Digital business models

Australia strengthens parent support for new social media age rules

Yesterday, Australia entered a new phase of its online safety framework after the introduction of the Social Media Minimum Age policy.

eSafety has established a new Parent Advisory Group to support families as the country transitions to enhanced safeguards for young people. The group held its first meeting, with the Commissioner underlining the need for practical and accessible guidance for carers.

The initiative brings together twelve organisations representing a broad cross-section of communities in Australia, including First Nations families, culturally diverse groups, parents of children with disability and households in regional areas.

Their role is to help eSafety refine its approach, so parents can navigate social platforms with greater confidence, rather than feeling unsupported during rapid regulatory change.

A group that will advise on parent engagement, offer evidence-informed insights and test updated resources such as the redeveloped Online Safety Parent Guide.

Their advice will aim to ensure materials remain relevant, inclusive and able to reach priority communities that often miss out on official communications.

Members will serve voluntarily until June 2026 and will work with eSafety to improve distribution networks and strengthen the national conversation on digital literacy. Their collective expertise is expected to shape guidance that reflects real family experiences instead of abstract policy expectations.

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Ecuador and Latin America expand skills in ethical AI with UNESCO training

UNESCO is strengthening capacities in AI ethics and regulation across Ecuador and Latin America through two newly launched courses. The initiatives aim to enhance digital governance and ensure the ethical use of AI in the region.

The first course, ‘Regulation of Artificial Intelligence: A View from and towards Latin America,’ is taking place virtually from 19 to 28 November 2025.

Organised by UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector in coordination with UNESCO-Chile and CTS Lab at FLACSO Ecuador, the programme involves 30 senior officials from key institutions, including the Ombudsman’s Office and the Superintendency for Personal Data Protection.

Participants are trained on AI ethical principles, risks, and opportunities, guided by UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.

The ‘Ethical Use of AI’ course starts next week for telecom and electoral officials. The 20-hour hybrid programme teaches officials to use UNESCO’s RAM to assess readiness and plan ethical AI strategies.

UNESCO aims to train 60 officials and strengthen AI ethics and regulatory frameworks in Ecuador and Chile. The programmes reflect a broader commitment to building inclusive, human-rights-oriented digital governance in Latin America.

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Character AI blocks teen chat and introduces new interactive Stories feature

A new feature called ‘Stories’ from Character.AI allows users under 18 to create interactive fiction with their favourite characters. The move replaces open-ended chatbot access, which has been entirely restricted for minors amid concerns over mental health risks.

Open-ended AI chatbots can initiate conversations at any time, raising worries about overuse and addiction among younger users.

Several lawsuits against AI companies have highlighted the dangers, prompting Character.AI to phase out access for minors and introduce a guided, safety-focused alternative.

Industry observers say the Stories feature offers a safer environment for teens to engage with AI characters while continuing to explore creative content.

The decision aligns with recent AI regulations in California and ongoing US federal proposals to limit minors’ exposure to interactive AI companions.

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UAE strengthens digital transformation with Sharjah’s new integration committee

Sharjah is advancing its digital transformation efforts following the issuance of a new decree that established the Higher Committee for Digital Integration. The Crown Prince formed the body to strengthen oversight and guide government entities as the emirate seeks more coordinated progress.

The committee will report directly to the Executive Council and will be led by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the Sharjah Digital Department.

Senior officials from several departments in the UAE will join him to enhance cooperation across the government, rather than leaving agencies to pursue separate digital plans.

Their combined expertise is expected to support stronger governance and reduce risks linked to large-scale transformation.

Its mandate covers strategic oversight, approval of key policies, alignment with national objectives and careful monitoring of digital projects.

The members will intervene when challenges arise, oversee investments and help resolve disputes so the emirate can maintain momentum instead of facing delays caused by fragmented decision-making.

Membership runs for two years, with the option of extension. The committee will continue its work until a successor group is formed and will provide regular reports on progress, challenges and proposed solutions to the Executive Council.

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AI is accelerating the transition to clean energy

AI is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting the transition to clean energy. AI helps optimise power grid operations, plan infrastructure investments, and accelerate the discovery of novel materials for energy generation, storage, and conversion.

While energy-hungry data centres can increase electricity demand, AI applications are helping reduce energy consumption across buildings, transport, and industry.

On electric grids, AI algorithms enhance efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and predict maintenance needs to prevent power outages. Grid operators can utilise AI to forecast supply and demand, optimise energy storage, and manage resources in real-time.

Technologies such as smart thermostats, electric vehicle batteries, and AI-managed data centres provide additional flexibility to balance peak demand and supply.

AI also aids long-term planning by helping utilities forecast future infrastructure needs amid growing renewable deployment and climate-related risks. Additionally, AI accelerates the discovery of materials for energy technologies.

At MIT, researchers use AI-guided experiments and robotics to design and test new materials, significantly shortening development times from decades to years.

