Development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

CNN develops agent infrastructure for AI media trading

CNN is developing an internal agent infrastructure as part of a plan to begin AI-driven media trading by early 2027. The company aims to complete protocol scoping by the end of the second quarter before moving into testing phases later in the year.

Testing will focus on how properties are interpreted by large language models and how buyers allocate budgets to agent-based systems. Executives say the timeline may change as the technology and market conditions continue to evolve.

The initiative combines in-house development with external technology partners, while aligning with industry frameworks to ensure compatibility. CNN is also working with standards bodies to ensure agent communication produces accurate outcomes for buyers.

Agentic protocols enable systems to exchange information, negotiate pricing, and manage tasks autonomously between buyers and sellers. The company is prioritising consistent communication to support efficient and reliable transactions.

Early efforts are centred on learning and experimentation, even without immediate revenue generation. Initial use cases are expected to focus on performance-driven campaigns before expanding into broader advertising activities.

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UN warns of urgency in shaping responsible AI governance

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has told the inaugural meeting of a newly formed Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence that its members have a major responsibility to help shape how the technology is used “for the benefit of humanity”.

The new 40-member panel brings together experts from different regions and disciplines and is expected to help close what Guterres described as ‘the AI knowledge gap’. Its role is to assess the real impact AI will have across economies and societies so that countries can act with the same “clarity” on a more level playing field.

Addressing the scientists at the panel’s first meeting, Guterres said: “Individually, you come from diverse regions and disciplines, bringing outstanding expertise in AI and related fields. Collectively, you represent something the world has never seen before.”

He stressed that the group would provide scientific assessments independently of governments, companies, and institutions, including the UN itself. “AI is advancing at lightning speed… no country, no company, and no field of research can see the full picture alone,” he said, adding that “the world urgently needs a shared, global understanding of artificial intelligence; grounded not in ideology, but in science.”

Guterres also linked the panel’s work to a much broader global agenda, warning that AI will shape peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development for decades to come. He cautioned that misunderstanding around the technology could deepen political and social divisions, saying: “I have seen how quickly fear can take hold when facts are missing or distorted – how trust breaks down and division deepens.”

At a time when “geopolitical tensions are rising and conflicts are raging,” he said, the need for shared understanding and “safe and responsible AI could not be greater.”

He also framed the panel’s task as urgent, arguing that governance efforts are struggling to keep pace with the speed of technological change. “Never in the future will we move as slow as we are moving now. We are indeed in a high level of acceleration,” he said, while warning that the panel is also “in a race against time.”

Referring to earlier UN work through the High-Level Advisory Body on AI, Guterres said the panel does not “start from zero”, before concluding: “I can think of no more important assignment for our world today.”

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AI and 6G strategy drives South Korea’s digital transformation agenda

South Korea has outlined an ambitious national strategy to position itself among the world’s leading AI powers, linking technological advancement with broader economic and societal transformation.

Instead of isolated innovation efforts, the plan adopts a systemic approach, combining infrastructure development, data governance, and industrial policy to accelerate digital transition.

Central to South Korea’s strategy is the evolution of network infrastructure, with a shift from 5G to next-generation 6G technology targeted by 2030. The emphasis on connectivity and speed is complemented by efforts to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and establish a national data integration platform.

Such measures aim to create a more resilient and competitive digital environment capable of supporting large-scale AI deployment.

The policy also prioritises the integration of AI across multiple sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and disaster management.

By embedding intelligent systems into critical industries, South Korean authorities seek to enhance productivity, improve public service delivery, and strengthen national resilience.

Workforce development is positioned as a key pillar, with phased training initiatives designed to build expertise in advanced technologies such as semiconductors and quantum computing.

In parallel, the strategy incorporates digital inclusion measures to ensure broader societal participation. Expansion of AI learning centres and assistive technologies reflects an effort to reduce digital divides while supporting vulnerable groups.

Long-term success will depend on effective coordination across government bodies and to balancing rapid technological deployment with equitable access and robust governance frameworks, rather than purely growth-driven objectives.

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Brazil expands AI in public services through Fala.BR reform

The Brazilian government is integrating AI into Fala.BR platform to streamline how citizens communicate with public authorities, marking a notable shift in digital governance.

Instead of relying on manual classification, the system now automatically identifies the nature of submissions, reducing administrative burden and simplifying access to state services.

The reform is designed to improve inclusivity in public participation in Brazil. By lowering technical barriers and reducing the complexity of submitting complaints or requests, authorities aim to expand engagement among users with limited digital familiarity.

Greater accessibility may strengthen civic oversight, allowing broader segments of society to report issues and interact with government institutions more effectively.

From a policy perspective, the initiative reflects an effort to align digital transformation with transparency and accountability objectives.

Enhanced data classification and internal processing are expected to improve how public bodies in Brazil respond to citizen input. At the same time, integrated reporting tools may support more consistent monitoring of service performance across agencies.

The use of AI in citizen feedback systems also raises broader governance implications.

While efficiency gains and anti-corruption potential are emphasised, the long-term impact will depend on data governance standards, oversight mechanisms, and the ability to ensure equitable access rather than reinforce existing digital divides.

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Gallup finds AI is shaping some college students’ academic choices

Gallup reported that 16% of currently enrolled college students had changed their major or field of study due to AI’s potential impact. They claim that 14% have thought ‘a great deal’ and 33% ‘a fair amount’ about changing their major or field of study for the same reason.

Gallup said the findings are based on web surveys conducted from 2 to 31 October 2025 with 3,801 adults pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree. The article is part of Gallup’s work with Lumina Foundation on higher education.

