Capacity development Archives | Page 13 of 327

Adobe launches a free AI learning tool for students

The US software company, Adobe, has introduced Student Spaces, a free AI study tool within Acrobat designed to help students generate learning materials efficiently.

Users can create flashcards, quizzes, mind maps, podcasts, and editable presentations from PDFs, Docs, PowerPoint, Excel, URLs, and handwritten notes.

The tool builds on Acrobat’s AI features, now allowing students to interact with a chat assistant grounded in uploaded documents, reducing errors.

Tested with 500 students from universities including Harvard, Berkeley, and Brown, Adobe emphasises convenience, letting students generate study materials without constantly moving files.

The goal is to simplify study workflows and support learning across multiple document types.

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

MIT system boosts data centre storage efficiency

Researchers from MIT have developed a software-based system designed to improve the efficiency of data centre storage by addressing performance variability across pooled solid-state drives (SSDs). The approach targets inefficiencies that persist when multiple devices are shared across applications in large-scale environments.

The Sandook system identifies and manages three key sources of SSD variability, including hardware differences, read-write interference, and unpredictable garbage collection. Instead of treating these issues separately, the method addresses them simultaneously to improve overall throughput.

Sandook uses a two-tier architecture combining a global controller, which assigns workloads across the storage pool, and local controllers on each device that respond in real time to performance slowdowns. The design enables the system to redistribute tasks and reduce strain on underperforming drives dynamically.

Testing on workloads such as machine learning training, databases, and image compression showed performance gains of up to 94 percent compared with traditional methods, along with higher overall storage utilisation.

The approach could extend the lifespan of existing infrastructure and reduce the need for additional hardware investment. The shift may improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness while making more sustainable use of existing computing resources and limiting the pace of hardware replacement.

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

UK Research and Innovation review calls for reform at The Alan Turing Institute

An independent review by UK Research and Innovation has assessed the performance of The Alan Turing Institute. The evaluation examined whether the institute meets expectations as a national centre for AI and data science.

Findings recognise scientific excellence, strong partnerships and valuable contributions within the UK research system. However, the review identifies the need for a clearer strategic purpose and stronger delivery.

The panel concludes that alignment with national priorities and value for money is not yet satisfactory. Recommendations include improved governance, clearer prioritisation and renewed external scientific scrutiny.

Additional proposals call for stronger stakeholder engagement and a defined mission focused on resilience, security and defence. A framework for value for money is also expected to be agreed with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

UK Research and Innovation will work with the institute’s leadership and partners to implement the changes. A development plan is expected by September 2026, with further assessment to follow.

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

CNN develops agent infrastructure for AI media trading

CNN is developing an internal agent infrastructure as part of a plan to begin AI-driven media trading by early 2027. The company aims to complete protocol scoping by the end of the second quarter before moving into testing phases later in the year.

Testing will focus on how properties are interpreted by large language models and how buyers allocate budgets to agent-based systems. Executives say the timeline may change as the technology and market conditions continue to evolve.

The initiative combines in-house development with external technology partners, while aligning with industry frameworks to ensure compatibility. CNN is also working with standards bodies to ensure agent communication produces accurate outcomes for buyers.

Agentic protocols enable systems to exchange information, negotiate pricing, and manage tasks autonomously between buyers and sellers. The company is prioritising consistent communication to support efficient and reliable transactions.

Early efforts are centred on learning and experimentation, even without immediate revenue generation. Initial use cases are expected to focus on performance-driven campaigns before expanding into broader advertising activities.

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

South Korea-France partnership reshapes AI and technology cooperation strategy

The recent state visit between South Korea and France signals a deepening of bilateral cooperation that extends beyond diplomacy into long-term technological and cultural alignment.

Agreements endorsed by President Lee Jae-myung and President Emmanuel Macron reflect a coordinated effort to strengthen shared capabilities in emerging sectors, while reinforcing institutional ties across research, education, and industry.

A central policy dimension lies in the expansion of cooperation in AI, semiconductors, and quantum technologies, areas increasingly tied to economic security and global competitiveness.

Partnerships between institutions such as KAIST and CNRS highlight a shift towards structured research integration, enabling joint innovation and knowledge transfer.

Such collaboration between South Korea and France is positioned not as an isolated scientific exchange, but as part of broader strategies to secure technological sovereignty and resilient supply chains.

Cultural and educational initiatives complement these ambitions by supporting long-term people-to-people engagement and workforce development. Expanded exchanges in creative industries and language education aim to cultivate talent pipelines that can operate across both economies.

Rather than symbolic diplomacy, these measures serve as enabling mechanisms for sustained cooperation in high-value sectors where human capital remains critical.

From a policy perspective, the agreements illustrate how economies are increasingly forming strategic partnerships to navigate global technological competition.

Instead of relying solely on domestic capacity, coordinated international frameworks are being used to manage innovation risks, diversify supply dependencies, and strengthen regulatory alignment.

The outcome will depend on implementation, yet the direction suggests a model of cooperation that blends economic, technological, and societal priorities.

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

Anthropic scales AI compute to meet rising global demand

AI company Anthropic has announced a major expansion of its compute infrastructure through a new partnership with Google and Broadcom, securing multiple gigawatts of next-generation TPU capacity expected to come online from 2027.

