Sustainable development

EU survey shows strong public backing for digital literacy in schools

A new Eurobarometer survey finds that Europeans want digital skills to hold the same status in schools as reading, mathematics and science.

Citizens view digital competence as essential for learning, future employment and informed participation in public life.

Nine in ten respondents believe that schools should guide pupils on how to handle the harmful effects of digital technologies on their mental health and well-being, rather than treating such issues as secondary concerns.

Most Europeans also support a more structured approach to online information. Eight in ten say digital literacy helps them avoid misinformation, while nearly nine in ten want teachers to be fully prepared to show students how to recognise false content.

A majority continues to favour restrictions on smartphones in schools, yet an even larger share supports the use of digital tools specifically designed for learning.

More than half find that AI brings both opportunities and risks for classrooms, which they believe should be examined in greater depth.

Almost half want the EU to shape standards for the use of educational technologies, including rules on AI and data protection.

The findings will inform the European Commission’s 2030 Roadmap on digital education and skills, scheduled for release next year as part of the Union of Skills initiative.

A survey carried out across all member states reflects a growing expectation that digital education should become a central pillar of Europe’s teaching systems, rather than an optional enhancement.

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India expands job access with AI-powered worker platforms

India is reshaping support for its vast informal workforce through e-Shram, a national database built to connect millions of people to social security and better job prospects.

The database works together with the National Career Service portal, and both systems run on Microsoft Azure.

AI tools are now improving access to stable employment by offering skills analysis, resume generation and personalised career pathways.

The original aim of e-Shram was to create a reliable record of informal workers after the pandemic exposed major gaps in welfare coverage. Engineers had to build a platform capable of registering hundreds of millions of people while safeguarding sensitive data.

Azure’s scalable infrastructure allowed the system to process high transaction volumes and maintain strong security protocols. Support reached remote areas through a network of service centres, helped further by Bhashini, an AI language service offering real-time translation in 22 Indian languages.

More than 310 million workers are now registered and linked to programmes providing accident insurance, medical subsidies and housing assistance. The integration with NCS has opened paths to regulated work, often with health insurance or retirement savings.

Workers receive guidance on improving employability, while new features such as AI chatbots and location-focused job searches aim to help those in smaller cities gain equal access to opportunities.

India is using the combined platforms to plan future labour policies, manage skill development and support international mobility for trained workers.

Officials also hope the digital systems will reduce reliance on job brokers and strengthen safe recruitment, including abroad through links with the eMigrate portal.

The government has already presented the platforms to international partners and is preparing to offer them as digital public infrastructure for other countries seeking similar reforms.

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Multimodal AI reveals new immune patterns across cancer types

A recent study examined the capabilities of GigaTIME, a multimodal AI framework that models the tumour immune microenvironment by converting routine H and E slides into virtual multiplex immunofluorescence images.

Researchers aimed to solve long-standing challenges in profiling tumour ecosystems by using a scalable and inexpensive technique instead of laboratory methods that require multiple samples and extensive resources.

The study focused on how large image datasets could reveal patterns of protein activity that shape cancer progression and therapeutic response.

GigaTIME was trained on millions of matched cells and applied to more than fourteen thousand slides drawn from a wide clinical network. The system generated nearly 300.000 virtual images and uncovered over 1000 associations between protein channels and clinical biomarkers.

Spatial features such as sharpness, entropy and signal variability were often more informative than density alone, revealing immune interactions that differ strongly across cancer types.

When tested on external tumour collections, the framework maintained strong performance and consistently exceeded the results of comparator models.

The study reported that GigaTIME could identify patterns linked to tumour invasion, survival and stage. Protein combinations offered a clearer view of immune behaviour than single markers, and the virtual signatures aligned with known and emerging genomic alterations.

Certain proteins were easier to infer than others, which reflected structural differences at the cellular level rather than model limitations. The research also suggested that immune evasion mechanisms may shift during advanced disease, altering how proteins such as PD-L1 contribute to tumour progression.

The authors argued that virtual multiplex imaging could expand access to spatial proteomics for both research and clinical practice.

