Sustainable development

Russia moves forward with a nationwide plan for generative AI

A broad plan to integrate generative AI across public administration and key sectors of the economy is being prepared by Russia.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin explained that the new framework seeks to extend modern AI tools across regions and major industries in order to strengthen national technological capacity.

The president has already underlined the need for fully domestic AI products as an essential element of national sovereignty. Moscow intends to rely on locally developed systems instead of foreign platforms, an approach aimed at securing long-term independence and resilience.

A proposal created by the government and the Presidential Administration has been submitted for approval to establish a central headquarters that will guide the entire deployment effort.

The new body will set objectives, track progress and coordinate work across ministries and agencies while supporting broader access to advanced capabilities.

Officials in Russia view the plan as a strategic investment intended to reinforce national competitiveness in a rapidly changing technological environment.

Greater use of generative systems is expected to improve administrative efficiency, support regional development and encourage innovation across multiple sectors.

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Trump allows Nvidia to sell chips to approved Chinese customers

US President Donald Trump has allowed Nvidia to sell H200 AI chips to approved customers in China, marking a shift in export controls. The decision also covers firms such as AMD and follows continued lobbying by Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.

Nvidia had been barred from selling advanced chips to Beijing, but a partial reversal earlier required the firm to pay a share of its Chinese revenues to the US government. China later ordered firms to stop buying Nvidia products, pushing them towards domestic semiconductors.

Analysts suggest the new policy may buy time for negotiations over rare earth supplies, as China dominates processing of these minerals. Access to H200 chips may aid China’s tech sector, but experts warn they could also strengthen military AI capabilities.

Nvidia welcomed the announcement, saying the decision strikes a balance that benefits American industry. Shares rose slightly after the news, although the arrangement is expected to face scrutiny from national security advocates.

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Canada-EU digital partnership expands cooperation on AI and security

The European Union and Canada have strengthened their digital partnership during the first Digital Partnership Council in Montreal. Both sides outlined a joint plan to enhance competitiveness and innovation, while supporting smaller firms through targeted regulation.

Senior representatives reconfirmed that cooperation with like-minded partners will be essential for economic resilience.

A new Memorandum of Understanding on AI placed a strong emphasis on trustworthy systems, shared standards and wider adoption across strategic sectors.

The two partners will exchange best practices to support sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, energy, culture and public services.

They also agreed to collaborate on large-scale AI infrastructures and access to computing capacity, while encouraging scientific collaboration on advanced AI models and climate-related research.

A meeting that also led to an agreement on a structured dialogue on data spaces.

A second Memorandum of Understanding covered digital credentials and trust services. The plan includes joint testing of digital identity wallets, pilot projects and new use cases aimed at interoperability.

The EU and Canada also intend to work more closely on the protection of independent media, the promotion of reliable information online and the management of risks created by generative AI.

Both sides underlined their commitment to secure connectivity, with cooperation on 5G, subsea cables and potential new Arctic routes to strengthen global network resilience. Further plans aim to deepen collaboration on quantum technologies, semiconductors and high-performance computing.

A renewed partnership that reflects a shared commitment to resilient supply chains and secure cloud infrastructure as both regions prepare for future technological demands.

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Tether backs Italian humanoid robotics startup

Tether Investments has backed Generative Bionics in a €70m round to accelerate the development of intelligent humanoid robots. The company develops platforms that combine robotics and AI to enhance industrial performance and foster human-centred interaction.

Investment funds will support industrial validation, the creation of a production facility and the rollout of early deployment programmes across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and healthcare.

Generative Bionics brings together dozens of engineers and researchers from IIT, drawing on two decades of robotics expertise and a portfolio of over 60 prototype systems.

Analysts expect the humanoid robotics sector to grow sharply in the coming decades, with Physical AI becoming a core component of future industrial ecosystems. Tether’s investment aligns with its strategy to boost resilient infrastructure and lessen reliance on centralised systems.

The company plans to unveil its first complete humanoid robot at CES in Las Vegas, signalling a move from research to commercial-ready platforms and strengthening Italy’s role in the global robotics landscape.

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Argentina weighs letting banks offer crypto services

Argentina may soon shift its digital-asset policy as the central bank considers rules allowing banks to offer crypto trading and custody services. The proposal marks a move towards integrating a market that has largely operated through exchanges and fintech platforms.

Industry sources say approval could arrive by April 2026 if the process stays on schedule.

Crypto usage in Argentina remains far above regional averages, driven by years of inflation and strict currency controls. Many households use digital assets as a store of value, and regulated banks could provide clearer safeguards and easier access for everyday users.

Regulators are still debating sensitive issues such as custody requirements, capital treatment and which tokens banks would be permitted to handle.

The conversation continues in the shadow of the Libra meme-coin scandal, which left thousands of Argentines with steep losses and highlighted the risks of politically amplified speculation.

