Development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Researchers develop AI governance tools for public health across the Global Majority

A research team led by Professor Jude Kong from the University of Toronto is developing new tools to monitor, assess, and govern the use of AI in public health across the Global Majority, with a particular focus on Africa.

The team, which includes Jake Effoduh, Jim Hinton, Abbas Yazdinejad, and Maral Niaz, has begun mapping how AI is being integrated into healthcare systems and infrastructure. The work focuses on identifying key actors, technologies and use cases, providing a clearer picture of how AI is becoming embedded in public health systems.

The next phase involves developing a dynamic dashboard designed to track AI systems and support evidence-based decision-making. Rather than relying solely on top-down governance frameworks, the team aims to co-develop tools that policymakers, civil society organisations, educators and practitioners can use in their own contexts.

In practice, this means creating tools that are not only technically robust but also socially legitimate and locally relevant. While strengthening AI literacy and governance capacity across the Global Majority, the initiative aims to empower policymakers with evidence-based insights, support civil society in understanding AI systems, and enable more informed and inclusive decision-making processes.

By bringing together expertise in technology, law, public policy and social impact, the project reflects the multidisciplinary nature of AI governance. The team will present its findings at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, during ITU’s Kaleidoscope sessions on Thursday, 9 July 2026, from 15:30 to 16:30.

Why does this matter in AI world?

AI for the Global Majority (AI4GM) is a joint initiative of the Geneva Graduate Institute, Microsoft and the International Telecommunication Union. The initiative supports research on how AI can benefit majority populations in areas including governance, education, health, finance, and digital innovation.

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UK launches £200 million initiative to accelerate AI adoption across the economy

The UK government has unveiled a nationwide initiative to accelerate AI adoption, announcing more than £200 million in funding to help businesses deploy AI technologies while strengthening workforce skills.

The announcement was made at the inaugural AI Adoption Summit, which brought together technology companies, trade unions and industry leaders to discuss the practical deployment of AI across the economy.

The programme includes a £100 million expansion of the Bridge AI scheme to connect businesses with AI solutions and expertise, alongside £53 million for new AI innovation and adoption initiatives. Additional funding will support AI Growth Zones, scholarships, workforce training and sector-specific programmes aimed at helping organisations adopt AI responsibly and effectively.

A key element of the initiative is the creation of the AI Economics Institute, chaired by Nobel Prize-winning economist Simon Johnson. The institute will examine how AI affects employment, productivity and economic growth.

More than 30 companies have also committed to sharing data and experiences related to workplace AI adoption to help inform future policy development.

The UK government said the strategy seeks to increase AI adoption across businesses while ensuring workers gain the skills needed to benefit from technological change. Alongside public investment, several technology companies announced additional commitments focused on training, workforce development, research and business support.

Why does it matter?

Governments are increasingly shifting their focus from supporting AI research alone to encouraging widespread adoption across businesses and public services. Many policymakers see AI deployment as a key driver of productivity, competitiveness and economic growth, provided organisations and workers have the skills needed to use the technology effectively.

The UK’s initiative reflects this broader trend by combining investment in AI adoption with workforce development and evidence-based policymaking. The creation of the AI Economics Institute also signals growing interest in understanding how AI will affect jobs, productivity and economic performance as adoption accelerates.

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UNESCO IFAP focuses on digital inclusion

UNESCO’s Information for All Programme (IFAP) convened an orientation meeting on 20 May to brief stakeholders on its activities and priorities in an increasingly complex digital and information environment. The meeting took place as the Programme marks its 25th anniversary in 2026.

IFAP Chair Ambassador Salih Abdullah said the anniversary presents an opportunity to strengthen the Programme’s role as a global platform for policy dialogue and standard-setting in the digital era. He linked IFAP’s mission to UNESCO’s wider goal of ensuring access to information and supporting inclusive knowledge societies.

UNESCO said the endorsement of IFAP’s Manual of Operations by the 13th IFAP Council represents a significant milestone for the Programme. The manual is intended to guide the revitalisation of IFAP National Committees and support the translation of the ‘Information for All’ mandate into national policies and local initiatives.

Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi, UNESCO’s Director for Digital Inclusion, Policies and Transformation, and IFAP Secretary, said IFAP is positioned to guide Member States as the world aligns with the UN Global Digital Compact and the WSIS+20 review. He also emphasised the Programme’s role in advancing digital public goods, human rights and inclusive digital development.

