to advanced AI tools.
Authorities maintain that early intervention and transparency around manipulated content are vital for public trust, particularly during periods of political sensitivity or high social tension.
Platforms are now expected to align swiftly with the guidelines and cooperate with legal instructions. The government views strict labelling and rapid takedowns as necessary steps to protect users and uphold the integrity of online communication across India.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Generative AI tools saw significant uptake among young Europeans in 2025, with usage rates far outpacing the broader population. Data shows that 63.8% of individuals aged 16–24 across the EU engaged with generative AI, nearly double the 32.7% recorded among citizens aged 16–74.
Adoption patterns indicate that younger users are embedding AI into everyday routines at a faster pace. Private use led the trend, with 44.2% of young people applying generative AI in personal contexts, compared with 25.1% of the general population.
Educational deployment also stood out, reaching 39.3% among youth, while only 9.4% of the wider population reported similar academic use.
The professional application presented the narrowest gap between age groups. Around 15.8% of young users reported workplace use of generative AI tools, closely aligned with 15.1% among the overall population- a reflection of many young people still transitioning into the labour market.
Country-level data highlights notable regional differences. Greece (83.5%), Estonia (82.8%), and Czechia (78.5%) recorded the highest youth adoption rates, while Romania (44.1%), Italy (47.2%), and Poland (49.3%) ranked lowest.
The findings coincide with Safer Internet Day, observed on 10 February, underscoring the growing importance of digital literacy and online safety as AI usage accelerates.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Ambitions for AI were outlined during a presentation at the Jožef Stefan Institute, where Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob highlighted the country’s growing role in scientific research and technological innovation.
He argued that AI has moved far beyond a supportive research tool and is now shaping the way societies function.
He called for deeper cooperation between engineering and the natural sciences instead of isolated efforts, while stressing that social sciences and the humanities must also be involved to secure balanced development.
Golob welcomed the joint bid for a new national supercomputer, noting that institutions once competing for excellence are now collaborating. He said Europe must build a stronger collective capacity if it wants to keep pace with the US and China.
Europe may excel in knowledge, he added, yet it continues to lag behind in turning that knowledge into useful tools for society.
Government officials set out the investment increases that support Slovenia’s long-term scientific agenda. Funding for research, innovation and development has risen sharply, while work has begun on two major projects: the national supercomputer and the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.
Leaders from the Jožef Stefan Institute praised the government for recognising Slovenia’s AI potential and strengthening financial support.
Slovenia will present its progress at next week’s AI Action Summit in Paris, where global leaders, researchers, civil society and industry representatives will discuss sustainable AI standards.
Officials said that sustained investment in knowledge remains the most reliable route to social progress and international competitiveness.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Google has announced a major expansion of its AI investments in Singapore, strengthening research capabilities, workforce development, and enterprise innovation as part of a long-term regional strategy.
The initiatives were unveiled at the company’s Google for Singapore event, signalling deeper alignment with the nation’s ambition to lead the AI economy.
Research and development form a central pillar of the expansion. Building on the recent launch of a Google DeepMind research lab in Singapore, the company is scaling specialised teams across software engineering, research science, and user experience design.
A new Google Cloud Singapore Engineering Centre will also support enterprises in deploying advanced AI solutions across sectors, including robotics and clean energy.
Healthcare innovation features prominently in the investment roadmap. Partnerships with AI Singapore will support national health AI infrastructure, including access to the MedGemma model to accelerate diagnostics and treatment development.
Google is also launching a security-focused AI Center of Excellence and rolling out age assurance technologies to strengthen online protections for younger users.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Research from the UK Safer Internet Centre reveals nearly all young people aged eight to 17 now use artificial intelligence tools, highlighting how deeply the technology has entered daily life. Growing adoption has also increased reliance, with many teenagers using AI regularly for schoolwork, social interactions and online searches.
Education remains one of the main uses, with students turning to AI for homework support and study assistance. However, concerns about fairness and creativity have emerged, as some pupils worry about false accusations of misuse and reduced independent thinking.
Safety fears remain significant, especially around harmful content and privacy risks linked to AI-generated images. Many teenagers and parents worry the technology could be used to create inappropriate or misleading visuals, raising questions about online protection.
Emotional and social impacts are also becoming clear, with some young people using AI for personal advice or practising communication. Limited parental guidance and growing dependence suggest governments and schools may soon consider stronger oversight and clearer rules.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
England is reforming its computing curriculum to place AI awareness and digital literacy at the centre of education. The move follows recommendations from an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which concluded that the current framework is too narrow for today’s digital environment and requires a stronger focus on data skills, online safety, and critical thinking.
The reform aims to modernise qualifications while strengthening the UK’s future digital talent pipeline. By embedding AI and digital competencies across the curriculum, the government seeks to equip learners with skills relevant to further study, employment, and participation in a technology-driven society.
The British Computer Society (BCS) has been appointed by the Department for Education to lead the drafting of the new Computing curriculum. The organisation will oversee revisions across key stages 1 to 5, ensuring alignment with classroom practice and developments in the wider digital profession.
A broader Computing GCSE will replace the current Computer Science GCSE, integrating technical foundations with digital literacy and responsible technology use. In addition, the government is exploring a new Level 3 qualification in Data Science and AI, with a public consultation expected later this year to shape the final reforms.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
US AI company Anthropic’s expansion into India has triggered a legal dispute with a Bengaluru-based software firm that claims it has used the name ‘Anthropic’ since 2017. The Indian company argues that the US AI firm’s market entry has caused customer confusion. It is seeking recognition of prior use and damages of ₹10 million.
A commercial court in Karnataka has issued notice and suit summons to Anthropic but declined to grant an interim injunction. Further hearings are scheduled. The local firm says it prefers coexistence but turned to litigation due to growing marketplace confusion.
The dispute comes as India becomes a key growth market for global AI companies. Anthropic recently announced local leadership and expanded operations in the country. India’s large digital economy and upcoming AI industry events reinforce its strategic importance.
The case also highlights broader challenges linked to the rapid global expansion of AI firms. Trademark protection, brand due diligence, and regulatory clarity are increasingly central to cross-border digital market entry.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
