Capacity development

AI conference in Egypt promotes innovation for a greener future

The National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) and Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST) jointly hosted a conference titled Artificial Intelligence for Environmental Sustainability.
The event focused on using technology to tackle global environmental challenges.

The conference aimed to advance research and innovation in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to support sustainable development.

Experts and academics discussed how AI can enhance environmental protection through smarter data analysis, improved monitoring systems, and reduced carbon emissions. The sessions explored AI’s role in promoting sustainability and highlighted new applications designed to manage resources more efficiently.

Students from MUST’s Faculty of Information Technology presented projects that showcased practical AI solutions for building a greener future. Their work reflected the conference’s goal of encouraging collaboration and applied research to address urgent environmental issues.

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UNDP and Algorand launch blockchain training for 24,000 staff

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has officially expanded its Blockchain Academy to reach 24,000 personnel worldwide, including staff from UNDP, UN Volunteers, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

The initiative, launched in partnership with the Algorand Foundation, aims to strengthen understanding and practical use of blockchain technology to support sustainable development goals.

The academy’s expanded curriculum builds on a successful beta phase that certified over 30 UN personnel and introduced 18 hours of specialised training. It now offers advanced modules to help UN staff design transparent and efficient blockchain solutions for real-world challenges.

The training also fosters a collaborative network where participants share best practices and develop blockchain-driven projects across global programmes.

UNDP has used blockchain since 2015 to boost transparency and inclusion, from tracking supply chains to supporting energy trading and digital investments. Through its Algorand partnership, UNDP aims to speed up blockchain adoption by offering technical support and project incubation for scalable sustainable impact.

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Honor to launch world’s first AI robot phone in 2026

Honor has unveiled plans to release the world’s first AI-powered robot phone in 2026, marking a bold step in the evolution of smart devices.

The announcement was made by CEO Li Jian during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. It highlighted the company’s ambition to merge AI with advanced hardware design.

The upcoming device will combine AI capabilities, embodied intelligence, and high-definition imaging within a foldable, liftable mechanical structure. Its rear camera module will act as a rotating gimbal, offering 360° movement, auto-tracking, and 4K ultra-HD recording for professional-grade content creation.

Powered by an on-device large model, the upgraded YOYO assistant will feature emotional interaction, environmental awareness, and seamless coordination across devices.

The launch forms part of Honor’s $10 billion Alpha Strategy, announced earlier this year, which aims to establish a complete ecosystem for AI-driven technologies over the next five years.

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Anthropic strengthens European growth through Paris and Munich offices

AI firm Anthropic is expanding its European presence by opening new offices in Paris and Munich, strengthening its footprint alongside existing hubs in London, Dublin, and Zurich.

An expansion that follows rapid growth across the EMEA region, where the company has tripled its workforce and seen a ninefold increase in annual run-rate revenue.

The move comes as European businesses increasingly rely on Claude for critical enterprise tasks. Companies such as L’Oréal, BMW, SAP, and Sanofi are using the AI model to enhance software, improve workflows, and ensure operational reliability.

Germany and France, both among the top 20 countries in Claude usage per capita, are now at the centre to Anthropic’s strategic expansion.

Anthropic is also strengthening its leadership team across Europe. Guillaume Princen will oversee startups and digital-native businesses, while Pip White and Thomas Remy will lead the northern and southern EMEA regions, respectively.

A new head will soon be announced for Central and Eastern Europe, reflecting the company’s growing regional reach.

Beyond commercial goals, Anthropic is partnering with European institutions to promote AI education and culture. It collaborates with the Light Art Space in Berlin, supports student hackathons through TUM.ai, and works with the French organisation Unaite to advance developer training.

These partnerships reinforce Anthropic’s long-term commitment to responsible AI growth across the continent.

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Meta invests $600 billion to expand AI data centres across the US

A $600 billion investment aimed at boosting innovation, job creation, and sustainability is being launched in the US by Meta to expand its AI infrastructure.

Instead of outsourcing development, the company is building its new generation of AI data centres domestically, reinforcing America’s leadership in technology and supporting local economies.

Since 2010, Meta’s data centre projects have supported more than 30,000 skilled trade jobs and 5,000 operational roles, generating $20 billion in business for US subcontractors. These facilities are designed to power Meta’s AI ambitions while driving regional economic growth.

The company emphasises responsible development by investing heavily in renewable energy and water efficiency. Its projects have added 15 gigawatts of new energy to US power grids, upgraded local infrastructure, and helped restore water systems in surrounding communities.

Meta aims to become fully water positive by 2030.

Beyond infrastructure, Meta has channelled $58 million into community grants for schools, nonprofits, and local initiatives, including STEM education and veteran training programmes.

As AI grows increasingly central to digital progress, Meta’s continued investment in sustainable, community-focused data centres underscores its vision for a connected, intelligent future built within the US.

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A €358 million EU investment strengthens the clean energy transition

The EU has announced more than €358 million in new funding for 132 environmental and climate projects under the LIFE Programme.

The investment covers over half of the total €536 million required, with the remainder coming from national and local governments, private partners and civil society.