The meeting also addressed the need to strengthen engagement across IFAP National Committees, working groups, experts, and partners. UNESCO encouraged Member States to establish IFAP National Committees and submit nominations for IFAP Working Groups in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Manual of Operations.

More than 80 delegates participated, including representatives of UNESCO Member States, the IFAP Council and Bureau, IFAP Working Groups and National Committees, experts, and partners. The IFAP 35th Bureau meeting is scheduled for 17 June 2026.

Why does it matter?

As governments and international organisations seek to implement the UN Global Digital Compact and prepare for the WSIS+20 review process, questions of digital inclusion, access to information and digital governance are becoming increasingly important.

IFAP provides a longstanding multistakeholder platform for addressing these issues and promoting inclusive knowledge societies. Strengthening national participation and coordination mechanisms could help countries translate global digital policy objectives into practical national initiatives and capacity-building efforts.

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UAE laboratory introduces AI-powered prostate cancer diagnostics

M42’s National Reference Laboratory has introduced an AI-powered tool for prostate cancer diagnostics in the UAE in partnership with digital pathology company Qritive. The platform will be integrated into the laboratory’s diagnostic workflow at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

The system analyses digital pathology slides, highlights suspicious findings and provides structured insights to help pathologists detect prostate cancer and assess disease severity. It is designed to identify cancerous tissue, assess tumour patterns, support grading according to internationally recognised standards and measure tumour burden.

M42 said the technology is intended to assist medical professionals rather than replace them, with final clinical decisions remaining the responsibility of physicians. The company said AI can help pathologists make complex decisions more efficiently, reduce interpretation variation, and support better patient outcomes.

NRL said the platform could help healthcare providers manage growing diagnostic demand while giving patients and clinicians faster access to critical information. Prostate cancer remains a growing health concern in the Middle East, with officials citing an estimated 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year.

The introduction of the platform forms part of NRL’s wider strategy to strengthen oncology services and expand the use of digital pathology and AI-enabled diagnostics. Officials said the initiative supports the UAE’s broader objectives of advancing healthcare innovation, improving patient outcomes and building a more data-driven health system under UAE Vision 2031.

Why does it matter?

AI-assisted diagnostics are increasingly being adopted to help healthcare professionals manage growing workloads, improve consistency in clinical assessments and accelerate access to diagnostic results. In pathology, AI tools can help identify patterns in medical images and support decision-making, particularly in areas where demand for specialist expertise is rising.

The deployment also reflects the UAE’s broader strategy of integrating AI into healthcare services as part of its digital transformation agenda. As healthcare systems seek to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, AI-enabled diagnostics are becoming an increasingly important component of modern medical practice.

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EU and Kenya deepen cooperation on digital transformation and connectivity

The European Union and Kenya are deepening their strategic partnership on trade, digital transformation, and sustainable investment.

The commitments were set out in Brussels, where European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen welcomed Kenyan President William Ruto.

The Commission said the reinforced cooperation reflects Kenya’s role as a key EU partner in Africa and at the multilateral level.

Under the Global Gateway initiative, the EU and Kenya will support clean transport and trade facilitation along the Northern Corridor, a strategic route for East African trade.

Digital development is also central to the partnership. The two sides will support the rollout of high-speed connectivity to more than 3,000 public offices, schools, health centres, and digital hubs across Kenya.

The discussions also advanced cooperation under the EU-Kenya Strategic Dialogue and welcomed progress in the EU-Kenya data adequacy process. If completed, the adequacy process would facilitate safe data flows between the partners and support digital trade and innovation.

The EU said the assessment so far has been positive and that it intends to conclude the process as soon as possible.

Why does it matter?

The EU-Kenya partnership shows how digital infrastructure, connectivity, data flows, and trade facilitation are becoming central to international economic cooperation. The data adequacy process is especially important because it could create a trusted framework for cross-border data transfers, supporting digital trade, innovation, public services, and closer economic links between Kenya and the EU.

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China brings AI into advanced ocean forecasting systems

China has unveiled LangYa 2.0, an upgraded AI-powered ocean forecasting system designed to predict complex marine phenomena with greater precision and detail. The model was unveiled at the Fourth China Digital Earth Conference in Qingdao and represents a step forward from earlier ocean monitoring tools.

