Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 8 of 671

UK launches AI skills and jobs initiative for young people

The UK government has announced a new package for young people entering the labour market as AI continues to reshape entry-level roles and career pathways. The package includes an Early Careers Jobs Alliance, AI bootcamps, and expanded technology training for students from disadvantaged schools, with AI bootcamps serving as a central route into paid apprenticeships for young people at risk of unemployment.

The Early Careers Jobs Alliance will bring together government, employers, trade unions and young people to examine how AI is changing entry-level employment and career development. Backed by £20 million in funding, the initiative will initially focus on the Digital and Technologies sector before expanding across all eight Industrial Strategy sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, financial services, and life sciences.

The alliance will analyse how entry-level work is evolving, develop guidance for businesses on redesigning roles while preserving career pathways, and identify examples of good practice. An initial report is expected in autumn.

Through the TechFirst programme, at least 400,000 students from some of the UK’s most disadvantaged schools will receive support in AI and digital skills through training sessions, competitions, extracurricular activities and engagement with industry. The AI bootcamps are intended to provide a more direct route into work for young people at risk of leaving education or training.

The UK government will also pilot free AI bootcamps in Lancashire and Greater Manchester this summer for young people at risk of leaving school after GCSEs and entering unemployment. Participants who successfully complete the bootcamp will be guaranteed a paid AI apprenticeship with local employers, with a broader rollout across England planned if the pilot proves successful.

A separate pilot linked to the North East AI Growth Zone will launch in early 2027 for young people aged 18 to 24 who are not in education or employment. Participants will receive at least 6 months of hands-on AI training with companies including Accenture, Microsoft, and Sage.

Why does it matter?

AI is beginning to transform many entry-level and administrative roles, raising concerns about how young people will gain work experience and build careers in an increasingly automated economy.

The UK’s approach combines workforce planning, skills development and employer engagement to help ensure that AI adoption creates new opportunities rather than limiting access to employment. The initiative also reflects growing efforts by governments to align education and training systems with the changing demands of the labour market.

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EDPS debate to examine EU Omnibus data protection proposals

The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), Germany’s Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, and the Bavarian Data Protection Commissioner will host a high-level debate on the European Commission’s Omnibus proposals. The event, titled ‘From Omnibus to Opportunity: Driving Data Protection and Innovation’, will take place in Brussels on 8 June.

The debate will examine the Omnibus proposals and their potential implications for the GDPR and the wider EU digital regulatory framework. The event is hosted by the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union.

According to the EDPS, the proposals introduce targeted adjustments affecting elements of the EU digital acquis, including aspects of the GDPR and the AI Act. Their stated objective is to simplify compliance requirements and reduce administrative burdens while maintaining a high level of protection for fundamental rights.

Discussions will focus on legal certainty, regulatory coherence, preserving the GDPR’s level of protection, and identifying ways to strengthen fundamental rights, innovation and competitiveness across the EU.

Participants are expected to include representatives from the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, data protection authorities, academia, civil society and the private sector.

Why does it matter?

The Omnibus proposals have become a focal point in wider debates about how the European Union can strengthen competitiveness and innovation while preserving high standards of data protection and fundamental rights.

The discussion highlights growing efforts to balance regulatory simplification with legal certainty and effective safeguards, particularly as the EU seeks to implement complex frameworks such as the GDPR and AI Act while supporting digital innovation and economic growth.

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US unveils new strategy to accelerate AI adoption in national security

The Trump administration has issued a new National Security Presidential Memorandum aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI across the US national security apparatus.

According to the White House, the framework is intended to ensure that military personnel, intelligence professionals and national security agencies have access to advanced AI systems while maintaining accountability and operational control.

The memorandum directs federal agencies to expand the use of commercial and open-source AI technologies in support of national security missions. It also calls for investment in next-generation secure computing infrastructure capable of supporting increasingly advanced AI models and computational workloads.

The memorandum also proposes the creation of an AI National Security Strategic Reserve, bringing together leading non-governmental experts to support national security priorities.

