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WHO convenes global summit on AI governance in healthcare

The World Health Organization has brought ministers and senior officials from 37 countries to Lisbon to develop a shared approach to AI health governance, patient safety and equitable access to emerging technologies.

The global conference, co-hosted by WHO/Europe and the Portuguese government, brings together representatives from all six WHO regions, alongside leaders from the European Commission, the World Bank, the Wellcome Trust, the Aga Khan University and the Gates Foundation.

WHO said its assessment of AI readiness across the European Region revealed a substantial gap between AI adoption and governance. Nearly two-thirds of countries already use AI in diagnostics, but only 8% have a health-specific AI strategy and only 8% have standards defining liability when AI systems fail.

The Lisbon meeting is organised around three pillars: regulation and accountability, tools and infrastructure for safe deployment, and the people and institutions responsible for implementing AI in practice. Rather than promoting a single model, WHO is exploring how countries at different levels of digital development can adapt common governance principles to their own health systems.

Discussions cover legal accountability, ethics, data governance, interoperability, workforce preparation and responsible investment. Participants also stressed that effective AI governance will be essential to ensure AI narrows rather than widens inequalities between well-resourced and under-resourced health systems.

The conference also includes a meeting involving Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. The session is intended to lay the foundations for cooperation on AI and health among Portuguese-speaking countries.

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said governments need a shared approach to governance, workforce training and equitable access. He warned that people are increasingly consulting generative AI chatbots about medical symptoms before speaking with healthcare professionals, highlighting the urgency of effective governance.

The conference opened with technical discussions on 13 and 14 July involving researchers, clinicians and international organisations. Ministerial sessions on 15 and 16 July are expected to translate those discussions into a practical agenda for international cooperation.

Why does it matter?

The conference reflects a growing recognition that healthcare is becoming one of the most important sectors for AI governance. As hospitals and health systems adopt AI more rapidly, governments are increasingly seeking common approaches to accountability, patient safety and regulatory oversight.

WHO’s findings also expose a widening governance gap: many countries are already deploying AI in clinical settings without dedicated strategies or clear liability frameworks. International cooperation could help countries develop compatible governance approaches while reducing inequalities in access to safe and trustworthy AI-enabled healthcare.

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India approves €13 billion Semicon 2.0 strategy

The Government of India has approved Semicon 2.0, a long-term strategy worth Rs. 1.275 trillion (approximately €13 billion) to accelerate the development of the country’s semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem.

Building on Semicon 1.0, the programme aims to strengthen India’s position across the semiconductor value chain through sustained public investment, industrial incentives and workforce development.

The strategy is organised around six pillars, such as semiconductor design, manufacturing equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging technologies, research and development, and talent development.

India plans to expand chip design capabilities, attract additional fabrication plants, encourage investment in ATMP and OSAT facilities, strengthen domestic production of critical materials and manufacturing equipment, and support the development of advanced semiconductor technologies.

The government also highlighted progress under Semicon 1.0. Twelve semiconductor manufacturing facilities have been approved with cumulative investments exceeding Rs. 1.64 trillion, covering silicon fabrication, silicon carbide, gallium nitride display manufacturing and advanced packaging. Three facilities have already entered commercial production, while additional projects are expected to become operational during 2026.

On the design side, 24 semiconductor startups have received financial support and 105 have gained access to advanced chip design tools to develop technologies for AI, IoT, telecommunications, satellite communications and smart devices.

According to the government, Semicon 2.0 is intended to strengthen India’s technological sovereignty, improve semiconductor supply chain resilience and establish the country as a globally competitive hub for semiconductor innovation, manufacturing and intellectual property.

Why does it matter?

Semicon 2.0 reflects the growing use of industrial policy to strengthen domestic semiconductor ecosystems amid global competition for advanced chip manufacturing. By investing across design, production, research and skills, India is seeking to reduce external dependencies while building long-term technological capacity.

The strategy also demonstrates that semiconductor competitiveness increasingly depends on developing the entire value chain rather than attracting fabrication plants alone. If successfully implemented, the programme could strengthen India’s position in global semiconductor supply chains while supporting wider ambitions in AI, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.

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Illinois issues AI guidance for schools with AI-assisted drafting disclosed

The Illinois State Board of Education has published comprehensive guidance on the use of AI in schools, while also disclosing that the 409-page document was itself developed with assistance from multiple AI models alongside human review.

The guidance was prepared following legislation adopted in 2025, with contributions from education, technology and public policy experts. Initial drafts drew ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, while human reviewers edited, verified and refined the final document.

The board detailed how AI was used throughout the drafting process, including producing early text, verifying publicly available resources, creating graphics and improving clarity. It stressed that all AI-generated information was independently reviewed and verified before publication.

The guidance emphasises that AI should support teaching and learning rather than replace human relationships or educational experiences. It also offers practical recommendations for selecting AI tools and promoting responsible, ethical and transparent AI use in schools.

