Capacity development

X given deadline by Brazil to curb Grok sexualised outputs

Brazil has ordered X to immediately stop its chatbot Grok from generating sexually explicit images, escalating international pressure on the platform over the misuse of generative AI tools.

The order, issued on 11 February by Brazil’s National Data Protection Agency and National Consumer Rights Bureau, requires X to prevent the creation of sexualised content involving children, adolescents, or non-consenting adults. Authorities gave the company five days to comply or face legal action and fines.

Officials in Brazil said X claimed to have removed thousands of posts and suspended hundreds of accounts after a January warning. However, follow-up checks found Grok users were still able to generate sexualised deepfakes. Regulators criticised the platform for a lack of transparency in its response.

The move follows growing scrutiny after Indonesia blocked Grok in January, while the UK and France signalled continued pressure. Concerns increased after Grok’s ‘spicy mode’ enabled users to generate explicit images using simple prompts.

According to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, Grok generated millions of sexualised images within days. X and its parent company, xAI, announced measures in mid-January to restrict such outputs in certain jurisdictions, but regulators said it remains unclear where those safeguards apply.

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

Codex growth prompts OpenAI to expand access

OpenAI said its new Codex Mac app has surpassed one million downloads just over a week after launch, with overall Codex usage rising by 60% following the release of GPT-5.3-Codex.

The strong uptake has prompted OpenAI to extend free access to Codex for Free and Go users beyond the initial launch promotion. Sam Altman said usage limits for lower tiers may be tightened, but access would remain available so more users can experiment and build.

Separately, OpenAI released a YouTube video showcasing a redesigned Deep Research interface, introducing a full-screen report viewer that opens research outputs in a separate window from the chat interface.

The updated layout includes a table of contents for navigation, hyperlinks, and anchor tags within reports, and a dedicated source panel for verification. Users can also download reports as PDF or Word files, while new controls allow research scopes and sources to be adjusted during generation.

The Deep Research updates are available to Plus and Pro users, with broader access expected soon. OpenAI also confirmed the changes in ChatGPT release notes on 10 February and announced a more minor GPT-5.2 update focused on more measured responses.

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

Threads users can now personalise algorithms with Dear Algo feature

Meta has launched an AI feature called Dear Algo that allows Threads users to personalise their content-recommendation algorithms by communicating their preferences directly to the platform.

Users craft public posts beginning with ‘Dear Algo’ to explain desired content, similar to interactions with chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Once shared, the request adjusts the user’s feed for three days, allowing them to stay connected to current conversations.

Users can also repost others’ Dear Algo requests to apply those content preferences to their own feeds.

The feature represents Meta’s continued integration of AI across its platforms. The company on Tuesday also released AI features for Facebook that let users animate profile photos and alter images with the Meta AI digital assistant.

Meta told investors last month it plans to spend between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026 on AI-related capital expenditures, nearly double last year’s spending.

Meta is testing Dear Algo with users in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand before expanding to additional countries. Threads, Meta’s micro-blogging platform launched in July 2023, has 400 million monthly active users and began rolling out advertisements globally last month.

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

AWS chief sees AI shifting from content creation to autonomous task completion

AI is shifting from answering questions to autonomously accomplishing tasks, a transformation AWS CEO Matt Garman believes will unlock far greater enterprise value.

Speaking at AWS re:Invent 2025, Garman explained that AI inference- the computing capability that allows models to generate content, make predictions, and take actions against real-world data-represents a fundamental new building block in computing.

He described it as developers gaining access to a ‘new Lego’ that enables applications to make decisions and complete work independently. The distinction between content generation and task accomplishment carries significant implications for enterprise value.

First-wave generative AI focused on writing emails and summarising documents. Task-accomplishing agents can review insurance claims, cross-reference medical records, and process approved claims without human intervention.

Garman predicts widespread enterprise value creation from agents in 2026. AWS announced Amazon Bedrock AgentCore and three frontier agents at re:Invent 2025, providing organisations with infrastructure to deploy autonomous AI agents at scale.

For business leaders, investments in agents that automate end-to-end workflows will deliver exponentially more return on investment than tools that help employees work faster.

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

Women driving tech innovation as Web Summit marks 10 years

Web Summit’s Women in Tech programme marked a decade of work in Qatar by highlighting steady progress in female participation across global technology sectors.

The Web Summit event recorded an increase in women-founded startups and reflected rising engagement in Qatar, where female founders reached 38 percent.

Leaders from the initiative noted how supportive networks, mentorship, and access to role models are reshaping opportunities for women in technology and entrepreneurship.

Speakers from IBM and other companies focused on the importance of AI skills in shaping the future workforce. They argued that adequate preparation depends on understanding how AI shapes everyday roles, rather than relying solely on technical tools.

IBM’s SkillsBuild platform continues to partner with universities, schools, and nonprofit groups to expand access to recognised AI credentials that can support higher earning potential and new career pathways.

Another feature of the event was its emphasis on inclusion as a driver of innovation. The African Women in Technology initiative, led by Anie Akpe, is working to offer free training in cybersecurity and AI so women in emerging markets can benefit from new digital opportunities.

These efforts aim to support business growth at every level, even for women operating in local markets, who can use technology to reach wider communities.

