Development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

India backs ‘Human-led AI’ for digital government

India has reaffirmed its commitment to placing people at the centre of AI during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance, where Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said ‘Human-led Artificial Intelligence’ will guide the country’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047.

Speaking at the conference’s closing session in Jaipur, Singh said AI is no longer optional for governments, but argued that its success depends on responsible deployment that strengthens transparency, accountability and public service rather than replacing human judgement.

Held under the theme ‘Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-enabled, Data-driven and Secure Digital Governance’, the conference brought together policymakers, technology experts, researchers, industry representatives and public administrators to discuss the future of digital government.

The conference concluded with the adoption of the Jaipur Declaration, which sets out a strategic roadmap for AI-enabled, secure and citizen-centric governance. It also recognised 17 digital governance initiatives through the National e-Governance Awards 2026, highlighting innovation across ministries, states, local governments and research institutions.

Throughout the event, speakers presented AI as a tool to strengthen public administration while preserving democratic accountability. Singh stressed that AI should enhance institutional capacity rather than replace human responsibility.

He highlighted several flagship initiatives, including the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System, the multilingual AI chatbot SAMADHAN DIDI developed with BHASHINI, the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment, Mission Karmayogi and the IndiaAI Mission, all intended to improve efficiency, accessibility and citizen engagement.

Singh also said India’s long-term digital strategy extends beyond technology deployment. Capacity building for civil servants, administrative reform, secure Digital Public Infrastructure and responsible AI governance are all seen as essential to achieving the country’s 2047 development ambitions. According to Singh, AI should accelerate public service delivery while remaining grounded in ethics, constitutional values and human oversight.

According to Dr Singh, technology should accelerate governance while remaining firmly guided by ethics, constitutional values and human oversight.

Why does it matter?

India is positioning AI as a tool to strengthen public administration rather than replace human decision-making. By emphasising human oversight, ethics and citizen-centred services, the government is seeking to balance technological innovation with democratic accountability as AI becomes more deeply integrated into public institutions.

The Jaipur Declaration also signals that AI is becoming a long-term pillar of India’s digital governance strategy. Combined with investments in Digital Public Infrastructure, civil service capacity development and multilingual AI services, the approach could shape how other countries integrate AI into public administration while maintaining public trust.

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UN welcomes first global scientific assessment of AI

The United Nations has welcomed the publication of the first independent global scientific assessment of AI, describing it as a landmark effort to evaluate the technology’s opportunities, risks and societal impacts across multiple domains.

Produced by a 40-member international expert panel, the report examines AI’s impact on healthcare, education, the economy, security, human rights and governance. It highlights rapid advances in areas such as medical research and productivity while warning of growing concerns over safety, inequality and regulatory gaps.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the assessment leaves little doubt about AI’s transformative impact, urging governments to strengthen governance frameworks without delay. He warned that the benefits of AI will not be shared equitably without coordinated international actions.

The experts also cautioned that AI capabilities are advancing faster than scientific understanding and regulatory capacity. While AI could accelerate progress across multiple sectors, they warned of growing risks including misinformation, cybersecurity threats, labour market disruption and unequal access to the technology.

Why does it matter?

The assessment establishes a common scientific reference point for discussions on AI governance at a time when countries are pursuing increasingly different regulatory approaches. By providing an independent, multidisciplinary evaluation of AI’s opportunities and risks, it could help inform future international cooperation and policymaking.

The report also reinforces the growing gap between the pace of AI development and the capacity of governments and institutions to respond. As AI becomes more deeply embedded across economies and public services, coordinated governance, investment in oversight, and international collaboration will be increasingly important to ensure the technology’s benefits are broadly shared while its risks are effectively managed.

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AI for Good Global Commission launches to expand trusted AI access

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Salesforce Chair and CEO Marc Benioff and International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin have announced the launch of the AI for Good Global Commission.

The Commission brings together more than 40 founding members, including heads of state and government, technology executives and heads of UN agencies.

It is co-chaired by Kagame and Benioff, with Bogdan-Martin serving as vice-chair. ITU said the Commission will work to identify practical pathways to strengthen trust, expand access and unlock AI’s potential to address real-world challenges.

