Digital cooperation

EU revises Cybersecurity Act to streamline certification

The European Commission plans to revise the Cybersecurity Act to expand certification schemes beyond ICT products and services. Future assessments would also cover companies’ overall risk-management posture, including governance and supply-chain practices.

Only one EU-wide scheme, the Common Criteria framework, has been formally adopted since 2019. Cloud, 5G, and digital identity certifications remain stalled due to procedural complexity and limited transparency under the current Cybersecurity Act framework.

The reforms aim to introduce clearer rules and a rolling work programme to support long-term planning. Managed security services, including incident response and penetration testing, would become eligible for EU certification.

ENISA would take on a stronger role as the central technical coordinator across member states. Additional funding and staff would be required to support its expanding mandate under the newer cybersecurity laws.

Stakeholders broadly support harmonisation to reduce administrative burden and regulatory fragmentation. The European Commission says organisational certification would assess cybersecurity maturity alongside technical product compliance.

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Kazakhstan adopts AI robotics for orthopaedic surgery

Kazakhstan has introduced an AI-enabled robotic system in Astana to improve the accuracy and efficiency of orthopaedic surgeries. The technology supports more precise surgical planning and execution.

The system was presented during an event highlighting growing cooperation between Kazakhstan and India in medical technologies. Officials from both countries emphasised knowledge exchange and joint progress in advanced healthcare solutions.

Health authorities say robotic assistance could help narrow the gap between performed joint replacements and unmet patient demand. Standardised procedures and improved precision are expected to raise treatment quality nationwide.

The initiative builds on recent medical advances, including Kazakhstan’s first robot-assisted heart surgery in Astana. Authorities view such technologies as part of broader efforts to modernise healthcare funding and expand access to high-tech treatment.

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How autonomous vehicles shape physical AI trust

Physical AI is increasingly embedded in public and domestic environments, from self-driving vehicles to delivery robots and household automation. As intelligent machines begin to operate alongside people in shared spaces, trust emerges as a central condition for adoption instead of technological novelty alone.

Autonomous vehicles provide the clearest illustration of how trust must be earned through openness, accountability, and continuous engagement.

Self-driving systems address long-standing challenges such as road safety, congestion, and unequal access to mobility by relying on constant perception, rule-based behaviour, and fatigue-free operation.

Trials and early deployments suggest meaningful improvements in safety and efficiency, yet public confidence remains uneven. Social acceptance depends not only on performance outcomes but also on whether communities understand how systems behave and why specific decisions occur.

Dialogue plays a critical role at two levels. Ongoing communication among policymakers, developers, emergency services, and civil society helps align technical deployment with social priorities such as safety, accessibility, and environmental impact.

At the same time, advances in explainable AI allow machines to communicate intent and reasoning directly to users, replacing opacity with interpretability and predictability.

The experience of autonomous vehicles suggests a broader framework for physical AI governance centred on demonstrable public value, transparent performance data, and systems capable of explaining behaviour in human terms.

As physical AI expands into infrastructure, healthcare, and domestic care, trust will depend on sustained dialogue and responsible design rather than the speed of deployment alone.

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Microsoft urges systems approach to AI skills in Europe

AI is increasingly reshaping European workplaces, though large-scale job losses have not yet materialised. Studies by labour bodies show that tasks change faster than roles disappear.

Policymakers and employers face pressure to expand AI skills while addressing unequal access to them. Researchers warn that the benefits and risks concentrate among already skilled workers and larger organisations.

Education systems across Europe are beginning to integrate AI literacy, including teacher training and classroom tools. Progress remains uneven between countries and regions.

Microsoft experts say workforce readiness will depend on evidence-based policy and sustained funding. Skills programmes alone may not offset broader economic and social disruption from AI adoption.

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Microsoft launches Elevate for Educators programme

Elevate for Educators, launched by Microsoft, is a global programme designed to help teachers build the skills and confidence to use AI tools in the classroom. The initiative provides free access to training, credentials, and professional learning resources.

The programme connects educators to peer networks, self-paced courses, and AI-powered simulations. The aim is to support responsible AI adoption while improving teaching quality and classroom outcomes.

New educator credentials have been developed in partnership with ISTE and ASCD. Schools and education systems can also gain recognition for supporting professional development and demonstrating impact in classrooms.

