Development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

ONS reports growing concern about AI in Great Britain

Public concern about AI is growing across Great Britain, with more adults believing its risks outweigh its benefits, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The survey found that 38% of adults believed AI’s risks outweighed its benefits, up from 25% in August 2024. Only 13% said the benefits outweighed the risks, while 43% considered them broadly balanced.

Despite growing concerns, 36% of respondents said AI would benefit them personally, although 27% disagreed, the highest share recorded since the ONS began asking the question in November 2023. Younger adults remained considerably more optimistic than older respondents.

Misinformation, privacy and security emerged as the public’s main concerns. Around 81% of respondents believed AI would make fake information harder to identify, 77% worried personal data could be used without consent and 63% expected greater exposure to cybercrime.

Nearly half of adults under 50 also believed AI could threaten their jobs, while trust remained very low for high-impact uses such as government decision-making (4%) and caregiving (5%).

Public concern contrasted with more limited expectations of personal benefit. While respondents identified education, workplace assistance and household support as AI’s main advantages, 41% said the technology would have no positive impact on their own lives.

Why does it matter?

The findings suggest that public acceptance of AI is becoming a key governance challenge alongside technological development. Growing concerns about misinformation, privacy, cybersecurity and employment could make citizens less willing to embrace AI unless governments and companies demonstrate that effective safeguards are in place.

The survey also highlights a widening gap between rapid AI deployment and public confidence. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into public services and everyday life, trust, transparency and accountability may prove just as important as technical capability in determining how quickly the technology is adopted.

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Germany expands Social Platform into national digital welfare portal

Germany has decided to expand its existing Social Platform into the country’s central digital portal for social services, creating a single entry point for accessing welfare benefits online. The decision was taken by the expert panel on the digitalisation of welfare state reform and builds on infrastructure already developed between 2021 and 2023.

The platform will gradually evolve into a nationwide one-stop shop supporting fully digital benefit applications, processing and notifications. It already provides benefit searches, online applications and advisory services, while integrating with Germany’s National Once-Only Technical System (NOOTS) to retrieve data from public registers.

Secure identification is currently provided through BundID, with support for the future European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) planned.

The initiative also lays the foundation for common data governance across Germany’s social administration. Future work will define shared data standards, interfaces and governance mechanisms while integrating the platform with the planned Deutschland-App. The expert panel overseeing the reform will continue its work until the end of 2027.

The government said the reform is intended to simplify access to social benefits, improve administrative efficiency and modernise employment and social administration through interoperable digital public services.

Why does it matter?

The initiative represents one of Germany’s most significant digital government reforms, replacing fragmented access to welfare services with a common digital platform. By combining shared infrastructure, interoperable data systems and digital identity, the project aims to simplify how citizens interact with public administration while improving efficiency across government.

The integration of NOOTS, BundID and the future EUDI Wallet also aligns Germany’s welfare modernisation with wider European efforts to build interoperable digital public services. The project illustrates how digital identity, data governance and common technical standards are becoming central components of public-sector transformation.

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Greece adopts national framework to implement EU AI Act

The Greek Parliament has approved the national implementing framework for the EU AI Act, making Greece one of the first member states to establish a comprehensive national system for enforcing the regulation.

The new law in Greece establishes the institutional framework for supervising AI systems, coordinating enforcement, supporting innovation and ensuring compliance with the EU AI Act.

The legislation designates the Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) as the central market surveillance authority and the Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) as the notifying authority, while establishing a dedicated AI Coordination and Expertise Centre.

It also introduces complaint procedures, administrative sanctions, a national registry of AI systems used by public authorities, regulatory sandboxes for AI testing and criminal penalties for removing transparency labels from deepfake content.

Alongside the implementing framework, the government presented its broader national AI strategy, highlighting investments in infrastructure, data governance and research. These include the Daedalus supercomputer, the Pharos AI Factory, new high-performance computing infrastructure in Kozani, the data.gov.gr platform and partnerships with companies such as Mistral and ElevenLabs, which the government said will strengthen Greece’s AI capabilities and technological sovereignty.

The government said these initiatives form part of a coordinated strategy to strengthen Greece’s AI capabilities and technological sovereignty.

