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Rights before risks: Rethinking quantum innovation at WSIS+20

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, a powerful call was made to ensure the development of quantum technologies remains rooted in human rights and inclusive governance. A UNESCO-led session titled ‘Human Rights-Centred Global Governance of Quantum Technologies’ presented key findings from a new issue brief co-authored with Sciences Po and the European University Institute.

It outlined major risks—such as quantum’s dual-use nature threatening encryption, a widening technological divide, and severe gender imbalances in the field—and urged immediate global action to build safeguards before quantum capabilities mature.

UNESCO’s Guilherme Canela emphasised that innovation and human rights are not mutually exclusive but fundamentally interlinked, warning against a ‘false dichotomy’ between the two. Lead author Shamira Ahmed highlighted the need for proactive frameworks to ensure quantum benefits are equitably distributed and not used to deepen global inequalities or erode rights.

With 79% of quantum firms lacking female leadership and a mere 1 in 54 job applicants being women, the gender gap was called ‘staggering.’ Ahmed proposed infrastructure investment, policy reforms, capacity development, and leveraging the UN’s International Year of Quantum to accelerate global discussions.

Panellists echoed the urgency. Constance Bommelaer de Leusse from Sciences Po advocated for embedding multistakeholder participation into governance processes and warned of a looming ‘quantum arms race.’ Professor Pieter Vermaas of Delft University urged moving from talk to international collaboration, suggesting the creation of global quantum research centres.

Journalist Elodie Vialle raised alarms about quantum’s potential to supercharge surveillance, endangering press freedom and digital privacy, and underscored the need to close the cultural gap between technologists and civil society.

Overall, the session championed a future where quantum technology is developed transparently, governed globally, and serves as a digital public good, bridging divides rather than deepening them. Speakers agreed that the time to act is now, before today’s opportunities become tomorrow’s crises.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

How agentic AI is transforming cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is gaining a new teammate—one that never sleeps and acts independently. Agentic AI doesn’t wait for instructions. It detects threats, investigates, and responds in real-time. This new class of AI is beginning to change the way we approach cyber defence.

Unlike traditional AI systems, Agentic AI operates with autonomy. It sets objectives, adapts to environments, and self-corrects without waiting for human input. In cybersecurity, this means instant detection and response, beyond simple automation.

With networks more complex than ever, security teams are stretched thin. Agentic AI offers relief by executing actions like isolating compromised systems or rewriting firewall rules. This technology promises to ease alert fatigue and keep up with evasive threats.

A 2025 Deloitte report says 25% of GenAI-using firms will pilot Agentic AI this year. SailPoint found that 98% of organisations will expand AI agent use in the next 12 months. But rapid adoption also raises concern—96% of tech workers see AI agents as security risks.

The integration of AI agents is expanding to cloud, endpoints, and even physical security. Yet with new power comes new vulnerabilities—from adversaries mimicking AI behaviour to the risk of excessive automation without human checks.

Key challenges include ethical bias, unpredictable errors, and uncertain regulation. In sectors like healthcare and finance, oversight and governance must keep pace. The solution lies in balanced control and continuous human-AI collaboration.

Cybersecurity careers are shifting in response. Hybrid roles such as AI Security Analysts and Threat Intelligence Automation Architects are emerging. To stay relevant, professionals must bridge AI knowledge with security architecture.

Agentic AI is redefining cybersecurity. It boosts speed and intelligence but demands new skills and strong leadership. Adaptation is essential for those who wish to thrive in tomorrow’s AI-driven security landscape.

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US targets Southeast Asia to stop AI chip leaks to China

The US is preparing stricter export controls on high-end Nvidia AI chips destined for Malaysia and Thailand, in a move to block China’s indirect access to advanced GPU hardware.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the new restrictions would require exporters to obtain licences before sending AI processors to either country.

The change follows reports that Chinese engineers have hand-carried data to Malaysia for AI training after Singapore began restricting chip re-exports.

Washington suspects Chinese firms are using Southeast Asian intermediaries, including shell companies, to bypass existing export bans on AI chips like Nvidia’s H100.

Although some easing has occurred between the US and China in areas such as ethane and engine components, Washington remains committed to its broader decoupling strategy. The proposed measures will reportedly include safeguards to prevent regional supply chain disruption.

Malaysia’s Trade Minister confirmed earlier this year that the US had requested detailed monitoring of all Nvidia chip shipments into the country.

As the global race for AI dominance intensifies, Washington appears determined to tighten enforcement and limit Beijing’s access to advanced computing power.