AI-powered education tools within Microsoft 365 have been expanded to support lesson planning and personalised instruction. New features help teachers adapt materials to different learning needs and provide students with faster feedback.

College students will also receive free access to Microsoft 365 Premium and LinkedIn Premium Career for 12 months. The offer includes AI tools, productivity apps, and career resources to support future employment.

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Indian companies remain committed to AI spending

Almost all Indian companies plan to sustain AI spending even without near-term financial returns. A BCG survey shows 97 percent will keep investing, higher than the 94 percent global rate.

Corporate AI budgets in India are expected to rise to about 1.7 percent of revenue in 2026. Leaders see AI as a long-term strategic priority rather than a short-term cost.

Around 88 percent of Indian executives express confidence in AI generating positive business outcomes. That is above the global average of 82 percent, reflecting strong optimism among local decision-makers.

Despite enthusiasm, fewer Indian CEOs personally lead AI strategy than their global peers, and workforce AI skills lag international benchmarks. Analysts say talent and leadership alignment remain key as spending grows.

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Cloudflare acquires Human Native to build a fair AI content licensing model

San Francisco-based company Cloudflare has acquired Human Native, an AI data marketplace designed to connect content creators with AI developers seeking high-quality training and inference material.

A move that reflects growing pressure to establish clearer economic rules for how online content is used by AI systems.

The acquisition is intended to help creators and publishers decide whether to block AI access entirely, optimise material for machine use, or license content for payment instead of allowing uncontrolled scraping.

Cloudflare says the tools developed through Human Native will support transparent pricing and fair compensation across the AI supply chain.

Human Native, founded in 2024 and backed by UK-based investors, focuses on structuring original content so it can be discovered, accessed and purchased by AI developers through standardised channels.

The team includes researchers and engineers with experience across AI research, design platforms and financial media.

Cloudflare argues that access to reliable and ethically sourced data will shape long-term competition in AI. By integrating Human Native into its wider platform, the company aims to support a more sustainable internet economy that balances innovation with creator rights.

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EU allocates $356 million for AI and digital technologies

The European Commission has announced €307.3 million ($356 million) in new funding to advance digital technologies across the EU. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s innovation, competitiveness, and strategic digital autonomy.

A total of €221.8 million will support projects in AI, robotics, quantum technologies, photonics, and virtual worlds. One focus is the development of trustworthy AI services and innovative data solutions to enhance EU digital leadership.

More than €40 million has been allocated to the Open Internet Stack Initiative, which aims to advance end-user applications and core stack technologies, boosting European digital sovereignty. A second call of €85.5 million will target open strategic autonomy in emerging digital technologies and raw materials.

The funding is open to businesses, academic institutions, public administrations, and other entities from EU member states and partner countries. Priority areas include next-generation AI agents, industrial and service robotics, and new materials with enhanced sensing capabilities.

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Ofcom probes AI companion chatbot over age checks

Ofcom has opened an investigation into Novi Ltd over age checks on its AI companion chatbot. The probe focuses on duties under the Online Safety Act.

Regulators will assess whether children can access pornographic content without effective age assurance. Sanctions could include substantial fines or business disruption measures under the UK’s Online Safety Bill.

In a separate case, Ofcom confirmed enforcement pressure led Snapchat to overhaul its illegal content risk assessment. Revised findings now require stronger protections for UK users.

Ofcom said accurate risk assessments underpin online safety regulation. Platforms must match safeguards to real world risks, particularly when AI and children are concerned.

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Japan and ASEAN agree to boost AI collaboration

Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to collaborate on developing new AI models and preparing related legislation. The cooperation was formalised in a joint statement at a digital ministers’ meeting in Hanoi on Thursday.

Proposed by Minister Hayashi, the initiative aims to boost regional AI capabilities amid US and Chinese competition. Japan emphasised its ongoing commitment to supporting ASEAN’s technological development.

The partnership follows last October’s Japan-ASEAN summit, where Prime Minister Takaichi called for joint research in semiconductors and AI. The agreement aims to foster closer innovation ties and regional collaboration in strategic technology sectors.

The collaboration will engage public and private stakeholders to promote research, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building across ASEAN. Officials expect the partnership to speed AI adoption while maintaining regional regulations and ethical standards.

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