The new framework places emphasis on accountability, reliability and command authority. The White House emphasised that agency leaders and military commanders will remain accountable for decisions and operations supported by AI systems.

Why does it matter?

AI is increasingly viewed as a strategic capability across defence, intelligence, cybersecurity and military planning. Governments are investing heavily in AI systems that can enhance analysis, decision support, operational planning and threat detection.

The memorandum signals Washington’s intention to accelerate the integration of AI into national security operations while maintaining human oversight and accountability. It also reflects broader geopolitical competition over advanced technologies, as major powers seek to secure advantages in AI-driven security capabilities.

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Spain calls for United Nations Action on children’s digital rights

Spain has proposed the creation of a permanent multilateral working group within the UN to strengthen the regulation of digital environments and improve protections for children online.

The proposal was presented by Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, during a ministerial roundtable at the Global Alliance of Pioneer Countries to End Violence Against Children in Turin.

According to Rego, stronger international cooperation is needed to regulate digital environments and protect children’s rights in response to abuses by major technology platforms. She said protecting children online requires regulations, rules, and control mechanisms that safeguard their rights and freedoms.

The proposal builds on earlier Ibero-American ministerial discussions on youth and childhood, during which countries agreed to establish an Ibero-American Observatory for the Well-being of Children, with a focus on protecting minors in digital environments. Spain is now proposing a similar approach within the UN framework.

A central element of Spain’s position is algorithmic transparency. Rego said algorithms are not neutral systems and can affect children’s ability to exercise their rights. She argued that such systems should be auditable and subject to democratic oversight by public authorities.

Alongside regulatory measures, Spain is advancing a National Strategy for Digital Environments to improve digital literacy among children, adolescents, and families. The strategy will combine education, pedagogical tools, and content creation to help protect children’s rights in digital spaces.

Why does it matter?

Spain’s proposal reflects growing pressure for international coordination on children’s digital rights. National rules alone often struggle to address platforms that operate across borders and use algorithmic systems that shape what children see, how they interact, and how their data is used. A UN-level working group could provide child online safety with a more permanent multilateral forum, especially on platform accountability and algorithmic transparency.

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China launches a major 6G pilot programme to accelerate future connectivity

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched a ministry-provincial collaborative pilot programme to advance 6G innovation and development.

The initiative is designed to support future commercial deployment of next-generation communications technologies and strengthen the country’s 6G industrial ecosystem.

The programme focuses on advancing frontier 6G technologies and deepening the integration of communications networks with AI, satellite internet, and wireless sensing. It will also accelerate research and development of 6G base stations, core network equipment, terminals, chips, and operating systems.

Pilot regions will test practical applications tailored to local economic priorities. Planned use cases include immersive communications, industrial manufacturing, embodied intelligence, low-altitude economic activities, and smart maritime operations.

The initiative follows China’s recent approval of trial spectrum in the 6 GHz band for 6G technology testing in selected regions. That approval was granted to the IMT-2030 (6G) promotion group to support 6G technology trials and validation.

China currently operates the world’s largest 5G network and is seeking to build on that infrastructure base as global competition shifts towards 6G. Authorities say future 6G networks could deliver major improvements in speed, reliability, latency, and connectivity across terrestrial, aerial, maritime, and space-based networks.

Why does it matter?

The pilot programme shows how China is moving from 6G research towards coordinated industrial testing and local application scenarios. By linking 6G with AI, satellite internet, wireless sensing, chips, operating systems, embodied intelligence, and the low-altitude economy, China is treating next-generation connectivity as part of a wider industrial and strategic technology agenda.

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UK project tests how legal data can support AI use in government

The UK Government Digital Service has highlighted data maturity as a key requirement for preparing public sector data for AI use.

The findings come from a project conducted with The National Archives, part of GDS’s wider work to ensure public sector data is managed as a strategic national asset.

