Capacity development

MIT tool combines AI and physics for 3D printing

MIT researchers have developed a generative AI system called MechStyle that allows users to personalise 3D-printed objects while ensuring they remain durable and functional.

The tool combines AI-driven design with physics simulations, allowing everyday items such as vases, hooks, and glasses to be customised without compromising structural integrity.

Users can upload their own 3D models or select presets and use text or image prompts to guide the design. MechStyle modifies the geometry and simulates stress points to maintain strength, enabling unique, tactile, and usable creations.

The system can personalise aesthetics while preserving functionality, even for assistive devices like finger splints and utensil grips.

To optimise performance, MechStyle employs an adaptive scheduling strategy that checks only the critical areas of a model, reducing computation time. Early tests of 30 objects, including designs resembling bricks, cacti, and stones, showed up to 100% structural viability.

The tool offers a freestyle mode for rapid experimentation and a careful mode for analysing the effects of modifications. Researchers plan to expand MechStyle to generate entirely new 3D models from scratch and improve faulty designs.

The project reflects collaboration with Google, Stability AI, and Northeastern University and was presented at the ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication. Its potential extends to personal items, home and office décor, and even commercial prototypes for retail products.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EMA and FDA set AI principles for medicine

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have released ten principles for good AI practice in the medicines lifecycle. The guidelines provide broad direction for AI use in research, clinical trials, manufacturing, and safety monitoring.

The principles are relevant to pharmaceutical developers, marketing authorisation applicants, and holders, and will form the basis for future AI guidance in different jurisdictions. EU guideline development is already underway, building on EMA’s 2024 AI reflection paper.

European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi said the initiative demonstrates renewed EU-US cooperation and commitment to global innovation while maintaining patient safety.

AI adoption in medicine has grown rapidly in recent years. New pharmaceutical legislation and proposals, such as the European Commission’s Biotech Act, highlight AI’s potential to accelerate the development of safe and effective medicine.

A principles-based approach is seen as essential to manage risks while promoting innovation.

The EMA-FDA collaboration builds on prior bilateral work and aligns with EMA’s strategy to leverage data, digitalisation, and AI. Ethics and safety remain central, with a focus on international cooperation to enable responsible innovation in healthcare globally.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

AI-assisted money management adoption rises

Young adults in the UK are increasingly turning to AI for help with managing their finances, as many struggle to save and maintain control over spending.

A survey of 5,000 adults aged 28 to 40 found that impulse purchases and weak self-discipline frequently undermine savings, while most feel they could improve their financial knowledge.

AI-powered financial tools are gaining traction, particularly among those aged 28 to 34. Nearly two-thirds of respondents would trust AI to advise on disposable income, and over half would allow it to manage bills or prevent overdrafts.

However, nearly a quarter prefer to start with limited use, seeking proof of value before full engagement.

Regional differences highlight the uneven financial landscape in the UK. Londoners save significantly more than the national average, while cities such as Newcastle and Cardiff lag far behind.

Experts suggest fintech solutions must balance behavioural support with practical assistance and consider regional disparities to be effective.

Fintechs should prioritise tools that deliver immediate value over purely aspirational AI features. Modular tools and age- or region-specific solutions are likely to engage users, especially older millennials with rising financial responsibilities.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Russia moves to allow retail crypto access

Russia is moving to integrate cryptocurrency into everyday finance as lawmakers prepare a bill to allow retail participation under clear limits. The draft would remove crypto from special regulation, signalling broader adoption for the public.

Under the proposed framework, non-qualified investors would be able to buy crypto up to 300,000 rubles, roughly $3,800. Officials emphasise that these limits aim to prevent excessive speculation while providing controlled exposure to digital assets.

The move marks a significant change after years of tight restrictions and cautious oversight from financial authorities.

The legislation is designed with international use in mind, allowing tokens issued in Russia to participate in foreign markets and supporting cross-border settlements. Policymakers aim to integrate crypto into the economy while protecting retail investors.

Regulators, including the Bank of Russia and the Finance Ministry, continue to stress the importance of risk management. Limits and risk checks will ensure retail crypto use remains secure.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

PwC expert says AI can accelerate the energy transition

A senior PwC expert has outlined how AI can play a pivotal role in speeding up the transition to clean energy, particularly by improving forecasting, enhancing operational efficiency and enabling smarter planning of renewable systems.

According to the specialist, AI tools can analyse complex data from wind, solar and grid systems to predict output and optimise maintenance, helping utilities and policymakers make better decisions in real time.

AI also supports decarbonisation by modelling scenarios for energy demand and emissions, allowing energy planners to prioritise investments in technologies that deliver the most impact.