Female founders also used the platform to showcase new health technology solutions.

ScreenMe, a Qatari company founded by Dr Golnoush Golsharazi, presented its reproductive microbiome testing service, created in response to long-standing gaps in women’s health research and screening.

Organisers expressed confidence that women-led innovation will expand across the region, supported by rising investment and continuing visibility at major global events.

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

Hackers abuse legitimate admin software to hide cyber attacks

Cybercriminals are increasingly abusing legitimate administrative software to access corporate networks, making malicious activity harder to detect. Attackers are blending into normal operations by relying on trusted workforce and IT management tools rather than custom malware.

Recent campaigns have repurposed ‘Net Monitor for Employees Professional’ and ‘SimpleHelp’, tools usually used for staff oversight and remote support. Screen viewing, file management, and command features were exploited to control systems without triggering standard security alerts.

Researchers at Huntress identified the activity in early 2026, finding that the tools were used to maintain persistent, hidden access. Analysis showed that attackers were actively preparing compromised systems for follow-on attacks rather than limiting their activity to surveillance.

The access was later linked to attempts to deploy ‘Crazy’ ransomware and steal cryptocurrency, with intruders disguising the software as legitimate Microsoft services. Monitoring agents were often renamed to resemble standard cloud processes, thereby remaining active without attracting attention.

Huntress advised organisations to limit software installation rights, enforce multi-factor authentication, and audit networks for unauthorised management tools. Monitoring for antivirus tampering and suspicious program names remains critical for early detection.

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

Google acquisition of Wiz cleared under EU merger rules

The European Commission has unconditionally approved Google’s proposed acquisition of Wiz under the EU Merger Regulation, concluding that the deal raises no competition concerns in the European Economic Area.

The assessment focused on the fast-growing cloud security market, where both companies are active. Google provides cloud infrastructure and security services via Google Cloud Platform, while Wiz offers a cloud-native application protection platform for multi-cloud environments.

Regulators examined whether Google could restrict competition by bundling Wiz’s tools or limiting interoperability with rival cloud providers. The market investigation found customers would retain access to credible alternatives and could switch suppliers if needed.

The Commission also considered whether the acquisition would give Google access to commercially sensitive data relating to competing cloud infrastructure providers. Feedback from customers and rivals indicated that the data involved is not sensitive and is generally accessible to other cloud security firms.

Based on these findings, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in any relevant market. The deal was therefore cleared unconditionally following a Phase I review.

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

AI controls animal behaviour using light-guided technology

Scientists at Nagoya University have developed an advanced AI system capable of identifying specific animal behaviours with over 90% accuracy and controlling the brain circuits that drive them in real-time across multiple species.

The system, named YORU (Your Optimal Recognition Utility), recognises entire behaviours from single video frames rather than tracking individual body parts, making it 30% faster than previous tools.

Researchers demonstrated the technology’s precision by combining it with optogenetics to silence a male fruit fly’s courtship song mid-performance, causing the unimpressed female to walk away.

The breakthrough lies in the system’s ability to target individual animals within social groups, so previous optogenetic methods illuminated entire laboratory chambers, affecting all subjects simultaneously.

YORU’s AI-driven light source can now track and manipulate a single subject’s neurons whilst its neighbours move freely nearby. The tool has proven its versatility across diverse species, successfully analysing food-sharing in ants, social orientation in zebrafish, and grooming patterns in mice.

Requiring minimal training data and no programming skills, YORU is available online for researchers worldwide studying the neural mechanisms underlying social interactions.

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

Fukushima rebuilds as technology hub

Fukushima is repositioning itself as a technology and innovation hub, more than a decade after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan. The Fukushima Innovation Coast Framework aims to revitalise the coastal Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture.

At the centre of the push in Fukushima is the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation, which plans a major research complex in Namie. The site in Fukushima will focus on robotics, energy, agriculture and radiation science, drawing researchers from across Japan and overseas.

Fukushima already hosts the Fukushima Robot Test Field and the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field. Projects in Fukushima include hydrogen production from solar power and large-scale robotics and drone testing.

Officials in Fukushima say the strategy combines clean energy, sustainable materials and advanced research to create jobs and attract families back to Japan’s northeast. Fukushima is positioning itself as a global case study in post-disaster recovery through technology.

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

EU launches cyberbullying action plan to protect children online

The European Commission has launched an Action Plan Against Cyberbullying aimed at protecting the mental health and well-being of children and teenagers online across the EU. The initiative focuses on reporting access, national coordination, and prevention.

A central element is the development of an EU-wide reporting app that would allow victims to report cyberbullying, receive support, and safely store evidence. The Commission will provide a blueprint for Member States to adapt and link to national helplines.

To ensure consistent protection, Member States are encouraged to adopt a shared understanding of cyberbullying and develop national action plans. This would support comparable data collection and a more coordinated EU response.

The Action Plan builds on existing legislation, including the Digital Services Act, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, and the AI Act. Updated guidelines will strengthen platform obligations and address AI-enabled forms of abuse.

Prevention and education are also prioritised through expanded resources for schools and families via Safer Internet Centres and the Better Internet for Kids platform. The Commission will implement the plan with Member States, industry, civil society, and children.

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