Wider demographic representation and broader protein coverage are necessary for future development, yet the approach demonstrated clear potential to support large population studies instead of the restricted datasets produced through traditional staining methods.

Continued work seeks to build a comprehensive atlas and refine cell-level segmentation to deepen understanding of immune and tumour interactions.

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Adobe brings its leading creative tools straight into ChatGPT

Yesterday, Adobe opened a new chapter for digital creativity by introducing Photoshop, Adobe Express and Adobe Acrobat inside ChatGPT.

The integration gives 800 million weekly users direct access to trusted creative and productivity tools through a conversational interface. Adobe aims to make creative work easier for newcomers by linking its technology to simple written instructions.

Photoshop inside ChatGPT offers selective edits, tone adjustments and creative effects, while Adobe Express brings quick design templates and animation features to people who want polished content without switching between applications.

Acrobat adds powerful document controls, allowing users to organise, edit or redact PDFs inside the chat. Each action blends conversation with Adobe’s familiar toolsets, giving users either simple text-driven commands or fine control through intuitive sliders.

The launch reflects Adobe’s broader investment in agentic AI and its Model Context Protocol. Earlier releases such as Acrobat Studio and AI Assistants for Photoshop and Adobe Express signalled Adobe’s ambition to expand conversational creative experiences.

Adobe also plans to extend an upcoming Firefly AI Assistant across multiple apps to support faster movement from an idea to a finished design.

All three apps are now available to ChatGPT users on desktop, web and iOS, with Android support expanding soon. Adobe positions the integration as an entry point for new audiences who may later move into the full desktop versions for deeper control.

The company expects the partnership to widen access to creative expression by letting anyone edit images, produce designs or transform documents simply by describing what they want to achieve.

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AI model predicts prediabetes with high accuracy

Researchers have developed an AI model that enhances prediabetes prediction by integrating oxidative stress markers with traditional clinical indicators. The Pattern Neural Network model achieved 98.3% accuracy in Indian adults, outperforming other machine learning methods.

Total antioxidant status emerged as a key predictor, with lower antioxidant capacity observed in individuals with prediabetes. Waist circumference and BMI were also highly informative, alongside glucose markers such as HbA1c and OGTT.

The inclusion of oxidative stress measures provides a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying metabolic risk.

The study used clinical and biochemical data from 199 adults, with the PNN trained on 14 features, including demographic and biochemical variables. High accuracy across all sets indicates strong potential for quick, low-cost screening and personalised early interventions.

While the results are promising, the single-centre design and limited sample size indicate that external validation is needed. Future studies should test the model in larger, multi-site cohorts and integrate longitudinal data to enhance its real-world applicability and public health impact.

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EU proposes easing environmental rules for datacentres and housing

The European Commission has proposed a significant overhaul of environmental rules, potentially exempting datacentres, AI facilities, and affordable housing from mandatory impact assessments.

Member states would retain discretion over whether such projects require full environmental scrutiny, as part of a broader plan to expedite permitting and reduce reporting obligations for businesses.

The package also repeals a hazardous chemical database, eases polluter obligations, and moves environmental management rules from individual plants to whole companies. The commission states that the changes could save firms €1 billion annually, but green groups warn of potential costs to health and biodiversity.

The proposals align with plans to modernise the EU electricity grid and new climate targets to reduce emissions by 90% compared to 1990. Experts have cautioned that loopholes allowing international carbon credits could weaken domestic emissions reductions.

Corporate sustainability laws are also being scaled back. The revised rules limit the number of companies covered, postpone compliance deadlines to 2029, and remove obligations to implement climate transition plans.

Business lobby groups have welcomed the changes as a more realistic approach to corporate social responsibility and due diligence.

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UK partners with DeepMind to boost AI innovation

The UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has entered a strategic partnership with Google DeepMind to advance AI across public services, research, and security.

The non-legally binding memorandum of understanding outlines a shared commitment to responsible AI development, while enhancing national readiness for transformative technologies.

The collaboration will explore AI solutions for public services, including education, government departments, and the Incubator for AI (i.AI). Google DeepMind may provide engineering support and develop AI tools, including a government-focused version of Gemini aligned with the national curriculum.

