Sustainable development

MIT introduces rapid object creation using AI

MIT researchers have created a speech-driven system that uses AI and robotics to build physical objects in minutes. Users provide a spoken request, and a robotic arm constructs items such as stools, shelves or decorative pieces from modular components.

The workflow turns spoken input into a digital mesh, divides it into parts and adjusts the design for real-world fabrication. An automated sequence directs the robot to assemble the object, enabling quick production without modelling or robotics expertise.

The modular approach reduces waste by allowing components to be disassembled and reused. The team also plans enhancements to improve structural strength and extend the system to larger-scale applications.

Researchers are also working on combining speech with gesture control to offer more intuitive interaction between humans, AI and robots.

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Deutsche Telekom partners with OpenAI to expand advanced AI services across Europe

OpenAI has formed a new partnership with Deutsche Telekom to deliver advanced AI capabilities to millions of people across Europe. The collaboration brings together Deutsche Telekom’s customer base and OpenAI’s research to expand the availability of practical AI tools.

The companies aim to introduce simple, multilingual and privacy-focused AI services starting in 2026, helping users communicate, learn and accomplish tasks more efficiently. Widespread familiarity with platforms such as ChatGPT is expected to support rapid uptake of these new offerings.

Deutsche Telekom will introduce ChatGPT Enterprise internally, giving staff secure access to tools that improve customer support and streamline workflows. The move aligns with the firm’s goal of modernising operations through intelligent automation.

Further integration of AI into network management and employee copilots will support the transition towards more autonomous, self-optimising systems. The partnership is expected to strengthen the availability and reliability of AI services throughout Europe.

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EIB survey shows EU firms lead in investment, innovation and green transition

European firms continue to invest actively despite a volatile global environment, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and commitment to sustainability, according to the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s 2025 Investment Survey.

Across the EU, companies are expanding capacity, adopting advanced digital technologies, and pursuing green investment to strengthen competitiveness.

Spanish firms, for example, are optimistic about their sector, prioritising capacity growth, using generative AI, and investing in energy efficiency and climate risk insurance.

Digital transformation is accelerating across the continent. Austrian and Finnish firms stand out for their extensive adoption of generative AI and multiple advanced digital tools, while Belgian companies excel in integrating digital technologies alongside green initiatives.

Czech firms devote a larger share of investment to capacity expansion and innovation, with high engagement in international trade and strategic use of digital solutions. These trends are highlighted in country-level EIB reports and reflect broader European patterns.

The green transition remains central to corporate strategies. Many firms actively reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and view sustainability as a business opportunity rather than a regulatory burden.

In Belgium, investments in energy efficiency and waste reduction are among the highest in the EU, while nearly all Finnish companies report taking measures to reduce greenhouse gases.

Across Europe, firms increasingly combine environmental action with innovation to maintain competitiveness and resilience.

Challenges persist, including skills shortages, uncertainty, high energy costs, and regulatory complexity. Despite these obstacles, European businesses continue to innovate, expand, and embrace international trade.

EIB surveys show that firms are leveraging technology and green investments not only to navigate economic uncertainty but also to position themselves for long-term growth and strategic advantage in a changing global landscape.

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Microsoft commits $17.5 billion to AI in India

The US tech giant, Microsoft, has announced its largest investment in Asia, committing US$17.5 billion to India over four years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure, workforce skilling, and operations nationwide.

An announcement that follows the US$3 billion investment earlier in 2025 and aims to support India’s ambition to become a global AI leader.

The investment focuses on three pillars: hyperscale infrastructure, sovereign-ready solutions, and workforce development. A new hyperscale data centre in Hyderabad, set to go live by mid-2026, will become Microsoft’s largest in India.

Expansion of existing data centres in Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune will improve resilience and low-latency performance for enterprises, startups, and public sector organisations.

Microsoft will integrate AI into national platforms, including e-Shram and the National Career Service, benefiting over 310 million informal workers. AI-enabled features include multilingual access, predictive analytics, automated résumé creation, and personalised pathways toward formal employment.

Skilling initiatives will be doubled to reach 20 million Indians by 2030, building an AI-ready workforce that can shape the country’s digital future.

Sovereign Public and Private Cloud solutions will provide secure, compliant environments for Indian organisations, supporting both connected and disconnected operations.

Microsoft 365 Copilot will process data entirely within India by the end of 2025, enhancing governance, compliance, and performance across regulated sectors. These initiatives aim to position India as a global AI hub powered by scale, skilling, and digital sovereignty.

