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Hong Kong launches AI-focused cybersecurity initiatives for 2026

Hong Kong’s Digital Policy Office has announced a series of AI-related cybersecurity initiatives for the second half of 2026, following a briefing on cyber resilience and emerging technology risks. The office said it would focus on improving AI security awareness and digital literacy among both organisations and the public.

Planned initiatives include a Secure AI@Work Enablement Campaign, organised with the Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation, to help enterprises develop secure and compliant AI ecosystems. The Digital Policy Office will also collaborate with industry on an AI x Cybersecurity Challenge focused on AI-powered threat detection, cyber resilience and cybersecurity skills development.

The office said it would continue enterprise support and practical drills, including an enhanced Cybersec One+, the Cybersecurity Service Providers Connect Programme and the third Hong Kong Cybersecurity Attack and Defence Drill. Hong Kong will also consolidate the Cyber Security Summit Hong Kong and the Cybersecurity Symposium into a single Cybersecurity Symposium and Summit in December.

The Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau said the volume of cyber threat intelligence related to threats targeting Hong Kong continues to increase. Its Cyber Security Centre analysed more than 330,000 threat intelligence records during the first quarter of 2026, identifying phishing as the most prevalent threat category.

The bureau said it would deepen international law enforcement cooperation, strengthen intelligence sharing with sectors including critical infrastructure, and use AI and big data to improve cyber threat detection, early warning analysis, and incident response. The Hong Kong Police Force and Cyberport have also established the Smart Policing Joint AI Lab to develop technologies for detecting deepfakes and strengthening network defence capabilities.

Why does it matter?

The initiatives reflect growing efforts by governments to address the cybersecurity implications of wider AI adoption. As organisations increasingly integrate AI into business operations, concerns around secure deployment, cyber resilience and workforce readiness are becoming key policy priorities.

The programme also highlights how AI is being used both as a potential source of cyber risk and as a tool for improving threat detection, incident response and cyber defence capabilities.

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Anthropic expands AI cybersecurity programme for critical infrastructure

AI company Anthropic has announced a major expansion of Project Glasswing, an initiative aimed at strengthening the security of critical software through AI-assisted vulnerability detection.

After initially providing access to around 50 organisations, the programme will expand to approximately 150 additional partners across more than 15 countries.

Project Glasswing provides selected organisations with access to Claude Mythos Preview, Anthropic’s cybersecurity-focused AI model. According to Anthropic, participating organisations have identified more than 10,000 high- and critical-severity software vulnerabilities through the programme.

The newly added participants include operators and vendors across critical infrastructure sectors such as power, water, healthcare, communications and hardware manufacturing.

Anthropic argues that increasingly capable AI systems could significantly reshape cybersecurity, creating both new defensive opportunities and new risks. The company says future AI models may enable defenders to identify, analyse and remediate vulnerabilities at greater scale, while also potentially enhancing the capabilities available to malicious actors.

Project Glasswing is intended to help critical organisations adapt before such capabilities become widely accessible.

Alongside the expansion, Anthropic said it plans to provide additional cybersecurity tools, support vulnerability remediation efforts and work with industry, governments and open-source software maintainers to strengthen cyber resilience.

Why does it matter?

The expansion of Project Glasswing highlights the growing role of AI in cybersecurity, particularly in vulnerability discovery and software security testing. As critical infrastructure operators face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, AI-assisted tools may help identify and address security weaknesses more quickly.

At the same time, the initiative reflects broader concerns that advances in AI could benefit both defenders and attackers, increasing the importance of responsible deployment, coordinated security research and resilience planning across critical sectors.

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ILO chief calls for human-centred AI governance at labour conference

International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo has called for a human-centred approach to AI at the opening of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva. He said the future of work would depend not only on technological advances, but also on the policies, institutions and social dialogue shaping their impact on people’s lives.

Drawing on his report ‘A Moment of Choice: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Decent Work‘, Houngbo outlined an agenda focused on rights, employment and skills, social protection, and social dialogue. He argued that productivity gains generated by AI should be shared through higher wages, stronger labour protections and more inclusive economic growth.

