Development

UN climate chief calls for action on AI, energy and finance ahead of COP30

At Climate Week NYC 2025, UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged governments and industries to accelerate clean energy, embrace industrial and AI transformation, and prepare for decisive progress at COP30 in Belém.

He highlighted that renewable investment reached US$2 trillion last year and that most new renewable projects are cheaper than fossil fuels, showing that the transition is already underway instead of being dependent on breakthroughs.

Stiell warned, however, that the benefits remain uneven and too many industrial projects lie idle. He called on governments to align policy and finance with the Paris Agreement sector by sector while unlocking innovation to create millions of jobs.

On AI, he stressed the importance of harnessing its catalytic potential responsibly, using it to manage energy grids, map climate risks and guide planning, rather than allowing it to displace human skills.

Looking ahead, the UN Climate Chief pointed to the Baku to Belém Roadmap, a plan to mobilise at least US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support climate action in developing countries. He said COP30 must respond to this roadmap, accelerate progress on national climate commitments and deliver for vulnerable communities.

Above all, he argued that climate cooperation is bending the warming curve and must continue to drive real-world improvements in jobs, health and energy access instead of faltering.

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ChatGPT Go launches in Indonesia with $4.5 monthly plan

OpenAI has launched its low-cost ChatGPT Go subscription in Indonesia, pricing it at 75,000 rupiah ($4.5) per month. The new plan offers ten times more messaging capacity, image generation tools and double memory compared with the free version.

The rollout follows last month’s successful launch in India, where ChatGPT subscriptions more than doubled. India has since become OpenAI’s largest market, accounting for around 13.5% of global monthly active users. The US remains second.

Nick Turley, OpenAI Vice President and head of ChatGPT, said Indonesia is already one of the platform’s top five markets by weekly activity. The new tier is aimed at expanding reach in populous, price-sensitive regions while ensuring broader access to AI services.

OpenAI is also strengthening its financial base as it pushes into new markets. On Monday, the company secured a $100 billion investment commitment from NVIDIA, joining Microsoft and SoftBank among its most prominent backers. The funding comes amid intensifying competition in the AI industry.

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Meta’s open source AI models now available to all federal departments

The US General Services Administration (GSA) has launched a OneGov initiative with Meta to give federal agencies streamlined access to Llama, its open source AI models. The approach eliminates individual agency negotiations, saving time and reducing duplicated work across departments.

The initiative supports America’s AI Action Plan and federal memoranda, promoting the government’s accelerated and efficient use of AI. Rapid access to Llama aims to boost innovation, governance, public trust, and operational efficiency.

Open source Llama models allow federal teams to maintain complete control over data processing and storage. Agencies can build, deploy, and scale AI applications at lower cost, enhancing public services while delivering value to taxpayers.

Meta’s free access to the models further enables agencies to develop tailored solutions without reliance on proprietary platforms.

Collaboration between GSA and Meta ensures federal requirements are met while providing consistent department access. The arrangement enhances the government’s ability to implement AI while promoting transparency, reproducibility, and flexible mission-specific applications.

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NVIDIA and OpenAI partner to build 10 gigawatts of AI data centres

OpenAI and NVIDIA have announced a strategic partnership to build at least 10 gigawatts of AI data centres powered by millions of NVIDIA GPUs.

A deal, supported by the investment of up to $100 billion from NVIDIA, that aims to provide the infrastructure for OpenAI’s next generation of models, with the first phase scheduled for late 2026 on the NVIDIA Vera Rubin platform.

The companies said the collaboration will enable the development of AGI and accelerate AI adoption worldwide. OpenAI will treat NVIDIA as its preferred strategic compute and networking partner, coordinating both sides’ hardware and software roadmaps.

They will also continue working with Microsoft, Oracle, SoftBank and other partners to build advanced AI infrastructure.

OpenAI has grown to more than 700 million weekly users across businesses and developers globally. Executives at both firms described the new partnership as the next leap in AI computing power, one intended to fuel innovation at scale instead of incremental improvements.

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Americans fear AI will weaken creativity and human connections

A new Pew Research Center survey shows Americans are more worried than excited about AI shaping daily life. Half of adults say AI’s rise will harm creative thinking and meaningful relationships, while only small shares see improvements.

Many want greater control over its use, even as most are willing to let it assist with routine tasks.

The survey of over 5,000 US adults found 57% consider AI’s societal risks to be high, with just a quarter rating the benefits as significant. Most respondents also doubt their ability to recognise AI-generated content, although three-quarters believe being able to tell human from machine output is essential.

Americans remain sceptical about AI in personal spheres such as religion and matchmaking, instead preferring its application in heavy data tasks like weather forecasting, fraud detection and medical research.

Younger adults are more aware of AI than older generations, yet they are also more likely to believe it will undermine creativity and human connections.

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Lawmakers told to harness AI for democracy

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hajia Memounatou Ibrahima, has urged lawmakers to embrace AI to strengthen legislative work and democratic governance across West Africa.

