Digital cooperation

Florida moves ahead with new AI Bill of Rights

Florida lawmakers are preparing a sweeping AI Bill of Rights as political debates intensify. Senator Tom Leek introduced a proposal to provide residents with clearer safeguards while regulating how firms utilise advanced systems across the state.

The plan outlines parental control over minors’ interactions with AI and requires disclosure when people engage with automated systems. It also sets boundaries on political advertising created with AI and restricts state contracts with suppliers linked to countries of concern.

Governor Ron DeSantis maintains Florida can advance its agenda despite federal attempts to curb state-level AI rules. He argues the state has the authority to defend consumers while managing the rising costs of new data centre developments.

Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about young users forming harmful online bonds with AI companions, prompting calls for stronger protections. The legislation now forms part of a broader clash over online safety, privacy rights and fast-growing AI industries.

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Canada’s productivity gap drives new push for AI

Canada’s productivity gap is expected to accelerate nationwide adoption of AI in 2026, according to leading legal and industry experts. Businesses and governments are moving from experimentation to deployment as pressure mounts to improve economic performance.

Canada retains strong research credentials and a responsible AI culture, yet still trails in compute capacity and commercial scaling. Major investments scheduled for 2026 are expected to support emerging demand across sectors.

Firms are seeking clearer national rules to guide the safe adoption of AI, especially regarding privacy and governance. Ottawa’s recent research and talent programme aims to attract global experts and strengthen commercial pathways.

Industry leaders expect AI agents to gain prominence by 2027, increasing the need for human oversight and trust. Policymakers and companies are urged to strike a balance between rapid innovation and clarity, confidence, and long-term productivity goals.

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xAI could reach AGI by 2026 as the AI race intensifies

Elon Musk has told xAI employees that the next two to three years will determine whether the company survives and emerges as a leading force in artificial general intelligence.

Speaking during a company-wide meeting, Musk argued that endurance during such a period could position xAI at the forefront of the AGI race.

Musk suggested that AGI could be achieved by xAI as early as 2026, pointing to rapid advances in the Grok model family. He has previously offered shifting timelines for AGI development, underscoring both technological momentum and persistent uncertainty surrounding the field.

The remarks come as competition across the AI sector intensifies, with OpenAI accelerating model releases and Google unveiling new iterations of its Gemini system. Against larger incumbents, xAI is positioning itself as a challenger focused on speed, scale and aggressive execution.

Central to that strategy is the Colossus project, which has already deployed around 200,000 GPUs and plans to expand to one million.

Musk also highlighted operational synergies with Tesla and SpaceX, while floating longer-term concepts such as space-based data centres, reinforcing xAI’s ambition to differentiate through scale and unconventional infrastructure.

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Samsung introduces upgraded AI-powered appliances at CES 2026

Samsung Electronics will showcase its latest kitchen appliances at CES 2026, highlighting upgrades to its Bespoke AI refrigerator, over-the-range microwave, and slide-in range. The company upgraded its vision-based AI with Google Gemini and Cloud to simplify kitchen tasks and enhance the cooking experience.

The upgraded Bespoke AI Refrigerator now recognises a wider variety of foods, including processed items without separate registration, and can track user-labelled ingredients. These improvements allow for more accurate food management and personalised kitchen experiences.

Samsung will also present the new Bespoke AI Wine Cellar, which identifies wine bottles, tracks their placement, and offers pairing suggestions via SmartThings AI Wine Manager.

Samsung is also updating appliance designs, with new French Door refrigerators, slide-in ranges, and over-the-range microwaves in a unified stainless steel finish. Upgrades feature easier drawer access, better cooktop ventilation, and redesigned controls for improved safety and convenience.

Visitors at CES 2026 will have the first opportunity to explore these innovations, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to merging technology, design, and usability in modern kitchens.

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Civil servants and AI will work together in 2050

Public administrations worldwide are facing unprecedented change as AI reshapes automation, procurement, and decision-making. Governments must stay flexible, open, and resilient, preparing for multiple futures with foresight, continuous learning, and adaptability.

During World Futures Day, experts from the SPARK-AI Alliance and representatives from governments, academia, and the private sector explored four potential scenarios for public service in 2050.

Scenarios ranged from human-centred administrations that reinforce trust, to algorithmic bureaucracies focused on oversight, agentic administrations with semi-autonomous AI actors, and data-eroded futures that require renewed governance of poor-quality data.

Key insights highlighted the growing importance of anticipatory capacity, positioning AI as a ‘co-worker’ rather than a replacement, and emphasising the need to safeguard public trust.

Civil servants will increasingly focus on ethical reasoning, interpretation of automated processes, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, supported by robust accountability and transparent data governance.

