Consumer protection

OpenAI outlines advertising plans for ChatGPT access

The US AI firm, OpenAI, has announced plans to test advertising within ChatGPT as part of a broader effort to widen access to advanced AI tools.

An initiative that focuses on supporting the free version and the low-cost ChatGPT Go subscription, while paid tiers such as Plus, Pro, Business, and Enterprise will continue without advertisements.

According to the company, advertisements will remain clearly separated from ChatGPT responses and will never influence the answers users receive.

Responses will continue to be optimised for usefulness instead of commercial outcomes, with OpenAI emphasising that trust and perceived neutrality remain central to the product’s value.

User privacy forms a core pillar of the approach. Conversations will stay private, data will not be sold to advertisers, and users will retain the ability to disable ad personalisation or remove advertising-related data at any time.

During early trials, ads will not appear for accounts linked to users under 18, nor within sensitive or regulated areas such as health, mental wellbeing, or politics.

OpenAI describes advertising as a complementary revenue stream rather than a replacement for subscriptions.

The company argues that a diversified model can help keep advanced intelligence accessible to a wider population, while maintaining long term incentives aligned with user trust and product quality.

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

New ETSI standard defines cybersecurity rules for AI systems

ETSI has released ETSI EN 304 223, a new European Standard establishing baseline cybersecurity requirements for AI systems.

Approved by national standards bodies, the framework becomes the first globally applicable EN focused specifically on securing AI, extending its relevance beyond European markets.

The standard recognises that AI introduces security risks not found in traditional software. Threats such as data poisoning, indirect prompt injection and vulnerabilities linked to complex data management demand tailored defences instead of conventional approaches alone.

ETSI EN 304 223 combines established cybersecurity practices with targeted measures designed for the distinctive characteristics of AI models and systems.

Adopting a full lifecycle perspective, the ETSI framework defines thirteen principles across secure design, development, deployment, maintenance and end of life.

Alignment with internationally recognised AI lifecycle models supports interoperability and consistent implementation across existing regulatory and technical ecosystems.

ETSI EN 304 223 is intended for organisations across the AI supply chain, including vendors, integrators and operators, and covers systems based on deep neural networks, including generative AI.

Further guidance is expected through ETSI TR 104 159, which will focus on generative AI risks such as deepfakes, misinformation, confidentiality concerns and intellectual property protection.

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

AI-generated song removed from Swedish rankings

Sweden has removed a chart-topping song from its official rankings after ruling it was mainly created using AI. The track had attracted millions of streams on Spotify within weeks.

Industry investigators found no public profile for the artist, later linking the song to executives at a music firm using AI tools. Producers insisted that technology merely assisted a human-led creative process.

Music organisations say AI-generated tracks threaten existing industry rules and creator revenues. The decision intensifies debate over how to regulate AI in cultural markets.

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

How autonomous vehicles shape physical AI trust

Physical AI is increasingly embedded in public and domestic environments, from self-driving vehicles to delivery robots and household automation. As intelligent machines begin to operate alongside people in shared spaces, trust emerges as a central condition for adoption instead of technological novelty alone.

Autonomous vehicles provide the clearest illustration of how trust must be earned through openness, accountability, and continuous engagement.

Self-driving systems address long-standing challenges such as road safety, congestion, and unequal access to mobility by relying on constant perception, rule-based behaviour, and fatigue-free operation.

Trials and early deployments suggest meaningful improvements in safety and efficiency, yet public confidence remains uneven. Social acceptance depends not only on performance outcomes but also on whether communities understand how systems behave and why specific decisions occur.

Dialogue plays a critical role at two levels. Ongoing communication among policymakers, developers, emergency services, and civil society helps align technical deployment with social priorities such as safety, accessibility, and environmental impact.

At the same time, advances in explainable AI allow machines to communicate intent and reasoning directly to users, replacing opacity with interpretability and predictability.

The experience of autonomous vehicles suggests a broader framework for physical AI governance centred on demonstrable public value, transparent performance data, and systems capable of explaining behaviour in human terms.

As physical AI expands into infrastructure, healthcare, and domestic care, trust will depend on sustained dialogue and responsible design rather than the speed of deployment alone.

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

Verizon responds to major network outage

A large-scale network disruption has been confirmed by Verizon, affecting wireless voice, messaging, and mobile data services and leaving many customer devices operating in SOS mode across several regions.

The company acknowledged service interruptions during Wednesday afternoon and evening, while emergency calling capabilities remained available.