A project that will advance the transition of the EU to a clean, circular and climate-resilient economy while supporting biodiversity, competitiveness and long-term climate neutrality.

Funding includes €147 million for nature and biodiversity, €76 million for circular economy initiatives, €58 million for climate resilience and €77 million for clean energy transition projects.

Examples include habitat restoration in Sweden and Poland, sustainable farming in France, and renewable energy training in France’s new LIFE SUNACADEMY. Other projects will tackle pollution, restore peatlands, and modernise energy systems across Europe, from rural communities to remote islands.

Since its launch in 1992, the LIFE Programme has co-financed over 6,500 projects that support environmental innovation and sustainability.

The current programme runs until 2027 with a total budget of €5.43 billion, managed by the European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

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Appfigures revises iOS estimates as Sora’s launch on Android launch leaps ahead

Sora’s Android launch outpaced its iOS debut, garnering an estimated 470,000 first-day installs across seven markets, according to Appfigures. Broader regional availability, plus the end of invite-only access in top markets, boosted uptake.

OpenAI’s iOS rollout was limited to the US and Canada via invitations, which capped early growth despite strong momentum. The iOS app nevertheless surpassed one million installs in its first week and still ranks highly in the US App Store’s Top Free chart.

Revised Appfigures modelling puts day-one iOS installs at ~110,000 (up from 56,000), with ~69,300 from the US. On Android, availability spans the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. First-day US installs were ~296,000, showing sustained demand beyond the iOS launch.

Sora allows users to generate videos from text prompts and animate themselves or friends via ‘Cameos’, sharing the results in a TikTok-style vertical feed. Engagement features for creation and discovery are driving word of mouth and repeat use across both platforms.

Competition in mobile AI video and assistants is intensifying, with Meta AI expanding its app in Europe on the same day. Market share will hinge on geographic reach, feature velocity, creator tools, and distribution via app store charts and social feeds.

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Suleyman sets limits for safer superintelligence at Microsoft

Microsoft AI says its work toward superintelligence will be explicitly ‘humanist’, designed to keep people at the top of the food chain. In a new blog post, Microsoft AI head Mustafa Suleyman announced a team focused on building systems that are subordinate, controllable, and designed to serve human interests.

Suleyman says superintelligence should not be unbounded. Models will be calibrated, contextualised, and limited to align with human goals. He joined Microsoft last year as its AI CEO, which has begun rolling out its first in-house models for text, voice, and images.

The move lands amid intensifying competition in advanced AI. Under a revised agreement with OpenAI, Microsoft can now independently pursue AGI or partner elsewhere. Suleyman says Microsoft AI will reject race narratives while acknowledging the need to advance capability and governance together.

Microsoft’s initial use cases emphasise an AI companion to help people learn, act, and feel supported; healthcare assistance to augment clinicians; and tools for scientific discovery in areas such as clean energy. The intent is to combine productivity gains with stronger safety controls from the outset.

‘Humans matter more than AI,’ Suleyman writes, casting ‘humanist superintelligence’ as technology that stays on humanity’s team. He frames the programme as a guard against Pandora’s box risks by binding robust systems to explicit constraints, oversight, and application contexts.

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Google Finance launches AI upgrades in India and beyond

Google Finance has launched major AI-powered upgrades to help users better understand financial markets. The platform now features Deep Search capabilities, prediction market data, and tools to track corporate earnings in real time.

These improvements build on its existing suite, which includes advanced charting, news tracking, and AI-assisted answers to complex financial queries.

Deep Search allows users to submit detailed questions and receive fully cited, comprehensive AI responses. Google’s Gemini models can perform hundreds of simultaneous searches, reasoning across multiple sources.

Users can also view the research plan behind each answer and follow links to expand their understanding. Early access to Deep Search is available for Google AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers through Google Finance Labs.

Prediction market data from Kalshi and Polymarket have been integrated, enabling users to gauge the probabilities of future market events, such as GDP growth. Corporate earnings can now be tracked via a new Earnings tab with live audio, transcripts, AI summaries, and historical comparisons.

Google Finance is now rolling out in India for the first time, with support for English and Hindi. Users in India will gradually gain access to Deep Search, prediction markets, and earnings tracking, with plans to expand these features to more regions in the future.

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Amazon introduces Kindle Translate for global eBook reach

Amazon has introduced Kindle Translate, an AI-powered translation service designed to help Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) authors reach readers worldwide.

The beta service currently supports translations between English and Spanish, and from German to English, enabling authors to make their eBooks accessible in multiple languages.

Authors can manage translations, set prices, and publish fully formatted books within days, with automated accuracy checks ensuring seamless publication.

The service addresses the limited availability of multilingual titles on Amazon, where fewer than 5% of books are offered in multiple languages. Kindle Translate helps authors reach a wider audience and boost earnings with a cost-effective and reliable translation solution.

Early adopters, including independent authors Roxanne St Claire and Kristen Painter, praised the service for enabling wider international readership and boosting book revenue.

Translated eBooks will be available for purchase on Amazon, with clear labels and preview samples for readers. Titles are eligible for KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited, with more languages planned to expand the library of translated works.

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