Capacity development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

EU updates voluntary code for labelling AI-generated content

The European Commission has released a second draft of its voluntary Code of Practice on marking and labelling AI-generated content, designed to support compliance with transparency rules under the Artificial Intelligence Act.

Published on 5 March, the updated draft reflects feedback from hundreds of stakeholders, including industry groups, academic researchers, policymakers, and civil society organisations.

Revisions follow consultations held in early 2026 as part of the broader rollout of the EU’s AI regulatory framework.

The proposed code outlines technical approaches for identifying AI-generated material. A two-layered system using secure metadata and digital watermarking is recommended, with optional fingerprinting, logging, and verification to improve detection.

Guidelines also address how platforms and publishers should label deepfakes and AI-generated text related to matters of public interest. Public feedback is open until 30 March, with the final code expected in early June before transparency rules take effect on 2 August 2026.

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MIT scientists develop AI system to improve robot planning

Researchers at MIT have developed a hybrid AI framework designed to improve how robots plan and perform complex visual tasks. The approach combines generative AI with classical planning software, allowing machines to analyse images, simulate actions, and generate reliable plans to reach a goal.

The system relies on two specialised vision-language models. One model analyses an image, describes the environment, and simulates possible actions, while a second model converts those simulations into a formal programming language used for planning.

Generated files are then processed by established planning software to produce a step-by-step strategy.

Testing showed a significant improvement compared with existing techniques. The framework achieved an average success rate of about 70 percent, while many baseline methods reached roughly 30 percent.

Performance remained strong in unfamiliar scenarios, demonstrating the system’s ability to adapt to changing conditions.

The method could support applications such as robot navigation, autonomous driving, and multi-robot assembly systems. Continued development aims to handle more complex environments and reduce errors caused by AI model hallucinations.

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UNESCO and African network advance AI in justice

AI is increasingly shaping Africa’s courts, from translation tools to legal search engines. As AI becomes more integrated, judicial actors face new questions around transparency, accountability, and human rights.

Thirty-one members of the African Network of Judicial Trainers (ANJT) gathered in Maputo for a regional workshop on AI, Justice, and Human Rights.

Participants included judicial directors, Supreme Court justices and senior magistrates who shared strategies for responsibly integrating AI into courts. UNESCO highlighted the importance of keeping justice human-centred amid technological change.

Discussions examined the benefits of AI-assisted translation and data analysis, alongside risks such as bias, discrimination, and opacity.

UNESCO introduced practical resources, including the Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals and AI Essentials for Judges, to help judicial professionals implement ethical practices.

Workshop participants committed to adapting these materials into national training curricula, aiming to multiply knowledge across African judicial systems. ANJT and UNESCO emphasised that AI adoption should enhance efficiency without compromising fairness or the rule of law.

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Amazon launches Health AI to assist with medical queries

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered assistant, Health AI, on its website and mobile app. The tool is designed to answer health questions, explain medical records, manage prescriptions, and connect users with healthcare providers.

Health AI can also book appointments and guide users based on their health information if they grant access to their records. The feature is currently limited to the US, with a wider rollout planned in the coming weeks.

The assistant is linked with One Medical, Amazon’s healthcare service, allowing users to communicate with licensed professionals through messages, video consultations, or in-person visits. It can also send prescription renewal requests and suggest relevant health products.

Users can create an Amazon Health Profile and enable two-step authentication to start using Health AI. By allowing the AI to access their medical records, including medications, lab results, and diagnoses, users can receive more personalised responses.

Amazon emphasises that Health AI is a support tool rather than a replacement for doctors. It helps users understand health information and prepare for discussions with healthcare providers, but it does not provide independent diagnoses or treatment.

As part of an introductory offer, eligible US Prime members can receive up to five free message consultations with One Medical providers. The system runs on Amazon Bedrock and uses multiple AI agents to manage tasks, monitor interactions, and escalate to human professionals when necessary.

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AI agents platform NemoClaw targets enterprise tools in Nvidia strategy

Nvidia is reportedly preparing to launch an open-source platform for AI agents, according to sources familiar with the company’s plans.

The platform, internally known as NemoClaw, is being pitched to enterprise software companies and would enable businesses to deploy AI agents to perform tasks for employees. Companies will be able to access the platform regardless of whether their products run on Nvidia hardware.

The initiative comes ahead of Nvidia’s annual developer conference in San Jose next week. The company has reportedly approached firms including Salesforce, Cisco, Google, Adobe, and CrowdStrike to explore potential partnerships for the platform. However, it remains unclear whether any formal agreements have been reached.