Additionally, the telecom provider issued multiple statements apologising for the disruption and pledged to provide account credits to impacted customers. Engineering teams were deployed throughout the incident, with service gradually restored later in the day.

Verizon advised users still experiencing connectivity problems to restart their devices once normal operations resumed.

Despite repeated updates, the company has not disclosed the underlying cause of the outage. Independent outage-tracking platforms described the incident as a severe breakdown in cellular connectivity, with most reports citing complete signal loss and mobile phone failures.

Verizon stated that further updates would be shared following internal reviews, while rival mobile networks reported no comparable disruptions during the same period.

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

TikTok faces perilous legal challenge over child safety concerns

British parents suing TikTok over the deaths of their children have called for greater accountability from the platform, as the case begins hearings in the United States. One of the claimants said social media companies must be held accountable for the content shown to young users.

Ellen Roome, whose son died in 2022, said the lawsuit is about understanding what children were exposed to online.

The legal filing claims the deaths were a foreseeable result of TikTok’s design choices, which allegedly prioritised engagement over safety. TikTok has said it prohibits content that encourages dangerous behaviour.

Roome is also campaigning for proposed legislation that would allow parents to access their children’s social media accounts after a death. She said the aim is to gain clarity and prevent similar tragedies.

TikTok said it removes most harmful content before it is reported and expressed sympathy for the families. The company is seeking to dismiss the case, arguing that the US court lacks jurisdiction.

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

Microsoft urges systems approach to AI skills in Europe

AI is increasingly reshaping European workplaces, though large-scale job losses have not yet materialised. Studies by labour bodies show that tasks change faster than roles disappear.

Policymakers and employers face pressure to expand AI skills while addressing unequal access to them. Researchers warn that the benefits and risks concentrate among already skilled workers and larger organisations.

Education systems across Europe are beginning to integrate AI literacy, including teacher training and classroom tools. Progress remains uneven between countries and regions.

Microsoft experts say workforce readiness will depend on evidence-based policy and sustained funding. Skills programmes alone may not offset broader economic and social disruption from AI adoption.

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

Technology is reshaping smoke alarm safety

Smoke alarms remain critical in preventing fatal house fires, according to fire safety officials. Real-life incidents show how early warnings can allow families to escape rapidly spreading blazes.

Modern fire risks are evolving, with lithium-ion batteries and e-bikes creating fast and unpredictable fires. These incidents can release toxic gases and escalate before flames are clearly visible.

Traditional smoke alarm technology continues to perform reliably despite changes in household risks. At the same time, intelligent and AI-based systems are being developed to detect danger sooner.

Reducing false alarms has become a priority, as nuisance alerts often lead people to turn off devices. Fire experts stress that a maintained, certified smoke alarm is far safer than no smoke alarm at all.

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

AI hoax targets Kate Garraway and family

Presenter Kate Garraway has condemned a cruel AI-generated hoax that falsely showed her with a new boyfriend. The images appeared online shortly after the death of her husband, Derek Draper.

Fake images circulated mainly on Facebook through impersonation accounts using her name and likeness. Members of the public and even friends mistakenly believed the relationship was real.

The situation escalated when fabricated news sites began publishing false stories involving her teenage son Billy. Garraway described the experience as deeply hurtful during an already raw period.

Her comments followed renewed scrutiny of AI image tools and platform responsibility. Recent restrictions aim to limit harmful and misleading content generated using artificial intelligence.

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

South Korea establishes legal framework for tokenised securities

South Korea has approved legislation establishing a legal framework for issuing and trading tokenised securities. Amendments recognise blockchain-based securities as legitimate, with rules taking effect in January 2027.

Eligible issuers can create tokenised debt and equity products using blockchain infrastructure, while brokerages and licensed intermediaries will facilitate trading.

Regulators aim to combine the efficiency of distributed ledgers with investor protections and expand the use of smart contracts, enabling previously restricted investments in real estate, art, or agriculture to reach a broader audience.

Implementation will be led by the Financial Services Commission, in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Securities Depository, and industry participants.

Consultation bodies will develop infrastructure such as ledger-based account management systems, while local firms, including Mirae Asset Securities and Hana Financial Group, are preparing platforms for the new rules.

Analysts project tokenised assets could reach $2 trillion globally by 2028, with South Korea’s market at $249 billion.

The legislation also complements South Korea’s efforts to regulate blockchain and curb cryptocurrency-related financial crime.

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