The initiative will focus on technical, socioeconomic and policy questions around AI, with an emphasis on responsible innovation, human capability and broad-based economic and social benefits.

Access is a central part of the Commission’s mandate. ITU said 2.2 billion people remain offline, limiting their ability to benefit from AI developments.

The Commission builds on ITU/UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development, which has focused on connectivity, digital inclusion and economic development.

Its inaugural meeting will take place during the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 from 7 to 10 July. The Summit is part of Digital Week, which also includes the first UN-mandated Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the WSIS Forum 2026.

Why does it matter?

The AI for Good Global Commission places digital inclusion at the centre of global AI governance debates. Its launch highlights a key challenge: many countries and communities cannot benefit from AI if they lack connectivity, infrastructure, skills and institutional capacity. The Commission’s relevance will depend on whether it can move beyond high-level commitments and help turn access, trust and responsible innovation into practical support for developing countries.

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Ireland introduces AI Bill to implement EU AI Act

Ireland’s government has introduced the Regulation of AI Bill 2026, with Digital Transformation Minister Niamh Smyth describing the legislation as essential to protecting citizens while supporting innovation during its Second Stage debate in the Dáil.

The Bill is intended to give full effect to the EU AI Act in Ireland by establishing the national institutions needed to supervise and enforce the regulation ahead of the EU implementation deadline of 2 August 2026.

A central element of the Bill is the establishment of the AI Office of Ireland as an independent statutory body. The office will act as Ireland’s national point of contact with the European Commission and other member states, oversee enforcement of the AI Act, promote AI literacy and innovation, and operate a regulatory sandbox for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.

Smyth acknowledged both the opportunities and risks presented by AI, highlighting advances in areas such as healthcare and scientific research while warning that, without appropriate safeguards, the technology could reinforce discrimination, manipulate behaviour and exploit vulnerabilities. She emphasised that the Bill is an implementing measure and does not introduce obligations beyond those already established by the EU AI Act.

Smyth also said the legislation would strengthen Ireland’s position as an ‘EU centre of excellence and digital regulatory hub‘. She argued that a robust enforcement framework would provide businesses with the regulatory certainty needed to invest and innovate, with the government seeking passage of the Bill before the August deadline.

Why does it matter?

Ireland’s implementation of the EU AI Act carries particular significance because many of the world’s largest technology companies base their European operations there. The establishment of an independent AI Office with enforcement responsibilities and a regulatory sandbox positions Ireland as a key player in applying the EU’s AI rules in practice.

The legislation also illustrates the broader challenge facing EU member states as the AI Act enters into force. Governments must rapidly establish the institutions, expertise and enforcement mechanisms needed to supervise AI systems while providing businesses with regulatory certainty and supporting continued innovation.

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Pax Silica expands with new AI partnership, supply chain initiatives, and workforce programme

The United States has announced a series of new initiatives under the Pax Silica partnership aimed at strengthening AI supply chain security, expanding international cooperation on AI, and supporting advanced manufacturing capabilities among participating economies.

The announcements were made following the 2026 Pax Silica Summit, the second meeting of the initiative launched by the US Department of State in December 2025. Pax Silica focuses on strengthening economic security and resilient supply chains across sectors, including semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, energy inputs, AI, and digital infrastructure, through cooperation among participating countries.

One of the summit’s principal outcomes was the signing of a Joint Statement on AI Opportunity by the United States and nearly three dozen partner economies. According to the US Department of State, the statement promotes a pro-innovation and pro-growth approach to AI governance while emphasising secure AI supply chains and support for startups, developers, and private-sector innovation. Signatories include countries from Europe, the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, including Australia, Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The summit also expanded the Pax Silica partnership itself. Ten additional participants, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the European Union, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, and Panama, joined the initiative, bringing the total number of signatories to 24. Taiwan continues to support the initiative’s principles through a separate joint statement on economic security cooperation with the United States.

Another announcement focused on strengthening the security and transparency of AI supply chains. The US Department of State plans to launch a competitive funding programme for a pilot AI Assistance Project in Panama to develop an AI supply chain credentialing and provenance platform. According to the Department, the proposed platform would integrate with customs authorities, ports, and logistics systems to help verify and facilitate shipments of semiconductors, AI infrastructure, critical minerals, and other strategic goods. If successfully implemented in Panama, the project could later be expanded to additional Pax Silica partners.