According to Gallup, men were more likely than women to report having changed majors because of AI’s potential impact, at 21% compared with 12%. Associate degree students were also more likely than bachelor’s degree students to say they had changed their major or field of study, at 19% compared with 13%.

Gallup also found that concern about AI’s impact on majors was greater among students in technology and vocational fields than among those in business, humanities, and engineering. In a separate write-up published the same day, the organisation said AI use is already routine for many students, even where institutions discourage or prohibit it.

The research presents the findings as evidence that AI is affecting how some students think about academic choices and future work. It does not show a policy decision or institutional rule change, but it does add survey evidence to debates about AI, higher education, and future-of-work expectations.

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Brazil launches national assistive technology centre to advance disability rights

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation in Brazil has inaugurated a national centre dedicated to assistive technology, signalling a policy shift towards embedding innovation within disability rights frameworks.

Located at the Benjamin Constant Institute, the initiative is designed to strengthen coordination between research institutions and public demand for accessible technologies.

The Centre for Access, Research and Innovation in Assistive Technology (Capta) is part of a broader national strategy to improve inclusion and accessibility.

Instead of focusing solely on technological development, the approach integrates social policy objectives, ensuring that innovation contributes directly to autonomy, participation, and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Such alignment reflects growing recognition that technological progress must be anchored in rights-based principles.

From a governance perspective, Capta functions as an interface between citizens, researchers, and public institutions in Brazil. By facilitating experimentation, adaptation, and dissemination of assistive tools, it may improve the responsiveness of public services to diverse needs.

Integration with existing legal frameworks, including Brazil’s disability inclusion legislation, reinforces the institutionalisation of accessibility as a policy priority.

The long-term impact will depend on sustained investment and the ability to scale similar initiatives nationwide.

While the centre represents a structural advancement in assistive technology policy, its effectiveness will rest on equitable access, inter-agency coordination, and continued engagement with affected communities, rather than on isolated technological deployment.

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Kazakhstan positions AI at heart of industrial strategy

Addressing the Digital Qazaqstan 2026 forum on 27 March, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov positioned AI as foundational infrastructure comparable to energy and transport networks, with three priorities centring on institutional foundations, digital infrastructure and human capital.

The government plans to develop sector-specific datasets and specialised AI language models for energy, mining, agriculture and logistics industries throughout 2026.

Kazakhstan is establishing a dedicated university focused on AI and rolling out the national AI-Sana programme to build an education ecosystem spanning schools, professional training and tech entrepreneurship.

Prime Minister Bektenov concluded by highlighting Kazakhstan’s competitive advantages, including affordable electricity and low latency for high-performance computing systems.

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Oracle expands AI options for US government agencies

The US government is set to gain expanded AI capabilities through new infrastructure and model deployment options in Oracle Cloud.

These developments aim to improve agencies’ ability to manage critical tasks, from situational awareness to cybersecurity, while maintaining strict security and compliance standards.

High-performance GPUs and AI models will support faster, more reliable inference and training, helping agencies respond more effectively to public needs.

The focus is on enabling secure deployment in environments with sensitive data and complex regulatory requirements, ensuring AI use aligns with public interest and safety.

Such an expansion builds on existing government AI frameworks, offering capabilities for retrieval-augmented generation, secure inference, and operational analytics.

By integrating AI in a controlled, compliant environment, US agencies can improve efficiency, decision-making, and public service delivery without compromising security.

Ultimately, these advancements by Oracle aim to ensure that government AI adoption benefits citizens directly, supporting transparency, accountability, and effective public administration in high-stakes contexts.

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Nova Scotia launches five person AI team to support government operations

Nova Scotia will recruit a five-person team to help integrate AI into provincial government operations, marking a more structured push to introduce AI tools into public service work across Canada. Jennifer LaPlante, deputy minister of cybersecurity and digital solutions, said the group will develop protocols for staff across departments as the province expands its use of AI.

The team is expected to identify tools that could improve productivity and efficiency in government work, including systems such as Microsoft Copilot for tasks like drafting documents and summarising information. The move suggests that Nova Scotia is shifting from limited experimentation towards a more organised approach to AI adoption in public administration.

Officials say existing rules already govern the use of some AI meeting tools and virtual assistants, while a broader responsible-use policy is still being developed. That places the province’s AI push within a wider effort to balance innovation with security, oversight, and system protection.

Funding will come from a C$4.4 million investment to establish AI capabilities during the current fiscal year. Part of that budget will go towards licences and software, with room for the team to grow over time.

The department has also launched an AI chatbot, Scottie, to answer public questions about government services. According to officials, the tool retrieves information from existing government sources rather than generating new content, suggesting an effort to limit risk while expanding AI use in public-facing services.

Taken together, the measures point to a broader effort to embed AI more formally into provincial government operations, not only through tools and staffing but also through internal rules governing its use.

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EU delegation in China calls for sustainable e-commerce and safety standards

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) completed a visit to Beijing and Shanghai to address pressing e-commerce challenges affecting the European single market.

The delegation studied local business models and market supervision frameworks, engaging with Chinese regulators, e-commerce platforms, and the EU company representatives.

The discussions highlighted the surge of parcels from China, which now account for 91% of small shipments to Europe, and the resulting pressures on fair competition.

MEPs stressed that regulatory compliance must be consistent across all operators, ensuring consumer protection is not compromised by disparities in market practices or enforcement gaps.

The delegation urged representatives of e-commerce platforms to implement preventive measures, reinforcing accountability in areas such as product safety, customs compliance, and the removal of unsafe goods from the market.

MEPs underscored that these standards are essential to maintaining a sustainable and secure e-commerce environment for European citizens.

The visit, the first in eight years, demonstrated the EU’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring digital commerce evolves in a manner that is fair, transparent, and safe for all citizens.

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