Speaking at the Parliament’s 2025 Second Extraordinary Session in Port Harcourt, she said AI could improve communication with citizens, support regulatory frameworks, and drive inclusive growth.

Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau, highlighted AI’s potential to enhance efficiency, accountability and oversight while cautioning lawmakers to examine associated risks.

Nigerian ambassador Ahmed Dunoma, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that AI is already shaping education and security sectors. He called for proactive guidance to ensure its deployment deepens integration and safeguards democracy.

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UN reports at a crossroads

As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, an unusual but timely question is being raised. In his recent blog, ‘Should the United Nations continue writing reports?’, Jovan Kurbalija argues that while some reports are vital, such as those exposing the role of tech companies in conflict zones, many have become little more than bureaucratic rituals with limited impact.

The UN Secretary-General himself has voiced concerns that the endless production of papers risks overshadowing the organisation’s true mission. The debate reveals two opposing views.

On one side, critics say reports distract from the UN’s core purpose of convening nations, negotiating compromises, and resolving crises. They point to history, such as the failed Treaty of Versailles, to warn that diplomacy loses its strength when buried under data and ‘scientific’ prescriptions.

Reports, they argue, cannot prevent wars or build trust without political will. Worse still, the drafting process is often more about avoiding offence than telling the truth, blurring the line between reporting and negotiation.

Defenders, however, insist that UN reports remain essential. They provide legitimacy, establish a shared baseline of facts, and create informal spaces for diplomacy even before formal talks begin.

During deep geopolitical divides and mistrust in institutions, independent UN analysis could be one of the few remaining tools to anchor global debates. While AI is increasingly capable of churning out facts and summaries, Kurbalija notes that human insight is still needed to read between the lines and grasp nuance.

The way forward, he suggests, is not to abandon reports altogether but to make them fewer, sharper, and more focused on action. Instead of endless PDFs, the UN should channel its energy back into mediation, dialogue, and the intricate craft of diplomacy. In a world drowning in information but starving for wisdom, reports should illuminate choices, not replace the art of negotiation.

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Amazon outlines responsible AI and global internet plans at UN

Amazon is meeting world leaders at the 80th UN General Assembly to share its vision for responsible AI and global internet access. The company highlighted Project Kuiper’s satellite initiative to provide affordable internet to underserved communities and bridge the digital divide.

The initiative aims to deliver fast, affordable internet to communities without access, boosting education and economic opportunities. Connectivity is presented as essential for participation in the modern economy, as well as for cultural and knowledge exchange across the globe.

Amazon emphasised the development of AI tools that are responsible, inclusive, and designed to enhance human potential. The company aims to make technology accessible, helping small businesses, speeding research, and offering tools once reserved for large organisations.

Collaboration remains central to Amazon’s approach. The company plans to work with governments, the UN, civil society, and other private sector partners to ensure technological advancements benefit humanity while mitigating potential risks.

Discussions at UNGA80 are expected to shape future strategies for innovation, governance, and sustainable development.

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Europe prepares formal call for AI Gigafactory projects

The European Commission is collaborating with the EU capitals to narrow the list of proposals for large AI training hubs, known as AI Gigafactories. The €20 billion plan will be funded by the Commission (17%), the EU countries (17%), and industry (66%) to boost computing capacity for European developers.

The first call drew 76 proposals from 16 countries, far exceeding the initially planned four or five facilities. Most submissions must be merged or dropped, with Poland already seeking a joint bid with the Baltic states as talks continue.

Some EU members will inevitably lose out, with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, hinting that priority could be given to countries already hosting AI Factories. That could benefit Finland, whose Lumi supercomputer is part of a Nokia-led bid to scale up into a Gigafactory.

The plan has raised concerns that Europe’s efforts come too late, as US tech giants invest heavily in larger AI hubs. Still, Brussels hopes its initiative will allow EU developers to compete globally while maintaining control over critical AI infrastructure.

A formal call for proposals is expected by the end of the year, once the legal framework is finalised. Selection criteria and funding conditions will be set to launch construction as early as 2026.

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BlackRock backs South Korea push to become Asia AI hub

South Korea has secured a significant partnership with BlackRock to accelerate its ambition of becoming Asia’s leading AI hub. The agreement will see the global asset manager join the Ministry of Science and ICT in developing hyperscale AI data centres.

A deal that followed a meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and BlackRock chair Larry Fink, who pledged to attract large-scale international investment into the country’s AI infrastructure.

Although no figures were disclosed, the partnership is expected to focus on meeting rising demand from domestic users and the wider Asia-Pacific region, with renewable energy powering the facilities.

The move comes as Seoul increases national funding for AI, semiconductors and other strategic technologies to KRW150 trillion ($107.7 billion). South Korean companies are also stepping up efforts, with SK Telecom announcing plans to raise AI investment to a third of its revenue over five years.

BlackRock’s involvement signals international confidence in South Korea’s long-term vision to position itself as a regional AI powerhouse and secure a leadership role in next-generation digital infrastructure.

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