The minister also highlighted current and planned AI applications across the public sector, including tools to accelerate legal reviews at the Hellenic Cadastre and improve public access to parliamentary work through AI services for the Hellenic Parliament.

Additional provisions include the creation of a digital registry for accessibility infrastructure, which will integrate with the MyStreet application to improve mobility for people with disabilities.

Why does it matter?

The legislation gives Greece the institutional architecture needed to implement the EU AI Act while combining regulatory oversight with investment in AI infrastructure and innovation. By establishing supervisory authorities, regulatory sandboxes and governance mechanisms alongside major computing and data initiatives, Greece is seeking to align AI regulation with industrial and digital development.

The framework also illustrates how implementation of the AI Act is becoming a national governance exercise rather than simply a compliance task. As member states designate authorities and build supporting institutions, national implementation strategies are likely to shape how consistently the Act is applied across the EU.

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UAE highlights AI-driven labour market strategy at BRICS meeting

The United Arab Emirates presented its AI-driven labour-market policies at the 2026 BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in India.

The country highlighted public-private cooperation, adaptable legislation and investment in AI as part of its approach to workforce development.

UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdulrahman Al Awar said AI is being used to forecast labour-market needs, identify future skills and support data-based decision-making.

He also said digital platforms are helping strengthen worker protection through wage monitoring, occupational safety systems and labour dispute-resolution tools.

The UAE pointed to growth in its labour market, saying private-sector employment had more than doubled over the past five years, registered companies had increased by 46%, and women’s participation had risen by 109%.

The government said its AI-supported skills initiatives are intended to align education and training with future labour-market needs.

BRICS members concluded the meeting by adopting a joint declaration focused on social protection, skills development, workforce participation and digital transformation.

The UAE said it remains committed to international cooperation on building more resilient and inclusive labour markets.

Why does it matter?

The UAE’s presentation shows how governments are increasingly using AI and digital platforms for labour-market planning, skills forecasting and worker-protection systems. The approach reflects a wider shift in employment policy, where competitiveness depends not only on automation and productivity, but also on whether countries can prepare workers for new skills demand, protect labour rights and adapt regulation as work changes.

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WHO convenes global summit on AI governance in healthcare

The World Health Organization has brought ministers and senior officials from 37 countries to Lisbon to develop a shared approach to AI health governance, patient safety and equitable access to emerging technologies.

The global conference, co-hosted by WHO/Europe and the Portuguese government, brings together representatives from all six WHO regions, alongside leaders from the European Commission, the World Bank, the Wellcome Trust, the Aga Khan University and the Gates Foundation.

WHO said its assessment of AI readiness across the European Region revealed a substantial gap between AI adoption and governance. Nearly two-thirds of countries already use AI in diagnostics, but only 8% have a health-specific AI strategy and only 8% have standards defining liability when AI systems fail.

The Lisbon meeting is organised around three pillars: regulation and accountability, tools and infrastructure for safe deployment, and the people and institutions responsible for implementing AI in practice. Rather than promoting a single model, WHO is exploring how countries at different levels of digital development can adapt common governance principles to their own health systems.

Discussions cover legal accountability, ethics, data governance, interoperability, workforce preparation and responsible investment. Participants also stressed that effective AI governance will be essential to ensure AI narrows rather than widens inequalities between well-resourced and under-resourced health systems.

The conference also includes a meeting involving Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste. The session is intended to lay the foundations for cooperation on AI and health among Portuguese-speaking countries.

WHO Regional Director for Europe, Hans Kluge, said governments need a shared approach to governance, workforce training and equitable access. He warned that people are increasingly consulting generative AI chatbots about medical symptoms before speaking with healthcare professionals, highlighting the urgency of effective governance.

The conference opened with technical discussions on 13 and 14 July involving researchers, clinicians and international organisations. Ministerial sessions on 15 and 16 July are expected to translate those discussions into a practical agenda for international cooperation.

Why does it matter?

The conference reflects a growing recognition that healthcare is becoming one of the most important sectors for AI governance. As hospitals and health systems adopt AI more rapidly, governments are increasingly seeking common approaches to accountability, patient safety and regulatory oversight.