Regulators are weighing custody, capital, and token rules while aiming to formalise the market without boosting volatility.

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Instacart deepens partnership with OpenAI for real-time AI shopping

OpenAI and Instacart are expanding their longstanding collaboration by introducing a fully integrated grocery shopping experience inside ChatGPT.

Users can receive meal inspiration, browse products and place orders in one continuous conversation instead of switching across separate platforms.

A service that brings together Instacart’s real-time retail network with OpenAI’s most advanced models to produce an experience that feels like a direct link between a simple request and completed delivery.

The Instacart app becomes the first service to offer a full checkout flow inside ChatGPT by using the Agentic Commerce Protocol. When users mention food, ingredients or recipe ideas, ChatGPT can surface the app immediately.

Once the user connects an Instacart account, the system selects suitable items from nearby retailers and builds a complete cart that can be reviewed before payment. Users then pay securely inside the chat while Instacart manages collection and delivery through its established network.

The update also reflects broader cooperation between the two companies. Instacart continues to rely on OpenAI APIs to support personalised suggestions and real time guidance across its customer experience.

ChatGPT Enterprise assists internal teams, while Codex powers an internal coding agent that shortens development cycles instead of slowing them down with manual tasks. The partnership builds on Instacart’s early involvement in the Operator research preview, where it helped refine emerging agentic technologies.

A renewed partnership that strengthens OpenAI’s growing enterprise ecosystem. The company already works with major global brands across sectors such as retail, financial services and telecommunications.

The Instacart integration offers a view of how conversational agents may act as a bridge between everyday intent and immediate real-world action.

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Claude Code expands automated AI fine tuning for businesses

Anthropic’s Claude Code now supports automated fine-tuning of open-source AI models, significantly widening access to advanced customisation for small-to-medium-sized (SMB) businesses. The new capability allows companies to train personalised systems using their own data without needing specialised technical expertise.

Claude Code’s hf-llm-trainer skill manages everything from hardware selection to authentication and training optimisation, simplifying what was once a highly complex workflow. Early accounts suggest the process can cost only a few cents, lowering barriers for firms seeking tailored AI solutions.

Businesses can now use customer logs, product manuals or internal documents to build AI models adapted to their operations, enabling improved support tools and content workflows. Many analysts view the advance as a major step in giving SMBs affordable access to company-specific AI that previously required substantial investment.

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ASEAN weighs efficiency against sovereignty as e-CNY spreads

The digital yuan’s planned 2025 expansion marks a shift in Asia’s financial plumbing, linking new regional payment channels to settle transactions faster than legacy systems and reduce reliance on the US dollar.

Usage data points to broader ambitions. Renminbi settlements in cross-border trade are rising, signalling that e-CNY has moved beyond domestic trials and is now a tool for currency internationalisation.

Beijing’s strategy becomes clearer in Southeast Asia, where the system promises efficiency while embedding influence. Deeper integration could narrow ASEAN monetary policy options and increase dependence on infrastructure controlled by China.

Responses across the region are uneven. Some states pursue national digital currencies or alternative payment projects, while others engage selectively, reflecting diverging priorities around efficiency, sovereignty and innovation.

Analysts warn that, without coordination, widespread e-CNY adoption could create a structural reliance. ASEAN faces a choice between fragmented pragmatism and collective action to shape its digital financial future.

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Australia seals $4.6 billion deal for new AI hub

OpenAI has partnered with Australian data centre operator NextDC to build a major AI campus in western Sydney. The companies signed an agreement covering development, planning and long-term operation of the vast site.

NextDC said the project will include a supercluster of graphics processors to support advanced AI workloads. Both firms intend to create infrastructure capable of meeting rapid global demand for high-performance computing.

Australia estimates the development at A$7 billion and forecasts thousands of jobs during construction and ongoing roles across engineering and operations. Officials say the initiative aligns with national efforts to strengthen technological capability.

Plans feature renewable energy procurement and cooling systems that avoid drinking water use, addressing sustainability concerns. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the project reflects growing confidence in Australia’s talent, clean energy capacity and emerging AI economy.

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Japan aims to boost public AI use

Japan has drafted a new basic programme aimed at dramatically increasing public use of AI, with a target of raising utilisation from 50% to 80%. The government hopes the policy will strengthen domestic AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

To support innovation, authorities plan to attract roughly ¥1 trillion in private investment, funding research, talent development and the expansion of AI businesses into emerging markets. Officials see AI as a core social infrastructure that supports both intellectual and practical functions.

The draft proposes a unified AI ecosystem where developers, chip makers and cloud providers collaborate to strengthen competitiveness and reduce Japan’s digital trade deficit. AI adoption is also expected to extend across all ministries and government agencies.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to make Japan the easiest country in the world for AI development and use. The Cabinet is expected to approve the programme before the end of the year, paving the way for accelerated research and public-private investment.

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