Through research, modelling, and collaboration, AI is being applied to fusion reactor management, solar cell optimisation, and energy-efficient data centre design. MIT Energy Initiative programmes unite academics, industry, and policymakers to harness AI for a resilient and sustainable energy future.

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New alliance between Samsung and SK Telecom accelerates 6G innovation

Samsung Electronics and SK Telecom have taken a significant step toward shaping next-generation connectivity after signing an agreement to develop essential 6G technologies.

Their partnership centres on AI-based radio access networks, with both companies aiming to secure an early lead as global competition intensifies.

Research teams from Samsung and SK Telecom will build and test key components, including AI-based channel estimation, distributed MIMO and AI-driven schedulers.

AI models will refine signals in real-time to improve accuracy, rather than relying on conventional estimation methods. Meanwhile, distributed MIMO will enable multiple antennas to cooperate for reliable, high-speed communication across diverse environments.

The companies believe that AI-enabled schedulers and core networks will manage data flows more efficiently as the number of devices continues to rise.

Their collaboration also extends into the AI-RAN Alliance, where a jointly proposed channel estimation technology has already been accepted as a formal work item, strengthening their shared role in shaping industry standards.

Samsung continues to promote 6G research through its Advanced Communications Research Centre, and recent demonstrations at major industry events highlight the growing momentum behind AI-RAN technology.

Both organisations expect their work to accelerate the transition toward a hyperconnected 6G future, rather than allowing competing ecosystems to dominate early development.

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Swiss Federal Council approves update to tax information exchange rules

The Swiss Federal Council has approved significant updates to the Ordinance on the International Automatic Exchange of Information in Tax Matters. The new rules are set to take effect across Switzerland on 1 January 2026, assuming no referendum intervenes.

The revisions expand Switzerland’s international exchange of financial account information, updating the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and introducing the new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

Crypto service providers in Switzerland will now have reporting, due diligence, and registration obligations under the AEOI Ordinance, although these provisions will not apply until at least 2027.

The updated Ordinance also extends CRS rules to Swiss associations and foundations while excluding certain accounts if specific conditions are met. Transitional measures aim to facilitate the implementation of the amended CRS and CARF by affected parties more smoothly.

Deliberations on partner states for Switzerland’s crypto data exchange have been paused by the National Council’s Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee. The CARF will become law in Switzerland in 2026, but full implementation is delayed, keeping crypto-asset rules inactive for the first year.

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AI scribes help reduce physician paperwork and burnout

A new UCLA Health study finds that AI-powered scribe tools can reduce physicians’ documentation time and may improve work satisfaction. Conducted across 14 specialities and 72,000 patient visits, the trial tested Microsoft DAX and Nabla in real-world clinical settings.

Physicians using Nabla reduced the time spent writing each note by almost 10% compared with usual care, saving around 41 seconds per note. Both AI tools modestly improved burnout, cognitive workload, and work exhaustion, but physician oversight remains essential.

The trial highlighted several limitations, including occasional inaccuracies in AI-generated notes and a single instance of mild patient safety concern. Physicians found the tools easy to use and noted an improvement in patient engagement, with most patients being receptive.

The findings provide timely evidence as healthcare systems increasingly adopt AI scribes. Researchers emphasise that rigorous evaluation is necessary to ensure patient safety and effectiveness, and that further long-term studies across multiple institutions are recommended.

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Warner Music partners with AI song generator Suno

A landmark agreement has been reached between Warner Music and AI music platform Suno, ending last year’s copyright lawsuit that accused the service of using artists’ work without permission.

Fans can now generate AI-created songs using the voices, names, and likenesses of Warner artists who opt in, offering a new way to engage with music.

The partnership will introduce new licensed AI models, including download limits and paid tiers, to prevent a flood of AI tracks on streaming platforms.

Suno has also acquired the live-music discovery platform Songkick, expanding its digital footprint and strengthening connections between AI music and live events.

Music industry experts say the deal demonstrates how AI innovation can coexist with artists’ rights, as the UK government continues consultations on intellectual property for AI.

Creators and policymakers are advocating opt-in frameworks to ensure artists are fairly compensated when their works are used to train AI models.

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HP cuts thousands of jobs as AI reshapes operations

HP plans to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs worldwide by fiscal 2028 as it restructures operations and expands its use of AI across product development and support services.

CEO Enrique Lores said the cuts will hit development, operations and support teams, with the plan aiming to save $1 billion over three years. The company already shed up to 2,000 roles in February under an earlier restructuring plan.

AI-enabled PCs now make up over 30% of HP’s shipments in Q4 ending 31 October, driving strong demand. However, analysts at Morgan Stanley warned that rising memory chip prices fuelled by AI data centre expansion could increase costs for consumer electronics makers.

Lores noted that HP expects the impact to be felt from the second half of fiscal 2026, though existing inventory should cover the first half.

HP projected fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.90–$3.20 per share, below expectations, with first-quarter profits also falling short of forecasts. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $14.64 billion, slightly ahead of forecasts.

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