During a discovery phase completed in April 2026, the organisations assessed whether legal data, including legislation and case law, could be prepared for AI applications. The work focused on governance, data quality, organisational readiness, and the risks of exposing government data to AI systems, rather than building a specific AI tool.

GDS found that The National Archives’ legal data is already close to AI-ready, thanks to high data quality, strong leadership, relevant skills, and mature governance practices. It said that good data alone is not enough; public sector organisations also need the right people, processes, and culture to use data safely, ethically, and responsibly.

The project also identified the evaluation and validation of AI-generated outputs as a significant future opportunity for the government. GDS said public bodies could add value by developing tools and standards to assess whether AI outputs are trustworthy, rather than replicating services already developed by major technology companies.

The next phase will explore how data maturity can reduce the risks of using AI with public sector data. It will also examine technologies such as the Model Context Protocol, an open-source standard for connecting AI applications to external systems, including databases, tools, and documents.

Why does it matter?

The project shows that AI readiness in government depends on more than deploying new tools. Public bodies need high-quality data, strong governance, clear accountability, and the ability to evaluate AI-generated outputs before relying on them in services that affect citizens and businesses. The work also points to a useful role for government: setting standards for trustworthy AI outputs, rather than simply building public-sector versions of commercial AI products.

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RCC meeting focuses on AI, roaming and regional connectivity

The Regional Commonwealth in the Field of Communications and the CIS Coordination Council for Informatization held a joint meeting in St Petersburg on 5 June, bringing together communications officials, international organisations and industry representatives.

The meeting was chaired by Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan, in his role as Chair of the RCC Board of Heads of Communications Administrations and the CIS Coordination Council.

Participants discussed preparations for the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Plenipotentiary Conference in Doha, the development of non-geostationary orbit communication systems, interstate roaming across RCC and CIS countries, IT parks, start-ups and regional cooperation in communications and information technologies.

AI was also among the key themes. Participants discussed the application of AI and the creation of a regional expert council on AI and digital technologies.

The meeting also addressed the establishment of a Regional Fund for the Development of the RCC Sovereign Digital Space and broader efforts to strengthen digitalisation and technological development across the region.

Representatives from ITU, the Universal Postal Union, the Eurasian Economic Commission, CIS bodies and other international organisations also took part. The next joint meeting is scheduled to September 2026 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

Why does it matter?

The meeting shows how regional communications bodies are linking traditional telecom issues, such as roaming, satellite systems and IT parks, with newer digital policy priorities, including AI governance and sovereign digital infrastructure. The proposed regional expert council on AI and digital technologies is the strongest governance angle, while the RCC Sovereign Digital Space fund points to growing regional interest in digital autonomy and infrastructure coordination.

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Microsoft urges stronger biosecurity safeguards as AI transforms biotechnology

Microsoft has argued that rapid advances in AI and biotechnology are creating new biosecurity challenges that require stronger safeguards and closer cooperation between governments, industry, and the scientific community.

The company said AI is accelerating scientific discovery across areas such as healthcare, drug development, and materials science, while also increasing concerns about accidental harm and deliberate misuse of biological technologies.

Microsoft identifies a growing convergence between general-purpose AI models, specialised biological design tools, laboratory automation systems, and agentic AI technologies. The company argues that these capabilities can accelerate legitimate research but also complicate the biosecurity policy landscape.

A central focus of Microsoft’s recommendations is nucleic acid synthesis screening. The company describes synthetic DNA providers as a critical checkpoint in the biotechnology ecosystem because they are often where digital biological designs are translated into physical materials.

Microsoft said current DNA synthesis screening practices remain largely voluntary and unevenly applied across providers. It warned that gaps in screening become more consequential as AI-enabled biological design tools become more powerful.

The company pointed to its Paraphrase Project, which stress-tested existing screening systems against AI-designed biological sequences. Microsoft said the project showed where safeguards could fail and how they could be improved through responsible disclosure, red teaming, and rapid deployment of fixes.