Houngbo warned that decisions taken today would determine whether AI expands opportunity and shared prosperity or contributes to greater inequality and insecurity. He also situated AI governance within a broader context of economic uncertainty, citing ILO estimates that a prolonged oil-price shock could reduce global working hours by the equivalent of millions of full-time jobs and lead to significant labour income losses by 2027.

Delegates will also hold a second discussion on decent work in the platform economy, with the aim of developing new international labour standards. The draft Convention and Recommendation cover employment promotion, protections for digital platform workers, and provisions relating to automated systems used by digital labour platforms.

Delegates from governments, employers, and workers will also address gender equality, social dialogue, tripartism, and the application of labour standards. The conference, which brings together representatives from the ILO’s 187 Member States, will run until 12 June.

Why does it matter?

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, governments, employers and workers are debating how productivity gains, skills requirements and labour protections should evolve. The ILO’s focus on human-centred AI reflects growing international efforts to ensure that technological change supports decent work rather than exacerbating inequality.

The discussions are also significant because they could influence future international labour standards for platform work and the use of automated systems in employment, helping shape how AI affects workers worldwide.

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WHO outlines opportunities and risks of AI in health policy

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a discussion paper examining how AI could reshape evidence-informed health policymaking. The paper, titled ‘Artificial intelligence and evidence-informed policy – emerging challenges and opportunities’, examines how AI can affect the way health problems are defined, policy options are designed, and impact is assessed.

The paper was developed jointly by WHO’s Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI and its Department of Science for Health. It is intended for policy-makers, regulators, health managers, and AI developers, and organises its analysis around the policy cycle, from understanding problems to designing solutions and monitoring implementation.

According to the paper, AI can strengthen policy analysis through the use of larger datasets, continuous evidence synthesis and faster scenario modelling. The paper also identifies risks throughout the policy cycle, including data bias, excessive focus on measurable indicators, digital divides, cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the possibility that automated monitoring systems could gradually shift policy implementation away from its original objectives.

A recurring concern is what the paper describes as ‘epistemic injustice’, whereby AI systems may prioritise quantifiable and data-rich evidence while overlooking lived experience, local expertise, Indigenous knowledge and community-based perspectives. WHO says existing evidence-informed policymaking tools and AI governance frameworks already converge on transparency, participatory engagement, rights protection, and risk-based oversight.

WHO recommends conducting algorithmic impact assessments and technology readiness reviews before deploying AI systems in policymaking processes. Once systems are deployed, WHO recommends continuous evidence-review processes, human verification mechanisms and multidisciplinary oversight, emphasising that AI should support rather than replace human judgement in health policymaking.

Why does it matter?

AI is increasingly being used to analyse large datasets, model policy scenarios and support public-sector decision-making. As governments and international organisations explore these capabilities, questions about transparency, accountability, bias and human oversight are becoming more important.

WHO’s recommendations highlight the need to balance AI’s analytical potential with safeguards that protect human rights, ensure inclusive policymaking and maintain human responsibility for policy decisions.

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Greece advances digital transformation with AI, interoperability and cybersecurity measures

Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Dimitris Papastergiou, has outlined a broad digital transformation agenda in an interview with the newspaper Manifesto, highlighting new legislation, AI deployment, cybersecurity measures and digital public services.

A key element of the agenda is the implementation of the EU’s ‘once-only’ principle, which allows citizens and businesses in Greece to avoid repeatedly submitting the same information to public authorities across the EU. The legislation also introduces more than 800 new interoperability connections between government systems, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and improve service delivery.

Papastergiou highlighted the growing use of AI in public administration, including the mAigov digital assistant, which has handled more than 4.4 million citizen queries. Greece is also investing in AI infrastructure projects, including the Daedalus supercomputer and the Pharos AI Factory, while preparing national legislation aligned with the EU AI Act.

The minister also highlighted a memorandum of understanding with voice AI company ElevenLabs aimed at improving accessibility and public services through voice-based technologies. Additional initiatives include the creation of a Unified Property Hub, stronger anti-phishing measures, a National Malicious Websites Blocking List, the Defective Vehicle Recall Registry and enhancements to the MyStreet application.

On child online safety, Greece plans to introduce age-verification requirements for users under 15 through the Kids Wallet application from January 2027. According to the minister, the system will verify age without exposing or storing unnecessary personal information.

