Capacity development

Microsoft adds AI auto-categorisation to Photos app

Microsoft is introducing an AI-powered auto-categorisation feature to the Photos app on Windows 11 for all Insider channels. The update automatically sorts images into screenshots, receipts, identity documents, and notes, making managing large photo libraries easier.

The feature is language-agnostic, recognising document types regardless of language, and aims to save time and reduce clutter.

Photos that match the AI model are grouped automatically, but users can browse categories via the app’s navigation or Search bar and manually reassign images if needed. The update adds Super Resolution to Copilot Plus PCs, enhancing low-resolution images with advanced AI.

Microsoft has included other unspecified fixes and improvements in the update, ensuring overall app performance is optimised. The company emphasises that the rollout may be gradual, so some features appear later for certain Insider users.

To access the new features, users must update the Photos app to version 2025.11090.25001.0 or higher via the Microsoft Store. The enhancements are part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to make Windows 11 more intuitive, efficient, and AI-driven for everyday tasks.

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UK supports JLR supply chain with £1.5 billion loan guarantee

The UK Government will guarantee a £1.5 billion loan to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) in response to the cyber-attack that forced the carmaker to halt production.

An Export Development Guarantee, administered by UK Export Finance, will back a commercial bank loan repaid over five years to stabilise JLR’s finances and protect its supply chain.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the attack as a strike on the UK’s automotive sector and said the guarantee would safeguard jobs across the West Midlands, Merseyside and beyond.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves called JLR a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the UK economy, stressing that the package would protect tens of thousands of jobs directly and indirectly linked to the manufacturer.

JLR employs 34,000 people in the UK and supports an automotive supply chain of 120,000 workers, many in SMEs.

The guarantee forms part of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which includes backing for electric vehicle adoption, reduced energy costs for manufacturers, and multi-billion-pound commitments to research and development.

An announcement follows ministerial visits to JLR headquarters and supplier Webasto, with ministers promising to keep working with industry leaders to get production back online and strengthen Britain’s automotive resilience.

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OpenAI for Germany to modernise public sector with AI

SAP SE and OpenAI have announced the launch of OpenAI for Germany, a partnership to bring advanced AI solutions to the public sector.

The initiative will combine SAP’s expertise with OpenAI’s AI technology, ensuring safe, responsible use while meeting strict German data, security, and legal standards. The platform will be supported by SAP’s Delos Cloud, running on Microsoft Azure technology.

Starting in 2026, the collaboration will help public sector staff and institutions streamline tasks, automate workflows, and focus on people rather than paperwork. Customised AI will be integrated into existing systems to improve records management and data analysis.

SAP plans to expand Delos Cloud infrastructure to 4,000 GPUs to support AI workloads and will explore further investment based on demand.

OpenAI for Germany aligns with the country’s national AI strategy, which aims for AI-driven value creation of up to 10% of GDP by 2030. The ‘Made for Germany’ initiative, supported by 61 companies including SAP, has pledged over €631 billion for growth and digital modernisation.

SAP has also committed more than €20 billion to reinforce Europe’s digital sovereignty.

SAP, OpenAI, and Microsoft executives emphasised the partnership’s focus on trust, safety, and operational resilience. The initiative underscores Germany’s commitment to AI, maintaining strict standards and ensuring benefits reach all public institutions.

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Google unveils new Gemini Robotics models

Google has unveiled two new robotics models, Gemini Robotics 1.5 and Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5, designed to help robots better perceive, plan, and act in complex environments. The models aim to enable more capable robots to complete multi-step tasks efficiently and transparently.

Gemini Robotics 1.5 converts visual information and instructions into actions, letting robots think before acting and explain their reasoning. Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 acts as a high-level planner, reasoning about the physical world and using tools like Google Search to support decisions.

Together, the models form an ‘agentic’ framework. ER 1.5 orchestrates a robot’s activities, while Robotics 1.5 carries them out, enabling the machines to tackle semantically complex tasks. The pairing strengthens generalisation across diverse environments and longer missions.

Google said Gemini Robotics-ER 1.5 is now available to developers through the Gemini API in Google AI Studio, while Gemini Robotics 1.5 is currently open to select partners. Both models advance robots’ reasoning, spatial awareness, and multi-tasking capabilities.

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OpenAI unveils ChatGPT Pulse for proactive updates

OpenAI has introduced a preview of ChatGPT Pulse, a feature designed to deliver proactive and personalised updates to Pro users on mobile. Instead of waiting for users to ask questions, Pulse researches chat history, feedback, and connected apps to deliver daily insights.

The updates appear as visual cards covering relevant topics, which users can scan quickly or expand for detail. Integrations with Gmail and Google Calendar are available, enabling suggestions such as drafting meeting agendas, recommending restaurants for trips, or reminding users about birthdays.

These integrations are optional and can be switched off at any time.

Pulse is built to prioritise usefulness over screen time, offering updates that expire daily unless saved or added to chat history. Early trials with students highlighted the importance of simple feedback to refine results, and users can guide what appears by curating topics or rating suggestions.

OpenAI plans to refine the feature further before expanding its availability beyond Pro users.

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China opens digital RMB centre in Shanghai

China has launched its international operation centre for the digital RMB in Shanghai, a move seen as a significant step towards the currency’s global expansion, according to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).