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New AI platform accelerates cancer research

A new AI tool developed by Microsoft Research enables scientists to study the environment surrounding tumours on a far wider scale than previously possible.

The platform, called GigaTIME, uses multimodal modelling to analyse routine pathology slides and generate detailed digital maps showing how immune cells interact with cancerous tissue.

Traditional approaches require costly laboratory tests and days of work to produce similar maps, whereas GigaTIME performs the analysis in seconds. The system simulates dozens of protein interactions simultaneously, revealing patterns that were previously difficult or impossible to detect.

By examining tens of thousands of scenarios at once, researchers can better understand tumour behaviour and identify which treatments might offer the greatest benefit. The technology may also clarify why some patients resist therapy and aid the development of new treatment strategies.

GigaTIME is available as an open-source research tool and draws on data from more than 14,000 patients across dozens of hospitals and clinics. The project, developed with Providence and the University of Washington, aims to accelerate cancer research and cut costs.

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Launch of Qai advances Qatar’s AI strategy globally

Qatar has launched Qai, a new national AI company designed to strengthen the country’s digital capabilities and accelerate sustainable development. The initiative supports Qatar’s plans to build a knowledge-based economy and deepen economic diversification under Qatar National Vision 2030.

The company will develop, operate and invest in AI infrastructure both domestically and internationally, offering high-performance computing and secure tools for deploying scalable AI systems. Its work aims to drive innovation while ensuring that governments, companies and researchers can adopt advanced technologies with confidence.

Qai will collaborate closely with research institutions, policymakers and global partners to expand Qatar’s role in data-driven industries. The organisation promotes an approach to AI that prioritises societal benefit, with leaders stressing that people and communities must remain central to technological progress.

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G7 ministers meet in Montreal to boost industrial cooperation

Canada has opened the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology Ministers’ Meeting in Montreal, bringing together ministers, industry leaders, and international delegates to address shared industrial and technological challenges.

The meeting is being led by Industry Minister Melanie Joly and AI and Digital Innovation Minister Evan Solomon, with discussions centred on strengthening supply chains, accelerating innovation, and boosting industrial competitiveness across advanced economies.

Talks will focus on building resilient economies, expanding trusted digital infrastructure, and supporting growth while aligning industrial policy with economic security and national security priorities shared among G7 members.

The agenda builds on outcomes from the recent G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis, Canada, including commitments on quantum technologies, critical minerals cooperation, and a shared statement on AI and prosperity.

Canadian officials said closer coordination among trusted partners is essential amid global uncertainty and rapid technological change, positioning innovation-driven industry as a long-term foundation for economic growth, productivity, and shared prosperity.

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EU AI Act changes aim to ease high-risk compliance pressure

The European Commission has proposed a series of amendments to the EU AI Act to ensure a timely, smooth, and proportionate rollout of the bloc’s landmark AI rules.

Set out in the Digital Omnibus on AI published in November, the changes would delay some of the most demanding obligations of the AI Act, particularly for high-risk AI systems, linking compliance deadlines to the availability of supporting standards and guidance.

The proposal also introduces new grace periods for certain transparency requirements, especially for generative AI and deepfake systems, while leaving existing prohibitions on manipulative or exploitative uses of AI fully intact.

Other revisions include removing mandatory AI literacy requirements for providers and deployers and expanding the powers of the European AI Office, allowing it to directly supervise some general-purpose AI systems and AI embedded in large online platforms.

While the package includes simplification measures designed to ease burdens on smaller firms and encourage innovation, the amendments now face a complex legislative process, adding uncertainty for companies preparing to comply with the AI Act’s long-term obligations.

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UNESCO strengthens Caribbean disaster reporting

UNESCO has launched a regional programme to improve disaster reporting across the Caribbean after Hurricane Melissa and rising misinformation.

The initiative equips journalists and emergency communicators with advanced tools such as AI, drones and geographic information systems to support accurate and ethical communication.

The 30-hour online course, funded through UNESCO’s Media Development Program, brings together twenty-three participants from ten Caribbean countries and territories.

Delivered in partnership with GeoTechVision/Jamaica Flying Labs, the training combines practical exercises with disaster simulations to help participants map hazards, collect aerial evidence and verify information using AI-supported methods.

Participants explore geospatial mapping, drone use and ethics while completing a capstone project in realistic scenarios. The programme aims to address gaps revealed by recent disasters and strengthen the region’s ability to deliver trusted information.

UNESCO’s wider Media in Crisis Preparedness and Response programme supports resilient media institutions, ensuring that communities receive timely and reliable information before, during and after crises.

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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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