Developed by the Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the system goes beyond monitoring variables such as temperature and salinity to forecast high-impact events, including typhoons, storm surges, extreme rainfall, internal waves, mesoscale eddies, and sea ice.

The platform combines specialised AI sub-models trained on diverse datasets and informed by physical ocean processes.

LangYa 2.0 is designed to provide decision-support information for applications including disaster preparedness, maritime safety, polar navigation and climate adaptation. The system can simulate rapid typhoon intensification and sudden track shifts, while also forecasting hidden ocean dynamics that may impact offshore infrastructure.

According to researchers, the model ranked first in a 2025 international Arctic sea ice forecasting evaluation, highlighting its potential for polar forecasting applications. Researchers are exploring ways to expand the system into broader climate and ecological modelling, with the aim of supporting future marine intelligence and environmental monitoring platforms.

Why does it matter?

Accurate ocean forecasting plays a critical role in disaster preparedness, maritime safety, climate adaptation and the protection of coastal infrastructure. AI-based systems can process large volumes of environmental data more quickly and identify complex patterns that may be difficult to capture using traditional forecasting methods alone.

LangYa 2.0 also reflects a broader trend towards using AI in Earth system science. As climate-related risks become more frequent and complex, governments and researchers are increasingly investing in AI-driven tools to improve environmental monitoring, risk assessment and decision-making.

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OECD calls for smarter regulation to boost competitiveness and innovation

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published a report on regulatory simplification, warning that excessive and fragmented rules can undermine competitiveness, investment, and innovation. The report, titled ‘Smart Regulations, Strong Business’, was approved and declassified by the OECD Regulatory Policy Committee on 18 May.

The report draws on the OECD’s Simplifying for Success surveys, conducted between July and September 2025 among governments and business organisations across OECD Members, accession countries, and the European Union. Responses were received from 34 jurisdictions, with the analysis also drawing on OECD regulatory governance data and discussions from a 2025 high-level symposium.

The OECD emphasises that regulation remains essential for market functioning, public health and safety, and transparent government processes. However, the report argues that the accumulation of rules and administrative requirements has created increasingly complex systems that are more difficult for businesses to navigate, comply with and adapt to.

Survey findings show that government respondents in 72% of participating countries and business organisations in 90% of countries consider current levels of regulation and bureaucracy to be excessive. More than three-quarters of business organisations also said full compliance is too costly, while many linked the regulatory environment to negative effects on competitiveness, investment, and innovation.

The report says regulatory burdens often stem from reporting, record-keeping, permitting, inspections, and fragmented rules, rather than solely from substantive policy goals. The OECD recommends targeting areas where regulatory burdens are greatest, streamlining administrative procedures through risk-based and digital approaches, and making rulemaking more future-ready through evidence-based policymaking, stakeholder engagement and stronger coordination.

Why does it matter?

Governments around the world are seeking ways to improve competitiveness and stimulate innovation while maintaining high standards of consumer protection, safety and market oversight. As regulatory frameworks expand, concerns have grown about the cumulative costs of compliance and administrative complexity for businesses.

The OECD’s findings contribute to broader debates on regulatory reform, highlighting the importance of balancing effective regulation with efficiency. The report also reflects growing interest in digital tools, risk-based approaches and evidence-driven policymaking as ways to reduce unnecessary burdens without weakening regulatory objectives.

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NHS England expands AI assistant rollout to more than 500,000 staff

NHS England will provide more than 500,000 clinicians and support staff with access to AI tools under an agreement to expand the use of Microsoft 365 Copilot across healthcare services. The rollout is expected to reach more than 500,000 staff by October 2026.

NHS England said the AI assistant can help staff draft documents, analyse data and reduce administrative workloads, enabling clinicians to spend more time on patient care. According to NHS England, the tools could save staff an average of around two working days per month.

The agreement follows a large healthcare trial involving more than 30,000 NHS workers across 90 NHS organisations. NHS England said the trial found that AI-powered administrative support could save an average of 43 minutes per employee per day, equivalent to approximately five working weeks annually.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is expected to support a range of functions, including clinical administration, ward management, medical secretarial work and broader operational and management tasks. Use cases include drafting patient letters, supporting discharge processes, analysing service data, building rotas, creating meeting minutes, drafting board papers, and assisting human resources, finance, and procurement teams.