The guidance is intended to help Illinois schools navigate both the opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption in education.

Why does it matter?

The guidance offers schools a practical framework for integrating AI while addressing issues such as academic integrity, privacy, transparency and the reliability of AI-generated content. As more education systems adopt AI, common governance principles may help schools use the technology more consistently and responsibly.

The document is also notable for openly disclosing how AI contributed to its own development. By documenting where AI was used and emphasising independent human verification, the Illinois State Board of Education models a level of transparency that could influence how other public institutions develop AI-assisted policies and guidance.

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South Korea showcases low-power AI networking technology

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has showcased low-power AI networking technology to an international audience as part of efforts to promote more energy-efficient communications infrastructure.

According to the ministry, the demonstration formed part of broader efforts to showcase domestic advances in AI and communications technologies and strengthen international cooperation.

The ministry released few technical details about the technology, instead presenting it as an example of South Korea’s research and development capabilities in AI networking and next-generation communications infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

Reducing the energy required to run AI infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as AI workloads expand. More efficient networking technologies could help lower operating costs and support wider deployment of AI systems while reducing their environmental impact.

Although the ministry released few technical details, the announcement reflects South Korea’s continued investment in AI and advanced communications technologies as part of its broader strategy to strengthen technological competitiveness and international collaboration.

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UNESCO highlights Learning Cities on World Youth Skills Day

UNESCO has highlighted how cities across its Global Network of Learning Cities are helping young people develop the skills needed for employment, active citizenship and sustainable development to mark World Youth Skills Day.

Through lifelong learning ecosystems, local governments, schools, training centres, employers and community organisations are working together to equip young people with practical, digital, entrepreneurial and leadership skills that respond to changing labour markets and wider societal needs.

The initiative highlights examples from Learning Cities around the world.

In Dakar, Senegal, programmes focus on digital entrepreneurship and employability, while Quezon City in the Philippines offers vocational education and technical certification to improve employment opportunities. Nairobi, Kenya, supports young entrepreneurs through business training, and Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrates how community engagement can strengthen sustainable development.

UNESCO also emphasises that youth skills extend beyond employment. Learning Cities promote leadership, civic participation and community engagement, with examples from Colombia and Ireland illustrating how lifelong learning helps young people become active contributors to their communities.

UNESCO also highlights how lifelong learning can support sustainability and cultural preservation. Initiatives linking young people with local heritage, environmental conservation and sustainable development demonstrate how education can strengthen both community resilience and future opportunities.

Why does it matter?

UNESCO’s initiative reflects a growing recognition that preparing young people for the future requires more than technical or digital skills alone. Lifelong learning is increasingly viewed as essential for supporting employment, civic participation, adaptability and resilience in societies shaped by rapid technological change.

The examples from Learning Cities also show how local governments can play a central role in skills development by bringing together education providers, employers and communities. As AI and digital transformation reshape labour markets, place-based lifelong learning policies may become an increasingly important part of workforce and development strategies.

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Three in four young Europeans have basic digital skills, Eurostat says

Nearly three out of four young people in the EU had at least basic digital skills in 2025, according to new Eurostat data released to mark World Youth Skills Day. However, the figures also reveal persistent disparities between Member States.

Denmark recorded the highest share of digitally skilled young people at 92.1%, followed by Czechia (91.7%) and Malta (91.5%). Bulgaria (52.8%) and Romania (53.3%) ranked lowest, remaining the only EU countries where fewer than six in ten young people possessed at least basic digital skills.

The data also show that young women outperformed young men across the EU. In 2025, 75.9% of women aged 16 to 24 had at least basic digital skills, compared with 73.3% of men.

Women recorded higher levels of digital skills in 22 EU member states, with the largest gaps in Cyprus, Slovenia and Austria. Men performed better in only five countries, with the widest differences in Malta and Romania.

Eurostat’s Digital Skills Indicator measures competencies across five areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving. Individuals are classified as having at least basic digital skills if they demonstrate at least one relevant activity in each area.

Why does it matter?

Digital skills are increasingly essential for education, employment and participation in the digital economy. While the latest figures show that most young Europeans possess at least basic digital competencies, the wide differences between Member States suggest that access to digital education and training remains uneven across the EU.

Closing these gaps will be important for achieving the EU’s Digital Decade objectives, which depend on a digitally skilled workforce capable of supporting economic competitiveness, innovation and the wider adoption of emerging technologies such as AI.

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AI is reshaping physics but raising new questions

AI is becoming an increasingly important tool in physics, helping researchers analyse large datasets, accelerate simulations and identify patterns that may be difficult to detect through conventional methods.

A Physics World feature examines how machine learning is already embedded in particle physics, including work at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, where researchers have used AI techniques in Higgs boson analyses and searches for new physics.

Newer approaches are also being used to detect unexpected anomalies in collider data, potentially helping physicists look beyond predictions based on existing theories.

The growing use of AI has renewed concern about the so-called black-box problem, in which researchers cannot fully explain how a system reaches its conclusions.