Sources say the open-source platform could offer early access to partners in exchange for contributions to the project, while also including built-in security and privacy tools designed for enterprise environments. Interest in the project reflects enthusiasm around open-source AI ‘claws,’ agents that run locally and autonomously handle multi-step tasks with less human oversight.

However, the use of autonomous agents in corporate environments remains controversial. Some technology companies have reportedly restricted their use on work devices due to concerns about unpredictability and security risks.

For Nvidia, NemoClaw may also represent a broader effort to expand its influence beyond hardware. By supporting open-source AI agents, the company could strengthen its position in enterprise AI infrastructure, even as several major AI developers are building their own chips.

NVIDIA has not publicly commented on the reported plans. Representatives from several companies linked to the project also declined to comment.

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AI-driven education push reshapes Chungnam National University strategy

Chungnam National University aims to become a leading centre for AI-driven education in Korea as AI reshapes how universities teach, learn, and manage operations. University President Kim Jeong-kyoum said higher education institutions must rethink how they approach AI and prepare for the profound changes AI-driven education is expected to bring across society.

‘AI will undoubtedly bring significant changes across industries and in our daily lives,’ Kim told The Korea Times in a recent interview. ‘Universities need to approach this shift with an open mindset and be ready to accept it. I want Chungnam National University to become a university that uses AI better than anyone else.’

While acknowledging that the phrase ‘AI-leading university’ is increasingly common, Kim said the university’s real priority is integrating AI into teaching practically. The institution is considering incorporating AI-related elements into more than 30 percent of its curriculum to ensure students gain hands-on experience with the technology and support the expansion of AI-driven education across disciplines.

‘We want to teach students how to use AI effectively in practice,’ he said. ‘Professors need to use and understand AI themselves to teach it properly, and students also need systematic training on how to use these tools well.’

Beyond the classroom, the university also plans to introduce AI into administrative systems to improve campus operations. ‘Administration is often the hardest part of a university to change,’ Kim said. ‘That’s why we believe introducing AI into administrative systems first could be particularly meaningful.’

The university is also expanding research through its Glocal Lab project, which aims to strengthen Chungnam National University’s role in AI-driven pharmaceutical and biotechnology research. The initiative is expected to more directly connect academic research with industry and support the development of specialised talent, strengthening the university’s broader ambitions in AI-driven education and innovation.

Kim said, ‘Until now, there have been clear limits to translating the university’s strong basic research into applications in local industries. We expect the Glocal Lab project to help bridge that gap by connecting academic research more directly with the industrial field.’

The project will integrate AI, mathematical sciences, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology research into a unified R&D platform. ‘Ultimately, the Glocal Lab project will help the university grow into a global R&D hub,’ Kim said. ‘By creating high-quality jobs locally, it can also help curb the outflow of talented young people to the Seoul metropolitan area and foster a virtuous cycle of regional settlement and innovation.’

The university is also enhancing internationalisation efforts, aiming to increase the share of international students to 10 percent while expanding global partnerships and strengthening its global profile in AI-driven education. ‘Universities should take the lead in presenting new models in a global society,’ Kim said. ‘By doing so, these ideas can spread beyond campus and ultimately influence local industries and businesses.’

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AI deepfakes detection expands on YouTube for politicians and journalists

YouTube is expanding its likeness-detection technology designed to identify AI-generated deepfakes, extending access to a pilot group of government officials, political candidates, and journalists.

The tool allows participants to detect unauthorised AI-generated videos that simulate their faces and request removal if the content violates YouTube policies. The system builds on technology launched last year for around four million creators in the YouTube Partner Program.

Similar to YouTube’s Content ID system, which detects copyrighted material in uploaded videos, the likeness detection feature scans for AI-generated faces created with deepfake tools. Such technologies are increasingly used to spread misinformation or manipulate public perception by making prominent figures appear to say or do things they never did.

According to YouTube, the pilot programme aims to balance free expression with safeguards against AI impersonation, particularly in sensitive civic contexts.

‘This expansion is really about the integrity of the public conversation,’ said Leslie Miller, YouTube’s vice president of Government Affairs and Public Policy. ‘We know that the risks of AI impersonation are particularly high for those in the civic space. But while we are providing this new shield, we’re also being careful about how we use it.’

Removal requests will be assessed individually under YouTube’s privacy policy rules to determine whether the content constitutes parody or political critique, which remain protected forms of expression. Participants must verify their identity by uploading a selfie and a government-issued ID before accessing the tool. Once verified, they can review detected matches and submit removal requests for content they believe violates policy.

YouTube also said it supports the proposed NO FAKES Act in the United States, which aims to regulate the unauthorised use of an individual’s voice or visual likeness in AI-generated media. AI-generated videos on the platform are already labelled, though label placement varies depending on the topic’s sensitivity.