The expert emphasised that data integration and digital infrastructure are essential to unlock these benefits at scale, and cautioned that firms must pair AI’s technical capabilities with strong governance and clear regulatory frameworks.

PwC’s perspective reflects a broader industry belief that AI will be integral to managing increasingly complex energy systems, especially as countries pursue net-zero targets and integrate variable renewables into their grids.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

New UK research hub explores AI in the humanities

Researchers at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK are launching a Digital Futures Lab, focusing on virtual reality and AI in the humanities. The hub opens on 7 February.

The facility will support collaboration between academics, students, businesses and cultural organisations. Launch events will showcase practical uses of VR, AI and digital language tools across research and culture.

Speakers will discuss chatbots, algorithms and data analysis shaping modern arts and humanities research. The project builds on the university’s wider investment in cyber resilience and AI.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

IBM launches software focused on digital sovereignty and AI

The tech giant, IBM, has announced IBM Sovereign Core, a new software offering designed to help organisations deploy and manage AI-ready environments under sovereign control.

The product addresses growing regulatory and governance requirements as enterprises and governments seek greater authority over data, infrastructure and AI operations.

Digital sovereignty, according to IBM, extends beyond where data is stored and includes who controls systems, how access is governed and under which jurisdiction AI workloads operate.

IBM Sovereign Core is positioned as a foundational software layer that embeds sovereignty into operations instead of applying controls after deployment.

Built on Red Hat’s open-source technologies, the software enables customer-operated control planes, in-jurisdiction identity management and continuous compliance reporting. AI workloads, including inference and model hosting, can be governed locally without exporting data to external providers.

IBM plans to offer the software across on-premises environments, in-region cloud infrastructure and through selected service providers.

A technology preview is expected to begin in February, with full general availability planned for mid-2026.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

SEC chair looking ahead to the next phase of crypto regulation

SEC Chair Paul Atkins says US crypto market structure legislation is close to becoming law, with President Donald Trump expected to sign it soon. The move aims to end regulatory uncertainty and provide clear legal foundations for digital asset markets.

Atkins has openly backed Congress in defining the jurisdictional split between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, arguing that statutory clarity is essential for protecting investors and supporting institutional growth.

Supporters believe clear rules will replace enforcement-led interpretation and allow the sector to mature within established financial frameworks.

Progress is moving through Congress, with the Senate Banking Committee advancing the CLARITY Act while the Agriculture Committee continues negotiations. Despite disagreements and amendments, bipartisan support suggests the bill could reach the White House by the end of the first quarter.

Looking ahead, Atkins has linked the bill to long-term US competitiveness, stating that clear and principled regulation will encourage innovation and attract capital. Coordination between the SEC, CFTC and the White House is expected to be central to implementation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

TSMC expands global manufacturing as profits hit record

TSMC reported a strong fourth-quarter performance, posting a 35 percent rise in profit to a record level, supported by sustained demand for advanced chips.

The company forecast robust growth for 2026, citing continued customer interest and tight capacity, while highlighting expectations for a significant increase in revenue in the first quarter of the year.

The Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer confirmed that capital spending reached US$40.9 billion in 2025, slightly above earlier guidance, and indicated further increases ahead, with investment potentially rising to as much as US$56 billion in 2026 and accelerating later in the decade.

Ongoing projects include additional manufacturing capacity in the US, expansion in Japan, and continued investment in Taiwan.

TSMC also signalled that more US facilities may be planned, following earlier commitments to large-scale investment in Arizona.

Developments come amid discussions between Taiwan and the US on trade and tariffs, as well as broader policy efforts in Washington to encourage domestic semiconductor production.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Mars expands AI-driven food research

AI is no longer confined to chatbots and content tools. In the food and beverage sector, companies are utilising advanced AI systems to forecast consumer trends, expedite product development, and explore new ingredients for future products.

Mars, the multinational behind brands such as Dolmio, Pedigree, and Mars bars, is using AI to support its health and sustainability goals. Darren Logan, vice president of research at the Mars Advanced Research Institute, said the company is exploring plant compounds and alternative proteins.

Fermentation is also expanding Mars’ ingredient research by generating new chemical compounds through interactions between plants and microbes. Logan said combining plants with microbes increases chemical diversity, producing substances that would not otherwise exist.

The chocolate manufacturer partnered with UC Davis spin-out PIPA and its AI research platform LEAP to support this work. The system constructs knowledge graphs utilising scientific literature, databases, and the company’s proprietary data to establish connections between ingredients, microbes, and human health.

Logan said the platform helps reduce the time and cost of experimentation by guiding researchers towards more promising test options. Human oversight remains central to every AI-assisted decision.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!