The centre will promote digital RMB internationalisation, support digital finance innovation, and enhance financial market services. It forms part of eight measures announced earlier this year by PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng at the Lujiazui Forum.

Three major platforms have been unveiled alongside the launch: a digital payment system for international use, a blockchain service platform, and a digital asset platform.

These platforms aim to broaden the application of digital technologies in finance and improve transaction efficiency.

Experts, including Tian Xuan of Tsinghua University, describe the initiative as a milestone for China’s role in global finance, strengthening its influence in shaping the future of digital payments.

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UNDP and RIPE NCC join forces for sustainable development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) have signed a new agreement to boost cooperation on digital development. The Memorandum of Understanding, announced in New York during the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, focuses on building scalable, secure, and resilient internet infrastructure across the Arab States and beyond.

By combining UNDP’s development mandate with RIPE NCC’s technical expertise, the partnership aims to promote inclusive digital transformation and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP’s Abdallah Al Dardari stressed that digital transformation is now a ‘development imperative,’ while RIPE NCC CEO Hans Petter Holen highlighted that resilient internet systems are vital for innovation and growth.

The announcement took place as part of Digital@UNGA Week and came just ahead of UNDP’s High-Level Roundtable on Digital for Sustainable Development. At the roundtable, partners unveiled Morocco’s Digital for Sustainable Development Hub, underscoring the growing role of multi-stakeholder cooperation in shaping inclusive digital ecosystems worldwide.

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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UN Secretary-General launches call for candidates for AI Scientific Panel

The UN Secretary-General has launched an open call for candidates to serve on the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

The Panel was agreed by UN member states in September 2024 as part of the Global Digital Compact; its terms of reference were later defined in a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in August 2025. The 40-member Panel will provide evidence-based scientific assessments on AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts. Its work will culminate in an annual, policy-relevant – but non-prescriptive –summary report presented to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, along with up to two updates per year to engage with the General Assembly plenary.

Candidates with expertise in the following fields are invited to apply:

  • AI, including foundation models & generative AI, machine learning methods, core AI subfields (e.g. vision, language, speech/audio, robotics, planning & scheduling, knowledge representation), reliability, safety & alignment, cognitive & neuroscience links, human–AI interaction, AI security and infrastructure;
  • Applied AI, including science (foundational and applied in health, climate, life sciences, physics, health, social sciences, agriculture), engineering, industry and mobility (e.g. materials, drugs, transportation, smart cities, IoT, satellite, navigation), digital society (e.g. misinformation & disinformation, online harms, social networks, software engineering, web),
  • Related fields, including AI opportunity, risk and impact assessment, AI impacts on society, technology, economy, and environment, AI security and infrastructure, data, ethics, and rights, governance (e.g. public policy, international law, standards, oversight, compliance, foresight and scenario-building).

Following the call for nominations (open until 31 October 2025), the Secretary-General will recommend 40 members for appointment by the General Assembly.

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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Global Dialogue on AI Governance officially launched

On 25 September 2025, the President of the UN General Assembly chaired a high-level multistakeholder informal meeting to launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

The creation of the Dialogue was agreed by UN member states in September 2024, with the adoption of the Global Digital Compact. In August 2025, the General Assembly adopted a resolution outlining the terms of reference and modalities for this new global mechanism.

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is tasked with facilitating open, transparent and inclusive discussions on AI governance. Issues to focus on will include safe, trustworthy AI; bridging capacity and digital divides; social, ethical, and technical implications; interoperability of governance approaches; human rights; transparency and accountability; and open-source AI development.

The Dialogue will meet annually for up to two days alongside UN conferences in Geneva or New York, featuring high-level government participation, thematic discussions, and an annual report presentation. Initially, it will be held back-to-back in the margins of the International Telecommunication Union Artificial Intelligence for Good Global Summit in Geneva, in 2026, and of the multistakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the SDGs in New York, in 2027.

Speaking at the launch of the Dialogue, the UN Secretary-General noted that the Dialogue is ‘about creating a space where governments, industry and civil society can advance common solutions together.  Where innovation can thrive — guided by shared standards and common purpose.’

For more information from the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, visit our dedicated page.

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Brazil to host massive AI-ready data centre by RT-One

RT-One plans to build Latin America’s largest AI data centre after securing land in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The US$1.2bn project will span over one million square metres, with 300,000 m² reserved as protected green space.

The site will support high-performance computing, sovereign cloud services, and AI workloads, launching with 100MW capacity and scaling to 400MW. It will run on 100% renewable energy and utilise advanced cooling systems to minimise its environmental impact.

RT-One states that the project will prepare Brazil to compete globally, generate skilled jobs, and train new talent for the digital economy. A wide network of partners, including Hitachi, Siemens, WEG, and Schneider Electric, is collaborating on the development, aiming to ensure resilience and sustainability at scale.

The project is expected to stimulate regional growth, with jobs, training programmes, and opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry. Local officials, including the mayor of Uberlândia, attended the launch event to underline government support for the initiative.

Once complete, the Uberlândia facility will provide sovereign cloud capacity, high-density compute, and AI-ready infrastructure for Brazil and beyond. RT-One says the development will position the city as a hub for digital innovation and strengthen Latin America’s role in the global AI economy.

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