Capacity development Archives | Page 2 of 289

OpenAI explains 5 AI value models transforming enterprise strategy

AI is beginning to reshape corporate strategy as organisations shift from isolated technology experiments to broader operational transformation.

According to OpenAI, businesses that treat AI as a collection of disconnected pilots risk missing the bigger structural change that the technology enables.

A new framework describes five value models through which AI can gradually reshape companies. The first stage focuses on workforce empowerment, where tools such as ChatGPT spread AI capabilities across teams and improve everyday productivity.

Once employees develop fluency, organisations can introduce AI-native distribution models that transform how customers discover products and interact with digital services.

More advanced stages involve specialised systems. Expert capability integrates AI into research, creative production, and domain-specific analysis, allowing professionals to explore a wider range of ideas and experiments.

Meanwhile, systems and dependency management introduce AI tools capable of safely updating interconnected digital environments, including codebases, documentation, and operational processes.

The final stage involves full process re-engineering through autonomous agents. In such environments, AI systems coordinate complex workflows across departments while maintaining governance, accountability, and auditability.

Organisations that successfully progress through these stages may eventually redesign their business models rather than merely improving efficiency within existing structures.

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New Coruna exploit kit targets iPhones running older iOS versions

The Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has identified a powerful exploit toolkit, Coruna, that targets Apple iPhones running iOS versions 13.0 to 17.2.1.

The toolkit contains five complete exploit chains and 23 exploits designed to compromise devices using previously unseen techniques and mitigation bypasses.

Parts of the exploit chain were first detected in early 2025, when a client of a commercial surveillance vendor used them. Later investigations revealed the same framework in highly targeted attacks against Ukrainian users linked to a suspected Russian espionage group.

Toward the end of the year, the toolkit resurfaced in large-scale campaigns linked to financially motivated actors operating from China.

Coruna relies on a sophisticated JavaScript framework that identifies iPhone models and their iOS versions before delivering the appropriate WebKit remote code execution exploit and additional bypass techniques.

Several vulnerabilities exploited by the toolkit had previously been treated as zero-day flaws, highlighting the growing circulation of advanced cyber-attack tools among multiple threat actors.

Google warned that the payload can steal sensitive data, including financial and cryptocurrency wallet information, and allows attackers to deploy additional modules remotely.

The company has added related malicious domains to Safe Browsing and urged users to install the latest iOS updates, noting that the exploit kit does not affect the newest version of Apple’s operating system.

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Major crypto exchanges in South Korea face new ownership limits

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party and the Financial Services Commission have agreed to cap major shareholder stakes in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%. Exceptions of up to 34% would apply to new businesses to support early-stage operators.

Large exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb will have 3 years to comply, while smaller platforms will receive an additional 3-year grace period.

Current ownership exceeds the proposed cap, with Upbit at 25.5%, Bithumb at 73.6%, and Coinone at 53.4%. Korbit’s pending acquisition would give Mirae Asset Consulting 92% ownership, highlighting the extent of concentrated holdings in the market.

The cap seeks to curb governance risks from concentrated shareholding, following the FSC’s January 2026 proposal. The move gained urgency after Bithumb’s accidental $43 billion Bitcoin transfer, which raised concerns about internal controls.

The ownership limit will likely be included in South Korea’s upcoming Digital Asset Basic Act, alongside rules on stablecoins and crypto ETFs.

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U Mobile named Malaysia’s fastest 5G network in 2025

U Mobile has been ranked Malaysia’s fastest 5G network for the third and fourth quarters of 2025, according to Ookla Speedtest Awards data drawn from millions of real-world user tests.

The result is attributed to the company’s ULTRA5G network, which deploys advanced antenna technologies, including 64T64R systems and extremely large antenna arrays, to boost coverage and handle heavier data traffic.

Chief Technology Officer Woon Ooi Yuen said the recognition validates the company’s infrastructure investments, emphasising that the award reflects actual user experience rather than controlled lab conditions.