Each NHS trust will receive a central allocation of licences based on organisational headcount, typically starting at around 2,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot licences. NHS England said the rollout forms part of broader efforts to improve productivity, reduce waiting times and support the government’s 10-Year Health Plan.

Why does it matter?

Healthcare systems worldwide are exploring how generative AI can reduce administrative burdens and allow medical professionals to focus more on patient care. Administrative tasks account for a significant share of healthcare workloads, making productivity gains particularly valuable in resource-constrained environments.

The NHS rollout represents one of the largest deployments of generative AI tools in a public healthcare system. Its outcomes could influence how other health services approach AI adoption, workforce productivity and the integration of AI into everyday clinical and administrative operations.

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UK launches AI skills and jobs initiative for young people

The UK government has announced a new package for young people entering the labour market as AI continues to reshape entry-level roles and career pathways. The package includes an Early Careers Jobs Alliance, AI bootcamps, and expanded technology training for students from disadvantaged schools, with AI bootcamps serving as a central route into paid apprenticeships for young people at risk of unemployment.

The Early Careers Jobs Alliance will bring together government, employers, trade unions and young people to examine how AI is changing entry-level employment and career development. Backed by £20 million in funding, the initiative will initially focus on the Digital and Technologies sector before expanding across all eight Industrial Strategy sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, financial services, and life sciences.

The alliance will analyse how entry-level work is evolving, develop guidance for businesses on redesigning roles while preserving career pathways, and identify examples of good practice. An initial report is expected in autumn.

Through the TechFirst programme, at least 400,000 students from some of the UK’s most disadvantaged schools will receive support in AI and digital skills through training sessions, competitions, extracurricular activities and engagement with industry. The AI bootcamps are intended to provide a more direct route into work for young people at risk of leaving education or training.

The UK government will also pilot free AI bootcamps in Lancashire and Greater Manchester this summer for young people at risk of leaving school after GCSEs and entering unemployment. Participants who successfully complete the bootcamp will be guaranteed a paid AI apprenticeship with local employers, with a broader rollout across England planned if the pilot proves successful.

A separate pilot linked to the North East AI Growth Zone will launch in early 2027 for young people aged 18 to 24 who are not in education or employment. Participants will receive at least 6 months of hands-on AI training with companies including Accenture, Microsoft, and Sage.

Why does it matter?

AI is beginning to transform many entry-level and administrative roles, raising concerns about how young people will gain work experience and build careers in an increasingly automated economy.

The UK’s approach combines workforce planning, skills development and employer engagement to help ensure that AI adoption creates new opportunities rather than limiting access to employment. The initiative also reflects growing efforts by governments to align education and training systems with the changing demands of the labour market.

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China launches a major 6G pilot programme to accelerate future connectivity

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched a ministry-provincial collaborative pilot programme to advance 6G innovation and development.

The initiative is designed to support future commercial deployment of next-generation communications technologies and strengthen the country’s 6G industrial ecosystem.

The programme focuses on advancing frontier 6G technologies and deepening the integration of communications networks with AI, satellite internet, and wireless sensing. It will also accelerate research and development of 6G base stations, core network equipment, terminals, chips, and operating systems.

Pilot regions will test practical applications tailored to local economic priorities. Planned use cases include immersive communications, industrial manufacturing, embodied intelligence, low-altitude economic activities, and smart maritime operations.

The initiative follows China’s recent approval of trial spectrum in the 6 GHz band for 6G technology testing in selected regions. That approval was granted to the IMT-2030 (6G) promotion group to support 6G technology trials and validation.

China currently operates the world’s largest 5G network and is seeking to build on that infrastructure base as global competition shifts towards 6G. Authorities say future 6G networks could deliver major improvements in speed, reliability, latency, and connectivity across terrestrial, aerial, maritime, and space-based networks.

Why does it matter?

The pilot programme shows how China is moving from 6G research towards coordinated industrial testing and local application scenarios. By linking 6G with AI, satellite internet, wireless sensing, chips, operating systems, embodied intelligence, and the low-altitude economy, China is treating next-generation connectivity as part of a wider industrial and strategic technology agenda.

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