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Samsung profits slump as US chip ban hits AI exports

Samsung Electronics expects its second-quarter operating profits to exceed half, citing Washington’s export controls on advanced AI chips to China.

The company announced a projected 56% year-on-year drop in operating profit, falling to 4.6 trillion won ($3.3 billion), with revenue down 6.5% from the previous quarter.

The semiconductor division, a core part of Samsung’s business, suffered due to reduced utilisation and inventory value adjustments.

US restrictions have made it difficult for South Korea’s largest conglomerate to ship high-end chips to China, forcing some of its production lines to run below capacity.

Despite weak performance in the foundry sector, the memory business remained relatively stable. Analysts pointed to weaker-than-expected sales of HBM chips used for AI and a drop in NAND storage prices, while a declining won-dollar exchange rate further pressured earnings.

Looking ahead, Samsung expects a modest recovery as demand for memory chips, mainly from AI-driven data centres, improves in the year’s second half.

The company is also facing political pressure from Washington, with threats of new tariffs prompting talks between Seoul and the US administration.

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Meta hires Apple’s top AI executive amid tech talent war

Apple has lost a key AI executive to Meta, dealing a fresh blow to the tech giant’s internal AI ambitions.

Ruoming Pang, who led Apple’s foundation models team, is joining Meta’s newly formed superintelligence group, according to people familiar with the matter.

Meta reportedly offered Pang a lucrative package worth tens of millions annually, continuing its aggressive hiring streak.

The company, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has already brought in several high-profile AI experts from Scale AI, OpenAI, Anthropic and elsewhere, with Zuckerberg personally involved in recruitment efforts.

Pang’s team at Apple had been responsible for the core language models behind Apple Intelligence and Siri.

However, internal dissatisfaction has been mounting as the company considered shifting to third-party models, including from OpenAI and Anthropic.

That shift, combined with recent leadership changes and reduced responsibilities for Apple’s AI chief John Giannandrea, has weakened morale across the team.

Following Pang’s exit, the team will now be managed by Zhifeng Chen under a new multi-tier structure.

Several engineers are also reportedly planning to leave, raising concerns about Apple’s ability to retain AI talent as Meta increases its investment and influence in the race for advanced AI development.

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Ukraine strengthens cybersecurity ties with EU

Ukraine participated for the first time in the EU National Cybersecurity Coordination Centers meeting and the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) Steering Board in Rome.

The event, supported by Italy’s National Agency for Cybersecurity, focused on enhancing cooperation among EU member states and fostering a unified cyber community.

Natalia Tkachuk, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity, highlighted the nation’s challenges and experiences in countering cyber threats amidst ongoing conflict.

She emphasized Ukraine’s role in both receiving and sharing cybersecurity knowledge to strengthen collective European security.

Discussions included the establishment of a joint Center of Competence for Cyber Resilience in Ukraine, aiming to counter Russian cyberattacks, disinformation, and sabotage.

The center will utilize artificial intelligence trained on unique Ukrainian data to enhance response capabilities.

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Two decades on, WSIS+20 sets course for inclusive digital future

The WSIS+20 High-Level Event opened in Geneva with a celebratory yet forward-looking tone, marking the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society. With over 160 countries represented and over 50,000 stakeholders having engaged with WSIS over the years, speakers reflected on the summit’s legacy in expanding global internet access, from just 16% in 2003 to 68% today.

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin called multistakeholder collaboration ‘the beating heart of WSIS,’ reaffirming its importance in guiding digital development. Despite the gains, participants underscored stark digital divides that persist, particularly in the Global South.

UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno emphasised the contrast between societies benefiting from AI and others, where 3.4 billion people remain offline. UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, warned of rising misinformation and urged a ‘WSIS 2.0’ vision that places ethics, human rights, and peace at the core of the digital agenda. Agi Veres, Director of the UNDP Representation Office in Geneva, echoed the call for technology to empower people rather than outpace them, championing a rights-based, inclusive approach to emerging tech like AI.

In a symbolic leadership transition, Switzerland handed the WSIS chairmanship to South Africa. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of South Africa, Solly Malatsi, accepted the role by stressing that participants represent not merely institutions but the digital hopes of people everywhere, from remote villages to bustling capitals. The handover represents continuity and a renewed global commitment to building a trustworthy and equitable information society.