Researchers will gain priority access to DeepMind’s AI models, including AlphaEvolve, AlphaGenome, and WeatherNext, with joint initiatives supporting automated R&D and lab facilities in the UK. The partnership seeks to accelerate innovation in strategically important areas such as fusion energy.

AI security will be strengthened through the UK AI Security Institute, which will share model insights, address emerging risks, and enhance national cyber preparedness. The MoU is voluntary, spans 36 months, and ensures compliance with data privacy laws, including UK GDPR.

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Vietnam passes first AI law to strict safeguards

Vietnam’s National Assembly has passed its first AI Law, advancing the regulation and development of AI nationwide. The legislation was approved with overwhelming support, alongside amendments to the Intellectual Property Law and a revised High Technology Law.

The AI Law will take effect on March 1, 2026.

The law establishes core principles, prohibits certain acts, and outlines a risk management framework for AI systems. The law combines safeguards for high-risk AI with incentives for innovation, including sandbox testing, a National AI Development Fund, and startup vouchers.

AI oversight will be centralised under the Government, led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with assessments needed only for high-risk systems approved by the Prime Minister. The law allows real-time updates to this list to keep pace with technological advances.

Flexible provisions prevent obsolescence by avoiding fixed technology lists or rigid risk classifications. Lawmakers emphasised the balance between regulation and innovation, aiming to create a safe yet supportive environment for AI growth in Vietnam.

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EU advances ambitious gigafactory programme for AI leadership

The Council has agreed on a significant amendment to the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking regulation, aiming to establish AI gigafactories across Europe alongside a new quantum pillar.

The plan advances earlier efforts to build AI factories and redirects unused EU funds toward larger and more ambitious facilities. Up to five gigafactories are expected, supported through public and private partnerships that promise a stronger technological base for European research and industry.

AI gigafactories will combine high-performance computing, energy-efficient data centres and automated systems to give Europe world-class AI capacity. The regulation sets out firm rules for funding and procurement while protecting start-ups and scale-ups.

It also allows gigafactories to be spread across multiple countries, creating a flexible model that can strengthen European resilience, competitiveness and security instead of relying heavily on American or Chinese infrastructure.

An agreement that updates the governance of EuroHPC and introduces safeguards for participation from partners outside the EU. Quantum research and innovation activities will move from Horizon Europe to EuroHPC in order to consolidate work on critical technologies.

In a shift that aims to widen the impact of supercomputing and quantum infrastructure while supporting the development of essential skills for science and industry.

The next stage involves the European Parliament delivering its opinion on 17 December.

A final Council adoption will follow once legal and linguistic checks have been completed, marking a decisive step towards Europe’s new AI and quantum capability.

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AI agents redefine knowledge work through cognitive collaboration

A new study by Perplexity and Harvard researchers sheds light on how people use AI agents at scale.

Millions of anonymised interactions were analysed to understand who relies on agent technology, how intensively it is used and what tasks users delegate. The findings challenge the notion of a digital concierge model and reveal a shift toward more profound cognitive collaboration, rather than merely outsourcing tasks.

More than half of all activity involves cognitive work, with strong emphasis on productivity, learning and research. Users depend on agents to scan documents, summarise complex material and prepare early analysis before making final decisions.

Students use AI agents to navigate coursework, while professionals rely on them to process information or filter financial data. The pattern suggests that users adopt agents to elevate their own capability instead of avoiding effort.

Usage also evolves. Early queries often involve low-pressure tasks, yet long-term behaviour moves sharply toward productivity and sustained research. Retention rates are highest among users working on structured workflows or tasks that require knowledge.

The trajectory mirrors the early personal computer, which gained value through spreadsheets and text processing rather than recreational use.

Six main occupations now drive most agent activity, with firm reliance among digital specialists as well as marketing, management and entrepreneurial roles. Context shapes behaviour, as finance users concentrate on efficiency while students favour research.

Designers and hospitality staff follow patterns linked to their professional needs. The study argues that knowledge work is increasingly shaped by the ability to ask better questions and that hybrid intelligence will define future productivity.

The pace of adaptation across the broader economy remains an open question.

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