The summit also introduced Foundry School, a workforce development initiative established jointly by the US Department of State and Stanford University. The programme will begin with seminars at Stanford for entrepreneurs and industrial leaders and will be complemented by an advanced manufacturing curriculum that participating educational institutions across Pax Silica economies will be able to adopt. The initiative aims to strengthen expertise in advanced manufacturing, recognising its growing importance for both economic competitiveness and technological development.

Pax Silica reflects broader government efforts to strengthen resilience across AI-related supply chains as geopolitical competition increasingly intersects with technological development. In recent years, countries have introduced a range of policies covering semiconductor production, critical minerals, export controls, and trusted technology partnerships, while also seeking to balance innovation with economic and national security considerations.

The summit’s outcomes indicate that Pax Silica is evolving beyond a policy dialogue into a broader cooperation framework encompassing AI governance, supply chain security, industrial capacity, and workforce development. Whether the initiatives announced at the summit expand beyond their initial pilot phase will depend on implementation by participating governments and continued international cooperation among partner economies.

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Switzerland sets framework for responsible AI use in development co-operation

An OECD case study has highlighted Switzerland’s efforts to govern the responsible use of AI in international cooperate and humanitarian assistance, focusing on a framework adopted by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in 2025.

The case study says SDC’s AI initiatives had previously been scattered, especially at the country level, while many staff had limited experience with AI. The agency also lacked unified guidance for using AI tools, funding AI-related projects and engaging in policy dialogue.

Approved in 2025, SDC’s Working Aid on AI is grounded in Switzerland’s International Cooperation Strategy 2025–2028. It provides practical guidance for responsible AI adoption across the agency’s portfolio and institutional roles.

The framework draws on earlier risk and opportunity mapping, the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI and the OECD AI principles.

Its guiding principles include doing no harm, human oversight, participation of affected communities, localisation, dataset debiasing, ethical data sourcing, decent work in AI supply chains, reduced climate impact, transparency and internal oversight.

The Working Aid also defines four roles for SDC: funding operational AI projects, influencing global AI policy and partnerships, providing sectoral advice to SDC units and Swiss representations, and embedding AI into knowledge management.

SDC has created an AI Task Force, now becoming an AI Network, to coordinate work on operations, staff skills, data and IT infrastructure, governance and partnerships.

The framework is already being applied to areas including climate forecasting, child health diagnostics, media development, disinformation and internal project-cycle management.

Why does it matter?

Switzerland’s approach shows how development agencies are beginning to institutionalise AI governance rather than treating AI as a series of isolated experiments. A framework for responsible use can help agencies manage risks around bias, dependency, data sourcing, climate impact and human oversight while still using AI for development and humanitarian goals. The case also highlights the importance of internal capacity, staff guidance and whole-of-government coordination as AI becomes part of international cooperate.

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South Africa launches BrainSAT Satellite Services

South Africa has launched BrainSAT Satellite Services as part of its efforts to expand secure and reliable satellite connectivity for government, businesses and communities across the country.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced the launch alongside the South African debut of Thuraya satellite phones in Johannesburg. According to the Presidency, BrainSAT South Africa will provide secure voice, broadband and data services for government, businesses and industrial users.

The launch follows a memorandum of understanding linked to Mashatile’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates. The Presidency said UAE-based Space42 is partnering with BrainSAT South Africa to implement the agreement.

Mashatile said the services are intended to improve connectivity in sectors including energy, mining, maritime operations and humanitarian response, where satellite communications can maintain critical links in remote or challenging environments.

The government also linked the initiative to its Roadmap for Digital Transformation in Government, which aims to simplify access to services such as grants, identity documents, payment systems and school registration. BrainSAT also supports South Africa Connect and the National Satellite Communication Strategy, which seek to expand broadband access and develop a nationally owned satellite capability. Mashatile said the initiative could improve rural service delivery, strengthen economic growth, create new skills and expand digital connectivity.

According to the company’s website, Space42’s YahClick service already provides satellite broadband across Africa, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and Brazil through Ka-band high-throughput satellites.

Why does it matter?

