Digital business models

1 Billion Summit and Google Gemini launch largest AI Film Award

The 1 Billion Followers Summit and Google Gemini have announced the world’s largest AI Film Award, offering the winning film a USD 1 million prize. The award will be presented at the Summit, organised by the UAE Government Media Office, from 9–11 January 2026.

Films entered must be at least 70% AI-generated, run between 7 and 10 minutes, and use Google Gemini technologies such as Imagen and Veo. Applicants may use other tools for editing, but the core video generation must rely on Google Gemini.

Submissions should creatively address one of two themes: ‘Rewrite Tomorrow’ or ‘The Secret Life of’, exploring the future or untold stories.

A panel of judges will assess entries on storytelling, creativity, AI integration, execution and thematic excellence. Films will be reviewed from 21 November to 4 December, with 10 qualifying films open to public voting from 10–15 December.

The top five will be announced on 3 January, with screenings at the Summit on 10 January. The grand prize winner will be revealed on 11 January.

The AI Film Award aims to promote impactful storytelling using AI, enhancing filmmakers’ technical and creative skills while encouraging meaningful, forward-looking content. Applications are submitted individually via the Summit website.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

Yale students explore AI through clubs and fellowships

Across Yale, membership in AI-focused clubs such as the Yale Artificial Intelligence Association (AIA), Yale Artificial Intelligence Alignment (YAIA) and Yale Artificial Intelligence Policy Initiative (YAIPI) has grown rapidly.

The organisations offer weekly meetings, projects, and fellowships to deepen understanding of AI’s technical, ethical, and societal implications.

Each club has a distinct focus. YAIA addresses long-term risks and safety, while the AIA emphasises student-led technical projects and community-building. YAIPI explores ethics, governance and policy, particularly for students without technical backgrounds.

Fellowships, paper-reading groups and collaborative projects allow members to engage deeply with AI issues.

Membership numbers reflect this surge: AIA’s mailing list now includes around 400 students, YAIPI has over 200 subscribers, and YAIA admitted 25 students to its safety fellowship. The clubs are also beginning to collaborate, combining technical expertise with policy knowledge for joint projects.

Professional schools and faculty-led initiatives, including law and business-focused AI groups, further expand opportunities for student engagement.

AI’s role in classrooms remains varied. Some professors encourage experimentation with generative tools, while others enforce stricter rules, particularly in humanities courses. Yale’s Executive Committee warned first-year students against using AI platforms like ChatGPT without attribution.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

EU and Indonesia free trade deal strengthens tech and digital supply chains

The European Union and Indonesia have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and an Investment Protection Agreement (IPA), strongly emphasising technology, digitalisation and sustainable industries.

The agreements are designed to expand trade, secure critical raw materials, and drive the green and digital transitions.

Under the CEPA, tariffs on 98.5% of trade lines will be removed, cutting costs by €600 million annually and giving EU companies greater access to Indonesia’s fast-growing technology sectors, including electric vehicles, electronics and pharmaceuticals.

European firms will also gain full ownership rights in key service areas such as computers and telecommunications, helping deepen integration of digital supply chains.

A deal that embeds commitments to the Paris Agreement while promoting renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. It also includes cooperation on digital standards, intellectual property protections and trade facilitation for sectors vital to Europe’s clean tech and digital industries.

With Indonesia as a leading producer of critical raw materials, the agreement secures sustainable and predictable access to inputs essential for semiconductors, batteries and other strategic technologies.

Launched in 2016, the negotiations concluded after the political agreement reached in July 2025 between Presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Prabowo Subianto. The texts will undergo legal review before the EU and Indonesia ratification, opening a new chapter in tech-enabled trade and innovation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Gemini brings conversational AI to Google TV

Google has launched Gemini for TV, bringing conversational AI to the living room. The update builds on Google TV and Google Assistant, letting viewers chat naturally with their screens to discover shows, plan trips, or even tackle homework questions.

Instead of scrolling endlessly, users can ask Gemini to find a film everyone will enjoy or recap last season’s drama. The AI can handle vague requests, like finding ‘that new hospital drama,’ and provide reviews before you press play.

Gemini also turns the TV into an interactive learning tool. From explaining why volcanoes erupt to guiding kids through projects, it offers helpful answers with supporting YouTube videos for hands-on exploration.

Beyond schoolwork, Gemini can help plan meals, teach new skills like guitar, or brainstorm family trips, all through conversational prompts. Such features make the TV a hub for entertainment, education, and inspiration.

Gemini is now available on the TCL QM9K series, with rollout to additional Google TV devices planned for later this year. Google says additional features are coming soon, making TVs more capable and personalised.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Stellantis hit by breach affecting millions of customers

Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge, has disclosed a data breach affecting its North American customer service operations.

The company said it recently discovered unauthorised access to a third-party service platform and confirmed that customer contact details were exposed. Stellantis stressed that no financial information was compromised and that affected customers and regulators are being notified.

Cybercriminal group ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility, telling tech site BleepingComputer it had stolen over 18 million Salesforce records from the automaker, including names and contact information. Stellantis has not confirmed the number of records involved.

ShinyHunters has targeted several global firms this year, including Google, Louis Vuitton and Allianz Life, often using voice phishing to trick employees into downloading malicious software. The group claims to have stolen 1.5 billion Salesforce records from more than 700 companies worldwide.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

UN warns AI poses risks without proper climate oversight

AI can help tackle the climate crisis, but governments must regulate it to ensure positive outcomes, says UN climate chief Simon Stiell. AI is already helping make energy systems more efficient, reduce industrial carbon emissions, and assist in climate diplomacy.

Stiell warned that the growing energy demands of large AI data centres pose risks that require careful management. He emphasised that AI should enhance human capacity rather than replace it, supporting tasks such as managing microgrids, mapping climate risk, and guiding resilient planning.

Global climate action is advancing, with renewable energy investment booming and countries aligning with the Paris Agreement. While China leads the clean energy surge, the EU, India, African nations, and Latin America also expand low-carbon solutions.

However, financing remains a barrier, with many planned low-carbon projects struggling to secure investment.

Despite progress, the benefits of the low-carbon transition are uneven, and the climate crisis is accelerating. Governments are urged to submit updated Paris Agreement plans before COP30 in Brazil, while Stiell calls for stronger climate cooperation and faster action.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

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.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

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.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

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.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot! 

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.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!