The increased compute supply is intended to support its frontier Claude models and meet rapidly growing global demand.

The company said the expansion reflects a continued strategy of scaling infrastructure to match accelerating customer growth. Demand for Claude has increased sharply in 2026, with revenue run-rate surpassing $30 billion and the number of high-spending business customers doubling in a short period.

Most new computing capacity will be based in the United States, aligning with broader investment plans in domestic AI infrastructure. The partnership builds on collaborations with Google Cloud and Broadcom, alongside continued use of multiple hardware platforms to improve performance and resilience.

Anthropic stated that diversifying compute across different providers helps optimise workloads and maintain reliability for enterprise users. Claude remains available across major cloud platforms, supporting its position in a competitive and rapidly scaling AI market.

The expansion reflects how rapidly growing demand for advanced AI systems is driving large-scale investment in underlying compute infrastructure, with potential implications for capacity, reliability, and the global distribution of AI development resources over time.

It also suggests how access to computing resources is becoming a key factor shaping competitiveness and innovation across the AI ecosystem.

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

Kazakhstan positions AI at heart of industrial strategy

Addressing the Digital Qazaqstan 2026 forum on 27 March, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov positioned AI as foundational infrastructure comparable to energy and transport networks, with three priorities centring on institutional foundations, digital infrastructure and human capital.

The government plans to develop sector-specific datasets and specialised AI language models for energy, mining, agriculture and logistics industries throughout 2026.

Kazakhstan is establishing a dedicated university focused on AI and rolling out the national AI-Sana programme to build an education ecosystem spanning schools, professional training and tech entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister Bektenov concluded by highlighting Kazakhstan’s competitive advantages, including affordable electricity and low latency for high-performance computing systems.

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

Microsoft commits $10 billion to Japan’s AI future

Microsoft Corporation announced a $10 billion investment in Japan over four years to expand AI infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity partnerships with the government. The investment aligns with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s strategy for economic growth through advanced technologies.

The company will collaborate with Japanese firms SoftBank and Sakura Internet to develop domestically-based AI computing capacity, allowing Japanese businesses and government agencies to store sensitive data locally whilst accessing Microsoft Azure services.

Why does it matter?

Microsoft plans to train 1 million engineers and developers by 2030 as part of the initiative to build Japan’s digital workforce in AI and emerging technologies. The investment addresses Japan’s growing demand for cloud and AI services as part of the company’s Asia-wide expansion strategy.

The announcement, made on 3 April, reflects Microsoft’s commitment to supporting Japanese technological advancement whilst maintaining data security. Sakura Internet’s share price jumped 20 percent following the news, signalling strong market confidence in the partnership.

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

Nova Scotia launches five person AI team to support government operations

Nova Scotia will recruit a five-person team to help integrate AI into provincial government operations, marking a more structured push to introduce AI tools into public service work across Canada. Jennifer LaPlante, deputy minister of cybersecurity and digital solutions, said the group will develop protocols for staff across departments as the province expands its use of AI.

The team is expected to identify tools that could improve productivity and efficiency in government work, including systems such as Microsoft Copilot for tasks like drafting documents and summarising information. The move suggests that Nova Scotia is shifting from limited experimentation towards a more organised approach to AI adoption in public administration.

Officials say existing rules already govern the use of some AI meeting tools and virtual assistants, while a broader responsible-use policy is still being developed. That places the province’s AI push within a wider effort to balance innovation with security, oversight, and system protection.

Funding will come from a C$4.4 million investment to establish AI capabilities during the current fiscal year. Part of that budget will go towards licences and software, with room for the team to grow over time.

The department has also launched an AI chatbot, Scottie, to answer public questions about government services. According to officials, the tool retrieves information from existing government sources rather than generating new content, suggesting an effort to limit risk while expanding AI use in public-facing services.

Taken together, the measures point to a broader effort to embed AI more formally into provincial government operations, not only through tools and staffing but also through internal rules governing its use.

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

World Economic Forum signals new phase for frontier technologies

Frontier technologies are entering a more explicitly geopolitical phase, according to discussions highlighted at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. Competition is increasingly defined by infrastructure, energy systems, supply chains and standards, rather than pure technological capability.

AI sits at the centre of this shift, with the main constraint moving from model performance to physical capacity. Rising electricity demand, grid limits and resource pressures are shaping large-scale data centre deployment, making energy infrastructure key to digital competitiveness.

New approaches are emerging to address these bottlenecks. Start-ups such as Emerald AI are developing software that enables data centres to adjust power consumption dynamically, shifting workloads, using stored energy and responding to grid conditions in real time.

Early demonstrations suggest potential reductions in peak demand, supporting more flexible integration with electricity systems.

Broader frontier technology trends reflect the same pattern, from robotics capital inflows in China to satellite infrastructure debates in Europe and accelerating post-quantum security standards.

Across sectors, infrastructure resilience and strategic coordination are becoming central to technological development. The shift matters because it reframes frontier technology as an infrastructure and governance issue rather than a purely innovation-driven race.

It reinforces the need to track how digital systems are increasingly constrained and enabled by energy, standards and cross-border coordination. Such a perspective helps explain where real power is concentrating in the global tech stack and where future regulatory and market tensions are likely to emerge.

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