WHO’s findings also expose a widening governance gap: many countries are already deploying AI in clinical settings without dedicated strategies or clear liability frameworks. International cooperation could help countries develop compatible governance approaches while reducing inequalities in access to safe and trustworthy AI-enabled healthcare.

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India approves €13 billion Semicon 2.0 strategy

The Government of India has approved Semicon 2.0, a long-term strategy worth Rs. 1.275 trillion (approximately €13 billion) to accelerate the development of the country’s semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem.

Building on Semicon 1.0, the programme aims to strengthen India’s position across the semiconductor value chain through sustained public investment, industrial incentives and workforce development.

The strategy is organised around six pillars, such as semiconductor design, manufacturing equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging technologies, research and development, and talent development.

India plans to expand chip design capabilities, attract additional fabrication plants, encourage investment in ATMP and OSAT facilities, strengthen domestic production of critical materials and manufacturing equipment, and support the development of advanced semiconductor technologies.

The government also highlighted progress under Semicon 1.0. Twelve semiconductor manufacturing facilities have been approved with cumulative investments exceeding Rs. 1.64 trillion, covering silicon fabrication, silicon carbide, gallium nitride display manufacturing and advanced packaging. Three facilities have already entered commercial production, while additional projects are expected to become operational during 2026.

On the design side, 24 semiconductor startups have received financial support and 105 have gained access to advanced chip design tools to develop technologies for AI, IoT, telecommunications, satellite communications and smart devices.

According to the government, Semicon 2.0 is intended to strengthen India’s technological sovereignty, improve semiconductor supply chain resilience and establish the country as a globally competitive hub for semiconductor innovation, manufacturing and intellectual property.

Why does it matter?

Semicon 2.0 reflects the growing use of industrial policy to strengthen domestic semiconductor ecosystems amid global competition for advanced chip manufacturing. By investing across design, production, research and skills, India is seeking to reduce external dependencies while building long-term technological capacity.

The strategy also demonstrates that semiconductor competitiveness increasingly depends on developing the entire value chain rather than attracting fabrication plants alone. If successfully implemented, the programme could strengthen India’s position in global semiconductor supply chains while supporting wider ambitions in AI, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.

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Microsoft and 3M partner on AI data centre infrastructure

Microsoft and 3M have announced a strategic partnership covering AI data centre infrastructure and the deployment of Microsoft AI tools across 3M’s business operations.

Microsoft Azure will become the first hyperscale cloud provider to deploy 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical technology, which is designed to improve the physical connectivity needed for expanding cloud and AI workloads. Unlike conventional fibre connectors that rely on direct physical contact, the technology uses an expanded optical beam, making connections more resistant to dust and contamination during installation and maintenance.

Microsoft said early deployments suggest the technology could shorten network installation times in some environments while maintaining reliable signal performance under typical data centre conditions.

3M is expanding production as hyperscalers and data centre operators invest in AI infrastructure. The company has also supported an industry agreement to standardise expanded beam optical connections.

The partnership will combine Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure with 3M’s expertise in materials science, optical connectivity and precision manufacturing, with further collaboration focusing on deployment speed, reliability, density and long-term scalability.

Alongside the infrastructure agreement, 3M will deploy Microsoft AI and digital platforms across customer service, finance, sales and marketing to simplify processes, improve decision-making and increase productivity.

Microsoft engineers are also working with 3M’s Global Business Services team on an AI agent-based customer order workflow covering credit checks, delinquency assessments and system updates while retaining human approval. A monitoring dashboard will provide employees with real-time visibility into the process to improve consistency, reduce manual work and support auditability.

The partnership links investment in the physical infrastructure that supports AI with the adoption of AI across enterprise operations, illustrating how cloud providers and industrial companies are increasingly collaborating across both domains.

Why does it matter?

The partnership highlights that scaling AI depends not only on chips and computing power but also on the physical networking infrastructure connecting data centres. Improvements in optical connectivity could help cloud providers deploy increasingly dense AI infrastructure more efficiently and reliably.