The SPARK-AI Alliance has launched a Working Group on the Future of Work in the Public Sector to help governments anticipate and prepare for change. Its focus will be on building resilient public administrations, evolving civil-service roles, and maintaining trust in AI-enabled governance.

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Dubai charities open doors to crypto donations

Dubai charities now accept donations in cryptocurrencies and virtual assets through a new service launched by the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department. The move signals a shift towards modernised fundraising channels across the emirate.

The service supports Dubai’s wider digital transformation strategy and aims to improve efficiency within the charitable donation ecosystem. Donors can now use globally recognised payment options, highlighting the rising use of virtual assets as valid financial tools.

Regulation remains central to the initiative, with IACAD introducing clear policies to protect donors, enhance transparency, and ensure compliance with approved standards. Introductory workshops have also been organised to guide charities through operational and procedural requirements.

Officials stressed that charities need preliminary authorisation to ensure donations are processed securely and in accordance with regulations. The initiative further reinforces Dubai’s ambition to lead in innovative and technology-driven humanitarian work.

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Google study shows teens embrace AI

Google’s new study, The Future Report, surveyed over 7,000 teenagers across Europe about their use of digital technologies. Most respondents describe themselves as curious, critical, and optimistic about AI in their daily lives.

Many teens use AI daily or several times a week for learning, creativity, and exploring new topics. They report benefits such as instant feedback and more engaging learning while remaining cautious about over-reliance.

Young people value personalised content recommendations and algorithmic suggestions, but emphasise verifying information and avoiding bias. They adopt strategies to verify sources and ensure the trustworthiness of online content.

The report emphasises the importance of digital literacy, safety, balanced technology use, and youth engagement in shaping the digital future. Participants request guidance from educators and transparent AI design to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI.

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Japan’s mobile competition law forces Apple to adjust iOS app payments

Apple has announced changes to how iOS apps are distributed and monetised in Japan, bringing its platform into compliance with the country’s Mobile Software Competition Act. The updates introduce new options for alternative app marketplaces and payment methods for digital goods.

Under the revised framework, developers in Japan can distribute apps outside the App Store and offer alternative payment processing alongside the In-App Purchase. Apple said the changes aim to meet legal requirements while limiting new risks linked to fraud, malware, and data misuse.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. The measures are aimed at protecting users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Safeguards include app notarisation, authorisation rules for alternative marketplaces, and baseline security checks for all iOS apps. Apple said the measures aim to protect users, including children, even as apps outside the App Store receive fewer protections.

Additional controls are being rolled out with iOS 26.2, including browser and search engine choice screens, new default app settings, and expanded developer APIs. Apple said it will continue engaging with Japanese regulators as the new framework takes effect.

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Digital fraud declines in Russia after rollout of Cyberbez measures

Russia has reported a sharp decline in cyber fraud following the introduction of new regulatory measures in 2025. Officials say legislative action targeting telephone and online scams has begun to deliver measurable results.

State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Digital Development Ivan Lebedev told the State Duma that crimes covered by the first package of reforms, known as ‘Cyberbez 1.0’, have fallen by 40%, according to confirmed statistics.

Earlier this year, Lebedev said Russia records roughly 677,000 cases of phone and online fraud annually, with incidents rising by more than 35% since 2022, highlighting the scale of the challenge faced by authorities.

In April, President Vladimir Putin signed a law introducing a range of countermeasures, including a state information system to combat fraud, limits on unsolicited marketing calls, stricter SIM card issuance rules, and new compliance obligations for banks.

Further steps are now under discussion. Officials say a second package is being prepared, while a third set of initiatives was announced in December as Russia continues to strengthen its digital security framework.

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Natural language meets robotics in MIT’s on-demand object creation system

MIT researchers have developed a speech-to-reality system that allows users to create physical objects by describing them aloud, combining generative AI with robotic assembly. The system can produce simple furniture and decorative items in minutes using modular components.

The workflow translates spoken instructions into a digital design using a large language model and 3D generative AI. The design is then broken into voxel-based parts and adapted to real-world fabrication constraints before being assembled by a robotic arm.

Researchers have demonstrated the system by producing stools, shelves, chairs, tables and small sculptures. The approach aims to reduce manufacturing complexity by enabling rapid construction without specialised knowledge of 3D modelling or robotics.

Unlike traditional fabrication methods such as 3D printing, which can take hours or days, the modular assembly process operates quickly and allows objects to be disassembled and reused. The team is exploring stronger connection methods and extensions to larger-scale robotic systems.

The research was presented at the ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication in November. The team said the work points toward more accessible, flexible and sustainable ways to produce physical objects using natural language and AI-driven design.

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