Artificial intelligence Archives | Page 8 of 676

Japan strengthens generative AI procurement guidelines

Japan has approved updated guidelines for the procurement and use of generative AI across government information systems, strengthening governance and risk-management requirements for public administration.

The revised document, titled ‘The Guideline for Japanese Government’s Procurements and Utilizations of Generative AI for the sake of Evolution and Innovation of Public Administration’, was approved on 12 June 2026 by the Council for the Promotion of a Digital Society Executive Board Meeting.

The guidelines update a first version adopted in May 2025 and reflect advances in generative AI technologies, expanded government use cases and domestic and international AI policy developments. They are intended to promote the use of generative AI in government while setting rules for governance, procurement, development, operation and use.

The document covers generative AI systems and models, large language models, AI governance frameworks, high-risk generative AI projects, Chief AI Officers and risk management throughout the lifecycle of government AI systems.

Each ministry and agency is expected to promote the use of generative AI while assessing risks for specific use cases. Chief AI Officers will be responsible for centrally managing generative AI systems, including planning, administrative data handling, procurement, operation and risk cases.

The guidelines also set out a framework for high-risk uses of generative AI. Chief AI Officers must assess risk classifications with planners, use a high-risk project assessment tool and report likely high-risk projects to the Advanced AI Utilization Advisory Board, including project details, objectives, mitigation measures and quality assurance plans.

Why does it matter?

Japan’s update shows how governments are moving from experimentation with generative AI towards formal operating rules for public-sector deployment. The guidelines link AI adoption to procurement controls, lifecycle governance, high-risk assessment and institutional accountability through Chief AI Officers. That matters because public administrations are under pressure to use GenAI to improve services and efficiency, while also managing risks related to security, administrative decision-making, personal data, intellectual property, and public trust.

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UNESCO, TESDA and HP Foundation expand digital and AI skills training in the Philippines

UNESCO, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the HP Foundation are expanding access to free digital skills and AI courses in the Philippines through the UNESCO Global Skills Academy. The initiative will make HP LIFE courses available through the TESDA Online Program, the country’s national eLearning platform.

TESDA said the collaboration will provide learners with access to free digital and entrepreneurship training aligned with evolving industry needs. The courses are intended to help learners develop practical digital skills and competencies that are increasingly in demand across the digital economy.

HP LIFE is a free business and digital skills training programme run by the HP Foundation. Its courses introduce learners to key AI concepts, responsible AI use, and practical applications of AI in business and everyday work, alongside topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing and finance.

The collaboration is facilitated via the UNESCO Global Skills Academy, which works with international organisations, governments, and industry partners to expand access to quality skills development opportunities. The academy aims to help 10 million young people and adults worldwide develop skills that improve employability by 2029.

TESDA said the partnership will help expand access to high-quality and industry-relevant training for learners across the Philippines. The initiative is expected to strengthen digital, entrepreneurial and AI-related skills that can enhance employment opportunities and livelihoods.

Why does it matter?

Digital skills and AI literacy are increasingly important for participation in modern economies, yet access to high-quality training remains uneven in many parts of the world. Expanding access to free online learning opportunities can help individuals develop skills that improve employability, entrepreneurship and participation in the digital economy.

The initiative also reflects a broader trend of collaboration between international organisations, governments and the private sector to address digital skills gaps. As AI becomes more widely used across industries, programmes that combine digital literacy, AI awareness and practical workforce skills are becoming an increasingly important component of national development and workforce strategies.

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MHRA report highlights public priorities for AI regulation in healthcare

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published two reports examining the views of patients, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders on the use of AI in healthcare.

The findings are intended to support the work of the independent National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare and inform future regulatory approaches.

The consultation gathered input from patients, healthcare professionals, industry representatives, researchers and public institutions. A separate Call for Evidence received submissions from 760 individuals and organisations.

Participants broadly recognised the potential benefits of AI in healthcare while emphasising the need for safeguards to ensure safety, effectiveness, transparency and accountability.

Several priorities emerged consistently across the engagement process. Contributors supported ongoing monitoring of AI systems after deployment, transparent decision-making, clear accountability mechanisms and human oversight.

Many respondents also argued that regulatory frameworks should evolve to keep pace with rapid technological advances while maintaining strong patient protections.

The findings will contribute to recommendations expected later in 2026 from the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare. The recommendations are expected to help guide future regulatory decisions by the MHRA and other healthcare authorities.

Why does it matter?

Healthcare is one of the sectors where AI is expected to have the greatest impact, with applications ranging from diagnostics and clinical decision support to administrative efficiency and patient engagement. As adoption accelerates, regulators are increasingly focused on ensuring that AI systems are safe, effective and trustworthy.

The findings suggest that public support for healthcare AI is closely tied to transparency, accountability and human oversight. They also highlight the growing importance of adaptive regulatory frameworks that can support innovation while maintaining patient safety and public confidence in AI-enabled healthcare services.

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Microsoft president says AI’s future should be shaped by people, not technology alone

Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith has argued that the future impact of AI should be shaped by people rather than technology alone, emphasising the importance of human agency, creativity and the dignity of work.