Why does it matter?

Greece’s plans illustrate how governments are increasingly combining AI deployment, digital public services and cybersecurity measures within broader digital transformation strategies.

The initiatives also reflect wider European efforts to improve interoperability, strengthen digital infrastructure, enhance online safety for children and prepare for the implementation of the EU AI Act.

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Microsoft unveils Majorana 2 and advances quantum computing roadmap

Microsoft has introduced Majorana 2, its next-generation topological quantum chip, alongside the general availability of Microsoft Discovery, an AI-powered research platform designed to accelerate scientific discovery.

The company says the new chip delivers a 1,000-fold improvement in qubit reliability compared with the previous generation, representing a step towards more scalable quantum computing.

Majorana 2 incorporates a new materials stack based on lead superconductors, enabling a mean qubit lifetime of 20 seconds, with some qubits remaining stable for up to 1 minute. Microsoft says the improvement has allowed it to shorten its projected timeline for a scalable quantum computer, aiming for 2029.

A key element of the announcement is the role of Microsoft Discovery, the company’s agentic AI platform for scientific research and development. Microsoft said its quantum team used specialised AI agents to automate measurements, optimise fabrication processes, analyse large datasets, identify previously unnoticed flaws, and generate new research hypotheses.

According to Microsoft, agentic AI has become a regular part of its quantum research workflow, supporting scientists and engineers as they manage complex materials, fabrication, software, and measurement challenges.

The company also announced that Microsoft Discovery is now generally available for organisations conducting research in sectors such as life sciences, materials science, chemicals, energy, manufacturing, and consumer goods. A free local application is also being released in preview, allowing individual researchers to access core AI-driven research capabilities through a GitHub Copilot account.

Why does it matter?

Quantum computing still faces major barriers around qubit stability, reliability, error correction, and scalability. Microsoft’s announcement is significant because it links progress in quantum hardware with the use of agentic AI in scientific workflows. If the company’s roadmap holds, AI-assisted research could help accelerate progress towards practical quantum systems, with potential long-term implications for materials science, energy, health, chemistry, and other fields that depend on complex simulation.

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Quantum research opens new paths for energy and computing

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have advanced understanding of how quantum wave functions behave in ultra-thin layered materials, a development that could eventually improve solar energy technologies and support future quantum computing systems.

The findings show that electric fields can be used to control the position and behaviour of quantum wave functions in materials only a few atoms thick. Experiments showed that wave functions can shift between layers or exist in multiple layers simultaneously through quantum superposition, affecting a material’s optical properties.

The researchers also drew parallels with natural systems such as photosynthesis, where quantum processes are believed to support highly efficient energy transfer. By studying similar mechanisms in engineered materials, scientists hope to improve control over energy conversion and transport, particularly in solar technologies where energy losses remain a major challenge.

Researchers are also exploring whether vibrations can be used to control quantum states, potentially enabling new types of ‘quantum vibronic switches’. The findings could have applications beyond energy systems, including quantum computing, sensing and photonic technologies.

Why does it matter?

The research highlights progress towards actively controlling quantum behaviour in engineered materials, an important step in the development of practical quantum technologies. Such control could enable more efficient energy systems and improve the performance of future quantum devices.

The findings also illustrate how insights from natural processes such as photosynthesis can inform the design of next-generation materials for computing, sensing and renewable energy applications.

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Australia launches AI Safety Institute to boost trust in AI adoption

Australia’s AI Safety Institute became operational on 2 June as the government seeks to strengthen public trust in AI development, deployment and governance. The announcement was made during the AFR AI Summit in Canberra, where the government described public trust as essential to building a domestic AI industry.

According to Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Hon Dr Andrew Charlton, Australia’s national AI plan rests on three pillars:

Capturing the opportunity
Sharing the benefits
Keeping Australians safe.

The AI Safety Institute is intended to support that effort by testing AI systems, assisting regulators and strengthening public confidence in the technology.

In his speech, Charlton also argued that Australia faces a choice between building a world-class AI industry or relying on foreign capability, while warning that low public trust could slow AI adoption and investment.

Charlton cited survey findings showing that only 30% of Australians believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, while 78% are concerned about potential negative impacts, and 36% say they trust the technology. It linked public scepticism to concerns that AI benefits may flow offshore while costs linked to jobs, privacy, power bills, and local communities are borne domestically.

