Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 8 of 610

EU and Japan strengthen digital partnership in ICT Dialogue

The European Commission and Japan have reinforced their digital cooperation through the 31st the EU–Japan ICT Dialogue held in Tokyo, focusing on advancing shared priorities in emerging technologies instead of pursuing separate national strategies.

A meeting that forms part of the broader EU–Japan Digital Partnership, which aims to deepen collaboration in key areas of the digital economy.

Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including AI, cybersecurity, and secure connectivity infrastructure such as submarine cables and Arctic networks.

Both sides also explored developments in 5G and 6G technologies, alongside emerging solutions like quantum key distribution, highlighting the importance of secure and resilient communication systems in an evolving digital landscape.

The dialogue also emphasised cooperation between the EU AI Office and AI Safety Institute, as well as joint efforts in research, innovation, and international standardisation.

These initiatives aim to align regulatory approaches and technological development rather than create fragmented global frameworks.

By strengthening collaboration across critical digital sectors, the EU and Japan seek to enhance technological resilience and promote secure, interoperable systems.

The ongoing partnership reflects a shared commitment to shaping global digital standards while supporting innovation and economic growth in both regions.

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Barnsley tests AI in healthcare and skills training through the Tech Town programme

Barnsley is advancing its Tech Town programme with new AI pilots aimed to improving healthcare services and supporting local businesses. The initiative aims to demonstrate how AI can deliver practical benefits for communities and public services.

A Healthcare Living Lab will test AI tools within hospital settings to reduce waiting times, missed appointments and administrative workload. The pilot will generate evidence on improving patient care and supporting NHS staff efficiency.

Alongside this, a £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund will provide targeted training for SMEs and residents. The programme focuses on industries such as manufacturing and aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to adopt AI in their work.

The pilots also prioritise inclusion by supporting groups with limited access to technology or digital confidence. If successful, the approach could offer a scalable model for wider AI adoption across the UK.

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Wikipedia limits generative AI use in article creation

Wikipedia has strengthened its approach to AI use, introducing new restrictions on the use of generative AI in article creation and editing. The changes reflect growing concerns about accuracy, sourcing and editorial standards.

Guidance issued in January 2026 warned contributors against copying and pasting outputs from generative AI into articles. Editors were advised to avoid using such tools to create new entries, as the content often fails verification against reliable sources.

In March 2026, stricter rules were introduced, prohibiting the use of AI to generate or rewrite article content. Limited exceptions allow AI to copyedit one’s own writing or translate material from other Wikipedia language versions.

The updated framework highlights concerns that AI-generated text may include fabricated references, bias and non-encyclopaedic language. Wikipedia continues to allow AI for support tasks such as identifying gaps and locating sources, while maintaining human oversight.

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AI and digital transformation take focus at Eurasian meeting

An expanded meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union Intergovernmental Council was held in Shymkent under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, bringing together leaders to discuss economic integration, digital transformation and technological development.

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov said Kazakhstan will prioritise the introduction of AI across the Union’s activities, alongside efforts to strengthen digital ecosystems and regulatory cooperation among member states.

Participants discussed the use of AI in areas including customs administration, logistics, industry and agriculture, as well as a proposal to develop an integrated AI-based platform to coordinate cargo flows and improve transport efficiency.

The meeting also addressed digital governance measures, including transitioning veterinary and phytosanitary certification fully to electronic formats to improve transparency in trade and reduce administrative barriers.

Leaders emphasised the role of digital solutions and AI in supporting industrial cooperation, innovation and market integration, with decisions from the meeting aimed at strengthening economic resilience and advancing digital transformation across the region.

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India strengthens digital economy with AI and media initiatives

India has launched three initiatives to expand AI adoption, digital content creation and access to broadcasting services. The programme focuses on building an AI-skilled workforce and strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem.

A national AI skilling initiative aims to train 15,000 creators and media professionals through partnerships with Google and YouTube. The programme covers generative AI, prompting and advanced tools, supporting future-ready skills in media and creative industries.

The government also introduced MyWAVES, a platform within WAVES OTT that enables users to create, upload and share content. Designed for user-generated content, it supports multiple formats and multilingual participation across India.

Access to broadcasting has been simplified through in-built satellite tuners and an advanced programme guide in television sets. The update removes the need for set-top boxes, improving affordability and expanding reach, particularly in remote areas.

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Lille proposed as EU customs hub

France has submitted a bid to host the future EU Customs Authority in Lille, positioning itself at the centre of efforts to modernise the customs union. The proposal highlights national expertise and a leading role in shaping recent reforms.

Authorities argue the new body will strengthen internal market security, improve oversight of e-commerce and enhance cooperation between member states. France has supported initiatives to tackle illicit trade and improve risk management.

Officials also point to strong operational experience, including international customs networks and the use of AI tools to screen postal shipments. Such capabilities are presented as key to supporting the authority from its launch, but questions are raised concerning the use of AI and its biases.

