Capacity development

UNESCO expands multilingual learning through LearnBig

The LearnBig digital application is expanding access to learning, with UNESCO supporting educational materials in national and local languages instead of relying solely on dominant teaching languages.

A project that aligns with International Mother Language Day and reflects long-standing research showing that children learn more effectively when taught in languages they understand from an early age.

The programme supports communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border, where children gain literacy and numeracy skills in both Thai and their mother tongues.

Young learners can make more substantial academic progress with this approach, which allows them to remain connected to their cultural identity rather than being pushed into unfamiliar linguistic environments. More than 2,000 digital books are available in languages such as Karen, Myanmar, and Pattani Malay.

LearnBig was developed within the ‘Mobile Literacy for Out-of-School Children’ programme, backed by partners including Microsoft, True Corporation, POSCO 1% Foundation and the Ministry of Education of Thailand.

An initiative by UNESCO that has reached more than 526,000 learners, with young people in Yala using tablets to access digital books, while learners in Mae Hong Son study through content presented in their local languages.

The project illustrates the potential of digital innovation to bridge linguistic, social, and geographic divides.

By supporting children who often fall outside formal education systems, LearnBig demonstrates how technology can help build a more inclusive and equitable learning environment rather than reinforcing existing barriers.

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Microsoft and OpenAI fund UK AI alignment project

OpenAI and Microsoft have joined the UK’s AI Security Institute, pledging funding to its Alignment Project, an international effort focused on ensuring advanced AI systems are safe, secure, and act as intended.

Their contributions bring total funding to over £27 million, supporting some 60 research projects across eight countries.

AI alignment aims to steer AI systems to behave predictably and prevent unintended or harmful outcomes. The project provides grants, computing resources, and mentorship, boosting public trust in AI while supporting productivity, medical progress, and new job opportunities.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and AI Minister Kanishka Narayan highlighted the importance of safe AI adoption. Lammy said strong safety foundations help the UK harness AI’s benefits, while Narayan stressed that public confidence is key to unlocking its full potential.

The Alignment Project operates with a global coalition including the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, and other partners.

By combining independent research teams, grant funding, and access to infrastructure, the initiative aims to keep increasingly capable AI systems reliable and controllable as they are deployed worldwide.

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AI model improves long-range space weather forecasts

Scientists from Southwest Research Institute and the National Center for Atmospheric Research, supported by the National Science Foundation, have created an experimental tool that could extend space weather forecasts from hours to several weeks.

Longer lead times would help operators protect satellites, navigation systems, and power infrastructure from solar disturbances. Research focuses on predicting where flare-producing solar active regions form.

By analysing magnetic data captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, scientists reconstructed hidden magnetic conditions beneath the Sun’s surface, showing that these regions follow structured magnetic bands rather than appearing randomly.

PINNBARDS, a physics-informed AI model, connects surface observations with deep tachocline dynamics that drive solar magnetic evolution. Better modelling could provide earlier warnings of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, helping protect communications and astronaut safety.

Funding from NASA and Stanford University supported the work. Researchers describe it as a foundation for next-generation forecasting systems capable of anticipating extreme solar activity with greater accuracy.

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Universities in India partner with OpenAI to scale AI education

OpenAI is expanding its footprint in India by partnering with leading higher-education institutions to integrate AI into teaching and research. The initiative aims to reach more than 100,000 students, faculty, and staff over the next year as India seeks to scale domestic AI skills.

Six public and private institutions, spanning engineering, management, medicine, anfd design, will participate in the first phase. Partners include the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

The programme focuses on embedding AI into core academic workflows rather than consumer experimentation. Campus-wide access to ChatGPT Edu, faculty training, and responsible-use frameworks will support applications in coding, research, analytics, and case analysis.

Two institutions will introduce OpenAI-backed certifications, while ed-tech platforms including Physics Wallah, upGrad, and HCL GUVI will extend structured AI training beyond campuses. The move coincides with broader investment by global AI firms as India hosts the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.

With India now OpenAI’s second-largest user base after the US, the company is positioning universities as a long-term channel for adoption. The expansion reflects a wider contest over who shapes how AI is taught, governed, and embedded across one of the world’s largest education systems.

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Reliance and OpenAI bring AI search to JioHotstar

OpenAI has joined forces with Reliance Industries to introduce conversational search into JioHotstar.

The integration uses OpenAI’s API so viewers can look for films, series, and live sports through multilingual text or voice prompts, receiving recommendations shaped by their viewing patterns instead of basic keyword results.

A collaboration that extends beyond the platform itself, with plans to surface JioHotstar suggestions directly inside ChatGPT.

The approach presents a two-way discovery layer that links entertainment browsing with conversational queries, pointing toward a new model for how audiences engage with streaming catalogues.

OpenAI is strengthening its footprint in India, where more than 100 million people now use ChatGPT weekly. The company intends to open offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru to support the expansion, adding to its site in New Delhi.

The partnership was announced at the India AI Impact Summit, where Sam Altman appeared alongside industry figures such as Dario Amodei and Sundar Pichai.