It also illustrates how infrastructure partnerships are becoming broader digital transformation initiatives. By combining hardware innovation with enterprise AI deployment, Microsoft and 3M are reflecting a wider trend in which AI investment spans both the technology underpinning AI services and the business processes that use them.

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Illinois issues AI guidance for schools with AI-assisted drafting disclosed

The Illinois State Board of Education has published comprehensive guidance on the use of AI in schools, while also disclosing that the 409-page document was itself developed with assistance from multiple AI models alongside human review.

The guidance was prepared following legislation adopted in 2025, with contributions from education, technology and public policy experts. Initial drafts drew ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, while human reviewers edited, verified and refined the final document.

The board detailed how AI was used throughout the drafting process, including producing early text, verifying publicly available resources, creating graphics and improving clarity. It stressed that all AI-generated information was independently reviewed and verified before publication.

The guidance emphasises that AI should support teaching and learning rather than replace human relationships or educational experiences. It also offers practical recommendations for selecting AI tools and promoting responsible, ethical and transparent AI use in schools.

The guidance is intended to help Illinois schools navigate both the opportunities and risks associated with AI adoption in education.

Why does it matter?

The guidance offers schools a practical framework for integrating AI while addressing issues such as academic integrity, privacy, transparency and the reliability of AI-generated content. As more education systems adopt AI, common governance principles may help schools use the technology more consistently and responsibly.

The document is also notable for openly disclosing how AI contributed to its own development. By documenting where AI was used and emphasising independent human verification, the Illinois State Board of Education models a level of transparency that could influence how other public institutions develop AI-assisted policies and guidance.

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South Korea showcases low-power AI networking technology

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has showcased low-power AI networking technology to an international audience as part of efforts to promote more energy-efficient communications infrastructure.

According to the ministry, the demonstration formed part of broader efforts to showcase domestic advances in AI and communications technologies and strengthen international cooperation.

The ministry released few technical details about the technology, instead presenting it as an example of South Korea’s research and development capabilities in AI networking and next-generation communications infrastructure.

Why does it matter?

Reducing the energy required to run AI infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as AI workloads expand. More efficient networking technologies could help lower operating costs and support wider deployment of AI systems while reducing their environmental impact.

Although the ministry released few technical details, the announcement reflects South Korea’s continued investment in AI and advanced communications technologies as part of its broader strategy to strengthen technological competitiveness and international collaboration.

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EU and India strengthen technology partnership through TTC

The European Union and India have strengthened their strategic partnership at the third meeting of the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Brussels, agreeing to deepen cooperation on advanced technologies, trade and resilient supply chains.

Both sides reaffirmed the TTC as their main platform for cooperation on technology, economic security and innovation, while agreeing to upgrade the framework by the end of 2026 under the Joint EU-India Comprehensive Strategic Agenda.

The meeting produced several concrete initiatives.

The EU and India agreed to begin formal negotiations on India’s association with Horizon Europe, establish the first EU-India Innovation Hub focused on electric vehicle charging technologies, and launch a startup partnership supporting deep tech and clean technology companies. They also expanded cooperation on semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies, high-performance computing, 6G and resilient supply chains covering clean energy technologies, pharmaceuticals and agri-food.

On digital technologies, the partners agreed to strengthen cooperation on AI innovation, including healthcare applications, and collaborate on high-performance computing for climate research, natural hazards and bioinformatics. They also committed to advancing interoperability between digital trust services, including digital wallets, building on their earlier agreement on electronic signatures and seals.

The meeting also reaffirmed the strategic importance of the broader EU-India relationship, including ongoing negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, investment protection and geographical indications.

Ministers instructed TTC working groups to prioritise implementation ahead of the next ministerial meeting.

Why does it matter?

The EU and India are increasingly treating technology as a strategic pillar of their relationship alongside trade and investment. Expanding cooperation on AI, semiconductors, research and digital infrastructure reflects shared interests in strengthening technological competitiveness and reducing vulnerabilities in critical supply chains.

The agreement also illustrates how trade partnerships are evolving into broader technology partnerships. By linking research, innovation, standards and digital trust, the TTC provides a framework that could deepen long-term cooperation while supporting both sides’ economic security and strategic autonomy.

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