Microsoft also highlighted growing bipartisan attention to biosecurity in the United States, including a 2025 executive order on biological research safety and the proposed Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act. The company said stronger screening requirements, conformity assessments, enforcement mechanisms, and public-private collaboration could help reduce risk while sustaining scientific innovation.

Why does it matter?

AI is becoming part of the biotechnology research pipeline, from biological design tools to automated laboratories. Microsoft’s intervention shows that AI safety debates are expanding beyond model behaviour and content safeguards into the physical infrastructure of science, including DNA synthesis providers, laboratory workflows, technical standards, and biosecurity screening. The key policy question is how to preserve scientific openness while preventing AI-enabled misuse of biological capabilities.

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UNICEF warns of AI risks to child online safety

UNICEF Vietnam has warned that rapid advances in AI are creating new risks for child online safety, including AI-generated child sexual abuse material and deepfakes.

The UNICEF Vietnam Representative, Silvia Danailov, issued a warning to mark International Children’s Day and Vietnam’s Month of Action for Children, which is held under the theme ‘Happy, safe and confident children in the digital world.’

Danailov said digital technologies can help children learn, connect, and develop future skills, but also create new forms of harm. She warned that generative AI can now be used to create highly realistic sexual images or videos of children without their knowledge or consent.

UNICEF, ECPAT, and INTERPOL research across 11 countries found that at least 1.2 million children reported that their images had been manipulated into sexually explicit deepfakes in the past year. Danailov said such harms can have lasting effects, even when images are digitally created, because children experience fear, shame, and loss of trust.

Nearly nine in ten children aged 12 to 17 in Vietnam are online, with many spending five to seven hours a day on the internet. Danailov said AI-driven risks add a new layer to existing challenges, such as cyberbullying and online exploitation, while also exposing inequalities between children who are supported online and those who are not.

Vietnam has strengthened its legal and policy framework, including a new government decree effective from 16 May 2026 that reinforces children’s right to privacy by prohibiting the disclosure of a child’s personal information without the child’s consent, when aged seven or older, and with the consent of their parents or caregivers.

The country has also approved the National Programme on Child Online Protection and Support for Development for 2026–2030, aimed at protecting children and empowering them as confident digital citizens through stronger legal frameworks, improved systems, education, and coordinated action.

UNICEF called for laws and enforcement to keep pace with technology, stronger child protection systems, safer platform design by technology companies, and better support for schools and families. Danailov also stressed that children must be heard and involved in creating safer digital environments.

Why does it matter?

The warning shows how generative AI is changing the landscape of child online safety. Children can now be harmed even without direct interaction with an offender, including through manipulated images and deepfake abuse. That makes child protection harder for families, schools, platforms, and regulators, and increases the need for safety-by-design, stronger reporting systems, legal safeguards, and trusted support channels for children.

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EU launches digital energy system initiatives for data centres and AI grids

The EU policymakers and high-level industry representatives have launched two flagship initiatives to prepare the EU energy system for a more digitalised future.

The first initiative brings together data centre operators, the energy sector, and public authorities to support the sustainable integration of data centres into the EU energy system. In the presence of Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, 14 European associations signed a Declaration of Intent, while six companies signed a Declaration of Support indicating readiness to begin implementation.

The event also marked the launch of the AI.grids project, which will develop the EU sovereign AI models for energy grids. The project brings together 48 partners, including grid operators and research institutes, to improve grid management and planning.

Both initiatives coincide with the Commission’s Tech Sovereignty Package, published on the same day. The package includes a Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in the energy sector, aimed at preparing the future energy system and supporting the deployment of AI solutions across the energy value chain.

Why does it matter?

The initiatives show how AI infrastructure and energy policy are becoming increasingly interconnected. Data centres are expanding rapidly as demand for AI computing grows, while electricity grids need more advanced digital tools to manage decentralised generation, demand, and resilience. By linking data centre sustainability with the EU sovereign AI models for grid management, the Commission is treating digitalisation as both a pressure on the energy system and a tool for managing it.

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