A move that aligns with a broader ‘OpenAI for India’ strategy that includes work on data centres with the Tata Group and further collaborations with companies such as Pine Labs, Eternal, and MakeMyTrip.

Executives from both sides said conversational interfaces will reshape how people find and follow programming, helping users navigate entertainment in a more natural way instead of relying on conventional menus.

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Nvidia partnerships bolster India’s bid to become AI hub

US chipmaker Nvidia unveiled partnerships with Indian computing and infrastructure firms at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as technology companies announced fresh investments. The agreements aim to expand AI data centre capacity and bolster India’s position in the global AI race.

Larsen & Toubro said it would work with Nvidia to build what it described as India’s largest gigawatt-scale AI factory, with planned sites in Chennai and Mumbai. Nvidia is also partnering with Yotta Data Services, which plans to deploy more than 20,000 Blackwell processors as part of a $2 billion investment.

The summit has drawn dozens of world leaders and ministerial delegations to discuss AI’s economic potential and associated risks, including job displacement and misinformation. India recently rose to third place in Stanford University’s annual AI competitiveness ranking, behind only the US and China.

Other deals followed. The Adani Group pledged $100 billion by 2035 for hyperscale AI-ready data centres, while Microsoft outlined plans to invest $50 billion to expand AI adoption in developing markets. Anthropic and Infosys also agreed to collaborate on AI agents for the telecoms industry.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders, including Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, are expected to issue a joint statement on AI governance. Analysts caution that nonbinding declarations may shape norms, but rapid industry advances could outpace legislative safeguards.

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Conversational AI comes to YouTube TV

YouTube is testing its conversational AI feature on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. The tool, previously available on mobile and desktop, appears as an Ask button marked with a Gemini sparkle icon.

The feature allows viewers to ask questions about videos, request summaries, receive related content suggestions, and select from prompts displayed on screen. Users can press the microphone button on their remote to interact with the AI while watching.

Currently, the tool is available to a limited group of users, on select videos, and supports English, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean. YouTube has not revealed when it will expand access to more users or regions.

By bringing conversational AI to TVs, YouTube aims to make viewing more interactive. Fans can now get answers or clarifications directly on the big screen without needing a phone or computer.

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AI enables live translation and sign language for Modi summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, showcasing the nation’s progress in AI. The address emphasised technological innovation and the role of AI in driving national development.

The address was dubbed live in 11 languages, including Assamese, Bangla, English, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. Audiences across India could follow the speech without language barriers.

An AI-enabled sign language interpreter appeared on a large screen behind the prime minister in the auditorium at Bharat Mandapam. The live interpretation made the event fully accessible to attendees with hearing impairments.

Videos of the multilingual and sign-language versions were widely shared on the prime minister’s social media accounts. The initiative highlighted India’s growing use of AI tools to promote inclusivity and communication innovation.

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AI innovations reshape food assistance in India

The UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit in New Delhi showcased innovations transforming food assistance delivery in India, with AI playing a central role in improving efficiency and access.

Innovations ranged from biometric grain dispensers and smart warehouses to crisis-mapping platforms and AI communication avatars, highlighting how data and machine learning are improving food and nutrition systems.

The Annapurti ‘grain ATM’ stood out, enabling beneficiaries to authenticate with biometrics and collect rations quickly, accurately, and 24/7. According to WFP India Representative Elisabeth Faure, the system lets families access grain without losing a day’s wages.

It is being scaled nationally and expanded to neighbouring Nepal. Smart warehouses and route-optimisation tools also enhance supply-chain efficiency, reduce spoilage, and cut carbon emissions in India’s extensive public distribution network.

Global platforms showcased predictive analytics and emergency logistics tools, designed to improve operational efficiency and forecasting accuracy by 30–50 percent, according to Magan Naidoo.

A parallel hackathon encouraged local solutions, including linking school meals with nutrition gardens, mobile nutrition apps, and predictive tools for child malnutrition, demonstrating the value of grassroots innovation.

UN Resident Coordinator in India noted that India’s digital leadership allows solutions developed locally to be scaled globally. WFP said AI alone cannot end hunger, but combining it with partnerships, policy, and local innovation can greatly boost humanitarian impact.

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India AI Impact Summit faces controversy over robotic dog claim

An Indian university has vacated its stall at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi after a staff member presented a commercially available Chinese robotic dog as a university-developed innovation. The episode has sparked criticism and drawn attention to India’s AI ambitions.

Footage showed a professor introducing the robot, named Orion, as developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University. Social media users later identified the device as the Unitree Go2, produced by Unitree Robotics in China and widely used for research and education.

The Indian IT minister initially shared the video before deleting the post. The university later clarified that the robot was not its own creation and said no official communication had confirmed its removal from the event. However, local reports indicated that the stall had been vacated.

The incident occurred during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, billed as a major AI gathering in the Global South. The event has also faced reports of overcrowding and logistical issues, even as more than $100 billion in AI-related investments were announced.

Opposition politicians in India criticised the government over the episode, arguing it undermined India’s credibility in the global AI race. Despite the controversy, the summit continues with high-profile participation from global technology leaders and heads of government.

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