U Mobile is targeting 5G coverage across 80% of populated areas in Malaysia by the second half of 2026, with its rollout said to be ahead of schedule.

Beyond coverage expansion, U Mobile has signed a memorandum of understanding with ZTE Malaysia to explore AI-native capabilities in its 5G core network.

The collaboration centres on integrating AI tools for traffic prediction, automated network management, and security monitoring, with digital twin technology potentially allowing engineers to simulate changes before deployment.

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China strengthens online safeguards for minors

Chinese authorities have introduced new rules to classify online content that could affect the health and well-being of minors. Set to take effect on 1 March, the measures aim to adapt to a rapidly evolving internet landscape.

Top government bodies, including those in cyberspace, education, publishing, film, culture, tourism, public security, and radio and television, jointly released the initiative. Together, they outlined four categories of content that could negatively impact minors and specified their key characteristics.

Recent issues, such as the misuse of minors’ images, have been integrated into the regulatory framework. Authorities also established preventive guidelines to manage risks from emerging technologies, including algorithmic recommendations and generative AI.

Internet platforms and content producers are now required to take both proactive and corrective measures against harmful content. The rules emphasise that platforms must monitor, block, or remove information that could affect minors’ well-being.

The Cyberspace Administration of China pledged to continue purifying the online environment. Authorities will urge platforms to assume their primary responsibilities and strengthen governance of content affecting young users, aiming to create a safer and healthier digital space for children.

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Sovereign AI becomes a strategic question for governments

Governments across the world are increasingly treating AI as a strategic capability that shapes economic development, public services and national security. Momentum behind the idea of ‘sovereign AI’ is growing as countries reassess who controls the chips, cloud infrastructure, data and models powering modern technology.

Complete control over the entire AI stack remains unrealistic for most economies because of the enormous financial and technological costs involved. Global infrastructure continues to rely heavily on US technology firms, which still operate a large share of data centres and AI systems worldwide.

Policy makers are therefore exploring different approaches to sovereignty across the AI ecosystem rather than pursuing total independence. Strategies range from building domestic computing capacity to adapting global AI models for national languages, regulations and public services.

Several countries already illustrate different approaches. The EU is investing billions in AI infrastructure, Canada protects sensitive computing resources while using global models, and India prioritises applications that serve its multilingual population through public digital systems.

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Nokia and Google Cloud bring AI agents to telecom network APIs

Scripts, manual rules, and layered software tools traditionally ran telecom networks. A new collaboration between Google Cloud and Nokia suggests a shift: software agents can respond to goals rather than just detailed instructions.

The companies are integrating agent-based AI into Nokia’s Network as Code platform, which exposes telecom capabilities through application programming interfaces (APIs). The system allows developers to build applications that interact directly with network features such as connectivity quality, device location checks, or network slicing.

The Google-Nokia partnership introduces an AI layer that enables software agents to determine which network functions to use to achieve a goal. Such changes make development more efficient, as the AI agent can interpret instructions, automatically select the appropriate network capabilities, and reduce the need for developers to call APIs one step at a time manually.

Such automation is increasingly being explored as telecom infrastructure grows more complex with 5G, edge computing, and billions of connected devices. New features such as network slicing provide flexibility for industrial applications, private enterprise networks, and specialised connectivity, but also add operational complexity for operators.

Industry groups, including the GSMA and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, are developing frameworks to support network APIs and automation. While agent-based AI could help networks operate more like programmable platforms, telecom operators must still address questions around reliability, security, and interoperability before large-scale deployment becomes feasible.

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Data centres’ expansion in London sparks energy and climate debate

London authorities are drafting new data centre policies amid concerns about their environmental impact and rising energy use. City Hall aims to balance the sector’s economic advantages with pressures on electricity, water, and emissions.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) estimates that 10 large data centres generate around 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions due to their high electricity consumption. Of the 100 data centres the UK plans, about 60 will be in London.