Lille is promoted as a strategic logistics hub with strong transport links and access to skilled workers. Its location near major European trade routes is expected to support recruitment and coordination across the bloc.

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Digital divide shapes AI job outcomes

A joint study by the International Labour Organization and the World Bank finds that AI will reshape labour markets unevenly across countries. Research covering 135 economies highlights growing risks for workers as automation expands.

Advanced economies show higher exposure to AI, particularly in clerical and professional roles. Lower-income regions face fewer direct impacts but lack the infrastructure and skills needed to capture productivity gains.

The digital divide plays a central role, with many vulnerable jobs already online and therefore exposed to automation. Workers in roles with potential benefits often lack reliable internet access, limiting opportunities.

The ILO’s findings suggest outcomes depend on infrastructure, skills and job design rather than technology alone. Policymakers are urged to improve connectivity, training and social protections to spread benefits more evenly.

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Human creativity outperforms AI in new research findings

New research challenges assumptions about AI creativity, concluding that human imagination remains significantly more advanced than generative systems.

The study, published in Advanced Science, examined how AI models perform in visual creative tasks compared with both professional artists and non-artists.

Researchers developed an experimental method to assess creativity using abstract visual tasks, comparing human and AI outputs under different conditions.

Results showed a clear hierarchy, with visual artists achieving the highest creativity scores, followed by the general population, while AI models ranked lower, especially when operating without human guidance.

These findings indicate that even when trained on human-created material, AI struggles to replicate originality and imaginative depth.

The study argues that creativity should be analysed as a process rather than judged solely by final outputs. By examining stages from idea generation to execution, researchers found that AI systems rely heavily on human input throughout development and use.

Removing human assistance significantly reduced the quality and originality of AI-generated results, reinforcing the limitations of current generative models.

Overall, the research highlights a persistent gap between human and artificial creativity, suggesting that AI operates more as a tool guided by human direction than as an independent creative agent.

The findings contribute to broader debates in cognitive science and AI, emphasising the continued importance of human involvement in creative processes.

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FCA outlines AI-driven plan to modernise financial regulation

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has outlined plans to integrate AI and data-driven tools into its regulatory processes as part of its 2026/27 work programme to become a more efficient and effective regulator.

The programme includes developing an internal authorisation tool to speed up approvals and using generative AI to review documents and support supervision, while maintaining human decision-making at the core of regulatory actions.

The FCA said it will also test automated data-sharing in a sandbox environment, expand its Supercharged Sandbox for firms developing AI-based financial products, and invest in analytics to better identify risks and prioritise cases.

Measures to reduce burdens on firms include removing certain data reporting requirements, simplifying digital processes and improving authorisation timelines, alongside efforts to enhance firms’ experience through new tools and feedback mechanisms.

The regulator also plans to support economic growth and consumer protection by advancing measures such as regulating buy now pay later products, speeding up IPO processes, expanding international presence, and addressing emerging risks, including the use of general-purpose AI in financial decision-making.

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National security rules to prioritise UK contracts in AI, steel and shipbuilding

The UK government has announced new procurement guidance that will treat shipbuilding, steel, AI, and energy infrastructure as critical to national security, with departments directed to prioritise British businesses where necessary to protect national security. The press release was published on 26 March by the Cabinet Office and its Minister, Chris Ward.

According to the government, the new approach is intended to respond to recent supply-chain fragility and strengthen domestic capacity in sectors it describes as vital to national security. The guidance is presented as the first clear framework for how departments can protect the UK’s economic security and build resilience in the four named sectors.

Additional measures in the package go beyond sector prioritisation. The government says departments will either use British steel or provide a justification if steel is sourced from overseas, linking the change to the UK Steel Strategy launched the previous week. Officials also say the reforms support the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and follow the publication of the National Security Strategy.

Procurement reform is another part of the package. Under a new Public Interest Test, departments will be asked to assess whether outsourced service contracts worth more than £1 million could be delivered more effectively in-house. The government says the test will cover more than 95% of central government contracts by value.

Community impact is also being built into the contracting framework. Departments will be required to publish and report annually on a specific social value goal for contracts above £5 million, which the government says will cover more than 90% of central government contracts by value. Companies bidding for public contracts are also being encouraged to include commitments on local jobs, skills, and apprenticeships.

The press release also says a new suite of AI tools has been developed to streamline the commercial process. Contract terms will be simplified, and additional business information will be integrated into a central platform, with the stated aim of reducing repeated submissions by smaller businesses bidding for multiple contracts.

Chris Ward said: ‘This Government is backing British businesses and the working people who power them. These reforms are about using the full weight of Government spending to support British jobs, protect our national security and grow our economy.’ He added: ‘Whether you make steel in Scunthorpe, build ships on the Clyde or run a small tech firm in the Midlands, this Government is on your side.’

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