In a recent blog post, Smith said concerns expressed by university graduates about AI’s impact on employment should be taken seriously by the technology sector.

Smith also noted that younger generations remain among the most active users of AI technologies but are increasingly questioning how AI will affect jobs, careers and society. He argued that graduates are sending a clear message that AI should support human capabilities instead of determining the role of people in the workforce.

The article draws on historical examples of technological disruption, including photography, computing and automation, arguing that new technologies have often transformed work rather than eliminated human creativity and ambition.

Smith acknowledged concerns about entry-level employment, workforce restructuring and economic uncertainty, while suggesting that AI adoption is likely to unfold over decades rather than over a short period.

Microsoft argues that individuals should focus on combining expertise in their chosen fields with AI literacy. The company also emphasises the importance of uniquely human skills such as creativity, curiosity, communication, compassion and judgement.

For organisations, Smith recommends using AI to strengthen institutional knowledge and productivity while retaining control over proprietary data, intellectual property and strategic decision-making.

Why does it matter?

The debate over AI’s impact on employment has become one of the central questions in technology policy and economic planning. While some forecasts focus on job displacement, others argue that AI will primarily transform how work is performed, creating demand for new skills and roles while reshaping existing occupations.

Smith’s comments offer insight into how a leading AI developer views the long-term transition. His emphasis on augmentation, workforce adaptation and human agency reflects a broader industry narrative that AI should enhance rather than replace human capabilities, while highlighting the growing importance of digital skills, lifelong learning and public participation in decisions about AI deployment.

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China sets AI integration targets for communications networks

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has released a three-year plan to accelerate the integration of AI with the country’s information and communications sector.

The implementation guideline, covering 2026 to 2028, sets targets for more autonomous networks, wider low-latency access to computing power and expanded AI applications. By 2028, China aims for information and communications networks to reach an initial stage of high-level autonomous intelligence.

The plan also calls for more than 30 high-value use cases, specialised intelligent agents and at least 75% coverage of one-millisecond-latency access to computing power in metropolitan areas.

MIIT identified several research priorities, including AI-driven network architectures, collaboration between large and small AI models, multi-agent systems and intelligent agent communications. It also calls for faster construction of major computing power channels and improved network resource scheduling.

Looking beyond the three years, China aims to make significant breakthroughs in core technologies for integrating AI with information and communications networks by 2030. The ministry said the longer-term goal is to strengthen integrated sensing, communications, computing and intelligence capabilities, while building a broader collaborative innovation and industrial ecosystem.

Why does it matter?

The plan shows China treating AI as part of the core architecture of future communications networks, not only as an application layer. The targets link AI, telecommunications, computing power and sensing infrastructure, which could shape how autonomous networks, industrial AI, smart cities and future digital services are deployed. It also reflects China’s broader push to align AI development with national digital infrastructure and industrial upgrading.

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Anthropic launches Claude Corps AI fellowship for US nonprofits

Anthropic has announced Claude Corps, a fellowship programme intended to help early-career professionals develop AI skills while supporting nonprofit organisations in the United States.

The company said it is committing an initial $150 million to the initiative, which aims to train 1,000 fellows to use Claude and place them in nonprofit organisations over the coming years. Fellows will spend one year working full-time and in person with host organisations.

Claude Corps will be delivered through a partnership between Anthropic, CodePath and Social Finance. Anthropic will fund the programme, provide Claude expertise and lead its overall strategy. CodePath will act as the fellows’ employer of record and lead fellowship programming, while Social Finance will oversee measurement and evaluation.

Each fellow will receive a salary of $85,000, benefits, mentoring support, ongoing training and access to Claude resources. Anthropic said at least 400 nonprofits will host fellows over the next 12 months, including organisations working on education, workforce development, public services, food security, environmental conservation and community support.

Applications are open for the first cohort of 100 fellows, which is scheduled to begin in October 2026. Anthropic said the programme could later expand beyond the initial 1,000 fellows and may serve as a model for similar initiatives outside the United States.

Why does it matter?

Claude Corps is relevant because it frames AI adoption as a workforce and capacity-building challenge, not only a product deployment issue. The programme links private-sector AI development with labour transition, nonprofit digital capacity and AI literacy. It also reflects growing pressure on frontier AI companies to show how the benefits of AI can be shared more widely as automation reshapes entry-level work and organisational practices.

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South Korea selects site for AI defence robotics hub

South Chungcheong Province and the city of Nonsan have been selected to host a new AI defence robotics innovation cluster in South Korea.

The project was chosen under the Defense Acquisition Program Administration’s 2026 defence innovation cluster programme and will run for five years, from 2026 to 2030. It will receive a total of 49.9 billion won in national and local funding, including 24.5 billion won from the central government.

The cluster will be developed around Naedong and Yeonmu-eup in Nonsan and will focus on building an AI defence robotics ecosystem. The project is intended to support the full development cycle, from technology research and testing to demonstration and commercialisation.

Plans include a 45,190-square-metre testing and certification facility in Yeonmu-eup, designed to support research and development, test evaluation and demonstration activities in one location.

