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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Centuries after Molière’s sudden death on stage, a France-based team of researchers, artists and AI specialists has revived the playwright’s creative spirit through a newly generated comedy. The project asked what he might have written had he lived beyond the age of 51.
Experts trained an AI model to study his themes, language and narrative patterns, before combining its output with scholarly review. The resulting play, titled ‘L’Astrologue ou les Faux Presages’, will premiere at the Palace of Versailles next year.
Researchers identified astrology as a theme Molière frequently hinted at, shaping a plot in which a naive bourgeois falls victim to a deceptive astrologer. Academics refined the AI text to ensure historical accuracy, offering fresh insight into Molière’s methods and reaffirming his lasting influence on French theatre.
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Northamptonshire Police will roll out live facial recognition cameras in three town centres. Deployments are scheduled in Northampton on 28 November and 5 December, in Kettering on 29 November, and in Wellingborough on 6 December.
The initiative uses a van loaned from Bedfordshire Police and the watch-lists include high-risk sex offenders or persons wanted for arrest. Facial and biometric data for non-alerts are deleted immediately; alerts are held only up to 24 hours.
Police emphasise the AI based technology is ‘very much in its infancy’ but expect future acquisition of dedicated kit. A coordinator post is being created to manage the LFR programme in-house.
British campaigners express concern the biometric tool may erode privacy or resemble mass surveillance. Police assert that appropriate signage and open policy documents will be in place to maintain public confidence.
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Children will no longer be able to chat with adult strangers on Roblox after new global age checks are introduced. The platform will begin mandatory facial estimation in selected countries in December before expanding worldwide in January.
Roblox players will be placed into strict age groups and prevented from messaging older users unless they are verified as trusted contacts. Under-13s will remain barred from private messages unless parents actively approve access within account controls.
The company faces rising scrutiny following lawsuits in several US states, where officials argue Roblox failed to protect young users from harmful contact. Safety groups welcome the tighter rules but warn that monitoring must match the platform’s rapid growth.
Roblox says the technology is accurate and helps deliver safer digital spaces for younger players. Campaigners continue to call for broader protections as millions of children interact across games, chats and AI-enhanced features each day.
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The Digital Omnibus has been released by the European Commission, prompting strong criticism from privacy advocates. Campaigners argue the reforms would weaken long-standing data protection standards and introduce sweeping changes without proper consultation.
Noyb founder Max Schrems claims the plan favours large technology firms by creating loopholes around personal data and lowering user safeguards. Critics say the proposals emerge despite limited political support from EU governments, civil society groups and several parliamentary factions.
The Omnibus is welcomed by industry which have called for simplification and changes to be made for quite a number of years. These changes should make carrying out business activities simpler for entities which do process vast amounts of data.
The Commission is also accused of rushing (errors can be found in the draft, including references to the GDPR) the process under political pressure, abandoning impact assessments and shifting priorities away from widely supported protections. View our analysis on the matter for a deep dive on the matter.
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Concerns are growing as European countries expand the use of AI in healthcare without establishing sufficient protections for patients or healthcare workers.
A new World Health Organisation report found significant disparities in how nations develop, regulate and fund AI tools.
Some countries are rapidly deploying chatbots, imaging systems and data-analysis tools, while others have barely started integrating AI into their health services. Only four nations across Europe and Central Asia currently have a national strategy dedicated to AI in health care.
WHO officials warn that weak safeguards could lead to biassed algorithms, medical errors and increased inequality in access to care.
The report urges governments to strengthen legal frameworks, train health workers in AI literacy and ensure these technologies are rigorously tested before reaching patients.
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