Megan Life, assistant director for environment and energy at the GLA, told the London Assembly Environment Committee the new strategy aims to ‘keep hold of the kind of economic growth benefits that data centres offer’ while addressing some ‘quite challenging’ impacts linked to their energy use.

Deputy mayor for environment Mete Coban said the expansion of data centres brings both ‘big benefits’ and ‘massive challenges’ for the capital, particularly in terms of energy and water consumption. ‘It’s not just a London problem, it’s going to be a global problem,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s about making sure that our environment doesn’t suffer in the hands of a few global corporations who will take and not give back, so we want to make sure we equitably do this.’

Policymakers are assessing how data centre growth may affect climate goals and urban infrastructure. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has commissioned a study to forecast future expansion. At the same time, UK lawmakers have launched an inquiry into the environmental impact of the sector as demand for cloud computing and AI infrastructure grows.

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Online privacy faces new pressures in the age of social media

Online privacy is eroding as digital services collect ever-growing personal data and surveillance becomes part of daily technology use. The debate has intensified as social media platforms, advertisers, and connected devices expand their ability to track behaviour, preferences, and habits.

Analysts say younger generations have adapted to this reality rather than resisting it. ‘In 2026, online privacy is a luxury, not a right,’ says Thomas Bunting, an analyst at the UK innovation think tank Nesta. He argues many people have grown up accepting data collection as a trade-off for access to online services, noting: ‘We’ve been taught how to deal with it.’

Advocates warn that the erosion of online privacy could have wider social consequences. Cybersecurity expert Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey says the issue goes beyond personal privacy. ‘People should care about online privacy because it shapes who has power over their lives,’ he says, arguing that privacy is ‘about having something to protect: freedom of thought, experimentation, dissent and personal development without permanent surveillance.’

Despite a growing number of privacy tools and regulations, data exposure remains widespread. According to Statista, more than 1.35 billion people were affected by data breaches, hacks, or exposure in 2024 alone. At the same time, more than 160 countries now have privacy legislation, while users regularly encounter cookie consent prompts that govern how their data is collected online.

Experts say frustration with privacy controls reflects a broader ‘privacy paradox’, in which people express concern about data protection but rarely change their behaviour. Cisco’s Consumer Privacy Survey found that while 89% of respondents said they care about privacy, only 38% actively take steps to protect their data.

As philosopher Carissa Véliz notes, the challenge is not simply awareness but a sense of agency: ‘Mostly, people don’t feel like they have control.’ She argues that protecting privacy requires stronger regulation, responsible technology design, and cultural change, adding: ‘It’s about having [access to] the right tech, but also using it.’

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Global AI race intensifies as China claims leadership in strategic technologies

China asserted its position as the global leader in AI and strategic technology R&D, pledging to accelerate advancement toward technological autonomy. The assertion was prominently featured in government reports presented to the National People’s Congress.

A National Development and Reform Commission report states that China leads international research, development, and implementation in AI, biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology. The report also references advancements in domestic chip innovation as proof of progress.

Competition between China and the United States for dominance in advanced technologies has escalated. Washington imposed export controls on advanced chips, while Beijing retaliated with restrictions on rare earth resources, escalating trade tensions over strategic technologies.

The report also highlighted the country’s global leadership in open-source AI models and its expansion into emerging technology sectors, including industrial robots and drones. Authorities pledged to nurture future industries such as quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G networks, while promoting large-scale AI deployment across key sectors.

Officials also plan to launch new data centres, coordinate nationwide computing capacity, and establish mechanisms to prevent AI security risks. The strategy places particular emphasis on embodied AI to boost productivity and performance across sectors. Although US firms command larger investment resources, Beijing is relying on supply chains, manufacturing capacity, and rapid R&D cycles to scale emerging industries despite questions about long-term growth.

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