Physicists interviewed in the article argue that reproducibility, verification and rigorous review remain central to trust, even when AI models are not fully interpretable.

Applications now extend beyond particle physics into materials science, where autonomous systems and robotic laboratories can design, test and refine new materials.

Such systems could increasingly help decide which experiments to perform, speeding up discovery while shifting scientists towards more supervisory and interpretive roles.

Researchers caution, however, that AI should remain a tool for scientific inquiry rather than a substitute for reasoning, curiosity and critical judgement.

Why does it matter?

AI is changing how scientific knowledge is produced. In physics, it can help researchers process data at scales humans cannot manage alone, improve simulations and suggest new experimental directions. That could accelerate discoveries with wider technological impact, from advanced materials to energy systems and medical technologies. Greater reliance on AI also raises governance questions inside science itself. If results depend on systems that are difficult to interpret, scientific communities need strong methods for reproducibility, validation, peer review and accountability. The issue is not only whether AI can find patterns, but whether scientists can verify, explain, and responsibly build knowledge from them.

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UK establishes ministerial group to coordinate digital inclusion

The UK government has published the terms of reference for a new ministerial group created to coordinate digital inclusion policy across departments, aiming to improve access to digital services, technologies and skills.

The Ministerial Group for Digital Inclusion will set the government’s strategic direction, agree a shared vision and identify priorities for improving digital inclusion across the UK.

Its work will focus on embedding digital inclusion into policy design, public service delivery and existing government governance structures. The group will also monitor progress across departments with support from official-level bodies.

The forum brings together ministers responsible for key policy areas affecting digital inclusion, including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department of Health and Social Care, and Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The group will not have formal decision-making powers, with policy decisions remaining the responsibility of individual departments. Instead, it will coordinate common approaches and encourage joint action on digital inclusion priorities.

They will meet quarterly and be chaired by Baroness Lloyd of Effra, Minister for Digital Economy. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit will provide secretariat support.

Meetings will review strategy, implementation challenges, departmental cooperation and progress against agreed priorities, with the secretariat responsible for preparing papers and tracking agreed actions.

The ministerial group will be supported by the cross-government Digital Inclusion Strategy Board, while the government plans to publish meeting summaries and keep the group’s role under regular review.

Why does it matter?

Digital exclusion affects access to education, employment, healthcare and public services, making it a cross-government policy challenge rather than the responsibility of a single department. The new ministerial group is intended to improve coordination and ensure digital inclusion is considered more consistently across government.

Its success, however, will depend on whether departments translate shared priorities into funded programmes, measurable outcomes and lasting policy changes rather than treating the forum as a coordination mechanism alone.

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European Commission expands AI assistant across global DG INTPA network

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) has expanded the use of an AI assistant to support staff across its headquarters and delegations in more than 100 countries.

Launched in March 2026 and developed with Accenture, the AI assistant is tailored to DG INTPA’s internal procedures, terminology and policy work. According to Accenture, the platform has more than 2,000 regular users and has processed over 400,000 queries.

The assistant combines large language models with secure access to internal documents and internet connectivity to support policy, funding and operational tasks. The programme also includes staff training and human oversight to promote the responsible use of AI.

According to Accenture, the next phase will introduce agentic AI capabilities for selected workflows, alongside a user feedback mechanism to help refine the system.

Why does it matter?

The deployment illustrates how AI is moving from pilot projects to routine administrative support within public institutions. Rather than focusing only on productivity, the Commission is combining AI tools with governance measures such as staff training and human oversight to support responsible adoption.

The planned introduction of agentic AI also reflects a broader shift towards more autonomous workplace systems. If successful, DG INTPA’s experience could inform wider adoption of AI across EU institutions and other public administrations seeking to modernise policy and operational processes.

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UK launches £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund in Barnsley

The UK government has opened applications for the £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund under the Barnsley Tech Town programme to support AI skills development for workers, businesses and local communities.

Training providers, charities, colleges, businesses and technology companies across the UK can apply, provided their projects are delivered in Barnsley. Priority groups include manufacturing workers, older residents, small businesses and people entering the workforce.

The government said successful projects should demonstrate the potential to be scaled nationally. Lessons from the programme will contribute to its goal of equipping 10 million workers with AI skills by 2030.

Applications open on 15 July through the government’s Find a Grant platform. Barnsley Council said the funding forms part of wider plans to strengthen the town’s digital economy and support its manufacturing and logistics sectors.

Why does it matter?

The programme illustrates how AI policy is increasingly shifting from national strategies towards place-based implementation. By testing AI training programmes in a manufacturing-focused community, the government hopes to identify approaches that could be replicated elsewhere as AI adoption accelerates across the economy.

The initiative also reflects the growing recognition that AI competitiveness depends not only on developing new technologies but also on expanding workforce skills. Helping workers and small businesses adopt AI could improve productivity while reducing the risk that parts of the labour market are left behind during the transition.

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