As preparations begin for the UN General Assembly’s overall review of WSIS later this year, the event has set a clear tone: the digital future must be shaped by cooperation, inclusivity, and a shared responsibility to ensure no one is left behind.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

East Meets West: Reimagining education in the age of AI

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva, the session ‘AI (and) education: Convergences between Chinese and European pedagogical practices’ brought together educators, students, and industry experts to examine how AI reshapes global education.

Led by Jovan Kurbalija of Diplo and Professor Hao Liu of Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), with industry insights from Deloitte’s Norman Sze, the discussion focused on the future of universities and the evolving role of professors amid rapid AI developments.

Drawing on philosophical traditions from Confucius to Plato, the session emphasised the need for a hybrid approach that preserves the human essence of learning while embracing technological transformation.

Professor Liu showcased BIT’s ‘intelligent education’ model, a human-centred system integrating time, space, knowledge, teachers, and students. Moving beyond rigid, exam-focused instruction, BIT promotes creativity and interdisciplinary learning, empowering students with flexible academic paths and digital tools.

Jovan Kurbalija at WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 — Jovan Kurbalija, Executive Director of Diplo

Meanwhile, Norman Sze highlighted how AI has accelerated industry workflows and called for educational alignment with real-world demands. He argued for reorienting learning around critical thinking, ethical literacy, and collaboration—skills that AI cannot replicate and remain central to personal and professional growth.

A key theme was whether teachers and universities remain relevant in an AI-driven future. Students from around the world contributed compelling reflections: AI may offer efficiency, but it cannot replace the emotional intelligence, mentorship, and meaning-making that only human educators provide.

As one student said, ‘I don’t care about ChatGPT—it’s not human.’ The group reached a consensus: professors must shift from ‘sages on the stage’ to ‘guides on the side,’ coaching students through complexity rather than merely transmitting knowledge.

The session closed on an optimistic note, asserting that while AI is a powerful catalyst for change, the heart of education lies in human connection, dialogue, and the ability to ask the right questions. Participants agreed that a truly forward-looking educational model will emerge not from choosing between East and West or human and machine, but from integrating the best of all to build a more inclusive and insightful future of learning.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

WSIS+20 panel urges smarter digital governance

At the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, global leaders and experts gathered to reflect on the two-decade legacy of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and chart a course for the future of digital cooperation. Moderated by Anriette Esterhuysen of the Association for Progressive Communications, the panel underscored how the WSIS process helped connect over 5.6 billion people to the internet and solidified the importance of multistakeholder governance.

Speakers lauded successes in infrastructure and inclusion but were clear-eyed about persistent gaps, especially the 2.5 billion people who still lack connectivity.

Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy, Prasert Jantararuangtong, showcased national broadband access and cybersecurity achievements through initiatives like the Anti-Online Scam Operation Centre. Meanwhile, Ambassador Janis Karklins of Latvia, a central figure in WSIS’s 2005 Tunis phase, warned of growing digital fragmentation.

He expressed concern over the drift from WSIS’s original vision of a global information society toward digital sovereignty, urging participants to stay true to a collaborative global model.

Experts emphasised the need for future frameworks to evolve without duplicating efforts. Professor Kathleen Kramer of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers highlighted the urgency of strong STEM education and technical standards to scale emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing responsibly.

Pierre Bonis of AFNIC and Maria Fernanda Garza of the International Chamber of Commerce both called for pragmatic integration of the WSIS legacy with the upcoming Global Digital Compact, stressing stability, innovation, and the inclusion of pressing challenges such as climate change.

The session closed with a renewed commitment to WSIS’s people-centred, inclusive values, even as the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex. With reflections on past achievements and a unified call for non-duplicative, collaborative governance, panellists offered a hopeful yet pragmatic vision for the next chapter of global digital development.

Track all key events from the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 on our dedicated page.

Google hit with EU complaint over AI Overviews

After a formal filing by the Independent Publishers Alliance, Google has faced an antitrust complaint in the European Union over its AI Overviews feature.

The group alleges that Google has been using web content without proper consent to power its AI-generated summaries, causing considerable harm to online publishers.

The complaint claims that publishers have lost traffic, readers and advertising revenue due to these summaries. It also argues that opting out of AI Overviews is not a real choice unless publishers are prepared to vanish entirely from Google’s search results.

AI Overviews were launched over a year ago and now appear at the top of many search queries, summarising information using AI. Although the tool has expanded rapidly, critics argue it drives users away from original publisher websites, especially news outlets.

Google has responded by stating its AI search tools allow users to ask more complex questions and help businesses and creators get discovered. The tech giant also insisted that web traffic patterns are influenced by many factors and warned against conclusions based on limited data.

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