The launch reflects South Africa’s broader effort to strengthen digital infrastructure by expanding satellite connectivity alongside terrestrial broadband networks. Reliable satellite communications can improve resilience in remote regions and support essential services, critical industries and emergency response where conventional infrastructure is limited.

The initiative also highlights the growing role of international partnerships in national digital transformation strategies. By linking satellite infrastructure with public service delivery, broadband expansion and economic development, South Africa is positioning connectivity as a key enabler of digital inclusion and long-term growth.

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UNESCO summit advances AI ethics roadmap for Latin America and Caribbean

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have adopted a Ministerial Declaration and a regional roadmap on AI ethics for 2026–2027.

The documents were adopted at the Third Ministerial Summit and High-Level Authorities Meeting on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Latin America and the Caribbean, held in the Dominican Republic.

The summit was organised by UNESCO, the Government of the Dominican Republic, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and other partners, with support from the European Union.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to implementing UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by UNESCO member states as a global normative framework for AI governance.

The roadmap sets priorities for technical cooperation, the exchange of regulatory experience and stronger institutional capacities for ethical and responsible AI policy.

It builds on earlier regional declarations adopted in Santiago in 2023 and Montevideo in 2024, moving the regional process from shared principles towards implementation.

The roadmap frames AI as a cross-cutting public policy issue, calling for participation from sectors including education, health, the economy, culture, the environment, justice, planning, budgeting and subnational government.

Participating states also identified capacity development as a regional priority, including digital literacy and training for public officials, educators, judicial practitioners, journalists, researchers, businesses and citizens.

The process will continue through five regional working groups, expanded technical exchanges and closer coordination with other international AI governance initiatives.

Why does it matter?

The roadmap gives Latin America and the Caribbean a more structured way to coordinate AI policy across countries, rather than developing national approaches in isolation. Its value will depend on whether regional working groups can turn broad ethical commitments into practical tools, stronger public institutions and shared regulatory capacity. The focus on education, environment, public administration and subnational government also shows that AI governance is being treated as a whole-of-society policy issue, not only a technology-sector concern.

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University of Wisconsin launches College of Computing & AI

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has launched its College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence (CAI), the institution’s first new college in more than four decades.

The new college brings together the departments of Computer Sciences, Statistics and the Information School, building on the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences established in 2019.

The college will focus on computing and AI education and research while promoting collaboration across fields including health, engineering, business, the social sciences, the arts and the humanities.

The university also plans to launch new academic programmes, recruit 50 faculty members over the coming years and expand partnerships with industry and government to strenthen research, education and innovation.

Why does it matter?

The creation of a dedicated College of Computing & Artificial Intelligence reflects the growing importance universities are placing on AI as a cross-disciplinary field rather than a specialised area within computer science. By bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines, the university aims to prepare students and researchers to address the technical, social and ethical challenges of AI.

The investment also highlights intensifying competition among higher education institutions to attract talent, research funding and industry partnerships in AI. Expanding faculty, academic programmes and collaboration with government and business positions the university to play a larger role in developing the next generation of AI research and workforce skills.

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India marks 11 years of Digital India initiative

India has marked the 11th anniversary of the Digital India initiative, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting its role in transforming governance, public service delivery and access to digital services.

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi said the Digital India initiative had made governance more transparent, efficient and citizen-centric. He highlighted digital payments, Direct Benefit Transfers and the expansion of digital public infrastructure as key examples of technology improving public service delivery.

The government also linked the Digital India initiative to broader innovation across the country, including in villages and Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Modi said entrepreneurs, startups and innovators were developing technology-based solutions for sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture, commerce and public services.

The statement also highlighted India’s ambitions in emerging technologies. Modi said advances in AI, semiconductors and quantum computing would create new opportunities for economic growth, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to using technology to empower citizens and support sustainable development.

Why does it matter?

The anniversary highlights how Digital India has evolved from a digital government programme into a broader strategy for economic development and technological innovation. By linking digital public infrastructure with AI, semiconductors and quantum computing, the government is positioning digital transformation as a foundation for India’s long-term competitiveness.

The initiative also illustrates the growing role of digital public infrastructure in national development. India’s experience with digital payments, identity systems and public services is increasingly influencing international discussions on digital governance and technology-enabled public service delivery.

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