The UAE has unveiled a US$1 billion AI for Development initiative to finance AI projects across African nations. The programme aims to enhance digital infrastructure, government services, and productivity, supporting long-term economic and social development.
Implementation will be led by the Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), in cooperation with the UAE Foreign Aid Agency. AI technologies will be applied in key sectors, including education, agriculture, and infrastructure, to create innovative solutions and promote sustainable growth.
Officials highlighted the initiative as part of the UAE’s vision to become a global hub for AI while reinforcing its humanitarian and developmental legacy. The programme aims to boost international partnerships and deliver impactful support to developing countries.
The initiative reinforces the UAE’s long-term commitment to Africa and its role in technological and digital advancement. Leaders emphasised that AI-driven projects can improve living standards and foster inclusive, sustainable development.
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A recent survey reveals that 38.7% of Portuguese individuals aged 16 to 74 used AI tools in the three months preceding the interview, primarily for personal purposes. Usage is particularly high among 16 to 24-year-olds (76.5%) and students (81.5%).
Internet access remains widespread, with 89.5% of residents going online recently. Nearly half (49.6%) placed orders online, primarily for clothing, footwear, and fashion accessories, while 74.2% accessed public service websites, often using a Citizen Card or Digital Mobile Key for authentication.
Digital skills are growing, with 59.2% of the population reaching basic or above basic levels. Young adults and tertiary-educated individuals show the highest digital proficiency, at 83.4% and 88.4% respectively.
Household internet penetration stands at 90.9%, predominantly via fixed connections.
Concerns about online safety are on the rise, as 45.2% of internet users reported encountering aggressive or discriminatory content, up from 35.5% in 2023. Reported issues include discrimination based on nationality, politics, and sexual identity.
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Google’s new AI model, Gemini 3, was left temporarily confused when it refused to accept that the year was 2025 during early testing by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy.
The model, pre-trained on data only through 2024 and initially disconnected from the internet, accused Karpathy of trickery and gaslighting before finally recognising the correct date.
Once Gemini 3 accessed real-time information, it expressed astonishment and apologised for its previous behaviour, demonstrating the model’s quirky but sophisticated reasoning capabilities. The interaction went viral online, drawing attention to both the humour and unpredictability of advanced AI systems.
Experts note that incidents like this illustrate the limitations of LLMs, which, despite their reasoning power, cannot inherently perceive reality and rely entirely on pre-training data and connected tools.
Observers emphasise that AI remains a powerful human aid rather than a replacement, and understanding its quirks is essential for practical use.
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Students at the University of Staffordshire in the UK have criticised a coding course after discovering much of the teaching was delivered through AI-generated slides and voiceovers.
Participants in the government-funded apprenticeship programme said they felt deprived of knowledge and frustrated that the course relied heavily on automated materials.
Concerns arose when learners noticed inconsistencies in language, suspicious file names, and abrupt changes in voiceover accents during lessons.
Students reported raising these issues with university staff, but the institution maintained the use of AI, asserting it supported academic standards while remaining ethical and responsible.
Critics argue that AI teaching diminishes engagement and reduces the opportunity to acquire practical skills needed for career development.
Experts suggest students supplement AI-driven courses with hands-on learning and critical thinking to ensure the experience remains valuable and relevant to their professional goals.
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Generative AI is reshaping the job market by reducing the need for entry-level positions, particularly in white-collar industries. Analysts warn that young workers are losing the opportunity to acquire skills through traditional on-the-job experience, which has historically paved the way for promotions.
Employers are drawn to AI for its efficiency, as it can complete tasks in a fraction of the time it once took human teams. This shift poses a threat to the traditional career ladder, resulting in a shortage of trained candidates for senior and managerial roles in the years to come.
Young professionals can counter these trends by acquiring practical AI skills, even outside of technology sectors. Combining human strengths, such as strategic thinking, with AI proficiency may help early-career workers remain competitive and adapt to evolving workplace demands.