Data centres were highlighted as an example of how trust considerations are shaping AI policy. The government said data-centre developers should contribute new renewable energy capacity, cover an appropriate share of transmission and distribution costs, engage with local communities and avoid creating pressure on water resources.

The AI Safety Institute will analyse and test AI models and applications, support regulators responding to emerging AI-related harms, and contribute to national and international discussions on safe AI development and governance. The speech also pointed to wider work on privacy reform, online safety, workplace impacts, competition, consumer issues, and public-sector AI adoption.

Why does it matter?

Australia is positioning trust as a key component of its AI strategy at a time when governments are balancing economic opportunities from AI with concerns about safety, privacy, employment and infrastructure impacts.

By creating a dedicated AI Safety Institute, Australia joins a growing number of countries establishing specialised institutions to evaluate AI risks, support regulators and build public confidence in the deployment of increasingly capable AI systems.

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France secures a €75 billion SoftBank investment for AI data centres

SoftBank Group has announced plans to develop and operate 5 GW of AI data centre capacity in France, representing an investment of up to €75 billion.

The commitment was announced at the 2026 Choose France summit and marks SoftBank Group’s largest AI infrastructure investment in Europe. The company said the project is designed to expand access to high-performance computing capacity and strengthen France’s role as a European hub for AI infrastructure.

The first phase includes an initial €45 billion investment to deliver 3.1 GW of AI data centre capacity in the Hauts-de-France region by 2031. Planned sites include Dunkirk, Bosquel, and Bouchain, with additional projects expected elsewhere in France.

The infrastructure is intended to support demand for high-performance computing from AI companies, cloud providers, enterprises, public institutions, and research organisations.

A major component of the initiative is a strategic industrial partnership with Schneider Electric. The companies will establish a large-scale industrial production cluster at the Port of Dunkirk focused on data centre infrastructure.

The cluster will include two facilities: one operated by SoftBank Group to manufacture enclosures, and one operated by Schneider Electric to integrate data centre power modules. The partnership will combine SoftBank’s robotics and automation capabilities with Schneider Electric’s energy technology expertise and local supply chain network.

SoftBank said the project is expected to create thousands of high-skilled jobs across data centre development, engineering, energy systems, robotics, operations, maintenance, and advanced manufacturing. The company also plans to support regional research and development through partnerships with universities, engineering schools, and training institutions.

Why does it matter?

SoftBank’s project would significantly expand Europe’s AI compute capacity at a time when data centres, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing are becoming central to AI competitiveness. The investment also links digital sovereignty with industrial policy: France is not only seeking more AI computing infrastructure, but also a localised supply chain for data centre equipment, power systems, robotics, and technical skills.

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European Investment Bank backs Allegro for AI expansion

The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide Polish e-commerce platform Allegro with a PLN 1 billion loan to support research, development, and AI initiatives.

The financing marks the largest private-sector research and development programme backed by the EIB in Poland and is intended to support Europe’s digital competitiveness and digital sovereignty.

The funding will cover nearly 40% of Allegro’s planned expenditure on research, development, and innovation in the coming years. The company plans to expand its use of AI, improve customer services, develop next-generation delivery systems, and strengthen its digital marketplace.

The investment forms part of the EIB Group’s TechEU initiative, which aims to support investment in strategic technologies, including AI, clean technology, and quantum computing. Allegro said the financing will support work by software engineers, data scientists, and AI specialists, while helping the company develop new algorithms, models, and system architectures.

Allegro is one of Europe’s largest homegrown online marketplaces and controls about a third of the Polish market. It is also expanding in Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary, giving small and medium-sized enterprises access to new customers across the region.

The EIB said planned investments in several technical centres in Poland would also support social and territorial cohesion in the EU.

Why does it matter?

The loan shows how EU-backed financing is being used to support AI adoption and digital innovation in European platform companies. For the EIB, the Allegro deal fits into a wider push to strengthen Europe’s digital and industrial competitiveness through investment in strategic technologies. For Central and Eastern Europe, it also supports regional digital infrastructure, technical skills, and marketplace innovation.

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