The initiative will involve Chungnam Techno Park, Konyang University, the Korea Testing Laboratory, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, the Korea Automotive Technology Institute and KAIST’s Mobility AX Research Institute.

Provincial officials said Nonsan’s existing defence infrastructure, including the Nonsan Defence National Industrial Complex, the headquarters of South Korea’s three armed services and Korea National Defense University, helped support the site’s selection.

Why does it matter?

The project shows how South Korea is linking AI, robotics and defence industrial policy through testing and certification infrastructure. For digital policy, the relevant signal is the institutionalisation of AI-enabled military robotics development, including facilities for experimentation, evaluation and commercialisation. It also reflects the growing importance of regional defence-tech clusters as governments seek to build domestic capacity in autonomous and unmanned systems.

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Uruguay launches Latin America’s first national AI ethics business council

Uruguay has become the first country in Latin America to establish a national Business Council for the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, a UNESCO-backed initiative aimed at strengthening responsible AI governance.

Launched in Montevideo, the council will serve as a platform connecting businesses, academic institutions and public authorities to promote ethical, transparent and accountable AI development.

The initiative is aligned with UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in 2021 as the first global normative framework dedicated to the ethical governance of AI. The council aims to ensure that AI deployment promotes human well-being, fundamental rights, transparency and non-discrimination while supporting innovation.

The Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technologies will lead the national chapter, supported by representatives from the technology and telecommunications sectors.

During 2026, the council plans to focus on integrating ethical AI practices into business operations, strengthening technical capabilities and promoting Uruguay as a regional reference point for AI governance.

UNESCO officials noted that ethical AI principles can strengthen innovation by fostering trust, accountability and long-term sustainability. Such an initiative by Uruguay is expected to contribute to broader regional discussions on AI governance and responsible digital transformation.

Why does it matter?

As AI adoption accelerates, governments and businesses are increasingly seeking governance mechanisms that balance innovation with accountability, transparency and respect for fundamental rights. While many AI governance initiatives have focused on regulation, Uruguay’s approach places particular emphasis on engaging the private sector in the implementation of ethical AI principles.

The initiative also reflects a broader international trend towards multi-stakeholder AI governance, bringing together government, industry and academia to address challenges such as bias, transparency and responsible deployment. As the first initiative of its kind in Latin America, the council could influence regional discussions on AI governance and digital transformation.

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ILO highlights child protection risks amid digital transformation

The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), used a high-level roundtable in Türkiye to highlight the growing connection between digital transformation and child protection.

While the event focused primarily on eliminating child labour, discussions also examined the opportunities and risks associated with rapid technological change.

ILO Türkiye Director Yasser Hassan noted that digital transformation can support economic development, productivity growth and poverty reduction. However, he warned that rapidly evolving technologies may also expose children to new forms of exploitation, including technology-enabled commercial sexual exploitation and other online harms.

Participants stressed that child protection considerations should be incorporated into the design, deployment and governance of digital technologies from the outset. The discussion reflected growing international concern that digitalisation can create new vulnerabilities alongside economic opportunities, particularly for children and young people.

The ILO roundtable also highlighted Türkiye’s broader policy agenda, including digital transformation initiatives within the National Employment Strategy 2025–2028. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of ensuring that digital innovation is accompanied by education, social protection, labour rights protections and child safeguarding measures.

Why does it matter?

The discussion reflects an increasingly important policy debate: how digital transformation can be harnessed while protecting vulnerable groups from emerging risks.

As governments, businesses and international organisations accelerate the adoption of AI, digital platforms and connected technologies, concerns about online child exploitation, digital rights and technology governance are becoming more prominent.

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EU publishes the final Code for labelling AI-generated content

The European Commission has published the final Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content, offering practical guidance for providers and deployers preparing to comply with transparency obligations under the EU AI Act.

The code is voluntary, but the underlying transparency obligations in Article 50 of the AI Act will apply from 2 August 2026. The Commission said the code is intended to help organisations implement those obligations in a consistent, practical and proportionate way.

The framework covers two main areas. Providers of generative AI systems are guided on marking and detecting AI-generated or manipulated audio, image, video and text content, including through machine-readable solutions where technically feasible. Deployers are guided on labelling deepfakes and AI-generated or manipulated text published to inform the public on matters of public interest.

Under the AI Act, users must also be informed when they are interacting with interactive AI systems, such as chatbots. The transparency requirements are intended to help people recognise when content has been generated or altered by AI and to reduce the risk of deception and manipulation.

The Commission has also published a set of the EU icons that deployers may use to label certain AI-generated content. The code does not replace the AI Act or future Commission guidelines on Article 50, which are expected before the transparency obligations begin to apply.

The Commission and the AI Board will now assess the code’s adequacy. If assessed positively, providers and deployers who sign the code may use its measures to help demonstrate compliance with the AI Act’s transparency rules.

Why does it matter?

The code is an important step in turning the AI Act’s transparency provisions into operational practice. Labelling and machine-readable marking rules could shape how platforms, AI providers, media organisations and other deployers handle synthetic text, images, audio and video. The measures are especially relevant for public-interest information, where undisclosed AI-generated or manipulated content can affect trust, elections, journalism and public debate.

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