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The report was unveiled in Dhaka with representatives from government, international organisations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Officials described the assessment as a pivotal step as the country prepares for an increasingly AI-driven era.
The report outlines Bangladesh’s current strengths, including solid progress in e-government and high public trust in digital services, while also identifying areas requiring urgent attention.
Connectivity gaps, digital divides, limited computing capacity and the need for stronger data protection and cybersecurity remain key challenges. Policymakers noted that evidence-based decisions are essential as Bangladesh completes its National AI Policy.
International partners highlighted that the direction of AI development will depend heavily on choices made today. Strengthening digital infrastructure, improving skills, and building rights-driven governance structures were cited as central to ensuring AI benefits all communities.
Stakeholders also stressed the importance of using AI to improve services across health, education, justice and social protection without deepening existing inequalities.
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Google has launched an AI Skilling Blueprint for Africa, activating a $7.5 million commitment to support expert local organisations in training talent. An additional $2.25 million will be used to modernise public data infrastructure.
The initiative aims to address the continent’s widening AI skills gap, where over half of businesses report the biggest barrier to growth is a shortage of qualified professionals.
The framework identifies three core groups for development. AI Learners build foundational AI skills, AI Implementers upskill professionals across key sectors, and AI Innovators develop experts and entrepreneurs to create AI solutions suited to African contexts.
Partner organisations include FATE Foundation, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, JA Africa and the CyberSafe Foundation.
Complementing talent development, the initiative supports the creation of a Regional Data Commons through funding from Google.org and the Data Commons initiative, in partnership with UNECA, UN DESA and PARIS21.
High-quality, trustworthy data will enable African institutions to make informed decisions, drive innovation in public health, food security, economic planning, and ultimately strengthen a sustainable AI ecosystem across the continent.
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Europe faces a pivotal moment in its technology sector, with AI, climate tech and defence set to shape the continent’s future. Sustained investment is essential if Europe wants to remain competitive against the US and China in high-tech industries.
Venture capital firm Atomico’s State of European Tech 2025 report shows that AI already attracts the majority of funding, led by companies such as Mistral AI, Lovable, Synthesia and n8n.
Defence tech is also growing, with firms like Helsing, Isar Aerospace and Cambridge Aerospace securing significant investment to advance AI-powered systems.
Despite strong talent and innovation, Europe must match US levels of research funding, expand computing infrastructure and simplify regulations to realise its potential fully.
Experts say aligning ambition with commitment will be crucial for Europe to develop the next generation of world-leading tech companies.
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Yann LeCun, one of the pioneers of deep learning and Meta’s chief AI scientist, is leaving the company to establish a new startup dedicated to world-model AI research.
The firm will continue its long-standing ambition to develop systems capable of understanding the physical world and planning complex actions.
The move comes during a turbulent period for Meta’s AI efforts, following internal reorganisations and disappointment surrounding the performance of its Llama 4 model.
Meta is investing heavily to regain momentum, including significant hires and new leadership brought in over recent months.
Despite his departure, Meta intends to partner with LeCun’s new venture, though his research direction has increasingly diverged from the company’s strategy. Differences over open-source approaches, leadership changes and cuts to research teams were significant factors in his decision to leave.
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Ucom has completed nationwide 5G deployment across Armenia, reaching 48 cities and hundreds of communities. The operator states that more than 94% of the population now has access to high-speed mobile internet.
The rollout began in November 2024 and was completed within one year, covering all major settlements. Coverage also includes Myler Mountain Resort, the Yerevan-Dilijan highway and border crossings at Bagratashen, Bavra and Agarak.
General director Ralph Yirikian says expanding 5G is central to delivering modern, stable connectivity nationwide. Earlier work with Nokia to modernise the mobile network laid the foundations for the nationwide upgrade.
Armenian subscribers can now benefit from faster speeds, low latency and more reliable, internationally compliant connections. 5G enables higher quality video calls, real-time data transfers and innovative services, although Dastakert still lacks coverage.
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