‘There’s a lot of content that’s produced with AI, but that distinction’s actually not material to the content itself,’ said Amjad Hanif, YouTube’s vice president of Creator Products. The company said it plans to expand the technology over time to detect AI-generated voices and other intellectual property.

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Gigabyte pushes accessible AI computing strategy at Mobile World Congress

Taiwanese computer manufacturer Gigabyte is expanding its AI strategy, focusing on making AI computing more widely accessible. Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Gigabyte outlined its vision of ‘democratising AI’ by delivering infrastructure that ranges from data centre systems to tools that allow individuals to build and run AI models at home.

‘We believe that AI will be good for everyone when it’s more accessible to more people,’ said Jack Chou, brand marketing specialist at Gigabyte Technology.

Founded in 1986, the company initially built its reputation as one of the world’s leading motherboard manufacturers. The company has since expanded into full-stack AI infrastructure, telecom networking systems, and specialised AI supercomputers.

According to Chou, the company’s strategy reflects a shift from traditional consumer computing toward broader empowerment through AI. ‘In the past, we provided computing solutions for end users that might be used more for entertainment and gaming, but now we believe we’re empowering more people with AI computing,’ he said.

Gigabyte is also exploring physical AI systems, including robots for tasks such as automated assembly line monitoring and quality control in manufacturing environments. These systems rely on AI models trained in data centres and deployed through embedded industrial computing platforms that allow machines to interact with real-world environments.

As demand for AI infrastructure grows, Gigabyte is prioritising sustainability by investing in energy-saving cooling technologies such as direct liquid and immersion cooling for its data centres.

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Sustainable AI discussed by UNESCO and Saudi leaders under Vision 2030

Leaders from government, academia, and industry gathered to emphasise that sustainable AI must shape efficient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible systems. The discussion focused on embedding sustainability, ethics, and human-centred principles throughout the AI lifecycle by adopting a sustainable-by-design approach.

The workshop was built on Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in AI and digital transformation through the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI). The efforts are supported by significant investments in cloud infrastructure and data centres under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme. Participants highlighted that sustainable AI must become a core principle in the development of emerging digital infrastructure and AI-powered services.

Abdulrahman Habib, Director of the International Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics (ICAIRE), highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing leadership in AI ethics and governance. With national AI Ethics Principles and a maturing regulatory landscape, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a global contributor to responsible AI dialogue, translating principles into operational governance systems rather than just policy statements.

Leona Verdadero of UNESCO highlighted two core concepts: Greening with AI, which uses AI to accelerate sustainability, and Greening of AI, which ensures systems are energy-efficient, ethical, and human-centred. She stressed that effective AI governance requires collaboration and industry leadership at every stage of development.

Per Ola Kristensson from the University of Cambridge urged action beyond rhetoric, stressing that true AI sustainability means developing technology to augment, not replace, human potential. Industry presentations reinforced that sustainable AI drives real-world progress. Companies like RECYCLEE optimise resource recovery, Remedium reduces environmental impacts in healthcare and infrastructure, and IDOM strengthens sustainability reporting through AI-enhanced design.

UNESCO supports Saudi Arabia’s drive for inclusive, ethical, and sustainable AI ecosystems, framing sustainable AI as critical in the global transition to green digital transformation.

Faisal Al Azib, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Network Saudi Arabia, stated: ‘As the Kingdom advances its digital transformation under Vision 2030, we have a responsibility to ensure that innovation advances hand in hand with sustainability and human dignity.’

Al Azib concluded: ‘Sustainable AI is central to building resilient, future-ready businesses. Through partnerships with UNESCO and our local ecosystem, we aim to equip companies with the governance tools to embed responsible, energy-efficient, and human-centred AI into their core strategies.’

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Moltbook founders join Meta’s AI research lab

Meta Platforms has acquired Moltbook, a social networking platform designed for AI agents. The deal brings co-founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr into Meta’s AI research division, the Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, and the founders are expected to start on 16 March.

Moltbook, launched in January, allows AI-powered bots to exchange code and interact socially in a Reddit-like environment. The platform has sparked debate on AI autonomy and real-world capabilities, highlighting growing competition among tech giants for AI talent and technology.

Industry figures have offered differing views on the platform’s significance. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called Moltbook a potential fad but acknowledged its underlying technology hints at the future of AI agents.

Meanwhile, Anthropic’s chief product officer, Mike Krieger, noted that most users are not ready to grant AI full autonomy over their systems.

The platform’s growth also highlighted security risks. Cybersecurity firm Wiz reported a vulnerability that exposed private messages, email addresses, and credentials, which was resolved after the owners were notified.

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